NEW DELHI, Apr 26: The Government today promised that it would review wages under MGNREGA every year and dismissed allegations that it decreased allocations under the programme this fiscal year. It said whatever funds are allocated under the scheme are based on needs and there is no particular fixed quota. In reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said the Government has to ensure that thereare nine hours of working under MGNREGA with an interval of one hour.
The Minister said though he is not promising anything he is looking into changing the working hours of women under MGNREGA from 0800-1700 hrs to 0900-1700 hrs as the fairer sex also has domestic chores to perform. Mr Ramesh said such kinds of demands of changing of working hours for female workers have come from states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu and he is looking into them. He also dismissed the allegations of Mr Neeraj Shekhar(SP) that Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee decreased the allocation of MGNREGA from Rs 44,000 crore to Rs 33,000 cr, saying for social programmes there is no fixed quota as such and whatever funds are allocated are based on need and whichever states have raised demands for funds under the programmes the Government has tried to fulfil them. (UNI)

NEW DELHI, Apr 26: Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has denied rumours that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will make a comeback in “Sarkar 3”.
Varma, 50, who is currently busy with his upcoming release “Department”, said Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan have been roped in for the final installment of the dramatic thriller.
“’Sarkar 3’ is being planned… Amitji and Abhishek will feature in it but contrary to reports, Aishwarya won’t be in it… Script is still under progress,” he posted on Twitter.
The second installment of the film had seen Bachchan trio in the prominent roles.
Aishwarya, who was last seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Guzarish”, took a break from Bollywood because of her pregnancy. (PTI)

LAHORE, Apr 26: A woman teacher allegedly blackened the faces of five girls in a school in Pakistan’s Punjab province for not buying textbooks from the shop of her husband.
The incident occurred yesterday in Toba Tek Singh town, 100 km from Lahore.
In a written complaint to the district education officer, the families of the girls said Shahida Parveen, a teacher of Sethanwala Government Girls Community Model School, had blackened the faces of Class IV students Laibah, Alia, Natasha, Rimsha and Alesha.
The complaint said the teacher had acted against the girls for not purchasing textbooks from the shop of her husband. It further alleged that the teacher had tortured the girls.
Earlier, the teacher forced each student to pay her Rs 200, the complaint said.
The education department has ordered a probe and appointed Deputy District Education Officer Bushra Ishaq to conduct the inquiry. “We will take strict action if the teacher is found guilty,” Ishaq said. (PTI)

VARANASI, Apr 26: Superstar Aamir Khan kept his promise to his friend and auto-rickshaw driver Ram Lakhan by attending the wedding of his son in Varanasi amid much chaos.
Dressed in blue denim and white shirt, the 47-year-old actor reached the wedding venue at Mehmurganj’s Chaurasiya marriage hall post midnight. Aamir was supposed to reach there by 9.30pm but he got delayed as he had to travel by road from Patna, said Ram Lakhan who met the actor during the promotions of “3 Idiots”.
Aamir hugged his friend and felicitated the newly weds Rajiv and his bride, Vijayta before posing for the paparazzi. It was a utter chaos at the wedding as crowd and media had gathered to get a glimpse of the actor.
Interestingly, his decision to attend the wedding coincides with the promotions of Aamir’s debut television venture ‘Satyamev Jayate’ which also has a common man theme.
Though, the media was informed about Aamir’s arrival for the wedding, the actor denied that it had anything to do with the promotion of his show.
“This is the wedding of my friend Ramlakhan Paswan’s son. I have not come here to promote any upcoming serial or movie. I am here to attend the ceremony. I met Ram lakhan during the promotion of ‘3 Idiots’ and he came to my house to invite me for the wedding one year ago. I wish the bride and groom the very best. Especially the bride, who may find happiness,” the actor said.
Aamir, who stayed at the venue for nearly half an hour, said Varanasi has got a special place in his heart as his mother was born here. He also visited his uncle’s place in the city before attending the wedding.
“Varanasi is my mother’s birthplace. The place is dear to me and I share a special relationship with it,” the actor said, who visited the holy city after two and half years.
While he was busy interacting with the media, the corner of the stage collapsed but the actor managed to balance himself.
Lakhan, on his part, said, “I just want Aamir sir’s well wishes and nothing else. All my life, I will maintain and cherish this relationship.”(PTI)

NEW Delhi, Apr 26: Ajay Devgn, who has been doing action and comedy films lately, says he is keen to star in a romantic movie but he is not being offered good scripts.
The Bollywood star gave romantic hits like “Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha”, “Dil Kya Kare” and “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam” in the beginning of his career but his past few hits like “Golmaal 3” and “Singham” have been of comedy and action genre.
“I have not heard a good script in a long time. I don’t think people come to me with a lot of romantic characters. I would be interested in playing one if the story is good,” Ajay told.
The 43-year-old’s upcoming film “Tezz” is also an action drama starring Kangana Ranaut, Sameera Reddy, Anil Kapoor and Zayed Khan. The film releases tomorrow.
“I just came back from a 50 day outdoor shoot of ‘Son Of Sardar’ so I didn’t really know what was happening with ‘Tezz’. Then I saw the film and it has shaped up really well. It’s an action drama where the base and the emotion is very strong,” Ajay said.
“I have done the action sequences myself as I usually do my stunts myself. I enjoy doing it. Also, ‘Tezz’ did not have something so difficult that I couldn’t manage,” he added.
Ajay, who has been in the industry for more than two decades and has had his share of flops, says there was never a point in his career where he felt things have come to an end.
“I have never been in a situation where I felt that I should give up. Everybody has there lows. When I started, my first film was a big hit and after that the ball kept rolling… Two films didn’t work but it never mattered to me.
“It’s not that I didn’t have work or I was not being offered movies. I was refusing films so I guess I have been very lucky that I never faced a situation where I felt that it’s the end,” he said.
Ajay insists he is still the same and it does not bother him much if the film doesn’t work.
“It matters to you for a day but you get normal… You cannot stop living. You continue with yet another film with the same amount of enthusiasm and excitement.”
Asked why is he never present on any award functions, he said, “I don’t believe in awards. I feel they are all a gimmick and they have to sell their software to the channel… So they have to do all that.
“It’s not their fault. It’s a business for them so when it becomes a business the authenticity and the honesty of the award is gone. My biggest award is when my film works and the audience appreciates my work.”
The actor, who is currently wrapping up the shooting of his comedy film “Son Of Sardar”, is very happy with way the film has shaped up.
“I am very happy with this film… 80 per cent of it is over and we are shooting the last sequences… If you have a good team and everything is planned then shooting for a movie becomes very easy and enjoyable,” Ajay said.
“Son Of Sardar” is directed by Ashwani Dhir and produced by Ajay. The film also stars Juhi Chawla, Sanjay Dutt and Sonakshi Sinha in the lead role.
Ajay, who tried his luck in direction with 2008 film “U Me Aur Hum”, has no plans to get back to it any time soon.
“I am not directing… You need to take a year off to really concentrate on the script and that kind of time I don’t have. So may be later.” (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Apr 26: Country’s premier institute All India Institute of Medical Sciences is facing staff crunch as only 400 doctors are functioning in the hospital against the sanctioned strength of 625 doctors.
The hospital caters to 8,000 patients on a daily basis.
Adding to the woes of the premier hospital, there have been instances where doctors have quit in the past couple of years for better pay and work opportunities in private hospitals in India and abroad.
In the past ten months, eight doctors including three department heads have quit.
“I quit as my potential at AIIMS was not being properly exploited. I was given the robotic equipment (for surgery) only once a week as other departments needed it. As a result of which I just did 68 surgeries in four years. Here I have done 11 cases in 30 days,” Dr Arvind Kumar, who is now a surgeon with Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said.
Among others who quit include Dr H H Dash (Head of neuro-anaesthesia), Dr Supriyo Ghosh (Head of department of ophthalmology), Dr Rani A Sundar (assistant professor, anaesthesiology), Dr John Ranjan Behara (assistant professor, orthopaedics), Dr Vinay Gulati (Department of medicine and Dr C Venkata Kartikeyan (ENT Department) and Dr Manish Sharma (assistant professor, neurosurgery).
Dr H H Dash, presently the head of neuro-anaesthesia and hostel superintendent at AIIMS, has also put in his papers.
“I have served the hospital for over 30 years. I have nothing against the institute. I have taken a VRS and by resigning I am giving opportunity to others,” he said.
“Dr Supriyo Ghosh quit recently. He wasn’t able to run the department very well due to his poor health. Especially after he suffered a stroke a few years ago. He was also having some difference with the administration. He took a VRS,” a doctor with the hospital said.
Dr Rani A Sundar (assistant professor, anaesthesiology), Dr John Ranjan Behara (assistant professor, orthopaedics) and Manish Sharma (assistant professor, neurosurgery) resigned in protest earlier this year after they were termed unfit for promotion by the AIIMS selection committee.
Two associate professor level doctors – Dr Vinay Gulati from the Department of medicine and Dr C Venkata Kartikeyan from ENT Department, who were on foreign fellowships, also resigned soon after returning last year. (PTI)

MUMBAI, Apr 26: Actress Sonakshi Sinha’s cousin Bhavna Ruparel has become the latest star sibling to make a Bollywood debut with ‘Chalo Pichchur Banate Hai’.
Actress Priyanka Chopra’s cousin Parineeti last year walked into the tinsel town with Yash Raj Films’ ‘Ladies vs Ricky Behl’.
Sonam Kapoor’s cousin and Boney Kapoor’s son, Arjun Kapoor debuted with ‘Ishaqzaade’ followed by Mahesh Bhatt’s daughter Alia and David Dhawan’s son Varun who announced their arrival into the celluloid with Karan Johar’s ‘Student of the Year’ to name a few.
Debutant director Pritish Chakraborty is casting Bhavna in his ‘Chalo Pichchur Banate Hai’.
“It was through Facebook that I got this offer for the film. I went for auditioning and got selected. This was the first ever offer for a full-fledged acting debut that I received. I liked the script and my role and hence I gave my nod,” Bhavna told PTI.
Bhavna’s grandmother and Sonakshi’s grand mom are real sisters and that is how the two budding actresses are related.
This is not the first time Bhavna has faced the camera, she has done cameo roles in films and even walked the ramp and sizzled in few endorsements.
“Earlier I have acted in few movies like ‘Na Tum Jano Na Hum’ where I played Esha Deol’s sister and then in ‘Joggers Park’ in which I played the role of a niece. And for director Ken Ghosh, I did a music video of ‘Pehla nasha’….Also, I have done modeling and few ads (sic),”Bhavna said.
Talking about her debut film, the newbie says, “I am playing the role of a leading actor Rahil Tandon’s love interest in the film. Almost 80 per cent of the shoot of the film is over and mostly we have shot in Goa. It should release by end of June this year. All I can say is it is a film within a film. This movie is about the process….The aspect of a director”.
‘Chalo Pichchur Banate Hai’ revolves around the story of a determined filmmaker and his journey from being a fourth assistant director to finally being able to call the shots.
Ask her how she feels when being called Sonakshi’s cousin and pat comes the reply: “It is ok. I don’t feel sad or anything like that. Even when Sonakshi entered Bollywood she was called Shatrughan Sinha’s daughter. I am proud to be called her sister….With the kind of work she is doing. Since she is too busy these days doing lot of projects, I could not talk her in detail about this project”.
Well, star kids do have an extra edge over those coming from outside and Bhavna admits it.
“It is of great help,’ said the 23-year-old who has also bagged a yet-untitled Telugu film which is likely to go on floors in November. (PTI)

MUMBAI, Apr 26: Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today said his Government was in the process of conducting comparative studies of Lokayukta Acts of various states and would take a decision on enacting the same only if its provisions are not included in the Centre’s Lokpal Bill.
Addressing a press conference after an hour-long meeting with anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare, the chief minister said the Lokpal Bill was likely to be passed in the current session of Parliament.
“I feel that the Lokayukta aspect will not be included in the Lokpal Bill. I had written to Centre to enact a model law of Lokayukta so that all states can adopt their own act as per the model law,” he said, adding that the Centre was favourable to this proposal.
“However if the model law also does not come out, we will begin the process of enacting a strong Lokayukta here,”he said, adding that the state was studying the Karnataka and Uttarakhand acts, the Jan Lokayukta draft of Anna Hazare with our act.
When asked about the meeting with 75-year-old Gandhian, Chavan described it as “cordial”.
“Anna has given me another draft of his bill today,” Chavan said.
The chief minister further said he would discuss the issue with the union law minister during his next visit to Delhi.
“Anna requested me to enact a strong Lokayukta Act as the present one is toothless. According to him the existing provisions are only recommendatory and not obligatory. We broadly agree with him and feel that a strong anti corruption law is necessary,” Chavan said.
Chavan said he views Hazare’s tour of 35 districts of the state beginning from May 1 as a mass awareness campaign and not as an agitation against government.
The chief minister said that the second draft given by Hazare will also be examined.
“Anna is trying to build a consensus about stern measures to curb corruption,” he said.
When asked about the Gandhian’s criticism that corruption had not come down during his tenure as chief minister, Chavan said he was also fighting it but did have a magic wand to eradicate it overnight.
He said in Lokayukta acts in other states as well as the one proposed by Hazare, chief minister and legislators come under the ambit of the law whereas in Maharashtra only ministers are covered.
Meanwhile, Hazare also met deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar at Sahyadri Guest House. (PTI)

PATNA, Apr 26: Heavily dependent on the Centre for supply of electricity and facing acute power shortage, Bihar has taken steps for setting up 25 hydel power projects for generating about 800 MW with the proposals at various stages of approval, official sources said.
Bihar State Hydel Power Coporation Limited Managing Director A K Pandey told that the state had at present 54 MW capacity hydel power plant and work was on at various stages for construction of different hydel power projects with generation capacity of 33 MW.
“Apart from these projects, the proposals for setting up 25 other hydel power projects with generation capacity of around 800 mw are at various stages and levels for according sanction”, Pandey said.
Pandey informed that the State Government had sent a proposal to the Centre with Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the long-cherished 130 mw Dagmara Hydel Power Project over River Kosi in Bihar’s flood-prone Supaul district.
“We will be starting work on the project soon after receiving the go-ahead from the Centre”, he said.
The Dagmara Hydel Power Project’s fate hung in balance previously as the Central Electricity Authority had not given its nod to it keeping in view submergence of vast areas in bordering Nepal, he said.
“Now the project is proposed to be set up in the downstream of river Kosi and in keeping with the suggestions to the Centre about it, MS Wapkose prepared a revised Detailed Project Report and sent it the Central Electricity Authority for endorsement”, Pandey said.
The World Bank and Asian Development Bank and Japanese financial institution JAICA too have evinced interest in the project, he said.
Pandey said Survey of India has completed the survey work on the proposed 450 MW Indrapuri Hydel Power Project in river Sone in Rohtas district.
“We will hold talks with the Central Water Commission and Uttar Pradesh government for preparing a revised Detailed Project report for the Hydel power plant”, he said.
Survey was in the preliminary stages for setting up one dozen hydel power projects with generation capacity of 150 MW on river Mahananda and its tributaries like Purvi and Paschimi Knkai, Mechi Nagar, Parman, Bakra and nun, he said.
Pandey said there were possibilities of ten more hydel projects in the Kosi belt at Nabhara, Parsa, Daulatpur, Malhanawa and Satokhar of eight mw each, besides Thumba, Singheshwar Bazaar abd Jaidia of six mw each and Kataiya and Kariyaappi of 3.5 mw each. The Detailed Projec t Reports are under preparation for these projects.
Apart from these projects, it has also been planned to set up hydel power projects in river Gandak and Burhi Gandak and their tributaries at Anwati, Noon, Shantinala, Lakhandei, Belwadhar, Sikarahana, Masan, Tilawe, Baiti, besides river Bagmati at Lal Wakya and Lakhandei for exploring the possibilities of viability a survey is being undertaken, Pandey said.
Pandey said the state government had evolved a Hydro Power Policy to attract investors in private sector in the wake of acute shortage of electricity.
After receiving suggestions to be included in the policy, it would be placed before the state cabinet for approval for a notification, he said.
Pandey said while the per capita power consumption is 765 kwhr in the country, it is just 122 kwhr in Bihar.
Pandey said Bihar was heavily dependent on the Centre in the energy sector as it produced hardly 100 MW to 150 MW electricity at present.
He informed that the state was drawing on an average 1100 mw against the allocation of 1833 mw of electricity from the central pool and 40 per cent of the electricity being recived from the central pool.
“If we talk about the availability of electricity in rural areas, there are 7204 villages in the state where the electricity has not yet reached against total number of 39015 villages,” Pandey said.
Referring to the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Programme in Bihar, Pandey said it had been launched since 2005 and under the programme remote villages were getting power where it was not possible to provide electricity through grid.
The Centre has announced in January 2009 A Decentralised Distribution Generation (DDG) programme and under the DDG alternative sources of energy like Biomas and Solar energy would be useful to make available electricity in Patna, Gopalganj, Banka, Bhagalpur, Kaimur, Jamui, Kishanganj, West Champaran, Gaya, Supaul, Saharsa, Khagaria, Aurangabad and Supaul districts.
“Under the DGG programme, we will be making electricity available in 820 remote villages”, he said.
He said under the DDG, the Centre had already sanctioned a Rs 38 crore project for 28 villages under Baikunthpur block in Gopalganj district and 20 villages in Kaimur district where the electrification work would be complete by the end of the current financial year.
Pandey said the DPRs had already been submitted for the remote villages for electrification in Khagaria and Supaul districts to the Centre.
He said DPRs were also being prepared for 80 villages in Kaimur, Bhagalpur and Kishanganj districts which will be sent sent to the centre next month.
The DPRs for electrification of the rest of the villages would be prepared after the survey work being carried out for the viability of the projects, Pandey added. (PTI)