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

STUdenT aGe
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2012

JKENG/2012/41612 Vol. 1 No: 180

GUJARAT PORTFOLIOS: NITIN PATEL GETS FINANCE

PDP holds candle light march for gang-rape victim

FOUR DEAD AS RUSSIAN PLANE OVERSHOOTS RUNWAY, CATCHES FIRE

RUSSIAN NAVY TO GET LATEST NSUB Appeal for a National Day to Prime Minister in memory of Delhi rape victim
GUWAHATI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was today appealed by a human rights organisation to declare December 29 as 'National Day for Protesting Violence against Women' and announce a national award in the name of the Delhi gangrape victim who died in Singapore early this morning. "No other incident has either evoked or shocked the conscience of the nation as this particular incident," said Asian Centre for Human Rights Director Suhas Chakma in a statement here. "The Declaration of 29th December as the 'National Day for Protesting Violence Against Women' and a national award in her name will remindBSE 4.29 % the nation about the need to address the issue of violence against women", the statement said. This should be done along with the number of actions to be recommended by the Justice J S Verma Committee and Justice Usha Mehra Committee (on violence against women), Chakma said.

IN BRIEF Delhi gang rape victim dies: Cerebral edema

or swelling of the brain proved fatal

"Brain injury is an important cause for the death. She suffered a cardiac arrest at Safdarjung Hospital on Tuesday. This could have caused the brain injury and she also suffered from multi-organ failure," Dr Yatin Mehta, Chairman Institute of Critical Care and Anaesthesiology at Medanta Medicity, told PTI. He said that in such cases the death is finally due to cardiac arrest. Mehta, who was by the side of the girl in the air ambulance in which she was airlifted to Singapore, said the girl's blood pressure was normal and her heart was pumping blood till last evening when he had left Singapore for India. "Her lungs were infected slightly yesterday but her blood pressure was normal," he said, adding that she was an "extremely brave girl" and a "role model" who fought back after suffering grievous BALLIA (UP): A pall of gloom descended on Delhi gang-rape victim's native Mandwara Kalan village in the district today as soon as the news of her death poured in. Village head Shiv Mandir Singh said that a condolence meeting was held to pray for the peace of the departed soul. He also said there was resentment among the locals over the incident with people demanding stern punishment for the accused. Villagers want such a stern punishment should be given to injuries. Cerebral edema is a serious medical condition where there is way more fluid

JAMMU,DEC 30: Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held a candle light march here demanding justice for the 23year-old gang-rape victim who passed away on Saturday. PDP activists held the march at the city's Kachi Chawani area. They observed silence to mark the death of the young woman and later demanded stringent punishment for the accused.

Power shut down

JAMMU, DEC 29: In order to carry out checking of hot spots and tightening/ replacing loose/ worn out jumpers/ droppers of 220/132/33 KV Grid Station Gladni, the power supply to parts of old Jammu city, Gandhinagar, Nanaknagar, Channi Himmat, Narwal, Sainik Colony etc and adjoining areas fed from Grid Station Sidhra, Miran Sahib, Gangyal and twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch shall be affected. on 30-12-2012 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

NEW DELHI: Serious swelling in the brain resulting from the cardiac arrest she suffered a few days ago was an "important cause" that led to the death of 23year-old gang-rape victim who fought for her life with "great fortitude and courage". Cerebral edema, a condition characterised by excess accumulation of water in the intracellular or extracellular spaces of the brain, proved fatal in the case of the paramedic student who was airlifted toSingapore on Wednesday night for specialised treatment. The young girl suffered a cardiac arrest on Tuesday night which caused severe injuries to her brain as well. Complications in brain along with multiorgan failure took the life of the victim at the Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore.

Villagers remember braveheart victim

the accused that it would instill fear in the hearts of such culprits, Singh said. A relative Contd. on page 2

in the skull than there should be causing swelling in brain which compromises its own Contd. on page 2

Safeguard dignity of women, says Pranab Mukherjee

PUNE: Mourning the death of the 23-year-old Delhi gang-rape victim, President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday called for the need to create an atmosphere to safeguard the dignity of women in India. "The government and the society at large must create conducive climate for upholding safety and dignity of women in the country in the New Year," Mukherjee said, speaking at the inauguration of DY Patil Knowledge City here. "It is unfortunate that in the fagend of the year 2012, a brave daughter of this country fought till the very last minute with courage and dignity before breathing her last," he said. The Delhi braveheart suffered multiple-organ failure after her brutal gang-rape on December 16 passed security and dignity of our mothers, sisters and daughters are upheld. This should be our commitment for the New Year," Mukherjee said. Speaking about the newlylaunched D.Y. Patil Knowledge City and the need for such centres, Mukherjee called for much-required innovation, that is inevitable to drive the country towards path of growth. "A more than 100,000 strong army of Ibrahim Lodi lost the first battle of Panipat (1526) to the invading army of mere 10,000 soldiers. This was because the technology of firing guns was not available to our soldiers. So we see that knowledge is power," he said. However, he said that Contd. on page 2

Near-paralysed National Green Tribunal halts Posco's mega project in 2012

NEW DELHI: Working with several hurdles, a fledglingNational Green Tribunal managed to deliver several crucial orders, including the one that halted South Korean steel major Posco's mega project in Odisha in 2012, which saw the Supreme Court stepping in to remove its impediments. The NGT, set up in October 2010 and mandated to protect environment by effective and speedy disposal of related cases, remained headless for most of the year following resignation of its former chairperson, Justice Lokeshwar Singh Panta. Two more of its members, Justices C V Ramulu and Amit Talukdar, too followed suit and resigned, resenting the lack of adequate infrastructural support for functioning of the Green Tribunal and proper accommodations for its members and chairperson. With Justice R V Raveendran also declining to take up the Tribunal's chairpersonship amid escalating controversy over lack of its working conditions, the Supreme Court made an intervention and took an undertaking from the Centre about the fresh appointment and infrastructure facilities which was complied with after repeated reminders and strong remarks. The court also asked the chief secretaries of Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Maharashtra to ensure that the NGT benches at Bhopal, Kolkata and Pune start functioning by January 31, 2013, with all facilities, including accommodation, befitting the status of their chiefs and members. The apex court also hoped that Faridkot House here from where the National Human Rights Commission(NHRC) is operating would be vacated by December end and it would be alloted to the NGT in January 2013 and said that if for any reason it is not handed to the NGT after NHRC vacates it, the matter be brought before it. At the fag end of the year, the government also came out with the Contd. on page 2

One day EMMTP held at Bla

BARAMULLA, DEC 29: In order to increase the production and productivity of various agriculture crops viz paddy, maize, pulses and vegetables, the department of Agriculture today organized one day Extension Mass Media Training Programme (EMMTP) at Dak Bungalow, Baramulla under the Chairmanship of District Development Commissioner, Baramulla. The District Development Commissioner impressed upon the farmers to adopt latest technology for increasing the Contd. on page 2

away at Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital early on Saturday. "...We express our deep condolences, anguish and anger against this most heinous offence," the president said. "This can also provide an opportunity for all of us to resolve that henceforth, the responsibility will be each one of us, including the government and authorities to create a conducive climate where safety

Not much forward movement for Minority Affairs Ministry in 2012

NEW DELHI: The Minority Affairs Ministry did not see much forward movement in 2012 as its key initiatives like sub-quota, Wakf reforms and equal opportunity commission failed to see the light of the day. The only silver lining for the ministry was that it overachieved its target of scholarship in the last financial year. The year also saw K Rahman Khan from Karnataka replacing Salman Khurshid as Minority Affairs Minister. Ruling out the contention that his ministry is confined to dealing with minor affairs like scholarship and small loan distribution, Khan said one of the important tasks is to see that the Prime Minister's 15 programme for minorities is implemented and they get their share in all central government schemes. At the same time, he acknowledged that "monitoring of the schemes is a problem". During the financial year, loan of around Rs 17,02000 crore was extended to minorities under priority sector lending while around 2,70,000 houses under Indira Awas Yojana were sanctioned under Prime Minister's New 15 Point Programme. A sum of Rs 438.93 crore was released for scholarships this year. It also disbursed loans worth Rs 133.25 crore to 32,374 minority beneficiaries. While the ministry inched slowly towards its old commitments like bringing a bill to amend the existing Wakf law or setting up the omnibus body of equal opportunity commission, it continued to battle criticism on the minority sub-quota issue. The decision taken by the Cabinet on December 23 and later notified decided to carve out a sub-quota of 4.5 per cent for minorities within the 27 per cent reservation for OBCs. Since then, the Election Commission put on hold the implementation of the Contd. on page 2

DDC reviewed Republic day arrangements in Kishtwar

KISHTWAR, DEC 29: To review the arrangement for Republic day celebrations District Development Commissioner Kishtwar Mr. Saelem Mohammad today convened a meeting of District and Sectoral officers including Superintendent of Police, Commandant CISF, Commandant CRPF 74th Bn, Representative of Army and Municipal Committee Kishtwar. During the meeting various committees comprising different officers were constituted for the smooth conduct of the programme. Besides this arrangements regarding Security ,barricading sitting arrangements, power supply, drinking water, sanitation, transport, traffic regulations and medicare were also discussed in the meeting All the officers were directed to ensure their full participation in the function.

G&M Deptt. to take up free boring of drinking water tube wells across the State: Slathia
wells for drinking water in the water scares areas of the State, adding that the G&M department will conduct free drilling services for this purpose. "The G&M department has been equipped with most modern and heavy drilling machines (Rigs), which can bore beyond 70 meters deep", Mr. Slathia said and asked the Legislators to approach the department with their requisition about drilling of tube wells in their respective areas to augment drinking water facilities for the people. The department will bore such tube well free of cost. While greeting the people on the eve of New Year, Mr. Slathia said that the tube well is a new year gift to the people of the Sumwan area and assured that Contd. on page 2

Mobile Lok Adalat settles 15 cases at Sopore

SOPORE, DEC 29: Tehsil Legal Services Authority organized a Mobile Lok Adalat at Sopre under the Chairmanship of Sub-Judge, Pattan. As many as 35 cases of various natures were taken up in the said Mobile Lok Adalat, out of which 15 cases were settled amicably on the spot, besides Rs. 9100 recovered as a fine and compensation of Rs. one lakh in matrimonial cases.

JAMMU, DEC 29: Underscoring urgent need for utilizing ground water in a big way, especially in water scarce and rain fed areas of the State, the Minister for Industries and Commerce, Mr. S.S. Slathia today directed the Geology and Mining department to take up drilling of tube wells also besides its assigned job of ground water exploration. Speaking at a function, after dedicating about 12000 gallons per hour (GPH) capacity tube well at Sumwan in district Kathua today, Mr. Salathia called for dovetailing of activities between public health engineering and Geology and Mining (G&M)departments so that expertise of the available drilling engineers and skilled man Contd. on page 2 power could be utilize to bore tube

Delhi gang rape: Bollywood mourns victim's death, demands justice

MUMBAI: Bollywood celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Shabana Azmi and Shekhar Kapur came forward to express their grief and anger over the death of 23-year-old Delhi gangrape victim in a Singapore hospital today, calling it a shameful day for the country. The victim was taken to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore for further treatment after her condition deteriorated. She was earlier being treated at Delhi'sSafdarjang Hospital after being brutally assaulted on the night of December 16 in South Delhi. "'Amanat', 'Damini' just a name now... her body has passed away, but her soul shall shall forever stir our hearts !!!," Amitabh Bachchan posted on Twitter. His son Abhishek, who has a daughter with wifeAishwarya Rai, said, "I have always been a very proud Indian. Today, we should ALL be ashamed. Will it always take an innocents death for a nation to awake? This is not the country I grew up in as a child, this is not the country I want my daughter to know whilst she grows up!." Singer Lata Mangeshkar said, "Enough is enough. It is not the death of Nirbhay Damini but the death of humanity in our country. It is time for the government to wake up from its deep slumber and punish the criminals behind this heinous crime." Veteran actress Shabana Azmi, who has been very vocal on the issue, tweeted, "And SHE PASSES AWAY in S'pore RIP. Our impotence stares us in the face. May SHE become the wakeup call
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Delhi gang rape...

blood flow. About the nearly six-hour journey to Singapore, Dr Mehta said the victim's blood pressure dipped very low for a few minutes but it was brought to normal level immediately. "It was just for a temporary period. She responded quite well. In fact, she responded better than what I was expecting. Till yesterday, her blood pressure was normal and she took the treatment very well," he said. Maintaining that the girl was air-lifted only with an aim to get best of the treatment for her, the doctor paid rich tributes to her courage. "She was an extremely brave girl. She is a role model for everyone. She fought back," he said and noted that it was time for action. "As a society we should unite and fight against such crimes. It is not just enough that people shed artificial tears and forget. We should work hard," he said.

widened to empower it for direct lending. The ministry also proposes to create two more subsidiaries within it. It has also chalked out a plan to ensure greater involvement of the the Maulana Azad Educational Foundation in the expansion of education among the minorities. Regarding new initiatives being taken by his ministry, Khan said he is planning to set up separate consultative bodies within his ministry to look after each of the five notified religious minority communities as the requirements of each minority community is different and needed to be approached differently.

Russian Navy to get latest N-sub

RUSSIA: St. Petersburg: Yury Dolgoruky, Russia's latest ballistic missile nuclear submarine, will be put into service with the navy Sunday. "The hoisting of the flag and the signing of the acceptance act will be held at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk," the Rubin design bureau, designer of the sub, said. This is Russia's first Borey class ballistic missile nuclear submarine. On the same day, the Sevmash will float out a third Borey class submarine, the Vladimir Monomakh. A second Borey class vessel, the Alexander Nevsky, is undergoing sea trials and could join Russia's Pacific Fleet in 2014, the RIA Novosti reported. Russia is planning to build eight Borey and Borey-A class subs by 2020. Borey class submarines are expected to form the core of Russia's submarine fleet, replacing the aging Project 941 and Project 667 class (Delta-3 and Delta-4) boats. A Borey class submarine is 580 feet long, has a hull diameter of 42 feet, a crew of 107, including 55 officers, a maximum depth of about 1,500 feet and a submerged speed of about 29 knots. All Borey class strategic submarines will carry up to 16 Bulava ballistic missiles with multiple warheads.

Government determined to free other 37 Indian sailors: Khurshid

NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, welcoming the five Indian sailors who arrived in India Saturday after spending more than two and a half years in captivity, said the government would pursue the release of 37 other captive Indian seafarers with determination. Receiving the five Indian seafarers at the airport, Khurshid also said the Indian officials accompanying the five had also taken along with them two Pakistani seafarers who had been freed. The two Pakistani sailors were taken to Oman and handed over to the Pakistani authorities to be taken home. "I think this is for us a matter of some satisfaction that not only have we been able to successfully get the release of our own citizens but we have also been able to help in the release of citizens of our neighbouring country Pakistan," he said. Khurshid said: "We want to indicate through this our resolve and commitment to get the release of the other 37 hostages who are still held in various incidents, and we hope that all of them can be released also in the near future." The sailors who were on board MV Iceberg 1 had been rescued from captivity in Puntland before Christmas.

DDC reviewed..
It was also decided that a colorful cultural programme will be presented on the occasion by the school children.

G&M Deptt. to...

the coalition government led by visionary Chief Minister, Mr. Omar Abdullah has an ambitious mission to keep nobody in the State without drinking water facilities, adding that this mission will be accomplished fully with the cooperation and blessing of the people. Mr. slathia announced that the G&M department is, for the first time in its history, poised to surpass its highest ever target of Rs. 60 crore this fiscal which is five times more than the revenue ( Rs. 12 crore) registered before 4 years when the present government took over. Responding to the issues raised by the local public representative, Mr Slathia asked the officers of G&M department to send a team of officers to visit Ravi Tawi river in Kathua and stop such mining activities, if any, which do not conform environment protection guidelines. Responding to some issues raised by MP, Ch. Lal singh, the Minister said that the new list of BPL families shall be formulated shortly on the basis of latest Census data, where in all the genuine people will be enlisted. He said the State has approached to the Centre to sanction the proposal of the government regarding payment of pension to all the pending widows and old aged persons of the State, besides ensuring that the pension cheques are delivered to every beneficiary at their door steps regularly. He said government has formulated new industrial policy wherein it has been made mandatory for all Industrialists to provide 50% jobs in their units to the locals youth. Speaking on the occasion, MP, Ch. Lal Singh demanded 20 more tube well in Sumwan area adding that most of the areas on the tail end of Ravi Tawi in Kathua do not get adequate water facilities. The Director, Mr. Farooq Ahmed informed that the G&M, Department has bored 460 tube wells in the State including 95 in Jammu province. He said department has adequate skilled and professional man power including 50 drilling engineers who are ready to take up boring of tube wells across the State on demand. Among other, the function was attended by MLA, Mr. Charnjeet Singh, District Development Commissioner, Mrs. Zahida Khan, Managing Director JKI, Mr. Javid Iqbal, Managing Director, J&K, SICOP, Mr. R.L. Ticko, Managing Director, Handloom Development Corporation, M.S. Dua, Director, Handloom Department, Mr. D.R. Sharma, Director Industries and Commerce, Mr. Gulzar Qureshi., Secretary J&K,JKBI, S. Ravi Singh, and MD, JK Minerals, Mr. V.K. Sharma.

Unfair to close down central Delhi, say residents

NEW DELHI: Fearing largescale protests after the death of the 23-year-old gang-rape victim, the government Friday closed down large parts of central Delhi, a move that attracted major flak from citizens who asked what police was afraid of. "I live in a working women's hostel and the whole area has turned into a fortress. At least 100 girls from the hostel could not go to work or anywhere because there was no bus, auto or metro," said Shweta Arya, who lives in a women's hostel in Mandi House near India Gate. Hitting out at the establishment for closing down India Gate and surrounding areas, the virtual power centre of the city, Arya told IANS: "They have deputed police right in front of the hostel. What are they afraid of? Are we criminals that they have to shut us inside our homes, block roads and stop the city? This is so unfair." Kavita Bansal, who works in a west Delhi bank, had to take leave from work. "I live in central Delhi, but as the entire area has been shut down, I could not go to work. How will a person who has to go to the airport or has some emergency travel in such circumstances?" asked Bansal. "When police have allowed protests at Jantar Mantar, what is the idea behind shutting 10 Metro stations," she asked. As the news of the death of the young woman filtered in in the early hours, the home ministry sounded an alert and deployed police and paramilitary forces around India Gate and Raisina Road in central Delhi to foil possible violent street protests. Authorities shut down 10 metro stations around India Gate. With security forces in full force and roads around India Gate barricaded, the heart of Delhi turned into a fortress. Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat appealed to protesters to remain calm. Protests were allowed at Jantar Mantar, where hundreds assembled to mourn the death of the woman who died at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore where she was flown for treatment. Shouting "We want justice" and "Hang the rapists", protesters collected at Jantar Mantar. A few sat in silence with black ribbons tied to their mouths. Police video-taped the crowds and had water cannons on stand by.

Villagers remember ...

of the victim said her family would continue to strive till the time capital punishment was given to the accused. The girl, who was gang-raped and brutally assaulted by six men in a moving bus in south Delhi, died in aSingapore hospital early this morning after battling for life for the past 13 days. Since the news of the incident came, locals had been praying day and night in the local temple for the early recovery of the girl.

Implement ban on black/tinted glasses: Traffic Police

SRINAGAR, DEC 29: According to the Superintendent of Police, Traffic City, Srinagar, to uphold the directions of Supreme Court regarding ban on black/tinted glasses no vehicle except official vehicles allotted by Police department, State Motor Garage, Judges of J&K High Court and the head of Statutory Bodies/Commissions of Z and Z + Category protectee shall be allowed to use tint/black films. However, no such exemption shall be applicable in respect of private vehicles of Z and Z + category protectee's including the escort vehicles forming part of carcade of said protected person. Moreover, the general public are requested to inform the traffic police authority on the following Phone Numbers, if any vehicle having black film/tinted glass found plying on road so that action under law will be taken against the violator. Telephone Nos of Traffic Police Control Room, Srinagar Kashmir 0194-2450022, 0194-2485396

Near-paralysed National...
notification on appointment of Justice Swatanter Kumar, a sitting apex court judge, as the chairperson of NGT which he took over on December 20. Despite working with an acting chairperson, Justice A S Naidu, and eight other members instead of the sanctioned strength of 20, the NGT delivered some crucial orders aimed at fulfilling its mandate of environmental protection. The most significant one was the suspension of environmental clearance (EC) granted to Posco's steel project in Orissa till the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) reviews it afresh. While suspending Posco's EC, the Tribunal also slammed the MoEF for the way it granted the clearance to the company and said the entire process to review it (EC) was "vitiated" and the environment impact assessment (EIA) should have been done for Posco's total production capacity and not for one-third of it. Fulfilling its mandate to deal with issues on protection of environment, the NGT restrained the MoEF and theAssam government from granting fresh approval to any industrial or stone crushing unit in the vicinity of the famed Kaziranga National Park or renewing the existing ones. The NGT is also hearing a plea filed by Nirma LtdBSE 0.06 % against environment ministry's decision to revoke the green nod for its Bhavnagar cement plant in Gujarat. Nirma had moved the Tribunal challenging the December 1 order of the MoEF revoking the environmental clearance granted to it on December 11, 2008, for its 1.91 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) capacity cement plant, 1.5 MTPA coke oven plant and 50 MW captive power plant at Bhavnagar.

People asked not to venture in avalanche prone area

SRINAGAR, DEC 29: In view of fresh snowfall in higher reaches of Valley, a medium danger avalanche warning has been issued for Tangdhar, Chowkibal, Keran, Machil, Gurez, Tulail, Sonamarg, Drass and higher reaches of Uri and Gulmarg for the next 24 hours. People living in these areas have been advised to take precautions and not to venture in avalanche-prone areas. In view of poor visibility, civil flights got delayed at Srinagar airport, but later civil flights operated with a few cancellations. Two flights of Spice jet, one flight each of Go Air, Jet Airways and Army chartered plane got cancelled. Subject to weather, Govt. has made arrangement of IL-76 air force flight between Leh-Jammu-Leh on 30th December, for stranded passengers of Kargil. The passengers have been requested to contact the concerned Liaison Officers.

Malik inaugurates Employment Fair at Pouni

POUNI, DEC 29 - The Minister for Higher Education, Labour and Employment, Mr. Abdul Gani Malik inaugurated 3Day Employment Fair at Sports Stadium, Pouni in District Reasi today. Complementing the District administration for organizing Employment Fair, the Minister said that through such fairs un-employed youth get valuable information on various self employment schemes run by the government and financial support available under various schemes. He called upon the youth of the area to derive maximum benefit out of the Employment Fair and come forward to set up their income generating self employment units. The Minister called for holding series of awareness campaigns by concerned departments in their respective jurisdictions to educate the youth about welfare schemes. He said that state Entrepreneurship Development Institute is condepartments including banks

Kissan Credit Card awareness Camps held

ducting entrepreneurship development programmes regularly to acquaint unemployment youth about vast employment potential in the private sector aswell. While speaking on the occasion, Vice Chairman J&K Kissan Advisory Board, Mr. Rash Pal Singh lauded the efforts of the government for organizing series of employment fairs across the state for the benefit of the unemployed youth. Over 17 stalls of different and private institutions have been set up to provide awareness among the youth about various employment schemes. District Development Commissioner, Reasi, Mrs. Nirmal Sharma, Ex. Minister, Mr. Jag jeevan Lal , Joint Director Employment, Mrs. Manisha Sareen, Assistant Director Employment, District Officers and large number of youth were present on the occasion. BUDGAM, DEC 29: Kissan Credit Card awareness camps were organized at various Punchayat Halqas of Peth Muqam Beerwah and Iskanderpora Khag of district Budgam. Large number of farmers participated in these Camps, besides Revenue authorities, District Coordinator, Lead Bank Officer, Officers & officials of the department of Agriculture were also present. During the camp Chief Agriculture Officer informed that 100 percent farm operating families will be brought under Kissan Credit Card Scheme. He directed officers/officials of the department to coordinate with Bank & Revenue authorities for successful implementation of the scheme at ground level to ensure the availability of Kissan Credit Cards to every farm operating family of the district. During these camps, various difficulties faced by the farmers were solved on spot. In these camps 300 Kissan Credit Cards were distributed among the farmers, which involved an advance of Rs. 45 lakhs.

Safeguard dignity...
despite all the economic problems around the world, India is still doing well.

Delhi gang rape: Bollywood...

our country needs. We must soulsearch "Safety of women is a prerequisite of a civilised society. We do not want to be deified as goddesses we want equality we demand respect. It is time to reflect, to analyse, to soul search how each segment has been culpable and led to a mindset that makes man treat woman like property (sic)." "Her greatest betrayal is that we will forget. Political system's greatest hope is we will forget. Our only redemption is if we do not forget," said filmmaker Shekhar Kapur. Mahesh Bhatt: "Shut all temples where you pretend to worship the female form. Cry India! Your hands are drenched with the blood of your own daughters. Woman your silence will not protect you. Speak or be silenced forever. Rage."

Not much forward ...

measure in four election going states, while Andhara Pradesh High Courtrejected it and the Supreme Court expressed reservations against the move. Khan, who took charge of the ministry in last week of October after the Cabinet reshuffle, expressed confidence that the contentious bill on Wakf reforms will be brought in the budget session next year. There was no significant forward movement on setting up a pruned equal opportunity commission with its mandate limited only to minorities as suggested by the GoM headed by senior minister A K Antony. Khan expressed hope that he will also be able to introduce the Equal Opportunity Bill in the next session as well as complete the process of having diversity index and setting up of national data bank, three major recommendations of the Sachar Committee that went into backwardness of Muslims. The ministry is also in the last leg of restructuring the National Minority Development Corporation. Its ambit will be

Role of NYK vital for nation building: Bhalla

JAMMU, DEC 29:Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Mr. Raman Bhalla said that Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK) has played a vital role in effective development of young men and women by establishing a network of youth clubs in villages so that they would become the main stakeholders in the process of development at the grass root level by utilizing their full potential collectively. This was stated by the Minister while addressing a District Level Youth Convention organized by NYKs in collaboration with Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Government of India at Satwari, here today. Member Parliament Mr. Madan Lal Sharma, District Youth Coordinator (NYK), Mr. Nissar Ahmed Bhatt, Zonal Director (NYK) Mr. Nabin Kumar Naik, Director Col. K Krishna Chandra besides number of youth clubs and mahila mandals were also present on the occasion. Mr. Bhalla said the youth clubs are formed for community development and youth empowerment across the country. Youth clubs are composed of youth members between the age group of 1335 years. He said that the programmes and activities of youth clubs are based on local needs and requirements. He appreciated the work of NYK and its participants for their selfless services to the society. Speaking on the occasion, Member Parliament Mr. Madan Lal Sharma said that the vision of NYK is to provide opportunity to youth for developing their personality through various nation-building activities organized at district, state and national level. Renowned artists of doordarshan, All India Radio and Information Department namely Jeevan Sharma, Vijay Anand, Parvender Tondon, Kamal Kishore and artists of youth clubs and Mahila Mandal presented colourful cultural items on the occasion.

Technology shift shall boost the horticulture sector in the Valley: Tej Pratap
SRINAGAR, DEC 29: Launching the official website of Directorate of Horticulture, Kashmir at SKICC here today, Vice Chancellor Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agriculture and Science & Technology (SKUAST)-Kashmir, Dr. Tej Pratap emphasized that the technology shift, being the need of hour can be simplified and made useful for growers, orchardists and stakeholders of horticulture sector through use of Information Technology. He said that the launching of the website shall make available relevant data and timely information in bilingual format in English and Urdu languages to update the knowledge of orchardists and fruit growers in the Valley. Among others, officers of the various departments, scholars and scientists of SKUAST-K and Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture (CITH), besides fruit growers and stakeholders were present on the occasion. Director Horticulture, Kashmir while speaking on the occasion highlighted the importance of Information and Technology in Horticulture sector and said that it will undoubtedly help the orchardists and fruit growers to adopt the latest technology.

One day...
field of Crops. He asked the department to conduct more such training camps so that the farmers could get proper awareness about the programme launched by the Government. Giving details, the Chief Agriculture Officer said that the department has provided 03 Bore well, 40 Tube well, 65 Tractors, 100 Tillers and 400 Pump Sets to the farmers of the district till date.

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Two Day Employment Fair concludes in Ramban
DDC distributes 7.20 lakh subsidy
RAMBAN, DEC 29: To create awareness among the unemployed youth of the District regarding various self employment, schemes of the Government, a two day Employment fair was organized by the District Employment and Counselling Centre Ramban in collaboration with allied departments which concluded here today During the camp District Development Commissioner Ramban Sh. S.A Butt distributed cheques among the beneficiaries amounting to Rs 7.20 lacs which comprises of Margin money, Capital subsidy and Interest subsidy Assistant Director Employment Naresh Kumar gave a resume of the various activities of the department He said awareness about the various State and Centrally sponsored self employment schemes initiated by the Government is vital for effective implementation of these schemes besides help in motivating unemployed youth to establish their own small income generating units as liberal funding and finance is being provided by the Banks. He lauded the participation of various department and people of the area and also urged upon the women to come forward and take maximum benefits of various welfare schemes. He urged upon the various Departments to motivate and provide all the necessary help and felicitation to the aspirant un-employed youth in making them self reliant. During the two day fair 1373 unemployed youth were registered while as 2590 youths were provided counselling during the employment fair.

NEWS IN BOX

Srinagar-Jammu highway closed due to snowfall

SRINAGAR,DEC 29: Fresh heavy snowfall on Saturday cut off Kashmir Valley from the rest of the country as thick pile of snow on either side of the Jawahar Tunnel led to the closure of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway. The snowfall also forced cancellation of several flights from Srinagar Airport as well. The nearly 300-km, arterial highway was closed for vehicular traffic following heavy snowfall, officials said. Around two feet of snow accumulated around the tunnel in Qazigund area during the night, Aamir Ali, coordinator of Natural Disaster Management Cell, told PTI. However, he said vehicles stranded on either side of the Tunnel were allowed to move this afternoon after the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) cleared the highway. "Only stranded vehicles are allowed to move to reach their destinations," he said, adding that if the weather permits, the highway will be reopened for traffic tomorrow. He also said no civil flight could operate from Srinagar airport so far due to "poor visibility." "Four flights have been cancelled due to bad weather till 2:20 PM," an airport spokesman said. Snowfall started in the high altitude areas of the Kashmir Valley including Gulmarg on Thursday night and was still continuing intermittently, Ali said. About 12 inches of fresh snow was recorded at Gulmarg, while about three feet of snow had accumulated in Gurez sector near the Line of Control in Bandipora district till noon.

Shrine Board Members visit Katra and Bhawan; Inspect Infrastructure Development and Facilities
JAMMU, DEC 29 : At the instance of Mr. N. N. Vohra, Governor of J&K, who is also the Chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, the Board Members of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine had a day long tour of Katra, Bhawan and the Yatra track and inspected various infrastructure development activities and facilities being provided to the pilgrims. The Board team comprised of Mr. E. Sreedharan, Ms. Sudha Murty, Dr. S. S. Bloeria, Dr. Ashok Bhan and Mr. H. L. Maini. Mr. Navin K. Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mandeep K. Bhandari, Additional CEO and senior Board Officers accompanied the visiting team and apprised them about a large number of activities/development works undertaken by the Board. After paying obeisance at the Holy Cave in the early morning, the team inspected the re-modeling work undertaken of the Outer Cave area, including enlargement of the Atka area, replacement of worn out marble tiles, construction of new counting hall and modification of the queue system. The Board Members inspected the Exit Route, which has recently been completed, and hoped that this will not only help decongest the Bhawan area, but will also be of significant help from the point of view of disaster management. The Board Members took stock of several projects like construction of Parvati Bhawan, Pony Shed at Bhawan and retiling work of the track. They also suggested to establish a Veterinary Centre for the benefit of ponies next to the under construction Pony Shed. The Board took stock of ongoing renovation and construction of Toilet Blocks on modern lines on the instruction of Mr. N. N. Vohra, Hon'ble Chairman. They expressed happiness over the quality of renovated toilets and hoped that adequate number of Toilet Blocks would be renovated/constructed at the earliest in view of everincreasing Yatra. The Board team inspected the entire stretch of Dedicated Mule Track which has been constructed at a fast pace on the instructions of the Hon'ble Chairman. They also thanked Mr. H. L. Maini, Hon'ble Board Member and Technical Advisor, for maintaining close supervision on this very important infrastructure for the Board and hoped that the remaining work like construction of toilets, retaining walls, tiling of the entire track etc. would also be completed within one year's time. On arrival at Katra in the afternoon, the Board Members first inspected the under-construction Sports Stadium and expressed satisfaction at the progress achieved. While noting that the physical work at the Stadium would be ready in next 3-4 months, the Board Members endorsed the directions of the Hon'ble Chairman that a suitable policy be framed and necessary steps taken to ensure the best utilization of this facility. While appreciating the quality of infrastructure available at Spiritual Growth Centre, the Board Members desired that suitable steps be taken to ensure optimum utilization of this state of the art facility, in particular utilization of the auditorium.hereafter, the Board Members visited Kakriyal where they reviewed the progress of construction of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence.

Fresh avalanche warning issued in Kashmir Valley

SRINAGAR, DEC 29: In view of fresh snowfall in highaltitude areas in Kashmir, authorities today issued an avalanche warning to people living in areas close to the Line of Control. "A medium danger avalanche warning has been issued for Tangdhar, Chowkibal, Keran, Machil, Gurez, Tuleil and higher reaches of Uri and Gulmarg sectors," Aamir Ali, coordinator Natural Disaster Management Cell, said. The warning will also cover Sonamarg and Drass areas along the 434-km Srinagar-Leh national highway which was shut for vehicular traffic early this month. "People living in these areas have been advised to take precautions and not to venture out in avalanche-prone areas," Ali said.

Teachers shape destiny of our future: Bhalla

JAMMU, DEC 29: Asserting that there was no dearth of talent among the youth of Jammu and Kashmir; the Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Mr. Raman Bhalla today emphasized the need to channelize youth energy in a positive way. This was stated by the Minister while addressing a large gathering at a 6th annual day function of K C International School, here today. The Minister said that the Government has prioritized education sector adding that Government has opened scores of new schools with a resolve to take education at teaching fraternity to impart said teacher's role was not only to teach but to make the students the best and the ideal citizens of the society. A teacher is a friend, guide, helper and advisor of the students, he added. The students of the school on the occasion presented colourful cultural programmes. IGP/Director SSG Mr. Hemant Kumar Lohia, ExMinister Mr. Yogesh Sawhney, Chairman Mr. Vinay Mahajan, Vice Chairperson Mrs. Saroj Mahajan besides other dignitaries of the school, students and parents in large numbers were present on the occasion.

HSCC to oversee upcoming Health Institutions: Dwivedi

JAMMU, DEC 29: The work on two proposed prestigious health institutions for mother and child care at Bemina, Srinagar will start shortly. These two health institutions have already been sanctioned by the government. The two hospitals will be constructed at Bemina, Srinagar over a land of 60 kanals which is a prime centrally located place, for the convenience of the patients. The maternity hospital will be funded by central government whereas the construction of the children hospital will be taken up with State's resources. The Maternity hospital will be constructed at an approved outlay of Rs. 50 crore whileas the children hospital will cost about Rs. 60 crore. Both these hospitals will be inter connected and have several common facilities for the convenience of the patients. The building plan for both these hospitals was finalised at a meeting of officers and engineers held here today under the Chairmanship of Commissioner/Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Mr. Manoj Kumar Dwivedi. The design and other parameters of the proposed hospitals were discussed at length and experts of Hospital Services Consultancy Corporation (HSCC), suggested some modifications, which were incorporated in the plan. The meeting gave its nod to start the work on these two projects immediately. Mr. Dwivedi urged the experts to closely monitor the work on these projects on regular basis to ensure judicious use of funds and quality standards. He said that the HSCC will be involved in all future health projects to ensure building of quality infrastructure. Mr. Dwivedi said that construction of these new health institutions was need of the hour to provide adequate medicare facilities to the mothers and new born children. He said keeping in view this urgency, the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah had announced setting up of a maternity as well as paediatrics hospital in Srinagar. The government subsequently started working on the project on the land identified at Bemina Bye Pass. The soil testing and ground work has already been completed for these projects. These hospitals will cater to the healthcare needs of mothers and children exclusively. The PWD(R&B), which is the executing agency, has been given the target to complete the hospitals within two years.

Several initiatives taken by Govt for dev. of inaccessible areas of State: Akhoon
BANDIPORA, DEC 29: Minister for CA&PD, Mr. Qamar Ali Akhoon Saturday said that State Government has taken several initiatives to provide all basic facilities to far flung areas of the State and many more steps are afoot to speed up developmental and welfare measures to uncovered areas. The Minister was addressing a review meeting of various schemes launched by the Government for the upliftment of remote and inaccessible areas in Bandipora today. MLA Gurez, Mr. Nazir Ahmad Gurezi, MLA Bandipora, Mr. Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, District Development Commissioner, Bandipora, Mr. Manzoor Ahmad Lone, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Mr. Mohammad Ashraf Hakak, district officers of various departments attended the meeting. Various suggestions came up for solving problems confronting people in the district. Mr. Akhoon asked the officers to work with dedication and make judicious use of funds being provided by the Central and State Governments for implementation of various schemes. MLAs present in the meeting raised certain demands for construction of various roads, augmentation of drinking water and adequate power supply to the people living in Gurez, Tulail and other far flung areas of the district. Apprising the meeting about the activities of the district, the officers informed that against allocation of Rs. 11.20 crore and Rs. 8.85 crore have been spent on the construction of 99.22 kilometres road length, black topping, macadamization and metalling. Under PHE sector, Rs. 3.73 crore while as Rs. 67.91 lakh on Irrigation were spent during last financial year. In Health sector, several initiatives have been taken for setting up various health institutions in different areas of the district. Under MG NREGA, Rs. 10.09 crore were spent for generating 404641 mandays to raise infrastructure in the district.

peoples door step. He said Government run schools have well qualified staff and better infrastructure and appealed parents to send their children to these schools for their better future. The Minister asked the

moral education to the students adding that moral education was the first step towards spiritual education. He said a teacher has to become a role model for the student and shaping their destiny in a positive manner. He

Jora inaugurates Sat Paul Deol's painting exhibition at Kala Kendra

Says govt. encouraging local talent to attain excellence
JAMMU, DEC 29: Minister for Tourism and Culture, Mr. Nawang Rigzin Jora inaugurated painting Exhibition at Kala Kendra here today. The 3 day-long exhibition organized by Sat Paul Deol, a renowned artist of Jammu in collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages will remain open between 11 am to 5p.m. Over 70 paintings on several themes by Mr. Sat Paul are on display. The Minister went round the exhibition and evinced keen interest in the paintings and complimented the artist for the high quality of his artistic creations. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that creativ-

Winter Carnival at Patnitop from 19th Jan

UDHAMPUR, DEC 29: To discuss the arrangements for two day Winter Carnival at Patnitop which is being organized from January 19, 2013, a meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Director Tourism, Mr. Robin Singh here on today. SSP Udhampur, Mr. Ashkoor Wani, Chief Executive Officer, Patnitop, Development Authority, Mr. Raman Kesar, Joint Director Planning Udhampur, Mr. Rakesh Jamwal representatives of print and electronic media Travel Agencies and members of the Hotel Association Patnitop were present in the meeting. Mr. Singh stressed the role of media and other stake holders in promoting the event and attracting tourist to the carnival .He stressed upon the Hoteliers to provide special packages to the tourist during the carnival On the occasion, SSP, Udhampur, Mr. Ashkoor Wani assured that adequate security arrangements will be made for the event Apart from this, Mr. Singh stressed upon the Officers of the Patnitop Development Authorities to ensure proper cleanliness of the areas along with illumination of Patnitop area, circular road upto Nag Mandir besides deployment of Public Conveniences at various locations. Various activities like Cultural programmes, Exhibition stalls by Handloom Development Department, Handicarft Dev. Crop. & Ethnic Food Stall, and FundSledging will be organised during the carnival ,the meeting was informed.

ity in any form deserves appreciation. He said through his piece of art an artist interprets different human situations and their relation with nature, thus enabling people to understand the complexities of life. Describing the art and artists as precious assets, Mr. Jora said that the government was committed to

encourage the local talent and help it to attain excellence. He urged upon organizers to redouble their efforts to promote Art and artists by organizing such activities on regular intervals across the State. He said that holding of such events encourage the artists and inspire them to give their best.

Pandey interacts with the industrial fraternity to boost exports from J&K
JAMMU, DEC 29: Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Sudhanshu Pandey during his visit to J&K reviewed the performance of the ongoing projects funded under ASIDE scheme at Bari Brahmana Industrial Estate. Mr. pandey subsequently held on interactive meeting in the Udyog Bhawan with the industrial fraternity of Jammu and members of Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The meeting was also participated by the representatives of exporters located in Jammu. The officers of Industries department also participated in the interactive meet. Mr. Pandey gave a brief about the working of the Ministry and the various schemes implemented through the Ministry which could be availed by the Industrial sector in J&K to boost their exports. Mr. Pandey gave a brief review of the ASIDE scheme and the market Access Initiative (MAI) scheme wherein various benefits could be availed by the State Government and individual exporters to avail the various components of these schemes for their benefit. The interactive session was attended by the Commissioner Secretary to Government Industries and Commerce Department, Director handloom, managing Director J&K SIDCO, managing Director, handloom Development Corporation and Presidents of Chamber and Various industrial Association. The Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce gave a brief resume to the export community about the existing world trade scenario and informed that the exporters have to gear up their performance and statutory requirements in order to compete and export to world in view of WTO regime that various countries are adopting for trade practices.

Rs. 2 lakh distributed among 62 students for their brilliant performance in Exams
SRINAGAR, DEC 29: The students who have excelled in the Secondary and Higher Secondary examinations conducted by Board of School Education (BOSE) were felicitated at a colourful function at S.P. Higher Secondary School auditorium here today. Speaking on the occasion, Director School Education, Kashmir highlighted the importance of education and stressed for quality education to be provided to the students through educational institutions besides job oriented courses. He said that education can improve the socio-economic conditions of the people. Lauding the performance of students during the regular exams of secondary and higher secondary levels, he exhorted upon the students to acquaint themselves with modern education and enable themselves through hard work and dedication to compete at national as well as international levels. Later, the Director School Education distributed about Rs. 2 lakh among the 28 students of 10th class and 34 students of 12th class for their performance in their said examinations.

Shabir inspects modal village, Pilgrim accommodation at Shadera sharief

RAJOURI, DEC 29: Minister of State for Power, Forest, CA&PD and Transport, Mr. Shabir Ahmed Khan today inspected modal village Shadara Sharief, being developed at a cost of Rs 4.52 crore. He also inspected budgeted accommodation being constructed at Zairat Shadera Sharief at a cost of Rs 5 crore for convenience of pilgrims. The Minister was apprised that so far Rs 1.75 crore was expended on construction of several components of the modal village, while as Rs 1.82 crore has been incurred so far on the work on budgeted accommodation for pilgrims. He was assured by the concerned executing agency that construction work on these projects would be completed within stipulated time frame. The Minister also visited the site identified for construction of steel bridge to connect TRC with Zairat Sharief. He directed concerned Engineers for taking up the work earliest. He was apprised that tenders for the purpose have been already floated and are at award stage. The Minister also reviewed the physical and financial status of several tourism projects being executed in the area for visiting tourists. He directed concerned authorities to redouble their efforts and accelerate the pace of work on all ongoing projects for their timely completion. He also stressed on the concerned that the under execution TRCs at Dhara ki gali, Barrot, Manjakote and hanging garden at Rajouri should be completed in time keeping in view the visitors and tourists coming via Mugal road. Later the Minister addressed a public meeting at Shadara Sharief. He said to improve electricity facility in the area 6 new transformers would be installed in the area. He assured that all genuine demands and developmental needs would be redressed in due course. The Minister also called upon the people to come forward and take full benefits of welfare schemes lunched by the government.

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EDITORIAL
BY BALBIR K PUNJ or two consecutive days, the power grids collapsed, leaving large parts of the country without electric supply for several hours. The blame game for the failure is still on. Fact is, the Congressled UPA has no answers. From the Power Grid Corporation of India and Coal India Limited to the State Governments and the Union Government, almost everybody has been blamed for the shameful power outage that India suffered for two days in a row after the northern, central and north-eastern power grids failed. The blame-game went something like this: The Power Ministry blamed the grid failure for the blackout. The manager of the grid, the Power Grid Corporation of India, blamed the State Governments for overdrawing power. The State Governments claimed that the power generating companies were unable to meet the high demand for electricity at the peak of summer. Power generating companies like the NTPC said there was a shortage in coal supply as Coal India Limited was unable to guarantee the supply. Coal India Limited said the problem was with the Union Minister of Environment and Forests that had not given the green signal without which the Union Government could not raise its production by the much needed 25 per cent. The Coal Ministry backed Coal India Limited and blamed the Environment Ministry for placing a blanket ban on mining in forest areas. The round robin game thus goes on and the finger is always pointed at the next-door neighbour. But the accusations take the players nowhere. The country, meanwhile, continues to suffer huge power outages. Unable to meet commercial commitments, industry too must depend on expensive diesel-generated power. And, as demand for diesel goes up, its enormous subsidy bill burns an increasingly large hole in the pockets of oil supply companies. That in turn raises the fiscal deficit of the Government which leads to rising inflation. At the end of the day it is the common man who suffers. The crux of this problem lies in the fact that there is a power vacuum at 7, Race Course Road, from where the Prime Minister operates. Instead, the power centre is at 10, Janpath, where Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi resides. It is this diarchy that is responsible for a situation wherein the PMO tells Coal India Limited to keep the coal supply trigger at 80 per cent but the latter has the cheek to tell the Prime Minister the trigger point should be at 65 per cent. The trigger point is that percentage of the agreed supply below which if coal supply drop, Coal India Limited (the supplier) will have to take heavy penalties. The PMO, supposed to be the power centre of the Government, calls two conferences within a fortnight and tries to reconcile the conflicting versions on the power crisis. Apart from the specific days on which the power grids collapsed, there is evidence that in the last four months supply of both and coal have been deficit as a result of which functioning or ready-to-function power generating plants were just dead horses. For instance, the Delhi Government's 750 MW Bawana gas-based power generator is currently not working as the promised gas supply has not arrive. The 1,500 MW Rosa power plant is also out of service because there has been no coal supply. Similarly, NTPC - the largest public sector power company - has on its hands a dead 6,000 MW plant and another 21,000 MW plant which is functioning far below critical point. Governance under the Congressled UPA appears more like a circus in cyber space - power generation is just on computer screens, not in reality. How else can one explain the regular, countrywide power cuts happening at a time when the Power Ministry claims to have added 19,459 MW in just one year of the 11th Five Year Plan period and 54,000 MW in the whole 2007-12 period? If true, this would have been the biggest ever increase in India's capacity for power creation in the past several decades. The simple fact is that this creation of additional power generating capacity - a record no doubt - is an empty achievement because it is useless without the fuel that is needed to work the power generators. And that fuel, both coal and gas, is not available because Coal India Limited cannot mine the 500 million tonnes of coal needed every year (this number will soon rise to 600 million tonnes) and the country cannot afford to import all the coal that it needs. Similarly, gas supply has suddenly shrunk as the promise at Reliance India Limited's KG-D6 location has turned a dud. Right at the heart of the coal supply controversy is the scam, that is coming out only now, that coal mines having been allotted to fake companies that have simply transferred the licence to the actual benefactors and minted money in the process. Also, the Environment Ministry is unable to get its house in order and, therefore, there are delays in issuing mining licences to other public sector undertakings. In turn CIL wants higher price for its coal which would naturally raise generation costs and therefore distribution costs. The Union Government is unable to take a decision on whether to raise domestic coal prices or import the black gold at higher than domestic prices. It is also unable to decide on breaking Coal India Limited's coal monopoly. It has put off decisions to open up more mines but remains helpless

The Paul Ryan Choice Dark night rises, not even a ray of hope

he choice of GOP budget guru Paul Ryan as the vicepresidential running mate has drawn sharp, swift responses reflecting the nation's deeply polarized political landscape. The search process for the candidate was steeped in secrecy till the last so much so that the background information on a short list of candidates, including several years of tax returns and other documents, were kept in a safe in a locked room at Romney's campaign headquarters and the few people allowed in were not permitted to make copies or take anything out. However by July itself, Romney knew Ryan was his man even before Ryan knew. Ryan, a Wisconsin congressman who chairs the House Budget Committee, has long been a polarizing figure in national politics for his austere approach to reining in the nation's deficits and revamping the entitlement system- particularly his Medicare proposal that would allow the next generation of seniors, those now 55, the option of a voucher-like system to buy private insurance outside the existing senior health program. The 42year-old is one of the socalled "Young Guns" of upand-coming House Republican leaders. Rep. Paul Ryan is Mitt Romney's Al Gore, a policy wonk who brings legislative experience and seriousness of purpose to the ticket. He is, in other words, no

Sarah Palin. But Ryan is also the symbol of something more: a commitment to a particularly conservative vision of a smaller federal government, a scaledback safety net and a lower tax burden. By choosing Ryan, Romney answered the critics (particularly on the right) who questioned whether his campaign had a vision for the future. If there were voters who harbored any doubt about the magnitude of the choice they face in November, they should no longer. Although Romney has taken positions on an array of issues, the race so far has largely been a backward-looking and bilespewing affair. The media deserve some of the blame for that, but so do the campaigns and their "super PAC" allies. In choosing Ryan, Romney may hope to shift the campaign from personal attacks to debates about fiscal policy. That's quixotic, but it would be a welcome change. Ryan's presence on the ticket helps sharpen the contrast between President Obama's so-called "balanced" approach, which combines tax hikes and spending restraints, and Romney's ambition to rein in entitlements and discretionary programs while cutting taxes in the hope of spurring growth. Indeed, Ryan makes the GOP ticket more stubbornly ideological and less pragmatic. Ryan had the chance as a member of the White House deficit com-

mission to back a bipartisan plan in 2010 to repair the federal government's finances, but he voted no because he wanted to roll back Obama's healthcare reform law and make a bigger dent in Medicare and Medicaid. The proposal fell a few votes short of the supermajority needed to send it to Congress. One risk for Romney is that Ryan is a leader of what may be the most unloved political institution in America. Another is that, rather than having a serious debate about Washington's fiscal mess, the Obama campaign will simply unleash the stinging and often hyperbolic critiques that Democrats have made of Ryan's budgets. We don't trust Ryan's tax-cutting math, and we're skeptical of his proposals to transform Medicare into limited insurance subsidies and to cap federal spending on Medicaid, but we agree that neither program is sustainable without reforms. And it was probably just a matter of time before the Obama campaign loosed those attacks on Romney anyway, given his praise for Ryan's plan. The other suggestion Romney makes by picking Ryan is that the Republican strategy will turn less on attracting independents than turning out loyalists. The brainy Ryan should help Romney shore up his conservative base and motivate tea party voters. That's because Romney's pick says the race isn't about governing, it's about changing government.

in preventing illegal mining that constituted a whopping six per cent of the country's total coal output. The Oil Ministry has also been delaying auctions of the prospective oil and gas locations for over a year now. In a tightly governed country, the chief executive, namely the Prime Minister, would have taken some bold decisions to break up production and supply monopolies, aligned fuel prices to costs and set the wheels of power generation running at express speed. The present slumber in Government however has resulted in all round price escalation or inflation. The Congress-led UPA blames the State Governments for not implementing reforms as laid down in the Electricity Act 2003. But it is Congress-ruled States that have not cared to introduce the reforms. The Act itself was passed by the NDA Government in 2003. But the two subsequent Governments at the Centre, both led by the Congress, should take the blame as there is neither any governance at the centre nor in Congress-led States. It is a slap on the face of the Congress, and a huge embarrassment for the party, when the only State that has surplus power in this distressing situation - Gujarat - is led by the main Opposition party, the BJP. Secularists have blamed State Chief Minister Narendra Modi pretty much for everythin,g but he was the only one among 30 Chief Ministers who could offer the national power grid 2,000 MW of power from his State at a time when there is deficit everywhere. Gujarat, under the stewardship of Mr Modi, is the only State which has completed power reforms. As a result, there is a 24 hour power supply in every one of the 18,000 villages in Gujarat. Thus, the power black-out story is a story of poor governance power across most State capitals and definitely in the national capital.

HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISM

BY KARMANYE THADANI he acquittal of the two Kashmiri Muslim youths languishing in our jails for sixteen years, falsely accused of being responsible for blasts in Lajpat Nagar in New Delhi, is a shameful revelation for our democracy, and instances like these promote a sense of antiIndia resentment among Kashmiri Muslims. This is not a solitary case, there having been many other such cases in the past, in spite of anti-terror statutes making convictions for terror suspects much easier with relaxed evidence regulations. In India, an oft-cited argument one hears is that human rights activists are absolute cranks who only care for terrorists. This argument is shouted from the rooftop by the saffron brigade, resonates even with tolerant Hindus averse to the saffron brigade and is recycled by Bollywood movies. In this article, I venture to explore whether this is really the case. The conception of human rights bases itself on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which has been given a more binding character by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), besides other specific conventions targeting specific groups of people such as the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). These conventions deal with a host of issues ranging from the right to freedom of speech and expression to the right to privacy to the right to food and the right to housing, and indeed, the right to life, the right to a fair trial and the right against torture.

In the light of this, let us first examine a human right activist's approach to the issue of terrorism. Till date, I haven't come across any human rights activist contesting the obvious fact that any killing of innocent civilians amounts to a human rights violation, nor have I heard of any human rights activist saying that security personnel shouldn't shoot down terrorists if they have opened fire in a public place to protect the innocent people who are his potential targets. They do, however, assert that someone declared by the police to be a terrorist shouldn't simply be assumed to be one and deserves a fair trial as soon as possible with norms of evidence being the same as for other crimes, and they also demand that security personnel should not be exempted from judicial scrutiny for allegedly killing innocents. Our soldiers have been punished for rapes, killings and forced disappearances in Kashmir and the north-east, though the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), similar to many other such statutes in the world, practically immunizes them from judicial scrutiny to a great extent. We may romanticize our security personnel as all being very honest and patriotic men ever-ready to die for the motherland, but what we often overlook is that mercenary fighters too have existed across the globe, and money is a key driving factor for many joining the forces. Besides, loyalty to the country doesn't necessarily mean that one never does any wrong. A person who may exhibit heartfelt patriotism while cheering for India in a cricket match or while signing the national anthem may very well be a tax-evader or someone who gives bribes to derive benefits for

his business. In fact, misguided patriotism can take extreme levels just like religious fanaticism, with anyone seen as not being on the side of your country being deemed as not being worthy of a dignified existence. In our Indian context, the Republic of India always being morally right in all its foreign policy decisions or in its engagement with secessionist forces is taken as axiomatic by far too many people, which is rather immature (though similar immaturity is also exhibited by far too many people in our neighbouring countries as well as among many of those living within our borders not identifying themselves as Indians, such as Kashmiris, who blindly tend to believe versions of events that suit them), and public anger against terrorism is so strong that anyone branded as a terrorist is simply assumed to be one, though statistics of conviction rates show that special antiterror statutes have been heavily misused (as has been the case elsewhere in the world, including the West, too), and this misuse has alienated certain sections of our society, boosting terrorism even more, and these sections of the society don't only include Muslims but also people from Naxal-infested regions or regions in the north-east with secessionist aspirations or even Sikhs when the Khalistan Movement was at its peak (this is relevant in the light of the false propaganda by Muslim communalists and even pseudo-intellectual Hindus that this is a problem only for Muslims). Not so long ago, a small boy, who was a Hindu, was shot down for climbing an apple tree in an Army cantonment in Chennai (a gun in someone's hand often gives him a berserk sense of

power and authority) and a blind, mentally challenged Hindu beggar was killed by Army men in Kashmir, branded as a terrorist with the 'encounter' supposedly having lasted 24 hours, and innocent Hindus branded as criminals too have been killed in fake encounters by the police (remember the Ranbir Singh episode in Uttarakhand?), and all this, obviously for promotions and medals! Incidents of corruption in the Indian Army, like the Adarsh scam or the Tehelka expose, should open our eyes to the fact that our security forces are not without their rotten apples, as is also evident from the recent case of an ex-major starving and brutally assaulting his son that got considerable media coverage some time back. Terror suspects are indeed suspects but only until they are proven guilty and deserve their day in court. Torturing innocents presuming their guilt is not on. Some argue against human rights activists, saying that they protest only against alleged misuse of power by security personnel but not against terrorist attacks. The refutation to this hollow argument is very simple - demonstrations are organized to get an entity to accept your demands, and mere protest marches will not impact terrorists but are expected to impact the government in a democracy (though people from communities in whose name terrorist attacks have been committed often carry out demonstrations against terrorism to disassociate themselves from the terrorists), and this does not, in any way, imply that human rights activists don't feel strongly against terrorism like other citizens do. Terrorism can be defeated by reaching out to those perceiving themselves as marginal-

ized and/or reposing faith in inhuman ideologies on one hand and by the efforts of intelligence agencies and security forces on the other, but certainly not by way of demonstrations by human rights activists, though on the other hand, it can be argued that such demonstrations can help integrate the community from which the terrorists emanate by making more and more people in that community realize that the civil society of the country cares for them, thus helping prevent terrorism. Finally, it should also be noted that human rights activists, including those working in the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), quite often the very same people who raise their voices for humane treatment and fair trials of terror suspects, have actually often done quite a commendable job of successfully agitating for the availability of affordable and qualitative education and health care for the underprivileged and against child labour, besides ensuring that forcibly displaced tribals and the disabled get their due; so, the work of human rights activists is, by no means, only about dealing with the rights of suspected terrorists. I do, however, have my differences with those of our human rights activists who oppose the death penalty, support reservations based on caste or religion and/or offer narratives, which are, in my opinion, consciously or subconsciously biased in favour of certain communities they regard as oppressed, but these issues are indeed very different from considering them supporters of terrorism or even insensitive to the victims of terrorist attacks for raising their voices for the rights of terror suspects.

ne of the flagship programmes of the United Progressive Alliance Government, the National Rural Health Mission, touted as among the "the most ambitious rural health initiatives ever", has, like most of the regime's populist schemes, failed to live up to its avowed mission. The aim was to improve sanitation and hygiene for the rural poor, as also extend to them equitable, affordable and effective primary healthcare. But seven years on, since its grand launch in 2005, a vast majority of the rural folk, especially in far-flung areas, has remained deprived of even the basic health amenities. The NRHM could have gone a long way to improve the mother and child welfare parameters in the country. The concept is utopian but given the ground realities in the country, it is corruption-ridden and has become a milch cow for many to siphon off funds. What can be more shocking than the fact that the people at whom the scheme is targeted have no clue about its existence? Or that those few handful who do seem to have heard about it have complained of inadequate facilities? It's a fact corroborated by the findings of the Delhibased Institute of Social Sciences, which conducted a nationwide survey to assess the reach and success of the much vaunted healthcare initiative. Reportedly, more than 43 per cent of the elected women panchayat leaders across 19 States that were interviewed by the organisa-

UPA's rural health project falls flat on the face

tion gave a thumbs down to the NRHM scheme. The reason: Lack of awareness about the existence of the health facilities or the fact that these facilities and medicines were for free; absence of primary and community health care centres in the respective panchayats and neighbouring rural areas. Non-availability of medicines, absence of paramedical staff and the occasional visit of the doctor add to the bleak scenario. Almost `20,822 crore were allocated for the NRHM out of a total `30,702 for the entire health sector. But the twist in the tale is that most of the gram panchayats have yet to receive even a fraction of the funds. Panchayats are the key vehicles in creating awareness and making Government-sponsored schemes available at the grassroots level. Wherever there has been intervention at the panchayat level, the status of health, nutrition, water and sanitation has increased in the area. But the UPA dispensation, which ever so often mouths platitudes about rural uplift and development, has failed to effectively reach out and mobilise the panchayats. We hear of medical tourism in India growing by leaps and bounds. That it's a great revenue generator and that it has pushed the country in the forefront of healthcare. But, while Westerners find the prospect of low-priced healthcare procedures in India appealing, it is a travesty that for many in this country, quality healthcare still remains a distant dream.

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How the Bear Lost his Tail

than any other." "Sit still" said Fox. "I'll watch from those trees, so I don't scare the fish." Bear sat very still and thought about fish jumping onto his tail. He counted each one. It was very tiring. He fell asleep. It became very cold and started to snow. Fox went back to his house, taking his fish with him. A few hours later, Fox came back to the lakeBear was still asleep and snoring. His black fur coat was white with snow. Fox laughed so much he fell over on his back with his legs waving in the air. "This is such a cool trick" gasped Fox. Then he stopped laughing and quietly snuck up on Bear. He shouted "Bear! Bear! I can see a fish on your tail. Can you feel it?" Bear woke up with a fright and felt a sharp pain in his frozen tail. "I can feel it!" he shouted. He leaped up and his frozen tail snapped off. All that was left was a small stump where his beautiful long, black tail had been. "My tail! My beautiful tail" he wailed. Fox, the trickster, ran away laughing. And that's why bears now only have short tails. If you ever hear a bear groaning, it's because he remembers his big, black, beautiful tail. And it's also the reason why you won't see Bear and Fox having lunch together! Fox knows he would be lunch.

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long time ago, Bear had a beautiful, long, furry tail. He thought it was really cool. He laid it out behind him and people had to walk round it. He asked everyone: "Don't you think my tail is the most beautiful tail you've ever seen?" People thought Bear was very vain, but they were frightened of his big claws and didn't want to make him angry. So they told him he looked totally cool with his big, black, shiny tail. One cold winter's day, Bear went lumbering down to the lake. Fox was sitting on the frozen water, surrounded by fish. He knew that Bear was hungry, and decided to play a trick on him. "Hello brother Fox" said Bear, his mouth watering. "Where did you get all those fish?" "I caught them" said Fox, pointing to a hole in the ice. "But you don't have anything to fish with" said Bear. "I used my tail" said Fox. Bear was totally blown away by this. "You used your Tail?" he shouted."Sure. It's the best thing for catching fish. Shall I show how?Then you'll always have as many fish as you want to eat." "Yes please" said Bear in his deep, gruff voice. His mouth watered again. Fox pointed to the hole in the ice. "There's no fish left in there. Let's go to another part of the lake

where there's more."Trying not to laugh, Fox led Bear to a shallow part of the lake. Bear dug a hole in the ice with his claws. Now, sit with your back to the hole and drop your beautiful tail into the water," said Fox. "You'll feel when a fish bites. Then you can pull your tail out with the fish on the end of it." Bear wanted the fish big time. He put his tail into the icy water."Now" said Fox, "this is important. You must sit very still and only think about fish. Pretend to count the fish you catch with your tail. The more you count, the more you will catch." The Bear scratched himself with pleasure. "My tail will catch more fish

Maharaja Gulab Singh: The Great Warrior King

namely, Raja Ranjit Dev. In his childhood Gulab Singh was sent by his father for martial training to his grandfather Zorawar Singh. He learnt the art of warfare and swordsmanship from his grand uncle Mian Mota and in time to come matured into a great soldier. Gulab Singh demonstrated his chivalry and adroitness at a young age of 16 years when he fought against the army of the mighty Maharaja Ranjit Singh. When Jammu was about to be invested, 16 years old Gulab Singh assembled and led a band of young Dogra fighters in last desperate bid to save Jammu. They fought so bravely & beheaded their leading fighters in such a way that the Sikh Army was compelled to give up the plan of capturing Jammu and instead offered to enter into a treaty. In recognition of his valour and ability, Maharaja Ranjit Singh invited Gulab Singh in 1809 to Daska, Sialkot and requested him to join his army. Henceforth began the long string of military conquest of Gulab Singh - Kabul in the Battle of Attok in 1813, flank from Mandi to Bushair in 1814, Multan in 1818, Kashmir and Rajouri in 1819, Mian Dido in 1820 and Kishtwar in 1821. Within mere 4 years starting 1813 he had become a Commander and a Jagirdar from a sepoy. When Mian Dewan Singh of Reasi revolted against Darbar, Gulab Singh conquered it easily and built Bhimgarh Fort for its defence after which Gen Zorawar Singh was appointed administrator of Reasi. Finally the great day came when Maharaja Ranjit Singh came to Jammu and declared Gulab Singh as Raja of Jammu on 17 June 1822 by himself putting Raj Tilak on his forehead. Tilak was applied upside down & the unconventional act justified by stating that he had planted his roots to Patal so that Dogra Raj could not be uprooted. With this act of Raj Tilak, a saga of addition of territories began and by the mid of 19th Century, Maharaja Gulab Singh became independent ruler of a vast state of Jammu & Kashmir. Gulab Singh had received vast Jagirs in Punjab. He got salt mines of Pind Dadan Khan, Lune & Miani worth lakhs on lease. To further improve economical and financial state of Jammu he obtained monopoly over timber trade by acquiring markets of Jhelum & Wazirabad on lease. The period between the murder of Hira Singh in Dec 1844 to beginning August 1845 had been the worst & the saga of trials and tribulations in the life of Maharaja Gulab Singh as well as highly crucial for Jammu Raj. Life of Gulab Singh remained under threat all this while. But his diplomatic skills, sagacity and cool headedness averted every crisis and ultimately he emerged as unharmed victor. With the Treaty of Lahore signed on 9 March 1846. Governor General conferred the title of His Exalted Highness, The Maharaja of Jammu & Kashmir upon Raja Gulab Singh on 15 March 1846 with entitlement of 21 Gun Salute. Thus came into existence the vast state of Jammu & Kashmir under the direct rule of Maharaja Gulab Singh. The greatness of Maharaja lay in his superb statesmanship coupled with deep foresight that enabled him to use every opportunity to the best of its advantage when that knocked at his door. He thus gave India a state of composite religions and cultures of three distinct regions ie, Ladakh, Kashmir and Jammu, interdependent on each other for their socioeconomic growth. The unity of J&K is a source of secular strength of India. He died on 30 August 1858.

Mesopotamia and Sumer

ne of the world's earliest civilizations grew up on the fertile plains between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates, in what is now Iraq.The area became known as Mesopotamia,"the land between the two rivers" About 5000 BC,the Sumerians settled in southern Mesopotamia. The fertile Land of Mesopotamia was ideal for growing crops. Farmers soon learned how to build irrigation canals to bring water from the rivers to their fields. As more food was grown, the population increased, and by about 3500B.C some villages had grown into thriving towns. The towns of Ur and Uruk grew to become cities, and then Independent city-states. The cities were ruled by Councils of Elders, who appointed lugals (generals) to

he process of evolution of State of Jammu & Kashmir began 188 years ago by an act of unprecedented historical significance in which Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab who ruled Jammu indirectly gave Raj Tilak to his most trusted & loyal Dogra General Gulab Singhji on 17 June 1822 at Jia Pota, Akhnoor and made him Raja of Jammu. Therefore credit for the formation of a vast, multi religious, multi culture & a composite State of Jammu & Kashmir equally goes to the Lion of Punjab. A great sagacious visionary, he is one of few historical legacies that India can be genuinely proud of. Maharaja Gulab Singh came from a distinguished Dogra-Rajput lineage. He was born on October 21, 1792 to Kishore Singh, whose grandfather was the brother of the illustrious king of Jammu

lead the armies in times of war. As wars between rival ,cities became more frequent, the Iugals' powers grew, and from about 2900 BC the Iugals were kings, ruling for life. In the centre of each city stood a temple to the city's patron god or goddess. The Sumerians believed the gods controlled every aspect of nature and everyday life. It was vital to keep the gods happy with daily offerings, or they might send wars, floods or disease to punish the people. The Sumerians were expert mathematicians. They had two systems of counting. One was decimal, like the system we use today; the other used units of 60 (the Sumerians were the first to divide an hour into 60 minutes). They also devised a calendar,a complex legal system, and used the wheel for pot-making and on carts. But their most important invention was writing.

FUN TIME
MOTHER: What did you learn in school today SON: How to write MOTHER: What did you write? SON: I don't know, they haven't taught us how to read yet! TEACHER: "Sam, what is the outside of a tree called?" SAM: "I don't know." TEACHER: "Bark, Sam, bark." SAM: "Bow, wow, wow!" TEACHER: PAPPU, how do you spell "crocodile"? PAPPU : "K-R-O-K-O-D-A-I-L" TEACHER: No, that's wrong PAPPU : Maybe it's wrong, but you asked me how I spell it! CHILD: "Why do you send me to school for." MOTHER: "To make a man out of you." CHILD: "But my teacher makes everyday a cock out of me." TEACHER:Ritu spell "Blind Bird" RITU:B,l,n,d B,r,d TEACHER:Where are the two i's?? RITU:Teacher a blind bird doesn't have eyes! A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was. The girl replied, "I'm drawing God." The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like." Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, "They will in a minute.

IMAGE TO COLOUR

DID YOU KNOW

1) Ostriches can run faster than horses, and the males can roar like lions. 2) Deer have no gall bladders. 3) The leg bones of a bat are so thin that no bat can walk. 4) A tarantula spider can survive for more than two years without food. 5) For every human in the world there are one million ants. 6) If you keep a goldfish. in a dark room, it will become pale! 7) The flamingo can only eat when its head is upside down. 8) The honey bee has been around for 30 million years.

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STUDENT AGE SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2012

NATIONAL
NEW DELHI: Political parties were today united in demanding stronger laws to deal with crime againstwomen as President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh joined the nation in mourning the death of the 23-yearold gangrape victim. Describing the girl as a "brave daughter of India" and a "true hero", Mukherjee said all steps to bring the perpetrators of this "ghastly crime" to justice should be taken to ensure that her death will not be in vain. Singh hoped that the entire political class and civil society will set aside narrow sectional interests and agenda to make India a demonstrably safer place to live in. "We have already seen the emotions and energiesBSE -2.09 % this incident has generated. These are perfectly understandable reactions from a young India and an India that genuinely desires change. It would be a true homage to her memory if we are able to channelise these emotions and energies into a constructive course of action," he said Both Mukherjee and Singh said the country should resolve that her death will not be in vain. Congress President Sonia Gandhi also condoled the death of the gangrape victim. Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley sought better laws and an environment where women

Gujarat portfolios: Nitin Patel gets Finance; Anandi retains revenue

GANDHINAGAR: Chief Minister Narendra Modi today allocated portfolios to his 16-member team which was sworn on December 26, after the BJP retained power inGujarat with a thumping victory in the recent assembly polls. The portfolios were distributed after the first meeting of the council of ministers of the newly formed government. Modi has kept with himself important portfolios like home, industry, information, ports, general administration, science and technology, climate change, Narmada, Kalpsar and all policies. While senior leader Nitin Patel who was holding water resources and urban development ministry in the last government, got an elevation as Finance Minister of the state. He has also been given urban development in the new cabinet. Bhupendrasinh Chudasama along with law and Food and Civil Supplies ministry. Saurabh Patel, who was elevated from Minister of State to cabinet rank has been given Ministry of Energy and petrochemicals, planning, tourism and labour and employment. Tribal minister in Modi government Ganpat Vasava, Speaker in the last Assembly, has been given charge ofForest and Environment ministry along with Tribal development, Women and Child development andParliamentary affairs. Cabinet minister Babu Bokhiria was given charge of water resources, agriculture, cooperatives, animal husbandry, fisheries and cow protection departments.

Parties demand strict laws to deal with crime against women

are safe. "We must now introspect as to how we can improve our laws, our judicial processes and most importantly the consciousness of the citizenry which creates a better environment where women can live with dignity," Jaitley said. The girl, who was gangraped and brutally assaulted by six men in a moving bus in south Delhi, died in a Singapore hospital early this morning after battling for life for the past 13 days.

other important departments like Health and Family Welfare and Medical education. Modi's close aide Anandi Patel has retained Revenue Ministry as well as road and buildings. She has been given additional charge of

Raman Vora, who was Education minister in the last government has been given Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry along with Sports and Youth and Cultural affairs. Charge of the Education minister has been given to

Rahul Gandhi condoles death of gang rape victim, calls for introspection
families who work, hope and pray for a better India. We as a nation must reflect on the events of the days gone by," Rahul said, offering his deep condolences to the young girl's family. As citizens, we must resolve to respect the dignity ofwomen and follow the laws of the land, he said. "I join my mother and sister in offering deep felt condolences to the young girl's family, My thoughts and prayers are with the family," Rahul said in his message. The girl, who was gang-raped by six men in a moving bus in south Delhi on December 16, breathed her last in a Singapore hospital early this morning after battling for life for the past 13 days.

Seer fasting for Ganga cause force-fed

DEHRADUN: Save Ganga activist Swami Poornan and, who had been on an indefinite fast since December 10 to protest resumption of quarrying and stone-crushing in the ecologically sensitive areas along the river, was force-fed after his health deteriorated. The activist, who was on fast for 19 days, was forcefed yesterday by a team of district administration officials from Haridwar upon the advice of doctors at the Himalayan Hospital Jollygrant, Haridwar District Magistrate Sachin Kurve said today. Poornanand had been continuing his stir without food despite being arrested on the 13th day of his fast on December 22 on charges of attempting suicide. Remanded in 14 days' judicial custody by a local court in Haridwar, Poornanand was admitted a week back at the hospital, where a team of district administration officials from Haridwar force-fed him. Criticising the move, Haridwar's Matri Sadan Ashram, with which the seer is associated, termed it as a "conspiracy" by the state government to quell the ongoing protest against its order allowing resumption of quarrying along the Ganga. Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand High Court has served interim show-cause notices on the state industry department and the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam for allowing resumption of quarrying and stone crushing in the ecologically sensitive areas near the Ganga in Haridwar. On a PIL admitted in the Court two weeks after Poornanand went on a fast protesting the government's move, the bench of Justice Sudhansu Dhulia served notices yesterday to the principal secretary (industries) and MD of GMVN Pankaj Kumar Pandey asking them to explain why they had allowed resumption of quarrying and stone crushing in such areas before completion of the environment impact assessment exercise.

Delhi gang rape: SC lawyers seek CJI's intervention to ensure safety of women
NEW DELHI: Amid the nation-wide outrage over December 16 assault and gangrape of 23-year-old Delhi student, who died today, the Supreme Court Bar Association has written to Chief Justice of IndiaAltamas Kabir for his intervention to ensure women's safety and for quick disposal of rape cases. In its letter to the CJI, the SCBA said the court should immediately take up the PIL filed on the issue by a retired IAS officer Promilla Shanker and pass appropriate orders to ensure women's safety. "It is humbly prayed that Hon'ble Lordship may hear the above detailed matter immediately and issue interim directions to ensure time bound compliance by State and Central governments which will not only bring back confidence of the people in the democracy but also strengthen the judicial system," said the letter, singed by SCBA Secretary Pareena Swarup. "Your honour being the highest court of justice, is also the custodian of fundamental rights and thus the last ray of hope for crores of women and children of this country. Prominent legal luminaries have also echoed the same and prayed for intervention of the highest court of justice to implement the Rule of Law and establish administration of justice," the letter said. In her PIL, Promilla has pleaded with the court to direct the governments to set up fast track court in all states for expeditious trial of rape cases. She also submitted that cases of rape and crime against women and children be investigated by lady police officials and trial be heard by lady judges.

Anisur Rehman apologises publicly, criticises Mamata govt

HOWRAH: CPI-M leader Anisur Rehman today publicly apologised for his obscene remarks against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee while also criticising her government's spending. "I apologise for the indecent and unparliamentary comments I had made against chief minister at a meeting at Itahar in North Dinajpur district," he told during a party meeting here. The former minister said, "I had apologised earlier in a statement but now I am apologising publicly." Anisur, however, criticised the Trinamool Congress-run government saying, "the chief minister continues to speak about the funds crunch in the state while the salaries of the ministers are increased." He said that the present regime was also holding entertainment bashes with filmstars like Shahrukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan. The CPI-M leader also claimed that the chief minister would need five years to inaugurate the developmental projects started during the earlier Left Front regime.

NEW DELHI: As people's anger over the death of Delhi gang rape victim spilled out into the streets, Congressleader Rahul Gandhi today broke his silence on the ghastly incident calling for introspection and resolve to ensure the security and dignity of women. "My heart goes out to the family of the young girl and millions of young Indians,

NRIs in UK demand severe punishment for Delhi gang rape accused

LONDON: A group of 50 NRIs held a candle light vigil inCentral London today, demanding severe punishment for the six men allegedly involved in the gang-rape of a 23-year-old girl who died in a Singapore hospital. NRIs, including teachers and housewives, gathered at the Mahatma Gandhi Statue, Tavistock Square and raised slogans and held placards demanding an end to assault and rape cases in India. "Band Karo Atyachar, save our sisters," one of the placards read. The protest was organised by Pravasi Bharat, a London-based humanitarian organisation working for the welfare and basic rights of Indians living abroad. "We as the concerned citizens of India deeply saddened by hearing the news of the 23-year-old medical student who was brutally gang-raped and assaulted in Delhi recently. We are extremely sorry that she died in Singapore today." From the Tavistock Square, they marched to the Indian High Commmission in Adwych and submitted a memorandum, urging the Government ot India to introduce strict punishments for rapists and introduce time-bound investigations and Fast Track courts to deal with sexual assault cases.

Social media exposes govt's manhandling of truth

NEW DELHI/BANGALORE: When constable Subhash Tomar collapsed during the anti-rape agitation in New Delhi, the government was keen to say he suffered injuries inflicted by the protesters. But the administration's version of events was challenged soon on social media, and the mainstream media latched onto the mystery and started pressurising the government to come clean. The Tomar episode, when social media set the agenda and put the government on the back foot, is one more example of rise of people's power online. The political class in India has been shaken by the speed and efficiency with which the recent protests were coordinated. Some of them, like Abhijit Mukherjee, have ended up putting their foot in their mouth while others like Congress' youth icon and heir apparentRahul Gandhi have not even cared to react. The reason for Tomar's death is still unclear, but the post-mortem report has attributed it to external injuries. "Frankly, right now, we haven't figured out how to deal with this phenomenon," said Congress Party Spokesman Sandeep Dikshit. The anti-corruption movement of Anna Hazare, theOccupy Wall Street movement in the US, and the Arab Spring were all largely organised through social networking sites. Even in neighbouring Pakistan, the raid that killed al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was first reported on microblogging site Twitter, further highlighting social media's growing importance as a source of information. Such is the influence and impact of social media that many are increasingly referring to it as the "fifth pillar of democracy". Influence Bound to Grow India has over 120 million Internet users - Twitter has about 16 million and Facebook over 60 million but this is still just onetenth of the population. Also, as 3G penetration increases, data becomes accessible on more feature phones. While about 221 million mobiles were sold in India in 2012, sales are expected to touch 251 million units in 2013, according to technology market researcher Gartner. With so much of growth still left to come, the influence of social media is only bound to grow. Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor, one of the early converts to social media and inveterate tweeter, said the social media space is a "parallel universe to the mainstream media" and that stories on these platforms have a "resonance of their own". "It is a medium that allows big issues to be made out of issues that mainstream media ignores but politicians cannot," he said. Brand guru Harish Bijoor is of the view that the political class must pay attention to the information revolution as India is a very young country in terms of demographics. "The political class appears a gerontocracy while 54% of the population is below 25 and 70% below 35. There is a disconnect that must be addressed."

Telangana observes bandh a day after all-party meeting

HYDERABAD: A bandh was being observed today inTelangana with statehood supporters staging demonstrations at various places in Andhra Pradesh. The shutdown has been called by TRS to protest the Centre's "indecision" on granting statehood to Telangana. BJP and Telangana Joint Action Committees are supporting the bandh, which comes a day after the all-party meeting on Telangana in New Delhi. Educational institutions at many places remained closed and examinations of Kakatiya and Osmania Universities were postponed. Shops and business establishments downed their shutters and Road Transport Corp (RTC) buses were off the road at different places in Telangana, which comprises 10 districts. Pro-Telangana supporters held protests accusing the Centre of failing to arrive at a decision on carving out a separate state. The bandh was peaceful so far and elaborate security arrangements have been made to deal with any untoward incident, police said. After the meeting of political parties yesterday, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said a decision on the long- pending Telangana issue will be announced within a month. However, the TRS, which is spearheading the statehood agitation, was not satisfied with the announcement. "They have said this over a hundred times. They have not fulfilled their promises. They have cheated the people of Telangana again," TRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao had told reporters after coming out of the meeting chaired by Shinde.

After weapons, Army jawans' combat kit now set for a major upgrade
NEW DELHI: Along with new assault rifles and other weaponry in the pipeline, the Army jawans are now getting set for a complete makeover in their clothing and personal kits to boost their operational efficiency. From new backpacks and ammunition pouches to sneakers and improved mosquito nets, Army chief General Bikram Singh has initiated or cleared several such acquisition projects. Till now, only the around five lakh or so infantry soldiers were entitled to get "improved combat kits" (ICKs) but the approved plan is to issue it to the entire 11lakh strong Army. "Composed of new small and large backpacks, ammunition pouches, belts, water bottles and the like, the ICKs will also be issued to the other arms over the next five years. Each ICK costs around Rs 4,900," said an officer. Similarly, the Army will soon float a new tender to acquire eight lakh Reebok or Adidas-like sneakers to replace the thin brown canvas PT shoes currently issued to soldiers. Despite attempts to upgrade the PT shoes to proper "sports shoes" over the last several years, the project was stuck in bureaucratic red-tape till now, as reported by TOI earlier. "The technical specifications for the sneakers, made of a mix of leather and synthetic mesh, have been finalised after trials. Each such sneaker will cost around Rs 900-1,100," he said. The vintage-pattern canvas PT shoes, incidentally, have been in service for over 50 years without any improvement in quality. The Army also wants to introduce specially-designed combat boots for soldiers that will be more durable, flexible and lightweight than the existing heavy boots. The Army has also decided to issue cloth, manufactured by ordnance factories, and an Rs 225 allowance to get it stitched as per their size and shape to soldiers to bring homogeneity in uniforms. Jawans will also get new "long-lasting insecticidal nets" instead of the old mosquito nets they have been making do with till now. "Soldiers will also be issued multi-purpose ponchos to replace the rain capes/rain coats they have at present. The quality of blankets, much lighter and with more finegrade wool, is also been improved," he added.

Your voice has been heard, Sonia tells protesters

NEW DELHI : "I want to assure you that your voice has been heard," she said in a statement after the death of the 23-year-old gangrape victim died in a Singapore hospital. Gandhi said she was aware that people had taken to the streets in large numbers in support of the victim. As a woman and mother, she said, she shared the people's concerns following the Delhi gang-rape and growing violence against women. She urged the people to remain calm and "help strengthen our collective resolve" to stop such crimes. Stating that the young woman's death won't go in vain, she said all Indians were grieving today. "It is our resolve to fight with all our might and all the powers of our laws and administration for the safety and protection of all women of our country and to ensure swift and fitting punishment for the perpetrators of such brutal acts," Gandhi said.

Black Saturday turns Jantar Mantar into memorial

NEW DELHI/WASHINGTON: Thousands gathered near the 18th century Jantar Mantar observatory in the heart of the Indian capital in a mass outpouring of grief for the young gang-raped woman who died Saturday. As news of her death after 13 days of struggle emerged, the young and the old, men and women, began to silently gather at the site, the number reaching a thousand by afternoon and rapidly swelling thereafter. By night, there was a sea of humanity holding candles -and placing them neatly in winding rows in memory of the 23year-old who passed away early Saturday in a Singapore hospital. Some people held larger flaming torches. The crowds were largely peaceful. But tempers ran high briefly when Delhi's Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit made a sudden appearance, triggering loud boos. After lighting a candle, Dikshit made a hurried exit. Delhi's cold weather did not deter the protesters from showing their solidarity with the woman who since her rape Dec 16 had become a symbol of everything that is rotten in the Indian system. Even the closure of 10 Delhi Metro stations and the blockade of several roads in and around India Gate could not stop the crowds from pouring into Jantar Mantar. "The law must be amended. It is time to awaken the government," said Ashok Rajput, a 28-year-old employee of a diplomatic mission. "Rapists should be hanged." A few politicians did reach Jantar Mantar but remained largely in the background. They included Brinda Karat, a Marxist and a women's activist. Aam Admi Party's Arvind Kejriwal sat in the crowd, silently.

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INTERNATIONAL
Minister denies Russian arms supplies to Syria
MOSCOW: Russia is not supplying the Syrian authorities with offensive weapons or any kinds of weapons that could be used against civilians, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Saturday. "We are not delivering offensive weapons to Syria. We are not delivering weapons which could be used in a civil war," Lavrov said at a news conference following talks in Moscow with UN and Arab League envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi. Lavrov said that unlike other countries, Russia has no special task forces either in Syria or neighbouring territories. Russia has often been criticised for its multi-billiondollar weapons trade with Bashar al-Assad's government, but earlier this year Moscow suspended all arms contracts with Syria until the conflict is resolved. Lavrov added that despite the continuing violence in Syria, he still hoped that the crisis would be resolved politically, based on the Geneva agreements. "The number of victims keeps growing but there is still a chance for a political settlement," Lavrov said. At a meeting on Syria in Geneva in June, foreign ministers from UN Security Council permanent member states and from countries neighbouring Syria proposed establishing a transitional Syrian government that would comprise both the Syrian authorities and opposition forces, but incessant fighting in Syria has made it impossible to launch a dialogue.

Four dead as Russian plane overshoots runway, catches fire

MOSCOW: Four people were killed Saturday when a Russian Tupolev Tu-204 medium-haul airliner overshot the runway while landing at Moscow's Vnukovo airport and caught fire, the emergency situations ministry said. The cause of the incident was not immediately clear. Sources in the ministry said pilot error was currently being viewed as the probable cause. There were eight people on board, all of whom were crew members, flying from the Czech Republic. It has been confirmed that in addition to the four deaths, four people were injured. The plane rolled out onto 64 medical personnel responded to the emergency. 6.35 p.m., an airport spokesman said. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has ordered a special commission to be set up to investigate the accident, government press spokeswoman Natalya Timakova said. The plane belonged to Red Wings, a Moscow-based airline that operates 8-10 Tu204 planes, each with capacity to carry up to 210 passengers. The Moscow city transport prosecutor's office has launched a probe into the airline's compliance with Russian aviation safety regulations.

Iran denies blocking Strait of Hormuz

MOSCOW: Iran on Saturday rejected Western media reports it was planning to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz during a six-day naval drill that was launched on Friday. The Iranian Navy launched the exercise on Friday in the Strait of Hormuz, rehearsing border protection and piracy control operations. The drills, dubbed Velayat 91, will be carried out in the Strait of Hormuz, the Sea of Oman, the northern portion of the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden and the Bab Al Mandeb Strait, Navy commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said. Navy spokesman Rear Admiral Amir Rastegari denied media reports that the Navy has issued any warning to foreign vessels. "The Navy has issued no warnings [about the closure]. Under international regulations, notification is to be sent to ships passing by during any military drill in order to prevent potential damage," Press TV quoted Rastegari as saying. The aim of the drill is to "convey a message of peace and friendship to neighbouring states", Sayyari said. Velayat 91 also sends a message to Iran's enemies that the country takes defending its vital interests very seriously, he added. During the drills, Iran's 23rd Fleet, comprising the Bushehr warship and the Jamaran destroyer, will escort Iran's merchant vessels and oil tankers as part of the navy's anti-piracy mission.

Moscow's Kievskoye highway abutting the airport, which was closed off to traffic both ways. Fourteen ambulances with

Vnukovo airport was closed with all incoming planes diverted to Sheremetyevo. Vnukovo resumed flight operations at

Briton held in Africa trying to join terror group

LONDON: A British student has been arrest in North Africa after allegedly trying to join an Islamist terrorist group threatening to take control over the entire Sahara region, a media report said. Ahmed Shaheen, 26, from London, was detained on the border between Mauritania and Mali as he tried to cross the Sahara on foot to reach the desert stronghold of the Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the Daily Mail reported. The British Foreign Office said it was aware of reports of the detention of a British national in Mauritania. Shaheen, described as of Asian origin and wearing a beard, was staying with a nomad family in the small oasis town of Walata, around 1,100 km from the Mauritanian capital of Nouakchott. He was allegedly posing as an expert in traditional communities. The daily said he had attended prayers at an ancient mosque but was later reported missing. He said he planned to walk across the desert to Timbuktu, in Mali. He was stopped by nomad tribesmen on Christmas Day and taken to security services operating in the border area who arrested him. Shaheen reportedly told Mauritanian Police he was trying to reach Timbuktu to join the AQIM. Citing Mauritanian news agency Sahara Media, the daily said jihadists from various countries, including instructors from Pakistan, have been flocking to Mali to fill the ranks of AQIM ahead of an armed assault by a UNbacked multi-national force to oust the militants. The Islamists took control of Timbuktu in April after a military coup left Mali's army in disarray.

Package with garbage dumped outside US embassy in Bulgaria

Moscow: A suspicious package reported to the Bulgarian police by the US embassy in Sofia turned out to be a bag full of garbage. The Sofia news agency said the package was found on the ground outside the embassy in the Bulgarian capital Friday. Embassy guards alerted Bulgarian police after they noticed the package, wrapped in scotch tape, on the ground near a dumpster.

Russian soldiers charged with stealing wallet from Polish plane

MOSCOW: The Russian military said Saturday it has wrapped up an inquiry into four soldiers who allegedly stole a wallet found in the wreckage of Polish President Lech Kaczynski's plane, which crashed in 2010 killing all 96 people on board. The Soviet-made Tu154 passenger jet went down April 10, 2010 in thick fog near the western Russian city of Smolensk, killing the president, his wife and many other top Polish officials. Military investigators said that on the day of the crash, four conscripts Sergei Syrov, Igor Pustovarov, Yury Sankov and Artur Pankratov - discovered a wallet with a bank card and its pin code that belonged to top Polish official Andrzej Przewoznik, and withdrew money from his account. The four will stand trial and face up to six years if convicted. Przewoznik, who also died in the crash, was the chief organiser of the Katyn memorial events, which the Polish president was scheduled to attend. His widow told journalists in 2010 that some $2,000 disappeared from Przewoznik's bank account, with the first transaction taking place on the day of the air crash, and two other transactions occurring in the following two days, also in Smolensk. In June 2010, the four soldiers confessed to stealing 60,345 rubles (about $2,000). The Polish dignitaries were flying to Smolensk to attend joint Polish-Russian ceremonies marking the 70th anniversary of the 1940 massacre in nearby Katyn forest, when thousands of captured Polish officers were executed by the Soviet secret police.

Economy

Finance Ministry to take call on IKEA's Falling growth, high inflation threats to stability: RBI FDI proposal tomorrow
NEW DELHI: Government is likely to clear IKEA's proposal to open cafeterias at its proposed mega retail outlets when the Foreign Investment Promotion Board(FIPB) reviews the Swedish furniture major's request tomorrow. The FIPB, headed by Economic Affairs SecretaryArvind Mayaram, has already allowed IKEA to invest Rs 4,200 crore to undertake single brand retailing of its products. Following a representation from the Swedish firm, theDepartment of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) had recently forwarded a request to FIPB for reviewing its November 20 decision giving only part approval to IKEA's plan. "Review the request of DIPP" regarding IKEA is on the FIPB agenda, sources said. Batting for IKEA's proposal, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma had recently said that government has taken a favourable view on IKEA's request. "All the stores globally whether IKEA or some other single brand retailers, where people shop for long time... There are cafeterias inside. "The government has taken...note of the representation that IKEA has made in this regard and a favourable view has been taken so that we accept their global model and the process of FIPB's formal approval is currently underway," he had said. Sources said that besides furniture, the Scandinavian firm in its original application had sought government approval to sell items such as textile products, consumer electronics, leather products, lifestyle products, and food and beverages to be served at its restaurants and cafe. The company had envisaged an investment of Rs 10,500 crore in single brand retail trading after India allowed 100 per cent FDI in the segment. IKEA, the world's largest furniture retailer, operates 336 stores in 44 countries. It plans to set up 10 furnishing and homeware stores as well as allied infrastructure over 10 years in India. Subsequently, it plans to open 15 more stores. MUMBAI: Risks to India's macro-economic stability have increased on the back of an economic slowdown, high inflation, and ballooning fiscal and current account deficits, the Reserve Bank of India said in a report on Friday. A slowdown in both domestic savings and investment demand, as well as a moderation in consumption have also emerged as threats to macroeconomic stability, the central bank said in its financial stability report (FSR). "The overall macro-economic risks in the financial system seem to have increased since the publication of the previous FSR in June 2012," the RBI wrote in the report. India's economy is expected to grow 5.7-5.9 per cent for the fiscal year ending in March, the slowest since 2002/03. Growth prospects also remain below the recent trend of doubledigits, with Prime MinisterManmohan Singh this week calling the fiveyear government plan for 8 per cent expansion "ambitious." The current account deficit also remains a concern as Asia's third largest economy has seen exports fall due to weak demand in key markets like the United States and Europe, while imports of gold and oil have remained high. On the fiscal side, the government could see a shortfall in tax and non-tax revenue because of the economic slowdown, and is at risk of overshooting its expenditure targets, the RBI said. The RBI added data from banks showed a significant portion of foreign exchange exposures at companies remained unhedged, posing another risk to macro-economic stability. "This is especially disquieting given that the exchange rate volatility has been higher in India in comparison to other emerging market currencies as well as those of advanced economies," the central bank wrote in the report. The RBI also said profitability at banks may come

under pressure in coming quarters with gross non-performing assets (NPA) continuing to tread above the credit growth and on the back of rising slippages. State-run banks saw a high degree of deterioration in asset quality compared with its peers. The gross NPA for all banks rose to 3.6 per cent at the end of September versus 2.9 per cent at the end of March, the RBI said. The RBI said if the adverse macroeconomic conditions persists, the system level gross NPA could rise from 3.6 per cent at end of September to 4 per cent by end of March 2013 and 4.4 per cent by end of March 2014.

Weak prices, slower demand pull down coffee exports in 2012

NEW DELHI: India's coffee exports fell by 9.15 per cent to 3,09,570 tonnes during 2012 calendar year on account of weak international prices, tight domestic supply and some drop in demand due to global economic crisis, according to the Coffee Board of India. However, the export realisation was better than 2011 mainly because of better global prices of robusta variety in the beginning of the year, it added. In 2011, the country had shipped 3,40,779 tonnes coffee. "The shipments have come down this year for three reasons -- not so good demand for our coffee due to recession in some countries, falling prices in the global market and tight local stocks," a senior Coffee Board official told PTI. There was hardly any old stock left in the country for export purpose this year because much of it was exhausted in the last two years when demand was at its peak and international prices were high, the official said. Normally, India's coffee exports consist of 2-3 years' stocks. Also, global prices remained less lucrative for Indian coffee exporters as improved supplies from Brazil and Vietnam dented prices, the official added. While rates of arabica variety remained lower throughout the year, prices of robusta variety, which were lucrative during the first half of the year, began to decline later. Primarily on account of better robusta prices, the Coffee Board official said, the export realisation was slightly higher at Rs 1,52,038 per tonne in 2012 as compared to Rs 1,40,496 per tonne in 2011. However, total exports in terms of value during the current calendar year remained marginally lower at Rs 4,706.66 crore, as against Rs 4,787.84 crore in the 2011 calendar year. India exported 1,56,896 tonne of robusta and 57,834 tonne of arabica varieties this year. There was 18 per cent fall in robusta shipments. In the international market, arabica prices fell from the level of Rs 10,000 per bag (of 50 kg) in January to Rs 6000-7,500 per bag at the fag end of the year. Similarly, robusta prices have fallen from Rs 8,000 per bag to Rs 6,000 per bag at the fag end of the year, industry data showed. Currently, new crop is being harvested in some states and total production is expected to be 315,500 tonnes in the ongoing marketing year that will September 2013. Last year, total production stood at 314,000 tonnes.

2012 saw 2-year extension to USDA pegs India's coffee output at 3.18 lakh tonnes in 2012-13 unfinished projects under NEW DELHI: India's coffee Organisation (ICO), the global JNNURM
NEW DELHI: 2012 witnessed quite a few developments on the urban development front including granting of a two-year extension to unfinished projects underJNNURM but it the closing down of the Airport Metro Express line here that grabbed headlines. For the urban development ministry, led by Kamal Nath, the Airport Metro Express came not just as an embarrassment but also a challenge. The service was closed on July 8 and a blame game between the concessionaire Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Limited and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) seemed to be brewing up when the ministry had to step. Though the ministry managed to get the faults repaired, after nearly six months of closure it appears that the high speed metro line will function only in the new year, and chances are that it will be at a reduced speed. During the year, the country's flagship infrastructure scheme the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) also completed its normal tenure of five years. However, with a vast number of infrastructure projects still to complete, the ministry decided and got a two-year extension for ongoing projects. The ministry also began work to finalise the details of the second phase of JNNURM. Several metro projects witnessed significant progress in implementation across the country including in Delhi,Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Jaipur. output is expected to rise marginally by 2 per cent to 5.3 million bags (3.18 lakh tonnes) in the current crop year on the back of highrobusta production from Karnataka, a USDA report said. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in its latest report on coffee pegged the global production to hit a record for the third consecutive year at 151 million bags (60 kg each) in 2012-13 crop year (OctoberSeptember). "India's production is forecast to rise 100,000 bags to a record 5.3 million on higher robusta output. Growers in Karnataka, the largest coffee producing state, are anticipating a record robusta harvest due to increased area and yield," USDA said. According to the government-run Coffee Board of India, the output of the brew is expected to rise by about 4 per cent to 3.25 lakh tonnes in 2012-13 crop year from 3.14 lakh tonnes in 2011-12 crop year. International Coffee

Forex reserves down at $296.54 billion on December 21

MUMBAI: India's foreign exchange reserves were at $296.54 billion as of Decemeber 21, compared with $296.63 billion in the previous week, the central bank said in its weekly statistical supplement on Friday. Changes in foreign currency assets, expressed in dollar terms, include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of other currencies held in its reserves, the Reserve Bank of India said. Foreign exchange reserves include India's Reserve Tranche position in the International Monetary Fund(IMF).

body on the brew has pegged coffee production in India -- the world's sixth biggest producer -to rise by 4 per cent to 5.4 million bags (3.24 lakh tonnes) from 5.2 million bags in the period under review. The US agency on farm sector was buoyant on the global production prospects for coffee. "World coffee production for 2012-13 is forecast at a record 151 million bags, up almost 7 million from the previous year, marking the third consecutive year of rising output," USDA said. The world had produced 144 million bags in 2011-12 crop year and 141 million bags in 2010-11 crop year, it said. Brazil is pegged to account for nearly all the gain as its arabica crop enters the on-year of the biennial production cycle, while Indonesia's higher output is offset by Vietnam's lower output. Colombia is forecast down slightly from last year to its lowest level in four decades, USDA said.

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MISC
adding 74 runs for the first wicket. The Pakistani top-order got good starts but none of the batsmen could go on to score a big innings. Earlier, Gautam Gambhir (21) and Ajinkya Rahane (28) gave India a steady start with their 44-run stand for the first wicket. second T20 Unlike the first Twenty20, Pakistani opening bowlers Sohail Tanveer and Mohammed Irfan were wayward, prompting skipper Mohammed Hafeez to introduce pacer Umar Gul in the fifth over. Gambhir greeted Gul with three consecutive fours before being trapped lbw in the fifth ball. Gul removed Rahane in the next over, taking a good catch off his own bowling. Yuvraj and Kohli were going strong with their 35-run stand for the third wicket but Kohli gifted away his wicket in the 12th over while attempting a needless single. What followed next was a blitzkrieg by Yuvraj that left the Pakistanis hapless. Yuvraj and Dhoni were involved in a 97-run stand in just 7.2 overs and took India's score to a mammoth total. Yuvraj's brilliant innings was ended by Gul with Shoain Malik taking a good catch at long-off boundary.Dhoni, who hit 33 off 23 balls, became Gul's fourth victim after he was clean bowled by a yorker in the final over.

T-20: Yuvraj, Dinda help India level series

AHMEDABAD: India squared the two-match Twenty20 International series 1-1, beating Pakistan by 11 runs in the second encounter at the Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, on Friday. A career-best 72 by Yuvraj Singh, who was also adjudged the Man of the Match, helped India post a formidable 192 for five in 20 overs. Pakistan managed 181 for seven in 20 overs after skipper Mohammed Hafeez top-scored with 55, his second consecutive half-century. Hafeez was declared Man of the Series. Put in, the Indian middleorder put on a sterling show and atoned for their dismal performance in the first Twenty20 in Bangalore. Yuvraj smashed seven sixes and four fours during his 36-ball innings. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (33),

Mohun Bagan slapped with two-year ban from I-League

NEW DELHI: Mohun Bagan have been slapped with a twoyear ban for refusing to take the field in the second half of their I-League clash against old rivals East Bengal at the Salt Lake Stadium on December 9 following crowd trouble. The oldest football club in the country has also been suspended by the All India Football Federation from this year's I-League and all their matches in the current season stand "cancelled and considered null and void". The I-League core committee met in New Delhi on Saturday and endorsed the report submitted by Justice AK Ganguly. According to an AIFF statement, Bagan were "in breach of I-League regulations" and the club has been "considered to have withdrawn from the I-League competition 2012-2013" and "all its matches cancelled and considered null and void". The Kolkata club has also been "disqualified from taking part in the next two editions of the I-League" and has to "return any financial stipends that had been paid to it by I-League" throughout the current season. The committee will again meet on January 9 to decide if the quantum of punishment imposed on Bagan is sufficient or if additional sanctions and fines are needed.Revised league fixture with restructured points table will be published soon, the AIFF added.

Yuvraj Singh walks off the field after scoring 72 runs during the match against Pakistan at Sardar Patel Stadium Ajinkya Rahane (28) and Virat Kohli (27) also came up with valuable knocks. Pakistan pacer Umar Gul picked up four for 37. India pacer Ashok Dinda (3/36) bowled an excellent spell in the death overs to restrict Pakistan. Dinda picked up two wickets in the penultimate over giving away just eight runs when Pakistan needed 20 to win. Pakistan got off to a good start with Nasir Jamshed (41) and Ahmed Shehzad (31)

AIFF confirms international friendly against Palestine

NEW DELHI: The Indian football team will play in an international friendly against Palestine in Guwahati on February 6, 2013, the AIFF confirmed on Friday. India's last international friendly, against Yemen in November, was cancelled after the visiting side failed to procure visas for its players. And before that, on October 14, India were beaten 0-2 by Singapore. Palestine are ranked 152 in the current FIFA Rankings while India are currently placed 166. National coach Wim Koevermans has always stressed on the need to play more and more international friendlies in order to improve the country's rankings.

BCCI shifts India- India aim for number one spot in Australia third Test ICC ODI championship table to Hyderabad
NEW DELHI: The BCCI on Friday shifted the third match of the upcoming IndiaAustralia Test series from Kanpur to Hyderabad, citing construction work at the original venue which was criticised for being under-prepared by a Cricket Australia inspection team. "The Tour, Programme and Fixtures Committee of the BCCI has decided to shift the third Test of the forthcoming AIRTEL Test series between India and Australia from the Green Park, Kanpur to the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad. This change is as per the rotation policy of the Board," BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale said in a statement. "The change was necessitated because the ongoing construction activity at the Green Park, Kanpur, would not have been completed in time for the Test," it added. The BCCI's decision came after a Cricket Australia inspection team expressed dissatisfaction with Green Park's facilities. India will take on Australia in a fourmatch Test series, and the other three matches will be played in New Delhi, Mohali and Chennai. The revised match-schedule is as follows: First Test -- Delhi (February 22 to 26) Second Test -- Mohali (March 2 to 6) Third Test -- Hyderabad (March 14 to 18) Fourth Test -- Chennai (March 22 to 26). DUBAI: India will aim to achieve the number one position in the ICC ODI championship table for the first time ever when they square off against Pakistan in a three-match series, commencing in Chennai on December 30. ICC World Cup 2011 champions, India are ranked third on the table with 20 ratings points, just a rating point behind current No. 1 England and South Africa in second place. England are fraction of a point ahead of South Africa. If India manages to win the first One-dayer against Pakistan, they will climb to the top of the table with 121 ratings points, which would put them ahead

Mike Hussey to retire after Sydney Test

SYDNEY: Australian middle-order batsman Mike Hussey on Saturday announced that he will retire from Test cricket after the final match of the series against Sri Lanka at Sydney starting on January 3. Sydney game will be the 79th and final Test in 37year-old Hussey's career having made his debut at 30. He will however play the ODI tri-series involving Australia, West Indies and Sri Lanka which will be his last international assignment. Known as 'Mr Cricket' for his consistency, Hussey has till now has played 78 Tests scoring 6183 runs including 19 centuries and 29 half centuries at an impressive average of 51.52. He also has a fantastic ODI record having scored 5442 runs in 185 ODIs with three hundreds and 39 halfcenturies at an average of 48.15. He was a member of the victorious 2007 ICC World Cup squad. He also played 38 T20 Internationals. Australian coach Mickey Arthur expressed his shock at Hussey's decision."Was

of both England and South Africa by a fraction of a point. If India, which have only achieved a ranking as high as number two so far in the ODI championship table, win all three matches in the series, they will become the leaders at 123 ratings points, two points ahead of England and South Africa. But if India loses even one of their three games against Pakistan, they would remain at the third spot. Pakistan, currently ranked sixth, on the other hand can hope to move up a spot to fifth if they win all three matches against India, gaining six ratings points to move to 110.

Mike Hussey popularly known as "Mr. Cricket" will retire from Test cricket after the Sydney Test against Sri Lanka which starts on January 3. shocked when Huss told me of his decision; he will retire a champion," Arthur. tweeted

CHENNAI: Providing the young Indian players a chance to compete against the best, the organisers of the Chennai Open on Friday granted doubles wild card entries to Davis Cuppers Vishnu Vardhan and Sanam Singh and national champion Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan along with N Sriram Balaji. Vishnu, who proved his worth at the London Olympics and also during the Davis Cup tie against

Indian pairs granted wild card entry in Chennai Open Rafael Nadal withdraws from Australian Open due to stomach ailment
New Zealand, will pair with diminutive Sanam while Tamil Nadu duo of Balaji and Jeevan will form the other team. Their addition to the doubles draw means that now at least seven Indians will be seen in five different teams at the USD 430,000 ATP tournament to be held from December 31 to January 6. Veterans Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna will also feature in the season-opener with their respective partners. Bhupathi will be teaming up with world no.5 Canada's Daniel Nestor, while world no. 12 Bopanna will partner US-based Rajeev Ram, and world no. 3 Paes will take to the court with new partner Edouard Roger Vasselin of France. but there is nothing we can do." Nadal ,an 11-time Grand Slam title winner, also pulled out of the Qatar Open, which starts Monday and where he was due to play his first official event since losing in the Wimbledon second round in June. "It is completely understandable and we really feel disappointed for him," Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said. "But without any match practice and without sufficient lead-up time on the practice court, it makes it virtually impossible for him to get his body ready. "We just hope he gets better quickly and we see him back on the tour as soon as possible." The former world number one had been due to return after a crippling knee injury which saw him miss the London Olympics, where he was defending champion, the US Open and Davis Cup final, where Spain lost to the Czech Republic. By missing the Australian Open, which starts on January 14, Nadal will face another drop in the rankings having been runner-up to Novak Djokovic in the 2012 final.

Australia beat Sri Lanka in second Test, clinch series

MELBOURNE: Australia battered and humiliated Sri Lanka by an innings and 201 runs to win the series in the second Melbourne Test midway through the third day on Friday. Sri Lanka, trailing by 304 runs in the first innings, surrendered for just 103 for seven off 24.2 overs with Kumar Sangakkara retiring hurt and Prasanna Jayawardene and Chanaka Welegedara unable to bat because of injuries. Paceman Mitchell Johnson was the dominant player. He took six wickets and was unbeaten at 92. He was given the man-of-the-match title. Sri Lanka will have to regroup amid their casualty ward of injured players for the third and final dead rubber Test starting in Sydney next Thursday. Their remote hopes went out the door when star batsman Sangakkara retired on 27 after he was struck on the glove by a menacing lifter from Johnson. Sangakkara immediately sought treatment from the physio and left the ground with noticeable swelling around his left index finger, indicating a possible fracture. He was the second Sri Lankan player to suffer a hand injury in the Boxing Day Test as wicketkeeper Jayawardene received a hairline thumb fracture as well in the first innings. With paceman Chanaka Welegedara already ruled out of further involvement in the Melbourne tated going for a second run off the third ball of the innings and David Warner pounced, with Johnson knocking down the stumps at the bowler's end and the Sri Lankan opener well short of his ground. Fellow opener Tillakaratne Dilshan went next ball, spooning a rising Johnson delivery off his hip to Cowan at bat-pad for a duck leaving Sri Lanka at two for one. Jayawardene, who has struggled for runs away The Sri Lankan batsmen congratulate the Australian cricket team on victory during day three of the from home in the last second Test between Australia and Sri Lanka at the MCG on December 28, 2012. three years, lasted just Test with a hamstring injury, the Sri nate exit and Mathews chopping the six balls before he edged Jackson Bird Lankan second innings ended at seven firebreathing Johnson on to his on to his stumps in the second over of wickets down to complete a wretched stumps for 35. Dhammika Prasad the innings.Jayawardene, one of only clubbed spinner Nathan Lyon for suc- 11 players to score 10,000 runs in Test Test. Facing a 304-run innings deficit cessive sixes and went after a third cricket, has now gone 26 innings in after the Australians were dismissed before miscuing up in the air for an away Tests without making a halffor 460 with Johnson left stranded on easy catch to Phil Hughes for 17. century. Thilan Samaraweera was next to 92, Sri Lanka virtually hoisted the Shaminda Eranga was last man out, white flag with the loss of four wick- caught close in by Ed Cowan off go leg before wicket to Bird for one as ets in the first six overs. Sangakkara, Peter Siddle for a duck and the misery the tourists lurched to 13 for four in the sixth over. one of two 10,000-Test run-getters in was all over for Sri Lanka. Earlier, Australia lasted just 5.4 The tourists had a dreadful start the Sri Lankan batting lineup, was the last remaining hope along with vice- with four wickets tumbling in the first overs before they were all out for 460 six overs, including out-of-form skip- in their first innings.Johnson was left captain Angelo Mathews at lunch. stranded short of his second Test cenBut it all unravelled in the middle per Mahela Jayawardene for a duck. Opener Dimuth Karunaratne hesi- tury on 92 not out off 150 balls. session with Sangakkara's unfortuMELBOURNE: Australian Open officials on Saturday said they fully understood Rafael Nadal's decision to miss the first Grand Slam of the season in Melbourne and wished him a speedy return to the tour. The Spaniard announced his withdrawal from the tournament on Friday, saying he was still suffering from the stomach virus which caused him to cancel his return to action in the Gulf this week after a sixmonth injury absence. "We consider it not appropriate to play the Australian Open since we will not have enough preparation for a great competition like a Grand Slam tournament," said Toni Nadal, the player's uncle and coach. "It is simply not conceivable that his first event is a best-of-five-sets tournament, he wouldn't be ready for that. It is true we have been quite unlucky with this

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