We

he State
J UNE 30 TO J ULY 06, 2014
Vol-02. Issue-40. Bhopal. Monday Page-12 Price-5/-
POSTAL REGD. MP/BHOPAL/4-323/2013-15
Published simultaneously from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
Online edition availble at wethestate.com and wethestate.blogspot.in
3
Withdraworder
on wheat's
support price
5
Madhuri lauds
workers
committed to
women
healthcare
6
Costly goof-up:
Petrol pump
owner to pay Rs
24,000 for filling
petrol instead of
diesel
11
I don't miss
working with the
Khans: Vidya
Balan
10
Zaheer wants
Ishant to step up
during Test
series against
England
8
National
Invention
Campaign to be
launched:
Smriti Irani
Madhya Pradesh leaves behind states
pioneer in agriculture production
resident Pranab
Mukherjee has said
that Madhya Pradesh
has left behind states
pioneer in agriculture
production. He also lauded the
contribution of institutions
including Jawaharlal Nehru
Agriculture University, Jabalpur
for touching new heights in
research in agriculture sector.
President Pranab
Mukherjee was addressing gold-
en jubilee of convocation of the
university at Jabalpur recently.
The President stressed the need
for promoting schemes and pro-
grammes for development and
expansion of agriculture to accel-
erate pace of countrys develop-
ment. He said that giving fillip to
agriculture sector is the need of
the hour to get rid of problems
like poverty, hunger, unemploy-
ment. Mukherjee said that new
direction can be given to employ-
ment and development by tap-
ping immense potential of multi-
dimensional expansion of agri-
culture sector.
He said that adequate food
grains are being produced in the
country as a result of improved
fertilisers, seeds, agriculture
implements and techniques. He
lauded the contribution of insti-
tutions including Jawaharlal
Nehru Agriculture University,
Jabalpur for scaling new heights
in research in agriculture sector.
The President said that the state
has left behind states pioneer in
agriculture production due to
adoption of advanced agriculture
techniques. Mukherjee said that
agriculture universities have
important contribution in coun-
trys agriculture development
and common peoples welfare.
Quality agriculture education is
a must for agriculture sectors
progress and efficient agricul-
ture management. Efforts
should be made from school level
to ensure that talented students
are attracted towards agricul-
ture.
Governor Ram Naresh
Yadav said that we will have to
raise youths who help farmers in
making agriculture profitable.
Gross enrollment rate in agricul-
ture is less as compared to high-
er education and needs to be
increased.
For this, need-based new
agriculture colleges will have to
be opened. Besides, agriculture
subject will have to be given
wider dimension at school level
also.
Yadav said that this universi-
ty is on top in the country due to
its commitment to production,
augmentation of seeds and pub-
licity and maximum supply of
certified seeds in the country.
The university has set the record
of evolving 238 species which
give more yield and are disease-
resistant. This universitys role
is praiseworthy in making
Madhya Pradesh the soybean
state of the country. Today,
Madhya Pradesh stands first in
production of oilseeds, pulses,
soybean, gram and garlic. Along
with these achievements, record
quantity of wheat has also been
produced in the state.
BHOPAL
P
How WE look it !
Chhattisgarh forest
dept to rope in tribals
to protect green cover
Scarcity of skilled manpower in Chhattigarh: CII
For 16-year-old
Rukmani, every day is
another back-breaking
day from dawn to mid-
night, cleaning utensils,
mopping floors and
washing clothes at
households in Delhi. But
she displayed exemplary
courage to wriggle out of
bondage and find her way back
home in Jashpur. Rukmani, who
was once sold to middlemen, is
now at the vanguard of a cam-
paign to ban child trafficking.
With the help of an NGO,
Rukmani, who had studied till
Class 3, has also resumed her
studies. Rukmani from Kansabel
block of tribal Jashpur district
said, "I was 12 when I fled from
captivity in Delhi. A resident of
my village, Salma, had tempted
me with big city lifestyle and
with good money if I went along
with her. Immediately after land-
ing in Delhi, I was sold off to a
placement agent, Kripa, who
dumped me in a house as a 24-
hour domestic servant for Rs
2000 per month."
She would work non-stop
from 6am till midnight and she
would be abused and would be
forced to sleep hungry. When she
complained to the placement
agency, Rukmani was bundled off
in a train and sent to Indore
where her working hours extend-
ed to 1.30 in the night as the fam-
ily had visitors every night.
"There was another girl from
Jharkhand who was always
frightened. When I couldn't take
it anymore, I told them I won't
continue." In Jashpur,
Rukmani's parents filed a miss-
ing complaint with police and a
search was launched. The place-
ment agency in Delhi was tapped
and she was tracked to her hell-
hole in Indore from where she
was rescued. While Rukmani
struggled to find her place back
in family, she emerged as a
multi-tasking girl. Learning to
stitch and study, she also tries to
save girls from traffickers.
She has already helped police
to nab Salma and other touts.
Rukmani works with Jivan
Jharna Vikas Sanstha, an NGO
that rehabilitates trafficked chil-
dren and has built her own
brigade of boys and girls who act
against touts. "We have groups at
panchayat-level of 30 youths who
keep vigil on middlemen. We tip
off police and NGOs when we
hear about girls being huddled
into buses or trains. Many have
been rescued and many agents
are now in jail. I have vowed to
ban trafficking," Rukmani said.
Raipur
Teenager working
with NGO to end
child trafficking
2
JUNE 30 TO JULY 06, 2014 (MP & CG)
CHHATTISGARH EXPLORE
To better preserve the green cover in
the state, Chhattisgarh forest department
has decided to rope in tribals to protect
some species of trees they have been wor-
shipping for centuries. The forest depart-
ment has identified six species of trees
which are worshipped as deities of their
clans by bheel and bhilala and other tribes
since time immemorial. Under the 'Dev-
vriksha Protector Scheme', members of the
tribal communities would be given the
responsibility to protect the 'dev-vrikhsas'
or 'god-trees' of their clans, Chief Forest
Officer, Raipur, P C Dubey told reporters.
The scheme will be launched in Bastar,
Sarguja and other districts where there is
a substantial tribal population, he said,
adding, trees such as peeple, jamun,
banyan, mango, iron-wood and the bamboo
plant would be handed over to the tribes to
be protected from destruction. "The tribals
have absolute faith in trees of their clans
which they have been worshipping as
deities for centuries. They don't let any
kind of damage happen to their 'god' trees
and we will use this sentiment to safe-
guard the green cover," Dubey said. Vishal
Verma, an expert in tribal culture, said,
"The western part of the state has inhabi-
tants belonging to the bheel and bhilala
tribes, which have hundreds of sub-tribes.
All of them worship various trees or ani-
mals as gods." The tribes and sub-tribes
have such strong emotional ties with the
trees that they are named after them. For
instance, the bansuniya sub-tribe worships
the 'baans' or bamboo plant, while the
jamulas worship the jamun tree, he said.
RAIPUR
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII),
Chhattisgarh, has said that there is a scarcity
of skilled manpower and this gap can only be
covered with skilled training. Chhattisgarh
Laghu & Sahayak Udyog Sangh president
Harish Kedia said this during a seminar. He
spoke about issues like land acquisition as
well. CII organized the second edition of
'micro small and medium enterprises
(MSME) conclave: building capacities
through innovations' here recently. State CII
chairman Dinesh Agarwal (executive director
of Godawari Power & Ispat Ltd) stated that
CII accords a very high priority to the devel-
opment of SMEs, the dynamic segment of
Indian economy.
Besides, over 70% of CII members are
fromthis segment. State principal secretary
(commerce and industry) Baijendra Kumar
addressed the house stating that MSME
grooming can happen only through innova-
tions. The first session on 'innovation and
cluster for the development of MSMEs' was
moderated by Arunava Lahiri, COO of
Monnet Ispat & Energy Limited. The delib-
erations in this session focused on how the
potential of clusters that represent favourable
ecosystems for innovation need to be better
exploited. The second session on 'models to
ease finance to MSMEs and financing for
innovations' discussed various innovative
methods and best practices for easing financ-
ing to MSMEs either at individual or cluster
%level. It also deliberated on various ways
and methods of financing innovations. The
session was moderated by Prof KK Ray from
department of finance & accounting at IIM-
Raipur. ; Kanwar Adarsh Salaria, DGM -
Regional Head, Oriental Bank of Commerce;
P S Chakraborty, DGM - Zonal Head,
Allahabad Bank; P S PremAnand, Senior
Branch Manager, The National Small
Industries Corporation Limited.On his con-
cluding note, Manish Gupta said that MSME
hold the key to not only the economic suc-
cess of the country but also to creating an
equitable society. During the conclave, a spe-
cial presentation on the opportunities for
MSMEs in Naya Raipur was made by CEO
of Naya Raipur Development Authority,
Amit Kataria.
Raipur
3
JUNE 30 TO JULY 06, 2014 (MP & CG) BHOPAL
A new revolution of economic
prosperity and social upliftment is
sweeping across the rural areas of
Madhya Pradesh. Lakhs of poor rural
families who earlier depended on
loans from moneylenders are now
earning Rs. 3 thousand to Rs. 15
thousand per month through various
livelihood activities. Some families
income has crossed over Rs. one lakh
per annum. Lakhpati Mahila Club
has been formulated for strengthen-
ing economic status of rural families
in the state. Coordinated efforts are
being made to include over 10 lakh
families in this club in next 5 years.
So far, over 70 thousand self-help
groups have been formed in the state
under District Poverty Initiative
Project (DPIP) and State Rural
Livelihoods Mission. Livelihoods
activities through self-help groups
have brought about pleasant change
in the lives of lakhs of rural families.
Apart from efforts for economic uplift-
ment of rural poor families, these
groups are also playing important
role in all-round development of vil-
lages and social change. A number of
rural families have become financial-
ly strong with small loans extended to
poor women with the help of self-help
groups. Efforts of self-help groups in
Madhya Pradesh for empowering
rural women have also brought about
new change. Rural scenario is chang-
ing with presence of large number of
women in Gram Sabhas and their
effective participation in various deci-
sions for rural development. Women
belonging to self-help groups also
command respect in government
offices and development-related insti-
tutions.
News Brief
New socio-economic
revolution in rural areas
of Madhya Pradesh
BHOPAL
Education quality must be upgraded
to world level: Governor Yadav
Governor Ram Naresh Yadav
has said that apart from increase in
the number of higher education
institutions, education quality must
also be upgraded to global stan-
dards. He called for united efforts to
ensure that universities in the state
are elevated to world-level. For this,
better infrastructure will have to be
developed and best academic atmos-
phere created in universities.
Universities should have such a
high level of teaching, research and
investigation that people in the
world are automatically attracted
towards India.
Governor Yadav said that com-
mitted efforts should be made to fill
up teaching and non-teaching posts
keeping in view challenges in higher
education sector. He directed to
accelerate pace of recruitment
process in universities. He hoped
that the government will also allow
filling up of vacancies in Mahatma
Gandhi Chitrakoot Grameen
Vishwavidyalaya, Satna and
Jawaharlal Nehru Agriculture
University, Jabalpur. Yadav
expressed desire that initiative
taken for uniform ordinance and
bylaws for all universities in the
state. He also laid emphasis on eval-
uation of universities and colleges
through NAAC. Yadav urged univer-
sities to create better academic
atmosphere in accordance with
Indian culture and high moral val-
ues. Higher Education Minister
Umashankar Gupta said that it is
matter of concern that there is no
global level university in the coun-
try and state.
He said that state government
will make earnest efforts to estab-
lish a world-level university in the
state. Gupta said that teachers
should reach colleges in time and
see to it that students interests are
not hurt. Vice-chancellors should
ensure that ragging incidents do not
occur in colleges and universities.
The meeting also decided to
accelerate pace of works for estab-
lishment of Chhatrasal University,
Bundelkhand and obtaining univer-
sity status for Baba Saheb
Ambedkar National Social Science
Institute, Mhow. It was also decided
to increase university employees
medical allowance from Rs. 500 to
Rs. 1000.
Funds allocated for wi-fi
facility on college premises
The Higher Education
Department has allocated Rs. 18
lakh 30 thousand for making avail-
able wi-fi facility in 122 colleges in
the state. Rs. 15 lakh has been allo-
cated to every college. The govern-
ment is making available wi-fi facil-
ity in colleges for providing e-learn-
ing contents to teachers and stu-
dents. Prohibited and social network
sites will not be allowed on college
premises.
Withdraw order on wheat's support price
Bhopal
CM Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan met the
Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh in New
Delhi recently and requested him to withdraw the recent
order issued by the Agriculture Ministry with regards to
minimum support price on wheat. He apprised the Union
Minister of the various projects pending in the ministry
for approval and reimbursement of the relief amount dis-
tributed by the state government to the farmers for dam-
age caused to their crop due to hailstorm. Chouhan said
that the recently issued order states that the states
should procure the amount of wheat for which they can
pay the minimum support prices.
If state procures more wheat the central government
will not take care of the bonus amount paid to the farm-
ers. Chouhan expressed his concern and said that the
order is against the interest of farmers. We are producing
world quality wheat and bumper wheat crop for last two
years. The state has been conferred with two consecutive
Krishi Karman Awards for highest agriculture production
in the country. He urged the Minister to take back the
order in the interest of farmers. Chouhan also apprised
the Union Minister of the relief which state government
has given to farmers whose crops have been destroyed due
to hailstorm in 49 districts of the state. He informed that
Rs. 2800 crore were distributed to the farmers from state's
own resources. He requested the Union Minister to reim-
burse the amount. Chouhan also opposed the new crop
insurance scheme initiated by the UPA government. He
called for a more practical and advance crop insurance
scheme in the interest of the farmers. Chouhan asked for
a contingent plan to tackle the situation in case of a weak
monsoon.
Gifts to Madhya Pradesh
Chouhan informed the Union Minister that Madhya
Pradesh wheat is of the best quality in the country. To
maintain its quality and increase its production a
research institute is needed in the state. Union Minister
Radha Mohan Singh announced the setting up of one
institutein Madhya Pradesh. The Union Minister also
announced opening up of veterinary college at Panna. The
infrastructure and salary portion will be taken care by
state govt. and research facility etc. will be taken careof
by central government. He also announced the setting up
of Horticulture Centre in Bundelkhand area and two
Krishi Vigyan Kendras in the state.
Bhopal
4
JUNE 30 TO JULY 06, 2014 (MP & CG)
The opening of a beer bar at Raipur airport
seems like a far fetched dream. While it was first
the name of the airport, Swami Vivekanand, which
created hurdles in serving liquor at the airport,
now the airport authorities and state excise depart-
ment have locked horns over the issue of rebate on
license fee for the same. Airports Authority of India
(AAI) had shelved the proposal for a beer bar in the
food court last year after objections questioning
liquor sale at a place named after the great monk.
In their eagerness to please these sections, AAI,
while agreeing to shelve the proposal, had forgot-
ten that liquor bars are a booming business at
domestic and international terminals in New
Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai. Now, there are no
takers for the proposed restaurant cum beer bar,
which is to be located outside the terminal build-
ing. The authorities had earlier planned a rent of
Rs 2.36 lakh per month but found no takers for it
even after reducing it to Rs 1.10 lakh. According to
sources at the airport, besides the yearly rent of Rs
13.20 lakh, the restaurant owner would have to
pay a yearly fee of Rs 10 lakh for the license to
serve beer. With these fixed costs of Rs 23.20 lakh
and other overheads, the project does not appear to
be lucrative and thus the cold response. This
apparently prompted the airport authorities to
approach excise department for a rebate of up to
50% in the licence fee to reduce the fixed costs and
make the proposal attractive.
Excise commissioner RS Vishwakarma con-
firmed that the airport authorities had approached
them for a rebate. However, he expressed the
department's inability to accept the request on
grounds that such concessions, if applicable, could
only be made to individuals running an establish-
ment and not the lessor (airport authorities in this
case). "Let the lessee of the restaurant apply for a
rebate and we would look into it," he said. With no
immediate solution in sight, the proposed restau-
rant and bar face uncertainty, at least for now.
Beer bar not likely to come up at airport
RAIPUR TRAIL
Paddy, soyabean crops likely to
be hit due to delayed monsoon
RAIPUR
The delayed monsoon is threaten-
ing paddy and soyabean cultivation
in Chhattisgarh. Last year, paddy
yield was around 70 million tonnes in
the state. It is feared that it is going
to be much less this season if the
monsoon doesnt get active in a week
or so. The monsoon hit
Chhattisgarh on June 19 but the
monsoon current was weak and there
was no substantial or widespread
rainfall. Except Koriya, Surajpur,
Bilaspur, Mungeli and Kabirdham
districts, other regions recorded less
rainfall in the current season.
Production of both soyabean and
paddy may drop substantially if
heavy monsoon showers are not
received soon, Pankaj Oudhia, an
agriculture scientist based here said.
If monsoon continues to elude
the state for one or two more weeks,
the output will be much less of the
estimated figure, Oudhia added.
Paddy cultivation, which normally
takes 120 days in the state, needs
proper irrigation throughout that
period. About 80 percent of the
states people are dependent on agri-
culture for their livelihood. Last
year, we had good rainfall in the sec-
ond week of June. But this year the
story is totally different, a senior
official at the Directorate of
Agriculture said.
The government has set a target
of 65.54 million tonnes of kharif crop
production - at about 1,850 kilo-
grams per hectare - this season.
However, this target is unlikely to be
met due to delay in monsoon.
Meanwhile, keeping in view the
delayed monsoon, the Chhattisgarh
government has asked the officials
to prepare a contingency plan to deal
with any exigency. The agriculture
department has been asked to con-
tinuously help the farmers with
agriculture-related suggestions
though mobile SMS. Looking at the
predictions of delayed monsoon, the
state government is gearing up with
plans to deal with possible conse-
quences, an official here said. Chief
Minister Raman Singh has directed
the Agriculture and Revenue and
Disaster Management Departments
to stay prepared with a contingency
plan so as to extend help tofarmers
in any exigency, the official said. In
view of the less than average rainfall
so far during this season, farmers
have been asked to sow the paddy in
row.
RAIPUR
5
JUNE 30 TO JULY 06, 2014 (MP & CG)
MADHYA PRADESH
Turn Mamta Abhiyan into peoples campaign: CM;
Madhuri lauds workers committed to women healthcare
Concrete steps to be taken to improve
National Highways in MP
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh
Chouhan has called for turning Mamta
Abhiyan for saving maternal and infant
lives as a campaign of society and peo-
ple. He urged all sections of society to
cooperate in this campaign, which has
been started with the cooperation of
UNICEF to reduce maternal and infant
mortality rate. Chief Minister
Chouhan was launching second phase
of the campaign at Samanvay Bhavan
here. Health Minister Dr. Narottam
Mishra and noted cine star Madhuri
Dixit were especially present on the
occasion. Madhuri Dixit has been
appointed as brand ambassador of the
campaign for 2 years.
Chouhan said that 24-hour power
supply has been ensured and infra-
structure development works under-
taken in the state. Now, a campaign is
being conducted to change the state
focusing on health and education.
Arrangements have been made to pro-
vide better healthcare to women and
children. Birth of child is the most
beautiful incident in the world since
nature goes on with it. Coordinated
efforts have been made to ensure that
mother faces no problems. Maternal
and infant mortality rate has come
down remarkably in the state. Credit
for successful healthcare efforts in
rural areas goes to ASHA and health
workers operating there. Public aware-
ness will have to be created towards
better health of women and children.
The CM said that Beti Bachao
Abhiyan has been launched in the state
to change peoples mindset about girls.
A number of schemes including Ladli
Laxmi Yojana, Gaon Ki Beti and
Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojana have
been launched for girls in the state.
Daughters are gifts of God. Society and
country will survive only when girls
survive. He urged to send every child to
school. Chouhan said that attention
has been focused on health and educa-
tion after attaining self-dependence in
road, power and water sectors.
State government has resolved to
ensure 100 percent institutional deliv-
eries. He stressed the need for coordi-
nated efforts for creating awareness
towards health services and keeping
family small. He said that field-level
Anganwadi and ASHA workers role is
praiseworthy in achievements of
Madhya Pradesh in health sector.
Health Minister Dr. Narottam Mishra
said that Madhya Pradesh has wit-
nessed remarkable improvement in
health sector. Institutional deliveries
have gone up to 86 percent from 22 per-
cent in the state. Constant efforts are
being made to reduce maternal and
infant mortality rate in the state.
Services have been provided for safety
of mothers. Gauravi Abhiyan has been
launched to safeguard womens honour.
Madhuri Dixit said that she is
happy after joining Mamta Abhiyan of
the state government. She said that
India is a country of diversities with
different cultures and traditions. It is
difficult to bring them together. She
said that ASHA and Anganwadi work-
ers putting in hard work for better
health of mothers and children are
praiseworthy. She said that the three
points included in Mamta Abhiyan
love, safety and honour- are in itself a
mission. The state government has pro-
vided a number of facilities and coun-
selling centres about which women
need to be made aware. She said that
lives of 80 percent women can be saved
with a little awareness. She urged peo-
ple to avail benefit of these facilities
through awareness.
Bhopal
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan along
with PWD Minister Sartaj Singh and Panchayats &
Rural Development Minister Gopal Bhargava had a
marathon meeting with Union Surface Transport
Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi recently. Union
Labour Minister Narendra Singh Tomar was spe-
cially present on the occasion.
Chouhan threw light in detail one by one on the
condition of 9 National Highways in the state. He
informed that the state government has spent Rs. 290
crore from its own resources on repair of these roads.
He urged to re-imburse this amount.
At the meeting, Bhopal-Sanchi, Gwalior-Shivpuri,
Obaidullahganj-Betul, Indore-Dewas, Khajuraho-
Jhansi, Shivpuri-Dewas, Jabalpur-Lakhnadaun,
Rewa-Katni-Jabalpur, Sidhi-Singrauli, Shahdol-
Katni, Jabalpur-Mandla-Chilpi, Rewa-Sidhi (NH 75)
and National Highways connecting Indore with
Gujarat were minutely reviewed and practical solu-
tions were suggested to dispose of the hurdles coming
in the way of construction works. Describing Jhansi-
Khajuraho road as of international importance from
tourism point of view, the Union Surface Transport
Minister stressed the need to complete it on priority.
The Chief Minister urged to accelerate pace of works
of National Highways and sanction construction of
Vidisha bypass.
Gadkari assured that work order will be issued as
soon as 90 percent land for the bypass road is
acquired. At present, he asked to present DPR for the
bypass so that technical sanction can be given. Chief
Minister Chouhan urged for selection of villages
under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana on the
basis of census of 2012 and that the Centre should
bear the cost of over 50 meter long bridges. He urged
to promote construction of pucca and permanent
infrastructural assets under MNREGA and fixing
ratio of labour and material as 40:60 instead of 60:40.
Chouhan informed Gadkari that the state govern-
ment has chalked out an ambitious rural transport
scheme. It envisages making available 10,000 vehi-
cles to unemployed youths for public transport in vil-
lages and towns. The Chief Minister said that it
would be better if the Union Government sanctions
this scheme.
The Chief Minister urged to improve conditions
for disability and widow pension schemes. He said
that age limit for pension eligibility of disabled per-
sons and widows should be abolished and quantum of
disability should also be reduced from 80 percent to
40 percent.
Referring to discrimination against the state in
Indira Aawas Yojana, Chouhan said that 37 lakh
families in the state live in shanties, but the Central
Government has given much lesser allotment. He
said that states allotments in Indira Aawas Yojana
should be increased.
Bhopal
6
JUNE 30 TO JULY 06, 2014 (MP & CG)
Must Read
Was Govt action against
foreign-funded NGOs justified?
he Government of India banned
foreign funding for many NGOs
following Intelligence Bureau
report identifying several for-
eign-funded NGOs that are negatively
impacting economic development.
The report says, A significant num-
ber of Indian NGOs (funded by some
donors based in the US, the UK,
Germany, The Netherlands and
Scandinavian countries) have been
noticed to be using people centric issues
to create an environment which lends
itself to stalling development projects.
The report further says, These include
agitations against nuclear power plants,
uranium mines, coal-fired power plants,
genetically modified organisms, mega
industrial projects (POSCO and
Vedanta), hydel projects (at Narmada
Sagar and in Arunachal Pradesh) and
extractive industries (oil, limestone) in
the North East. The negative impact on
GDP is assessed to be 2-3% per annum.
POSCO India, subsidiary of Korean
giant POSCO, has been trying to set up a
steel plant amidst protests in state of
Odisha for nearly a decade. Indian bil-
lionaire Anil Agarwal-owned Vedanta
Resources had tried for several years to
mine bauxite in the same state in
Niyamgiri Hills amidst protests by trib-
als. The IB doesnt explain the math that
led to the conclusion that 2-3% of possible
GDP growth is lost because of these
alleged activities.
The report adds: Identified foreign
donors cleverly disguise their donation as
funding for protection of human rights,
just deal for project-affected displaced
persons, protection of livelihood of indige-
nous people, protecting religious freedom
etc. These foreign donors lead local NGOs
to provide field reports which are used to
build a record against India and serve as
tools for the strategic foreign policy inter-
ests of Western governments.
The dreaded foreign hand is back.
Indian government is pretty good at rais-
ing the bogey of the foreign hand, includ-
ing the Congress-led UPA government
which had hinted that it was the
Americans who were behind the anti-gov-
ernment protests led by social activist
Anna Hazare. Its mind boggling that gov-
ernments fail to understand that people
could actually lose their homes and liveli-
hoods because of giant projects and,
therefore, may not want them.
Globally civil societies are concerned
about the impact of projects like nuclear
power plants, giant industrial projects
and extractive industries, so why should-
nt Indians be concerned as well? Why is
it illegal, unethical, unpatriotic or debili-
tating to the GDP growth to question
these projects?
Instead of focusing so much on the
disruption caused by protests, maybe
governments should spend some time
trying to understand why people are
upset, what bothers them about these
projects, are the companies doing every-
thing in a legal and ethical manner or
are they rushing through using coercion
(a common trend in many such projects
as
If these projects are so important for
so-called national development, what can
be done to address these concerns first
and then carry on with the projects?
For their part the NGOs, too, should
be transparent about their source of
funds. Under Indian law only those
organizations that are registered with
the Foreign Contributions Registration
Act are eligible to receive funds from for-
eign donors.
T
Udaipur: How do you help
your backward community liv-
ing in remote, virtually inac-
cessible villages to progress if
most of them are uneducated?
Simple, finish your own stud-
ies, train as teachers and then
use your knowledge to spread
the cause in your home as
these nearly three dozen
women are doing.
The group of 35 young
women from a cluster of vil-
lages in Rajasthans Udaipur
district is perhaps the first in
their families who ever went to
school, and are now preparing
to give something back to their
communities by getting
trained as primary and high
school teachers.
Many of these young
women in the age group of
16-24 years have parents
who work as agricultural
labourers and who are more or
less illiterate. My parents
work as labourers and our
family income is very less. I
want to become a teacher and
educate people from my com-
munity, Prem Kumari, a Class
XII passout said in Jhadol,
around 40 km from Udaipur.
Prem Kumari has cleared the
Basic School Training
Certificate (BSTC) examina-
tion and, if selected, she can
apply for a teachers post in a
primary school.
I also want to study for a
bachelors degree, and later go
for B Ed (the degree required
for teachers in higher educa-
tion), she said. As colleges in
the only nearby city of Udaipur
are far away, and because of
problems in travelling, many
of the young women prefer to
study in the only two degree
colleges in their area. A college
in Phalasia village offers a
bachelors degree in arts, while
another in Jhadol also offers
Bachelor of Education (B Ed)
degree.
During their vacations,
some of these young women
work in chocolate factories in
Udaipur and nearby urban
areas to fund their education.
One of them earned around Rs
6,000 during her vacations,
and spent this money on her
studies. These women are
however not alone in their
struggle and are being helped
by ChildFund India, part of a
global child development and
protection agency.
A scholarship project called
Udaan (flight) supported by
ChildFund Germany has
recently been rolled out to sup-
port children, especially girls,
Young women in Rajasthan set
example by educating others
Costly goof-up: Petrol pump owner to pay Rs
24,000 for filling petrol instead of diesel
New Delhi:
The Delhi State
Consumer
Disputes
Redressal
Commission has
asked a petrol
pump owner to
pay Rs. 24,000 to a man for fill-
ing petrol instead of diesel in
his car, causing damage to the
engine. The operator of the
petrol pump had filled petrol
instead of diesel, as a result,
the car had to be repaired and
he had to pay Rs. 38,604 as
bill. The petrol pump owner
had denied as responsibility
and argued that complainant
should have been vigilant. But
his arguments were trashed
and he was asked to pay the
complainant.
The consumer commission
comprising judicial member, S
A Siddiqui and member, S C
Jain passed the order while
upholding a district consumer
forums order which had asked
a Delhi-based petrol pump,
Matta
Automobiles,
to pay Rs.
24,000 to one
Brij Mohan.
we do
not find any
justification
for any interference (in forums
order) from our side with the
result the appeal fails and is
liable to be dismissed, the
commission said, adding that
forums order was legally sound
and should be maintained.
Mohan had told the com-
mission that on June 26, 2007,
the operator of the petrol pump
had filled petrol instead of
diesel in his car. As a result,
the car had to be repaired and
he had to pay Rs. 38,604 as
bill.
Thereafter, Mohan filed a
consumer complaint against
the petrol pump. The petrol
pump owner, however, denied
the claim saying the com-
plainant should himself have
been vigilant.
The Government of
India banned for-
eign funding for
many NGOs follow-
ing Intelligence
Bureau report iden-
tifying several for-
eign-funded NGOs
that are negatively
impacting economic
development.
7
JUNE 30 TO JULY 06, 2014 (MP & CG) Commerce
inance Minister Arun
Jaitley has announced
that the government
has decided to extend interim
excise-duty concessions for
automobiles, consumers
durables and capital goods by
six months to 31 December.
Due to the severe slowdown in
the auto sector, Chidambaram
had cut excise duties on small
cars, motor bikes and commer-
cial vehicles from 8 percent to
12 percent. Jaitley said the
extension is expected to help
India's ailing economy.
Extension of excise duty cut
to reduce revenue in short
term, but benefit economy in
long run, he said.
Car companies welcomed
the move and said that if the
government hadnt done it
would have been a serious
damper for the auto sector. In
2012-13, car sales in India fell
6.69 per cent, which was the
first decline in a decade.
F
Pre-budget booster: Govt extends
duty concessions for automobiles
Coffers empty, Union Budget
will have to be tough
New Delhi: The new government was elect-
ed with very high expectations of swift action.
The Prime Minister did surprise us when he
invited the SAARC heads of government. He
reinforced this with his 247 style of govern-
ment, the discipline maintained by his col-
leagues in not openly fighting over Cabinet
posts, and with his visit to Bhutan.
The Prime Ministers speech winding up the
debate on the Presidents address was a great-
ly welcomed. Here was a PM talking to the
nation; not just the houses of Parliament. Even
so, the expectations are so high that the gov-
ernments first problem will be to convince the
public that even with the best will in the world,
things take time to be completed. Inflation will
only come down over the next six to nine
months, not sooner. Blaming hoarders is
escapism; real policy will have to be imple-
mented on releasing food grain from warehous-
es, importing scarce commodities in a timely
fashion and removing supply side constraints
to solve the long run problems.
The Budget, which will set the mark of the
new government, will have to be tough since
the previous government has left behind an
empty coffer.
There is not much room for even routine
expenditure, let alone new sops. The govern-
ment will have to bite the bullet and pass on
the rise in oil prices to the consumers. If it fal-
ters at the outset, it will never recover initia-
tive. Petrol users are by no definition the
deserving poor or even the neo-middle class.
Every rupee of subsidy to the better-off is a
rupee added to the deficit that will only stoke
inflation. Price subsidies are not the answer to
inflation; exactly the opposite.
New Delhi: India has eased tourist
visa norms for Bangladeshi nationals
below 13 and above 65 years of age. The
decision comes on the back of the External
Affairs Minister Sushma Swarajs maiden
visit to Dhaka. Bangladesh Foreign
Minister Abdul Hassan Mahmood Ali
reportedly made the announcement.
According to reports, Sushma Swarajs
deliberations, forwarded by the MEA for
the Home Ministry, includes visa-free
entry for minor Bangladeshi residents and
senior residents, covering Bangladesh
under visa-on-arrival scheme, and multi-
ple-entry tourist visa to Bangladeshi chil-
dren under 18 and senior citizens above 65
years.
Swaraj had called on Bangladesh PM
Sheikh Hasina to discuss key bilateral
issues. According to the sources, they dis-
cussed trade and investment, security, con-
nectivity, and border management, among
other issues. Before meeting Hasina,
Swaraj met Bangladeshi Foreign Minister
Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali at 10 am for
official talks and discussed bilateral
issues. Swaraj discussed Land Boundary
Agreement (LBA), proposed Teesta river
water sharing deal and the issue of illegal
immigration. She was assisted by Foreign
Secretary Sujatha Singh and senior min-
istry officials during her talks with Ali at
the Foreign Office here.
Swaraj is also scheduled to meet
Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid at
Bangabhaban at 6 pm today. This is her
first official visit abroad after assuming
office. Meanwhile, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi has written to Sheikh
Hasina, pledging to further strengthen the
framework of ties even as he hoped that a
new era of cooperation would be fostered
across South Asia to ignite the collective
surge for prosperity.
Modi, while thanking Hasina for her
letter of felicitation on his assumption of
office, has accepted her invitation to visit
Bangladesh. He also extended an invita-
tion to her to visit India at her earliest con-
venience.He has emphasised that for
India, Bangladesh is not merely a neigh-
bour, but a nation with which we share his-
tory, culture, civilization, and enduring
links between people. The ideals of democ-
racy, secularism, pluralism and rule of law
also serve as a link between India and
Bangladesh, he wrote.
New Delhi
Gas price hike on hold
Government has decided to put on hold gas-price hike for three
months as it plans to consult all stake holders during that peri-
od. This was decided in the cabinet meeting that took place on
Wednesday in Delhi. The Cabinet Committee on Economic
Affairs (CCEA) took the decision after realising the need to
address all the aspects before taking a final decision on price
hike, said Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan while addressing
the media after the meet. Pradhan is not a member of the cab-
inet committee, but attended the meeting as a special invitee.
There were speculations in the media that after rail fare and
sugar price hike, the government was ready to raise gas-price.
But, it appears, Modi government has decided not to adminis-
ter too many bitter pills in a short-span of time.
India eases tourist
visa norms for
Bangladesh
nationals
8
JUNE 30 TO JULY 06, 2014 (MP & CG) Education
President Pranab Mukherjee has said that solution to
major problems facing the country is possible through cre-
ative use of scientific knowledge, research and technological
innovations. He said that no one can set a country back which
is rich in knowledge of science and technology. The President
said that science education, technology researches, innova-
tions and quality researches are indicators of nations
progress in new era. Addressing the convocation of Indian
Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) here
recently, Mukherjee exhorted students to become self-confi-
dent through knowledge and skill and move forward to build
a new India. The world belongs to youth power, he added. The
President stressed the need for finding out new ways for bet-
ter use of Indias youth power and talents.
Expressing concern over quality and norms of higher edu-
cation in the country, he said that no Indian university is
among 200 best universities in the world whereas our coun-
try boasted of universities like Nalanda and Taxila 1500
years ago where students from all over the world came.
Mukherjee said that there is no dearth of talent in India and
country can set norms for higher education. Referring to sci-
entists Hargovind Khurna, Dr. Chandrashekhar, Sir C.V.
Raman and Dr. Amritya Sen, the President said that Indian
talents can win more Nobel Prizes. These talents were nour-
ished in India but recognised later after studying in foreign
universities.
Indian universities should ensure their
place in top 100 universities: President
Indian universities presence in global scenario is very
necessary. Indian universities should have a place in top 100
universities in the world. Indian talents should have oppor-
tunities to nourish in the country itself. Research should
always be continuously promoted. Universities must interact
and impart education conducive for local industrial require-
ments. President Pranab Mukherjee was addressing convoca-
tion of Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya at Indore recently.
The President said that an Indian university produced a
Nobel laureate 80 years ago. There is a vacuum after Dr. C.V.
Raman. Nobel laureates like Dr. Amritya Sen, Dr. S.
Chandrashekhar and Dr. Hargovind Khurana had graduated
form Indian universities, but got awards and recognition
while working in foreign universities.
Solution to problems possible through
use of scientific knowledge: Mukherjee
National Invention Campaign
will be launched to increase stu-
dents interest in science and maths.
National Innovation Council will be
constituted to connect science with
market. This was informed by
Union Human Resources Minister
Smriti Irani during a meeting with
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh
Chouhan here recently.
Chief Minister Chouhan said
that quality of education has been
affected as a result of abolition of
Board exams for class V and VIII
following implementation of Right
to Information Act. Keeping this in
view, evaluation systemof primary
education should be re-started. He
informed about the proposals sent
by the state to the Centre for educa-
tion development and improvement
in its quality. Union HRD Minister
Smriti Irani said that there are sev-
eral challenges in implementation
of Right to Education Act. A meet-
ing will soon be convened in which
discussions will be held with states
on challenges of education at state,
region and national levels.
Programmes will be held in every
district and lab is also upgraded to
increase students interest in science
and maths under National Invention
Campaign. Students will be made
aware about publication of research
papers and patents.
Special attention will be paid to
higher education. National e-library
will be started which will contain all
rare books, research papers and lec-
tures. Apart from students and
teachers, any person will be able to
use it. The National Book Trust will
conduct a campaign for increasing
interest in libraries fromthe birth
centenary year of late Deendayal
Upadhyay. She said that every
demand and suggestion of the state
government will be earnestly con-
sidered.
Bhopal
These teachers show
how ideas make all
the difference
Bhopal
RAIPUR
National Invention Campaign
to be launched: Smriti Irani
ne day in Bilaspur's
Priyadarshini Nagar, a
teacher at Prime Way
Middle School Shaheen Saifi real-
ized that her Class III students
were not paying attention during
her lessons. So she came up with
a trick. While explaining a prob-
lem on the blackboard, she delib-
erately made a mistake and then
called upon a child who was not
concentrating to lead the class
through to the next step. It
worked. The students now hang
on to every word during lesson
time to make sure they are aware
of what she is doing. That way,
learning occurs.
Just changing the order of
names in the attendance register
and a simple vocabulary game
during those five minutes of roll
call can result in a student earn-
ing 400 new words a year. And
installing a 'best students of the
month' and 'best class of the
month' display board has actually
led to a big drop in number of
absentees and striking improve-
ments in overall performance of
students in a different school.
How about simply studying rou-
tine aspects of community life to
imbibe the fundamentals of
mathematics?
Policies apart, such class-
room-level micro-innovations by
individual teachers can bring
about significant improvements
in delivery of education, and this
was successfully showcased at a
conference in the city recently.
Piloting an international move-
ment of teacher changemakers in
Chhattisgarh which will then
travel to other parts of the coun-
try as well as overseas to African
shores, non-governmental organi-
zation STIR (Schools and
Teachers Innovating for Results)
showcased 55 classroom innova-
tions which are not part of any
policy decisions but a result of
individual efforts of teachers.
Innovations in government
schools stand out like that at a
girls' primary school at a village
of Bilaspur where sharing stories
became a way to stop girls from
dropping out. Students were
encouraged by teacher Vinita
Kanwar to share their personal
stories and motivations in the
classroom to foster a sense of pur-
pose. Or, for that matter, at a
municipal school in Bilaspurs
Sindhi Colony, observing the stu-
dents' disinterest in printed mat-
ter, teacher Ritu encouraged
Class IV students to publish
books for their own library. Jo
Owen, chair of STIR, said, "This
is a global initiative we piloted in
Chhattisgarh.
Like agriculture, Madhya Pradesh
should also create history in education
sector. This was stated by Union HRD
Minister Smriti Irani while reviewing
activities of Higher and Technical
Education departments at Mantralaya here
recently. Irani said that Central govern-
ment will make every possible effort to
make Madhya Pradesh an education hub.
Irani directed to chalk out a policy for
studies of North-eastern students in
Madhya Pradesh. On this, Higher
Education Minister Umashankar Gupta said that this policy will be for-
mulated in the current session itself. Irani said that framing of online
testing scheme is being considered to bring about transparency in exams.
She said that teachers should also be evaluated from time to time. The
Union HRD Minister urged to give information about the academics who
are unknown even after doing remarkable work in education sector.
Like agriculture, MP
should also create history
in education sector: Irani
O
Hike in price of food items
pushes up inflation
9
JUNE 30 TO JULY 06, 2014 (MP & CG)
ncrease in prices of essen-
tial food items like vegeta-
bles, fruits and cereals,
pushed up inflation to five-
month high of 6.01 per cent in
May and the likelihood of sub-
normal Monsoon and political
tension in Iraq may further
worsen the price situation.
Attributing rise in inflation
partly to withholding of food
stocks by traders, Finance
Minister Arun Jaitley said the
Centre is committed to ease sup-
ply side bottlenecks and has also
asked states to take firm meas-
ures against hoarders to check
speculation.
"The Government is seized of
the matter and is committed to
ease supply side constraints. The
rise in prices of food articles can
also be attributed to withholding
of stocks on account of apprehen-
sion of a weak Monsoon," he said.
He was commenting on the
Wholesale Price Index (WPI)
data which showed that inflation
jumped to five-month high of
6.01 per cent in May primarily
on account of costlier food arti-
cles, fuel and power costs. The
Union Finance Minister said the
State Governments should take
effective steps to ensure that
hoarding is discouraged. down,"
Jaitley said.
The rise in inflation has been
mainly on account of 31.44 per
cent increase in prices of potato,
19.40 per cent in fruits and 12.75
per cent in rice, according to the
official data on Wholesale Price
Index (WPI) based inflation. The
food inflation stood at 9.50 per
cent last month, while the manu-
factured inflation was 3.55 per
cent. Indicating that hard times
are ahead, Barclays (India) Chief
Economist Siddhartha Sanyal
said, The risks from a poor
Monsoon and uncertainties
around global oil prices due to
geopolitical tensions in Iraq
remain. Such high level of infla-
tion was witnessed last in
December when it was 6.4 per
cent. The WPI inflation was 5.20
per cent in April and 4.58 per
cent a year ago in May. The
March inflation figures have
been revised upwards to 6 per
cent from 5.70 per cent.
Expressing concern over spurt in
food inflation, industry chamber
CII said the Government should
implement APMC Act, develop
advanced supply chains, ratio-
nalise subsidies, augment
investment in agri-infrastruc-
ture and encourage FDI in retail.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
in his first address in the Lok
Sabha last week had said, We
have promised to control infla-
tion. We are determined to
achieve this target. The
Government is preparing contin-
gency plans to deal with the
impact of below-normal Monsoon
on food prices. The IMD has cut
its June-September Monsoon
forecast to 93 percent.
Politics
I
Mumbais suburban rail fare rollback
Has vote bank politics taken over Modi?
Narendra Modi has been
talking about 'bitter pill' to
improve the condition of the
economy. Recent rail fare hike,
despite facing ire of political
parties, received positive
response from the industry
and experts who know about
the condition of Indian econo-
my and Indian Railways.
Modi managed to create the
impression that his govern-
ment's decisions would be
based on merit only, and vote-
bank politics would find no
place in decision making. But,
now it appears vote-bank poli-
tics has taken over Modi, as
there are enough signals which
indicate that Mumbais subur-
ban rail fare rollback will hap-
pen soon. Unfortunately, this is
an effort to win over voters as
the state goes to polls later this
year.
According to experts, after
fare hike NDA finds it difficult
to face the voters, later this
year, during the assembly elec-
tions. Results of Lok Sabha
Elections had charged up BJP
and Shiv Sena, but rail fare
hike has dampened their
enthusiasm. Passengers trav-
elling in Mumbai local trains
are worst affected, and neither
Shiv Sena nor BJP could risk
putting them off and still hope
to win assembly elections.
Recently, 10 BJP and Shiv
Sena MPs met Railway
Minister Sadananda Gowda to
press for a roll back. The
Narendra Modi government
has come under pressure from
its own MPs to reduce the hike.
The recent hike in rail fares
has led to a steep increase in
the prices of monthly passes
for Mumbai local trains. The
MPs said that people in their
area were deeply upset about
the rise in monthly fares and
Gowda agreed with them
that the hike of over 150 per
cent in some cases was not
good.
The minister said Railway
Board officials will meet soon
and a relief will be
announced, another BJP MP
Kapil Patil said.
The state is going to polls
later this year and the leaders
of BJP-Shiv Sena alliance do
not want the hike to spoil their
chances of winning the polls.
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav
Thackeray has publicly flayed
the decision and demanded a
rollback. Somiaya said Gowda
has also assured them that
more facilities will be provided
to suburban travellers and
security will be enhanced.
Mumbai/New Delhi:
10
JUNE 30 TO JULY 06, 2014 (MP & CG) SPORTS
rom the beaches to the capital, Costa Ricans poured
into the streets Sunday to celebrate the national
team`s historic World Cup victory over Greece that
will put the team in the quarter finals for the first
time. Fans in the capital of San Jose gathered at the
Fuente de la Hispanidad, a fountain and traditional cele-
brating spot, carrying flags, wearing wigs and jerseys,
honking and whooping following the team`s win in a penal-
ty shootout.
"The country has fallen. There`s been an earthquake,"
said restaurateur Teo Prestinary, 43, on the beach in
Nosara, where he said it was jammed with countrymen
cheering, whistling and singing "Vamos Ticos," or "Go,
Costa Ricans." "It`s beautiful. It`s historic, emotional."
Maria Mendoza, 33, watched the celebration on television
from nearby Santa Ana, said she was, "happy, happy,
happy." Costa Rica reached Sunday`s match against Greece
after defeating Uruguay and Italy and tying England in a
division where it was considered the weakest team. It won
in a 5-3 shootout after the game ended 1-1 following extra
time. Now Costa Ricans say they could go all the way. "We
always had faith," said Luis Diego Escorriola, 42, who was
watching the final game commentary before joining the cel-
ebration. "The entire country is going to the streets."
Costa Rica celebrates World Cup win over Greece
Zaheer wants
Ishant to step up
during Test series
against England
Veteran India pacer Zaheer
Khan said that it was time Ishant
Sharma should step up and spear-
head the Indian bowling attack
during the upcoming five-Test
series against England, starting in
Nottingham on July 9. Ishant,
who is the only one out of the six
frontline seam bowlers in the
Indian squad to have toured
England before, had a miserable
outing during India`s tour match
against Leicestershire.
"It is Ishant who has played
the most number of matches and
he has been around for a while. It
is time he steps into that role,"
said Zaheer, who missed out on
selection for the England tour
because of a side strain. "For
Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) and
(Mohammed) Shami, it is their
first (England) tour so they will
look to Ishant and (bowling coach)
Joe Dawes for inputs to perform in
those conditions," he told
ESPNcricinfo. Ishant had played
only four Tests in England during
India`s 2011 tour and took just 11
wickets in that series.
Zaheer said Shami could com-
plement the rest of India`s seam
attack very well. "I was also
impressed by someone like
Mohammed Shami, who was able
to perform the pace bowler`s role
very nicely. "For a successful bowl-
ing unit you require a good fast
bowler with very good pace and
Shami has that. And that helped
me cope with my workload.
London
F
London: Kevin
Pietersen has said an
"underlying current of
unhappiness" within the
England side that devel-
oped during the Ashes
thrashing in Australia was
still at work had played its
part in the team`s first
home Test series defeat by
Sri Lanka. England went
down to a 100-run defeat
by Sri Lanka in the second
Test at Headingley on
Tuesday to lose the series
1-0 after the tourists clung
on for a draw at Lord`s.
The Sri Lanka series was
the first since Pietersen,
England`s all-time leading
run-scorer across all for-
mats, had his central con-
tract cancelled by the
England and Wales Cricket
Board. That decision,
which the ECB didn`t
explain by any reference to
loss of form or fitness, but
rather a need to "support"
Test captain Alastair Cook,
effectively ended the inter-
national career of South
Africa-born batsman
Pietersen. But hopes
results would improve
quickly in his absence after
the 5-0 Ashes reverse were
dashed by Sri Lanka. And
Pietersen, in his latest
Daily Telegraph column
published Saturday, sug-
gested there was more to
England`s woes than on-
field performance, citing
the way in which last man
James Anderson broke
down in tears after being
dismissed off the penulti-
mate ball at Headingley
as an example.
"England were in
winning positions in both
matches but blew it, and
I believe that is a symp-
tom of the senior players
being very unsettled.
They are not turning
up for the captain or
coach. "(Stuart) Broad
and (Anderson) looked
jaded at Headingley.
Why? Why was Jimmy
so emotional? We have
lost a lot of matches in
the past but he has
never shown such
emotion.
Pietersen says 'unhappy' Eng still
suffering Ashes hangover
Kristen dropped from sequel of Snow
White and the
Huntsman
11
JUNE 30 TO JULY 06, 2014 (MP & CG) GLAMOUR
Preity set for a
silver-screen
comeback:
This time
a bandit
I don't miss
working with
the Khans:
Vidya Balan
Mumbai: Actress-
businesswoman Preity
Zinta, whose current
legal conflict with ex-
beau Ness Wadia
scorched the head-
lines, is set to make a
comeback with Neeraj
Pathaks Bhaiyyaji,
in which she plays a
ferocious bandit.
The film will also
feature Sunny Deol
as a gangster from
Uttar Pradesh.
According to
Pathak, Preity has
pulled it off with
aplomb. Preity
plays a Uttar
Pradeshwali. She
plays a gangsters
daughter. Shes no-
nonsense UP gang-
ster and Sunny
Deols wife, he
added.
Apparently
Preitys transforma-
tion into a foul-
mouthed rustic ban-
dit was so convincing
that Sunny wants to
cast her as Sohnis
Punjabi mother in the
remake of Sohni
Mahiwal, a film that
the actor reportedly
wants to do with his
son in the lead.
Pathak said:
Preitys interpreta-
tion of the firebrand
wifes character is
bang-on. She will not
be seen as only for
urbane sophisticated
roles after Bhaiyyaji.
Weve 12 days shooting
left. We will complete
the shooting post-mon-
soon, said the director.
In the past Preity had
worked with both Sunny
and Bobby in The Hero:
Love Story Of A Spy
and Soldier.
Interestingly, both
the films were
hits.
now White and the Huntsman actress Kristen Stewart
has been dropped and won't be returning for the
movie's sequel which will now be a spin-off titled The
Huntsman The actress, who played the iconic fairy tale
character in the original movie in 2012, is said to have
been axed from the sequel as it takes a new angle
under director Frank Darabont, reports contactmu-
sic.com. According to The Hollywood Reporter,
the 24-year-old star won't be returning for the
second movie as it will now be a spin-off not
focusing on Snow White as a character.
S
ational-award winning actress Vidya
Balan says she has not been offered any
film with the Khans in Bollywood yet. Vidya,
who will be seen sharing the screen space
with newbie actor Ali Fazal in detective
thriller 'Bobby Jasoos', said she is not keen
on doing it either as she doesn't see herself
fitting into 'masala commercials.' "I don't
miss working with them. There has to be a
script that has enough for me to do.. It has to
be exciting for me. I have never looked for
films where I can work with certain actors.
"I have never planned my career.. I have
only responded to scripts that came my way.
To be working with (known) actors or new
actors, I don't plan my career that way. I
have a different approach. And I am very
happy with the kind of work I am doing,"
Vidya told PTI. "I have not really got offers
(for films with Khans).. not in the past seven
years. I don't see myself fitting into those
kind of films honestly," she added.
Meanwhile, gossip mills are abuzz that the
biopic on legendary Carnatic singer MS
Subbulakshmi, which Vidya, 36, will be
doing, is in some legal trouble. "I have no
information on that. In past one year it has
been put on hold. So, I dont know what is the
the status," she said. Now the actress will
also be next seen in director Mohit Suri's
'Humari Adhuri Kahaani' with Emraan
Hashmi and Rajkumar Rao.
N
12
JUNE 30 TO JULY 06, 2014 (MP & CG)
Owned Printed and Puplished byM.M. Baig. Printed at lucky, 267, Pragati Nagar, Shahanshah garden, Bhopal (MP) and published from H.No. 101, A Sector Indrapuri BHEL, Ward No. 63, Dist. Bhopal- 462021, M.P.
Tele/FAX 0755-4292545, Mob. 9425029901 [email protected] No. MPENG/2012/46415 Editor: M.M. BAIG- Responsible for selection of News & Articles under PRB Act, Subject to Bhopal jurisdiction
NATION
Beas tragedy stresses need
for dam safety laws
he tragic incident of 24 engineering stu-
dents getting drowned due to negligent dam
operations at the Larji hydropower project
has sounded an alarm on dam safety and
maintenance. In April, in a similar incident of sudden
discharge of water from Teesta V Dam near Dikchu
in Sikkim, a girl child playing in the downstream got
swept away. The district collector of East Sikkim had
taken the matter seriously and asked the dam opera-
tor, National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, to
submit a report on water releases and precautionary
measures. Still earlier, in January, a 4.8 MW Aleo
hydropower at Pirni, near Manali, had breached dur-
ing a trial run. Similar accidents near dams have
occurred with alarming frequency in the last few
years. But apart from handing out compensation to
victims in a few cases, and instituting probes in fewer
still, various state administrations and the central
government have uniformly failed to undertake a
thorough introspection on the issue of dam safety by
examining these accidents collectively. The countrys
water resources establishment maintains an ad hoc
attitude, responding to each dam-induced disaster as
it unfolds.
Even a half-hearted attempt to bring in a central
dam safety legislation took almost 25 years, starting
from the resolution adopted at the first conference of
state ministers for irrigation and flood control that
took place in 1975. While the dam safety mechanism
has been the subject of discussions in policy circles,
India doesnt have dam safety legislation at the union
government-level till date. Adraft bill was introduced
in parliament on 30 August 2010. This was discussed
by the parliamentary standing committee which sub-
mitted its report on 4 June 2011. The standing com-
mittee was surprised to note that the bill did not
mention the penalty to be imposed on the owner or
anyone responsible for the failure of the dam causing
disaster in downstream or upstream. The committee
felt that the bill would not prove as effective as it
should in the absence of any penal clause for such
grave omission.
Where have all dam safety measures gone? The
centres law on disaster management, enacted in
2005, lays down the structure for instituting disaster
management authorities at various levels of gover-
nance, and calls upon each level to prepare disaster
management plans. But in the language of legisla-
tion, disaster management is nothing more than
attempting to rescue helpless victims. As a result, the
law fails to lay down clearly defined and easily
understandable norms of institutional and official
accountability in the event of a serious lapse. The
engineers at the Larji dam seem to have argued that
had they not released the floodgates, the reservoir
water would have proved fatal for the dam structure.
However, that leaves us with the crucial question:
why was this reservoir filled up to brim in the first
week of June, well ahead of monsoon?
T
-S. Mani
Email: [email protected]
Shimla
Devotees seethe with anger, complaint lodged against Shankaracharya
complaint has been lodged
against Swami
Swaroopanand in Shirdi for
instigating religious feelings.
Expressing his disapproval on con-
struction of Sai Baba temples claiming
it to be merely a way of money making
by his devotees, Shankaracharya
Swami Swaroopanand addressed Sai
Baba as non-vegetarian and a robber,
describing his worship as a conspiracy
to divide Hindus. In his new attack on
Sai Baba, upholding his previous state-
ment, raised questions on Sai baba`s
watchwords Sab ka malik ek hai
(There is one god for everyone).
According to Dwarakapeeth
Shankaracharya Swami
Swaroopanand, Sai Baba is neither
god nor godman. He further describes
a godman is one who is full of virtue
but Sai was a non-vegetarian, used to
circumcise people and belonged to com-
munity of robbers. However, as per
Pandit Manish Sharma, an astrologer
from Ujjain that teacher - student rela-
tion is a part of ancient tradition of
Hinduism. It is believed that without
the grace of Guru or godman, one can-
not seek the blessings of gods- goddess-
es. The literal meaning of guru is - the
person who leads from darkness to
light. Anyone can be a guru and can
also be non-vegetarian.
Shankaracharya has also argued
against the incarnation of Sai and
insisted on the fact that in the ancient
scripture does not speak about anyone
else other than the incarnation of
Buddha and Kalki. Swaroopanand
argued that only incarnation of some-
one and godman is said to be wor-
shipped. Sanatan Dharma considers
24 incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The
Kaliyuga only describes the incarna-
tion of Buddha and Kalki. Therefore,
Sai cannot be an incarnation.
In an interview given to ABP news,
he said that Muslims visiting Sai tem-
ple is spreading off misinformation.
About one billion Hindus are misled.
Constructing Sai temples across the
country would divert attention from
Ram temple movement in Ayodya.
Ram Mandir project is very big and
creating a similar temple of
Combodia`s Angkor Wat requires big
funds. Some of the foreign organiza-
tions do not want the Hindu communi-
ty to unite, He added. He challenged
Sai devotees not to woo Sanathan
Dharam devotees.
New Delhi
A