Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU July 15: Nav Durga Kala Manch today started Jammu Natya Utsav 2014, 5 days festival of short plays at K L Saigal Hall, Jammu in collaboration with J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages.
Inspired by a story by G B Shaw Autobiographies are lies today’ performance was done by the seasoned actor Dhanesh Dogra. Inspired on a incident on his own life which almost changed his life upside down. Most of us would not share personal moments and incidents in public as they would create a real mess in life. The idea behind the story is that these moments really educate about being social being.
Dhanesh Dogra as an actor was able to put out different emotions during the performance and was applauded by the audience present.
Janak Khajuria, senior artist of the State, graced the occasion as a chief guest, who while sharing his views, told that it was a great effort to organize such festivals where different groups would get a chance to participate. While speaking about today’s performance he said that there’s no need to say anything about Dhanesh as he is a fabulous actor and needs absolutely no introduction.
Today’s Music was handled by Vikran Mehta and presentation was done by Mohit Khajuria. Tomorrow, Parchhaiyan would be staged by Shivani Cultural Soiety at K L Saigal Hall, Jammu.
Jammu Natya Utsav begins with ‘Autobiographies are Lies’
Hyderabad sailing week begins
Hyderabad, July 15:
K K Panday of AYN Mumbai, Dileep Kumar of EME SA Secunderabad and Sharif Khan Singh of AYN Mumbai stood first in the three races held today on the opening day of the 29th Laser National Sailing Championship.
The championship, popularly known as sHyderabad Sailing Week’, is being held at the picturesque Hussain Sagar lake in the city.
Results: Race No 1 : st -KK Panday (AYN Mumbai), 2nd -Mujahid Khan (AYN Mumbai), 3rd – Sharif Khan Singh (AYN Mumbai).
Race No 2: 1st -Dilip Kumar (EME SA Secunderabad), 2nd -Mujahid khan (AYN Mumbai), 3rd -Sharif Khan Singh (AYN Mumbai).
Race No 3: 1st -Sharif Khan Singh (AYN Mumbai), 2nd- KK Panday (AYN Mumbai), 3rd -Dilip Kumar (EME SA Secunderabad), according to a release from the organisers. (PTI)
4.83 lakh cos have women directors on their boards: Sitharaman
NEW DELHI, July 15:
As many as 4.83 lakh companies have women directors on their boards, Parliament was informed today.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Finance Nirmala Sitharaman said that a total of “4,83,323 companies including public limited companies are having women directors as board members”. There are 1.26 lakh public limited companies in the country.
Companies Act makes it mandatory for every listed company and every public company having paid-up share capital of Rs 100 crore or turnover of at least Rs 300 crore to appoint at least one women director.
Besides, capital market regulator Sebi, in keeping with the new Companies Law, mandated that every publicly listed company have at least one woman director on its board. The deadline for that is October 1.
Meanwhile, according to Prime Database, 904 companies had not yet appointed a woman director on their board till 30 June.
In the four-and-a-half months since the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) announced its deadline, only 91 women have been appointed to 97 directorship positions in 94 companies, according to Indianboards.Com, a joint initiative of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Prime Database.
Of these 94 companies, 16 firms already had a woman on the board before the Sebi guideline was announced, implying that only 78 firms have since complied with the requirement.
“Within these 78 companies, 74 women have been appointed to 80 directorship positions. Significantly, at least 19 of these 80 directorship positions, or nearly one-fourth, have been filled by appointing women belonging to the promoter group,” Prime Database managing director Pranav Haldea.
“These women shall have the same voice as the promoter, defeating the very purpose of genuine (independent) gender diversity,” he added. (PTI)
It would be tough for India to match 2010 CWG tally: TT coach
New Delhi, July 15:
India’s foreign table tennis coach Peter Engel says he expects three medals from his wards at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, two less than the record five the squad managed at home in Delhi four years ago.
Engel, who took charge last October, said his assessment is based on current form and the fact that India will not enjoy home support like last time.
“I am very happy with way the boys are shaping up. The women’s players, as I have said in the past, need more foreign exposure to improve their game,” Engel told PTI ahead of the 10-member squad’s departure for Glasgow tomorrow.
The quadrennial Games remain India’s favourite medal hunting ground as it continues to toil at the world and Asian level without much success.
India produced their best ever CWG tally in 2010 winning a men’s doubles gold (Sharath Kamal and Subhajit Saha), surprise women’s team silver and three bronze.
Engel is dwelling on the importance of home advantage but India’s two gold medals in the racket sport came at Melbourne 2006 when Sharath won the singles title and played a pivotal role in the team’s victorious campaign.
“I am not putting any pressure on the team by talking about the number of medals. I would be satisfied if they perform to their potential. I know last time India won five medals but you have to take into account that the players were backed by the home crowd, which they will miss in Glasgow,” said the German coach.
Asked about the number of gold medals India can aim for, Engel said: “The colour doesn’t matter to me. All I can say is that I am expecting at least three medals.”
The squad had a fruitful two weeks in Patiala, where it trained in the company of Sharath, who Engel says is still India’s best player by a distance despite not winning the national title for the last three years.
“I have high expectations from Sharath. It was great to have him in the camp. Everyone looks upto him and and if he does well in Glasgow, it should inspire others to give that little extra needed for a special result,” said Engel of the World No.44 who usually trains with his club teammates at Borussia Dusseldorf in Germany. (PTI)
Boycott wants end to lifeless pitches like Nottingham
London, July 15:
Disappointed by the “lifeless” pitch which produced a draw in the opening India-England Test, former captain Geoffrey Boycott said decks like the one in Nottingham will turn the home pacers into a bunch of “midgets” with little or no belief in their abilities.
“Both sets of seam bowlers were flogged trying and failing to get any bounce out of this slow, low, lifeless pitch. It was like banging the ball into porridge. The public will not keep paying huge ticket prices to see a no-contest,” Boycott wrote in his column for ‘The Daily Telegraph’.
“We have seven Tests during our summer and if we play on decks like this our seam bowlers will become exhausted and lose their enthusiasm. Every country has the right to request and get from the groundsmen surfaces that suit their bowlers. It has always happened and there is nothing in the laws of cricket against it. It is not cheating or gamesmanship, just common sense.
“If we keep getting pitches like this one our fast bowlers will be midgets by the end of the summer – or injured. We want pitches with pace and seam movement. If England get outplayed then we need to put our hands up and say that is our fault but we should back ourselves to beat India in English conditions. You have to believe in yourself,” he added.
Disappointed with England’s overall performance in the match, Boycott also felt that Alastair Cook should step down as skipper if he fails to come good in the second match starting July 17 at the Lord’s.
“If Alastair Cook fails twice at Lord’s in the second Test then he should stand down temporarily from the England captaincy,” wrote Boycott.
“I am not saying sack the guy. You sack players who have only played two or three Tests and cannot cut it at the top level. This is a player with 25 Test hundreds, one of our best of all time. He will come good again. But he cannot carry on like this because his form embarrasses the team and puts pressure on all the other players,” he said.
“The talk is constantly about the captain’s runs. It should be about the team and not him. The team is bigger than him. Cook should see himself, without anybody having to tell him, that if he does not score runs then he must act before the outcry becomes too loud.” (PTI)
Deepening power crisis evokes strong protests; people block various roads
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 15: Deepening power crisis have taken a critical turn with people in various parts of Jammu and Samba districts coming to streets in protest and blocking movement of vehicular traffic by staging dharnas and demonstrations on roads sides.
The residents of Randhwa Colony, Vijaypur in Samba district took to streets and blocked the Samba Ramgarh road in protest against the failure of the PDD authorities to restore the power supply to the area which was snapped five days back due to damage of local transformer.
A large number of irate people of the area including men, women and children came to streets and staged a demonstration against the PDD. The protestors shouting slogans held the PDD responsible for power crisis in the area saying in last five days it failed to restore the power supply in the locality.
The protestors said that people of the area were facing worst problems in this hot and humid Summer and with the snapping of the power supply they were passing sleepless nights for days together. The position of old, infirm and children is worst as they can’t resist the scorching heat.
The protestors accused the PDD authorities of not replacing the transformer despite many pleas to concerned authorities and warned to intensify agitation in case the transformer was not installed immediately. The protestors also accused the local MLA of not taking any steps in solving the problem.
Former Minister Manjit Singh and JKNPP leader Rajesh Padgotra also addressed the protestors. Later SHO Vijaypur and some officers including AEE Vijaypur visited the site of protest and assured the people that transformer will be installed by the evening. On this assurance people lifted the road blockade.
Meanwhile, Manjit Singh warned the PDD that in case they failed to solve the power problem in Vijaypur the people will be forced to hold massive agitation.
Another demonstration was held by BJYM activists at Krishna Nagar and the protestors blocked the Canal road for one hour. The protestors accused PDD authorities for their failure in installing a transformer in the area. The protest was led by Deepak Raj Pandey BJYM activist who along with other activists gathered at canal road and blocked the vehicular traffic near Science College. Raising slogans against PDD the protestors demanded installation of new transformer. They alleged that for the last four days the people have been facing problem of power and water crisis and the concerned departments have failed to come to their rescue.
Mr Pandey said that the NC led coalition was ignoring the areas where the people in large numbers voted in favour of BJP in just concluded Lok Sabha elections. To pacify the agitators SHO Nawabad Inspector Satinder Singh reached the spot and convinced the people to lift the road blockade. He accompanied some activists to Executive Engineer PDD and officials assured the restoration of power in the area within two hours.
Akhnoor road was also blocked at Barnai by irate people who were protesting against the power failure in the area due to breakdown of the transformer. The protestors led by a local Sarpanch shouted slogans against the PDD. However after the intervention of SHO Domana and other officers that the transformer will be installed by the evening, people lifted the road blockade. Later the transformer was installed in the area in the evening.
Meanwhile BJP leader and convener Industries Cell Vikram Randhawa today accused the PDD for the prevailing power crisis. He also alleged that the local Ministers form Jammu have never bothered to look into the problem and take steps for bettering the power supply in Summer season. He said the statements given by the Ministers are just an eye wash as people continue to face power cuts.
Durga Nagar Welfare Committee has also expressed grave concern over the power crisis, low voltage and fluctuation of the power in the area.
The Committee president R L Raina and general secretary M L Pandita have urged the PDD to install power transformers as per the load so that the people are relieved of low voltage, tripping and fluctuation in the area.
Decision on UPSC exam after report: Dr Jitendra
NEW DELHI, July 15:
Any decision to change the pattern of civil services (preliminary) examination and postponing its date will be taken after receiving a report from a three- member committee which is looking into the matter, the Government said today.
Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh also appealed to the aggrieved students appearing for the examination conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to end their indefinite fast.
He said the Government is sympathetically looking at their concerns and is awaiting the report of the three-member panel set up under the chairmanship of Arvind Varma to look into this issue.
Regarding other demands of students related to the pattern and the dates of the exam, Singh said that the Government will take a view after receiving the opinion of the UPSC as well of as that of the committee.
Earlier in the day, Singh urged the UPSC to postpone the preliminary exam till there is clarity on the syllabus and exam pattern.
“We are also urging upon the UPSC and the committee that was constituted to look into the matter that not only report be constituted at the earliest, considering the urgency of the matter and the concern of all sections of the society… They should also consider postponing the date of the preliminary examination,” he told reporters outside Parliament.
The civil services (preliminary) examination 2014 is scheduled to be held on August 24.
A release issued by the ministry later said the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has advised the committee members conveying the urgency of the matter and to furnish the report without any delay.
Singh held a meeting with the representatives of the students and conveyed to them that the Government is fully aware of their concerns and is making every effort to address their grievances in a judicious manner, it said.
The civil services examination is conducted in three stages—preliminary, main, and interview— to choose candidates for prestigious Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) among others.
Scores of civil services aspirants have been demanding that the pattern for the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) be changed to give level-playing field to those coming from rural areas. They have been holding protests in various places in the national capital in support of their demands including that to postpone the date of prelims examination.
There are two compulsory papers of 200 marks each in the preliminary examination. These papers are also known as CSAT I and CSAT II.
The CSAT-II paper carries questions on comprehension, interpersonal skills including communication skills, logical reasoning and analytical ability, decision making and problem solving, general mental ability, basic numeracy, and English language comprehension skills (of Class X level).
Students have been objecting to the level of aptitude and English language questions being asked in the examination claiming they are much above the standard prescribed for the examination.
RJD and Congress members had raised the issue during the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan rejected the notice for adjournment motion on the issue by RJD members Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav.
The issue was also earlier raised by SP’s Dharmendra Yadav and BJP’s Yogi Adityanath. Adityanath had demanded that CSAT examination be brought to an end as it is difficult for Hindi-speaking students coming from rural areas.
Yesterday, ABVP activists had staged protests outside the UPSC office demanding scrapping of CSAT, saying such a pattern was putting Hindi language aspirants at a disadvantage. (PTI)
CS reviews NFSM implementation, approves Rs 25.06 cr outlay
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 15: The State Level Executive Committee headed by Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey today reviewed and approved the implementation of National Food Security Mission (NFSM) 2014-15 in the State with an outlay of Rs 25.06 crore comprising NFSM-Rice, NFSM-Wheat and NFSM-Coarse Cereals for Rs 5.21 crore, Rs 12.63 crore and Rs 7.22 crore respectively.
The plan envisages interventions like demonstration on improved technologies and varieties, HYV seed distribution, need based plant and soil protection management, energy management and efficient water application tools viz-Conoweeder, Rotavators, Pump sets, Paddy Thrasher, Multi-crop planter etc, cropping system based training to farmers, construction of godowns etc at approved rate of assistance.
The Mission focuses on low productivity and high potential districts, Agro-Climatic Zone wise planning, promotion and extension of improved technology and integration of various proposed interventions and targets with the district plan. The objective is to increase the production of rice, wheat and coarse cereals, restore soil fertility and productivity at individual farm level and enhance farm profits.
State Mission Director, NFSM, Dr. S. S. Jamwal presented the achievements registered during the year 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 under NFSM in the State. He said that production of food grains, oil seeds and vegetables in J&K stands at 16.25 lakh mts, 1.263 lakh mts and 13.67mts respectively.
He said as many as 107 Rotavator, 979 Irrigation Pump sets besides other farm equipments have been provided under NFSM-Rice and as many as 288 Rotavators, 1506 Knap Sack Spray Pump and 909 Irrigation Pumpsets have been provided under NFSM Wheat, besides other farm machinery.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary PDD, A. K. Mehta, Commissioner Secretary Agriculture Production, Asgar Samoon, Commissioner Secretary PHE, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Vice Chancellor SKUAST, Kashmir, Dr. Tej Pratap, Director Agriculture Kashmir and other senior officers.
MULBPA expresses concern over their grievances
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 15: The Municipal and Urban Local Bodies Pensioners Association, Jammu Province (MULBPA) has expressed great concern and anguish over the Finance Department, (FD) J&K for not mitigating their grievances.
In a meeting, they said retired family pensioners, safai Karamcharis of Jammu Municipal Corportation who are getting Rs 2263 per month as family pension since 2006 while as the others family pension holders in thousands all over the State including Civic body pensioners are enjoying the benefits of family pension of Rs 3500 per month under the provisions of SRO 94 of 2006.
The association is continuously requesting in writing and verbally to the concerned officers of the Finance Deaprtment, J&K Government since more than two years for removing the anomaly but no one has taken initiative to concede genuine demand of the aggrieved family pensioner so far, the meeting said.
The association has appealed the State FM to look into the genuine demands and hoped for early redressal.
2 structure damaged in fire
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 15: A joint residential house of Farooq Ahamd Matoo and Mohammad Ashraf Mattoo sons of Abdul Razaq Matoo at Satharan, were damaged in fire to the house. Fire also partially damaged the residential house of Nazir Ahmad Mad of Waserkote Kralpora, resulting in partial damage to the house.