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IMA, DSPRUD promote rational prescription of drugs NEW DELHI, Aug 27: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Delhi Society for Promotion of Rational Use of Drugs (DSPRUD) have launched a ....more A
film is either good MUMBAI, Aug 27: Noted film maker Kundan Shah, of the ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron" ‘Kya Kehna’ and ‘Kabhi Haan Kabhi Na’ fame, denies that film ....more Haryana
announces CHANDIGARH, Aug 27: The Haryana Government today announced a relief of Rs three crore to compensate drought-affected farmers by way of .....more UP raising special LUCKNOW, Aug 27: The Uttar Pradesh Government is contemplating raising additional police forces in the State for inter-state border policing and.....more |
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CVC seeks greater powers over ED, criticises bill provisions NEW DELHI, Aug 27: Days before relinquishing office, Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) ......more Udaipur
to use solar MUMBAI, Aug 27: In what could be seen as one of the first initiatives in the country in the use of solar energy, the city.....more HC stays FERA proceedings against Chandraswami NEW DELHI, Aug 27: Delhi High Court today stayed proceedings in a Foreign Exchange Regulation Act violation case against the controversial ......more Govt considers steps to remove deficiencies in Juvenile Act NEW DELHI, Aug 27: The Centre today admitted in the Delhi High Court that there were certain flaws in the amended Juvenile Justice Act and appropriate steps were being taken to correct them. . ...more |
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Govt ready to send Central forces to nab Veerappan .......... A national hero consigned to oblivion or eternal sleep? ........
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IMA, DSPRUD promote rational prescription of drugs NEW DELHI, Aug 27: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Delhi Society for Promotion of Rational Use of Drugs (DSPRUD) have launched a joint campaign for sensitising doctors about "rational prescription of drugs" in the country. "We have selected ‘rational prescription of drugs’ as the annual theme of the Association for the current year. In collaboration with the DSPRUD, we will publish 12 articles on rational usage of drugs in the IMA journal during the period," an IMA spokesman said. Talking to UNI, DSPRUD president Dr. Ranjit Roy Choudhuri said as a significant step in rationalising the drug prescriptions throughout the country, the society has taken initiatives to create awareness among the private medical sector. Pointing out that the DSPRUD, which has already introduced a new mechanism for drug procurement and prescription in the Government hospitals of the national capital territory of Delhi, he said the society has also initiated similar programmes in other states. Dr. Choudhuri, president of Delhi Medical Council (DMC), said the Delhi experiment with the support of the World Heath Organisation has seen a centralised system of drug procurement in place in the national capital. Besides, causing a substantial reduction in drugs procurement cost, the new system has enhanced the supply of prescription drugs in the hospitals, he added. The DMC chief said the non-availability of drug has become a matter of the past for hospitals in the capital following the rational use of the drugs programme and pool procurement. According to a DSPRUD survey, covering two teaching hospitals, six hundred-bedded hospitals and most of the health centers in the national capital territory, 90 per cent of the essential drugs being prescribed in the Government hospitals here are reaching the patients. He said the centralised procurement programme and announcement of a list of essential drugs, standard treatment guidelines, programmes for rational prescription have been expanded to Uttar Pradesh, Orissa and Punjab also. The DSPRUD president urged the Centre to adopt a similar method for the drug procurement for all as it would help avoid wastage of money and ensure quality supply of drugs. Dr Choudhuri said the society is planning to organise two major courses in the coming months for the promotion of judicious use of drugs. As many as 30 delegates of Pharmacologists and Medical teachers from Punjab, Assam, Mumbai, Gujarat, Delhi, Orissa, Rajasthan, Jammu and Uttar Pradesh will attend a week-long national training course on teaching rational drug therapy, beginning September 5. Besides, he said, delegates from 15 countries will discuss about the importance of drugs and therapeutical committee in hospitals during an 11-day international course programme in Mumbai, starting from September 23. (UNI) |
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A film is either good or bad:Kundan Shah MUMBAI, Aug 27: Noted film maker Kundan Shah, of the ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron" ‘Kya Kehna’ and ‘Kabhi Haan Kabhi Na’ fame, denies that film makers of his genre are moving towards the so-called commercial cinema. In an interview to UNI here today, Kundan said, a film is either good or bad. "Everything depends on how the director presents the emotions to be conveyed to the audience through the film. My effort is always to present something new, which will be liked by the moviegoers," he points out. "What is commercial cinema", he asked and says, "if you are referring to song and dance items, they are secondary features to the soul of a film which is basically — the story and the script and the presentation of the film through the eyes of the director". Kundan is at present busy with ‘Dil Hai Tumhara’ Tips Film directed by him which releases on September 6. The film has the gorgeous Rekha playing mother to preity Zinta and Mahima Chaudhary. He is mighty pleased when told the music scored by Nadeem-Shravan was doing extremely well. Talking about the film, Kundan said, "don’t go by the promos on television. The trailers are just to promote the songs. The film is about conflict of relationships between the mother and the second daughter played by preity Zinta." "Tell me which film in recent years has dwelled on emotional relationships between mother and daughter", he asked. "The romantic triangle involving Preity, Mahima and Arjun Rampal adds to the conflict", he explains. Kundan said Rekha was always the first choice for the project. "She is an artist par excellence —very meticulous and professional. Her performance is much more than what I had expected. There is so much talent within her, which is yet to be extracted. I hope my film, made with so much of emotions and sensitivities, matches her aura and standard". As far as preity Zinta is concerned, Kundan says her role in the film, was the most important one of her career, which the young actress has lived up to. "Dil Hai Tumhara" is based on a story by Raj Kumar Santoshi. "Santoshi did not have time to make a film on the subject. So, Tips and Santoshi asked me to go ahead with the project. The film was completed with flat six to seven months", he added. The director says "Dil Hai Tumhara" will appeal to classes as well as masses. "It is very emotional and Indian. There are no villains. Conflicts form part of our everyday life. Everybody in the film is right in their own way and are justified in what they do". Kundan’s last film "Hya Kehna" with Preity did reasonably good business. Similarly, "Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa" with Shahrukh Khan in the mid-90s was another sensitive film which earned accolades for Shahrukh as an actor. After "Dil Hai Tumhara", Kundan will complete work on his scripts, which he is writing at present. (UNI) |
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Haryana announces relief to compensate farmers CHANDIGARH, Aug 27: The Haryana Government today announced a relief of Rs three crore to compensate drought-affected farmers by way of providing seeds and gypsum on highly subsidised rates. Stating this, Agriculture Minister Jaswinder Singh Sandhu said that farmers would be provided 50 per cent subsidy on seeds of moong, moth, urd, til, gwar, toria and barseen. About 400 quintal of barseen, 650 quintals of toria, 450 quintals of urd, 200 quintals of moong, 80 quintals of guwar, 50 quintals of moth and six quintal of til seeds would be made available to farmers on subsidised rates. Farmers could get the seeds after obtaining permit from the concerned agriculture development officer. He said that due to scanty monsoons during the rainy season, farmers had extensively used uderground water. The salinity of the land increased which would not only adversely affect the kharif crop, but also affect the ensuing rabi crops, he said adding that to tackle this problem of salinity farmers would be provided 50 per cent subsidy on gypsum to reclaim the soil. A target of distributing 33500 metric tonnes of gypsum had been fixed, he said. The Chief Minister gave instructions to immediately open relief works in the affected areas and asked the concerned officers to conduct minute technical examinatiion of 17 reservoirs which have completed 50 years of construction to avert such accidents. The State Government has sanctioned Rs one lakh each to all the districts for chalking out action plans according to the disaster management policy. The Chief Minister apprised himself of the rainfall and drinking watersituation. Minister for Finance Ajay Narayan Mushran, Revenue Minister Hazarilal Raghuvanshi, Minister for Forests Harvansh Singh, the Chief Secretary A V Singh and senior officers attended the meeting. (PTI) |
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HC stays FERA proceedings against Chandraswami NEW DELHI, Aug 27: Delhi High Court today stayed proceedings in a Foreign Exchange Regulation Act violation case against the controversial Godman Chandraswami alias Nemichand and his aide K N Aggarwal alias Mamaji going on in the trial court till further orders. Justice O P Dwivedi stayed the proceedings till October two and told the prosecution (Enforcement directorate) to file their reply in the matter by that date. Senior counsel A T M Rangaramnaujam, appearing for Chandraswami, had opposed the FERA violation case, which was initiated this year, on the ground that a similar case on the same facts and circumstances had been initiated in 1996 which still pending with the lower court. How could two cases be filed on the same set of facts, he said and added that while the earlier case, filed under sections 420 and 120 b (cheating and criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code, was being heard by Chief Metropolitan Magistrate the fresh one was being heard by third metropolitan magistrate. On May 30 this year, the high court had stayed proceedings in the Lakhubhai Pathak cheating case before the trial court till further orders. Directing a stay on further proceedings, Justice R S Sodhi had told the prosecution and defence counsels to deliberate on the issue whether evidence could be recorded through video conferencing. On March seven, Justice Sodhi had directed Chandraswami, one of the three accused in the case, to get the defence witness former US Congressman Mervyn M Dymally examined within three months failing which the recording of statements of witnesses would be deemed to be closed. Chandraswami’s counsel G L Sanghi stated that he would be unable to produce the witness before November but there were two other alternatives to record his statement and cross-examine him - through a commissioner appointed by the court or through a much faster and cheaper method of video conferencing. The issue was an important one which required consideration, the judge said adjourning the matter. As it was not possible to complete the hearing before the three-month dealine ending on June six, he stayed the trial court proceedings in case. Additional Solicitor General K K Sud, appearing for the Central Bureau of Investigation, on the other hand opposed the move saying this was beyond the scope of the godman’s current petition pending before the court and that it was for the trial court to decide as to by whom and how he was to be examined. This was only a way devised by defence to somehow delay the trial, he added. On May 28, Solicitor General Harish Salve had said in the high court that the Union Government was considering the use of video conferencing for recording evidence. Chandraswami had approached the high court against Additional Sessions Judge R K Gauba’s January 14 order closing the defence evidence following failure of the Central Bureau of Investigation to secure the presence of US Congressman Mervyn M Dymally. Justice Sodhi had found no infirmity with the lower court’s order and said the trial could continue expeditiously. He, however, gave last and final opportunity to Chandraswami to secure the presence of Mr Dymally. Former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao, Chandraswami and his aide K N Aggarwal alias Mamaji are facing trial for allegedly cheating London-based pickle tycoon late Lakhubhai Pathak of one lakh dollars in 1986 for favour of getting him a paper pulp supply contract in India. (UNI) |
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Govt considers steps to remove deficiencies in Juvenile Act NEW DELHI, Aug 27: The Centre today admitted in the Delhi High Court that there were certain flaws in the amended Juvenile Justice Act and appropriate steps were being taken to correct them. "The deficiencies pointed out in the amended act in a petition are under the consideration of the Government," Centre’s counsel Navin Chawla told a bench comprising Justice Vijender Jain and Justice R S Sodhi. Allowing further time to Government to take appropriate steps in this regard, the court fixed the matter for further hearing on December 16. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL), filed by former Delhi Juvenile Justice Board Chairman B S Gahlaut had alleged that certain provisions of the new legisation were retrograde to the earlier act. On the previous hearing Attorney General Soli Sorabjee, who was called by the court to know his views on the issue, had stated that at least four sections in the amended Juvenine Justice (care and protection of children) Act, 2000, required modification because they were contrary to the interest of delinquent children. Citing the sections which need to be modified, Sorabjee had assured the court that he would soon take up the matter with the Law Secretary. The Attorney General had stated that the provisions of section 32, 33, 41(6) and 56 if compared to the 1986 Act, the objections raised in the PIL, seemed to be genuine. The petition said no time limit has been specified under section 32 for production of a lost child before the court in the new act, while there was provision for his/her production within 24 hours in the old legislation. It also had pointed out that the provision of inquiry under section 33 about lost child by an ordinary policeman was not in the interest of such children as it should be done by the personnel specially trained for the job. Section 41 (6) which deals with adoption of the child was also detrimental to the interest of millions of children as they could be exploited in the name of adoption if proper safeguards were not provided, it said. The former Juvenile Board chief said some of the beneficial provisions of the 1986 Act had been repealed and replaced by certain vague provisions in the amended act. (AGENCIES) Govt ready to send Central forces to nab Veerappan BANGALORE, Aug 27: Describing Veerappan’s kidnap drama as a matter of concern for the entire country, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today said the Union Government was ready to deploy Central forces to nab the forest brigand. "Veerappan’s is an issue which has been causing concern, not only to the people of States (Karnataka and Tamil Nadu), where he has been operating, but throughout the country", Advani, who is also Home Minister, told reporters here. "Whenever there has been a request from the State to give assistance, the Centre has always been willing to do so. The same situation is present even now", he said. Advani, who arrived here to inaugurate a two-day meeting of office-bearers of BJP units in the southern States and elected represenatatives, was responding to a question if the Centre was ready to provide paramilitary forces to nab the brigand. Meanwhile, Karnataka Home Minister Mallikarjuna Kharge met Advani at the airport and requested him to send Central forces to end the kidnap drama involving former minister H Nagappa and catch Veerappan, who had been eluding the police dragnet for long. "I requested him to strengthen us by providing additional forces regarding the kidnap and also in view of Ganesh festival and Dasara", Kharge told reporters after meeting Advani. He said Advani promised to look into the matter. Asked if the State Government had sought the assistance of paramilitary forces, Kharge said "we have asked for central forces and that includes commandos. We have made the request in writing". He said the combing operations to nab Veerappan was continuing under the leadership of joint Special Task Force (STF) chief, Walter Issac Wawaram. "STF is doing the job. We don’t want to interfere", Kharge said. On whether the Karnataka Government was ready to consider Veerappan’s demands, he said the State Government at present was focusing on getting Nagappa released from the clutches of the brigand. "We are working on that". Asked if the State Government proposed to send an emissary to Veerappan for negotiation, Kharge said it had not yet been decided. However, he said "whatever strategy the Government decides to get Nagappa released, that will be operated through our officials". (PTI)
A national hero consigned to oblivion or eternal sleep? LUDHIANA, Aug 27: When Flight Lieutenant Gurdev Singh led a team of Indian Air Force planes to attack Pakistani radars on December 5, 1971, he was hailed as a national hero at the age of 27. But today he is consigned into virtual oblivion. There is no certainity if he is alive. But his sister Rajwant Kaur believes he is languishing in a Pakistani jail in inhuman condition ever since he was captured as a Prisoner of War (PoW), and hopes against hope that her brother would return home one day. Kaur says Gurdev, like some other soldiers and officers of Indian Army and Air Force, are being tortured with third degree methods in sub-standard jails of Pakistan. She says Gurdev is reportedly housed in Kot Lakhpat jail of Lahore. Kaur recalls how his brother as the leader of a IAF team flew to Pakistan on December 5, 1971, and attacked some important radar stations of the enemy. But before he could return to his base, he was taken a prisoner and is now serving jail term as a PoW in Pakistan. Gurdev Singh was honoured with a Vir Chakra for his exceptional bravery and leadership of a high order. It was also stated in the citation of "posthumous award" that his base had unfortunately lost contact with him after his attack on and destruction of the enemy radar unit. Rajwant Kaur, a handicaped and ten years younger than Gurdev, is settled in the United Kingdom and is in India these days. The family has been pursuing the matter at different levels, including diplomatic channels, and has received some information that some Indians, including soldiers, continue to live in a state of death-in-life in the jails of Pakistan. The family received no letters or any type of direct communications from her brother, she said. But they continue to cling on to the hope of meeting Gurdev one day. Kaur says that in 1988 some PoWs, including one Mukhtiar Singh, who were released from Pakistan jail, had informed the authorities about some half a dozen Army and Air Force officers were with them in Kot Lakhpat jail of Lahore. Among them reportedly are Flt Lt Gurdev Singh, Flying Officer Krishan Lakumji Malkani, Flt Lt Babul Guha, Capt Kanwal Bakshi, Capt Ravinder Kaura and Capt Giriraj Singh. Rajwant Kaur complains that inspite of the several letters written to the Ministry of Defence, the family has failed to obtain any definite news about the whereabouts of her brother. She says letters to Pakistan Government have also gone unanswered. According to Rajwant Kaur, Gurdev Singh’s parents Kirpal Singh and Ranjit Kaur died in 1982 with hopes till their last breath that their son would return some day. She says Gurdev’s grand mother, however, is still confident that he is alive, so much so that she has strongly resisted the installation of a statue of her grandson at Chak Sarwan Nath village in Ludhiana district of Punjab. Rajwant Kaur still hopes Government of India will take up the matter with Pakistan the case of these brave sons of India and secure their release from prisons in that country. The Government, she feels, should not hesitate to take the matter to the international fora. (PTI) |
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