Develop SAARC Satellite as India’s gift to neighbours : Modi

By

-

July 1, 2014

SRIHARIKOTA, June 30: Observing that continued progress in space must remain a national mission, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today exhorted the Indian Space Scientists to develop a SAARC satellite that would be dedicated to neighbours as India’s gift.

Addressing the space scientists from the Mission Control Center after witnessing the successful launch of PSLV-C23 mission that launched five foreign satellites into the orbit, the Prime Minister said SAARC nations were fighting against poverty and were striving towards better education.    “Today, I direct our space scientists to develop a SAARC satellite that we can dedicate to our neighbourhood as a gift from India,” he added.
“The SAARC satellite, to be developed by ISRO, should provide full range of applications and services too all our neighbours,” he added.
Mr Modi said SAARC nations were fighting against poverty and striving towards better education.
“They face an important factor of developing in science. The youth in SAARC have to be empowered and this challenge is before us for the the Seven nations,” he added.    Mr Modi said “Our SAARC satellite should benefit all the SAARC countries. So, I propose before the space scientists today to build one and launch it.”
“Let the country show how important the SAARC neighbours are for us and how deep is our friendship,” Mr Modi said and called upon the scientists to enlarge the footprint of our satellite to cover the entire South Asia.    Stating that continuous progress in space must remain a national mission, Mr Modi said enhancing space capability and building satellites with higher computing, imaging and footprint should have more frequency and quality.
Stressing the need for strengthening India’s international partnership in all areas of space technology, Mr Modi said India has the potential of being the top service provider of the world.
“We must work towards this goal,” he added.    Exhorting the Indian space agency to extend its horizon in launching capabilities to heavier satellites, the Prime Minister said Human Resource Development would be the critical factor for the future success of India’s space programmes.
Stating that he was pleased to meet the young scientists of India at SDSC, Mr Modi said, “I admire their work. Let us link up with more universities and colleges to develop our leaders in this area.”
“I have been with you—the scientists—since yesterday. I am happy that I could meet four generations of space scientists in Sriharikota. This reflects on how well we have developed in space science,” he added.
“Right from Aryabhatta to today’s PSLV-C23 I see here. The team spirit I saw, I am very happy. My special congratulations to you. I thank the ancestors of space science like Vikram Sarabhai, who built the space research from scratch,” Mr Modi said.
Averring that more youths should be involved in space space technology, the Prime Minister said a lot of space related datas were put online through ‘Bhuvan’ space portal.     “I call upon the students to visit this website. It has a wealth of information and this may drive you to space science,” he added.
Mr Modi also touched upon the aspect of developing a state-of-the art space museum.
“If we can do it, the youth will benefit. This mission can help open a window to our youth to pursue space technology,” he added.
(UNI)

CGM BSNL attains superannuation

By

Daily Excelsior

-

July 1, 2014

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 30: Chief General Manager (CGM), Tele Communication, BSNL, J&K Circle Ravi Kumar Kaul demitted his office today on attaining the age of superannuation.
Kaul joined the Department of Telecom as ITS Group-A officer in 1979 after graduating from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur in Electronics and Communication Engineering.
During his more than 35 years service career in Central Government, Ministry of Communication and IT in the Department of Telecom, Kaul has held important positions in different organization, including a foreign deputation to Saudi Arabia.
He has visited many other countries including USA, Mexico, Singapore and Japan for advanced training and intergovernmental meetings. His contribution to the development of Telecom services in J&K has been immense.
During his long career in Central Government, he has served the J&K State for about 20 years in various capacities. Under his leadership, as Chief General Manager BSNL J&K Circle, during about last four years, the State has witnessed a huge growth and accessibility of Telecom Services throughout the length and breadth and remote areas of the State.

Apsara Road Traders Association felicitates CCI team

By

Daily Excelsior

-

July 1, 2014

Excelsior Correspondent

Apsara Road traders with CCI team on Monday.

JAMMU, June 30: CCI Members of Apsara Road Traders Association felicitated the newly elected team of Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI), Jammu at a function held here today.
The Traders Association members led by President, Ashwani Khullar, Secretary General, Anil Kohli and Amit Jandyal (Vice President) welcomed all the members of CCI.
The Association presented mementoes to the CCI team members including President Rakesh Gupta, General Secretary, Arun Gupta, Senior Vice President, Sham Lal Langer, Junior Vice-President, Deepak Aggarwal and Treasurer Ashu Gupta.
Meanwhile, Mr Khullar and his team said that the traders fraternity in general and Apsara Road traders in particular have high hopes with the new team of CCI that they would fight for the rights of traders and also raise the issues of traders before the State and Central Governments.
Meanwhile, Dy. Director General Foreign Trade, Amit Kumar along with his team of officers visited Chamber House and interacted with office bearers of Chamber of Commerce & Industry headed by Rakesh Gupta, president CCI.
During interaction Dy. Director Foreign Trade apprised about the export promotion benefits and facilities being provided to the importers and exporters by the Government of India. He also informed that J&K State is having special provisions under which it avails recognized area status due to which the exporters enjoy a number of benefits that are not available to the exporters in other parts of the country.
While speaking on the occasion Rakesh Gupta, stressed upon the visiting dignitaries that special interactive sessions / seminars should be arranged for the traders and industrialists so as to educate them about the facilities and benefits being provided by Government of India, Ministry of Foreign Trade to the importers and exporters.
He also stressed upon the Dy. Director General Foreign Trade that members of CCI should be invited in all the interactive sessions and seminars being arranged for the promotion of export & import. Mr Kumar assured that all possible steps will be taken for the promotion of import and export in J&K.
Other CCI Officer bearers present in the meeting include Sham Lal Langer, senior. vice president CCI, Deepak Aggarwal, its junior. vice president, Arun Gupta, secretary general, Rahul Mahajan, secretary and Ashu Gupta, treasurer.

Lone reviews position of civic amenities in Jammu

By

Daily Excelsior

-

July 1, 2014

Excelsior Correspondent

Minister for Higher Education Mohd Akbar Lone chairing a meeting at Jammu on Monday.

JAMMU, June 30: The Government has proposed to provide Diesel Generator sets at all PHE installations in Jammu and its peripheries to run the supply in absence of power.
The information was given at a meeting chaired by Minister for Higher Education, Mohammad Akbar Lone here at Civil Secretariat convened to review the civic amenities scenario in Jammu region. It was informed that a detailed report in this regard has been submitted for funding.
The Minister discussed various issues of public importance with special focus on availability of basic amenities besides taking stock of status of ongoing civic works in the winter capital and other major towns of the region.
He exhorted upon all the departments to step up efforts for ensuring prompt and hassle free services to the people during Shri Amarnathji yatra and holy month of Ramzan. A Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been submitted to the concerned quarters for funding.
Deputy Commissioner Jammu, A.K. Sahu, Additional Commissioner, Rehan Batul, Director Health Services, Jammu, B.S. Pathania, Director CAPD Jammu, Director School Education Jammu, Chief Engineer, PDD, SP city, officers from PHE, CAPD and other concerned departments were also present in the meeting.
The Minister emphasized a strong coordination among Power Development, Public Health Engineering (PHE) and other allied departments so as to cater to the needs of people of the region especially during Amarnathji yatra and Ramzan period. He asked PDD and PHE to make sure that people will get regular power and water supply during Ramzan days besides directing CAPD to ensure timely and proper distribution of ration especially sugar and LPG supply to the people.
The Minister asked the Chief Engineer PDD and PHE to ensure uninterrupted power and water supply, particularly during the month of Ramzan and Shri Amarnathji Yatra.
The Minister was informed that to cater to the need of potable water scarce areas adequate number of Government and private water tankers have been pressed into service so that the pilgrims visiting the City of Temples do not face any hardship on this account.
The Minister asked the officers to complete blacktopping and related works in a speedy manner so that the same could be completed before rainy season. He also asked Irrigation and Flood Control authorities to take preventive measures well in advance by constructing crates and other alternate measures to meet any eventuality.
Lone also took stock of law and order situation in Jammu Division and arrangements made by the civil administration for comfortable stay of Amarnathji Yatra pilgrims.

Sadhu killed in accident, another pilgrim dies due to heart attack

By

Daily Excelsior

-

July 1, 2014

SRINAGAR, June 30:
A sadhu from Madhya Pradesh was killed in a road accident, while another yatri from Haryana died due to heart attack in Kashmir valley.
Official sources said Rattan Ghulati, resident of Haryana, suffered a massive heart attack near Domail on Baltal-Amarnath cave shrine track this afternoon.
Ghulati was immediately rushed to a nearby health centre, where he was declared brought dead.
The sources said Ramdas, a resident of Ujjain, MP, was hit and critically wounded by a tractor at Qazigund on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.
Ramdas, who was on way to Amarnath base camp, was immediately rushed to a local hospital, where he was declared dead. With this, a total of five devotees have died since the commencement of the pilgrimage on June 28 from Baltal side. While three of them, including Ramdas, were killed in accidents, two yatris died due to heart attack. (UNI)

Infrastructural up-gradation flagged off to improve living standard of people: Slathia

By

Daily Excelsior

-

July 1, 2014

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 30: Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) Vijaypur and senior vice president, National Conference (NC) Surjeet Singh Slathia convened a meeting of NC delegates which include Panchs and Sarpanchs at Bari Brahmana.
Slathia highlighted the developmental plank of NC led Government in J&K, saying infrastructural up-gradation has been flagged off to improve the living standard of people.
He added developmental transformation will be meaningless unless its benefits reach rural and far off areas.
“Omar led Government has accorded top priority to involve local population in the development effort”, he said while referring to the establishment of Panchayati Raj institutions to seek greater participation of the rural population in decision making.
He described the Panchayat elections as historic initiative of the present Government, saying these have institutionalized rural development on sustained basis.
Slathia also made a mention of administrative units and said these will go long way in mitigating the problems of the people, as administration will be virtually at their door steps.
He said that the NC is having dedicated and devoted cadre base party which has been continuously fighting for the cause of the solidarity, integrity and dignity of the people of the State.
Among others who spoke were Raman Gupta, Bhagwan Singh, Vijay Singh, Karam Chand, Rampal Sharma, Sadiq Malik, Ghulam Nabi, Mohinder Gupta and Manohar Lal Gupta.

Railway officials held for leaking test papers

By

Daily Excelsior

-

July 1, 2014

NEW DELHI, June 30:
CBI has arrested the chief vigilance inspector of south western railway and 14 others from Bangalore for allegedly leaking the question papers for a recruitment exam for the railways. A CBI official here said the inspector and the other people were arrested for leaking of question papers and answer keys for the recruitment of assistant loco pilot, telecommunication Grade III and technicians Grade III from various places in the Karnataka capital.
“A case was registered on June 29 against, Divisional Personnel Officer, chief vigilance inspector, South Western Railway, Bangalore, one advocate, one private person and other unknown public servants and private persons in connection with alleged leakage of question papers and answer keys of Railway Recruitment Board examination for the recruitment of Assistant Loco Pilot, Telecommunication Gr III, Technician Gr III and others scheduled on June 29,” the investigative agency said in a statement here yesterday.
Searches were conducted at the premises of accused and other locations after which cash and some incriminating documents were recovered. The Divisional Personnel Officer is absconding, the CBI said.
All the arrested accused will be produced today before the jurisdictional court.
Further investigation is in progress.
(UNI)

3 teens drown

By

Daily Excelsior

-

July 1, 2014

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 30: Three teenagers, including a girl, drowned at different places while bathing in streams to beat the summer heat.
A police spokesman said Shareen Tariq son of Tariq Ahmad Mahjoor of Sangri Baramulla, a grade 9 student, who had come to visit his relatives in Drugmulla on June 29 got drowned while bathing in Pohru stream.
Later the assistance of marine commandos of Indian Navy Marcos was also sought by the administration and after strenuous efforts, the body of the boy was fished out today morning.
A seven-year-old girl Meema daughter of Ghulam Qadir Bakerwal of Jammu Dansal Jhajjar Kotli, at present Hutmurrah in Mattan, got drowned in Shahkul near Sundose. Police and civil administration are trying to retrieve her body.
In Ganderbal, another teenager Ziyafat Ahmad Mir son of Manzoor Ahmad of Sheikh Zoo Batwina got drowned in river Jhelum at Sheikh Zoo. The body was fished out by locals and his relatives.

India has potential to be largest economy: Sheryl Sandberg

By

Daily Excelsior

-

July 1, 2014

HYDERABAD, June 30:
India, an emerging global economic power, has the potential to become the largest economy in the world, Facebook Chief Operating Officer (COO) Sheryl Sandberg said today.
Sandberg, who served as Chief of Staff for the US Treasury Department under President Bill Clinton, said the over USD 2 trillion Indian economy has immense potential to create jobs and drive growth, especially with its huge base of small and medium businesses (SMBs).
“India has the potential to become the largest economy in the world. And if you look at economic growth, particularly recently, jobs is a very hard situation all over the world. From the US to developing markets, everyone is very concerned about jobs.”
“And majority of the growth, as I understand it, is certainly here, certainly in the US. In most countries, I have visited, SMBs are the way to growth,” she told PTI.
Explaining further, Sandberg, whose previous stint was as Vice President of Global Online Sales and Operations at Google, said “the answer to growth is entrepreneurship”.
“Individuals are creating businesses and employing other people, and in India, the SMB growth is strong. And Internet provides more growth stories to SMBs. People are connecting to people and getting more customers and that’s what leads to economic growth,” she added.
Micro, small and medium businesses contribute nearly eight per cent of India’s GDP, 45 per cent of the manufacturing output and 40 per cent of exports.
The sector is estimated to have given employment to about 595 lakh people in over 261 lakh such enterprises throughout the country.
India, which is considered as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, saw its growth rate plummeting to less than five per cent in the last two years.
However, the industry is hopeful of a rebound with a new stable government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is widely perceived as a pro-business leader.
Modi had also said recently that there is a need to administer “bitter medicine” to revive the ailing economy.
The International Monetary Fund has projected a growth rate of 6.4 per cent next year, in line with the gradual strengthening of global markets.
Reminiscing her association with India, the former management consultant with McKinsey & Company and an economist with the World Bank said she started her career in India in 1981 working with the World Bank on Leprosy.
“And now when I look at leprosy, it’s no longer a threat here. The way I see it, India has grown so much in the past two decades,” she added.
Sandberg said Facebook wants to be a part of the growth
story in India, which is on the cusp of leapfrogging ahead in economic as well as social development.
India has the world’s third largest Internet userbase with over 200 million users, most of whom are logging onto the web using their mobile phones.
“India is Facebook’s second largest market, fastest growing market, fastest growing Internet connectivity in APAC. It is of high priority for us,” Sandberg said.
According to research firm eMarketer India, which has the highest number of Facebook users outside the US, will account for the fastest growth in people logging on to the social networking platform this year.
Over 100 million Indians are on the California- headquartered firm’s platform, with around 84 million users accessing the social networking site from their mobile devices. (PTI)

District police organizes cultural night ‘Mehfil-e-Mausiqi’

By

Daily Excelsior

-

July 1, 2014

Excelsior Correspondent

Participants performing during cultural night at Poonch.

POONCH, June 30: A cultural night “Mehfil-e-Mausiqi” was organized by District Police for the citizens and jawans at District Police Lines (DPL) here.
The audiences were enthralled by the performance of cultural troupe of Ustad Shikawat Hussain Khan, noted singer of international repute coupled with performances of local singers of district Poonch. The audiences remained spell bound to the performances of guest/local artists.
SP Poonch Shamsheer Hussain also distributed mementoes to the guest/local artists who have performed during the cultural night.
While speaking on the occasion, SP Poonch asked the local artists to emulate the same and work hard to compete at the national and international level.
He further assured that district police will do its level best to provide platform to the aspiring local artists of Poonch district to channelize their talent and organize such programmes in future as well.
Among others present were Amit Gupta, Additional SP Poonch, Khalid Amin, DySP DAR DPL Poonch, Deepak Digra, DySP Headquarters Poonch, KK Kapoor, Padamshree Shamboo Nath Khajuria, Pardeep Khanna, Narinder Singh Talwar and Advocate Ifthikar Bazmi.