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Advani asks Pak to hand over 20 terrorists to open new chapter NEW DELHI, Oct 18: Asking Islamabad to stop supporting and sponsoring terrorism before the world treats it as a....more Contract
farming NEW DELHI, Oct 18: Contract farming can be successfully used as a differentiating route for the transition from traditional local market agriculture ....more Uncircumcised Indian men have 8 times higher HIV risk BAITIMORE, Oct 18: Uncircumcised men have an eight-fold higher risk of becoming .....more Antony
appears before NEW DELHI, Oct 18: Kerala Chief Minister A K Antony today appeared before the three-member L P Sahi committee,....more |
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Security beefed up GUWAHATI, Oct 18: Security has been tightened in upper Assam areas, particularly in tea gardens-rich Tinsukia district, with the banned United .....more Badal seeks Governor’s intervention against vigilance raids CHANDIGARH, Oct 18: A week after parading his "near and dear ones" before the media here, Shiromani Akali Dal....more Corps of military police celebrates 64th raising day NEW DELHI, Oct 18: They are the "red berets" doing yeoman service in maintaining high standards of discipline in the various formations of the Army. ......more DF Govt completes four-years in Maharashtra MUMBAI, Oct 18: The democratic front Government in Maharashtra today completed four years of its tenure with Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde ......more |
Advani asks Pak to hand over 20 terrorists to open new chapter NEW DELHI, Oct 18: Asking Islamabad to stop supporting and sponsoring terrorism before the world treats it as a pariah, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today said a "new chapter" in Indo-Pak relations could be opened if the neighbouring country hands over 20 terrorists wanted here. He said the terrorist attacks like that on the residence of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in Srinagar yesterday would not affect the Government’s resolve to achieve victory over terrorism. "A new chapter can be opened in Indo-Pak relations if Islamabad hands over Dawood Ibrahim and other 19 terrorists whose list has been given to Pakistan last year," Advani said while inaugurating the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of Antar-Rashtriya Sahyog Parishad here. Pointing out that the US Government had declared Dawood as a "global terrorist", he said the External Affairs Ministry had again asked Pakistan to comply with India’s demand of handing over the 20 terrorists. "Pakistan should think. It should either shun the path (of sponsoring terrorism) or the way the world is reacting, it would be treated as a Pariah," he said, adding "some countries are saying it, some others are not saying so yet as they feel it can be useful to them." "We have to achieve victory over terrorism on our own strength but we want to make the world understand that no country is immune to the threat," he said. (PTI) |
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Contract farming central to commercial agriculture: Study NEW DELHI, Oct 18: Contract farming can be successfully used as a differentiating route for the transition from traditional local market agriculture to highly commercial capitalist agriculture, according to a Study. It is imperative that the State Governments create a legal framework and an administrative mechanism, which will safeguard farmers’ rights and ensure that the conditions of contract-farming are honoured by everyone, suugested the PHDCCI study. It said a model should be adopted where the farmers are free to sell in the open market in an auction system if they are unhappy with the price offered by the facilitator of contract farming, thus reducing the chances of contracts being breached along with the reduction in prospects of corruption by managers of the industry. The study proposed that a multipartite model involving a variety of organisations including statutory bodies and private companies jointly participating with farmers may be adopted. This model can develop through the organisation of farmers into cooperatives and with the involvement of a financial institution as a facilitator or a sponsor. According to the paper, this model has certain advantages like significant reduction in chances of extra contractual marketing by the farmers who belong to associations or cooperatives with the public institutions acting as providers of credit and extension. This arrangement shall also reduce the company’s costs of dealing with individual farmers, while being generally welcomed by farmers. The PHDCCI study also proposed setting up of specific Aez and food parks which could go a long way in promoting contract farming. On the other hand, contract farming will ultimately result in creation of surplus and expansion of investment in Aez and food parks. The terms of the purchase "quality, quantity, price, time, credit, inputs, technical know-how " should be decided in advance through contracts. Contracting is a way of allocating risk between producer and contractor - the former agreeing to take the risk of production and the latter the risk of marketing. The allocation of risk specified in the contract can vary widely. In the second phase, to ensure long-term relationships and prevent breach of contract by either party, a small yet specific percentage of the shares of the company may be allotted to the registered growers and there should be a farmer’s representative on the Board of Directors of the company to ensure the interest of the farmers. Indian agricultural scene is dominated by small and marginal farmers. Eighty per cent of the land holdings in the country are less than two hectares. These small farmers show reluctance in adopting new technologies for increasing production due to lack of awareness, finances, inputs, extension services and above all market access. On account of stagnating production level in certain states like Punjab which, have been the pioneer of green revolution, huge investments are required in this sector which are only forthcoming from the private industry. This provides the basis for promoting contract farming to increase productivity, quality and rural income. Contract farming can by empowering these small land owners through contracts, according to PHDCCI. It also guarantees availability of raw material of desired and specified quality and grades to the processing industry in requisite quantities and at the desired time. This in turn can give a fillip to the processing and value adding industry and contribute towards employment and income generation in the economy thus also helping create surplus and purchasing power thus pushing ahead the rate of industrial growth. It should be used as a way to increase cash crops and food grain production and bring about crop diversification and hence maximise rural incomes and employment generation. It could also lead to improvement in social facilities and rural infrastructure. India could make strides in the agri sector by optimum utilisation of the 80 million hectares of wasteland in the country by putting it under contractual farming. It is time for the country to shift focus from food security to global food dominance and take initiative in devising market strategies to provide fillip to the sector and to project India as a reliable and an important supplier in the world food market, the study added. (UNI) |
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Uncircumcised Indian men have 8 times higher HIV risk BAITIMORE, Oct 18: Uncircumcised men have an eight-fold higher risk of becoming infected with the human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS compared to circumcised men, according to a study of 2,298 Indian men. The finding was presented last Thursday at the 41st annual meeting of the infectious diseases society of America by Steven Reynolds of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. The research was part of a larger study investigating risk factors for HIV-1 infection based on men attending one of three Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) clinics in Pune, India. Between 1993 and 2000, 2,298 men who tested negative for HIV-1 were enrolled in the study. During subsequent visits (an average of three visits in 11 months), 2 of 191 men who were circumcised and 165 of 2,107 who were uncircumcised tested positive for HIV. Demographics, sexual RIS behaviours (including having sex with a prostitute), and condom use were remarkably similar between both groups, said Reynolds. Despite the similarity in risk profiles, researchers determined the incidence rate of HIV-1 among circumcised men it was 0.7 per cent, whereas among uncircumcised men it was 5.5 per cent, an 8-fold increase. (UNI) |
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Corps of military police celebrates 64th raising day NEW DELHI, Oct 18: They are the "red berets" doing yeoman service in maintaining high standards of discipline in the various formations of the Army. And today was a proud day in their 64-year history as they celebrated their raising day — harking back to their birth on World War II-eve in 1939. The role of the Corps of Military Police (CMP) is primarily to assist Army formations in maintaining a high standard of discipline of the troops, prevent breaches of various rules and regulations and to assist in the preservation of high morale of all ranks of the formation. They are known more popularly as the "red berets" because all personnel of this elite corps don the exclusive red berets alongwith white belts to distinguish themselves from other corps of Army. The birth of this police force of the Indian Army, as it exists today, took place on August 28, 1939 at Secunderabad with the first lot of policemen being drawn from the 7 and 11 Indian Cavalry Regiments. They formed part of force 4 raised for action in North Africa. From the humble one section beginning, the corps expanded to a strength of 202 officers, 126 Junior Commissioned Officers and 10,199 men as the Second World War took the units across the globe. The corps existed as a mixed British and Indian force till October 18, 1947 when the last of the British military policeman left. Since then, October 18 has been adopted as the date of raising of the corps. In January 1950 it was formally renamed as the corps of Military Police. The corps has served with distinction in all operations — both military and in aid of civil authorities. Handling of about 90,000 Pakistani Prisoners of War in 1971 was a singular achievement of the corps. The corps is proud to have more than 300 awardees of MBES, CBES, OBIS, Military Cross, Shaurya Chakra, PVSMS and AVSMS. Over the years, officers and personnel of CMP have served the country with valour, prowess, dedication and selfless service —both within the country and abroad on UN missions. On the occasion of the 64th anniversary of the corps raising day today, CMP Colonel Commandant Lieutenant General A Natarajan laid a wreath at the ‘Amar Jawan Jyoti’ at India Gate to commemorate the sacrifice, courage and commitment with which the corps has served the nation. (UNI) |
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DF Govt completes four-years in Maharashtra MUMBAI, Oct 18: The democratic front Government in Maharashtra today completed four years of its tenure with Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde claiming to improve the precarious financial position of the state by not borrowing funds as well as paying Rs 2000 crore towards the Rs 90,000 crore debt even as the saffron opposition trained guns on the ruling coalition for its failures on various fronts. The Democratic Front (DF) as well as the opposition have begun extensive exercise to capture power in Maharashtra in the next term as elections to the state assembly are due in October, 2004. The ruling party has come out with a booklet which is virtually a manifesto for the next year polls while the Shiv Sena-BJP combine drew a ‘Panchnama’ to highlight the Government’s failures in the last four years. Shinde, who took over as the Chief Minister from Vilasrao Deshmukh this year, claimed that for the first time in his tenure, the State had not borrowed funds to pay off debts and on the contrary, had disbursed payment of Rs 2000 crore towards the total debts mounting to Rs 90,000. Criticising the BJP-led Centre for giving a step motherly treatment to the State by not allocating funds for development, he exuded confidence to pay off total debts within five years. Shinde also claimed that Maharashtra continued to maintain the numero one position in attracting investments in the state. Admitting acute power shortage in the state, the Chief Minister, however, ensured of changing the situation in the coming months. He also claimed path-breaking achievement in providing social justice in the State and chalking out futuristic farm and water policy. Another noteworthy feature of Democratic Front Government rule was that NCP and Congress had a smooth sailing for four years even after differences cropped between them on several matters, most particularly, the recent remarks of NCP president Sharad Pawar on Congress president Sonia Gandhi over her foreign origin issue. On the other hand, the Shiv Sena-BJP combine lashed out at the Congress-NCP alliance for flocking together merely to cling to power. Replying to the opposition charge, the ruling alliance said they were together "to keep the communal forces away from ruling the State". (PTI) India, Iran share film industries’ concerns NEW DELHI, Oct 18: Iranian filmmakers at the 34th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here today said India and Iran not only share many themes in their movies but the issues confronting the film industries of the two countries are also similar. "I, along with my friends, feel at home over here. There is a difference between this festival and the others where our films have been screened. People in India have many themes common with us. I’m hopeful that this opportunity paves way for the screening of our films here and your films there," Abdolrasoul Golbon, writer and director of Paradise is somewhere else" which is to be screened during this IFFI, told presspersons. Director of Cindrella Bijang Birang said, "Like in India, there is a divide between art films (or festival films) and commercial films in Iran too. I feel the commercial films should be replaced by art films. This is a dangerous thing that has occurred in my country. We make good films but there is no audience to see them. But we have met a number of young people here who do not like Indian commercial films." "We are people living in the geographical region called east. We are not completely opposite to, but quite different from the people in the west. The west wants to dominate all the youth in the east. All these small cultures are being diluted by that very big culture," Golbon said, adding, "but if we make films about humanity, humanness, friendship and oneness, if we speak about love and friendship, I’m sure we will get an audience in India". Birang also said that his country gives filmmakers complete freedom to make movies on even sensitive topics like the political crisis in Iran and the whole west Asian region and this is exemplified by the fact that his movie, the core of which consisted of these issues, was chosen by the Government for being sent to this festival. Claiming that intellectuals are now looking toward Iranian films because they now want new topics and new subjects, co-director of Cindrella Masoud Rasam said this IFFI has exposed him to an entirely new kind of Indian cinema. Referring to Aparna Sen’s film Mr and Mrs Iyer , he said, "those films which we understood to be Indian films were not screened here. For the first time I saw an Indian film without dances and any exaggeration. I think this is a new trend". (UNI) Mother Teresa guiding star, inspiration for millions of poor NEW DELHI, Oct 18: Former President K R Narayanan has described Mother Teresa as the "guiding star for millions of poor Indians and said the mother brought a revolution in the minds of people by making them realise the importance of love and service to humanity and joy of giving. Delivering the keynote address at a symposium on "life and philosophy of Mother Teresa spirituality and social responsibility, organised by Delhi Catholic Archdiocese and YMCA here last evening on the eve of her beatification ceremony, Mr Narayanan said Mother Teresa was a great soul and her beatification and eventual sainthood would "inspire and guide us all our actions and thoughts." Dr Narayanan, who recalled his various meetings with the Mother, said the sainthood of Mother Teresa, who had always emphasised the need to share joy and love with poor, was of great spiritual importance. She showered mercy and kindness to those unwanted people and brought them back to life. Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit said the beatification of Mother Teresa by Pope John Paul II on Sunday has made every Indian proud. Recalling her meeting with Mother Teresa in the early seventies when mother inspired a group of young people to start serving the poorest of poor, Ms Dikshit said it left an indelible mark on her. "It was a moving experience as the mother streched out her hand, which was withered, so that we could kiss it. The rough hand was full of compassion and full of lines of service," Ms Dikshit recalled. She said, "I remember looking at her feet which were not one of the prettiest in the world but spoke of her work." she walked miles in serving the poorest of poor, takeing care of the abandoned. Each reflected the pain borne for others and service done for others. It was unforgetable." The Chief Minister said Mother Teresa was a great soul who showered unbound love and faith with no conditions attached. The future generations would find it hard to believe that such a great soul had treaded the world. "If each of learns to live in the path shown by the Mother, the world would be a better and loving place to live,"she said. Leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha Dr Manmohan Singh described Mother Teresa as a symbol of love, compassion and charity. She was a towering personality and a symbol of unity, with a commitment to the cause of poor and suffering, he said. At the young age of 12, Mother Teresa had a vision that her vocation in life would be service to the poor and subsequently during a journey between Kolkata and Darjeeling the God’s words were revealed to her and she established the missionary of charity. She cared for the hungry, lepers and all those unwanted and uncared for, he said. According to Dr Singh the best way to remember Mother Teresa would be to care for the poor and disadvantaged people in this strife torn society where so much inequality, poverty, suffering and disease prevail. Mr Aroop Chaudhury, a long time associate of Mother Teresa, gave a presentation on the life of the Mother, her work and her message of peace, love, compassion and care for the humanity. Prof Mushirul Hassan also spoke on the occasion while archdiocese of Delhi rev vincent M Concessao presided over the symposium. (UNI) Togadia detained, kept in guest house LUCKNOW, Oct 18: Vishwa Hindu Parishad general secretary Praveen Bhai Togadia, detained today by Uttar Pradesh Police enroute to Ayodhya, has been kept in a Government guest house at Uttrethiya, on the outskirts of the state capital. Police sources said the VHP leader was taken into custody at Amausi airport here around 1000 Hrs to prevent his entry into Ayodhya for the Sankalp Sabha to be held at 1400 Hrs today. Meanwhile, the detained VHP leader who was allowed to talk to mediapersons, told a news channel over phone that the police authorities detained him without producing any valid papers or reasons. Claiming that such act of the State Government was undemocratic, Dr Togadia said the VHP activists would protest against the "unlawful act of the Government". The move to detain Dr Togadia was taken following a request from Faizabad administration to prevent his entry into Ayodhya. He was detained under section 151 IPC for violating prohibitory orders, police said. The sources hinted the detained VHP leader might be sent back to Delhi. They also claimed that the VHP activists were likely to block the Lucknow-Rae Bareli state highway, near the guest house where Dr Togadia has been lodged, in protest against the detention. VHP central secretary Puroshattam Narain Singh, who was camping near the guest house, criticised the act of detention and alleged that the authorities were refusing to divulge the charges under which Dr Togadia has been detained. Talking to UNI, Mr Singh said the detention was undemocratic and against the sentiments of the majority community. A large number of VHP workers and leaders assembled near the guest house along with mediapersons and were creating a ‘tense’ situation and a large contingent of securitymen have been posted near the guest house to prevent any untoward incident, police sources said. A report from Ayodhya said the administration had sourded a ‘high alert’ in the Temple town following the detention of the VHP leader. (UNI) Kalam leaves on first foreign tour NEW DELHI, Oct 18: President A P J Abdul Kalam left here today on a week-long state visit to the United Arab Emirates, Sudan and Bulgaria, his first foreign tour after assuming the high office. Kalam, who left by a special Air India Boeing 747-400 named ‘Tanjore’, was seen off at the airport by Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, External Affairs Miniser Yashwant Sinha, Finance Minister Jaswant Singh, I and B Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal and envoys of the three countries. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was not not present at the airport as he was away in Panipat in Haryana to inaugurate a refinery expansion project. During his three-nation tour, two agreements including an extradition treaty and a Memorandum of Understanding are to be signed with Bulgaria, while three accords are to be inked with Sudan. Kalam would first go to the UAE and then fly to Sudan. Bulgaria would form the third leg of his tour. The President’s visit to UAE, which is taking place after a gap of 26 years, assumes significance in the backdrop of India’s growing ties with the Gulf nation where there are over a million Indian expatriates. Kalam will be received by crown Prince Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayeed Al Nahyan, son of the UAE President Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan, who is away in London for medical treatment, External Affairs Ministry officials said. During his two-day stay in the UAE, he will address the Dubai Chambers of Commerce, interact with the Indian community and talk to students at the Indian high school there. The President would also be visiting the Umm-al-Nar desalination plant, special care centre run by the Indian Ladies’ Association, higher college of technology and knowledge village. Minister for Disinvestment Arun Shourie is the minister in waiting. The Presidential visit to Sudan is coming after a gap of 28 years with Fakruddin Ali Ahmed being the last head of state to visit this largest African country in 1975. In Khartoum, Kalam will hold wide-ranging talks with Sudanese President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir, Vice President Moses Machar, Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail and Minister of Energy and Mining Awad Ahmed El Jazz. He will also address the Sudanese Parliament, interact with academics and students of the University of Khartoum and meet the Sudanese alumni of Indian universities. While in Sofia, he will have parleys with his Bulgarian counterpart Georgi Parvanov, Vice President Angel Marin, Prime Minister Simeon Saxe Coburg Gotha, Parliament’s Speaker O Gerdjikov and Foreign Minister Solomon Passy on the entire gamut of bilateral relations. Kalam will be meeting the academy of sciences of Bulgaria and also meet students and faculty of Sofia university. The accords, which are to be inked during his two-day visit from October 22, are an extradition treaty, an agreement on cooperation in the field of youth affairs and sports and an MoU between the electronics and computer software export promotion council and the Bulgarian Chamber of Electronics and Information Technology. (PTI) |
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