Akhilesh Das joins BSP, made national general secretary

LUCKNOW, May 10: Four days after resigning from Congress, former Union Minister Akhilesh Das today joined the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and was straight away appointed party national general secretary by BSP chief Mayawati.

Chief Minister and BSP President Mayawati made announcement to this effect at a function organised this afternoon.

She also announced that Akhilesh Das would be the BSP’s candidate from Lucknow parliamentary constituency which is currently represented by former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

The former Union Minister of State for Steel, Mr Das joined the party along with several supporters. He was stripped of the Ministerial berth at the Centre last month and had announced his resignation from the Congress and membership of Rajya Sabha on May 6 last in New Delhi citing dominance of a coterie around Congress General Secretarty Rahul Gandhi as the prime reason for his decision to quit the party.

Mr Das, son of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister late Banarasi Das, had also been the Mayor of Lucknow and was active in the social circles for long.

An overwhelmed Mr Das was in tears when Ms Mayawati announced his joining as well giving him the post of BSP’s General Secretary. She said after the Lok Sabha polls, Mr Das would be touring other parts of the country to muster support of Vaishya community for the BSP, the role another General Secretary Satish Chandra Mishra was entrusted with vis-a-vis Brahmin support to the BSP in the last Assembly polls.

The BSP supremo, in her brief address on the occasion, said the BSP’s principle of ‘Sarva Jan Hitaya, Sarva Jan Sukhaya ( Welfare of all sections)’ motivated Mr Das to join her party. Mr Das echoed the views and assured her to uphold such ideology of the BSP.

In his address, Mr Das said he was dissatisfied with the policies of the Congress specially with regards to backward areas of Bundelkhand and Poorvanchal.

Besides Mr Satish Chandra Mishra, senior party functioneries present on the occasion were Naseemuddin Siddiqui, Babu Singh Kushwaha, Indrajeet Saroj, State President Swami Prasad Maurya and other senior BSP leaders.

Several Congressmen including Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee Vice-President Siraj Mehndi, General Secretary Hanuman Tripathi, district Congress chief Vipin Bihari Shukla, city Congress chief Achal Mehrotra, 14 Congress corporators of Lucknow Nagar Nigam and several party workers also resigned from the party in support of Mr Das.

Mr Das, an educationist who runs several educational institutions in Lucknow, had been active in the Congress since last many years and his move came as a jolt to the Congress, which is already fighting a battle of survival in UP.(UNI)

Kalam visualises new India by 2020

CUTTACK, May 10: Former President A P J Abdul Kalam today said India will be the best place to live on earth in 2020 as he visulaised a new India with an ideal destination in many spheres.

Delivering the first convocation address of Ravenshaw University here, Dr Kalam said during the next 12 years, India would have a very thin line between the urban and rural areas.

There would be abundance in quality energy, making the country the best destination for science and technology research and quality healthcare facilities.

"This apart, the country would have a responsive Government with reduced illiteracy and malnutrition, with a conglomerate of entrepreneurs, administrators and farmers," the former president said.

He urged the youths to strive hard and transform their dreams into reality. "When dreams transform into thoughts and thoughts into action along with knowledge, then all problems would be defeated and goals would be met, Dr Kalam said.

Orissa Governor M C Bhandare, also the Chancellor of the University, while recollecting the past glory of the institute said about 140 years ago this institute was elevated from a college to a university in 2006.

The Governor hoped that this University would successfully disseminate and advance knowledge, wisdom and understanding through its innovative methods of teaching and research.

University Vice-Chancellor Devdas Chhotray, in his address, said Ravenshaw University would emerge as a synergetic knowledge center in the entire South-Asian region.

He said Ravenshaw is passing through a phase of resurgence.

The University, has envisaged a Center for Understanding Orissa and develop its art and culture, he added. (UNI)

Lt Gen Yadav to be Assam Rifles DG

SHILLONG, May 10: Lt Gen Satveer Yadav will take over as Director General of Assam Rifles when the incumbent Lt Gen Paramjit Singh retires on May 31.

Lt Gen Yadav of the Kumaon Regiment (Infantry) is currently the Commandant of the Mhow-based Infantry School.

He will take charge on June one, official sources here said. (PTI)

Port Blair airport submerged by
rain water, services affected

PORT BLAIR, May 10: Torrential rains through the night cut off air services from the airport here today stranding passengers and virtually snapping travel links between Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the mainland.

As the airport and the terminal building submerged under over 1.5 feet of water, no flights could land or take off from the airport here.

Almost 207 mm of rainfall was recorded after very heavy heavy rains last night, the weather office here said.

The ground floor of the terminal building was submerged in 1.5 feet of water, leading passengers and others to rush to the upper floors, airport sources and passengers said.

Three flights in the morning from Kolkata of Air India, Air Deccan and Jet Airways could not land and returned to eastern metropolis.

An Air Deccan and Air India flight from here to Chennai also could not take off, the sources added.

"Water has just started receding. We have shut down the power plant. By today evening, we hope to clear everything and restore normalcy. Everything is under control now," Airport Controller R De Cruz said, adding that most of the passengers were given accommodation in hotels.

For the remaining passengers, rest rooms in the airport has been opened.

"We are giving them our rest rooms and whatever facilities we have at the airport for passengers," he said, adding that the water gushed into the terminal building around 0620 hours.

Observing that civil air operations at the airport were on till 1300 hours, De Cruz said "normally, after that the airport is closed. So by tomorrow, we expect we would be able to start operations."

Krishna Chowdhury, a passenger who was supposed to take the 0700 hour Air Deccan flight to Chennai, said she had checked in on time and had been given the boarding card as well.

However, soon after she entered the security check area around 0630 hours, "suddenly a flood came in and there was about three feet of water inside the terminal."

She said everyone "rushed here and there and people climbed to the first floor and the second floor."

Chowdhury complained that there was no one to guide the passengers as to where to go and what to do. (PTI)

Overcrowing of jail

MOGA, May 10: Justice Ranjit Singh of Punjab and Haryana High Court, who is the inspection judge of Faridkot sessions Division, visited the Moga Jail and pointed out the overcrowding of jail with 150 inmates and undertrials against the capacity of only 46, but also observed inhuman and unhygenic living conditions of the inmates.

He told reporters here yesterday that he will be writing to the State Government for the construction of new district jail in which all moderen facilities will be made available to the inmates and the under trials.

Though none of the jail inmate made any complaint to the inspection judge but the high court judge himself took note of the situation and directed the district administration to provide sufficient medical health care with sufficient quantity of medicines.

Justice Ranjit Singh listened to the grievances and problems during his personal interaction with the jail inmates and under trials. (PTI)

Punjab to seek over Rs 40 cr under NFSM from centre

CHANDIGARH, May 10: Punjab Government would seek over Rs 40 crore from Central Government under National Food Security Mission to improve output for wheat and pulses by adopting more scientific methods.

"We will be submitting a proposal under NFSM to the centre, seeking funds more than Rs 40 crore, which would be utilised to increase the production of wheat and pulses by way of encouraging farmers to adopt advanced methods of cultivation and thereby helping them to fetch better returns," a senior official of Punjab Agriculture department said.

Mohali, Ropar, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Tarn Tarn, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Bathinda, Barnala and Sangrur districts are chosen for wheat crop under NFSM. Gurdaspur, Tarn Tarn, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Barnala, Ludhiana and Sangrur districts are selected for pulses cultivation.

The major portion of the funds would be spent on the seed replacement of wheat so as to increase the productivity and output, he said. "Under this project, we will emphasise on replacing the wheat seed with hybrid and improved varieties which will boost the crop production. We are targeting to replace 40 per cent of the total area under cultivation of wheat with new seeds," he said.

Besides, the department would also initially start 300 ‘Kisan Khet Schools’ in these districts whereby the agricultural expert would tell farmers about new and improved cultivation techniques in their fields itself.

"An officer would visit the earmarked fields of the farmers every week and tell them to switch over to scientific methods of cultivating the crop which will reduce their input cost," he informed.

The State Government has also proposed to give subsidy on the purchase of rotavators and zero tillering to the tune of Rs 30,000 per unit which will help in maintaining the soil fertility for achieving better output. (PTI)

Netherlands to strengthen its tie-up with India

CHENNAI, May 10: The annual growth rate between Netherlands and India is 24 per cent and the Dutch country will take steps to increase it substantially within the next 15 years, the Netherlands Ambassador Bob Hiensch said today.

"The growth rate between Netherlands and India is at 24 per cent and by the next 15 years it should be 20 times more than it" Ambassador of the Netherlands Bob Hiensch told reporters here.

Expressing concern on the trade between Netherlands and India which is relatively small according to him, the Ambassador hoped that it would be doubled by next three years.

"On yearly basis, the trade between Netherlands and India is USD three bn and at least by next three years, I want to double it" Bob Hiensch, on his maiden visit to Chennai, said.

Currently,exports to India from Netherlands stood at 1.7 per cent while from India to Netherlands it was 1.1 per cent, he said.

"Mainly, chemicals, machinery and equipment are exported from Netherlands to India", he said.

"India was the largest receiver of Dutch Development Corporation till 2003, but later we shifted our focus in developing the trade, investment and science and technology (with India)", he said.

Expressing his gratitude for Indian scientists who have successfully launched the PSLV-C9 which carried 10 satellites, recently, Bob said "one of the 10 satellites was made by the students studying in Universities in Netherlands and "we are very happy about it".

Referring to the Tata’s acquisition of Corus in 2007, Bob said the Indian Company is very happy with the deal. "Tata is very happy with the deal and so are we" he said.

The Netherlands is the third largest country in exporting agricultural products across the globe, Bob said and added that the management of Water in India should be better.

"In Netherlands it (water) is managed well, but here it should be managed better" he said.

Referring to the difficulty in obtaining a visa to Netherlands, he said "we are trying to be liberal and ‘client-friendly’ but certain rules cannot be waived".

Expressing Netherlands’interest in developing the Ennore Port located here, the Ambassador said that they have spoken to Union Minister for Shipping, Roadways and Transport T R Baalu in this regard.

"We have lot of expertise in it (port development) and we have spoken to him (T R Baalu) on its management and security" Bob said.

The presence of Hindu communities in Netherlands is ‘high’ "and we will take steps in attracting more". "Approximately, 200,000 Hindus live there and its very encouraging",he said.

The image of India among the people of Netherlands is not "upto the mark" but only after visiting India,one can realise its potential, the Ambassador said. (PTI)

50,000 farmers to be benefited
from loan rebate by Centre

DARBHANGA, May 10: At least 50,000 farmers of Darbhanga district will be benefited from a rebate on agricultural loan announced in the Union Budget, 2008-09.

District Co-Operative Officer Manoj Kumar said here today that the farmers, associated with the 180 Primary Agriculture Co-Operative Societies (PACS), were sanctioned loans of Rs 23 crore for Rabi and Kharif crops by Darbhanga Central Co-Operative Bank (DCCB) till 2003.

Some of the farmers had paid a few installments but the majority of them had failed to do so following natural disasters, including floods, Mr Kumar said, adding that the DCCB had remained closed in the meantime, affecting the farmers, as the PACS were unable to procure the loans.

Following the announcement of rebate on agricultural loan by the Centre, the strategy for its execution had been prepared and the amount would be paid to the department through the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Mr Kumar informed.

Almost all of the PACS had sent the details of the loans, sanctioned to the farmers till 2003, for which auditing work was under progress, he added.(UNI)

Eminent vocalist Pandit Firoz Dastoor passes away

MUMBAI, May 10: Noted vocalist and doyen of Kirana Gharana Pandit Firoz Dastoor died here following a prolonged illness, his family said today.

Pandit Dastoor, one of the senior-most disciples of Sawai Gandharv and greatest exponents of the Gharana, was ailing for over a year now and breathed his last yesterday night.

He was 89.

Pandit Dastoor regaled the audience as a connoisseur of Hindustani Classical music with his melodious voice for nearly six decades in India and abroad.

Pandit Dastoor, recipient of the Sangeet Natak Academi award, Tansen award, Honorary D.Litt from South Gujarat University and Maharashtra State Gaurav award amongst others, learnt the basics of music from A D Javkar and started his career at the tender age of seven.

Before taking to full-time classical music, Dastoor was a child actor in films of Wadia Movietone and Minerva Movietone.

Some of the films in which he performed and rendered his voice were: Lal-e-Yaman, Noor-e-Yaman, Waman Avatar and Bagh-e-Misr of Wadi Movietone apart from Aatmatarang, Paakh Daman and Gul Bakavli of Minerva Movietone.

He later gave up acting to concentrate on music. Unlike other Kirana Gharana musicians, Pandit Dastoor carved a niche for himself by presenting compositions in their pure lyrical format.

Pandit Dastoor was also an expert in light classical music like Thumri and Dadra and performed in the same manner as the founder of Kirana Gharana "Khan Sahab Abdul Karim Khan".

He had the distinction of performing before Khan Sahab, who was his guru’s Guru and winning the latter’s appreciation.

The veteran vocalist had been performing at the Sawai Gandharv festival in Pune since 1952 and also worked in close association with Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, another legendary exponent of the Kirana Gharana, in the Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal.

He was the professor of Hindustani Classical music at Mumbai University since the inception of the department.

His disciples who made a mark for themselves in classical music are: Pandit Shrikant Deshpande, Sudha Divekar, Usha Gokarn, Girish Sanzeiri and Uttara Kelkar amongst others. (PTI)

Raj Govt to grant pension to MISA activists

JAIPUR, May 10: The Rajasthan Government has decided to grant pension to those activists in the state who had faced jail terms under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) during the emergency between 1975 and 1977.

As per the rules and guidelines notified by the General Administration Department (GAD) Secretary Chandramohan Meena here yesterday, the pension would be payable with effect from April One this year, to those citizens who had faced jail term of at least three months under the act during the emergency.

As per the rules, pension between Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000 per month will be paid depending upon the length of their jail term. (UNI)

NCW to send draft policy to Govt on women in agriculture

NEW DELHI, May 10: With the objective of ensuring that women have access to and control over resources, including land, the NCW will submit to the Government a draft policy for women in agriculture after conducting national consultations.

The Commission today launched the two-day consultations on the policy.

"Women’s pivotal role in agriculture has never been recognised fully. They work as female agricultural labourers, as farmers, co-farmers, family labourers.... But they still remain largely unacknowledged as farmers and agricultural workers. The policy aims to secure recognition and evaluation of the role of women as workers in the agriculture sector," NCW chairperson Girija Vyas said.

Pointing out that women constitute 40 per cent of the agricultural workforce which is rising further, she said the increased feminisation of agricultural work and labour must be taken into account in any policy document.

"Acknowledgement and evaluation of women’s work in agriculture must be the basis for all policies and schemes in agriculture.

Dr Vyas said the policy will ensure that women have access to land rights, water, pasture, forest, biodiversity resources including seeds, fodder, fuel and raw material, to address their labour and livelihood issues.

It also proposes adequate and equal availability of services like irrigation, credit, insurance, technology, information, training and special markets for women in the sector, she added.

Stressing that the draft bill seeks to safeguard food security, she said malnutrition, particularly among women and children may be eliminated by ensuring minimum support prices and other incentives for primary producers and by providing sufficient foodgarins at affordable prices for all.

She said in the draft bill amendment and implementation of laws such as the Recognition of Forest Rights Act, 2007, the Food Safety Act and the Bio-Diversity Act have been recommended for recognition of the interest of women primary producers in the agricultural sector.

The Chairperson said the impact of policy change in the agrarian sector and its decline has also led to feminisation of poverty.

"According to the Approach Paper for the 11th Plan the growth rate of agriculture was about 2 per cent during the 9th Plan and is expected to decline to 1.8 per cet per annum during the 10th plan.... Any statement on policy has to take into account this recent sharp decline in agriculture in the country," she added. (UNI)

Women MPs may find place in key Par panel

NEW DELHI, May 10: Some women MPs are expected to be inducted into a key Parliamentary Committee that will take up the Women’s Reservation Bill on May 27.

At present the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice does not have a single woman member.

There are seven vacancies-five from the Lok Sabha and two from the Rajya Sabha-in the Committee. Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari would nominate the new members.

Ansari has referred the Bill to the Committee headed by senior Congress member E M Sudarsana Natchiappan for examination and report within three months.

The committee will hold its first meeting on May 27 when the Bill would be taken up for consideration.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi has said on the last date of the Budget session that efforts would be made to pass the bill in the Monsoon session. (PTI)