IAF’s Equipment Accounting goes Paperless

NEW DELHI, Mar 18: Defence Minister AK Antony today dedicated the Equipment Accounting On Line System (EQUOLS) to the Nation at a formal ceremony here.

The Marshal of IAF Arjan Singh, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Fali H Major and Chief of Army Staff General Deepak Kapoor were present on the occasion.

The Indian Air Force holds a diverse fleet of aircraft, radars and various other associated equipment requiring an automated IT-based material management system to account for its inventory and stores.

The IAF’s Accounts branch along with the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) have developed a material management system based on Information Technology called EQUOLS which supersedes the earlier tedious and cumbersome method where all transactions were recorded manually using vouchers, manual stock record cards and the like.

The EQUOLS system would be advantageous from the point of view of transparent, accurate and faster transactions and at the same time providing for online auditing and provisioning of realistic future demands.

In his address at the ceremony, Minister Antony stressed the need to encourage Military-Industry partnership and strengthen indigenous capabilities.

EQUOLS has been implemented in two phases-the pilots site and sense-phase site. The initial implementation was at 27 pilot sites whereafter the application was installed at the remaining sites.

So far, over 17.5 million entries have been transferred from manual records to the EQUOLS application over the past six months. The transferred data has been subjected to "a very thorough scrutiny" by the staff of the Defence Accounts Department, according to an official spokesperson here. (UNI)

Cow-care shelter set up on 30-acre site

MADURAI Mar 18: The Tamil Nadu Government’s first "Cow-care shelter" (Ghoshala) has been set up on a 30-Acre site on behalf of the Tiruchendur Sri Senthil Andavar Devasthanam temple at Tiruchendur, 160 km from here.

Officials said this was the first "Ghoshala" to be started by a temple on behalf of the the Government’s Hindu Religious and Charitable endowment trust.

The Ghoshala would be located at Nalu moolai Kinaru near Tiruchendur at a cost of Rs.47 lakh.

The temporary Ghosala was inaugurated yesterday with special Poojas in the presence of the Executive officer and Joint Commissioner Baskaran,Trustee Chandrasekharan and temple priests.

The Executive officer told newsmen at Tiruchendur that the temple had received 279 cows as donation,and they would be maintained at the Ghoshala.

Temporary sheds had been built for the cows.The shed had grazing facility,the donors could donate grass,straw etc to the Shala. The cows’ milk would be used for temple Pooja.

A veterinary doctor would be appointed to take care of the cows.The Executive officer said people should not donate old and diseased cows to the temple.

The cows, donated to the temples, were being maintained at private Ghoshalas now,officials said. (PTI)

Mulayam calls for socialist unity: SJP merges with SP

LUCKNOW, Mar 18: Amid reports of his growing proximity with rival Lalu Prasad Yadav, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav today called for a broad unity among all shades of socialists in the country to fulfill the aspirations of the masses.

Addressing a function after the merger of late Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar led-Samajwadi Janata Party (SJP) in the SP, Mr Prasad said he will lead an agitation of the socialist group in the country to rake up farmers problems.

"The time is ripe for the socialists, who were in the JP movement, to unite and fulfill the dream of the masses, particularly of the late Chandra Shekhar," he said.

Though, he did not say anything about other socialist leaders, like Lalu Prasad, the former UP Chief Minister said the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) will hold a conference in Patna next month to give a platform for the socialists to join the forum.

On the issue of water scarcity in the country, he said water shortage was a serious concern, but the present UPA Government was not interested in solving the problem."

Such ignorance will only turn the country into a desert," he underlined.

"Water scarcity is directly related to the farmers and agriculture sector of the country and SP will make it a national issue," he said, claiming every year, the groundwater level is decreasing by 6 feet.

Mr Prasad also criticised the Centre and the BSP led-state government for the price rise of essential commodities.

"VAT is the main reason for rise of prices in the state," he charged.

Welcoming the SJP leaders and workers in the party fold, former Defence Minister said late Chandra Shekhar was a true Socialist and ‘Pithahma’ (great grandfather) of the Indian politics.

Narrating the achievements of the late leader, he said Chandra Shekhar always fought for the national issues and did not bow to any pressure." Even former Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi also respected him a lot," he said.

Assuring SJP leaders to give all honours in the SP, Mr Prasad said this merger will certainly strengthen the party in the state.

Earlier, SP MP Neeraj Shekhar, son of the late Prime Ministere, announced the merger of the SJP in SP.

Giving reasons for the merger, he said after the Chandra Shekhar’s demise, the party was in bad shape and the leaders were finding it hard to run.

Mr Shekhar, who recently won the by-election from Ballia Lok Sabha seat on SP ticket, said that there is no other alternative for the party but to merge with the SP.(UNI)

BJP woos Muslims ahead of LS polls

LUCKNOW, Mar 18: Maintaining that now BJP is not untouchable for Muslims, senior BJP leader and Central Election Committee member Shahnawaz Hussain today said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was planning to woo Muslims in a big way for their support for its Prime Ministerial candidate Lal Krishna Advani in the next Lok Sabha polls.

Talking to UNI here, Mr Hussain, the BJP’s minority cell president and lone Muslim Lok Sabha member, said the party was contemplating giving more tickets to Muslim candidates in the

Lok Sabha elections, besides nominating candidates in the minority dominated areas of Kashmir and other parts of the country.The BJP would hold a three-day conference of the minorities at Hyderabad from April 4.

Mr Hussain said, "We have planned in a big way to woo Muslims to be part of the Lok Sabha election campaign for our landslide victory."

He said the BJP is now not untouchable for Muslims, as it proved during the recent Gujarat Assembly polls, where 30 per cent Muslim votes went in favour of the party.

"The minority cell meeting at Hyderabad next month will chalk out strategy for attracting the Muslim vote bank and even discuss the candidature of more Muslim candidates by the party in the LS polls," he informed.

Mr Hussain, BJP LS member from Bihar’s Bhagalpur constituency, also said a meeting of the party’s minority cell would be held at Srinagar very soon, so that the party could build up major strength before the Assembly polls there.

"BJP plans to give major tickets to Muslims in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election on the ideology of Insaniyat aur Iman with an aim to dismantle the wall of hatred in society," he underlined.

Denouncing the Sachar Committee report, the former union civil aviation minister claimed it was only an effort by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government to ‘befool’ the minorities through hollow promises.

"We can certainly say the Muslims of Narendra Modi in Gujarat are better off than those of Mayawati in UP, of Congress in Maharastra and Andhra Pradesh and of the Left in West Bengal," he said, adding all the BJP-ruled states were riot-free in the last couple of years. (UNI)

Indian seeks clemency for
Sarabjit on humanitarian grounds

NEW DELHI, Mar 18: India today appealed to Pakistan to grant Sarabjit Singh, an Indian national in Pakistani custody facing the death sentence, "clemency on humanitarian grounds".

Making a statement in the Lok Sabha during zero hour, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Indian and Pakistani governments have put in place certain institutional arrangements since his visit to Pakistan in January 2007. These included a new agreement on consular access and a joint Judicial Committee to facilitate the resolution of consular issues.

A delegation of family members of missing Indian defence personnel was also able to visit Pakistan last year.

Pointing out that these initiatives might lead to an improvement of the ‘situation for our prisoners, Mr Mukherjee said," it is in this context and in the same spirit, that we appeal to the Government of Pakistan to treat Sarabjit Singh’s case with clemency on humanitarian grounds."

The Minister said the Government had received no formal initimation from the government of Pakistan with regard to the reported rejection of mercy petition of Sarabjit by the Pakistan President.

However, with the press reporting the issuance of a black warrant against Sarabjit and his execution slated for April one this year, the Indian High Commission in Islamabad had sought details from the Pakistani government.

Mr Mukherjee said the Supreme Court of Pakistan, in a judgement on August 18, 2005, had upheld the award of death sentence to Sarabjit for causing explosions at various places in Pakistan.

At the instance of the Indian government, consular access was provided to Sarabjit for the first time on August 30, 2005, to the Indian High Commission. Thereafter, his national status was confirmed.

He said a review petition against the death sentence was also filed in the apex court of Pakistan. The petition was, however, dismissed by the court in March 2006.

A mercy petition was thereafter filed with the President of Pakistan which now, according to news reports, has been turned down, Mr Mukherjee said, while pointing out that "throughout this period, the Indian Government continued to urge the Pakistan Government to take a sympathetic and humanitarian view of this case." (UNI)

Film industry to crack whip in visa racket

CHENNAI, Mar 16: With officials in the US Consulate finally waking up to the harsh reality of people going abroad under the guise of film hands by submitting fake documents for obtaining Visa, the film industry has now come under pressure to weed out the wrong doers from the industry.

Though a large number of people accompanied the film crew to foreign countries for shooting, it was for the first time such practices have come to light, involving the South Indian Film Industry (SIFI).

The racket was unearthed with the arrest of Flora Shiny, an actor from Andheri West, Mumbai, Venkat Reddy and Srilatha of Hyderabad a few days ago in the city, after which the authorities found the documents submitted by 200 people, connected with the SIFI, were fabricated.

Venkat Reddy acted as an agent after taking several lakhs from Srilatha, who posed as a make-up woman for Shiny to the Consulate authorities, promising her a job abroad.

When the documents submitted by them for obtaining visa were perused, the Consulate found them fabricated and imposed a life time ban on all the 200 applicants from travelling to the US.

But what was more distressing and shocking were reports that some of them travelling abroad along with film crew were supporters of few extremist organisations out to seek political asylum, especially in Europe and Canada.

Reports suggesting involvement of some of top film personalities being part of this racket has sent alarm signals in the film industry with SIFI has decided to crack the whip.

The US administration has submitted a list of people comprising South Indian film actors and directors who allegedly helped a number of people get US visas through illegal means.

The list is now with the Chennai City Police Commissioner (CoP) who is considering the seriousness of the issue. Police have decided to launch a crackdown on touts and agents involved in the racket.

Acting tough, the US is set to deport all those who entered the country by obtaining visas fradulently, according to US Counsul General in Chennai David T Hopper.

The visa racket also took a curious turn with the security agencies scanning the lists of artistes blacklisted by the administration to check if they had history of taking Sri Lankan Tamils or LTTE activists abroad.

Investigations revealed that Chennai alone was not the exit point as many had tried to fly via Mumbai also. But Chennai had been the most preferred gateway for travel abroad on visas obtained using fake documents.

South Indian Film Artistes Association President Sarath Kumar has taken up the issue and was keen to talk to affiliate associations of the Tamil film industry.

Plans were afoot to form a core committee comprising representatives of various associations and meet Mr Hopper for discussions.

Admitting the issue brought disrepute to the film industry,Sarath Kumar said, "Producing fake documents to obtain visa is against the sovereignty of the country. If found guilty, we will take suitable action against any film personality."

He added "the handiwork of a few unscrupulous elements will now put even genuine visa applicants to unnecessary hardships."

To avoid such controversies in future, he suggested film personalities intending to go abroad could apply for visa after obtaining a conduct certificate from their respective associations.

Mr Hopper, however, said the lifetime ban should not be viewed as US condemnation of the SIFI.

While the Consulate welcomed all legitimate travellers, anyone committing fraud to obtain a visa can be charged with crimes in US as well as in India, he said.

"It is unfortunate that some people in the industry have misused the well-earned reputation and stature of the Indian film industry for illegal purposes," he said. (UNI)

LS witnesses sharp exchange on ex-PM’s
demand for tobacco farmers

NEW DELHI, Mar 18: Ahead of the impending assembly elections in Karnataka, the Lok Sabha today witnessed a sharp exchange on former Prime Minister Deve Gowda’s demand for an increase in the area under tobbacco cultivation and fertiliser subsidy to growers of the crop in the state.

Raising the issue through a calling attention, the Janata Dal (Secular) member from the southern state alleged "step-motherly" treatment to Karnataka’s tobacco growers. But Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jairam Ramesh strongly refuted the charge, saying there was no politics in capping the crop size and penalty on excess growth of the crop in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. He said instead 24,000 unauthorised tobacco growers were regularised between 2004-07 to the consternation of the Union Health Ministry.

The Minister further said 62 per cent of Karnataka’s tobacco is set for export target this year as against 58 per cent of Andhra Pradesh’s crop, adding it was because Karnataka’s tobacco got a premium in the international market.

He said tobacco growers in both the states were going to benefit following an agreement India has signed with China after 14 years of efforts, adding 10 million kilos of the crop was set to be exported every year to the neighbouring country, which is the world’s largest and fastest growing market for tobacco.

On the fertiliser subsidy, the Minister said inspite of the massive Rs 90,000 crore projected on this account in 2008-09, the department of fertilisers was finalising a Cabinet note on it and the process to provide subsidy on sulphate of potash used by tobacco growers would be completed in two to three months. About 50,000 tonnes of this fertiliser, including 27,000 tonnes by tobacco growers, is used in the country and entire quantity is imported as it is not manufactured in India, he said, adding subsidy on the component of the fertiliser by tobacco growers would come to Rs 1,200 crore per year.

On crop ceiling, the Minister said this was done to protect the interests of tobacco growers as an increase in size leading to higher production would depress market price resulting in loss to farmers. He said ceiling for Karnataka in the current fiscal was fixed at 95 million kgs but the actual production was only 88 million kgs. Yet the ceiling has now been increased and fixed at 100 million kg for them.

The Minister defended imposition of penalty on excess growth, saying it was aimed at protecting farmers from resorting to distress sale of excess produce. He said growers from Karnataka he had met here on March 12 also wanted the penalty to continue but wanted that it should be capped at five per cent. Their demand for increasing crop size and reducing the current 15 per cent penalty would be considered by the Tobacco Board, the Minister added. (UNI)

Three Army officers accused of rape; probe ordered

NEW DELHI, Mar 18: In a major embarrassment to the Army, three of its officers, including a Lieutenant Colonel, presently deputed on the United Nations peace mission in Congo, have been accused of raping a woman in South Africa while they were holidaying there, an allegation that has prompted the Defence Ministry to order a probe.

"We have ordered an enquiry into the incident," Defence Minister A K Antony said on the sidelines of an Indian Air Force function here today.

The three Indian officers — a Lieutenant Colonel and two Majors — were deployed in north Kivu Brigade of the mission of the UN in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC).

They were detained by the South African police last week after a woman in Pretoria alleged that she was raped by them. The three officers were on a holiday there.

The three officers, who were detained on March 12 and kept in police custody, were released after the Indian embassy officials in Johannesburg intervened in the matter.

Sources in the Defence Ministry said all the three officers were returning "very soon" as their term had ended there.

Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Milan Naidu, while reacting to the report, said "it’s an allegation only. But still it is an embarrassment to the army. We are awaiting the enquiry report".

India has the largest contingent in MONUC with more than 4,300 personnel. The mission was set up by the world body in February 2000 to bring stability in the region. (PTI)

Ground water table going down rapidly in Punjab: Govt

NEW DELHI, Mar 18: Ground water table in Punjab is going down rapidly due to use of tubewells for irrigation purpose, Water Resources Minister Saif-ud-Din Soz informed the Rajya Sabha today.

"In Punjab, ground water level is going very down. I have told successive Chief Ministers (of Punjab) that they have to regulate use of ground water," he said replying to supplementaries during question hour.

Centre, he said, cannot issue directive to the State Government to regulate ground water usage as water is a state subject.

However, State Governments would be asked to look at depleting ground water level and look at ways of recharging the water table.

A model bill for regulating the use of ground water has been circulated to the states/union territories to facilitate enactment of ground water legislation. "Except Punjab, the response to the model bill is very good."

Out of 5723 observation wells in different parts of the country, 839 have been found to be over exploited while 226 were in critical state.

In Uttar Pradesh, only 37 out of the 803 observation centres have been found to be over-exploited.

So far, 58 per cent of the country’s ground water reserves have been exploited, he said. "Even though ground water level have depleted in some parts, I would not like to raise an alarm." (PTI)