Sir,
Barbaric, savage, wild, inhuman and worst incident of recent road rage in Turkman Gate area Central Delhi when some five Car- driven persons brutally beat to death a motorcyclist, namely Shehnewaz, who was moving on it alongwith his two small children, as the bike had allegedly touched (hit) the car. Although, one of the assailants, namely Wasim, has been arrested and others have fled, yet this all is not the substitute to the lost life for the children who helplessly witnessed the barbaric end of their father in the bloody and frenzy hands of four/five persons on being turned animals at the spur of moment.
We must realize that nowadays there are huge traffic rush and jams on the roads every where and there is always possibility of any road accident any time despite best precautions. In such a situation, we all must be cool and patient on roads in such a situation and rather should be thankful if in any accident no loss to life is there. But unfortunately when despite so many narrow escapes our lives are safe, why we become barbaric, savage, wild and animal to take life of each other which is otherwise spared by the accident.
We must appreciate that in our society otherwise too ordinarily to save a precious life of any one who is suffering from any ailment, we move from pillar to post in all hospitals and even abroad. All nears and dears and other social organizations come to the rescue of each and every one by way of blood donations, contributions, man help or even organ donations irrespective of any religion, caste and creed to save human life. Not to talk of saving human life, nowadays we being highly awakened and humanized are particular even to save the Life of animals (other creatures on earth) also. Message is that if we cannot save or give life to any one, we must not finish it just by becoming animal anytime anywhere.
Yours etc….
Durga Dass Ghagwalia,
Rehari, Jammu
Road rage
FDI in Insurance Not for common man
Dr Ashwani Mahajan
Modi Government, which has been facing ire of opposition parties and also of its friends, after promulgation of several ordinances, has been under stress to get the stamp of the parliament on these ordinances. The Government had a sigh of relief when it was successful in getting the insurance bill passed in both the houses of parliament, which seeks to raise the cap of foreign investment from 26 per cent to 49 percent, with support of the congress party. Argument of the Government in favour of the bill is that insurance sector is ‘starved of’ investment and therefore is finding it difficult to grow for want of resources. With the help of foreign investment, this sector will grow, and would not only make its reach to the people, who are untouched by insurance; it would also help improving the insurance facilities in the country. Another argument of the Government is that by expanding role of foreign companies in this sector, new kinds of insurance products (policies) would enter the market and new technology would also get a boost. Government does not agree with the opponents of FDI in insurance, that private companies with enhanced foreign investment can exploit customers, as the same is not possible, given a strong regulatory mechanism in place. Government’s argument is that Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) keeps vigil on the functioning of insurance companies.
History of Insurance Bill
It is notable that during NDA-I regime, when Yashwant Sinha was the Finacne Minister, FDI was allowed in insurance sector. However, during UPA regime when bill was introduced in the parliament to raise FDI cap to a higher limit, standing committee of the parliament, under the chairmanship of Yashwant Sinha only, opposed the same, stating that there is no need to raise FDI cap and to expand their business, insurance companies can raise domestic resource. But, the then UPA Government did not accept the recommendations of the Standing Committee.
Facts on the pros and cons of the foreign investment in insurance do not confirm with Government’s argument that its step (Insurance Bill) is in the best interest of the common man.
Claim Settlement Ratio
There are two types of life insurance companies functioning in the country. In the public sector there is one entity namely, the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and in the private sector there are 23 private life insurance companies; out of which 22 companies have stakes of foreign companies and only one private company does not have foreign stake. Customers of private companies face a very high rate of claim rejections. We see that in 2012-13, private companies rejected 7.85 percent claims, whereas in case of LIC, rejection rate was only 1.2 percent.
For this reasons and faith of people in LIC, private life insurance companies could not capture much insurance business in the country. It is notable that all 23 private insurance companies together, could garner a business of only 74 lakh life insurance policies, against 368 lakh policies issued by LIC alone.
Lapse and Forfeiture Ratio
Annual Report of IRDA says, although business of private insurance companies registered a decline of 7 percent, 35.3 lakh life insurance policies, issued by them in the past, were either lapsed or forfeited in a single year. Total insured sum of these lapse and forfeited policies was 82,061 crores. In case of a giant, life insurance company, Birla Sunlife, this ‘lapse and forfeiture’ ratio was 61.3 percent, against only 5.6 percent in case of LIC
Rising Burden of Health of General Insurance
Ever since, private players with foreign investment were allowed in the insurance sector, burden of premium has been rising. For instance mediclaim policy, which used to cost nearly rupees 4000 annually for a family of four, now costs nearly rupees 11000 annually. Insurance companies argue that this hike has been necessitated due to increase in medical claims. Similarly, Third party insurance which is mandatory for all vehicle owners, now costs up to rupees 1600, which used to cost only rupees 160 before privatisation. Premium rates of almost all types of insurances have been rising after private players entered into insurance business.
Private Insurance Companies are for Cities and Rich
The argument of FDI apologists is demolished with the fact that LIC has 44 percent branches in rural and semi-urban areas, whereas private companies have only 28 percent branches in these areas. Government’s, argument that hike in FDI cap in insurance sector would benefit poor is also not correct. Private companies generally cater to rich and super rich. This is evident from the fact that average first year premium of life insurance companies issued by private companies was rupees 41,525 whereas it was 20,830 in case of LIC.
About Government’s contention that growth of insurance sector is constrained by lack of resources, does not hold water as there is no dearth of resources with LIC and general public sector insurance companies. Recently LIC handed over a cheque of rupees 1635 crores to the Finance Minister. Rather, foreign companies being invited to raise their stakes are themselves at the verge of bankruptcy. For instance AIG, a US insurance company; which is world’s largest insurance company virtually collapsed in 2008; and without a bailout package of $182, AIG would have ceased to exist.
(The author is Associate Professor, PGDAV College, University of Delhi)
US begins aerial refuelling for Saudi-led air war
WASHINGTON, Apr 9: The United States has started daily aerial refuelling for warplanes in the Saudi-led coalition carrying out air strikes in Yemen, the Pentagon has said.
The first refuelling flight took place on Tuesday night with a US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker providing fuel for a F-15 fighter jet operated by Saudi Arabia and an F-16 flown by the United Arab Emirates, spokesman Colonel Steven Warren told reporters yesterday.
“We will have a tanker sortie every day,” Warren said, adding that all flights will be outside of Yemeni air space.
Pentagon had announced plans for aerial refuelling earlier and officials say American forces stand ready to fly early warning radar aircraft if necessary.
The move signalled an expanding role for the US military as Washington said on Tuesday it was stepping up intelligence sharing with the coalition and expediting the delivery of precision-guided bombs to the Saudis and their Gulf allies.
But US officials and military officers insisted the American assistance was “limited” and would not escalate with aircraft taking part in any bombing raids in Yemen.
President Barack Obama approved intelligence and logistics support for the Saudi-led coalition after Riyadh announced its armed intervention in Yemen against Iranian-backed rebels.
About 12 US military troops are working with the Saudis at a “joint fusion centre” in Riyadh, led by a two-star US Marine Corps general, officials said.
US forces, including a helicopter, helped rescue two Saudi pilots on March 26 from the Gulf of Aden after their F-15 fighter suffered engine trouble.
Huthi rebels have seized control of large parts of Yemen including the capital Sanaa and joined forces with security forces who have remained loyal to longtime strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh, forced from power in 2012 after a year-long, Arab Spring-inspired uprising.
Riyadh accuses Tehran of backing the rebels and has vowed to bomb them into submission to prevent them establishing a pro-Iran state on its doorstep. (AGENCIES)
India elected to four key subsidiary bodies of UN ECOSOC
UNITED NATIONS, Apr 9: India has been elected to four key subsidiary bodies of the United Nations’ agency on economic and social issues, continuing its impressive record of winning elections at the world body.
India was elected by acclamation, a form of election that does not use a ballot, to the subsidiary bodies of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) during its coordination and management meeting yesterday. With the election wins, India maintained its 100 per cent record of winning elections held in the United Nations Headquarters here.
It was elected, along with 13 other nations, to the Executive Board of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for a three-year term beginning January 2016.
UNICEF addresses the needs of children with emphasis on giving long-term benefits to children everywhere, particularly those in developing countries.
India was also re-elected to the Executive Board of the World Food Programme for the 2016-2018 term along with five other nations. WFP is the food assistance arm of the UN which provides food assistance to around 90 million people in 80 countries in a year.
It was among the 20 nations to be elected to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) for a three-year term, beginning January 2016. Apart from India, other nations elected to CCPCJ include Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia Austria, France, Sweden and the United States.
The CCPCJ provides policy guidance to UN Member States on crime prevention and criminal justice and develop, monitor and review implementation of the UN crime prevention programme.
India also got re-elected to the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) for the term 2016-2019. UN-Habitat is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all.
The Council elected a total of 14 members for a four-year term, beginning January 2016 for UN-Habitat. (PTI)
Indian gets 30-month jail for helping to dispose of body
SINGAPORE, Apr 9: An Indian national here was sentenced to 30 months in jail for his role in hiding the evidence of a crime by helping his friend to dispose of his murdered wife’s body.
Gursharan Singh, 27, yesterday admitted to helping compatriot Harvinder Singh evade punishment and failing to report to police the murder of latter’s wife in December 2013, The Straits Times reported today.
The court heard that Gursharan agreed to help Harvinder move “some belongings” on December 11, 2013.
Harvinder, 35, who is now on the Interpol wanted list, had packed a black canvas bag which was then moved from his rented room to a river in a nearby public housing estate.
Gursharan realised that there was a body in the bag only when he had helped Harvinder lift it near a pedestrian bridge. The bag was disposed in the Whampoa River.
Subsequently, Harvinder had told him his wife, Jasvinder Kaur, 33, had died after he had punched her on her neck during a dispute.
Harvinder had stuffed the body into the bag and wanted to dispose it “so that no one would know what he had done to her”, Assistant Public Prosecutor Prakash Otharam said.
Kaur’s body was found floating in the waterway on the morning of December 12.
Gursharan faced a jail sentence for up to 10 years and a fine for causing evidence of an offence to disappear.
District Judge Siva Shanmugam said Gursharan’s action were intended to pervert the administration of public justice.
Even after learning that Harvinder intended to dispose of the bag with the body in it, Gursharan continued to “actively assist him”, the Judge noted.
“The accused had screened Harvinder from the law knowing that he had committed murder,” Shanmugam said. (PTI)
Celebrating Homoeopathy Day
Dr Satish Kumar Attri
World Homoeopathy day is celebrated globally on 10th day of April as the founder of homoeopathy Dr. C F S Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843) was born on this day. A Conscientious German Allopathic M.D. Over two hundred years ago, established this method of treatment after un-satisfaction from Allopathy. Born to a poor family of a porcelain Painter, he worked diligently and was a master of about a dozen of languages. He was the first to talk about genetic origin of diseases and discussed about presence of micro-organisms behind the diseases, years before even when Father of bacteriology Robert Koch was not born. Since then the system has been verified experimentally and clinically tested to be most effective. It has been serving suffering humanity for over two centuries and has withstood the upheavals of time and has emerged as a time-tested therapy. The scientific principles propounded by Dr.Hahnemann are natural and well proven and continue to be followed with success.
Homoeopathy in J&K:- Homoeopathy in J&K got an official recognition & patronage of state Govt with the passing of the J&K Homoeopathic practitioners Act-2003 and consequently The J&K Board of Homoeopathic System of Medicine was structured in 2004 to regulate the practice of Homoeopathy.
Homoeopathy is being practiced by many people in J&K since olden times. As per some people, Homoeopaths Late Dr. M M Singh Rajan was the first to start his practice in Jammu in 1945. At present there are only 31 medical officers in the whole state and more than150 unemployed qualified Homoeopaths Need of Hour:- Special Employment policy to appoint homoeopaths in chc’s and phc’s. Separate wings in every Hospital. Recruitment of part-B registered as pharmacists along with medical officers.In J&K homoeopathy is under Deptt of ISM&H since it recognition and is still in infancy stage even after 10 years and lot of efforts are needed from Govt. side to promote it via free camps. Establishment of Homoeopathic Medical College & hospitals, library and Research centers for doctors, Regular CME’s at Govt. level for the practitioners. Ensuring the representation of Homoeopaths in the Govt. health societies and AYUSH councils is needed for development of homeopathy.Till date homoeopaths didn’t get what they deserve as Homoeopathy is an equal component of AYUSH. Homoeopaths of J&K have lot of hopes from the present Health Minister as he has a big hand behind homoeopathy in J&K.
Approach in Homoeopathic treatment:- Homoeopaths around the world are finding great success in genetic disorders with homoeopathy.Treatment in homeopathy is on individualized genetic basis and holistic. Homeopathic practitioners select remedies according to a total picture of the patient, including not only physical symptoms but lifestyle, emotional and mental states, and other genetic factors. Homoeopathy cures the whole person mentally and physically. Homoeopathic treatment of pregnant mother and children help prevent familial diseases and tendency of an individual towards certain diseases can also be prevented by this treatment. Even surgeries can be avoided with homoeopathic treatment in some cases Homoeopathy is also very effective in treatment of genetic disorders and advanced stages of all diseases and yield miracle cure in hopeless & incurable labelled diseases. Right homoeopathic treatment stimulates the genetic code to guide the immune system for removal of disease complex in the body. Remember it’s the scientific art & observation of Homoeopathic doctor which is utmost needed to cure the patient and not only the homoeopathic medicines. Homeopathic medicines are prepared mostly from natural sources. Thus homoeopathy is a natural method of treatment & its based on such principles which are universal.
One doctor for all problems:- Homeopathy treats the patient as a whole, not the specific disease. That’s why a homeopathic specialist can treat and cure any sort of diseases, whether it has concern with skin, diabetes, kidney, and heart or with cancer, psychiatric diseases or neurological diseases. So all with one doctor-one medicine and on one place.So this is the beginning of the real healing science, which will make all the incurable diseases, well within the curative aspect of man.
(The author is Consultant Classical Homoeopath)
Obama telephones US senators to discuss Iran nuke agreement
WASHINGTON, Apr 9: President Barack Obama called the chairman and the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to further discuss a framework agreement aimed at keeping Iran from being able to develop a nuclear weapon.
Chairman Bob Corker, a Republican and Ben Cardin, the top Democrat, are working on legislation that would give Congress a say in the implementation of any final deal the US and its partners can reach with Iran in coming weeks. The committee is to vote on the bill on Tuesday.
Obama objects to the bill as it’s written and has promised to veto it.
Josh Earnest, the president’s spokesman, says Obama yesterday discussed with Corker the commitments Iran had made to limit its nuclear program.
Earnest says Obama praised Corker’s handling of the issue and reiterated that the emerging deal is the best way to keep Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
The tentative agreement has to be finalised by June 30. Corker’s office confirmed the telephone call but declined to discuss details. Cardin confirmed that he spoke with Obama for about 15 minutes. (AGENCIES)
Obama lands in Jamaica, first US presidential visit since ’82
KINGSTON (Jamaica), Apr 9: US President Barack Obama landed in Jamaica, becoming the first sitting US president to set foot on the island since 1982.
He waved after emerging from Air Force One late yesterday and then descended to greet a long line of people including Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller, whom he embraced.
Obama then headed to a helicopter along with Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke.
The first sitting presidential visit since Ronald Reagan was on the island 33 years ago comes as the island nation is navigating a fiscal crisis.
Obama is scheduled to meet the CARICOM regional block of Caribbean nations and possibly offer them an alternative to cheap Venezuelan oil amid a spat with Caracas. He is also slated to meet with Simpson-Miller.
Later today Obama heads to Panama, where he may have a landmark meeting with Cuba’s communist President Raul Castro during a meeting of regional nations. (AGENCIES)
French TV5Monde channel hit by pro-Islamic State hackers
PARIS, Apr 9: French television network TV5Monde has said it had been hacked by individuals claiming to belong to the Islamic State group, bringing television broadcasts to a halt and taking over its websites and Facebook page.
“We are no longer able to broadcast any of our channels. Our websites and social media sites are no longer under our control and are all displaying claims of responsibility by Islamic State,” the broadcaster’s director general Yves Bigot said yesterday.
The hackers posted documents on TV5Monde’s Facebook page purporting to be the identity cards and CVs of relatives of French soldiers involved in anti-IS operations, along with threats against the troops.
The attack began at around 10:00 pm (local time), but the global French-language broadcaster appeared to have regained control of its Facebook page by midnight and TV broadcasts by 1:00 am (local time) today. Its websites were still offline, however, displaying an “under maintenance” message to visitors.
“Soldiers of France, stay away from the Islamic State! You have the chance to save your families, take advantage of it,” read one message on TV5Monde’s Facebook page. “The CyberCaliphate continues its cyberjihad against the enemies of Islamic State,” the message added.
It also accused French President Francois Hollande of having committed “an unforgivable mistake” by getting involved in “a war that serves no purpose”.
“That’s why the French received the gifts of Charlie Hebdo and Hyper Cacher in January,” it said, referring to the twin attacks by Islamist gunmen in Paris that left 17 people dead over three days and deeply shocked France.
France is part of a US-led military coalition carrying out air strikes against IS in Iraq and Syria, where the jihadist group has seized swathes of territory in recent months and declared an Islamic “caliphate”.
Paris-based TV5Monde is broadcast in more than 200 countries worldwide. (AGENCIES)
2 conscripts killed, 3 others injured in Sinai explosion
CAIRO, Apr 9: Two conscripts were killed and three others injured after a bomb went off near Sinai University in el-Masa’aed district in Arish, a medical source said.
The bomb, which was planted by unknown terrorists, targeted an army vehicle killing the two conscripts and injuring three others, the source said.
The ambulances rushed to the place of the explosion and transferred the dead and injured to the Al-Arish Military Hospital.
Security forces are probing the matter and have launched a manhunt to track down the terrorists, the source added.
Egyptian governorate of North Sinai has witnessed many violent attacks by militants since the January 2011 revolution that toppled the ex-president Hosni Mubarak.
The attacks targeting police and military increased after the ouster of Islamist ex-president Mohamed Morsi in 2013.
Over 500 security personnel have been reported killed since then.
The military has launched frequent security campaigns in the area, arrested suspects and demolished houses that belong to terrorists, including those facilitating tunnels leading to the Gaza Strip. (PTI)