Artillery Centre: Diamond jubilee
celebrations begin on Apr 6

NASHIK, Apr 3: Completing sixty years of excellence, the Artillery Centre here is all geared up to celebrate its diamond jubilee from April 6 with various sports and cultural activities being arranged to mark the two-day function.

The centre has been at its present location since April 7, 1948 with its history stretching back to the raising of the first artillery depots established as early as 1915. It is the oldest centre of the regiment of artillery. Its evolution, since the inception of the first mountain artillery training centre at Deharadun in August 1920, is intrinsically intertwined with the growth of the regiment, artillery centre, a press release stated today.

As a premiere training institution, the centre has contributed immensly towards the growth of the largest regiment of the Indian Army.

In these six decades, over 2.6 lakh recruits have been transformed into gunners and have crossed these hallowed portals in a rite of passage.

The mission of the Centre is to train physically tough, mentally robust and technically proficient young gunners capabale of effortless integration with the units of the regiment.

The Centre has maintained and met this commitment to the regiment of artillery, the Indian Army and the nation with focus and intent, the sources added.

In addition, the Centre has been a custodian of the customs and traditions of the regiment. The pride taken in these links to its past, is visible in the institutions harbored within its campus which include the artillery museum and the war memorial.

As a self sustained mini township, the artillery centre is well laid out in the sylvan surroundings of Nashik Road.

Nestled at the foothills of the Sahyadris, the Centre has nurtured and developed its environment to stand out as the green lungs of the city.

Sports and games are an integral part of military life and have always been a litmus test of holistic development.

Over the last sixty years, the Centre produced soldiers of highest calibre including Arjuna awardees and also winning the Agakhan Cup besides establishing records at Commonwealth and winning countless medals in international and national events.

Army archery node of the Centre has been instrumental in promoting sports in the Army as well as the nation. Two archers, Rattan Kumar and Babban Kumar, have been selected for first and second World Cup Archery Tournament to be held at Dominician Republic and Croatia this month, the release said.

Archers have also earned gold medal in compound division category during 28^{th senior National Archery Championship held recently at Jamshedpur. They have also represented the nation during Asian Archery Championships held at Xian, China and Grand Prix Archery Championship at Ishfahan,Iran it added.}

^{We have also done better in wrestling, weightlifting and body building. Shooting has been the forte of the armed forces. The Sarvatra Shooting Club of the Centre has trained recruits and soldiers in precision shooting.}

^{To mark the completion of sixty years, the Centre has organised a health run for all ranks and their families on March 30. It will be flagged off by Lieutenant General SPS Dhillon, and Colonel Commandant of regiment of artillery. (PTI)}

CAG highlights irregularities in Anganwadi centres

PATNA, Apr 3: The CAG has indicted Bihar’s Social Welfare Department on preparation of budget for the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme saying it was not "realistic."

"There was no correlation between budget provision and number of functional Anganwadi centres. Budget preparation of the department was not realistic", the Comptroller and Auditor General of India remarked in its report for the year ended March 31, 2007.

The ICDS, a central government scheme, meant to deliver nutritious food, education and health services to children upto the age of six and enhance the capability of mothers through proper nutrition and health education was not implemented properly in the state, the report said.

The implementation of the scheme in the state has several loopholes such as lack of planning, poor implementation of supplementary nutrition programme, lack of infrastructure in Aganwadi Centres (AWCs), failure to provide health check-up and referral services, it added.

According to the report, centre has sanctioned 80302 AWCs against the required 82833. Out of those only 60153 AWCs were operationalised as of July.

In test-checked projects, 97 per cent AWCs were running without toilet, drinking water facilities and 43 per cent were functioning in huts, the CAG report said.

In test-checked Child Development Project Offices (CDPOs), rental payment of Rs 2.82 crore was transferred either in the bank accounts of sevikas or advanced to clerks instead of making direct payment to house owners, CAG alleges.

The CAG has also alleged that against target of 620 AWCs in 13 test-checked districts, only one AWC was be constructed up to August 2007 despite provision of Rs 8.29 crore (April-June 2005) to the District Magistrates. (PTI)

Police to rein in friendship clubs, massage parlour

LUCKNOW, Apr 3: Uttar Pradesh police is planning a crackdown on friendship clubs and massage parlours in the state for duping youths in the name of offering companionship besides charging hefty amount from them.

"We are requesting newspapers for not carrying advertisements of such clubs and parlours or at least draw some guidelines to ensure their genuineness," said Brijlal, ADG Law and order.

Legal proceedings would also be initiated against bank employees, who open accounts of these clubs without verifying necessary documents, he said.

In Uttar Pradesh over a dozen gangs were busted in past one year for duping youths in the guise of ‘friendship clubs’.

As majority of these clubs and parlours were involved in flesh trade, a check on their activities was a must, he said, adding the process of targeting such establishments had already started. (PTI)

Dalai Lama urges world community for ‘continued support’

NEW DELHI, Apr 3: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has appealed to the world community for their "continued support" to put an immediate end to the Chinese crackdown in Tibet.

He insisted that the demonstrations and protests are a manifestation of "deep-rooted resentment" not only of the Tibetan people in the "so-called Tibetan Autonomous Region," but also in the traditional Tibetan areas now incorporated into Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, where there exist substantial communities of Tibetans.

"The Chinese authorities have deployed large contingents of troops in these traditional Tibetan regions and have not only started to crack down heavily on the Tibetans allegedly involved in the unrest, but also sealed off areas where protests have taken place," the Dalai Lama said in a statement issued late last night in Dharamsala.

He appealed to world leaders, Parliamentarians, NGOs and members of the public for "continued support in calling for an immediate end to the current crackdown, the release of all those wo have been arrested and detained, and the provision of proper medical treatment to the injured."

Quoting reports, the Dalai Lama said many injured Tibetans were afraid to go the Chinese-run hospitals and clinics for treatment.

"I would also request you to encourage the sending of an cindependent international body, to investigate the unrest and its underlying causes, as well as allowing the media and international medical teams to visit the affected areas," he said, adding their presence will instill a sense of reassurance in Tibetans and also exercise a restraining influence on Chinese authorities. (PTI)

Smriti all set to return to Balaji camp

MUMBAI, Apr 3: Admirers of Smriti Irani alias Tulsi, will once again be able to see their favorite ‘bahu’ in the show ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’ after a gap of nearly an year.

Balaji Telefilms’ Creative Director Ekta Kapoor and Anupama Mandloi, Senior Creative Director of Star Plus announced the come back of Smriti to the show at a joint press conference along with Smriti last night.

"Smriti will return to become an integral part of the Virani household in ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi", Ekta told media persons here yesterday.

Anupama said, "We have had a long standing relation with Smriti and it is thrilling to have her back on the show. She has contributed immensely in making Tulsi iconic and the team is looking forward to her return."

Clarifying about her differences with Smriti, Ekta said, "It is heartening to bring Smriti back as Tulsi. The show has consistently remained at the top because of her fans’ immense faith in her and also in the show. I’m glad that Smriti and I have had another chance to work together in ‘Kyunki’, a show close to both our hearts."

Elucidating her comeback to ‘Kyunki’, Smriti Irani, commented, "The platform of ‘Kyunki’ is irreplaceable in my life. This is where I began my eventful journey as an actor and it gives me immense pleasure to return to the show after a brief hiatus. I am enthralled by the love and admiration my fans have shown towards Tulsi in the past and am confident of their support on my return."

Smriti became iconic with her portrayal of the role of Tulsi when she started seven years back in ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.’

Standing firm against all odds, Tulsi managed to keep the family together through all challenges of life. Being a bahu, mother, and grandmother, Tulsi has seen umpteen personal turmoils in her life, right from winning over the love of her estranged son, Gautam, to wading away Mandiras evil eye and many more.

The role is being enacted by Gautami Kapoor for the last few months.

On their performances as Tulsi, Anupama Mandloi said, "Both Gautami and Smriti have done exceptionally well as Tulsi and have worked hard to make Tulsi a household name. It will be unfair to draw comparisons between the two."

Smriti always had the advantage of having started out with playing the character and establishing herself as the actor who played this role. Gautami managed extremely well by creating a new identity for Tulsi, Mandloi added. (PTI)

Indo-US relations set to grow: US envoy

TIRUCHIRAPALLI, Apr 3: The introduction of economic reforms in India has led to stategic partnership between India and the US after culmination of cold war removed a serious irritant in the relations between the two countries, Consul for Public Affairs, US Consulate General, Chennai, Frederick J Kaplan, has said.

Speaking at a function here yesterday, he observed that the relations between the two countries have never been better than right now and it would be better in five years.

Collaborations in technology, health, agriculture, military, and in promotion of democracy would further enhance the relations between the two countries. Both countries share basic values, believe in hard work, and favour open and free market system, he pointed out.

Mr Kaplan said 250 Indian scientists were undergoing training in the US. There had been a two-way growth in trade and investment. Companies like General Electric and Microsoft have their second largest facilities in India and there were several blue chip companies in India in the IT and pharma sectors.

He opined that with a nine per cent growth rate over the last three years, India would have to make an investment of 500 billion US Dollars over the next five years to sustain the growth rate.

The 83,000 Indian students studying in American institutions constitute the highest number of overseas students from a country. While Indians go to the US institutions to study engineering, medicine, technology and management, American students visit India to learn its culture, history, languages and art forms. Americans were becoming Indianised by practising yoga, he added.

During the music season in December, the envoy said a large number of Americans used to camp in Chennai for the musical feast. Writings of 19^{th century American Philosopher Henry David Thoreau were influenced by the Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana. The writer’s essay on Civil Disobedience influenced Mahatma Gandhi in his freedom struggle and the latter had an admirer in Martin Luther King Jr. (UNI)}

HAL turnover crosses the USD 2 billion mark

BANGALORE, Apr 3: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) today announced that it has crossed the USD billion mark and achieved a sales turnover of Rs 8,350 crore in 2007-08.

This turnover marks a 11.25 per cent growth from previous year’s figure of Rs 7,505 crore.

Net profit for the year zoomed to Rs 1,500 crore, a growth of 27 per cent.

Chairman of the Bangalore-headquartered Navratna aerospace company under the Defence Ministry, Ashok K Baweja, told reporters that it has doubled its turnover in three years from 2004-05 when it crossed the USD one billion mark.

The company had a gross margin of 22.16 per cent in the just concluded financial year.

HAL has paid an interim dividend of Rs 300 crore for 2007-08, and also become a zero-debt company. (PTI)

Unbreakable security for upcoming Ram Navmi mela

AYODHYA, Apr 3: Unbreakable security measures are being made for the famous Ram Navmi mela commencing April 6 here.

The ten-day mela, in which lakhs of devotees are expected to throng, would mark its end on April 16, sources said.

Superintendent of Police (SP)(city) Gopesh Nath Khanna told UNI that the mela zone has been divided into six zones and 24 sectors, so that stringent security cover can be provided.

Taking note of the terrorists’ attacks on July 5, 2005 and November 2006 in Ayodhaya and Faizabad respectively, the security personnels deployed at the mela precincts would be provided with photo identity cards this time.

Besides, the identity cards would carry the signature of the authorised mela officer.

The SP further informed that seven additional SP, 27 Deputy SP, six inspectors, 135 sub-inspectors, 65 head constables, 555 constables, 650 home guards, five traffic sub-inspectors, 12 company PAC and two company RAF have been demanded by the government.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Abhay Kumar Prasad will visit here today to take stock of the situation, sources said.

Necessary security arrangements were also being made in the city’s famous temples like Hanumangarhi, Kanak Bhavan, Nageshvarnath and Balmiki Ramayan. (UNI)

Pakistan remembers ‘Disco Deewane’ girl

ISLAMABAD, Apr 3: Pakistanis are celebrating the birth anniversary of the country’s original pop diva Nazia Hasan, who won the hearts of millions with her hit single "Aap Jaisa Koi Meri Zindagi Main Aye", in the early 1980s.

Hasan, who shot to fame as a teen, died of cancer eight years ago at the age of 35, leaving behind a three-year-old son.

The singer, who had the looks to match her voice, shot to fame when she met British-Indian composer Biddu in London where she grew up. Biddu introduced her to Feroz Khan who was making "Qurbani" and with the huge success of "Aap Jaisa Koi’ began Hasan’s musical adventure.

Recorded in England when Hasan was only 13, the song was an upbeat blend of the East and the West. Hasan, who had a thin voice with a nasal twang, later tied up with her younger brother Zoheb and produced three albums, all of which were stupendous hits.

In her later years, Hasan sang about issues such as drugs that had plagued millions of youth worldwide. She also sang for another Bollywood hit "Disco Deewanee" in 1981. Her hit single "Disco Deewane" is still a must at all dance parties.

The brother-sister duo released their first album "Young Tarang"-in Pakistan in the 1980s. It was followed by two more which made their popularity soar. Their last album "Camera Camera" was released in the early 1990s.

Hasan’s disco songs "Lekin mera dil" and "Laila o Laila", which feature a neat orchestra arrangement on a disco beat, have a silken feel to it and a timeless appeal. In the 1990s, Biddu remixed a couple of her tracks with new beats and put them on TV music channels.

Hasan, who had a London University law degree, did a short stint as a political analyst for the United Nations in the US. But she had to give up her job because of her illness which ultimately took her life.

Her parents Muniza and Basir and brother Zoheb set up the Nazia Hasan Foundation in 2003 in her memory and it works to promote harmony and peace amongst communities and encourages the fusion of values and ideas of the East and the West. (PTI)