Jallianwala Bagh trust bill introduced in LS

NEW DELHI, Nov 23: The Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill 2006, introduced in the Lok Sabha today, provides for filling the vacancies caused by the passing of the life trustees of the memorial.

The bill, introduced by Union Tourism Minister Ambika Soni in the House, seeks to amend the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Act 1951, which was enacted to provide for the erection and management of the national memorial to rekindle the memory of those killed in April 13, 1919 incident of Amritsar.

The objective of the said act was to place the then trust on a permanent basis, to establish a body corporate to be known as the trustees of the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial and to transfer to that body all the property and funds and to confer upon that body all necessary powers for carrying out the objectivess of the trust.

The trust provides for three trustees appointed for life. But they are no more and the Government cannot appoint trustees in their place without making necessary amendments in the said act. Hence, the new bill to make the trust functional.

The new bill also seeks to provide for certification and auditing of the accounts of the trust by the comptroller and Auditor General of India and laying it before each house of Parliament. (UNI)

BJP president to be elected on Nov 27

NEW DELHI, Nov 23: The Bharatiya Janata Party has fixed November 27 as the date for electing its new national president even as incumbent chief Rajnath Singh is being viewed as the front runner for the post for the next three-year term.

BJP National Returning Officer O P Kohli today fixed the date and timing of scrutiny of the nomination papers at 1430 hrs and 1600 hrs as the time for withdrawal on November 26.

The elections, if necessary, would be held on November 27, BJP Office Secretary Shyam Raju told .

The nomination papers could be filed at BJP headquarters or at his office.

Organisational elections have taken place in almost all the states, while the states facing Assembly polls have been exempted from holding elections.

The possibility of Mr Singh getting an extended term is the most likely scenario in view of the forthcoming elections in his Home State Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Punjab and Manipur. The good show of the BJP in the recently concluded urban local bodies has bolstered his chances of getting a renewed term.

Mr Singh was brought in as party president in place of Mr L K Advani after the Mumbai National Executive last year for the latter’s remaining one-year term. (UNI)

Haryana announces new forest policy

CHANDIGARH, Nov 23: Haryana today announced its new forest policy which would aim to bring the state’s total area under tree cover to 10 per cent by 2010 from a present 6.63 per cent besides laying thrust on conversing bio-diversity in natural forests, containing genetic resource base of the rare species and developing and protecting habitat in protected areas.

Releasing the policy at a press conference here, State’s Forest and Tourism Minister Kiran Chaudhry said that Haryana being primarily an agrarian state, the tree cover was low, "but in a phased manner through afforestation and soil conversation programmes we hope to increase it to 20 per cent in future".

"As our forest cover is much below the national goal of one-third area under forest cover, we felt a need to frame a policy which will tackle this problem to some extent, though we have to bear in mind that 81 per cent of our area is under agriculture," she said.

She said that conversation and development of water resources in forests and checking soil erosion in the catchments of the rivers, rivulets and reservoirs for soil and water conservation will be given priority.

"The afforestation will be undertaken for maintenance of environmental stability and restoration of ecological balance badly affected by serious depletion of forests, woodlands and water," she said.

Chaudhry said that productivity of forests is low so high yielding clonal varieties of trees will be encouraged to increase the productivity of forests on the pattern of green revolution which occurred due to introduction of high yielding varieties of agricultural crops coupled with better management practices.

Chaudhry said that agro-forestry will be one of the thrust areas of the policy and farmers will be encouraged to grow wood for better and safe economic returns.

"To save the farmers from exploitation, tree growers societies will be encouraged. The timber markets will be set up at appropriate places to facilitate farmers in marketing of wood.

Agro-forestry research centres will be established in the state to solve the problems associated with agro-forestry," she said.

She said that wood-based industries based on agro-forestry plantations will be encouraged.

"These industries will be encouraged to establish a direct relationship with the growers and contractual agro-forestry programmes will be promoted. Industries will be encouraged to supply good quality planting stock to farmers and enter into buy-back agrrangements for the raw material produced by them," she said.

Chaudhry also said that the extension of sand dunes will be checked in the semi-arid areas of the state to save the infrastructure in that region and reclamation of salt-affected areas irrespective of the ownership by afforestation techniques will be undertaken.

She said that plantation of Jatropha, and aloe-vera, which has a great demand in the international market, will be encouraged in the arid areas of the state.

Stressing the need for giving a boost to growing of herbal plants, she said herbal parks will be established at district levels and the Government will encourage farmers to grow these plants and help them in its marketing.

"Government will also undertake the processing of medicinal plants to encourage its end use," she said.

Seeking to actively involve the women in afforestation, Chaudhry said they will play a key role in helping increase the tree cover in villages so as to minimise pressure on natural forests.

"Women are the main user of bio-mass so thrust will be put on involving them to increase the tree cover. Degraded natural forests near villages will be taken up for joint forest management with village institutions. The self help groups, particularly of women will be formed to raise their living standards through forestry based and other income generation activities," she said.

To a question, she said the village forest committees had been reconstitued.

She also maintained that zero-tolerance will be shown with regards to encroachers who encroach upon the forest land.

She also informed that she had written to the Prime Minister recently so that state could get some foreign funded projects of forestry.

She said that stress will also be laid to give a boost to eco-tourism in the state.

"National parks, sanctuaries and other protected area will be well protected for conservation of bio-diversity. Water points will be created for wildlife. Eco-tourism will be developed to generate awareness in the masses about the environment and nature interpretation centres and bio-diversity conversation centres will be established in the state," she said.

She said that vulture breeding and conversation programme at Pinjore was also running successfully. (PTI)

All Haj pilgrims to be given polio drops
before going to Saudi

NEW DELHI, Nov 23: The Saudi Arabian Government has decided that all Haj pilgrims from India, Afghanistan and Pakistan, regardless of age and vaccination status, should receive at least one dose of oral polio vaccine prior to departure for riyadh.

The decision has been conveyed to the Health Ministry through the External Affairs Ministry on Tuesday.

The Health Ministry has asked all State Governments to make necessary arrangements at all health facilities for the administration of oral polio vaccine as well as issue of certificates to Haj pilgrims.

The State Governments have also been requested to set up polio vaccination booths at the offices of the State Haj Committee as well as the airports from where the flights for Saudi Arabia leave. This arrangement would ensure that the pilgrims, who are unaware of the decision, are administered the OPV before departure and the vaccination certificates are issued to them.

Flights carrying Haj pilgrims take off from airports at Aurangabad, Nagpur, Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Srinagar, Bangalore, Calicut, Jaipur, Kolkatta, Guwahati, Patna, Chenani, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad and immunisation of all travellers prior to departure will minimise the risk of importation of the virus to countries that have worked hard to eradicate polio.

It will also boost the immunity of travellers, especially young children, who are more susceptible to infection, and help stop the spread of the disease. (UNI)

Ganesh idol stolen from 300 year-old temple

KANCHEEPURAM, (TN) Nov 23: A ganesh idol was stolen from the ancient ‘Karunai Vinyakar’ temple here last night by robbers.

Police said the theft was discovered by the poojari, who opened the temple this morning and found the idol missing. He immediately asked the temple administrative officer Madanagopal to lodge a complaint with the police station in Chinna Kancheepuram.

One of the legs of the idol was found dropped in the temple.

Police rushed to the temple with fingerprint experts and began investigation into the robbery. (UNI)

TN CM welcomes Centre’s decision
on introducing women’s bill

CHENNAI,Nov 23: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Kkarunanidhi today welcomed the Centre’s decision to introduce the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament during the current session.

"I welcome the Centre’s decision," he told reporters.

Asked if the DMK mayors would boycott the ‘conference of mayors of commonwealth countries’, to be inaugurated by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse at Dehradun on November 27, protesting the recent attacks on Tamils in the island republic, he said the decision was left to the mayors concerned.

Chennai mayor M Subramanian had already expressed his inability to attend the conference saying that his presence was needed for co-ordinating relief work in rain ravaged Chennai. The DMK mayors of Tirunelveli, Salem and Madurai Corporations were also unlikely to participate citing some reason or the other, DMK sources said. (PTI)

Vinod Khanna to be back on silver screen

PATHANKOT, PUNJAB, Nov 23: It is going to be full circle for actor turned politician Vinod Khanna who will be again back on silver screen soon.

The 61-year-old thespian says he will make a balancing act between cine world and politics after a temporary lull from the film industry.

"Becuase of my hectic political activities, I was away from film industry for about five years. Now I will start acting in films. However I will not bid adieu to politics," he told .

Khanna, who has already acted in over 100 films, will resume his second innings with a "negative" role in "risk" which will hit the theatres next month.

"Randip Hooda is the producer of this film. I am playing the role of a father which is a negative character. I hope the movie will be appreciated among viewers," he remarks.

The shooting of the film has already been completed. Besides Khanna, the starcast include Tansushree Dutt and Sheema Viswas.

Khanna has already started working for another film also. The name of that movie is yet to be finalised, he says.

Khanna’s transition from cine world to politics dates back to 1998 when he was elected as the member of Parliament from Gurdaspur constituency. Since then he has won the seat for three consecutive terms.

"I was getting film assigments. But I did not have time to do those work. My last film was `Diwana Pan’ five years ago," he points out.

Khanna is optimistic about his performance.

"Yes at this age, I will play character roles. In the industry there are a few people like Amitabh and some others to do such roles. I hope I can will be able to satisfy the viewers," he says.

Khanna, who had held certain Government posts including Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture and Chairman of Film and Television Institute of India, is presently pursuing classical music as well.

On his son Akshya’s marriage, Khanna says he does not want to interfere into the the matter.

"I have given him the freedom to chose the girl with whom he can lead a pleasant life. He is a sensible person and he will take a right decision," he says.

"But I do not want to interfere in this matter. I do not have any problem regarding his selection of partner for him," he says. (PTI)

LIC agents to organise Parliament march

KOTTAYAM, Nov 23: In a bid to seek employment protection and reconsideration of the move to increase foreign capital in the insurance sector, thousands of LIC agents from across the country would organise a Parliament march on November 29.

The main objective of the march is to "save Life Insurance Corporation of India and protect its agents," LIC Agents Organisation of India president E A Mohanan told reporters here today.

About 5,000 agents, including 800 from Kerala, would take part in the march in New Delhi, he said.

Mohanan demanded that the Centre and LIC management address its charter of demands and reach a settlement through discussions.

The charter of demands include rejection of K P Narasimham Committee Report, implementation of pension, provident fund and medi-claim for agents. (PTI)

Navy needs to be more vigilant: Admiral Mehta

KOCHI, Nov 23: The Navy has to be vigilant since the security environment across the country is "deteriorating" and terrorists are using newer methods for their operations, the force’s Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta said today.

Addressing a press conference at the naval base here, Mehta replied to a query on concerns expressed by Home Minister Shivraj Patil about terrorist groups occupying uninhabited islands in coastal areas by saying the navy has to be more vigilant and take on the reponsibility of additional patrolling and surveillance along the coast.

Many of these islands were uninhabited and unless some methodology to keep them under surveillance was brought in, they could well become bases or launch pads for nefarious activities, he said.

Noting that the navy was going to make a technological leap in coming years, he said: "So much is happening in the world and there is no reason why all of these will not come into our ships, submarines and aircraft by way of newer technologies."

Emphasising the need for indigenisation, he said the navy has been in the business of shipbuilding for the past 50 years. The first indigenous ship was built in the early 1970s and the navy has since produced nearly 85 ships, he said.

Around 25 ships are being built at shipyards in India, including an aircraft carrier in the Kochi shipyard. The construction of the carrier is progressing satisfactorily and it is expected to be commissioned in about six to seven years, he said.

In response to a question on the leak of information from the war room or directorate of naval operations, Mehta said, "we have taken corrective steps to ensure that there are no leaks of classified information and documents.

"It is (a) very unfortunate thing. It happened at one point of time. We have taken enough measures to make sure that these things do not happen again." He said. "It is (a result of) the sudden advent of technology and we did not realise that if a person from within the organisation decides to let you down there is very little that we could do."

The navy has been rocked by the leak of senstive data from the war room. Three naval officers were dismissed in connection with the leak and the CBI is currently probing the matter.

The leak was a technological problem and it has been plugged, Mehta said. "As far as the kind of information that we have, lost it is under examination by various agencies.

"We do remain by our stand that what (information) went out was very minimal. It does not have any great bearing on any other issues," he said.

Replying to a query on the presence of the Chinese navy in the Maldives region, Mehta said every nation has a development strategy. "The Chinese strategy, as we can make it out, is obviously linked to economic development."

With globalisation taking place the world over, every nation has its own interests. "Like we are spreading out to make sure that we provide safety to our ships, others also take the same step. Therefore it is inevitable that china will try to come into the Indian Ocean region," he said. (PTI)

Naval Chief reviews ceremonial parade

KOCHI, Nov 23: Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sureesh Mehta today reviewed a ceremonial parade at the Southern Naval Command here.

In his address ADM Mehta said, ‘Indian Navy is held in high esteem amongst the comity of nations. Whatever we have been doing or whatever we may do in this region is of significance to our neighbouring countries as well."

Praising the efforts of the Southern Naval Command, he said it was carrying out the most important peace-time task of the Navy, that of ‘training’ the personnel and equipping them appropriately to run the ships, submarines and aircraft efficiently.

Reiterating the thrust for indigenisation in the Navy, he said innovation was equally important.

"We have overcome various problems in spares and repairs to our assets with our innovative methods," he added.

He also stressed the need to be extra vigilant since the security environment all over was deteriorating and anti-social elements were devising new methods.

The Admiral, who is on a two-day visit, inspected a 50-man ‘Nishan Guard’ (guard of honour with the President’s colours) and the 36 platoons on parade, including 6 armed platoons (1032 men on parade), commanded by Cdr Ravi Shivshankar, while the Navy Band under B Sudarshanan, Master Chief 1st Class, played the tunes of ‘Anand Lok,’ ‘by Land and Sea’, ‘Rani Ka Nishan’ and ‘Beneath The Waves’.

He placed a wreath at the war memorial and was received by flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Vadm Jagjit Singh Bedi. (UNI)

NGO helps make a change for HIV-positive people

BAGALKOT, Nov 23: Over the past two years, an NGO has helped people in this north Karnataka district with a high rate of HIV to cope with the devastating affects of the disease and given them a voice to address the stigma and discrimination associated with it.

"When I got to know about my HIV status, I did not know where to go. My husband who passed on the infection to me just disappeared one day, while my younger son too succumbed to the virus. I was helpless. This was the time when a counsellor introduced me to Jeevan Jyoti," says 32-year-old Shabnam.

Shabnam has been on anti-retro viral treatment for the past two years and is living a "healthy" life with her mother and elder son. Not just this, she has become a counsellor on prevention of parent to child transmission of HIV, all thanks to the Jeevan Jyoti network.

"I’m illiterate but I have vowed to save the lives of all children who get HIV from their mothers. I do not want anyone to face what I did."

An initiative of the India-Canada Collaborative HIV/AIDS Project (ICHAP) to provide support services to people living with HIV/AIDS, the network was established in 2004. It now has regional centres in all six taluks of Bagalkot and has set up a drop-in counselling and treatment centre with ICHAP’s help.

With a three per cent prevalence rate HIV/AIDS in Bagalkot, doctors of the Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (KHPT) say around 50,000 people out of a population of 17 lakh are estimated to be infected with the virus.

From three persons who attended the first meeting of the organisation for HIV-positive persons, the membership of the Jeevan Jyoti Network has swollen to 2,800 today.

"There was a felt need for a kind of hospice for people with HIV-AIDS in Bagalkot. We needed a place where they could come, sit and talk freely. A centre where we could provide quality life for all HIV-infected persons," says Nagendra, Project Manager of Jeevan Jyoti Network.

The network holds monthly support group meetings for its members and organises monthly health clinics for all people on alternate days.

It also organises two clinics a month where people with hiv-aids can access treatment for infections like tb and bacterial pneumonia as well as counselling services.

But members of the network feel more than anything else, the forum has given them a strong voice to address the twin issues of stigma and discrimination associated hiv-aids.

Drakshiyani, a district-level officer of the network, reminisces about the time when she addressed a gathering on hiv-aids for the first time.

"I was so scared. I had tears in my eyes. I was wondering how this group of NSS students (her first audience over three years ago) will react on knowing that I am HIV-positive.

"Fortunately, I had a good response from them. I realised that we have to talk about the disease to curb it. I noticed that if I disclosed my status, it instilled more confidence in people, especially women," she says.

According to Jeevan Jyoti Network president Kalappa, about eight to 10 people come to its counselling centre every day and over 300 HIV-positive people get themselves checked every month.

However, even if there are six voluntary counselling and testing centres in each Taluk of Bagalkot, there was no centre for anti-retro viral treatment there till last month and HIV-positive people had to go to Hubli to get medicines.

Meanwhile, there is no stopping for the network. Its members hope that by reaching out to the general community and making home visits, they can create a conducive environment for people with HIV-AIDS.

"We want to ensure HIV-positive people are responsible in their sexual behaviour and that they do not spread the virus. We try to tell them that HIV is not the end of the world and through healthy living and good nutritional support, positive people can lead a healthy life too," says 48-year-old Kalappa, who has mobilised many other HIV-positive people to join the network. (PTI)

Govt sets up two orphanages in Kupwara

SRINAGAR, Nov 23: Jammu and Kashmir Government has set up two ‘happy homes’ for boys and girls orphaned due to last year’s earthquake in frontier district of Kupwara, an official said here today.

In addition, 105 orphans of Karnah tehsil are being provided boarding, lodging and schooling facilities free of cost, District Development Commissioner Abdul Majid Khanday said.

He said 1632 persons were covered under rehabilitation of militancy victims scheme against the target of 1859 in the district.

As many as 639 centres under Integrated Child Development Sector (ICDS) are coming up in the district, Khanday added.

He said Anganwari workers have been engaged in the district and an amount of Rs 2.79 crore have been earmarked for the sector to provide supplementary nutrition to the children the age group of 6 months to 6 years.

He added that a new scheme ‘Kishori Shastri Yojana’ (KSY) is being implemented for the first time for which Rs 12.10 lakh has been earmarked.

Khanday said under the integrated social security scheme and national old age pension scheme many cases have been identified and beneficiaries have already received a financial assistance to the tune of Rs 3.27 crore. (PTI)