Record number of cases settled by Lok Adalat

ROURKELA, Dec 20: A total of 447 cases, including criminal matters, were settled and fines of Rs 11,11,426 recovered at a Lok Adalat held here, officials said today.

The Lok Adalat conducted under the Chairmanship of Additional District Judge S K Das on Sunday included an awareness programme on legal remedies for the under privileged.

Das disposed of six civil suits, leading to the recovery of fines totalling Rs 9.92 lakhs. Rs 55,600 was received as fines following the disposal of criminal cases, the officials said.

Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate Gajendra Mohapatra and Munshif Z Mohapatra participated in the adalat. (PTI)

Conference on south Asian languages gets under way

MYSORE, Dec 20: A host of linguistic experts from across the world were taking part in a three-day conference on South Asian Languages Analysis (SALA), at the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) here.

More than 100 scholars from India, the USA, France, the UK, Iran, Germany, Pakistan and Bangladesh were participating in the mega event, jointly organised by CIIL and Kannada University, HAMPI.

Inaugurating the conference yesterday, Prof Harish Trivedi, Professor of English, Delhi University, called for a serious approach in safeguarding and integrating the regional languages into English.

"Since we are getting into a situation where one third of the world population is busy reading English, which has become the world language, the integration of regional languages takes precedence."

He observed that globalisation had set in a linguistic and cultural order for sustenance of the world economic order. While India chose the multi-language model, Pakistan and Sri Lanka opted for one language formula, both of which were a failure, he opined.

The conference would dwelve on the diasporic creativity of the languages, apart from creating a base for better understanding of south Asian languages in the era of globalisation when borders become thin and knowledge sharing an essential tool in not only safeguarding these languages, but also on various steps to be taken to integrate them into the world diaspora of popular languages.

CIIL Director Udayanarayana Singh, speaking on the occassion, said this conferecne was important as a new Lingustic Survey of India would be taken up in the country after nearly 100 years. It would help to add information to the survey, to commence from April next year.

There would be three panel discussions and the Kannada Development Authority would organise a discussion on impact of globalisation on Indian languages with special reference to Kannada.

The Printers (Mysore) Private Limited, publishers of Deccan Herald and Prajavani, would sponsor discussions on language and media and the role played by language in traditional print media and the new media.

Papers would be presented in 37 sessions and a workshop on syntax of tense and aspect in indian languages had also been scheduled during the conference. The entire proceedings of the conference would be documented and submitted to the HRD Ministry. (UNI)

Govt plea to staff to wear handloom clothes once-a-week

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Dec 20: In a novel bid to boost the market for handloom and khadi clothes, Kerala’s LDF Government planned to make an appeal to five lakh Government employees to wear clothes made of these material at least once a week.

According to the office of State Industries Minister Elamaram Karim, an appeal would be issued shortly, urging employees to wear khadi or handloom clothes while coming to office once-a-week, prferably on saturdays.

"The idea was mooted by the minister as initiatives like this would help the crisis-ridden handloom and khadi sector, which heavily rely on state-subsidised rebate for their survival," a spokesman in the minister’s office told .

To begin with, employees in the industries department would be urged to set a model for others. "This is no enforcement of a dress code. This is only an appeal and we expect the employees will respond positively," he said.

About 35,000 people are engaged in the handloom sector and another 10,000 in khadi sector in the state.

Earlier, Education Minister M A Baby had proposed a similar plan to make an appeal to schools in the state to make students wear uniforms made of khadi from the next academic year. (PTI)

BJP executive to focus on UP polls, UPA policies

LUCKNOW, Dec 20: Gearing up for the coming Assembly polls in Uttaranchal, Punjab and Manipur Bharatiya Janata Party would deliberate on the UPA Government’s policy against terrorism, price rise and other economic issues during party’s national executive on December 22 and its national council here for the next two days.

The focus of the national executive meeting of the party, being held in the state capital after a gap of 22 years, would obviously be on the State Assembly polls.

Encouraged by its recent success in UP urban body polls, poor law and order besides some civic problems like water and power are likely to be the main planks of the party.

Party leadership led by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Mr L K Advani would announce the strategy to revive the party in the state. A ‘Parivartan rally’ would be organised on December 24 here following the national executive and the national council.

The national council, being held in Uttar Pradesh for the first time in the BJP’s history, would affirm Mr Rajnath Singh as the party president for a three-year renewed term in his home state. (UNI)

Karunanidhi slashes ticket fares in cinema theatres

CHENNAI, Dec 20: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today slashed ticket fares at cinema theatres across the state.

The Government decided to revise the fare following a request in this regard from tamil film producers council, film chamber, Chennai Theatre Owners and Distributors Associations, an official release here said.

Accordingly, the minimum fare in air-conditioned theatres in corporations would be Rs ten and the maximum Rs 50. In non-AC theatres, the fare would range from Rs seven to Rs 30.

In municipalities, the ticket fare would range from Rs five to Rs 40 in AC theatres and from Rs four to Rs 30 in non-AC theatres.

The AC theatres in Town Panchayats would have to charge a minimum of Rs five and a maximum of Rs 25, while the ticket fare in non-AC theatres would range from Rs four to Rs 20.

In village Panchayats, the ticket fare in AC theatres would range from Rs five to Rs 15, while in non-AC theatre, the ticket would be priced between Rs four and Rs ten.

The revised fare would come into force from January one, 2007.

Following requests, the Chief Minister also set aside a Government order allowing hike of ticket fare for the first two weeks during the release of a new film. (UNI)

Bollywood ends 2006 on a high note

MUMBAI, Dec 20: The year 2006 was remarkable for Bollywood not only in terms of money earned at the box office but also the quality of movies made.

Not only did the industry witness a plethora of hits, but also did gross business of about Rs 500 crore this year, trade analyst Amod Mehra said.

More than 200 films were released this year out of which ten were box office success.

This was the year not just about big star line-ups, but of meaningful story lines and smaller budget films which trade pundits felt as a sign of good times ahead.

The most remarkable movies were "Rang De Basanti" and "Lage Raho Munnabhai". Both films were entertainers and at the same time delivered powerful messages to the youth. While one drew inspiration from revolutionary Bhagat Singh, the other succeeded in introducing Gandhiji and his philosophy to the younger generation. Both blockbusters explored the themes of patriotism, honesty and righteousness.

Hrithik Roshan starrers "Krrish" and "Dhoom 2" created "Dhoom" at the box office catapulting the charismatic actor to a super hero status due to his dare devil stunts. They became the biggest grossers this year followed by "Rang De..." And "Lage Raho...".

The year belonged to Hrithik who reaffirmed his superstardom with two back-to-back hits. He overshadowed his co-stars in terms of his sheer screen presence in both the films.

Bollywood continued to churn out formula films with huge star cast and many of them actually hit the jackpot. Some of the top grossers were "Fanaa", "Malamal Weekly", "Phir Hera Pheri", "Taxi No 9211" and "Vivah". "Don" and "Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna" were above average.

Films like "Aksar", "Gangster", "36, China Town", "Chup Chup Ke", "Golmaal" and "Jaan-e-Mann" also had a fairly good showing.

Sequels to hit the marquee this year were "Krrish", "Dhoom 2", "Lage Raho.." And "Phir Hera Pheri".

However, there was no such luck for remakes "Don" and "Umrao Jaan". Even though Farhan Akhtar’s version of 1978 Amitabh starrer recovered all its costs and was an average hit, critics and masses alike felt the film was badly made irrespective of the comparisons with the earlier movie. Similarly, Aishwarya starrer "Umrao..." Failed to meet the expectations of the audience and live up to the standards of the classic original made in 1982 which featured Rekha.

The Ash-Abhishek Bachchan pairing also did not save it from disaster at the box office despite the speculations of the lead actors off screen romance which again gained prominent headlines when Ash participated in a family pooja of the Bachchans in Varanasi in November.

Industry veterans like Saira Banu and Lok Sabha member Vinod Khanna felt that the surge of remakes was due to the paucity of good script writers. "Good writers need to be encouraged. Classics should not be remade," they said.

Karan Johar, who is known for his larger than life characters and films, tried his hand at an extramarital affair in "Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna" (Kank). It drew mixed response from critics and box office in India but was a winner in the overseas market.

Kank was criticised for poor scripting and non-justification of the affair between Shah Rukh and Rani Mukherji who ditch their extremely good spouses (Preity and Abhishek respectively).

"Omkara" was described as a great Shakespearean adaptation by Vishal Bharadwaj and excellent performance by Saif Ali Khan. It drew a mixed response from critics and box office because of excessive foul language used. "Being cyrus", "Khosla Ka Ghosla", and "Dor" were small budget films which won critical and box office adulation. "Khosla..." Was fun and adorable, yet a strong satire on the society. "Movies like this need to be promoted, because Indian film makers have world class talent and by nurturing them the industry will be exposed to more good movies like these," a trade analyst said.

Towards the end of the year, Ravi Chopra’s "Baabul" starring Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukherji, Salman Khan, John Abraham and Hema Malini was released. The much-hyped movie, however, seemed to be like the filmmaker’s earlier movie "Baghbaan". The issue of widow remarriage that forms the theme has also been handled several times on celluloid.

Komal Nahata, editor of ‘film information’ felt that the earlier film, "Baghbaan", was made from the heart and that is why it clicked. "The film grew at the box office slowly. But, in "Baabul", the emotions look fake," he added.(UNI)

Dengue, Chikungunya, polio dominate
health scene in 2006

NEW DELHI, Dec 20: Dengue and Chikungunya had the country in its grip this year, but it was polio that brought international attention to India for failure to control the spread of the virus.

The outbreaks saw Prime Minister Manmohan Singh intervening and directing Health Minister Ambumani Ramadoss to take urgent steps and to form future strategies to stop the spread of the diseases.

The first time Prime Minister intervened on a health issue was when UN Secretary General Kofi Anan wrote to him, expressing concern on the outbreak of polio in the country, and the second time, it was on dengue when he reviewed the situation and instructed the Health Ministry to transform its disease surveillence programme into an early warning system on epidemics.

Singh, whose two grandsons and one son-in-law were rushed to AIIMS after they were found to be suffering from suspected dengue, asked the ministry to issue regular health alerts and health bulletins to create public awareness so as to enable preemptive action being taken both at the community and household levels.

He also said the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) should be made accountable for any failure in prediction of outbreaks.

On the polio front, the ministry intensified its campaigns in the country, including launching an additional round of polio immunisation programme in the 15 affected states on novemeber 12, after reports that during earlier rounds, especially towards the end of 2005 and in early 2006, seven to 15 per cent of children were missed out.

Initially, the ministry tried to put the blame for polio outbreak on the Uttar Pradesh authorities as 80 per cent of polio cases were from this most populous state, later when it realised it could snowball into political issue, it changed track, saying the Government is taking concrete steps.

Ramadoss, after chairing a meeting with health ministers of polio-affected states, had said he would meet muslim community members to encourage them to take their children for polio vaccination and not to believe the rumours that their children will become impotent if they take the drops.

More than the Government’s initiative, it was the Saudi Arabian Government’s directive that made it mandatory for Indians visiting the country to have polio vaccination that bore result.

Even Saudi Arabian Health Minister Hamad-a-al-Mane, who during his visit to India signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ramadoss for cooperation in the fields of hospital consultancy and management, said the step would create awareness.

Now, Haj travellers are being vaccinated not only when they leave the country, but also when they land in Saudi Arabia.

After much delay, the Government finally gave a go-ahead to the use of injectibles in two district of Uttar Pradesh that protects an individual against the viral disease as a pilot project, which will take off in the second quarter of 2007.(PTI)

Hema Sardesai to don hat of a lyricist

PANAJI, Dec 20: Bollywood singer Hema Sardesai will soon don the hat of a lyricist as she is busy penning lyrics inspired by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Sufi Saints.

"I am working on two albums. Both will be released simultenously in the market somewhere middle next year. For Sufi album, the lyrics are Urdu blended Hindi-Punjabi, while Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living album is completely devotional," Hema told in an interview at her Goa residence.

Strongly inspired by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Hema said that the ‘Guruji’ endowed her feelings that everybody should rise above caste, creed and religion. "I had those feelings right from childhood, my Guru endowed it further," she said.

"Art of Living has several albums but for the first time a playback and pop singer would be singing it," Hema, who herself would be singing for the album said.

Hema, who has sung several hits including ‘Awara Bhavre’ feels that her shift as a lyricist is the way out for her inner talents.

"Lyrics is also an art. It’s a part of my talent. My first professional attempt for poetry turned into a platinum jubilee," Hema said talking about her album `Love Me’ released in 1994.

"After that album I did few more lyrics. It was English version of songs from `Maine Pyar Kiya’ which made record sales all over South America and west Indian countries," she recalls.

Hema had also written a song named ‘My First Day In america’ in the movie ‘Pardes.’

About her Sufi album, Hema says that the album is unique as four person from different religion — Hycinth d’souza, Najakat Ali, Raja along with her — are working on it.

"Sufi music always carries a spiritual touch," she said stating that the album would be a spiritual one with a mix of Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi.

After donning caps of a singer, lyricist and composer, Hema is also trying her hand with film making. Getting trained under able guidence of Bapu Sarvagod in Mumbai, Hema aims to do a film on Goa.

"Let’s see how it works but I intend doing a film on Goa. At this juncture I can’t tell you much about the film as it is just an idea," she said.

On her Bollywood assignments, Hema said that she has done few songs with Ismail Durbar and Himesh Reshmiyya which would be out soon. (PTI)

Kerala worthy of emulation by all: President Kalam

THRISSUR, Dec 20: Terming Kerala as a forerunner in the fields of education, art, culture and social harmony President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam today said the state is worthy of emulation by all.

Inaugurating the valedictory function of the Golden Jubilee Celebration of the formation of Kerala state, he said "I had learnt a lot while I was working at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Research centre at Thumpa in Thiruvananthapuram".

"Environment creates a beautiful mind, beautiful mind creates creativity and creativity is indeed the foundation of growth," he said.

The President said the last 50 years have seen tremendous changes taking place in various fields in the state.

"Change is the reflection of the urge to develop. Without changes and challenges a society will remain stagnant", he said.

"With all its natural wealth, beautiful surroundings and enlightened people, Kerala is really and literally God’s own country," he said adding it was always a pleasure for him to visit the state.

A poet in 1880s wrote a poem about New Zealand, where the country was referred to as God’s own country, he said, adding "I am very happy that the title God’s own country which has been used by New Zealanders to describe their country for more than 120 years has been adopted by the people of Kerala to describe their own state."

Emphasising the need for developing waterway connections in the state, Kalam said "I have a dream, my dream is to travel from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasargod in Kerala’s smart waterways."

Expressing optimism, he said one day, the Kerala Chief Minister, political leaders and all political parties will ensure that Kerala’s beauty will be enhanced by implementing the ‘smart waterways’ from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasargod.

Kalam said during his 20-year stay in Kerala, he had travelled throughout the state and had understood the people, their way of life and their problems.

Lauding the NRIs in various countries, he said "when I travelled abroad I used to meet people from India settled in those countries. People of Kerala, wherever they are, want to see their state grow and prosper. They want to come to Kerala and spend their time with their kith and kin."

For any state to develop,it needed three characteristics. First and foremost India being a multi-cultural,multi-language and multi-religious state, needed ‘unity of minds’ and in this respect Kerala is a blessed state, he said.

Keralites settled outside the country visited their state quite often and "out of their sweat we get Rs 20000 crore every year" and finally the unique quality of Kerala was the state had sufficient "water and bio-diversity resources."

"When you have all these what more do you want to transform Kerala into a developed state. Fifty per cent of population in the state is youth below 25 years and this is the most powerful resource on the earth. Definitely with so much of youth resource Kerala’s political system should work for a beautiful, prosperous and peaceful Kerala," he said. (PTI)

Kalam said Kerala’s human development index is top among other states in the country and this was because of its education, healthcare leading to higher life expectancy, gender equity and protection of human rights.

"With this background on this important day, let us resolve that we will all jointly work together irrespective of party affiliations to realise our goal to make kerala a developed state," he said.

It and ites should be developed in tier ii cities like Kollam, Alappuzha, Kasargod, Thrissur,Kottayam and Kozhikode in the state."I visualise under the ‘Pura’ project urban facilities enjoyed by cities like Thiruvnanthapuram and Kochi should reach the smaller remote areas." People should be able to get quality healthcare through telemedicine and also through mobile clincis via primary health centres.

"Pura village complex will be free from diseases like polio, TB, leprosy, malaria and other waterprone disease. The infant mortality rate will also be lesser," he said.

Appreciating that some of his ten-point-specific mission for the uplift of the economic spectrum of the state has been implemented, he said "I am sure the mission will become a reality in a time bound manner."

Kalam said during his last visit to Thiruvananthapuram in the international conference on bio-tech research he had suggested that the researchers should examine the possibility of using stem cells for cancer treatment and mapping of 200 varieties of genetic mutations leading to cancer, which can be beneficial for prescribing the pinpointed treatment to the patients.

Kerala Governor R K Bhatia said Kerala is truly on the path of development.The state has chalked out a lot of schemes to make the state an economic power by 2020, he said.

Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said the State Government was giving utmost priority for the development of the state and during the 50-day long golden jubilee celebrations, it had given a start for several development activities.

The Government had succeded in reopening several industries including the Kozhikode cotton mill which were closed during the last one month, he said.

Kerala Minister for Revenue K P Rajendran, Minister for Education M A Baby and Kerala Assembly Speaker K Radhakrishan were among those who spoke. (PTI)

Eleven works being exucuted for Rs 20 lakh in Karnah

SRINAGAR, Dec 20: About Rs 20 lakh was being utilised on execution of 11 development works during the current financial year by the Rural Development Agency in Karnah sector of Jammu and Kashmir, an official spokesman said today.

About Rs 20 lakh are being utilized on execution of 11 development works under Constituency Development Fund (CDF) during the current financial year by Rural Development Agency in Karnah sector of Kupwara district, the spokesman said.

He said nine rural development works have been completed involving an expenditure of Rs 12 lakh in the sub-division.

Similarly, Rs 15 lakh have been utilized for completion of various development works in Tangdhar block so far, the the spokesman said. (PTI)

IMC bill amendment an ‘exercise in haste’

NEW DELHI, Dec 20: Pulling up the Central Government for introducing the Indian Medical Council (amendment) bill 2005, a Parliamentary panel has said it is an "exercise in haste" and its members "fail to comprehend the need for its modification."

"The committee is convinced that the Indian Medical Council (IMC) is in fact an exercise in haste and in case the Central Government had chosen to consult various State Governments and other stakeholders with an open mind, necessary changes could have been incorporated in the act much earlier and in a smooth and effective manner," the report said.

The 34 committee members have differed almost on all the proposed amendments, saying that if the amendments would be passed it would "give Government sweeping powers to interfere in the day-to-day functioning of the council."

The nineteenth report of the department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare on the IMC (amendment) bill 2005 has also expressed serious concerns on non-adherence to a well-established convention of consultation with all the stakeholders for bridging out any legislation or proposed amendments thereto," it said.

The members, under the Chairmanship of Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh said, "the committee fail to comprehend the compulsions being faced by the Central Government for going into such extensive modifications without waiting for the outcome of the special leave petition yet to be decided by the Supreme Court."

The bill, which was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on August 24 was sent to the committee for examination and report.

The committee directed the Government to put in a regulation to the effect that the Ministry of Human Resource Development must consult the ministry of health and family welfare and the Medical Council of India before it confers the deemed university status upon a medical institution.

Noting that the committee is "deeply disturbed to note that both the authorities entrusted with the mandate of regulation of medical education and allied aspects and envisaged to play a complimentary role by lawmakers have unfortunately drifted apart, especially in the recent past."

Observing that the Central Government has enough powers to give directions to the council for carrying out any provision of the act, they said there is no need for a separate section that further empowers the Central Government.

The committee also pointed out that serious efforts need to be made for streamlining the election procedure and said that a proper designated authority for conducting the elections is needed.

The committee also said that insertion of some sections would give Government sweeping powers to interfere in the day-to-day functioning of the council.

"Such provisions would result in further deterioration of working relationship between the council and the Government."

They said they strongly felt that an elected body cannot be dissolved by an executive order, adding that the executive committee was the most powerful decision-making body of the council and there was no need to further add four-ex-officio members in it.

"Ideal position would have been if the Central Government had confined the amendments to only provisions relating to composition of the council and change in the election procedure," the committee said. (PTI)

Bal Thackeray to address three rallies before civic polls

MUMBAI, Dec 20: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray will address at least three rallies in the run-up to civic polls here despite hints that he would no longer participate in active politics, party sources said today.

"Balasaheb will address at least three rallies in the run -up to the civic polls. Though the dates and exact details are not yet certain, we recognise that his charisma will be needed to woo voters," a sena source said here.

Last year, Thackeray had announced he would no longer address public rallies on a regular basis or during election campaigns as he was "tired". The reins of the party, he had said, would rest with his son and executive president Uddhav.

Since then, however, the party has been hit hard by the exit of one of its most visible faces, Thackeray’s protege Raj Thackeray, thus weakening it considerably.

The party has suffered defeats in by-polls and recent elections to Municipal Councils, and the race for Mumbai’s Municipal Corporation is seen as crucial to its survival in the state’s political landscape.

Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena is expected to grab a considerable portion of traditional sena votes.

These factors have led to Thackeray coming out to boost his party’s chances of retaining power in one of the country’s richest civic bodies.

Election to the Municipal Corporation are to be held on February 1. (PTI)