NEW DELHI, July 7:
Twenty-seven years ago a rickshaw puller operating in the walled city would often visit Raisina Hills area to have a look at British-era buildings including Rashtrapati Bhavan without little knowing that one day he would be one of the guests at the Presidential palace.
This is the story of 51-year-old Dharamveer Kamboj, a resident of Haryana, who is staying as a guest of President Pranab Mukherjee in Rashtrapati Bhavan, an honour bestowed on him for his innovation of a multi-purpose food processing machine which can extract juices or essence from herbs quickly.
The story of Kamboj seems to be leaf pulled out of a Bollywood movie with the hero becoming victorious in the end.
After a verbal duel with his father in 1986, the then 23-year-old Kamboj left his native village in Yamuna Nagar in Haryana for Delhi where he ended up as a rickshaw puller ferrying traders in Khari Baoli area of old Delhi.
Recalling his earlier days in Delhi, Kamboj, sitting in the guest wing of Rashtrapati Bhavan, told PTI “Whenever I used to pass by Rashtrapati Bhavan, I always used to wonder what lies inside. I still cannot believe I am staying at Raisina Hill as the President’s guest.”
His stay in the national capital ended abruptly after he met with an accident in 1987 and was forced to return to his native village where he remained bed-ridden for many months.
“During my years in Delhi, I had observed that the fruits and vegetables we grow in villages do not earn that much profit to the farmers there as much as they do when processed and packaged. So, I decided to develop a processing machine which is not only multi-purpose but is also time saving.
Kamboj, who is one of the five innovators selected as guest of the President, said he developed the food processing machine which could extract pulp of over 200 kg tomatoes per hour. The portable machine is capable of extracting juices and essence from aloe vera, amla, jamun and other herbs and processes them for making various products.
It offers a condensation mechanism which helps in extraction of essence, extracts, gel from flowers and medicinal plants for herbal applications.
“It took me 11 months to develop this machine. In 2008, officials from National Innovation Foundation visited me at my village Damla to see a demo of my machine. And then I got the idea of taking it to the masses,” Kamboj, who is spending 20 days from July one in the President’s House, said.
As soon as he recovered from the accident, Kamboj started
interacting with farmers and began conducting various experiments on organic farming.
He owes his love for herbs to his mother whom he used to watch in his childhood collecting kesu (Butea monosperma) flowers for making colours for Holi.
Kamboj was the first farmer in his area to cultivate hybrid tomatoes and witness a record production. He also developed some innovative devices like battery operated spraying machine using a tape recorder motor and an insect trapping device.
He also tried new cropping patterns by cultivating coriander, bottle gourd and sugarcane at the same time.
During his stay in Rashtrapati Bhavan, Kamboj will be meeting several ministry officials for beginning mass production of his innovation.
Kamboj has also visited various trade fairs and agricultural melas for promotion of his machine.
“I have been getting orders from abroad too. Currently, I have an order of 20 such machines from a firm in Kenya,” he said.
Speaking about his childhood, Kamboj said he was restless and inquisitive as a child.
When he was in Class VII, he used to make small heaters from old tin cans and coils and sell them for Rs 15.
Kamboj’s machine has a device capable of pulverizing and extracting oil or gel from various herbs. The machine consists of an autoclave unit for sterilisation, a boiler unit for boiling, the extractor unit for extracting juice or gel, a drive means for a source of power attached to the apparatus.
The main chamber is enclosed with an oil jacket to avoid direct heating of the herbs.
The unit can process 100 kgs of Aloe Vera in an hour. About 1.25 kg of Aloe vera leaves are converted to one litre of gel in the unit. (PTI)
From a rickshaw puller to a guest at Rashtrapati Bhavan
JWAM to field own candidate in Assembly elections
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 7: The leaders of Jammu West Assembly Movement held a series of meetings in Janipur, Sarwal, Bakshi Nagar and Talab Tillo and intensified the mass contact programs with the people of the constituency, and decided to field its own candidate in the coming Assembly elections.
Sunil Dimple president Jammu West Assembly Movement to make Jammu city and the West Assembly constituency a model capital and it will be his priority at all the platforms, for which efforts are going on.
Dimple said the condition of roads, ‘bijali’ , ‘pani’, ‘sadakey’ badly has effected the life of common man and the people are living a miserable life.
He demanded that the Government for construction of circular roads around Jammu and widening of the BC Road Jewal Chowk to Purkhu Akhnoor road which also comes under the constituency.
Other who addressed the meetings were Mohan Lal, Devinder Sharma, Naresh Gupta, S Riky Singh, Sham Saroop, Ramesh chander Kohli, Sawarn Lal, Daleep kumar, Kulwant Sharma, Sushiel Sharma and Om Parkash Gupta.
Proposal for Rs 1,000 minimum monthly pension approved: Govt
NEW DELHI, July 7:
Government has approved minimum monthly pension of Rs 1,000 under Employees Pension Scheme 1995 (EPS-95) run by the retirement body Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Parliament was informed today.
The decision of the Government would immediately benefit 28 lakh pensioners including 5 lakh widows getting less than Rs 1000 as pension every month. In all, there are 44 lakh pensioners under the EPS-95 scheme.
“Yes, Government has approved minimum pension of Rs 1000 per month to the pensioners under the EPS-95,” Minister of state for Steel, Mines, Labour and Employment Vishnu Deo Sai said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.
According to the Minister, several representations have been received for enhancement of pension under EPS-95 and based on those, “Government has approved minimum pension of Rs 1,000 to pensioners under the EPS-95.”
Earlier, Labour Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had discussed the proposal with trade unions on June 24 and assured the Government will take a decision within two weeks.
As per the proposal, pensioners were to get the benefit with effect from April 1 this year. The Government would have to provide an additional amount of around Rs 1,217 crore to ensure a minimum pension of Rs 1,000 for 2014-15.
A senior official said the new Government did not want to provide this entitlement merely for one financial year and wanted this to be implemented for all times to come. That is why the proposal was reviewed.
The proposal was already approved by the UPA Government for the current financial year but could not be implemented as it was not notified.
However a senior EPFO official, when contacted, said that the body has not yet received any notification or official order in this regard from the Labour Ministry.
According to him, the Government could formally announce this entitlement in the forthcoming budget on Thursday.
Besides, the EPFO is also awaiting Government’s approval for enhancing the wage ceiling for organised sector workers under EPFO ambit to Rs 15,000 per month from the existing Rs 6,500. This was also approved by the previous Government but could not be notified due to coming into force of the model code of conduct during that time.
The decision to increase basic wage ceiling to Rs 15,000 per month is expected to bring in 50 lakh more workers under the EPFO’s ambit.
The notification regarding the decision of the EPFO trustees to reduce administrative charges paid by employers to EPFO is also awaited. It was proposed to reduce administrative charges from 1.10 per cent of basic wage to 0.85 per cent. (PTI)
Jammu awarded most favoured pilgrimage destination
Excelsior Correspondent
KOLKATA, July 7: In a three-day Travel and Tourism Fair at Kolkata organized from 4th to 6th of July, Jammu emerged as most favoured pilgrimage destination.
The States including Gujarat, Maharastra, Uttarakand, West Bengal promoting tourism participated in a big way.
The TTF was a grand success which attracted thousands of travel lovers. The fair included participation of countries like China, Thailand, Bangladesh, Bhutan, etc.
Director Tourism Jammu Soujanya Sharma while addressing the participants said that like West Bengal, J&K too has a Shakti Peeth Maa Vaishno Devi Ji which is visited by more than one crore people in a year and said that the major chunk is from West Bengal, Gujarat and Maharastra.
He said that utmost care is taken that the pilgrim tourist who visit Mata Vaishno Devi Ji can go around other places which are being developed by the State Tourism Department. He said that the people now are blending pilgrim tourism with leisure and border tourism.
The Director said that people have great curiosity to visit border and have the feel of the place. Keeping this thing in view, border tourism has been encouraged at Suchetgarh border. He said that the Tourism Department has created infrastructure for the facilities of visiting tourists and it is drawing a large crowd.
He said that the Shiv Khori is another nearby pilgrim destination which also attracts more than 20 lakh pilgrims every year. He said that efforts are on to create and develop picnic spots, resorts in and around Jammu and Katra so that visiting tourists can mix pilgrimage with the leisure.
SC refuses to stay appointment of Suhag as next Army Chief
NEW DELHI, July 7:
The Supreme Court today refused to stay the appointment of Lieutenant General Dalbir Singh Suhag as the next Army Chief who is to take over the charge from August 1.
“There is no reason why should we stay,” a bench headed by Justice T S Thakur said.
The apex court said there is no urgency to stay the appointment of Lt Gen Suhag as pleaded by Lt Gen Ravi Dastane.
The Centre also justified the appointment, saying there is nothing in the allegations levelled by Lt Gen Dastane and Lt Gen Suhag fulfills all the criteria for the post. He was the seniormost in the seniority list, it said.
Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said that the ban imposed on Lt Gen Suhag in 2012 was lifted and he was discharged from all charges. The court was hearing a plea filed by Lt Gen Dastane alleging favouritism in the selection of Lt Gen Suhag as the next Army Chief.
Earlier, the Centre had submitted that the alleged lapses which were made as grounds to impose disciplinary ban on Lt Gen Suhag by then Army Chief Gen V K Singh between April and May 2012 were “premeditated”, “vague” and “illegal”.
Gen Singh, who is a now Minister of State in the NDA Government, had placed Lt Gen Suhag under a disciplinary and vigilance (DV) ban. The ban was imposed for alleged “failure of command and control” in an operation carried out by an intelligence unit working directly under him when he was Dimapur-based 3 Corps commander.
In its last days in office, the UPA-II Government had named Lt Gen Suhag as the Army Chief to succeed incumbent Gen Bikram Singh when he retires on July 31.
The Ministry of Defence, in an affidavit filed earlier in the apex court registry, had said, “The alleged lapses observed by the then COAS, as reflected in show cause notice, were premeditated and issued in utter disregard to the legal provisions governing the court of inquiry, principles of natural justice….The lapses were vague, based on presumptions and legally and factually not maintainable.” (PTI)
Three judges assume charge in SC taking strength to 27
NEW DELHI, July 7:
Justices Arun Mishra, Adarsh Kumar Goel and Rohington F Nariman today assumed charge as Supreme Court judges, taking the apex court’s strength to 27, including Chief Justice R M Lodha.
Justices Mishra, 59, and Goel, 61, were the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court and the Orissa High Court respectively.
58-year-old Justice Nariman, who was a senior advocate and in the panel recommended by the Supreme Court collegium, has been elevated as an apex court judge from the bar.
The sanctioned strength of judges in the apex court is 31, including the CJI.
The three judges were elevated to apex court and were administered the oath of office by CJI Lodha.
Justice Mishra was part of law faculty in Jiwaji University, Gwalior from 1986 to 1996. He was appointed as Additional Judge in the Madhya Pradesh High Court on October 25, 1999 and was made a Permanent Judge on October 24, 2001.
He was appointed Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court on November 26, 2010 and was transferred to the Calcutta High Court as Chief Justice on December 14, 2012. He will have a tenure of about seven years in the apex court.
Justice Goel was designated senior advocate by the Supreme Court in 1999 and two years later was appointed a judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court. He was appointed Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court on December 20, 2011 and was transferred to the Orissa High Court as CJ on October 12, last year. (PTI)
BJP to form next Govt: Farooq Khan
Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, July 7: BJP Rajouri district held one-day district Working Committee meeting at Rajouri, which was organized by district President Bharat Bhushan Vaid. BJP leader & former IGP Farooq Khan, State president BJYM Ravinder Raina were the chief guests on the occasion.
Addressing the meeting, Farooq Khan appreciated the working of the workers in the Parliament elections and lauded their efforts for contributing a lot into the results of all the three Parliament seats won by BJP in the State. He said that in the upcoming days we have to increase the pace of our work and will reach out to every nook and corner in order to fulfill the expectations of public from BJP. Khan said that the time has come for us to gear ourselves up and bring in change, a change for the welfare and promotion of the State. He said with the efforts of all the workers, BJP will definitely form the next Government in J&K State.
District President Bharat Bushan Vaid presented the detailed report on Party’s organizational setup and different programmes undertaken during the past months. He assured that the district unit will further gear up its activities to mobilize more and more voters in favour of the Party so that we once again come out victorious. He said that BJP will definitely able to achieve the Mission 44+ in the upcoming Assembly elections.
State president BJYM Ravinder Raina also expressed his views on certain important issues and suggested ways and means to contribute to mission 44+. He said that better co-ordination between Shakti Kendra/ Ward presidents with polling booth workers is very important. He said that people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are totally fed up with the misrule of the corrupt and communal NC-Congress Coalition Government.
He added that “It is the most opportune time for the people of the State to throw the NC-Congress Coalition Government. Raina added that only BJP is the single party that can bring change in the State.
Others prominent who were present on the occasion included Rajinder Gupta, Dinesh Sharma, Yogesh Sharma, Ranjeet Tara, Rakesh Raina and others.
Stationery Deptt employees project demands
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 7: All J&K Stationery & Office Supplies Department Employees Association has urged upon the higher authorities to fill up all the vacant posts in the department and open new stationery depots in all the eight districts created in the State.
In a meeting of the Association held here today under the chairmanship of Babu Hussain Malik, the members criticised the State Government for not addressing the pending issues of the employees of the department. They pointed out that many posts of Dy Superintendents and senior storekeepers and other cadre are lying vacant in the department but authorities have failed to fill up the same. The employees were facing stagnation due to this. The Government has also failed to open new stationery and office supply depots in all the newly created districts. They also demanded amendment in SRO-365 and re-organisation of the department.
Mr Malik said that removal of pay anomaly in the clerical cadre is the main issue which has remained pending so far despite agreement made by the Government. He also demanded enhancement of Medical Allowance from Rs 300 to Rs 1000 per month, merger of 50 % DA in basic pay and regularization of adhoc, daily rated/ casual workers.
Seva Ram Rathore, U S Pathania, Veerji Koul, Dalip Singh, Kuldip Kumar and others were also present.
BJP holds Working Committee meet of Jammu East
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 7: In continuation of the party’s programme the BJP held Working Committee meeting of Jammu East district here today.
The meeting was presided over by district president, Rajesh Gupta and State secretary & Jammu district Prabhari Rajni Sethi while leader of Legislative Party, Ashok Khajuria and National Executive Member Shamsher Singh Manhas were the chief guests.
Ashok Khajuria, in his address dwelt on the various aspects concerning the forthcoming elections. He said that forthcoming elections have great political significance and are going to impinge on the future of the State and its development as a progressive and industrialized State.
Shamsher Singh Manhas extensively dwelt on the mechanics of managing the Party and preparing it for elections.
Rajesh Gupta presented the report of the district level activities.
Sunil Dogra, Jaideep Sharma, Karan Singh, Vikram Randhawa, Vinay Gupta, T.S. Slathia, Ashwani Sharma, Surinder Mahajan, Daleep Gupta, Harbans Choudhary, Priya Jral, Sharda Devi, Bharat Sharma, Bal Raj, Girdhari Lal, Arun Khosla, Kanta Devi, Ramesh Sharma, Kuldeep Kandhari Tarseem Choudhary Sat Pal Choudhary and others were present in the meeting.
Meanwhile, Talab Tillo Mandal held its Working Committee meeting at Dharam Palace, Talab Tillo, Jammu which was presided over by Mandal president Ayodhya Gupta and State secretary & district Prabhari Rajni Sethi while State secretary Munish Sharma, State treasurers Chander Mohan Gupta and Parmodh Kapahi, Jammu West district President Subash Jandial and Mohan Singh Raja were guests of honour.
Munish Sharma, in his address stressed the importance of working with sincerity and dedication for the Party. He said that every worker should keep in view the importance of forthcoming election and party’s mission 44+.
Subash Jandial took the stock of the party‘s organizational position in the mandal and gave suggestions for its strengthening.
Ayodhya Gupta presented the report of the political activities of his mandal during the last three months.
A resolution on the present situation was presented by district vice-president Sanjay Baru.
CCI takes up telephone, mobiles issues with BSNL officers
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 7: Chief General Manager BSNL R.N.Sudhkar alongwith GMTD Jammu Atul Sharma, GM Mobile, A.K. Mishra, Dy. General Manager (CM) Kulbhushan Sharma, DE Phones, Naresh Bharati, PRO to GMTD Jammu S.K.Sabharwal today visited Chamber House on the request of president Chamber of Commerce & Industry Rakesh Gupta to discuss the problems being faced by the members of Chamber and the people at large, due to BSNL’s poor services.
During interaction Rakesh Gupta expressed serious concern towards the poor network on mobiles, portability facility, total collapse of network in some areas, poor network on 3G network, non working of WLL’s EVDO/Dongles. The president told the BSNL authorities that erratic power supply was no excuse for the failure of the network as the maintenance of power backup is entirely the duty of BSNL authorities.
Chamber also expressed concern on the launch of new services by BSNL even before the equipment was not in place. Chamber also said that whenever the BSNL changes over from 2G to 3G, it is their prime duty to come up with a public notice to make the people aware that they may face some temporary problems. It was also urged upon the BSNL authorities to upgrade their towers to 3G on priority basis. It was also impressed upon the BSNL authorities that the bills of the landlines phones received through email by the subscriber should include itemized billing. Chamber further requested the BSNL authorities to come up with an amnesty scheme for the landline subscriber where the interest portion should be waived off.
Chief General Manager assured Chamber that all the demands put forth in the meeting shall be sorted out on priority basis.
The other office bearer’s present in the meeting include Sham Lal Langer, senior vice president, Deepak Aggarwal, junior vice president, Arun Gupta, secretary general, Rahul Mahajan, secretary and Ashu Gupta, treasurer.