Excelsior... Nation

Marriage vows in fashionable attire

NEW DELHI, Oct 13: For all those who want to exchange marriage vows or attend such events in fashionable attire, classy ensembles are now available from top designers of the sub-continent in a wide variety that mixes the traditional with the trendy and style with substance.

Showcasing her collection of bridal and party wear at a fashion show organised as part of the three-day Sunsilk Bridal Asia Fashion Festival in the capital, Bangladeshi designer Mahseen Khan said, "brides the world over are the same, they all want to look their best. But each country, region or religion has a specific colour for the actual outfit to be worn at the wedding ceremony and this is where I have attempted to make the difference."

The ramp was set on fire as the country’s leading models wearing heavy lehengas, sarees and shararas with intricate traditional "Laskshi Kantha" embroidery in shades of amber, ruby and rose-red.

The collection proved Khan’s natural instinct in creating bridal wear especially for the women for this region. She gave that extra rich look to her creations by using red silk.

"This year, I have primarily used the colour red not only because it is traditionally considered auspicious and sacred in the whole sub-continent, but also as it is a very powerful hue. Even in countries like China and Japan red symbolises strength and vitality," Khan adds.

"I work mostly on all kinds of fabrics but have a liking for cotton and silk. We come from such warm countries so even in my bridal line I have used light weight materials like hand-spun silk and khadi silk with lot of mokesh stitch work," she elaborates.

Khan says, "unlike the common perception, the haute couture industry in Bangladesh is quite developed and Bangladesh is in fact one of the world leaders in garment exports. Some traditional crafts like the dhakai or the "Lakshi Kantha" can never get duplicated anywhere so they will always have a market."

The Bangladeshi designer was one among the several Indian and foreign designers who presented their creations at "Bridal Asia", which provides opportunities to these designers not only to demonstrate their products, but also to market their products. Among others whose designs were on show on the ramp were Pakistani designer Mahin Khan and Indians like Ritu kKmar.

The clothes were accentuated by designer jewellery worn by the models as they sashayed down the ramp.

Ritu Kumar, who vouches for traditional craftsmanship while marketing her products internationally, displayed her breathtaking collection of trousseau wear at the show.

Often called a revivalist for having saved many a dying Indian craft, Ritu’s colours and silhouettes were very conservative. Her collection extensively used the skills of the Indian craftsmen with ornate zardozi, embroidery done by silver and golden wire was omnipresent in her designs.

Explaining her signature theme, she said "brides these days are opting for simple and less flashy stuff. They may wear a contemporary fusion ensemble on the reception day or some other function but on the day of the wedding the choice is always traditional."

In stark contrast to this philosophy was the designer from Pakistan Maheen Khan, who was born in Kolkata before migrating to Karachi. Showcasing her collection for the first time in India, she displayed fusion outfits that were a blend of traditional, crafts on contemporary cuts.

Reasoning her styles, she said "I like to do fusion because it is more wearable globally. This also opens up a new market for us."

Traditionally during the Muslim wedding in Pakistan the bride wears a different shades of green but she said that she had used all kinds of different hues. "The contemporary woman does not want to be bound by tradition."

She also has replaced the Dupatta with a trendy stole and paired the Kurta with the trousers instead of the traditional Salwar to Westernise her outfits. Her clients include Jemima Khan, royal family of Jordan and late lady Diana.

"Bridal Asia" that began in 1999 is now planning expansion with a two-day extravaganza in all metro’s in the country in an effort to give a larger opportunity to the designers to market their products. (UNI)

Vote-bank politics blocks official status to Punjabi in Delhi

NEW DELHI, Oct 13: As a Delhi-Assembly-passed bill granting second official language status to Punjabi in the capital awaits a "yes or no" from the Lt Governor for 30 months now, proponents of the language seem to be confused, complaining: "it is all politics".

On April three, 2000, the official language bill, 2000, passed by the Delhi Assembly, was submitted to the Lt Governor for the Union Home Ministry approval, but it is yet to return.

In fact, for the past three decades, the demand for a second official language status to Punjabi in Delhi has been politicised in such a fashion that main political contenders — the BJP and the Congress — raked up the issue for political gains yet none of them wanted to fulfil the demand when in power, linguists regret.

Summing up the "politicking" in which the language issue is embroiled, eminent Punjabi writers say: "come the elections, both the BJP and the Congress invariably make a promise for giving official status to Punjabi to consolidate the Punjabi, particularly Sikh, vote in their favour... Of course later they tend to forget it."

"Leaders of both the parties, however, always held each other responsible and even accused each other of not fulfilling the demand," argues Mohan Singh Berry, general secretary of a Kendri Punjabi Sahit Sammelan, a literary organisation in the capital.

The language issue surfaced in the Delhi Metropolitan Council long back in 1970, when the then council leader, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, accorded the "second language facilities" to Punjabi.

When the BJP and Akalis entered into a political alliance and swept the Delhi Assembly polls, the then Chief Minister, Madan Lal Khurana also accorded "second language facilities" to Punjabi in Delhi.

But he used to announce at public meetings that he had given the "second official language status" to Punjabi and fulfilled one of the alliance’s election promises.

The draft of the bill for according the second official language status to Punjabi was prepared by the Khurana Government in 1995 which was later referred to a select committee. But towards the end of the BJP-rule in Delhi and when fresh elections were round the corner, the party could not conceal that it had failed to meet a major demand of Punjabis.

For fearing vote loss and exploitation of the issue by their rival Congress, Mr Khurana’s successor and another BJP Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma, revived the draft proposal of 1995 in the form of a "Delhi official languages bill, 1998" in the last session of the Delhi Assembly, designating Hindi and Punjabi as two official languages in Delhi, excluding both English and Urdu.

Then, the Congress Government, headed by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit came to power, trouncing the BJP in Delhi. Her cabinet took a decision giving second official language status to both Punjabi and Urdu but allowed the bill hurriedly introduced by the Sahib Singh Verma Government to lapse.

Subsequently, the Congress Government got a fresh language bill passed from the Delhi Assembly, giving the second official language status to both Punjabi and Urdu. Later, it was referred to the Delhi Lt Governor which is awaiting his nod for more than two years now.

Punjabi writers now deplore that the language has virtually lost its ground in the Government as they struggle for its second language status.

Rarely any letter in Punjabi is now officially entertained, they say. The vacant posts of Punjabi teachers in Delhi administration schools have been allowed to be lapsed with no fresh recruitment over the past two decades, the writers regret.

The number of part-time Punjabi teachers engaged by the Delhi administration-run Punjabi academy is too fast dwindling in the wake of court restrictions on their fresh entry.

Again, Mrs Dikshit and other local Congress leaders are accusing the BJP-led Government at the Centre of not allowing the clearance of the language bill from the Lt Governor’s end and claimed that they had done their part.

On the other hand, senior BJP leaders, Mr Khurana and Mr Malhotra, described the Dikshit Government-passed language bill as an "election stunt and a politically motivated move".

Meanwhile, officials say that the claim of Punjabi language status seems to be receding amid reports that the only 500,000-600,000 people, mostly Sikhs, have enlisted their mother-tongue as Punjabi in the last census in Delhi while for a second language status, Punjabi requires at least 14 per cent speakers from the region. (UNI)

Tenth plan outlines civil service, infrastructure reforms

NEW DELHI, Oct 13: The tenth five year plan has outlined a framework for reform of the civil service and suggested measures to improve the functioning of the infrastructure sectors, including appointment of independent regulators for coal, railways and civil aviation.

The plan, cleared by the Planning Commission but awaiting the nod of the cabinet and the National Development Council, has called for de-nationalisation of the coal sector and removal of subsidies on cooking gas and kerosene within three years.

It also suggests weeding out and pruning of various centrally-sponsored schemes.

The plan document has made out a case for allowing induction of professionals on contract and a contributory pension system which would reduce the Centre’s wage bill.

The tenth plan, which has taken nearly a year and half to be prepared, has, however, dropped controversial moves to downsize the Government by winding up ministries handling state subjects such as water resources, irrigation, agriculture and social welfare, and review of loan to grant ratio for transferring resources to State Governments.

These contentious issues, which had been opposed by some NDA ministers and drawn opposition from partners like the Biju Janata Dal and the Shiv Sena, were dropped from the approach paper cleared last year.

The volume II: "Sectoral policies and programmes" gives the details of the sectoral policies and programmes that are necessary to attain the plan objectives. The individual chapters review the existing policies and programmes, identify shortcomings and suggest new policy imperatives and programmatic initiatives.

The volume III: "State plans—concerns and strategies" has been introduced for the first time. It traces the trends of development of key sectors, discusses concerns of states and strategies proposed for the tenth plan. It is also for the first time that state-wise growth targets have been worked out in consultation with the States.

The plan, however, does speak of downsizing the Government by chopping off departments which have become redundant in the new liberalised scenario like steel, mines and chemicals, experts say.

It wants to bring in a system of inducting professionals and specialists on contract into the administrative system. The plan calls for bringing in a new contributory pension system for Government servants.

It has also laid down ground rules for opening up of the coal sector, by setting up an independent regulatory body which will determine pricing and competition issues including resolution of disputes and allocation of blocks for exploration and mining.

The denationalisation and opening up of the coal sector has been held up due to threats of labour strike in the coal mines. The document, however, says this has to be achieved within a year.

It wants the coal mines (nationalisation) bill to be amended allowing private coal companies and even more significantly break up coal india into independent companies.

The plan lays down guidelines for removing of subsidies on kerosene and cooking gas within three years. Planning Commission officials, however, say that this may not be possible within the time frame set.

The Government also wants a railway tariff regulatory authority to be set up to oversee pricing of passenger and freight traffic in order to make pricing rational and transparent as well as competitive.

The document also suggests a host of reforms, including repeal of sica, strengthening bankruptcy and foreclosure laws, labour reforms, abolishing restrictions on private road transport passenger services and early adoption of a civil aviation policy. (UNI)

Artist gives colour to spiritualism

NEW DELHI, Oct 13: In this age of fast paced lifestyles and frenzied activity, spiritualism wields a strong pull as a soothing balm to heal the human soul and it donned a new avataar, in colours this time, at the hands of a young artist.

The theme of spirituality found vibrant expression in the works of Ranajit Shee from Bengal whose works reflect his quest for the unknown and unseen, aptly titled "From here to eternity..."

Ranajit graduated in Fine Arts from the College of Arts and Crafts, Kolkata and has participated in several exhibitions. This is his second solo exhibiton in Delhi.

Painting with water colours, his works are almost lyrical and easy on the eyes. The vibrant hues of Ranajit’s paintings exude mysticism, making it impossible to believe that they are the creation of a 30-year-old artist.

Ranajit believes that meditation is a powerful tool to help us know ourselves and awaken the "kundalini" or positive energy within us.

Thus, a water colour on silk titled "The essence of mind", shows a lotus symbolising the "kundalini" blooming after it has been awakened.

"When a state of calm is experienced through meditation, we find our true self and our relationship with the infinite," says the artist who teaches in a school in Dehra Dun. Thus, canvas after canvas portrays abstract, skeletal forms in meditative postures, all with but one urge — to achieve that perfect state where nothing exists except bliss.

The colours are bright yet muted — Indian red, serilian blue, vermillion red and yellow — all imparting a sense of calm and mysticism to his works.

Painting with water colours, he "washes" his paintings so that the colours merge with each other and give a smooth effect.

And the omnipresent flowers. All his paintings are dotted with flowers, lotuses being the most visible. "Flowers," he says "give their fragrance irrespective of their surrounding... They are selfless and give without wanting in return."

A water colour on paper titled "Whispering lily" shows a shadowy form bending into the water with his ear next to a lily as if trying to hear its secret whispers.

The flowing, horizontal lines across the canvas impart a sense of ethereal detachment as if the figures are floating in the cosmos.

Another of his creations titled "meditation" is a water colour on paper with vibrant hues of violet, indigo, yellow, brown, red. The centrally-placed figure is deep in meditation, trying to concentrate on the supreme, away from wordly tensions. His calm face and tranquil aura adds to the serenity of the painting.

A piece titled "wings of the cloud" done in earthy shades of rust and brown, personifies the cloud as a woman with two wings. One represents the sun and the other the moon. And in harmony, they symbolise day, night and the life force.

Ranajit says, "the relationship between the creator and the creation delimits somewhere in the unknown." The artist too is continuing his quest for that state of being when man becomes one with the creator. (UNI)

Railway develops technology for safe train movement

NEW DELHI, Oct 13: Stung by the adverse public opinion caused by train accidents like that of recent derailment of the Delhi-Howrah Rajdhani, the Railways has stepped up trials on ‘Self-Stabilising Track’ (SST) technology to minimise the incidents of derailment.

The indigenously developed SST technology would formally be launched on October 15 at Nerul, Navi Mumbai. The technology will considerably reduce the vibrations in the railway track and maintain stable track geometry, thus reducing the chances of derailment.

It will also provide a maintenance-free, economic and safer track movements which will also enable the trains to run at a high speed at reduced risk.

The railways network used by 13 million daily passengers has constituted a Rs 17,000 crore on-lapsable Special Railway Safety Fund (SRSF) to replace aging assets of railways over the next six years. Besides this , an anti-collision device (ACD),developed by the Konkan Railways has also been put on the trial.

The railway has undertaken various steps for passengers amenities and enhancing of the rail-tourism with the setting up of Railtel Corporation and Indian, Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation. Introduction of computer based unreserved ticketing system, releasing of the status paper on Indian Railways, putting of tender notice on internet to achieve greater transparency etc, were some of the few note-worthy achievements of railways in the recent past.

The railways which celebrated its 150th year of operation in April this year, has already introduced eight of the proposed sixteen Jan Shatabdi trains, almost similar to the prestigious Shatabdi trains as far as speed and comfort levels are concerned and at the same time most affordable to the common man.

However, the railways decision to go in for territorial readjustment of zones and in-house reforms witnessed strong opposition from within the government and political parties of West Bengal.

Strengthening of the golden quadrilateral to run more long-distance mail/express and freight trains at a higher speed of 100 kmph and the rail connectivity to ports and development of multi-modal corridors to hinterland are underway. So as the construction of four mega bridges-two over river Ganga, one over river Brahmaputra, and one over river Kosi. The Railways have introduced 329 new express/mail trains, routes of 244 trains have been extended and frequency of another 68 trains have been increased during the last three years to cope up with increasing demand.

In last three years, railways provided computerized reservation facilities to 245 new locations raising the number to 758 in the country covering about 96 per cent of the total workload of passenger reservation. Computerized reservation related enquiries about accommodation availability, passenger status, train schedule, train between pair of stations etc. Have been made web enabled.

A pilot project for issuing monthly and quarterly season tickets through Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) has been launched in Mumbai this year . Another pilot project for purchasing tickets including monthly and quarterly season tickets through smart card has also been launched.

The station enquiries and interactive voice response system (IVRS) have been provided at 98 stations.

Freight Operations Information System (FOIS) has been computerised at 235 locations spread across different zonal railways.

The public sector undertakings of the railways, especially Ircon and Rites, scored commendable achievements during the last three years with Ircon international having a record turnover of Rs.900 crore during 2001-02 and the foreign exchange earnings increasing to six fold over the years from its projects in Malaysia, Bangladesh and Indonesia. Rites, has too increased its turn over from Rs 172 crore in 1999 to Rs 283 crore in 2002. Rdecember this year.

The railways have set up a joint venture company with Pipava port authorities to provide broad gauge connectivity to Pipava port. MoUs have been signed between Ministry of Railways with the State Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand in developing rail infrastructure in these States.

To give improved telecommunication systems on railways, optical fibre based communication systems has been adopted and laying Optical Fibre Cables (OFC) has increased from 1,730 route kilometer in 1999 to 7,700 route kilometer this year.

India became the first developing country and the 5th country in the world to roll out the first indigenously built state-of-the-art high horse power three phase electric locomotive

Similarly, the diesel locomotives works, Varanasi has produced state-of-the-art 4000 hp AC/AC diesel locomotive in April this year.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railways attained the world heritage status from UNESCO. Fairy Queen, the oldest functioning steam engine in the world, which finds a place in the Guinness book of world records, got heritage award at the international tourist bureau, Berlin in March, 2000. On operational front, Delhi main station entered the Guinness book for having the world s largest route relay interlocking system. (UNI)

EPF tug-of-war continues

NEW DELHI, Oct 13: Labour ministry today sought to allay fears of default in interest payment to Employees Provident Fund (EPF) saying the investment, mostly in public bonds, are safe, but Finance Ministry warned that several provident funds could move towards debt trap as 9.5 per cent interest rate was not sustainable.

Finance Ministry, which continued to pressurise the Labour Ministry to lower interest rate on EPF by 0.5 per cent, said 9.5 per cent interest was not affordable as the fund has invested 80 per cent of its Rs 104,000 crore total assets in Special Deposit Scheme (SDS) which was paying only nine per cent interest.

In such a scenario, the Finance Ministry was of the view that the fund would not be able to sustain 9.5 per cent interest rate as it would amount to eating into its surplus which is put at Rs 400 crore.

Though Labour Ministry maintained that it could afford 9.5 per cent this year as it had enough reserves, Finance Ministry felt that it would be unwise to dip into their surplus meant for taking care of exigencies and not for frittering it away by paying high interest rate which was not being earned through investments.

A senior Labour Ministry official discounted the fears that the fund should move towards debt trap due to any default of interest payment on epf investments, saying most of the investments had been made in State Government bonds which were safe and money could be recovered.

Labour Ministry sources confirmed that a Mumbai-based pressure group representing companies and debt brokers has warned the ministry that several provident fund could head towards serious debt trap due to potential defaults in bonds guaranteed by various State Governments.

Seven States have already defaulted in interest payments and more could follow, they cautioned the centre.

Besides, the crisis-ridden Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI) has already defaulted to the tune of Rs 220 crore mostly in interest payment on investments by EPF since November last.

Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation has defaulted to EPF of Rs five crore.

The poor financial health of Financial Institutions (FIs) has forced EPF to approach the Central Government to amend investment norms to enable it to park the money in some of the good private sector instruments.

Labour Ministry officials are, however, not very much inclined to invest in private sector instruments citing the example of state electricity boards which owe lot of money to NTPC and yet the central power generating company was not stopping flow of power to the defaulting states.

But, Finance Ministry officials do not buy this argument saying the defaults could not be made up through doles for all time to come and that epf should set its house in order by reducing interest rate in line with general movement towards softer interest regime for sustainability. (PTI)