Rail concession to AIDS patients from April 1

NEW DELHI, Mar 26: As a noble gesture towards AIDS patients, Railways will provide 50 per cent concession to them in second class passenger fares to nominated ART centres for treatment.

"Railways has decided to grant 50 per cent concession in train fares to AIDS patients for treatment at nominated Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) centres," a senior railway official said.

The concession will be applicable only in second class.

Station masters are authorised to grant concession to the patients at the stations, the official said, adding they have to produce the certificate in prescribed form issued by officer-in-charge of the concerned ART centre where the patient is to be treated or has been treated.

The concession can be availed for return journey after the treatment at nominated ART centres.

However, the concession will not be applicable in Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Jan Sadharan and Garib Rath trains.

The official also said the railways plans to launch ‘Mother-Child Health Express’ in collaboration with Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.

"As per the plan, the train with seven coaches would run on a pilot basis for providing medical facilities to mother and child. The train would have facilities like delivery operation room and child health centre," said the official.

Railways had on December one last launched the Red Ribbon express in collaboration with National Aids Control Organisation. (PTI)

CPI to join hands with TDP in fight against price rise

HYDERABAD, Mar 26: Signaling new political alignments ahead of elections, the CPI today said it would join hands with United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) partners, including TDP, to fight against the price rise and anti-people economic policies of the UPA Government.

"Our party Congress has already decided to launch a militant action against public issues and a similar decision is likely to be taken by CPI(M). I gather UNPA is also thinking in terms of some action. We will cooperate in all this," party general secretary A B Bardhan said here today.

He was talking to reporters after a breakfast meeting with UNPA convener and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu.

Describing Naidu as an "old friend", Bardhan, whose party had contested the 2004 state Assembly elections in alliance with Congress, said: "We had worked together for several years in the United Front days. Now, we are fighting on people’s issues. We are planning a very big agitation against price rise."

Taking time off from the deliberations at the party’s 20^{th National Congress, the CPI leaders-Bardhan, D Raja, Gurudas Dasgupta, S Sudhakar Reddy and state secretary Narayana-met Naidu at his Jubilee Hills residence.}

^{The leaders of the two parties discussed the political situation prevailing in the country and the issues over which a common struggle could be planned in future.}

^{Later, Naidu said his party was looking forward to a "long term association" with the Left parties based on issues concerning the common man.}

^{Naidu, who has been trying hard to revive ties with the Left parties ever since losing power in 2004 assembly elections, said the present policy of economic reforms was only leading to widening gulf between the rich and poor.}

^{"Our concern is how to take the benefits of reforms to the doorsteps of the poor. Though the UPA Government is saying that it is focusing on inclusive growth, what is happening now is only exclusive growth benefitting millionnaires," the TDP leader said.}

^{He said his party had come to a broad understanding with the Left to take up mass agitations on pressing public issues.}

^{Asked about the possibility of formation of Third Front as an alternative to Congress and BJP, Naidu said, "this question is not before us today. At the time of elections, we will think about alliances."}

^{As part of his efforts to woo the Left ahead of elections, Naidu had on March 25 hosted dinner for CPI (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat during which they were said to have discussed about reviving the alliance.}

^{After joining hands with Congress in defeating the TDP Government in the previous elections, the CPI (M) has moved away from the ruling party and dropped indications of forging an alliance with the regional party in the next polls. (PTI)}

Dalai Lama welcomes foreign
correspondents tour to Lhasa

NEW DELHI, Mar 26: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama today welcomed the Chinese Government’s decision to allow some foreign journalists to visit the Tibetan capital Lhasa to understand the developments there, but said they should get complete freedom in their work.

"Oh really! It’s very good. But it should be with complete freedom. Only then can you assess the real situation. Most welcome," he told reporters here.

The Dalai Lama was asked for his reaction to China yesterday saying it has arranged a trip to the Tibetan capital for a dozen foreign journalists to report from the scenes of the recent deadly unrest.

"In the meantime, I think the correspondents should also know the background of the events taking place there. Otherwise, there is always the possibility of artificial publicity," he cautioned.

Asked if he would step down if Tibetans continued with their violent protests, the Dalai Lama said, "Yes. If the violence continues and becomes out of control, I will step down." (PTI)

Rules being framed to make NRIs
accountable under parents care law

NEW DELHI, Mar 26: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has written a note to the Ministry of External Affairs on implementation of the Maintenance of Parents Act in respect of Indians who were living abroad but whose parents had been left back home here.

The Act passed by Parliament recently makes it mandatory for children to take care of their parents and provide for their financial and other needs. Parents will have the right to complain to a tribunal if they find their children not fulfilling their obligations under the Act.

An official of the Ministry of Social and Justice and Empowerment told UNI that the Ministry had written to states to enforce the Act as soon as possible, but in the case of children living abroad, it has to determine the modalities of implementation of the Act in consultation with the External Affairs Ministry.

The loneliness and neglect parents of NRIs face is an emerging problem in the society with large number of Indians going abroad for jobs.

The Act has been hailed as landmark law in a society which is going to add a large number of eledrly persons to its population. At present the number of people over 60 years of age was eight crore, which is projcted to go up to 17 crore in 2026.

So far, no state has implemented the Act. The Ministry officials said they would be needing some time to put up the infrastructure in place for implementing the law.

An elderly care law is already in force in Himachal Pradesh, which provided the inspiratioin for bringing out the central Act.

Under the Act, the Tribunal may make a maintenance order if it considers that it is just and equitable that the children should maintain their parents and that they are able to provide maintenance after his own requirements and those of their spouse and children.

The new law would take a parent as unable to maintain himself if his total or expected income and other financial resources are inadequate to provide him with basic amenities and basic physical needs including (but not limited to) shelter, food and clothing. (UNI)

Delhi police demand ‘extra’ money to give info under RTI

NEW DELHI, Mar 26: The Right to Information Act might be hailed as people’s power in democracy, but data under it may not come for free for an NGO that wanted information on missing children.

‘Nav Shristi’-an NGO working for women and child rights-was shocked when two police stations in the capital demanded Rs 12,274 each for disclosing information on missing and kidnapped children in Delhi under the RTI.

"We were prompted to file an FIR after coming across complaints from poor people that police was not taking their cases seriously," director of the NGO Reena Banerjee said.

But it were the monetary charges listed by the police that rattled the social worker more.

According to the reply to the RTI application, "one Sub-Inspector at Rs 773 per day for one day, one head constable at Rs 451 per day for one day and 13 constables from police stations at Rs 425 per day for two days would be needed for the information to be gathered."

This amounted to a total of Rs 12,274 as mentioned in the letter from these two police stations.

The west Delhi and south-west Delhi police stations had given a break-up of the amount they wanted in order to deliver the services.

In all, 12 police stations were approached and these were the only two that cited any charges to be paid for the information.

Unhappy over the issue, Banerjee approached the Central Information Commission (CIC) in this regard.

"Why can’t they give us the complete information. And if ten of the 12 police posts could part with the information free of cost, then why not these two," Banerjee questioned.

As per the RTI rules, the applicant has to pay Rs two per page to get the information.

According to a CIC official, "the concerned officer can charge rates only as prescribed by the State Government. It should be a reasonable amount."

However, he was clueless on the definition of "reasonable amount".

When contacted, south-west district DCP Shalini Singh said, "We know we have asked for a certain sum of money to do the job. What we have done is rightful under the laws of RTI."

RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal said, "the RTI Act does not prescribe any such charges. The Sub-Inspector and the constable will work on a holiday or on a working day to retrieve such information and he is a paid servant.

"It is their job. They cannot ask for extra charges being government servants," he said. (PTI)

Rahul asks youth to press for internal democracy in parties

MYSORE, Mar 26: "At 37, I am an old person in India. Majority of India is younger than me," said Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi asking the youth to plunge into politics and prevail upon political parties to usher in internal democracy.

Noting that 70 per cent of India’s population is young, Gandhi, on a campaign trail ahead of the assembly elections in Karnataka, said while old (people) are to be respected for their experience, there is value and strength in youth as well. "In a sense, youth is the future".

Lamenting that political parties lacked internal democracy, the Nehru-Gandhi family scion asked the youth to raise their voice to highlight the issue.

"Youth should ask the question: When there is democracy in poll booth, why does it not exist in political parties", Gandhi, who is on a four-day tour of Karnataka, asked at a function at Nanjangud, near here, last evening.

"No body is asking this "fundamental question... Why is it that in a democratic country where everybody has vote, the same spirit is missing in political parties," he said.

He urged the youth to enter politics and make it different and bring refreshing change by "resisting the same game that every politician plays".

Interacting with tribal students at Vivekananda Smaraka Hospital, part of Swami Vivekananda youth movement, at Sirgur near here, he criticised opponents of the Rs 60,000 crore loan waiver package announced in the Union Budget.

He said the critics are silent on the non-performing assets (with banks) of big industrialists.

Gandhi, however, said there can’t be "unlimited loan waiver" noting that financial limitation does not allow for such a move. "Policy-making is all about balance, it has to be forward-looking, and not disruptive".

When a tribal girl asked him about his dream for new India, Gandhi said: "My dream for India is every child should dream".

"I intend to become an expert on tribal culture," he said in response to another query.

Gandhi said the difference between the rich and poor in the country is having an opportunity. People should be provided access to opportunity, he added.

President of the hospital, R Balasubramaniam, said he was impressed by Gandhi who "is clear on the direction that India should take and is aware on the inquities existing in India and rich-poor divide.

"He (Gandhi) spoke a lot about education. Education opportunities should be equal. One should not sterotype children as rural, urban and tribal. Opportunities for everybody should be the same," he said. (PTI)

Sexual harrassment charge against
Speaker; house adjourned

BHUBANESWAR, Mar 26: An allegation of sexual harassment levelled against Orissa Assembly Speaker Maheshwar Mohanty by a woman marshal led to the adjournment of the House twice after he sought an impartial inquiry into the charge.

As soon as the House assembled this morning, the speaker made a suo motu statement referring to media reports about charges of sexual harassment of a woman marshal of the assembly levelled against him and proposed setting up of a House Committee to probe the matter.

Terming the allegation as false and baseless, he said it was the fallout of actions initiated against indisciplined employees and also part of a "conspiracy in which important persons were involved".

Stating that it would be improper on his part to preside over the proceedings till the truth is inravelled, Mohanty left the chair which was subsequently occupied by Deputy Speaker Prahallad Dora.

While terming the Speaker’s action as a "dignified’ move, Congress leader Narasingha Mishra said an inquiry into the matter was a must but probe by a House Committee would be meaningless.

Though Parliamentary Affairs Minister Raghunath Mohanty supported the Speaker’s suggestion for a probe, Mishra and NCP’s Arun Dey suggested adjournment of the House for holding discussion on the issue in the Speaker’s chamber to decide the nature of any probe.

After Government Chief Whip Kishore Mohanty supported their proposal, the House was initially adjourned for 30 minutes and later till 1 PM.

Terming the allegation made against the Speaker as very serious, Narasingha Mishra said "When such charges are levelled, the entire House stands condemned. I suggest that the House be adjourned for holding discussion on the matter in his chamber."

"I have no objection if the Speaker allows discussion on it in the house," but it would be proper to discuss the matter inside the chamber, he said adding that probe by a House Committee would be only to buy time.

Observing that the dignity of the house was in question following the allegation, Arun Dey said the Chief Minister should make a statement on the issue.

"It was a terrible shock for me when I heard the Speaker saying that big people are involved" in a conspiracy to defame him, he said. (PTI)

No weapons, only logistics from India: Sitaula

KATHMANDU, Mar 26: Nepal Home Minister Krishna Sitaula has clarified that the Indian trucks coming into the country did not carry arms but the vehicles were part of logistic support for better equipping the country’s police.

Mr Sitaula’s statement came following the obstruction by the Maoists to the Indian-registered trucks entering into Nepal through Bhairahawa.

The Nepal Police and Armed Police Force personnel are given the charge of the Nepali Army under the Comprehensive Peace Accord.

The trucks were taken to Kathmandu after police’s intervention.

"Since the restoration of democracy in April 2006, 14,000 police personnel have been recruited for the security of the people," Mr Sitaula said in the statement, adding "To arrange logistics and other equipment for them, we have received vehicles from India."

He said the government was concerned about the Maoists’taking to the street and calling a strike in some districts.

Maoist chairman Prachanda told mediapersons in Biratnagar that the Government must clarify the reasons for transporting weapons in the night.

"It has raised serious doubts over the possibility of holding polls," Kantipur quoted him as saying in Biratnagar.

"If the Government fails to clarify, all election rallies will turn into protest," Mr Prachanda said. (UNI)

Technology can affect memory, says expert

PENANG, MALAYSIA, Mar 26: Too much dependence on modern communication tools can result in weak memory, according to expert.

"People who use tools to store information on their behalf, would likely find it difficult to remember many things", said Prof Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, vice-chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

"There have been studies showing that modern communication tools or devices could affect one’s ability to memorise a lot of things such as dates and numbers," he said during the opening day of the ICT-Enovate Week 2008 here Tuesday.

"While technology could bring about desirable effects, it could also have disastrous consequences if not used properly.

"There should be a campaign to teach technology users, especially youths and children to utilise technology in a proper way," said the professor.

Razak said with the advent of internet it has become too easy to get information from the web, but nothing much is known about the authenticity of the information.

"In the world of Internet, all are seen to be the expert in their own rights; people can have their own blogs, they can embed videos from YouTube and edit information on collaborative websites such as Wikipedia."

"Students should also be taught how to use internet to channel quality information," he said. (AGENCIES)