Excelsior... Nation

Commercial interests of ISRO protected: Madhavan Nair

BANGALORE, Sept 20: The delay in the launch of the fourth generation communication satellite INSAT 4A will not result in any loss to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), its Chairman G Madhavan Nair said today.

The satellite, built at the ISRO Satellite Centre here, had been awaiting transhipment to Kourou in French Guyana for launch by an Ariane launcher since June this year.

Asked whether ISRO had any penalty clause in the agreement with ArianeSpace for delay in the launch, he told newspersons on the sidelines of the Satellite Users’ Interference Reduction Group (SUIRG) 2005 meeting here that "the commercial interest of ISRO is protected."

ISRO sources, however, told UNI that there was no such penal clause in the agreement.

Carrying 24 transponders, 12 each on Ku and C Bands, INSAT 4A would be launched some time in December, before which Ariane would have two other launches.

INSAT 4A, to be predominantly used by VSAT users, had been completely booked and would augment the current availability of over 144 satellites. ISRO had also planned the launch of INSAT 4B, with the same configuration as INSAT 4A, during the current fiscal itself. However, the satellite would also suffer a delay in launch.

Meanwhile, ISRO sources said work on INSAT 4C had begun. The satellite having 12 KU band transponders would be launched indigenously by the GSLV from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

Mr Nair said that before 2010, India would be launching ten to 12 more communication satellites to reach the current five-year plan target of 256 transponders. The cost would be around Rs 3,000 crore.

To a query, he said Cartosat would be launched early next year. (UNI)

Sally Lake needs facelift to promote tourism

ITANAGAR, Sept 20: Sally Lake, a picturesque tourist hot spot in Arunachal’s Lower Dibang Valley district, is in ruins due to official apathy and red tapism.

The lake finds special mention in every book and pamphlets of the Tourism Department but the maintenance of the water body does not seem to interest the Government.

The big natural lake is located in the foothills of mighty Himalayas, 390 m above sea level, amidst the Mihao Wildlife Sanctuary. It is at a distance of four Km from Roing township — the headquarters of the district.

The natural beauty and grandeur of this lake needs no more than the most basic facelift to turn it into a major tourist attraction but Sally Lake lies almost abandoned.

Skeletons of stairs, broken shades and litter in the periphery of the lake, with plastic wastes and bottles greet the unsuspecting visitor.

The protection of the fish in the lake is another cause for concern. Moreover, a squabble among Tourism, Fishery, Wildlife departments and private agencies aggravate the lake’s plight.

Though the 2.02-hectare water body is owned by the Fishery department since 1976, the requisite infrastructure is least maintained in making it an actual tourist destination.

Despite notices poaching and fishing have become an everyday affair.

"Local people come regularly and sport with a good volume of fishes or poach the endangered species Hoollock Gibbon (the only ape species found in India) and Golden Langur that inhabit the forested ambient of the lake," said Albert Singh, caretaker of the tourist lodge at Sally lake.

District fishery development officer (DFDO) Goken Ete said the fish in the lake add up to its beauty, hence, their protection from rampant angling was a must.

"Beauty of the surroundings can be enhanced by planting flowers. Signboards mentioning the location of the lake should be set up near the check gate for the convenience of tourists," the DFDO added.

According to Nani Saha, DFO Wild Life, Roing, "Until the dispute of the ownership of the lake was sought out, the question of maintenance and upgradation of the lake does not arise."

The matter was scheduled to be brought to the notice of the Chief Minister, he added.

Almost everybody, however, believes that with the most meagre investment, Sally Lake could match in stature and beauty the Wards lake of Shillong, Mirik lake at Silugiri and Dal lake of Srinagar, which attract a lot of tourists on a regular basis. (UNI)

Achieving family planning goals with ‘cycle beads’

NEW DELHI, Sept 20: What the infamous ‘nasbandi’ of the 70’s and the subsequent family planning drives could not achieve, doctors here are now trying to accomplish through a simple colour-coded set of beads.

Called the Standard Days Method (SDM), it uses a set of colour beads to help identify fertile and non-fertile days and thus plan spacing between two pregnancies, besides avoiding unwanted pregnancies.

The method has been developed by American researchers at Georgetown University’s Institute for Reproductive Health and is being successfully used in nearly 25 countries around the world, says Dr Bulbul Sood, Country Director, Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA).

"In a country like India, where 78 per cent of the pregnancies are unplanned and nearly 25 per cent unwanted, it can serve as an inexpensive, easy to use and 95 per cent effective in preventing pregnancy," says Dr Sood.

"The Indian government too has included it in the RCH-II (Reproductive Child Health - II) programme for expanding contraceptive choices," she says.

"This simple, effective method should be made widely accessible... We will work out details and start SDM in as many areas as possible in a large way," says P K Hota, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Dr Victoria Jennings, Director, Institute of Reproductive Health, says the efficacy trials of SDM in various countries have shown that the method is 95 per cent effective with correct use. It has been included in international guidelines published by the WHO.

CycleBeads, a patented product, is a color-coded set of beads which helps women identify fertile and non-fertile days and monitor cycle length. "The method is also appealing from a cost-perspective, CycleBeads are a one-time, low-cost purchase," adds Dr Jennings.

"Millions of Indian women are at risk of an unwanted pregnancy and 70 per cent of women who want to space their next birth are using no family planning methods. Yet birth spacing methods are not widely promoted or used," says Dr Sood.

"Lack of safe, effective and accessible birth-spacing methods is barrier to contraceptive choice in India. The SDM can help address this need," says Dr Sood.

Research conducted by CARE India and CEDPA in UP and Delhi shows that there is demand for the method among couples who have never before used family planning and that it can be provided effectively by community health workers in rural and slum settings. In Sitapur, less than three per cent of women had been doing anything to prevent pregnancy in the two months prior to adopting the SDM, she says.

The method is now ready to be scaled up and targeted work is going on with the Ministry of Family Health and Welfare in Jharkhand, by Urmul Trust in Rajasthan and PREM, an NGO in Orissa, says Dr Sood. (PTI)

Tripura, NE states’ water projects run into Dhaka hurdle

AGARTALA, Sept 20: Several water-based projects in Tripura and other North-Eastern states have come to a grinding halt following protests from Bangladesh Government, official sources said.

The Bangladesh Government remained ‘unconvinced’ by New Delhi’s assertion that its river linking projects were still in its conceptual stage and may cover western part of the country.

"Several of our bordering town protection, embankment protection and lift irrigation projects have either remained incomplete or could not start following the Bangladesh Government’s plan to fish in troubled waters," a senior Tripura minister said.

"The State Government gave detailed reports and put pressure on the Union Government to take up the matter with Dhaka for an early solution to the serious problem," he added.

At least 14 lift irrigation schemes and three bordering town protection projects either remained incomplete or were yet to start as the Bangladesh Government during the past several months had put up obstruction and raised objection at the Standing Committee and Expert Committee level meetings held during the past several months either in India or Bangladesh.

Union Water Resources Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi, before attending the 36th meeting of India-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission (JRC), held meeting in Kolkata with the Chief Ministers of West Bengal and Tripura on Sunday to know the latest development of the water based projects (in the bordering areas along Bangladesh) in the two states.

The Union Minister earlier held similar meetings with the Chief Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya.

The two-day JRC meeting began in Dhaka yesterday.

Reports quoting Bangladesh officials in Dhaka said India’s plan to link 30 major rivers and divert their flow from the North-Eastern India to water-deficient areas in the South Western part of the country would deprive Bangladesh of its fair share of water.

Bangladesh shares 54 rivers with India while Tripura, which is flanked by Bangladesh, shares ten rivers and a large number of rivulets with the neighbouring country.

The Tripura Minister said during the winter season the bordering state had to face trouble in maintaining the irrigation facilities and other water-based schemes as all the rivers had little water.

This problem aggravated after Bangladesh constructed several dams and repaired embankments of the rivers on their sides, he pointed out.

Tripura has 15 sub-divisional towns, nine towns and commercial places either just on the border or within two-km from the Indo-Bangla border.

The State Government officials said of the nine border towns, six towns were in urgent need of strong protection from the erosion of the rivers which flow between the two countries.

Just on the eve of the start of the three border town protection projects with an estimated cost of Rs 16 crore, the Bangladesh government through their Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) had put up obstruction, forcing the Tripura authorities to stop the work of these projects, they added.

The BDR raised objection to the work on the ground that strips on the high embankment along the Feni river which flows through Sabroom sub-divsion into Bangladesh would be used by the Indian Security Force personnel for setting up camps, Tripura Government officials said.

The official sources said the BDR’s opposition to the renovation work of the embankment and irrigation network would lead to serious hardship for the residents and farmers of villages along the border.

‘’What is most objectionable is that BDR is resisting even the drawing of water of the Feni river on grounds that it would affect the interests of Bangladesh,’’ the sources said.

A similar unresolved dispute remained in the Belonia sub-division in the south Tripura district where the BDR is not allowing Indian farmers to cultivate a 43-acre land along the Muhuri river and obstructing the repair works of the embankments of the Muhuri river.

This issue was also discussed at the 35th meeting of the JRC in New Delhi and no decision was taken on the long pending disputes, the sources stated.

In the last standing committee meetings held between the Chief Engineers of both the countries at Belonia in south Tripura, Bangladesh had insisted on taking up protection works by both the countries except resumption of construction of 14 lift irrigations projects and one water supply scheme which had not accepted by India.

Indian officials had mentioned that work of lift irrigation and water supply scheme besides protection works on both sides should be taken up compositely but Bangladesh did not agree for the Indian proposal on the ground that sharing of water of Pheni river has not yet been settled.

The Bangladesh Water Development Board has also requested India not to withdraw any water from Feni river till the sharing of water agreement is settled. (UNI)

Did Vastu Shastra further evolve in Harrapan site of Kutch?

GANDHINAGAR, Sept 20: Did Vastu Shastra— the ancient science of architecture which is mentioned in the Vedas- evolve in a big way during the Harrapan civilisation ?

Vastu Shastra could have further evolved in Dholavira which is a relic of a whole Harrapan city, according to the Director of Archeological Survey of India Y S Rawat who has worked in Dholavira, one of the largest sites of Indus Valley civilisation in Kutch region of Gujarat.

"Having worked in Dholavira along with its then Project Director R S Bisht, I have a strong feeling that the people of this region made best use of this ancient science" Rawat told PTI. It was Bisht who had done maximum work in Dholavira, Rawat added.

The location of Dholavira between two rivers, the shape of the site, directional alignment, geometrical shape of the houses, construction of the houses, the planning of the gates, the direction of the walls all indicate perfect use and understanding of Vastu Shastra.

"Looking at the site of Dholavira, I have a strong feeling that Vasthu Shastra evolved in a big way in this Harappan site," Rawat said.

The Vastu Shastra dates back to the Vedic ages, it is composed of specific rules, regulations and directions set down by the sages of those times for the construction of the houses.

Rawat said the excellent water harvesting system, rock cut reserviors, the location of the grave yard, use of open spaces and other things point to the understanding of Harappan civilization of Vastu Shastra.

The water harvesting system also shows the hydraulic engineering skills of the Harappans who converted the city walls into veritable reservoirs to preserve every drop of water, he said.

"An intersting point to note here is the existence of a citadel, middle town and lower town. The citadel is the most secure place among them which is furnished with beautiful entrance on all four directions", Rawat said adding that all these are in accordance with Vastu Shastra.

The city is divided into 49 squares having perfect geometry and alignment. The houses were constructed using circular structures to withstand storm and sandblasts, he added.

On the basis of general evidence coming from Kutch and parts of Gujarat it appears that the Harappans brought here their full blown culture and lived almost a full life before their culture declined and fragmented causing large scale migration from Kutch to the hinterland of Gujarat.

Of all the Harappan sites, the Dholavira locally known as Kotada in the Khadir island of Kutch stands apart. It is remarkable for the magnificient planning and enormity of area and deposit.

On the present showing, it is one of the two largest settlments in India and the fourth or fifth largest in the subcontinent. (PTI)

Pakistan, Bangladesh have higher inequality than India: WB

NEW DELHI, Sept 20: A flagship Report of the World Bank today attributed the immense decline in international inequality between countries since the War to the fast growth in India and China in more recent times, but brought to the fore the rising inequality within the two countries.

The World Development Report 2006, which has its theme, ‘Equity and Development,’ finds that the India and China, the two fastest growing economies in the world, are a major force leading to decline in income inequalities across the globe. "Global income inequality has steadily increased over the long run until the onset of rapid economic growth in China and India in the 1980s."

"Between- country differences were relatively small early in the nineteenth century, but they came to account for a large part of total inequality towards the end of the twentieth century. If China and India are excluded, global inequalities have continued to rise, owing to the continuing divergence between most low income countries and rich countries," the Report, an Annual Publication of the Bank, says.

A Briefing on the Report was done here by Dr Berk Ozler, core member of the team which prepared it, and Mr Michael Carter, Country Director (India), of the World Bank.

The Report says South Asia has generally been perceived as a region with relatively low inequality. This probably is due, in part, to inequality being measured by consumption (as opposed to income). In this region, the prevailing view has been the inequality chnages little over time. But the stylised fact of low and stable inequality in South Asia has also been challenged.

"In India, the largest country in the region, some uncertainity remains over how inequality has evolved, because of well publicised issues concerning data comparability over time. The best available estimates suggest that inequality in India has been rising, but with no solid assessment of by how much", the Bank says.

The highest levels of inequality occurs in Africa, the second highest in Latin America.

The Report uses Gini’s co-efficients to measure inequality in South Asia using expenditure data.

While Pakistan and Bangladesh rank higher than India in this regard, Nepal and Sri Lanka are lower on the scale.

Inequality in China was markedly higher at the end of 1990s than it has been in the early part of 1980s. In general, recent evidence in East Asia suggests that inequality has risen faster in the second round of high growth Asian economies — such as China and Vietnam — than had been observed in the first period — Hong Kong (China), Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Singapore Taiwan.

Mr Ozler summarised the main messages of the Report: — Opportunities are distributed very inequally within most countries, as well as across them;

— In the long run, equity and efficiency are compliments. Fair societies, where opportunities are widesread, are more successful in achieving long-term prosperity;

— Public action should aim to level the playing field, by expanding access to opportunity to the poorest. While there are trade offs between efficiency and equity, but are less pronounced when all the long term benefits of fairness are recognised.

"Inequalities in incomes, in health and in educational outcomes have been a stark fact of life in many developing countries. When such inequalities in outcomes arise from unequal opportunities, they are both intrinsic and instrumental grounds for concern. Because inequalities in opportunity are often accompanied by profound differences in influence, power and social status — whether at the level of individuals or groups — they have a tendency to persist. And because it leads to inefficient use of resources and less effective institutions, inequality is inimical to long term development", Dr Ozler said.

"It follows that there is legitimate role of public action in the promotion of fairness and in pursuit of inequity, provided such action is cognizent of the primacy of individual freedoms and the role of markets in allocating resources," Dr Ozler said.

Domestically, the Report makes a case for investing in people, expanding access to justice, land and infrastructure and promoting fairness in markets.

Internationally, the Report considers the functioning of global markets and the rules that govern them, as well as the complimentary provision of aid to help poor countries and poor people build greater endowments.

Examples of pro-equity policy changes include land reforms. In West Bengal,for example, the land tenancy reform increased security of tenure for sharceroppers, while also guaranteeing them at least 75 per cent of output. Land productivity rose by 62 per cent as a result.

The Report says increasing poor people’s access to credit and insurance has proven to be another effective way of levelling opportunities to increase prosperity. The Report cites studies in India, Kenya and Zimbabwe to show that poor pay higher rates of interest than the rich. "We would thus expect the poor to under-invest, certainly relatively to the rich, but also relatively to what would have happened if markets functioned properly," the Report says.

It urges rich countries to allow greater migration for unskilled workers from developing countries to press ahead with trade liberalisation under the Doha Round at WTO, to allow poor countries to use generic drugs and to develop financial standards appropriate to developing countries. It also reiterates the importance of increased and more effective development aid.

"A mix of these policies, applied with close attention to specific conditions in different countries, can help give poor people more equal opportunities, at once increasing their economic contribution to their societies and reducing their own poverty", the Report says.

The Report frequently cites instances from the Indian development experience relating to various dimensions. These include labour, liberalisation of the licensing regime, gender equity, capital markets, health care and insurance, infant and child mortality, improved marketing channels and poverty trends.

‘Equity and Development’ prescriptions complement the conclusions of the Bank’s World Development Reports for 2004 and 2005, which focussed on enhancing access to services for the poor and improving the investment climate. (UNI)

Sex corridors sprouting across UP highways

LUCKNOW, Sept 20: A number of ‘sex corridors’ have come up along the highways across Uttar Pradesh, a recent Government survey has suggested.

The survey conducted on different highways in the state has made startling revelations, forcing the government to chalk out preventive measures.

The survey notes that sex workers freely move in such corridors. Bhognipur-Ghatampur road near Kanpur has been identified as one such corridor, where ‘’heavy’’ movement of sex workers was evident.

Following the revelations, the State Government has decided to initiate effective preventive measures to control the spread of AIDS on the road which is presently being widened under the World Bank-sponsored Uttar Pradesh State Road Project (UPSRP).

Sources close to the Government’s Action Plan said authorities have decided to hold AIDS awareness camps on the Bhognipur-Ghatampur corridor to educate people against the deadly disease. Two Non Government Organisations (NGOs) have been involved in the task under the AIDS control programme. Other measures include easy availability of condoms.

As per the proposal, UP Government plans to install condom vending machines at all the petrol pumps situated in the sex corridors. A token sum of 25 paisa would be charged for the purpose.

According to sources, many other smaller corridors exist on other highways too. Yet the attention has been drawn mainly to the Bhognipur-Ghatampur corridor as the road is being widened under the UPSRP (widening and strengthening of about 1000 kms of state highways and major district roads). An additional 2500 kms of roads are also being maintained under the project. (UNI)

Raids in Patna jail, cellular phones, TV sets seized

PATNA, Sept 20: Police today conducted raids in Phulwarisharif jail here and seized cellular phones, tv sets and drugs from undertrial criminals like Pintu Singh, Bina Singh and Ravi Yadav lodged there.

Based on specific information that some extortionists were running their activities from prison, police raided different wards of the jail in the wee hours and recovered cellular phones from dreaded criminals Pintu Singh, Bina Singh and Ravi Yadav, Senior Police Superintendent Kundan Krishna told PTI.

He said nine cell phones sets with SIMs, ten TV sets and a small amount of Ganja were recovered during the raids.

"The seizure of SIMs from Pintu Singh, Bina Singh and Ravi Yadav will immensely help the police to uncover their operations and the criminals who are in touch with them to carry out their unlawful activities, including kidnapping and contract killing," Krishna said.

He said the constables posted in the jail were also "hand-in-glove" with the extortionists lodged there "and we will take stern action against them after an official inquiry." (PTI)

Maharashtra BJP women’s wing oppose NCP’s wine proposal

MUMBAI, Sept 20: BJP Women’s Wing Mahila Morcha today said the proposal of NCP, a key ally in the DF Government, to make wine freely available at grocery shops and other outlets in Maharashtra was a "dangerous move" aimed at guarding the interest of rich grape cultivators in the state.

In a memorandum to Governor S M Krishna, president of Maharashtra Mahila Morcha Kiran Mahalle said the move will encourage the youth to alcoholic drinks.

She urged the Governor to direct the Government not to take such a decision as it will result in "degeneration" and lowering of the moral standards of the young generation as well as society.

The controversial proposal was mooted by NCP president and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar recently.

Even though the Congress-led State Government had ruled out such a move, the issue had become a bone of contention between the NCP and its coalition partner Congress.

The memorandum also requested the Governor to prevail upon the Centre to amend the People’s Representation Act to ensure 33 per cent reservations to women in Legislatures and Parliament.

Ms Mahalle was accompanied by office-bearers of the Mahila Morcha from BJP’s Mumbai and Maharashtra units. (UNI)

No takers for Daya Ram?

AMRITSAR, Sept 20: Among the 148 civilians who came back as India and Pakistan exchanged prisoners last week, is a rather unfortunate mentally unstable man Daya Ram, who remembers nothing of his past but his name.

In the vast multitude that converged at the Wagah border to receive their relatives, there was not a soul for this middle aged person as a result of which he was admitted to the local Vidya Sagar mental hospital.

Later, two families - one from Sonepat in Haryana and another from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh came forward to stake their claims, but are now reluctant to own or take him.

The family from Sonepat has even withdrawn its claim giving in writing that Daya Ram is not one of them, hospital sources said.

The family from UP, however, turned up at the hospital along with the Gorakhpur SDM and DSP to take his custody but are in a fix after Ram could not identify them and is not in a condition to travel back home.

While the UP officials obtained an order from the city administration for Ram’s custody subject to rules of the mental hospital, the doctors have refused to discharge him on medical grounds.

Doctors at the hospital said the family has also reluctant to sign the surety bond, where in the guardian undertakes responsibility for the safety and well-being of the patient.

The Hospital Medical Board opined that Daya Ram was still not fit to be discharged and his life would be in danger if he was released, Doctor B L Goel said adding that "I firmly declined to discharge Daya Ram from the hospital."

Medical examination of Daya Ram shows he still does not remember his past as also his family members and relatives.

If he was discharged from hospital without proper treatment, his life would be in danger, Dr Goel said.

The present health of Daya Ram is not good and he passes stool and urine in his clothes, which have to be changed every two hours, the doctor said.

If Daya Ram stays here for two months he may recover upto certain extent from his Schizophrenic condition, he said. (PTI)

HIV/AIDS Policy for industry by year end

BANGALORE, Sept 20: The Confederation of Indian Industry expects that by this year end, its 5,000 plus member companies would adopt its HIV/AIDS Policy that advocates, among other things, allowing an employee infected with the deadly virus to continue working.

"CII wants to engage the industry" in meeting the challenge of HIV/AIDS, CII chief mentor and Indian Business Trust for HIV/AIDS Managing Trustee Tarun Das told a CII conference on "Business Response to HIV/AIDS."

The Policy, among others, states the company will provide a safe and healthy work environment for employees, educate its employees on prevention, care and counselling of HIV/AIDS and allow a HIV positive employee to continue to work unless medical conditions intefere with the specific job being done.

Das said some 2,000 companies had already been covered under the HIV/AIDS policy, which includes development of a workplace policy for industry and framing of workplace protocols which are standardised on ISO 9002.

CII had set up the Indian Business Trust in 2000, to bring focus on the HIV/AIDS work, to engage the business leadership and provide a forum of convergence, for the Business’ response to AIDS.

Das said a programme had also been taken up to train healthcare professionals, including doctors, so that the medical profession was engaged in dealing with AIDS. A total of 330 doctors have been trained under this.

T T Ashok, Chairman, Corporate Social Responsibility Subcommittee and Managing Director of Taylor Rubber Pvt. Ltd, said south India was among high probable states.

He said there could not be a "soft approach" towards tackling AIDS and it should be dealt with an "iron first in a no-holds barred manner".

Speaking at a panel discussion, Bikramjit Maitra, Vice-President and Head-HR, Infosys Technologies Ltd, said as other professionals, software professionals were also exposed to the risk of HIV/AIDS. Considering their age group and greater mobility, software professionals were also vulnerable and "we need to do a lot of things (in tackling the issue)".

Encore Software Ltd Chairman and CEO Vinay L Deshpande said many SME companies had the "same mindset’ that it (AIDS) could not happen in their firms because "we feel, probably wrongly, we know our employee and it cannot happen to any of them". There was a need for such companies to "do something".

Karnataka Finance Minister P G R Sindhia told the conference that the state had a better healthcare delivery system though it needed upgradation.

He said Government and NGOs should "move hand in hand" in facing the challenge posed by AIDS and asked the CII to prepare an action plan on AIDS for Karnataka. (PTI)

Govt to invite 1984-riot compensation claims in one week

NEW DELHI, Sept 20: The Delhi Government will put up advertisements in newspapers in a week’s time to invite compensation claims for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has told a visiting Akali delegation.

Akali Dal (Santokh Singh) president Manjit Singh, who called on the Chief Minister yesterday, today said Ms Dikshit had promised prompt settlement of the compensation claims.

"The Chief Minister said the victims will be asked to obtain claim forms for injury compensation from DC offices and submit them with supporting documents," Mr Singh, who met Ms Dikshit along with ten of his supporters from the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), said.

The Akali leader, also a senior DSGMC member himself, thanked the Chief Minister for honouring High Court orders to pay Rs 125,000 each to those injured in the anti-Sikh violence that broke out in the aftermath of the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

He, however, requested Ms Dikshit to extend interest waivers over housing loans to the riot survivors. (UNI)