Yes, there’s pilot shortage, but not alarming: IAF Chief

BANGALORE, Feb 14: Indian Air Force Chief Air Marshal F H Major today said there was a ‘slight’ shortage of 250 to 300 pilots in the IAF, but it was nothing alarming.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the International Flight Test Seminar organised by Aircraft and System Testing Establishment (ASTE) here, he said the IAF had started a short term service of 14 years for pilots to attract more pilot officers.

"We have shortage of 250-300 pilots and we can make it up any time. The situation is not alarming. The short-term service commission will help us bridge the gap. This will also help the fast growing civil aviation sector as it could get well trained pilots once they are discharged from the Force."

However, short-term service would comprise only a certain percentage of the total number of pilots in the Force, he said.

Other than this, the IAF was looking up to the Centre to provide better pay packages to the pilots. "We hope the Sixth Pay Commission will give a boost in this regard," he said.

Union Minister of State for Defence Pallam Raju said the three armed forces together had a shortage of officers to the tune of 12,000 at present.

"We have to ensure that there is an adequate pool available for the armed forces. For this, we have to strengthen Sainik Schools. Unfortunately we are not getting enough support from most State Governments," he regretted.

Mr Raju said it was the responsibility of state governments to look after the Sainik Schools. However, in most of the states, the armed forces were not getting adequate support in this respect.

"These schools are feeder institutions and are very important. Twenty five per cent of the cadets come to the NDA from Sainik Schools. So we have to if we have to ensure enough supply of interested officers into armed forces we have to strengthen the Sainik Schools," he said.

The Minister said the intake from National Cadet Corps (NCC) had also been increased. The per centage intake of officers, with ‘C’ certificates in NCC, into the armed forces had been increased. However, there will not be any dilution of standards, he said. (UNI)

There’s always pressure to carry forward the legacy: Amaan Ali

NEW DELHI, Feb 14: Stating that there is always a ‘pressure’ to carry forward the legacy, Sarod meastro, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan’s elder son Amaan Ali khan says that he has, however, tried his level best not to get pressurized.

"There is always pressure on me since I have such a legendary father. Everyone expects us to be good and at times want to see us doing better than our father. At times, it does get a bit tough but then I am not complaining because being his son has also given me instant recognition,’ Amaan, Ustad’s elder son said here.

Amaan along with his younger brother Ayaan Ali Khan have become established sarod players themselves and have toured many countries either performing solo, duet or all three as a whole.

"It is altogether a different feeling to play with my father. He is a greatest sarod player and playing along with him is such an honour for both of us,’ Amaan says.

Claiming that his relationship with his father is more formal than before he says," As kids, we never realised who our father was. As we started growing, we understood the amount of respect and awe that he commands. So, one can say that our relationship with our father is more formal than it use to be when we were just children."

It’s not only the duo’s music that seems to be creating waves making them attentions grabbers every time they step out but also their looks.

Buoyed by their chocolaty looks, the duo have also been approached by various film makers.

"Actually it is Ayaan who is getting most of the offers. Though I myself have read quite a few of the scripts nothing has excited me enough other than just some. Though I would not like to discuss the details, you may very soon find me acting in a film," says Amaan.

Pointing out that his first love will always be music, Amaan adds, "Films are just another medium of expression and entertainment. My first love would always be Sarod."

Rubbishing off any rivalry between the two brothers he says, "We have two different styles. We have performed together on a number of occasions and will do so in the future also."

While younger brother Ayaan is getting married very soon, Amaan smiles and says, "He is the unlucky one to get hitched so soon. I am single and ready to mingle."

While he maintains that his father is his musical ‘Guru’, Amaan points out that his real ‘Guru’ is his mother. "My mother herself an established dancer when she got married. She knew that if there are two performing artists in the house, it would be very difficult for the children."

"She quit her career for our sake. Though you might be able to make a good musician, it is very difficult to make fine humans and I hope we have lived up to her expectations." (PTI)

Tata, Boeing JV for defence products

NEW DELHI, Feb 14: Homegrown conglomerate Tata and US aerospace major Boeing today said they would form a joint venture for carrying out an over USD500 million of defence-related aerospace component work in India.

Tata Industries Limited and Boeing Company have agreed on a plan to form a joint-venture company that will initially include more than USD500 million of defence-related aerospace component work in India for export to Boeing and its international customers, the two companies said in a joint statement.

"This joint venture between Tata and Boeing is an important part of our strategy to build capabilities in defence and aerospace," Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata said.

Under the agreement, the proposed JV will be established by June 2008, and shortly thereafter begin work on building Boeing aerospace components, it added.

"It (the JV) represents another step in our commitment to India, in this case by linking the capabilities and heritages of these two companies, in order to bring real and lasting value to India’s aerospace industry, while making Boeing products more globally competitive," president and CEO of Boeing Integrated Defence Systems Jim Albaugh said.

Manufacturing capabilities established within the joint-venture company would in later phases be leveraged across multiple Boeing programs, including the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) competition, the statement added.

In the first phase of the agreement, Boeing would potentially issue contracts for work packages to the joint-venture company involving defence-related component manufacturing on Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet for the US Navy and Royal Australian Air Force, CH-47 Chinook and/or P-8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft, it said.

A research and development centre for advanced manufacturing technologies is also contemplated, the statement said. (PTI)

New LS, Assembly constituencies to become effective: Cabinet

NEW DELHI, Feb 14: The Centre today said a notification would be issued at the "earliest" for enforcing the orders issued by the Delimitation Commission which had redrawn the Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies.

The notification would cover all the constituencies, except those in five states-Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Jharkhand.

The approval for forwarding the orders to the President for issue of the notification was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told reporters.

The Government would also subsequently amend the Representation of People Act, 1950, superseding the Delimitation Order of 1976. (UNI)

Northeastern Institute of Folk Medicine at Pasighat

NEW DELHI, Feb 14: A Northeastern Institute of Folk Medicine will be set up at Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh, with the government today clearing a proposal for it.

The institute will be set up at a cost of Rs 32.88 crore as an autonomous institute under the Department of AYUSH, Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi told reporters after a Cabinet meeting.

This decision will facilitate systematic and comprehensive documentation, presentation and validation of the folk medicine traditions of the Northeastern region, he said. (PTI)

My films are not being promoted properly: Jimmy

NEW DELHI, Feb 14: Bollywood actor Jimmy Shergill is disappointed with the way his films are promoted and to make things right, the actor is planning to open his own production company.

"It is really disappointing specially after you have put up so much hard work for 30-40 days and then your film don’t do well because it has not been promoted or released properly. So I want to open my own production house, I feel I will be a happier man then," says Jimmy, who had as many as seven films hit the box-office last year but with most failing to set the cash register ringing.

However, Jimmy, who received critical acclaims for his role in ‘Stranger’ and ‘Das Kahaniya’, is unfazed and is ready with four of his films to be released this year, the newest being ‘Wednesday’.

"My film, ‘Wednesday’ will be released in March-April. It has some great actors like Naseruddin Shah, Anupam Kher and Rajpal Yadav. I am playing a KDS officer in the film. Next, I have ‘Haste Haste’, ‘Bachelor Party’, ‘Mumbai Katin’ and ‘Flag’, which I just completed," says Jimmy, who was in the capital recently for endorsing a lifestyle clothing company as a brand ambassador.

Jimmy, who ever since his debut in Gulzar’s ‘Maachis’ has done a variety of roles, says he is not scared of experimenting and does not care about image.

"In this last decade I have done a lot of experimentation with my looks and character. In my Punjabi film, ‘Mannat’ I have portrayed a role which spans between 25-46 years of age. So I am not scared of changing my image. It all depends on the character," he says.

Jimmy also feels that on-screen smoking should not be banned as it entirely depends on the character of the film.

"It depends on the requirement of the role. An actor smoking on screen is only portraying a character and if the role requires him to smoke there is nothing wrong in it," he says. (PTI)

Mughal Gardens open to public from Feb 16

NEW DELHI, Feb 14: The Mughal Gardens, with its wide variety of roses radiating their fragrance across the Rashtrapati Bhawan, are in a way symbolic of India’s wide diversity which lends a unique strength to the Nation, President Pratibha Patil said today.

"Just as roses of different colours and hues when brought together in the Mughal Gardens bring a sweet fragrance to Rashtrapati Bhawan, people of different cultures, caste and creeds lend a colourful pallette to the Indian landscape,"the President said while addressing a group of students from 12 states of the countries who were on a visit to Delhi under the Jammu and Kashmir reciprocal cultural youth programme.

The famed Mughal Gardens, which opens to the general public from February 16, will this year witness blooming of 125 varity of roses like Sentimental, Memorial Day, Garden Party, Aishwarya, Welwyn Garden Glory, Taj Mahal, Pasadena, Pusa Arjun etc, the Secretary to the President Christy Fernando told mediapersons here.

Mr Fernando said the Gardens would be open between 1000-1700 hrs everyday but entry would be restricted till 1600 hrs. Though the Gardens could be accessed till March 28, it would remain closed every Monday for maintenance purposes and on March 21-22.

Covering an area of 15 acres, the Mughal Gardens of Rashtrapati Bhawan include the Musical Garden, the Spiritual garden, the Herbal Garden, the Biodiversity Park and the Nakshatra Gardens.

This year, the Rectangular garden, adjacent to the main Rashtrapati Bhawan building, will be the centre of attraction having eight different varieties of Tulips.

While single colour Tulips are in full bloom now, multicolour tulips from Jammu and Kashmir will be in full bloom approximately from February 22 to March 2.

Another feature of the Mughal Gardens this year is that seven different variety of roses have been added to the Long Garden, which forms the second part of the Garden.

The Long Garden, or the ‘Purdah’ garden, so called because it is enclosed by high walls, has 16 square attractive rose beds hemmed in low hedges.

The third Garden, known as the ‘Pearl Garden’ or the ‘Butterfly’ garden, is a huge terraced bowl lined with various fragrant and vibrant annuals. A bubble fountain in the middle of the bowl and Lotus beds enhance the grandeur of the place.

Adding to the beauty of the Mughal Gardens is the Musical Garden, having three enthralling fountains which dance to Shehnai Music and Vande Mataram. The Musical fountains are a perfect blend of music, light and water with the help of modern technical knowhow. Further, an excellent landscape has been created around the Musical Fountain.

Another attraction is the Biodiversity Park, which has deer, ducks, turkeys, guinea fowls, turtles, parakeets, rabbits and migratory birds.

For example, important medicinal and aromatic plants depicting their use can be seen in the educational-cum-conservation Herbal gardens.

The biodiesel producing plant jatropha;Stevia, which provides safe sigar for diabetics, Isabgol, Damask Rose, Ashwagandha, Brahmi, Mints, Tulsi and 33 other types of herbs can be seen in the herbal gardens.

Mr Fernando told reporters that efforts were to maintain an eco-friendly surrounding in the Mughal Gardens in particular and the Rashtrapati Bhawan in general.

"We want the Rashtrapati Bhawan to be a model for environmental conservation for the general public. Hence, there is an increasing emphasis on efforts to promote conservation of water and energy through the use of CFL bulbs,"Mr Fernando said.

While entry and exit to the Gardens would be from Gate No 35 of President’s Estate, located near North Avenue, physically challenged people could have access through the Rashtrapati Bhawan reception on Hukum Tai Marg or Rajpath along with their escorts.

However, water bottles, briefcases, hangbags, cameras, radios, cell phones, umbrellas and eatables, besides arms and ammunition would not be allowed within the premises. (UNI)