Admit disabled military personnel’s son to BE, HC
tells DU

NEW DELHI, Sept 21: The Delhi High Court has come to the rescue of a student, whose father was disabled in military action, by directing the Delhi University (DU) to grant him admission to Bachelor of Engineering course under the defence quota.

Directing the university to grant admission to Sandeep Sheoran as per his merit, Justice Vipin Sanghi said "I direct DU to grant admission to the petitioner (Sheoran) according to merit by treating him as falling within priority-IV of the 5 per cent reservation provided to the children/wards of defence personnel disabled in action."

Filing a petition through his counsel S M Dalal before the High Court, Sheoran said that his father was forced out of service on account of disability. He was issued a disability certificate and has been getting disability pension. Despite these evidence, the university denied him the admission in 2008, he alleged.

"I am also of the view that the grant of reservation to the wards of military personnel is a beneficial provision and it has to be construed liberally so as to extend the benefit to all those who are found deserving," the judge observed in a judgement recently.

The court rejected the University’s plea that the disability certificate of the Sheoran’s father was not attributable to military service.

"So far as objection with regard to disability is concerned, that does not appear to be the reason for rejection of the certificate of the petitioner’s father and the consequential denial of admission to the petitioner," the court said. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Sept 21: Jittery over the dustbins being used to carry out the recent bomb blasts in the capital, the Delhi Government has decided to ‘secure’ such innocuous boxes kept all over at the Players Building that houses offices of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and her ministers.

Delhi Metro and civic bodies such as municipal corporation and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) have already swiftly taken steps to remove the ‘terror’ dustbins.

In a recent meeting held soon after the serial blasts in the national capital to review the security in the government’s Secretariat located at the ITO, the officials have asked the Delhi police to ensure that all dustbins in the precinct are identified and secured.

"The cops have been asked to identify the locations of various dustbins in the periphery of the Delhi Secretariat and also to list out the vulnerable points in its vicinity," sources said.

Considered as one of the cleanest Government buildings, it has umpteen numbers of dustbins as well as big flower-pots kept in and outside at various offices on each floor in the multi-storeyed structure which is daily visited by numerous people during working days.

In the backdrop of September 13 serial blasts where terrorists found the dustbins as the best hideout for explosives, various authorities have started rethinking on their safety aspects to ensure that the boxes are not misused again.

While Delhi Metro Rail Corporation which is on a high alert has already removed all dustbins from its 62 stations, MCD and NDMC have put them upside down to avoid a repeat of the terror strikes.

"The State Government too doesn’t want to take any chance. In its ongoing Rs 20 crore security spruce up plan envisaging hi-tech and state-of-the art gadgets, now dustbins have also become a major area of concern for the authorities," sources said.

The security officials have also been asked to display security posters at various prominent places such as toilets, lifts, canteen, waiting room and library room.

The meeting also discussed for a need for installation of some searchlights on the outer side of the building along with the use of dragon lights by Delhi Police personnel.

"Public Works Department which is entrusted responsible for security of the building and cops have been asked to examine these proposals separately," the sources added.

Also to meet the emergency situation, the storage of items like torches and wooden sticks should also be ensured, the members in the meeting suggested. (PTI)

CBI lambasts Haryana police in Sarita rape case

NEW DELHI, Sept 21: The Haryana police has been virtually indicted after a CBI probe into the circumstances leading to the suicide of a woman in Rohtak as the agency found shoddy investigations carried out by the police despite the victim identifying two constables who had raped her.

"Neither the victim was ever called by the investigating officer nor were any efforts made to get the victim medically examined," the CBI said in its chargesheet filed in the designated court in Ambala recently.

The case pertains to a woman Sarita, who committed suicide at the office of Additional Director General of Police at Panchkula V B Singh on June 9, after allegedly being raped by two policemen - Balraj and Silak Ram- at Central Intelligence Authority (CIA) office on April 10.

The matter was handed over to the CBI by the orders of Punjab and Haryana High Court on a PIL filed by some individuals.

The chargesheet, while naming Head constable Balraj and constable Silak Ram as accused in the case, said that the victim had been running from pillar to post to seek justice after allegedly being raped by two policemen. Her husband had been picked up by the two policeman in a case of motorcycle theft.

The CBI alleged that the victim first made an oral complaint of rape to the then Superintendent of Police (Rothak) Hanif Qureshi on April 26, 2008 following which a Deputy Superintendent of Police was deputed to investigate the matter. During the probe conducted by the police, Sarita had identified Balraj and Silak Ram in a test identification parade.

When things did not seem to move for Sarita, she approached the Inspector General of Police (IGP) at Rohtak with her complaint on May 25, 2008. The IGP ordered necessary action against the accused as charges were serious.

"Even thereafter no arrests were made by the police which took her to Singh’s office after which a case was registered on May 31 against unknown persons," the chargesheet said.

"Even after registration of FIR, the Rohtak police did not make any effort to properly investigate the case," the CBI said.

Thereafter, Sarita went to Singh’s office with her husband on June 9 and handed over a complaint stating that the two constables were pressurising her to withdraw her complaint. In her complaint she also said she was committing suicide and that she had already consumed "some tablets", the chargesheet said.

The complaint was treated as her dying declaration by the CBI thereafter.

The CBI has also attached the confessional statement of Deputy Superintendent of Police Manbir Singh under section 164 of Criminal Procedure Code with its chargesheet.

Sarita, a mother of two minor girls, committed suicide at the state police headquarters in Panchkula after senior police officers failed to take action on her complaint against the two constables of Rohtak who had allegedly raped her in April.

The 28-year-old woman had accused the Rohtak police of protecting the two constables Balraj Singh and Silak Ram who had allegedly assaulted her on April 10 at the Crime Investigation Agency in Rohtak.

The state government removed the IGP of Rohtak Range, SP, ASP and DSP of Rohtak besides suspending some other officials following outcry in the wake of the incident. (PTI)

US financial crisis has a lesson for India on
derivatives: CEA

NEW DELHI, Sept 21: The financial crisis in US, the biggest since the Great Depression, has a lesson for India—exercise caution in opening up derivative products and initially permit only those which are exchange-traded, said a top economic adviser to the Government.

"You have to be cautious. Say, for example, when derivatives are mentioned, the implication to me is that you should try and first open up derivatives which are exchange- traded because those are much more transparent," Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Virmani said here.

Pointing out that the country should open up where the risks are the least, Virmani said, even if the people make mistakes in exchange-traded products, it can be seen by all and can be a lesson for them.

"People will know that these fellows have bought and lost money," he said, adding these are far better than the complex, non-transparent private deals, which are causing problems in the US.

"The structure of deals in the US was so layered and complex that you do not know even after a year what has been going on. That I think is the simple but effective lesson that applies also to us," he said.

According to analysts, the sub-prime crisis turned into a systemic risk in the US as original lenders to sub-prime housing borrowers sold their portfolio to other players, also through complex derivatives. Therefore, it is not clear what would be the size of losses and which other firms would succumb to the financial meltdown.

Last week Merrill Lynch was bought over by Bank of America, Lehman Brothers filed for largest bankruptcy in the US after which Barclays agreed to buy some of its assets for USD 1.75 billion. AIG was given a USD 85 billion package by the US Federal Reserve.

There are two distinct groups of derivative contracts in India—Over-the-counter (OTC) and exchange traded.

OTC derivatives are contracts that are traded directly between two eligible parties, with or without the use of an intermediary and without going through an exchange.

On the other hand, exchange-traded derivatives are traded on an exchange.

The Reserve Bank and market regulator SEBI have recently permitted exchange-traded currency futures, initially in rupee-dollar pare, and are expected to allow exchange-traded interest rate futures by December-January.

Besides, there exist certain OTC derivatives also in the interest rate futures and currency futures categories.

"What it (the crisis) tells us is what that caution should be. It is an old lesson in a new form. Transparency is almost like a mantra. Then we forget what transparency is. Crisis like this tells you what it means in concrete terms," Virmani said.

So, this is the old lesson in the new form—caution in opening up, regulatory systems, transparency, good accounting and so on, he said.

He said crisis gives you more information on which are the areas you should be cautious.

"Basically, it is innovation. When there are innovations, you have to be cautious. But you must try to understand that and open up where the risks are the least," Virmani said. (PTI)

Moon mission in Dec if ISRO misses Oct launch window

NEW DELHI, Sept 21: India’s maiden moon mission could begin its space odyssey in December if it misses its earliest launch window of October 19-26, former ISRO chief Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan has said.

The cyclone season in the Bay of Bengal extends all through November which rules out the possibility of space launches, he said.

Chandrayaan-I, which is being assembled at the ISRO Satellite Centre in Bangalore, will be launched from the Satish Dhawan spaceport at Sriharikota on the eastern coast.

The spacecraft, which will orbit the moon at a distance of 100 km, was unveiled in Bangalore last week. It is yet to undergo vibration and acoustic tests.

For the vibration test, the spacecraft integrated with all its components would be put through a simulated environment similar to the vibrations emitted while being launched by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.

The acoustic test would simulate sound equivalent to 10 jet engines to ensure integrity of systems and to ensure that noise does not create any disturbance or affect the functioning of any component.

"The mission is progressing as per the strict timeline," said Kasturirangan, who got the mission going when he was at the helm of affairs at the Indian Space Research Organisation.

Chandrayaan is devoted to high resolution remote sensing of lunar surface features and is expected to have an operational life of two years.

The indigenously made spacecraft would carry 11 payloads, six from international organisations like NASA and ESA, and five from India.

The main objectives of the mission are to carry out high resolution mapping of the lunar topography in 3D, distribution of various minerals and elemental chemical species including radioactive nucleides covering the lunar surface using a set of remote sensing instruments.

The new set of data would help in unravelling mysteries about the origin and evolution of solar system in general and that of moon in particular.

The areas of study of the spacecraft include high resolution mineralogical and chemical imaging of permanently shadowed north and south polar regions.

It would also search for surface, sub-surface water-ice on the moon, specially at lunar poles.

Chandrayaan-I is expected to be shipped to Sriharikota by end of the month, where it will undergo further tests before the launch. (PTI)

Four fresh cases of attack on churches rocked
Karnataka

BANGALORE, Sept 21: Four fresh cases of attacks on churches, including three in the city, were reported in Karnataka since last night even as security was scaled up to ensure trouble-free Sunday prayers, two days after the Centre asked the State Government to rein in communal forces.

Unidentified persons broke open the door of a church in Mariyannapalya and ransacked it in the early hours today. While another group attacked churches in Rajarajeswari Nagar and Banaswadi in the city and at Nelliyahudikeri near Siddapura in Kodagu district since last night, police said.

In Rajarajeswari Nagar, some persons threw stones at the glass enclosure housing the two-feet-tall statue of infant Jesus and fled. However, they did not enter the church premises, Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) M R Pujar said here.

In Banaswadi area, unidentified persons who came on three motorcycles pelted stones at a church and fled as a group of people rushed to the spot.

Meanwhile, in Nelliyahudikere village, three window panes of a church were damaged when some miscreants hurled stones, police said, adding three persons suspected to be involved in the Mariyannapalya incident have been picked up for questioning.

However, Mangalore, Udupi and Chikmagalur which witnessed trouble last Sunday, remained calm and no untoward incidents was reported, they said.

However, Mangalore, Udupi and Chikmagalur which witnessed trouble last Sunday, remained calm and no untoward incidents was reported, they said.

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who chaired a high-level meeting to review the situation soon after the fresh cases of attack were reported, charged that the attacks were an organised conspiracy by those who did not wish peace to return to the state.

The Chief Minister said certain vested interests were trying to "vitiate the atmosphere and take mileage."

At the meeting with top police officials, he directed them to fix the responsibility on jurisdictional police in places where the attacks occurred.

The Chief Minister has also convened a meeting of the state cabinet tomorrow to discuss the issue.

"Responsibility will be fixed and action will be taken", Karnataka Home Minister V S Acharya said, indicating that the jurisdictional police officials will be held responsible and suspended.

"We will not take things lightly", Acharya said, adding all precautionary measures were being taken.

The Union Home Ministry had on September 19 issued a strong advisory, the second in 24 hours, to Karnataka, saying that the BJP government in the state was not taking adequate steps to control the situation and bring the guilty to book.

The state government had described the move as "politically motivatually indicting the state government’s handling of the situation in the wake of attacks on churches and Christians allegedly by the Bajrang Dal.

The fresh attacks have occurred a day after the state government protested the Centre’s action and despatched a report saying that the situation was under "control."

City Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari said the police were investigating whether the attacks were due to religious bigotry or any professional gang was involved in it.

Former Chief minister and JDS leader H D Kumaraswamy charged the BJP government saying that it failed miserably to prevent attacks on churches.

Meanwhile, Police have beefed up security in the city. (PTI)

Multiple dosage DPT vaccines to be phased out

NEW DELHI, Sept 21: The Government is phasing out multiple dosages DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus) vaccines to be replaced by with a single shot pentavalent vaccine in the national immunisation programme from mid-2009.

"The process of replacing vaccines will start from early next year in a phased manner. By the end of first half 2009, the whole country will be covered by the new pentavalent vaccines under the national immunisation programme," a senior Health Ministry official said.

The new pentavalent vaccine, which is a combination of five vaccines will provide protection from early childhood diseases such as Diptheria, Pertussis and Tetanus and offer additional cover from Hepatitis B and Hib (influenza) infections.

The move will also provide Rs 2,000 crore business opportunity for existing pentavalent vaccine makers led by the likes of Panacea Biotec and Shantha Biotech.

According to medical experts, as many as 114 countries have already introduced pentavalent vaccines and India, in terms of introducing pentavalent vaccines, is lagging behind even African nations.

Ironically, Indian companies are one of leading vaccine suppliers under the WHO-sponsored programmes, the official said.

The World Health Organisation has approved pentavalent vaccines manufactured by Panacea, Shantha, Novartis and GlaxoSmithkline for supplies to the United Nations vaccination programmes.

The Government’s move, however, is expected to face some opposition as it will dampen the hopes for revival of public sector vaccines manufacturing units whose manufacturing licences were revoked for non-compliance with good manufacturing practises (GMP).

In January, the Health Ministry had suspended manufacturing licences of Pasteur Institute of India in Coonoor, the Central Research Institute in Kasuali and some other vaccine-producing companies after the WHO found them not compliant with GMP standards. (PTI)

Skywatchers gear up to celebrate equinox day

NEW DELHI, Sept 21: Skywatchers and space enthusiasts are gearing to celebrate equinox day tomorrow by taking measurements of the shortest shadow at noon and calculate the latitude of the place.

Equinox day is the time when the Sun crosses the plane of the Earth’s equator, making night and day of approximately equal duration. It takes place twice a year on March 21 and September 22.

An NGO Science Popularisation Association of Communicators and Educators (SPACE) and its members will encourage school students and enthusiasts across 16 states to observe the equinox day by conducting various experiments.

"We will celebrate equinox day by measuring the shortest shadow (local noon) and trying to measure the latitude of different locations where the experiments are conducted," SPACE President Chander Bhushan Devgun said.

The word equinox derives from the Latin words aequus (equal) and nox (night). It means that equal day and night. But in reality, the day is longer than the night at an equinox.

This is because the Sun is not a single point of light, but appears to be a disc. So when the centre of the Sun is still below the horizon, the upper limb is already visible and emits light, he said.

Furthermore, the atmosphere refracts light downwards, so even when the upper limb of the Sun is still below the horizon, its rays already reach around the horizon to the ground.

These effects together make the day about 14 minutes longer than the night (at the equator, and more towards the poles), said Devgun.

On the equinox day, the Sun moves across the celestial equator, which lies directly above the Earth’s equator. During the crossing, the Sun rises exactly in the east and sets exactly in the west.

This year the autumnal equinox is on September 22 at 15:46 hrs UT (21:16 IST), he said.

The exact time of the equinoxes are not fixed but fall about six hours later every year, amounting to one full day in four years which in turn makes a leap year, Devgun said.

In Delhi, day and night will be equal on September 27.

This day is commonly referred to as the "equilux" to distinguish them from the equinox. The equinox is a point in time, but the equilux is a day. (PTI)

Heart attacks ‘directly proportional to economic
prosperity’

NEW DELHI, Sept 21: Economic prosperity has a flip side too—in matters of heart only.

Yes, according to one of the country’s leading cardiologists, Dr Upendra Kaul, a side-effect of economic prosperity is an increased risk of heart ailments in people, particularly the young generation.

"In fact, to an extent, increase in heart attacks is directly proportional to economic liberalisation and resulting high growth rate," Dr Kaul, the Executive Director of Escorts Heart Institute and Medical Research Centre, told PTI.

"In the case of young generation, the general life style change with acquisition of multiple adverse risk factors seems to be the cause. So, health education in schools as well as colleges and increasing involvement in exercise and fitness programmes hold the key," he said.

Not only urban India, even rural areas have reported a higher rate of heart ailments in recent times. "Along with economic liberalisation, a new lifestyle of globalisation is getting into the rural milieu—leading to a spurt in heart attacks," he said.

But are the poor people also at risk?

"Adverse risk factors aren’t necessarily related to per capita income. Cheap edible oils, smoking, excessive salt intake and using tobacco products and pollution are important factors. Acquisition of these risks is common in economically challenged people too," Dr Kaul claimed.

However, citing the example of industrialisation in the West, which is considered to be one of the principal causes of the epidemic of heart disease, Dr Kaul said, "The same society became aware of it and applied remedial measures while continuing industrial growth."

In fact, economic prosperity with continued healthcare education is the answer, the two aren’t "mutually exclusive".

"Emphasis on prevention of non-communicable diseases has started in the last few years. Research, especially participation in global studies, has increased. A lot more needs to be done by our administrators in this regard.

"Moreover, emphasis on health education, early detection of high blood pressure, diabetes and dyslipidemias should be the priority. These programmes need to start from primary health centre level upwards.

"These are much more cost effective than setting up multi-speciality hospitals in the periphery. Healthcare both preventive and curative should be stepped up aggressively," he added.

If not tackled, Dr Kaul said, coronary heart disease could be the most serious challenge in India. "As per estimate, the number would be ten crore by 2010. By the year 2015 if the current incidence continues, the number would be 15 crores." (PTI)

First heliport of India to come up in Delhi: Pawan
Hans chief

NEW DELHI, Sept 21: With the 2010 Commonwealth Games fast approaching, hectic activities are on to construct India’s first fully-automated heliport in West Delhi and a temporary ‘environment-friendly’ facility near Yamuna bed.

The national capital is also likely to have one helipad in each of its nine districts, with the city Government allocating Rs one crore for the purpose.

"Delhi Government has already allocated Rs one crore for one helipad in every district and many State Governments are also earmarking funds for creation of helipads," state-run Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd Chairman (PHHL) R K Tyagi said in an interview here.

To meet the demands of the Commonwealth Games, a fully automated heliport would be constructed in the Rohini area of West Delhi, which would act as a hub for chopper operations during the mega event and later, he said.

Another transit facility would come up near the DND Flyover near river Yamuna. It would be a removable steel and glass structure keeping in mind the environmental concerns, Tyagi said, adding the structures were capable of being dismantled if the need was felt after the Games.

"We are in touch with the environmentalists because the Rohini facility only will not be enough to cater to the Commonwealth Games. We need to create the facility near the DND Flyover.

"What the Ministry is talking to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is the creation of the first zero-construction and entirely green heliport of the world to be created in Delhi," Tyagi said.

The proposed facility near the Yamuna bed adjacent to the flyway would be only a landing and take-off facility.

The PHHL chief said a zero-construction heliport means that "we can assure the environmentalists and the administration that they can be dismantled within hours, as there are no permanent structures".

The facility, being planned near the DND flyway, would act as a transportation hub meant only for take-off and landing, to cater to the Games participants who would stay at the nearby Games Village. It would also act as a Disaster Management and Mitigation Centre.

Though the Delhi Government has made it clear that no heliport could be constructed on the Yamuna River bed, talks were going on regarding the creation of a temporary steel and glass structure, Tyagi said.

A Committee comprising representatives of Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Airports Authority of India, ONGC and PHHL, set up by the Civil Aviation Ministry, had already granted in-principle approval for these sites, he said.

According to Tyagi, the Rohini heliport in West Delhi is proposed to be located in Sector 37 as a feeder hub where helicopter maintenance facilities and parking are being planned.

About 25 acre plot had been earmarked for the purpose and DDA’s Technical Committee had proposed changes in the land use of the site for heliport operations, he said.

Besides maintenance and parking facilities, the heliport would also have an arrival-departure terminal, runway and hangars.

Regarding future plans in and around Delhi, Tyagi said, "We are also talking with the Noida authority to have another heliport there."

"We are also looking at a minimum of two or three heliports in Delhi, apart from one each in the satellite towns of Noida, Faridabad and Gurgaon. We are talking to the State Governments to allot land," he added. (PTI)

Project to market products manufactured by differently
abled

NEW DELHI, Sept 21: In a unique move aimed at economic empowerment of persons with disabilities, a statutory body under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will launch an ambitious project of marketing utility products manufactured by the "differently abled" people.

The Association for Rehabilitation under Initiative of Marketing (ARUNIM) will be launched by the National Trust tomorrow as an "independent marketing federation" and a non-profit organisation registered under the Registration of Societies Act.

"ARUNIM is a step towards economic empowerment of persons with moderate to severe disabilities, who have limited opportunities to become self-reliant," Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Trust, Atul Prasad said.

Although, several people with disabilities have been working in small scales with the support of NGOs in some parts of the country, they are unorganised, he said.

Prasad said ARUNIM will give an opportunity to "differently abled" persons to shift from an "unorganised industrial sector" to an "organised" one.

"Quality products" manufactured by persons with disability will be sold under a brand name - ARUNIM. Orders will be procured from the market and they would be given to "differently abled" manufactures or producers, Prasad said.

ARUNIM will also facilitate them with training on skill development, innovative product designing and development, adaptations and mechanisation using sound strategy in product, packaging, pricing, placing and promotion, Prasad added.

Expressing confidence in the success of the "dream project" of the National Trust, Prasad said ARUNIM comprises 13-member board of directors headed by Sminu Jindal, who is Chairperson of Jindal SAW.

"The Board constitutes of a committed and enthusiastic team of professional from marketing, product design, human resources, special education, law and from the NGO sector working with persons with disability," he added.

The Board of Directors have constituted a committee of professionals for preparing short term and long term strategy. "A market survey is also going on to decide the range of products ARUNIM can bring in the market after getting those manufactured by the persons with disability," an official of the National Trust said.

The National Trust was established in 1999 for the welfare of persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple disabilities. (PTI)

After rural tourism, it is time for geo and pro-poor
tourism

NAWALGARH, RAJASTHAN, Sept 21: Straw and bamboo thatched huts at remote villages are something least expected to compete with luxurious hotels in metros as attraction for tourists.

But this is turning into a reality in semi-desert Shekhavati region of the northeastern Rajasthan, thanks to the new trend of geo and pro-poor tourism.

Farmers in the region play hosts to both domestic and foreign tourists, a brake from the hustle-bustle of the city life into a clean and peaceful environment.

Kan Singh, a small farmer at a tiny Hamlet called ‘Jor Ki Dhai’, nearly 130km from Jaipur, hosts foreign tourist groups from the countries such as France, United Kingdom and the US at especially designed ethnic huts in his fields, where the mode of farming is completely organic.

"We have a tradition of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ (Guests are god) which makes us to treat our guests with respect," Singh said.

"It gives us pleasure to show our culture to the people coming from either foreign countries or from across the country," he added.

Like Singh, farmers at several other villages near Navalgarh, a historic town known for its ‘Havelies’ and Fresco paintings, also host tourists in their houses.

"Tourists are very enthusiastic of taking part in the routine activity of village life. They enjoy feeding and milking livestocks, camel rides, staying in ethnic huts, stroll in orchards and folk dance and music," Director of Sahaj Morarka Tourism India Pvt Ltd, Vigyan Gadodia, said.

Sahaj Morarka Tourism is a part of an NGO MR Morakra-GDC Rural Research Foundation that works for promotion of organic farming and rural development.

"The relief from city stress, clean air, food and healthy environment is what today’s tourists demand for. Being among villagers is a kind of adventure which gives them an opportunity to learn more about the life," Gadodia added.

The Rajasthan government along with tourism companies is also bringing in the infrastructural facilities and the basic amenities to boost up the tourist inflow into several villages in the state.

"Our tourist package involves several activities like pottery classes, farming, cooking and village games. Some foreign tourists even want to teach in village schools. Therefore we arrange for a suitable package according to their demands," he said.

Gadodia’s company has tied up with some 150 farmers in Sikar and Jhunjhunu districts of the Shekhavati region for lodging and food arrangement for the tourists.

Akanksha, a tourist from Delhi, said, "I was bored with visiting historical places and roaming various cities which are equally busy and hardly offer any sense of relaxation. I just wanted to come close to the nature and a peaceful life style."

"I really enjoyed the kitchen where food was cooked in earthen pots. Women singing folk songs while preparing food and bringing water from the well was very amusing," she added.

For Morarka Foundation chairman Kamal Morarka, promoting villages as a places for tourist interests benefit both the visitors and the villages.

"When the tourists find a chance to enjoy the simplicity of village life, by hosting them the poor farmers also earn some money which can help them in improving their lives," he said.

To maintain the quality of the tourist package, the company has put in place a procedure of issuing certificates to the host families.

"The location of the house, family members and their reputation and basic amenities are the main criteria we consider before issuing them certificates," Gadodia said. (PTI)