Sunday 15 July 2012

Bihar News, Latest News from Bihar, News of Bihar, Biharprabha News

Bihar News, Latest News from Bihar, News of Bihar, Biharprabha News


India remembers Mohammed Usman, the hero of 1947 Pakistan war

Posted: 15 Jul 2012 06:30 PM PDT

The Indian Army Sunday remembered Brig. Mohammed Usman – its highest-ranking officer killed in the 1947 India-Pakistan war.

A commemorative function was organised here to celebrate the birth centenary of the late officer. who described as a “symbol of India’s inclusive secularism”.

“At the time of partition, he with many other officers declined to move to the Pakistan Army and continued to serve the Indian Army, despite the bait of becoming the Pakistan Army Chief and intense pressure from the Pakistani leadership to join the army of the new nation,” a statement issued on the occasion recalled.

Usman was serving the Baluch Regiment that went to the Pakistan Army at the time of partition.

He was transferred to the the Dogra Regiment and was commanding 50 Para Brigade, deployed at Jhangar in December 1947 when the war with Pakistan broke out.

He was posted at the Jammu and Kashmir front as the brigade commander and led his soldiers from front in repulsing a fierce attack on Naushera and Jhangar, two highly strategic locations in the state.

He won himself a name “Lion of Naushera” for defending the sector with an unparallelled courage and valour.

He was, however, killed in action July 3, 1948.

He was awarded a posthumous Maha Vir Chakra for his role in the 1947-48 operations.

The commemorative function at Manekshaw Centre here was attended by Vice President M. Hamid Ansari, Defence Minister A.K. Antony, his deputy M.M. Pallam Raju, and Army Chief Gen. Bikram Singh, among others.

Ansari described Usman as “the hero of the battle of Naushera”, who, he said, “is one of the most inspiring military leaders of Independent India”.

“The heroic deeds of Usman will continue to inspire the Indian Army in the years to come.”

A film, “Naushera Ka Sher”, on his life was also screened.

SC notice to centre on facilities for Amarnath pilgrims

Posted: 15 Jul 2012 05:30 PM PDT

Taking note of reported deaths of 67 pilgrims who fell sick on way to the holy shrine of Amarnath in Jammu and Kashmir, the Supreme Court has issued notice to the central government seeking details of medical arrangements.

Besides the central government, the court also issued notice to the union home ministry, union environment and forest ministry, the state government and the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board.

The court has asked them to appear before it and answer seven questions posed by it concerning facilities for the pilgrims.

“In our considered view, the pilgrims have a constitutional right under Articles 21 and 19(1)(d) to move freely throughout the territory of India, free of fear, with dignity and safety and to ensure enforcement of such right is the primary obligation of the state and the central governments,” said the apex court bench of Justice B.S. Chauhan and Justice Swatanter Kumar taking suo motu cognizance of newspaper reports about the deaths of the pilgrims Friday.

The notice is returnable in a week.

Taking note that 107 pilgrims died during the last year’s yatra, the court said that “the time intervening the previous and the current year clearly demonstrates that the authorities have not taken any effective and appropriate measures for protecting the life of thousands of devotees who visit the holy cave during this limited period, despite the print media repeatedly bringing this to the notice of all concerned”.

“Thus, within the constitutional mandate of Article 21, this court would have no option but to pass appropriate directions,” the court said.

“They (the authorities) are also expected to make appropriate arrangements for darshan at the holy cave so as to avoid health hazards and injuries, provide proper paths and one-way system passages to the pilgrims to the holy cave,” the court said.

Some of the issues raised by the court in the notice are: “Whether there exist proper medical facilities to prevent human casualties. Further to provide emergency medical aid in the event of these yatris falling sick because of cardiac and other related problems” and the steps taken to “protect the environment in that area” including “collection and disposal of the waste…including by yatris “enroute and around the holy cave”.

“All these aspects need to be taken care of by the concerned authorities certainly with greater emphasis and they cannot escape their obligation to provide minimum essential facilities including roads as an approach to the holy cave,” the court said.

The court said that the government was expected to equip their forces posted in and around the cave so as to have “complete human dignity for the pe sons working there as well as for the pilgrims coming to the holy cave”.

The court observed that “where it is a matter of common knowledge that the yatra to the holy cave of Amarnath is an occasion of privilege and pride for a devotee, there it is also a matter of great concern for the government of India, the government of Jammu and Kashmir and the Amarnath shrine board”.

Referring to newspaper reports. the court said that “with the passage of time, the things have hardly improved”. All these reports clearly showed disregard to the human life.

This court has repeatedly held that in terms of Article 21 of the constitution, a person has a right to live with dignity and not be subjected to inhuman treatment, particularly in such places where large number of people are bound to visit because of their faith.

Aamir to meet Manmohan Singh to discuss manual scavengers’ plight

Posted: 15 Jul 2012 04:30 PM PDT

Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan will call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi Monday to highlight the problems of manual scavengers engaged in cleaning human waste, an aide said Sunday.

According to the aide, Aamir is scheduled to call on the prime minister Monday morning.

Among other things, he will bring to the prime minister’s notice the problems of manual scavengers in different parts of the country.

Aamir had highlighted the issue in a recent episode of his popular television programme “Satyameva Jayate”.

An estimated 300,000 manual workers are engaged in this degrading profession and continue to be regarded as social outcasts.

Earlier, Aamir had made a presentation before a parliamentary committee on issues concerning the medical and pharmaceutical sector after a show on the subject triggered a nationwide debate.

Wrestler Sushil Kumarto lead India’s Flag at London Olympics

Posted: 15 Jul 2012 03:30 PM PDT

Sushil Kumar, the Beijing Olympics bronze winning wrestler, will be India’s flag-bearer at the London Games’ opening ceremony July 27.

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra announced here Sunday that Sushil was chosen for the honour after due consideration.

Malhotra said other Olympic medallists Leander Paes (tennis), Abhinav Bindra (shooting) and Vijender Singh (boxing), were also in the reckoning for the flag-bearer’s role.

“Sushil will be India’s flag-bearer at the London Games. Names of Paes, Bindra and Vijender were also brought up for the role. Paes has already given the honour while Bindra and Vijender have their competition in the early days of the Olympics,” Malhotra said.

Vijender, who was the other bronze medallist at Beijing, has his first round bout a day after the opening ceremony while shooter Bindra’s event is also in the initial days of the mega event.

Atlanta bronze medallist Paes was the flag-bearer at the Sydney Games in 2000. Trap shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore carried the national flag in the Beijing edition four years ago.

Delhi Metro Trains to have 8 Coaches soon

Posted: 15 Jul 2012 09:35 AM PDT

 Delhi Metro RailTo deal with the problem of over crowding, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will introduce trains with eight coaches by the end of this year. Mandatory tests and trial runs have already begun, an official said.

“We have begun extensive tests and trial runs of the eight-coach trains at the Khyberpass Metro depot. We expect to introduce them by the end of this year,” a DMRC official said here Sunday.

The eight-coach trains would accommodate 2,400 commuters and make the ride comfortable as compared to the present four- and six-coach trains, which have carrying capacities of 1,500 and 2,100, respectively, during a single trip.

Initially, the additional coaches will be plied on Line 2 (Jahangirpuri-HUDA City Centre), Line 3 (Dwarka-Noida City Centre) and Line 4 (from Yamuna Bank to Vaishali), which register a footfall of over 13 lakh a day.

“Several rounds of testing on signalling, safety, speed pick-up, jerking and breaking are being carried out by engineers. These tests are expected to continue for another 15-20 days,” the official said.

The DMRC has already placed an order for 212 new coaches.

“The new coaches will be delivered by September, after which the integration and commissioning process will begin which involves many technicalities,” the official added.

“We plan to convert 37 six-coach trains into eight-coach ones on Line 2 (Jahangirpuri-HUDA City Centre), 31 trains on Line 3 (Dwarka-Noida City Centre) and Line 4 (from Yamuna Bank to Vaishali),” the official said.

The Delhi Metro normally makes over 2,700 trips a day, covering about 70,000 km and carrying around 1.8 million passengers on week days.

Pinki Pramanik accuses her Live in Partner of Theft

Posted: 15 Jul 2012 08:21 AM PDT

Pinki PramanikAsiad Athlete Pinki  Pramanik  has filed a theft complaint against her Live-In Partner who had earlier accused her of Rape and led Pinki to Jail for almost a month.

According to Pinki, “I was out of my house for almost a month and when I returned many of my belongings were missing so I have lodged a police complaint. I have also sought police protection”.

“We have received a complaint of theft from Pramanik and we are looking into the matter,” said a police officer.

Pinki, who has denied all charges against her, was critical of the media saying that she was targeted despite being innocent.

“She (her live-in partner) ruined my life by making a false allegation and the media has been projecting her as a victim and targeting me. I am innocent. I am now feeling insecure and apprehensive about my safety and security,” added Pinki.

Pinki was arrested June 14 and remanded to judicial custody by a court the next day after the athlete’s live-in partner, a divorcee and a mother of one, filed a police complaint accusing the sportsperson of being a male who repeatedly “raped and tortured” her.

The woman who had alleged Pinki of raping her filed a new case of criminal breach of trust against the former athlete July 13.

Several medical tests to determine Pinki’s gender have been conducted and the reports of these tests have been submitted before a West Bengal court.

Pramanik, who retired from athletics three years ago, won gold in the 4×400 metres women relay at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha in Qatar. The runner was a silver medallist at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games the same year. Asiad gold medallist runner Pinki Pramanik, accused of being a male and committing rape, Sunday sought police protection and filed a theft complaint against her live-in partner on whose complaint she was arrested in West Bengal June 14.

“I was out of my house for almost a month and when I returned many of my belongings were missing so I have lodged a police complaint. I have also sought police protection,” said Pramanik, who got bail after spending 26 days in judicial custody in North 24-Parganas district.

“We have received a complaint of theft from Pramanik and we are looking into the matter,” said a police officer.

Pinki, who has denied all charges against her, was critical of the media saying that she was targeted despite being innocent.

“She (her live-in partner) ruined my life by making a false allegation and the media has been projecting her as a victim and targeting me. I am innocent. I am now feeling insecure and apprehensive about my safety and security,” added Pinki.

Pinki was arrested June 14 and remanded to judicial custody by a court the next day after the athlete’s live-in partner, a divorcee and a mother of one, filed a police complaint accusing the sportsperson of being a male who repeatedly “raped and tortured” her.

The woman who had alleged Pinki of raping her filed a new case of criminal breach of trust against the former athlete July 13.

Several medical tests to determine Pinki’s gender have been conducted and the reports of these tests have been submitted before a West Bengal court.

Pramanik, who retired from athletics three years ago, won gold in the 4×400 metres women relay at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha in Qatar. The runner was a silver medallist at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games the same year.

When Rajiv Gandhi made a bridge in UP on Paper

Posted: 15 Jul 2012 07:30 AM PDT

In September 1989, Rajiv Gandhi, then the prime minister, laid the foundation of a bridge on the Chambal river. Nearly 23 years later, there is no sign of any structure on the site.

Where did the bridge, which would have been a boon to villagers in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, go? asked Naresh Paras, secretary of the Agra Right To Information (RTI) Forum.

Genda Lal, project manager of the UP State Bridge Corporation, said: “The foundation stone was laid in September 1989. But work did not progress due to lack of coordination and permission.”

But Subodh Sharma, an activist from Pinahat, 75 km from here, asked why was the foundation stone laid if environmental clearance or a no objection certificate from the forest department was not there?

The issue has come to light through an RTI application filed by Paras.

The bridge on the Chambal, from Agra to Morena in Madhya Pradesh, was to be built at a cost of Rs.24. 50 crore, according to estimates presented before the state finance committee in 2006.

Currently, villagers cross the river on a pontoon bridge. “And during the rainy season, only big boats can ferry people across,” says Subodh.

A UP State Bridge Corporation official, who did not want to be named, said the corporation had not received permission for the bridge since it was located within the Chambal wildlife sanctuary – a protected area.

A Supreme Court committee too had to clear the project. Repeated letters and reminders have been sent to the forest conservators in Gwalior and Lucknow, but there had been no response, the official said.

However, the wildlife sanctuary was notified five years after the foundation stone was laid.

“For five years, they did nothing even though at the rally organised for Rajiv Gandhi, it was said that the bridge would be ready in a few years,” said Ram Sewak, a resident of Bah.

N.D. Tiwari was UP chief minister and Moti Lal Vora the state governor, said V.P. Mishra, a local resident. Sonia Gandhi had accompanied Rajiv Gandhi for the function, he said.

An application had been sent to a centrally empowered committee of the Supreme Court in 2007 for clearang the project.

People of Jodhpura village in Pinahat have preserved the foundation stone tablet with Gandhi’s name on it.

“The villagers still hope the bridge will come up some day,” said Banto Devi, a Dalit woman on whose land the tablet stands.

In reply to the RTI query, the sate Bridge Corporation said: “The detailed project report and execution plan are prepared only after clearance.”

But Paras differed. “Look at the facts of the case. The people of the area have been cheated. They were given a lollipop at the time of an election (the Lok Sabha polls were held in November 1989 and Rajiv Gandhi’s Congress was voted out of power).

“The Congress forgot and later other parties too failed to highlight the issue. We have a minister from the area in the Akhilesh Yadav-led state government. If he takes up the matter, some progress can be made. Whenever the bridge comes up, it will be a relief to the people on both sides of the river,” Paras said.

Amitabh Bachchan amazed by Progress of Women

Posted: 15 Jul 2012 06:30 AM PDT

Amitabh BachchanMegastar Amitabh Bachchan is amazed with the way women are progressing and says that the time is not too far away when “women shall rule the world”.

The 69-year-old was in Ranthambore as a part of NDTV’s “Save Our Tigers” campaign and is surprised to see how young girls are single-highhandedly managing the task to make the show successful.

“It is complete madness! The screaming and shouting of the time left…and all this for one program…But remarkably, what needs to be paid attention to is that it is being managed and operated by women – 90 percent of them!! And I am told when the station started, the average age of those in command was 25 years! This is modern India. This is women power. This is awesome,” Amitabh posted on his blog srbachchan.tumblr.com.

“…It has been not just a great experience for me, but a moment of immense pride! May they prosper ever and continue to assert themselves in the years to come. The time is not too far away when women shall rule the world, taking over from the men, if they have not already,” he further posted.

Assam Island Village gets 24×7 Power Supply using Solar Electricity

Posted: 15 Jul 2012 05:30 AM PDT

Assam is getting famous for notoriety these days, but Baleswar village  in Assam located in riverine Island has made a remarkable achievement in the Scientific Development.  The Entire Village is lit using electric supply derived from Solar Power only. And if thats not enough, the village does not have any power cuts like their counterparts in big city like Guwahati.

“We don’t have any power cuts, like our fellow brethren in the city!” quipped Rekibul Rahman, one of the island dwellers who runs a tailoring shop. Rahman’s shop’s light and fan runs in the evening with the power generated by the solar panel.

There are no electric poles on the tiny island village of Baleswar in Assam’s Nalbari district of Assam. Even then, you can see people using fans and lights, charging their cell phones and even operating computers! All thanks to solar power.

Setting an eco-friendly trend, the villagers of Baleswar, like in many other nearby island-villages, are using solar panels to harness solar energy, which in turn helps them run their electrical equipments.

“These solar panels are a common sight in our village, and in the nearby villages too. You will see them in front of shops and homes; the price of the panel depends on how much power you need,” Rahman explained to IANS.

“For instance, the panel that I have generates enough power through the day to charge the battery, which will in turn run a light and a fan, which is my requirement. It can also charge my mobile phone. The panel has 35 small, circular solar plates and cost me around Rs.4,000,” he added.

The price of these panels corresponds to the power requirement and are available for sale in the nearby town of Nalbari, about 70 km from Guwahati.

Lakshmi Pegu, a homemaker and mother of three, has a hint of pride in her voice as she shows the lights and fans in her rooms.

“These solar panels have really changed our lives! I no longer cook under the kerosene lamp, and my son can study with ample light; when it gets hot, we can use the fan. Just like my sister does at her home in the town,” Pegu smiled.

Ainul Hussain, a farmer, has a computer at home. “We have to be careful with its usage, because it needs a lot of energy to run. My son operates it and it is for him that I bought it,” he said.

“These panels are available in Nalbari, but I bought mine from Guwahati. I had to shell out about Rs.10,000, which is a large amount for a simple man like me, but our quality of life has improved. So it’s all worth it,” he added.

According to Rahman, nearly 70 percent of homes in Baleswar have solar panels. The population on this tiny village-island is around 1,500.

At the government level, the Assam Energy Development Agency (AEDA) has been promoting non-conventional energy sources like solar, wind and biomass for industrial and domestic use, especially in remote rural, hilly and border areas which are connected to the conventional grid.

More than a thousand villages in Assam have been electrified using solar energy till date.

“During monsoons, our island often gets cut off from the rest of the world. The mobile phone has been a blessing — we can keep in touch with our relatives and even seek help by a call. And all of that has been possible because of these panels. At the end, it’s nature which has come to our rescue,” Pegu signed off with a simple, yet powerful thought.

IGNOU to start Advanced Certificate course in Power Distribution

Posted: 15 Jul 2012 04:30 AM PDT

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has started its admission process for a course in power distribution meant for professionals seeking to upgrade their skills in the electricity sector.

The Advanced Certificate in Power Distribution Management (ACPDM) has been developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Power, USAID-India and the Power Finance Corporation under the Distribution Reform Upgrades and Management (DRUM) project.

“The advanced certificate programme is meant for professionals employed in electrical power utilities or the electricity sector to upgrade their skills, enhance systematic efficiency and deliver quality power to the satisfaction of the beneficiaries,” said an official statement Sunday.

The programme further aims to disseminate information about the current developments and reforms in the power distribution sector while generating awareness about the applications of emerging technologies and trends.

“It will also educate the personnel employed in the sector about various prospects of power distribution management,” the statement said.

The last date to apply for this programme is July 30, 2012.

No comments:

Post a Comment