I am nowhere near Smita Patil: Chitrangada

NEW DELHI, May 7: Resemblance with Smita Patil is a complement but it is not right to compare me with the legendary actress, says Chitrangada of critically acclaimed ‘Hazaaron Khwaishen Aisi’.

"A lot of time people refer to me as another Smita Patil, which of course is a complement. But it’s not right to compare me with ‘one of the best actresses of all times’. I have done just two movies, so it would be unfair to put me in the same league," says the actress.

"I believe this tag comes with a lot of responsibility and I am still nowhere near her. Still it is a great compliment," she says.

Chitrangada, who is making her comeback from her self declared exile after a gap of almost three years with director Onir’s soon to be released "Sorry Bhai" in the lead role opposite Sanjay Suri feels that she couldn’t have asked for a better comeback than this romantic comedy.

"Sorry Bhai’ is a very different film and a very different concept. It’s a romantic and funny movie, different than what I have done earlier as serious cinema," she says.

"Onir made me an offer I simply couldnt refuse. It’s very different from what I have done as serious roles," says Chitrangada who also acted in the movie ‘Kal: Yesterday and Tomorrow’ in 2005.

‘Sorry Bhai’ is about a happy family - the parents and their two sons. Everyone has his own values in the changing times but they all love one another.

Chitrangada, who quit acting following her marriage to India’s golfer Jyoti Randhawa escaped questions about alleged relationship turmoils between them and said it was something personal.

"It was something which has passed away with the time and I don’t want to discuss it any more. All I can say is it was all because of bad press my family and me received."

The actress also asked for some time from the industry people to prove her mettle and said she can give some powerful and memorable appearances.

"I always do films, which interest me most and I need to be given a chance to prove myself. Today I see myself associated with good cinema and there is a sudden increase in the level of sensibility these days coming through commercial films," says Chitrangada, who is going to enact the role of Chandramukhi in Sudhir Mishra’s Devdas.

On being asked about reports of her refusal to play lead role opposite Ranbir Kapoor in Aamir Khan production’s next venture "Delhi Belly", she said something between them didn’t work out and there was nothing personal.

"It’s got nothing to do with refusing to work with someone. Script was fantastic but something between us didn’t work out. It’s just about project and nothing personal," says the actress. (PTI)

LTC norms relaxed for Govt employees to visit NE region

NEW DELHI, May 7: In a major decision to boost tourism in the scenic north eastern region, the Centre has relaxed Leave Travel Concession (LTC) Rules for its employees permitting them to travel by air.

The new rules will apply to employees irrespective of their grade or post and the order will be in operation for two years, sources in the Ministry of Personnel today said.

Under the revised rules, Group A and B Central Government employees will be entitled to travel by air from their place of posting or nearest airport to a city in the north eastern region.

Employees belonging to other categories will be entitled to travel by air to a city in the north eastern region from Guwahati or Kolkata.

All Central Government servants would be allowed conversion of one block of Home Town LTC into LTC for destinations in the north eastern region, the order said.

The Ministry said that data regarding the number of employees availing LTC to the north eastern region would be maintained.

The decision will enable government servants in the junior grades to visit the northeastern region, which used to remain a distant dream for them because of high air travel costs and absence of official entitlement.

The north eastern region comprises Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura, and also Sikkim-all having rich tourism potential. (PTI)

Conference to formulate naval strategy begins

MUMBAI, May 7: The naval commanders’ conference began here today to deliberate upon major operational issues with regard to defence of nation’s maritime interests, coastal security, assets at sea and overall naval strategy.

The two-day conference, which is the highest decision making body of Indian navy and meets annually, will also chalk out operational and acquisition plans and the course corrections required to remain relevant with the times as also to maintain synergy with the other two services, an official release stated.

The conference being held at the Western Naval Command Headquarters was inaugurated by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sureesh Mehta. It is being attended by the highest echelons of Navy from the Integrated Headquarters at New Delhi, three Command Headquarters and the two Fleets.

Over the last decade, Maritime Security Environment in Indian Ocean region has become more complex, fluid and significantly more volatile. Along with the nation’s economic success and elevation in international stature, the nation’s regional responsibilities have also increased. To discharge these, a strong and effective navy is essential.

In the coming years, the Indian Navy would be called upon to play a significantly larger role so as to be a regionally relevant force and be in a position to not only counter any existing and identifiable threats but also to discharge its responsibilities of maintaining, safeguarding and furthering our nation’s maritime interests including those related to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, the release added.

To ensure that the navy remains operationally focused force, capable and dealing with the challenging environment of the 21^{st century, surveillance of the seas around us as also real time exchange of information through network centric operations assumes greater significance today and these are the primary focus areas of this year’s conference.}

^{Further, some major platforms in all three dimensions of the navy’s operation are scheduled for induction and integration of these platforms and weapon systems into the overall concept of operations assumes significance and the naval commanders would deliberate on these issues as well, the release added. (UNI)}

Western Command carries out disaster
management exercise

CHANDIGARH, May 7: The Indian Army’s Western Command today conducted a major disaster management exercise-Exercise Mountain Rescue-at Annadale Ground in Shimla.

The aim of the exercise was to practice evacuation of civilian population from the disaster affected areas in the mountains, a Defence release issued here stated.

ALH and Chetak helicopters from the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the army’s aviation wing participated in the exercise alongwith troops from the Indian Army’s Special Forces and units stationed in Shimla. The aviation wing’s helicopters practiced casualty evacuation drills in conjunction with the army’s Special Forces and troops from the units. The exercise was conducted in conjunction with civil administration and troops from home guards and the fire services department.

"Army plans to conduct such exercises in future also to rehearse drills during disaster management," the release said.

"Major calamities that have struck the Indian sub-continent during the last decade, have underscored the need to adopt a multi-dimensional, multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral approach to disaster management. Within the ambit of this approach, the armed forces constitute a significant and potent entity available with the Central and State Governments for disaster response and relief."

Over the years, the scope of Army’s role in disaster management has enlarged gradually. The Disaster Management Act of 2005 has ensured that the Army’s role in disaster response remain focussed on critical issues, with optimal utilisation of dedicated resources, it added. (UNI)

HIV positive couples enjoy parenthood
despite killer disease

GUNTUR, ANDHRA PRADESH, May 7: Hope springs amid the fear of death as an increasing number of HIV positive couples are opting to have children here, considered as one of the high-prevalence districts in the country.

Increased awareness of precautionary measures, most importantly, use of the drug Neverapine that drastically reduces infection of the HIV virus from mother to child, is making all the difference, according to doctors.

A 24-year-old HIV positive woman and a proud mother of a healthy one-year-old baby boy said, "I got married only after doctors told me that HIV positive couples can have normal children. My husband is also HIV positive and we are very happy to have a healthy child."

Asked whether she was worried about any discrimination to her child due to the health status, the woman, a tailor by profession, said, "Neither me nor my husband face any discrimination because of being HIV positive and we do not imagine our child will face any problems due to this."

Dr Vasanth Kumar, Head of Department, Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Guntur Government Hospital, said counselling is provided to pregnant HIV positive women about taking Neverapine.

"Chances of HIV positive women giving birth to healthy children are almost 70 per cent. Even among the rest of 30 per cent, if both mother and child are administered Neverapine, then chances of the newborn contracting the disease are further reduced by 47 per cent," said Dr Kalidas, Assistant Project Director of the Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society (APSACS).

"The prevalence rate of HIV in the district was three per cent, but we are proud to say that we have managed to reduce it to one per cent. The report will be published soon," Kalidas added.

The change in Guntur is brought about by APSACS’s "Zero by Seven Initiative" launched in January 2007 to minimise transmission of the HIV from infected mother to her unborn child.

Various other innovative methods have also been taken up to increase the confidence level among HIV positive people, including organising of ‘Well Baby Shows’ where healthy babies of HIV infected women are showcased.

APSACS has also revived ‘Seemantham’, a traditional practice of honouring HIV positive women in their seventh month of pregnancy with the help of NGOs working in the field. (PTI)

Now homeopathy drugs to treat fungus
of books and manuscripts

LUCKNOW, May 7: In a breakthrough research, scientists have found the time-tested homeophathy medicines to treat and prevent fungal growth in books, old documents and manuscripts.

Homeopathy, which has already been accepted as a powerful way of treating various ailments in human beings, is found to be a potent tool to ‘treat’ the old manuscripts, books and documents without any side effects.

Scientists at the National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property (NRLC) have recently completed a project in this regard and have found that certain homeopathic medicines were useful to prevent and cure fungus in books and manuscripts.

"It took us about three years to complete the project and identified some of homeopathy drugs extremely useful in treatment of fungus on the books, senior NRLC scientist Shashi Dhawan said here today.

She said the research conducted in the paper division of the Lab also studied the physico-chemical properties of the paper and found that the basic properties of the paper would remain unchanged after the treatment by homeopathic drugs.

"We have, in the past, treated books and manuscripts successfully by chemicals but such environmental-friendly research has been a novel attempt,"she claimed.

NRLC, which is engaged in preservation and conservation of historical and heritage buildings through its expertised application, has conducted such type of research for the the first time.

According to Dr Dhawan some of the homoeopathy medicines tested during the course of study included Sulphar Iodatum, Petrolium, Arsenicum,Graphites, Merzerium, Bacillinum, Psoranium, Antium crude and Rumux in different potencies. The homeopathy drugs have earlier been used on plants but not on books and papers, she said.

In the tropical and sub-tropical countries like India where humid weather prevails, the attack of fungus on books is more prevalent. The common types of fungi effecting the books and manuscrips are Emericella, Aspergillus Niger and Chaetomium Globaosum.

Dr Dhawan also claimed that their research was well appreciated in the national and international scientific circles. (UNI)

Former Naval chief criticises 6^{th pay commission report}

^{NEW DELHI, May 7: Former Naval Chief Admiral O S Dawson today criticised the Sixth Pay Commission report, saying those looking into it were unaware of the difficulties faced by the armed forces personnel.}

^{Dawson, who was in the Navy chief during February 1982 and November 1984, claimed that the committee, looking into the report, led by Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar, could not understand the problems faced by soldiers deployed in difficult terrains and provide relief to them.}

^{"What do they know about the condition of soldiers deployed in difficult terrains. They are not capable of settling the genuine demands of soldiers and exservicemen," he told reporters here.}

^{No politician or IAS officers, who were taking the final call on the report, had served in the armed forces, Dawson, who also served as the Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand after retiring from service, alleged.}

^{"Soliders are not just a bunch of unqualified people. They are skilled people handling sophisticated weapons and equipment. People sitting in the cool confines of their air conditioned offices will not understand the sufferings of soldiers," he added.}

^{His comments came on the sidelines of a demonstration organised by Indian Ex-Servicemen League here to protest against the Pay Commission report which they claimed was "damaging to the interest of defence services".}

^{The protesters, including former soldiers, their families and widows, are demanding "one rank, one pension", inclusion of ex-servicemen welfare in the concurrent list and separate pay commission for the armed forces besides other commitments.}

^{"The recommendations of Pay Commission have belied all hopes of both retired and serving personnel of the armed forces. Representation of three Chiefs to have separate pay commission was rejected," League president R K S Gulia alleged.}

^{"Recommendation of Sixth pay commission are damaging to the interest of defence services. Not only the anomalies of fifth pay commission not been addressed, a large number of anomalies in the integrated pay scales, compensation value and other terminal benefits have been introduced," he added.}

^{The organisation has already initiated a series of protests across the country to draw attention to the "just cause and demands" of the ex-servicemen with respect to the Pay Commission report. (PTI)}

No necessity for Nitish to continue in Bihar: RJD

PATNA, May 7: Launching a scathing attack on Bihar Government for its alleged failure to check corruption in the construction works, chief opposition RJD today said, "The failure proves beyond doubt that there is no no necessity for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to continue."

"The State Government is an abject failure to check corruption and sub-standard works being carried out by the agencies in the state. There is no no necessity for Kumar to continue in office when he can’t tackle the situation", RJD national spokesman Shyam Razak said in a press statement.

He was reacting to the cancellation of the jobs worth over Rs 150 crore which the State Government had assigned to the Tantia Constructions Limited (TCL) for allegedly doing "sub-standard work."

Razak asked whether the State Govenment and Chief Minister were sleeping for the past over 28 months as they had failed to notice the quality of work being done by the company?

"It is a shame that Kumar acknowledges the fact that the constructions work is of inferior quality after such a long period," he said.

All the contracts assigned to the TCL for construction of 28 roads in and around Patna were recently taken away by the State Government on the charge of "poor quality of work done by it and inordinate delay in implemention of the projects".

The Chief Minister had on Monday said the State Government would not not tolerate loot of public money by any agency even if it meant inconvenience for some more time. (PTI)

India, Australia sign scientific research tie-up agreement

NEW DELHI, May 7: India and Australia today signed an agreement to carry out joint scientific research on pollution-free fuels, water desalination and improving crop yield.

The agreement was signed between the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), committing both agencies to a strategic partnership with a focus on environmental sustainability issues.

"The agreement provides a valuable framework for enhancing collaborative research," CSIR Director General Samir Brahmachari said.

Australian High Commissioner John McCarth said there was a great potential to extend the partnership even further into the future.

The Australian Government is supporting the agreement with funding under the Australia India Strategic Research Fund that has been allocated 20 million dollars over a five-year period.

Later this year, CSIR and CSIRO will sign a memorandum of understanding to further strengthen the strategic partnership.

In 2003, CSIR, CSIRO and seven other international research organisations formed the Global Research Alliance, to address the problems facing the developing world. (UNI)

Solanki asks Congmen to expose Modi’s
claims on farmer welfare

VADODARA, May 7: Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Bharat Solanki has asked party MPs elected from the state, MLAS and party workers to expose the false claims allegedly made by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for the welfare of farmers in the ‘Krushi Mahostav’.

Solanki criticised Modi for organising a month-long Krushi Mahostav in the state beginning today. He termed the festival nothing but a publicity excercise.

The purpose behind the festival is to create awareness amongst the farming community on adopting high tech methods for increasing the production of agriculture produce.

" If it is so then why 500 farmers from the state committed suicide?", Solanki said.

He said the Bhartiya Kisan Sangh had alleged that 1000 farmers had committed suicide in the state.

The BJP ruled state gets huge funds of allocation of money under various Farmers Oriented Schemes of the UPA government at the Centre which has played important role in increasing agriculture production in the state, Solanki said.

Solanki, an MP elected from Anand Parliamentary constituency, said Centre has given a financial assistance of Rs 227 for raising the underground water level in the state.

Solanki said that farmers from 13 districts out of 25 in the state do not get loans from the banks at an interest rate of 7 percent per annum due to non- cooperative attitude of the Modi Government.

The GPCC president also accused State Government of weakening the provision " he who tills is the owner of the land" included in 1937 Tenancy Act which was implemented by the Congress party.

Solanki cited another example of BJP Government abolishing the Periphery Act which restricted everybody including builders and industrialists from grabbing the land.

The Congress MP questioned why Modi Government did not compensate the farmers suffering heavy losses due to floods and torrential rains in the state for past several years and instead gave relief of Rs 34,000 crore to industrialists.

He alleged that wheat producing farmers from several districts have been suffering heavy financial losses due to Gujarat Civil Supply Corporation not coming forward to buy wheat from them due to the minimum support price fixed by the Centre.

Only this corporation has license to buy wheat from farmers and Gujarat Government is reluctant to allow Food Corporation of India to buy wheat, Solanki said.

The Congress party workers, MPs and MLAs have been asked to organise protest rallies in their areas during the passage of ‘Krushi Rath’ that will pass through all the villages of the state giving details of Krushi Mahostav, Solanki said. (PTI)

Jamia begins training programme for police officials

NEW DELHI, May 7: The Jamia Millia Islamia today began an eight-day training programme for police functionaries with the Crime Against Women Cell, aiming at sensitizing them against violence against women among other issues.

In the first batch of the training, conducted by the Department of Social Work, 30 ACPs, inspectors and sub-inspectors are participating along with faculty members from the department.

The issues to be addressed include understanding violence against women, counseling processes, alchoholism and its effects on married life, sexuality and its manifestations, protection of women from domestic abuse, carving out a distinctive role for helplines, mental illness and its manifestations in matrimonial life.

A Jamia spokesperson said though Crime Women Cell has been operative in Delhi since 1983, it was an increase in the incidents of dowry deaths that had led to the recognition of a need for a specialized service to women in crisis situations.

"While being entrusted with the role of providing reprieve to women facing matrimonial disputes, the functionaries were earnestly grappling with the performance of this unique role," she said.

"Principally trained in investigative techniques, they recognize the need for specialized training to deal with intimate issues of human relationships....," she added.

The programmes’ objectives include strengthening an in-depth understanding about the factors (hidden and manifest) precipitating matrimonial disputes, to develop basic counseling skills for providing support to victims of matrimonial disputes, to build skills of crisis intervention and to carve out a unique role for the helpline team which complements the role of the Investigating Officer. (UNI)

No deviation from Nepal King offering
puja at Jagannath Temple

BHUBANESWAR, May 7: Sri Jagannath Temple at Puri will continue to maintain its tradition of allowing the Nepal King to perform special ‘puja’ inside the sanctum sanctorum in the 12th century shrine even after the phasing out of the 239-year-old monarchy in the Himalayan kingdom.

"We will like to maintain age-old tradition in the temple. It does not matter if the monarchy in Nepal exists or not," Chief Administrator of the Sri Kagannath Temple Suresh Chandra Mohapatra said.

Affirming that King Gyanendra would be conferred the same status as given to his forefathers in the temple, Mohapatra said the royal family of Nepal had special rights in the centuries-old shrine.

According to tradition, the royal family members of Nepal get special attention whenever they visit the temple and the King and the Queen are allowed to offer puja to the deities - Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath and Devi Subhadra - on the ‘Ratna Bedi’ (the sacred altar) itself.

The temple’s record of rights, inscribed several hundreds years ago, clearly stipulated how to treat the King of Nepal as he enjoys the right of a ‘sevak’ of the Lord.

Besides, the Nepal royal family also has special priests to assist them in performing puja like the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri.

During the visit of the Nepal King, no one besides a few select priests are allowed inside. "The entire temple is vacated as per tradition so that the King and his family members can have `darshan’ of the deities peacefully," said Bhaskar Mishra, a researcher of the Jagannath cult.

"We are least bothered about who came to power in Nepal. The Jagannath Temple will continue to accord the same status to the King as per tradition," Lalmoharia Mohapatra, the royal priest at the temple, said.

He recalled King Gyanendra and his Queen had last visited the temple on March 29, 2003.

The royal priest said that like the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri, there are certain guidelines for the Nepal King whenever he visited. "The Nepal King can enter into the temple through the southern gate like the Puri King."

Sources in the temple said that the King of Nepal used to send mask for deities’ decoration during the annual car festival and also during the ‘Nava Kalebara’ (remaking of the Lord’s body) which was observed usually in a gap of 12 years.

But no mask has been sent for the last few years. (PTI)