Govt to probe corruption in health care projects

NEW DELHI, Jan 12: Acting tough after a World Bank revelation about corruption in health sector projects, the Government today said it would set up four groups to probe the charges and warned that those guilty would be punished.

The Centre also said that the Union Health Ministry has been working on framing detailed guidelines and modalities to increase and strengthen procurement capacity of states in order to curb corruption in health care projects.

"Four groups, consisting of members from the Finance and Health Ministries, would be set up to probe the irregularities found by the World Bank in projects dealing with eradication of tuberculosis and malaria and HIV/AIDS control schemes," Union Health Secretary Naresh Dayal said.

"Detailed investigations will be done after we study the report. I can assure you, exemplary action will be taken against those found guilty," he said.

He said the Government has already decided that procurement for projects should be done through the United Nations Organisations of Procurement.

"We are also trying to increase and strengthen the capacity of states for procurement. Detailed guidelines for procurement are being framed by the ministry," Dayal said.

The Health Secretary said the Government had provided all help to the World Bank in the probe. He said that based on earlier reports it had taken a lot of actions.

"After the first report, procurement from two pharma companies were suspended," he added.

The projects, in which the World Bank found "significant indicators of fraud and corruption", are Malaria Control Project, Orissa Health Systems Development Project, Food and Drug Capacity Building Project, Second National HIV/AIDS Control Project and Tuberculosis Control Project.

This is the second time that the World Bank reported that there was corruption in Indian health sector projects which are aided through international funds.

In 2005, the World Bank had found cases of corruption in Reproductive and Child Health project, prompting the multi-lateral agency to withhold aid for the project for sometime.

Health Ministry sources said a CBI probe was currently on into the corruption charges raised in the first report. (PTI)

Divided Opposition fails to take on CPI-M

KOLKATA, Jan 12: The recent outcome of the Balagarh assembly by-election in West Bengal has again proved that a divided opposition cannot take on the CPI-M-led Left Front.

Although the CPI-M’s vote share decreased by a 10,000 votes in the by-poll-the first such election after Nandigram developments-the party retained the seat mainly due to a split in the opposition votes.

However, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee stoutly refuses to buy the argument that though post-Nandigram the ruling Left Front was clearly in a disadvantageous position, the four-way division in the anti-CPI(M) votes helped the Marxists.

Mamata’s 17-party Progressive Secular Democratic Front has local groups with hardly have any presence in the state. The BJP and Congress are not part of the this alliance.

Mamata points to the Uttar Pradesh experiment, where Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party swept the assembly election despite multi-cornered contests.

The TC supremo says while her party’s vote share has touched almost 40 per cent, CPI-M received 10,000 less votes which was ‘very significant’.

The state BJP leadership says without its inclusion, no credible opposition front could be formed against Marxists in West Bengal.

General secretary of the BJP state unit Rahul Sinha says the people in West Bengal want change, but they did not find any credible alternative to the CPI(M)-led LF.

"The people will vote for a change in the state only if they find a credible and united opposition against the LF," he said.

"Such credibility cannot be gained by forging electoral tie ups on the eve of an election. The recent Balagarh by-poll has shown that the opposition miserably failed to cash in on the squabbles in the ruling Front," he said.

State Congress general secretary Manas Bhunia points out that by remaining in the NDA, Banerjee could not lead a real secular front against the CPI(M).

"The TC chief has said her party remained with the NDA at the national level. Then how can she lead a secular front? It is contradictory," he said. (PTI)

Punjab to observe 2008 as education, employment year

CHANDIGARH, Jan 12: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today urged the Non-Residents Indians to come forward and adopt the Adarsh Schools in the state, which the SAD-BJP Government plans to open at various places in the state to impart quality education to the students.

Inaugurating an international conference on investment opportunities for global competitiveness & Employability of Punjab youth organized by International Punjabi Chamber for Service Industry (IPCSI) on 6 th annual Parvasi Punjabi Divas 2008 here he outlined the vision of his Government to impart quality education to the students.

He said that the State Government was fully seized of its inherent weaknesses in the system of education. With the opening of Adarsh Schools in the state, the Government had made concerted efforts to provide quality education to the intelligent and poor students at free of cost, he added.

He said that the Government has initially planed to set up 100 such schools out of which 70 had been finalized. He urged the NRIs to come forward and adopt these schools as Government was ready to bear 75 per cent of the cost component and the remaining 25 per cent was to be borne out by the NRIs.

The Chief Minister also asked the NRIs to take initiatives for development projects and schemes in their native villages in the same ratio of 75:25. He also impressed upon the NRIs to share their experiences with the State Government in the diverse fields of medicine, healthcare, education and public sanitation to provide basic civic amenities especially to the disadvantaged sections of the society in an effective and meaningful manner.

Badal announced to dedicate year 2008 to the education and employment generation in the state in order to help the youth get education and proper settlement. The SAD-BJP Government had decided to undertake an extensive survey of the educated unemployed youth with rural background to enable them to get appropriate jobs according to their educational qualifications and experiences, he added.

The Chief Minister said that the department of employment generation set up by the Government would directly supervise this gigantic task and the compilation of data therefore, would act as a reservoir to provide relevant jobs to the eligible candidates. Besides the Government had also focused its intention to generate tremendous potential for job opportunities for the unemployed youth by opening skill development centers to upgrade their skills so that they could be gainfully employed in the country as well as abroad, Badal added. He said that the State Government had already tied up with an eminent multi-national company Larsen & Toubro to set up a skill development center to impart training to the youth in the field of construction and building. There was an ample scope for the youth to be absorbed in the avenues of electrical, mechanical, auto engineering, plumbing and marble fixing, he added.

Badal said that the Government had also set up a private security training institute at Jehankhelan in Hoshiarpur district to impart training to the unemployed youth in the field of private security. With the up coming malls, shopping plazas, multiplexes, industry and clubs there would be a considerable scope of their absorption, he added.

Dwelling on the concept of human resource development, Badal said that it was a sorry state of affairs that none of any government, Centre or States had paid any attention to this one of the most crucial aspect rather completely ignored it. He said that our government had made concerted efforts to concentrate on this issue and the positive results were forthcoming. In his theme address patron of IPCSI, AR Kohli, a former Governor of Mizoram said that with half the population under the age of 25% India has already the youngest labour force in the world. "India is not expected to pass china in total population until 2030. But India will have more young workers aged 20 to 24 by 2013."

Kohli said that the international labour predicts that by 2020, India will have 116 million workers in this age group bracket to China’s 94 million adding that if these workers are adequately trained and skilled, they will give the country a huge competitive advantage in terms of raising per capita incomes and reducing dependency ratios".

In his welcome address President of Honour IPCSI A S Marwaha from USA emphasized the need to impart skill training to the youth so that they could further create job opportunities for the unemployed. He said that it was a high time to shift the focus from job seekers to job creators.

Earlier, the Chief Minister formally inaugurated the conference by lighting a lamp and released a book ‘Knowledge Reservoir’ - a roadmap for the skill development.

He also honoured some eminent personalities including Satinder Dhiman, Inder Singh, Darshan Singh Bagga, Jasbir Singh Sachar, Anu Peshawaria, Bobby Rekhi (all from USA), UNITECH Executive Vice President V K Chadha, S S Chawla from Thailand, Protector General of Immigrants J Panda, Gaipov Sunnatulla of Uzbekistan Airways, Regional Head ICICI Bank Vishal Batra and Amandeep Walia from Standard Chartered. (PTI)

Aamir Khan’s ‘Taare Zameen Par’ makes Advani cry

NEW DELHI, Jan 11: Actor-director Aamir Khan has made a politician cry-this time not in the reel life.

At a special screening of Khan’s directorial debut ‘Taare Zameen Par’ in the Capital yesterday, senior BJP leader LK Advani could not hold his tears as he watched the story of a dyslexic child recovering from his illness.

"For the first time, I saw Advaniji crying. He has a very fine sense of cinema. I think he used to be a critic he told me and he had seen Lagaan as well when it had come out. So I was very happy to show him the movie because I was really keen to know his response," Khan said.

The Leader of Opposition praised Khan for his latest hit. "Both the director and the script writer must be complimented. In many years, I have not seen such a film. I must express my gratitude to Aamir.

"It’s a brilliant film in every respect. In spite of being a difficult topic, it has been presented so well that it touches the heart of the audience," Advani said.

The Bollywood actor, who had earned the wrath of Sangh Parivar for supporting the Narmada Bachao Andolon in Gujarat in 2006, organised the screening of the movie for the veteran leader at Prasar Bharti’s Film Division auditorium.

Khan said the special show was held on the request from her aunt and former Deputy Chairperson of Rajya Sabha Nazma Heptullah, who is a good friend of Advani.

"Not only politicians, I would like people from all sections to see the movie. Since Advaniji is a good friend of my aunt, so she wanted to show this movie to him and his family," Khan said.

One of the actor’s movies ‘Fanaa’ was banned by the BJP-led government in Gujarat last year after he took part in a demonstration by Narmada Bachao Andolan.

"Those are past things. Don’t mix the two issues. There is no political angle in it. Aamir has set a milestone with this film and we should all wish for his success," BJP leader Shatrugan Sinha said.

The screening was also attended by former Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission K C Panth. (PTI)

PM should take up the issue of Chinese intrusion into India

KOCHI, Jan 12: BJP today asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take up the issue of Chinese intrusion into Indian territory during his visit to Beijing beginning from today and send across a clear message that New Delhi will not accept compromise on it.

The Congress-led UPA Government must reiterate India’s stand that this country will not accept any compromise on the Chinese intrusion, BJP national president Rajnath Singh told a press meet here.

The visit of the Prime Minister, who is leaving for China tonight, has to be seen in the wake of repeated claims of China on Indian territory, particularly Arunachal Pradesh, he said.

There has been increase in Chinese intrusion, which has been accepted by External Affairs Minister, Pranab Kumar Mukherjee, he said, adding the intrusion had been going on during the last three-year rule of the Congress-led UPA Government.

On the Ram temple issue, the BJP leader said it was not an election issue.

"It is a cultural issue and issue of faith. VHP and other social organisations will construct the temple and BJP is not involved in it. If there are legal obstacles, the party will pave the way for its construction when it gets majority and return to power," Singh said.

He also expressed confidence that the party would get full-fledged majority in Karnataka, where it had ruled for hardly a week.(PTI)

Hearing in Dera Sacha Sauda case deferred

AMBALA, Jan 12: A CBI Court today deferred the hearing in two cases of alleged murder and one of sexual exploitation of a woman disciple against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh.

The court of Special CBI Judge R K Saini, which was to hear arguments on framing charges against the Dera chief today, put off the hearing till January 21.

However, the CBI today submitted its reply to the two applications filed by Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh’s counsel on December 22 seeking certain documents related to the cases.

The CBI has already filed challan against Dera chief and a few others in connection with the murders of Dera functionary Ranjit Singh and a Sirsa-based journalist Ramchander Chatterpati and the sexual exploitation of a Dera Sadhvi (woman disciple).

Later talking to reporters Dera chief’s counsel S K Garg said he was considering to file an application in the court seeking exemption of Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh from personal appearance.

Security had been beefed up in the court premises in view of the Babar Khalsa threat to eliminate the Dera chief.(PTI)

Cosmetic Surgeon arrested for molesting reporter

MUMBAI, Jan 12: A Cosmetic Surgeon was arrested for allegedly molesting a 20-year old reporter working in a private news channel inside his clinic in a north-west suburb today.

Vijay Sharma asked the girl to come to his clinic located at Khar after the reporter, working on a story on cosmetic surgeries, had contacted him some days ago to know about a specific treatment procedure.

"Sharma, who has two dispensaries, called her at his clinic in Khar this morning and gave the necessary details to the girl. When she went ahead to thank him by shaking hands, he kissed her," said a senior police officer of the Khar Police Station.

A camera-person accompanying the girl was standing outside the consulting room when the incident occurred. Sharma also passed some lewd remarks at the girl after the act, the officer said.

The girl fled from the clinic immediately and was shocked to receive a call from Sharma threatening her against telling anyone about the matter claiming he was a very "influential" person.

A complaint was filed with the Khar Police Station immediately and Sharma was arrested under Sections 354 (outraging the modesty of a woman) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.(PTI)

Punjab to observe 2008 as education, employment year

CHANDIGARH, Jan 12: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today urged the Non-Residents Indians to come forward and adopt the Adarsh Schools in the state, which the SAD-BJP Government plans to open at various places in the state to impart quality education to the students.

Inaugurating an international conference on investment opportunities for global competitiveness & Employability of Punjab youth organized by International Punjabi Chamber for Service Industry (IPCSI) on 6 th annual Parvasi Punjabi Divas 2008 here he outlined the vision of his Government to impart quality education to the students.

He said that the State Government was fully seized of its inherent weaknesses in the system of education. With the opening of Adarsh Schools in the state, the Government had made concerted efforts to provide quality education to the intelligent and poor students at free of cost, he added.

He said that the Government has initially planed to set up 100 such schools out of which 70 had been finalized. He urged the NRIs to come forward and adopt these schools as Government was ready to bear 75 per cent of the cost component and the remaining 25 per cent was to be borne out by the NRIs.

The Chief Minister also asked the NRIs to take initiatives for development projects and schemes in their native villages in the same ratio of 75:25. He also impressed upon the NRIs to share their experiences with the State Government in the diverse fields of medicine, healthcare, education and public sanitation to provide basic civic amenities especially to the disadvantaged sections of the society in an effective and meaningful manner.

Badal announced to dedicate year 2008 to the education and employment generation in the state in order to help the youth get education and proper settlement. The SAD-BJP Government had decided to undertake an extensive survey of the educated unemployed youth with rural background to enable them to get appropriate jobs according to their educational qualifications and experiences, he added.

The Chief Minister said that the department of employment generation set up by the Government would directly supervise this gigantic task and the compilation of data therefore, would act as a reservoir to provide relevant jobs to the eligible candidates. Besides the Government had also focused its intention to generate tremendous potential for job opportunities for the unemployed youth by opening skill development centers to upgrade their skills so that they could be gainfully employed in the country as well as abroad, Badal added. He said that the State Government had already tied up with an eminent multi-national company Larsen & Toubro to set up a skill development center to impart training to the youth in the field of construction and building. There was an ample scope for the youth to be absorbed in the avenues of electrical, mechanical, auto engineering, plumbing and marble fixing, he added.

Badal said that the Government had also set up a private security training institute at Jehankhelan in Hoshiarpur district to impart training to the unemployed youth in the field of private security. With the up coming malls, shopping plazas, multiplexes, industry and clubs there would be a considerable scope of their absorption, he added.

Dwelling on the concept of human resource development, Badal said that it was a sorry state of affairs that none of any government, Centre or States had paid any attention to this one of the most crucial aspect rather completely ignored it. He said that our government had made concerted efforts to concentrate on this issue and the positive results were forthcoming. In his theme address patron of IPCSI, AR Kohli, a former Governor of Mizoram said that with half the population under the age of 25% India has already the youngest labour force in the world. "India is not expected to pass china in total population until 2030. But India will have more young workers aged 20 to 24 by 2013."

Kohli said that the international labour predicts that by 2020, India will have 116 million workers in this age group bracket to China’s 94 million adding that if these workers are adequately trained and skilled, they will give the country a huge competitive advantage in terms of raising per capita incomes and reducing dependency ratios".

In his welcome address President of Honour IPCSI A S Marwaha from USA emphasized the need to impart skill training to the youth so that they could further create job opportunities for the unemployed. He said that it was a high time to shift the focus from job seekers to job creators.

Earlier, the Chief Minister formally inaugurated the conference by lighting a lamp and released a book ‘Knowledge Reservoir’ - a roadmap for the skill development.

He also honoured some eminent personalities including Satinder Dhiman, Inder Singh, Darshan Singh Bagga, Jasbir Singh Sachar, Anu Peshawaria, Bobby Rekhi (all from USA), UNITECH Executive Vice President V K Chadha, S S Chawla from Thailand, Protector General of Immigrants J Panda, Gaipov Sunnatulla of Uzbekistan Airways, Regional Head ICICI Bank Vishal Batra and Amandeep Walia from Standard Chartered. (PTI)