High-tech 'Eye in the Sky' that can locate Maoists

New Delhi, Jun 29 (UNI) While the issue of using armed forces for anti-Maoist operations remains undecided, the Indian Army is already working to develop innovative methods to better its combat potential.

A Major in the Army has come up with a concept called 'Eye in the Sky', a model aircraft, which can be used to spot insurgents' hideouts and movements from a height of more than 350 m. ''The concept can be used at a height of at least 350 m above the ground and even people walking on the land can be spotted,'' the creator of the model, Maj Ashish Talwar, told UNI.

Detailing about the concept, he said the model aircraft has been modified as an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) with a camera and Global Positioning Navigation System (GPS) fitted.

''The specialty of this concept is that it can send back geographically referenced video imagery in real-time mode,'' the creator of the model, Maj Ashish Talwar, told UNI.

Pointing out one of the most significant utilities of the model, he said the video feed can be utilised to track any changes in the area like encroachments, damages to fences by comparing with the earlier video records, among others. ''It can also be used by Quick Response Teams (QRT) for aerial search,'' Maj Talwar, who is from Army Air Defence College in Gopalpur in Orissa, said.

Other salient features of the concept include quick launch, recovery capability, position reporting on secured frequency, low cost, ideal for field conditions, conceptual training and awareness of battlefield damage assessment, programmable both in Indian Army Grid Reference and Longitude/Latitude Format.

The Major is showcasing his invention during a two-day-long seminar-cum-exposition on ''Innovation - Marking a difference to the combat potential of Indian Army'' that started today at Headquarters Technical Group, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (EME).

The seminar was inaugurated by Chief of Army Staff Gen V K Singh in presence of senior officers from the Army and civil sector with participation from Defence Public Sector Undertakings, National Innovation Foundation (NIF) and Innovators
from the field Army.

External agencies like Foundation of Innovation and Technology, Transfer (FITT), Department of Science and Technology, SINE IIT, Mumbai, AIMA and Institutions of Engineers also participated in the seminar.

Army Chief ensures innovation in Army to get due recognition

New Delhi, Jun 29 (UNI) Realising that innovations done by the Armed forces remain unnoticed outside the sphere of uniform, Chief of Army Staff Gen V K Singh today ensured that the ideas would be given due recognition and passed on to the outside world.

''We will ensure that various innovative ideas are harnessed to their full potential and given due recognition so as to make sure that the transition from one generation to another is able to maintain the equipment in that prime condition,'' Gen Singh said.

He was addressing the gathering during the inaugural ceremony of a two-day-long seminar-cum-exposition on ''Innovation - Marking a difference to the combat potential of Indian Army'' held at Headquarters Technical Group, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (EME).

Gen Singh noted that 15 regional technical centres, affiliated to the Army Technical Group, are existing which ensure that the latest thing in the technology is passed to the environment. These regional centres also act as a type of repository of all
the innovations that came up in that particular region, he added.

Padmashri Prof Anil K Gupta, Dr S K Mittal from Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, W Selvamurthy, Chief Controller (Life Sciences and Human Resource), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), were also present on the occasion.

The seminar was attended by various senior officers from the Army and civil with participation from Defence Public Sector Undertakings, National Innovation Foundation (NIF) and Innovators from the field Army. External agencies like Foundation of Innovation and Technology, Transfer (FITT), Department of Science and Technology, SINE IIT, Mumbai, AIMA and Institutions of Engineers also participated in the seminar.

Sensitise rich for sustainable sanitation: Dikshit

New Delhi, Jun 28 (UNI) There is a need to sensitise rich people more than poor in order to have sustainable sanitation in the country, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said today.

''Not only the poor have to be made aware but the rich too have to be sensitised as they are the major garbage producer. Poor people do not possess the basic facilities but the rich class do not use them even if available,'' Ms Dikshit said.

The Chief Minister was speaking in the inaugural ceremony of a three-day-long national conference on 'Cost Effective Sustainable Sanitation - An Indian Experience,' here this morning.

The Chief Minister emphasised that there was a major problem of implementation. ''The government can provide funds, make plans, set infrastructure but it is the people who have to use them,'' she said. Even if there are toilets by the roadside, people are not in the habit to use them and likewise, garbage is not thrown even if the dustbins are present, she added.

''There have to have community participation,'' she noted. The conference is being organised by Plan India, a child-centered development organisation, in association with Water, Sanitation And Hygiene Institute (WASH).

Other stakeholders of the conference include Union Ministry of Rural Development, WES-Net India, SPHERE India, UNICEF, Water Aid and Water for People.

Book on Delhi Metro released to help tourists during CWG

New Delhi, Jun 26 (UNI) In an effort to make commuting in the capital more convenient, especially for tourists, ahead of Commonwealth Games, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today released a guide book on Delhi Metro.

The book written by Dr M Ramachandaran, Secretary, Union Ministry of Urban Development and Chairman, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (DMRC), gives station-wise details of interest to the metro users.

''The Delhi Metro has changed the travelling scenario in the city altogether. With the network's commencement, problems of pollution, congestion on roads, time wastage and cleanliness have been contained,'' the Chief Minister said while addressing
mediapersons.

The book titled 'Delhi Metro Stations and Surroundings' provides details of 143 stations with their classification, commencement date, location, facilities available, frequency of train services, availability of parking and footfalls received at the station.

The books, released earlier, have been of great help to the youth of the capital, especially the college students, who are now able to reach their classes and movie shows on time, she quipped. The Chief Minister expressed pleasure on the book as it also gives information on other modes of transport in the city.

''Many of us do not know which bus to catch from which Metro station to reach our destination. It has all the information about the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus stands,'' she said.

The book would also give one an insight into the locality in which the station is situated with landmarks nearby viz educational institutions, religious places, sports centres, health institutions, places of historical and tourist interest,
among others.

Referring to the Delhi Metro's expanding network, the Chief Minister said soon it will cover 190-km-long route and it is bound to become the life-line of the city after completion of Phase III and Phase IV when its total network length will be
around 414 km. Express Airport Line and other routes will prove to be very helpful during Commonwealth Games, she added.

DMRC Managing Director E Sreedharan, who was present on the occasion, described Dr Ramachandaran's tenure as Chairman of DMRC as a Golden Era of the Delhi Metro. Dr Ramachandaran expressed confidence that the book, priced at Rs 100, will become a valuable guide to Metro users and visitors.

''The book is also a great source of knowledge for people who do not know the meaning of terms like gauge over which they travel daily,'' he said. The book will be available at all Metro stations in a week's time. ''Interested readers will be able to avail the book from the Station Managers,'' DMRC chief PRO Anuj Dayal told UNI.

Activists raise voice to free Pasha, protect their rights

New Delhi, Jun 23 (UNI) Calling the arrest of Abdul Shakeel Pasha, a senior operative of Maoists, a conspiracy, various civil society groups today alleged that government is on a witch-hunt for rights' activists in the name of anti-Maoist operations.

''Under the garb of anti-Naxal and anti-Maoists operations, the Central and state governments have declared a semi-emergency,'' social activist Shabnam Hashmi said.

She said the time has come when if a person raises voice against the Central authorities, ''he is claimed a Naxal or a Maoist.''

On one hand they talked of initiating peace talks with the rebels, while on the other they arrested such great activist on the basis of their past, she noted. ''Is it a crime to have ideology? It is our constitutional right to raise voice against whatever we feel is wrong or unacceptable,'' Ms Hashmi said.

She alleged that the government had held innocent Muslim men for either belonging to terrorist groups or being one and the same was being done with the Rights' activists and civil society groups. Pasha, accused of recruiting youth from south Gujarat and
Ahmedabad for the organisation, was arrested by police on June 18 and brought to Surat on a transfer warrant the next day. There he was produced before a local court at Kathor village, which remanded him to police custody for seven days.

He was closely associated with People's War Group (PWG) and has worked in Gujarat. Before him, the police had arrested 13 other accused for their alleged involvement in anti-Naxal movement in Gujarat. They include Niranjan Mohapatra, K N Singh, Maka Chaudhary, Avinash Kulkarni, Ramu Puwar, Bharat Puwar, Sulat Puwar, Jayram Goswami,
Satyam Rao, Vishwanath Iyer, Surya Dewra Prabhakar and Venkataiya Kuttupatti.

Tanveer Afaque, another activist who has closely worked with Pasha for many years, termed the act of arresting these people incarceration of trade unionists, forest right activists and ordinary workers. ''They had demanded that the Constitutional Rights of the people be restored. Is a new, but unannounced, emergency creeping
silently across the nation?'' he asked.

The members demanded that the authorities stop playing an unfair game against the activists. ''Pasha should be given a fair trial and released on bail too,'' Mr Afaque said.

The civil society groups present in the forum included Haq, Anhad, Aman Biradari, Peace, Insaf, Delhi Solidarity Group, National Alliance of People's Movements, National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers, Hazard Centre, South Asia forum for Human Rights, Human Rights Law Network, New Trade Union Initiative, Shahri Adhikar Manch, People's Union for Civil Liberties, among others.

Delhi kids to play with colours on Rahul's 40th b'day tomorrow

New Delhi, Jun 18 (UNI) The Delhi Pradesh Youth Congress (DPYC) is all set to celebrate 40th birth anniversary of Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi tomorrow.

''We are organising a drawing and painting competition on the occasion which is open to all the children in the capital,'' a DPYC spokesperson told UNI today.

He said it was decided in a meeting headed by the DPYC President and MLA Anil Chaudhary. The competition is divided in three sections according to the age groups -- up to six years, six to 15 years and 15 years and above.

''Each participant will also get an opportunity to write a message for Mr Gandhi,'' Mr Chaudhary said. The competition will be held from 0900 hrs to 1100 hrs
in nine districts of Delhi.

He said last year also, a similar painting competition was held. ''The best chosen paintings from last years' participants will be put on exhibition, called 'Chitra Kala Pradarshini','' he said.

Aiming to avail the opportunity to celebrate the 125 glorious years of the formation of the Congress party, it has been decided that the DPYC will bear all the expenses of the education of one deserving child for an year from each district.

''Apart from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize, we will adapt one deserving child from each district and his or her cost of education for one year will be borne by the DPYC,'' the spokesperson said.

Opposition's claims politically motivated in NC Hills scam: Gogoi

New Delhi, Jun 17 (UNI) Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today reacted strongly towards reports of Opposition accusing the state government of trying to protect the culprits in North Cachar Hills scam.

''The Opposition is raising a hue and cry just to gain political mileage by levelling baseless and politically motivated statement to tarnish the image of my government,'' Mr Gogoi said while addressing mediapersons here.

He asked that why the Opposition parties, AGP and BJP, were keeping mum when the CBI found prima-facie case to be tried in the court in LoC scandal against the then Chief Minister. ''What is their stand today on it?'' he said.

Mr Gogoi stated that the people of Assam, would see through the Opposition game plan and continue to rally behind the state government ''to unravel the misdeeds of certain unscrupulous elements in the embezzlement of public money in the NC Hills''.

Yesterday, the CBI had arrested two people, including a Junior Engineer, in connection with a corruption case in NC Hills Autonomous Council in Assam and recovered Rs 13.45 crore, in cash stacked in sacks and boxes from the house of a relative of a scam-accused official here.

The house, in Assam’s main city, is owned by Amjad Hussain, brother-in-law of RH Khan, one of the main accused in the multi-million rupee financial scam in Assam’s NC Hills district.

Khan, a deputy director in the state social welfare department and one of the 14 accused by the CBI of conniving with militants in swindling development funds, is in jail.

He was unraveled by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) last year.

Insurgency reduced in Assam; Gogoi quotes figures

New Delhi, Jun 17 (UNI) Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today claimed that insurgency in the state has reduced to a great extent and expressed hope that the decision taken to initiate talks with Ulfa and other insurgency groups will be fruitful.

''Due to development that has taken place in the state, insurgency has reduced vastly. This is because the progress has helped in abating the support bases of the insurgents,'' Mr Gogoi told mediapersons.

Quoting figures, the Chief Minister stated that incidents of extremist-related violence in the state have reduced from 584 in 2009 to 137 till June 15 this year.

''The number of civilians and security force officers killed has also come down from 255 in 2009 to 25 till Tuesday,'' he said.

Detailing about encounters happened in the state, he said they have lessened from 187 in 2009 to 59 till Tuesday while number of extremists killed have reduced from 209 last year to 68 till June 15.

In regards to recoveries made, he said last year, arms and ammunition recovered were above a thousand but this year till now it has been around 200.

Speaking about the talks to be held with the insurgent groups, Mr Gogoi said it was a very good sign that most of them have shown keen interest in holding negotiations with the government.

However, he reiterated that they would not wait for Paresh Barua, Ulfa's commander-in-chief, to start the process. ''We will not wait for Paresh Barua for an indefinite period. If he wants to come, he is invited else we will surely go ahead with the talks,'' Mr Gogoi added.

The decision by the Centre was taken after Mr Gogoi met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on June 15 and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram yesterday.

Dance the Salsa on June 19!

New Delhi, Jun 16 (UNI) It seems Spanish is the flavour of the season in films, culture and commerce!

At a time when the 'Hispanic' (Spanish) fever is still on after the release of Hrithik Roshan and Spain's Barbara Mori starrer 'Kites' last month, Salsa will be colouring the streets of Delhi on June 19.

Instituto Cervantes, the Spanish language institute created by Spanish Parliament, will hold the second edition of the Spanish Day on the day to celebrate the importance of Spanish as an international language.

With plays, concerts, movies, magic show, dance, games, children's workshops, food tasting and Mexican cuisine, poetry, cartoons, folklore, 12 Latin American and Caribbean countries exhibition and many more surprises, the day will be full of
cultural activities attended by the language lovers in and around the national capital.

Speaking to mediapersons here today, director of the institute Oscar Pujol Riembau said, ''The day is celebrated across the world with the realisation that around 14 million students study the language as foreign language.''

He noted that the countdown to the event has been for a while. The institute had started a website in March 2010 where the internet users voted for their favourite word in the language or play the 'Game of Spanish', he said.

''The final round of the game will happen on the day giving much opportunity to the language lovers to know more about it. The winners will get a chance to win a free trip to the country,'' he said.

One of the other exciting events during the day would be the ''Rain of Words,'' wherein the Spanish words written on small pieces of soft material would be showered from a height and students would catch them.

Serve society by means of Mediation Centres

New Delhi, Jun 15 (UNI) Mediation Centres, established by the Delhi Government, are providing a unique opportunity to people who want to serve the society by way of resolution of those disputes which have been lying in courts for years together.

In this initiative, taken up by Delhi Dispute Resolution Society (DDRS) in the Department of Law, Justice and Legislative Affairs of the Delhi government, not only lawyers are involved but members of various Resident Welfare Associations, retired
officials, bureaucrats, social workers and socially spirited people are also enrolling themselves.

''All respectable citizens can become the mediators by undertaking prescribed training by the DDRS,'' Principal Secretary (Law, Justice and LA) M L Mehta told mediapersons today. He added that interested people could also join the Society in spreading awareness about the programme.

Various non-governmental organisations (NGO) and other organisations which have been dealing in consumer affairs and/or family disputes have also approached the Society to workout mechanism for resolving the pre-litigative disputes, Mr Mehta
informed.

In regards to lawyers, those who have undergone training as prescribed by Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee (MCPC) of the Supreme Court and have got the certificate of trained mediator, are eligible to become the mediator.

At present, there are three such centres working in three different districts of the national capital located at Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Patparganj and IP Estate. Four other centres are coming up at Parliament Street, Rohini, Nand Nagri and Rajpur Road.

In addition, sub-centres will also be set up in public places like hospitals and markets.

The kind of cases enlisted in the rule-book of such centres include neighbourhood issues, family disputes, student issues, commercial complaints and other miscellaneous like human rights, cross-cultural and religious disputes, police, petty crime, disabilities, charitable, among others.

Within last three months, altogether 97 cases have been resolved by these centres, Mr Mehta said.

''Cases that had been lying pending in the courts for more than ten years were resolved at these centres within 45 minutes,'' he added.

Fear of honour killing? Approach Mediation Centres

New Delhi, Jun 15 (UNI) At a time when honour killings are a shock not only to Haryana but also the national capital, Delhi government's Mediation Centres today reminded people that they are here to provide counselling and enable mutual settlement.

An initiative by Delhi Dispute Resolution Society (DDRS) in the Department of Law, Justice and Legislative Affairs of the Delhi government, the Mediation Centres are a forum in which an impartial and neutral mediator tries to bring the disputant parties to arrive at a mutually agreeable solution.

''In times when children and parents are not able to convey their feelings to each other in a right manner, these centres can provide an opportunity to ventilate their feelings and grievances and thereafter work out the solution to meet their interests,'' Principal Secretary (Law, Justice and LA) M L Mehta told UNI today.

He said both the parents and the children can be counselled thereby increasing the possibility of settlement.

Mr Mehta, who is also the Chairman of DDRS, detailed that mediation was done in a very neutral and friendly atmosphere.

''The mediator establishes communication between the parties and also listens to both the parties separately to generate options for amicable settlement,'' Mr Mehta said.

However, to a query, he noted that even in such counselling sessions, the mediator could not impose anything on the parties. ''The cases are solved through settlement but not by passing orders,'' he said.

He added that these centres could not take up the cases of honour killings as ''they are very serious ones''. The kind of cases enlisted in the rule-book of such centres
include family disputes, domestic violence, parent-child disputes, human rights, cross-cultural and religious disputes, among others.

At present, there are three such centres working in three different districts of the national capital located at Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Patparganj and IP Estate. Four other centres are coming up at Parliament Street, Rohini, Nand Nagri and Rajpur Road.

In addition, sub-centres will also be set up in public places like hospitals and markets.

The reminder comes a day after a girl and a boy, allegedly in a love relationship, were brutally killed by the former's family as the two belonged to different castes.

Delhi Task Force to curb illegal water bottling plants soon

New Delhi, Jun 14 (UNI) The Delhi government will soon intensify its special drive to seal such illegal water bottling plants in the capital which are running without legal authority and proper licence.

To ensure for providing safe, pure and clean drinking water to the people, the government will form a state level task force to check on clean water in Delhi and will seal the illegal drinking water bottling plants.

''A nine-member state level task force, headed by Director, Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA), will have members nominated from Delhi Police, Divisional Commissioner, MCD Commissioner, NDMC, Dy Secretary (Home), Drug Controller, two SDMs (One from North and One from South),'' Delhi Health Minister Kiran Walia said today.

She said the task force will have full rights to check the quality of water being packed in bottles at the water bottling plants and on violation they will have the right to seal the plants and get registered a case against the defaulters.

Prof Walia added that though Department of Prevention of Food Adulteration was engaged in conducting drives to check the purity of all types of eatables and food and drink, there was a need to launch a special drive to check the illegal water bottle plants.

''Such bottling plants not having BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards Certification) will be sealed out rightly by the task force authorities,'' she noted.

She said the department was facing a lot of difficulty in picking samples of packaged drinking water as the exercise required the services of other related departments too.

''Keeping this in mind, the government has decided to constitute the task force to check the purity of water and to ensure the sealing of illegal water bottling plants prevalent in Delhi,'' she said.

During a special drive launched in the last week of May, 56 samples of special packaged drinking water were lifted from various corners of Delhi. Prof Walia said violators could be punished with imprisonment from six months to three years under provisions of law apart from sealing the plant.

Become a star online!

New Delhi, Jun 11 (UNI) Gone are the days when an upcoming writer, director or actor had to wait and go door to door to vouch for his or her talent as the ticket to fame is now just a click away.

Indian social networking portal, ibibo.com, in collaboration with Maruti Suzuki, has come up with a new concept, iSerial Star, inviting writers, directors or actors to come online and showcase their respective talents to get selected for the country's first online serial.

''In this talent hunt game, the aspirants have to upload a video showcasing their respective talent on their own profile page. Once uploaded, the ibibo community will then vote for the person, making him or her popular,'' a company's spokesperson said today.

The participants can upload the videos made through their mobile phones also, he added.

At the end, the participants who will be able to garner the maximum number of votes would be chosen for the online serial.

''A total of eight actors, two script writers and two directors will be chosen for the 24-episode-show. They will be making the serial under the supervision of country's two well-known directors,'' the spokesperson said.

Raman Kumar of the serial 'Tara' fame and Khalid Hashmi, the man who played a pivotal role in the launch of 'Zee News', have joined hands to bring forth this serial which is likely to go online this August.

Anderson flew in, out of Bhopal in state govt's plane: Capt SH Ali

New Delhi, Jun 10 (UNI) Claims that Union Carbide CEO Warren Anderson had flown in and out of Bhopal in a state government plane was today strengthened by the aircraft's pilot.

''We got flight information from the then Director of Aviation R S Sodhi for a flight from Bhopal to Delhi and were told to keep the aircraft, a state government plane, ready,'' Captain Syed Hasan Ali claimed.

He added that Anderson's identity was kept a secret from him. ''We did not know who he was,'' he said.

Capt Ali further claimed that Anderson was alone in the aircraft and looked upset and tired.

''As we waited for him, he came with the then SP and the District Magistrate of Bhopal. When we landed in Delhi, an ambassador picked him up from next to the plane and I left him with the airport manager,'' he claimed.

Capt Sodhi, seconding the pilot's claims, said it was on orders of Arjun Singh government that Anderson was allowed to fly.

''I had received a call from the office of the then Chief Minister, Arjun Singh, ordering to arrange Anderson's departure on December 7, 1984,'' Captain R S Sodhi claimed in an interview to a news channel today.

He alleged Anderson, a few hours after he came to know about his charges with culpable homicide, reached the airport where the Chief Minister's official plane stood waiting for him, along with senior bureaucrats and police officers.

The city's Superintendent of Police and the district magistrate, Moti Singh, waved to Anderson as he boarded Singh's plane, he said.

Earlier, Moti Singh had also alleged that the then Chief Secretary of the state had called him to his room and told him to arrange for the flight of Anderson out of Bhopal.

''The then chairman Keshub Mahindra and UCIL's then managing director Vijay Gokhale after landing in Bhopal were taken into custody at the airport itself but soon after that, he and the district police chief were told by the Chief Secretary to get the
US citizen released on bail and send him to Delhi by plane,'' he said.

Global Acceptance becomes theme of World Accreditation day '10

New Delhi, Jun 9 (UNI) Global Acceptance became the theme for this year's World Accreditation day as it plays an important role in the support of competitive markets and cross-border trade.

Jointly established by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), this worldwide initiative is celebrated every year this day to raise awareness of the importance of
accreditation-related activities.

''Global acceptance of accredited certificates is a central pillar of accreditation as it provides businesses and regulators with confidence that products entering the market conform to specification, meet national legal and regulatory requirements,
therefore serving to protect public interests in general,'' a spokesperson for Quality Council of India (QCI) said today.

He explained that in global trade, reassurance in the measurements, tests, inspections and certification performed in another jurisdiction was essential.

''Without these standards, the free exchange of goods and services would be hampered by technical barriers, thereby increasing costs for importers and consumers,'' he said.

QCI, the apex accreditation body of India, was mandated to create an accreditation infrastructure in the country in line with the developments around the world and obtain international acceptance of conformity assessment.

This was sought to be accomplished through the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB), National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) and National Accreditation Board for Education
and Training (NABET).

Animal welfare: Volkswagen withdraws 'Polo' ads

New Delhi, Jun 9 (UNI) Volkswagen, a major player in the automobile industry, has withdrawn the television and print commercials of its new car, Polo, as they could ''instigate cruelty to animals''.

The Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO) had requested the company to discontinue the advertisements as they encouraged audience to speed through buffalo and rhinoceros herds, a FIAPO spokesperson said today.

''Aggrieved by the instigation that could potentially hurt animals, we had requested the company as well as the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) to initiate appropriate actions,'' she said.

The official informed UNI that FIAPO is also working on a draft code to be submitted to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and ASCI that would regulate the depiction of animals in films and advertisements.

She said violence towards animals displayed on television, even when staged, made light of a very serious issue, and public perception about the treatment of animals was often strongly influenced by images in the media.

Although the Animal Welfare Board of India sets minimum standards for animal care in some circumstances, the laws are insufficient and loosely enforced, she said.

Disabled leaders to go on indefinite hunger strike from tomorrow

New Delhi, Jun 8 (UNI) To protest against the non-inclusion of differently abled people in the Committee formed to draft the New Disability Act, 15 disabled leaders will go on an indefinite hunger strike here from tomorrow.

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE) had formed a Committee to draft a new legislation to replace the Disability Act of 1995 on April 30.

However, Javed Abidi of the Disability Rights Group alleged that the 27 odd member Committee has only three people with disabilities.

''They overlooked the basic tenet of United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the bedrock of the disability rights movement - 'Nothing about Us, Without Us','' he said.

Mr Abidi said he had met Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Mukul Wasnik on May 26 in this regard but the Minister did not agree to reconsider or even to include more disabled people in the Committee.

Earlier, the disabled leaders from across the country and across disabilities had held a candlelight vigil on May 29 in front of the Minister's residence as a mark of protest.

Mr Abidi, who is also Honorary Director of National Centre for Employment for Disabled People, further said the Committee will be meeting for the first time on June 10.

''To strongly protest against this move and to reiterate our demand that the Committee should be inclusive, 15 disabled leaders from the southern states will sit on an indefinite hunger strike tomorrow outside Shastri Bhawan,'' he said.

NHRC chief Balakrishnan favours development to end naxalism

New Delhi, Jun 7 (UNI) New chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) K G Balakrishnan today underlined lack of development as the major reason behind naxalism.

Terming naxalism a ''very complex problem'' both for the common man and security forces, the former Chief Justice of India said people in naxal-infested areas have been living with inadequate infrastructure.

''There are no hospitals, no roads, along with many other things in these areas. Naxalism is a very complex problem for all including the common man, tribals as well as police and security agencies,'' Mr Balakrishnan told mediapersons here.

The NHRC chief also sympathised with the security forces that are martyred while fighting extremists.

Reportedly, he had recently agreed to the fact that all the naxal-affected and militancy-affected states of the north-east were the human rights hotspots and use of force alone could not bring in an all time solution to these problematic areas.

Mr Balakrishnan today formally took charge as the sixth chairperson of the NHRC.

Bhopal verdict: NHRC chief Balakrishnan agrees judgement delayed

New Delhi, Jun 7 (UNI) New chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) K G Balakrishnan today agreed that the verdict on the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy came too late.

Initially refusing to comment on whether the verdict was too little and too late, the former Chief Justice of India later accepted the delay in the judgement.

However, replying to a question why the guilty people have not been considered under section 302 of IPC, he said what mattered in the case was the intention of the person involved in ''killing''.

''There is a difference between culpable homicide and murder. It depends on the intention of the criminal but not on the number of people dead,'' Mr Balakrishnan, who became the sixth chief of the NHRC, told mediapersons here .

The section 304 (a) of the Indian Penal Code pertains to death caused by carelessness and acts of negligence and carries a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment and fine while the section 302 is for punishment for murder wherein whoever commits murder shall be punished with death or imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to fine.

When asked about his opinion if the quantum of punishment was less, he denied to comment and said, ''The aggrieved parties can file an appeal with the NHRC and inadequacy of sentence is also a ground for appeal.''

In a landmark judgement of international ramifications, a local court today pronounced the Union Carbide India Ltd's then chairman Keshub Mahindra and seven others guilty in the world's one of the worst industrial disasters.

The NHRC chief also played safe while referring to compensation being given to the tragedy victims.

''There is a committee to look into the grievances of the victims. According to the latest report submitted by the committee in the Supreme Court, all possible efforts are being made by the committee. About 400 petitions are still pending with them which include non-genuine ones also,'' he said.

Describing the tragedy as the greatest man-made calamity for the country, he said the Supreme Court had taken active steps in dealing with the case.

He further said the tragedy raised many complications but had good follow-ups like the Environment Protection Act and many other legislation which came after the disaster.

DU admissions likely to go online next year: VC

New Delhi, Jun 1 (UNI) Providing a major relief to students, Delhi University is likely to go online with its application procedure from next year, DU Vice Chancellor Deepak Pental today said.

Addressing a gathering of students, their wards and mediapersons, Dr Pental said one of the IT majors, Wipro, has been working on a project to enable Student Life Cycle Automation.

''Once the project would be made, all the students' data from his or her admission till final results would be fed in the software,'' he explained.

A student's transcript would be prepared in the end of the session which could be sent to the students at their home without any wastage of time, he added.

The Vice Chancellor was speaking during 'Lok Abhiyan', a face-to-face discussion organised by senior BJP leader and former Union Cabinet Minister of State Vijay Goel.

During the discussion, Mr Goel raised multiple issues, especially related to admission. They included increase in number of seats, initiation of evening classes in more colleges of the university, debate on priority being given to students belonging to Delhi, increased number of hostels and online admission procedure.

Talking about the debate regarding priority to Delhi students, Dr Pental said DU was a central university wherein students from all around the nation were allowed to study.

''It is the university's strength that students from all over are coming to study here. We should support those who come from under developed areas of the country like north eastern states and Chhattisgarh if they aspire to study better to become good citizens,'' he said.

Referring to infrastructural development in the university, the VC said works were in progress to bring about the developmental changes. ''In the next five years, I am sure that the university will have altogether a new face,'' he said.

He added that the decision regarding introduction of semester system has been taken to reduce the wastage time of students. ''It is not meant to harm anybody, rather it will lead to better study options. As far as the teaching time is concerned, it will
remain 180 days like present,'' he said.

MTNL employees raise numerous 'mismanagement' issues

New Delhi, May 31 (UNI) Employees of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) today raised multiple issues related to ''mismanagement'' in the organisation, including alleged outstanding dues worth hundreds crores.

The concerns were raised by hundreds of employees during a function organised to bid farewell to MTNL staff union's General Secretary, Ch Sarup Singh, here today.

''More than Rs 500 crore outstanding dues have to be realised from VIP customers. No task force have been deployed for realisation of these dues,'' a union's spokesperson alleged.

He added that Dolphin network is not being managed properly to give customer base to private operatives. ''Similarly, broadband service is also mismanaged. Modems are not procured obstructing new addtions of subscriber base,'' he said.

Referring to 3G spectrum, the official said it has not been running profitably and in addition, the 2G service has also not been augmented.

He further alleged that the land allotted to MTNL by Delhi Development Authority (DDA) remained unutilised. ''Penalty of Rs 1000 crore has been raised by the DDA,'' he claimed.

Training centres built in Delhi and Mumbai have also remained unutilised. ''These centres can be given on lease to other agencies and considerable revenues can be mobilised,'' he said.

Minister of State for labour Harish Rawat and Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) members were also present on the occasion.

The employees were assured by Ch Singh, who was presented with a luxurious SUV by the union, that he would continue to work for them and said the issue of settlement of pension at par with BSNL will also be resolved shortly.

Maoists' main target is Delhi, not Dantewada: Raman Singh

New Delhi, May 20 (UNI) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh today said the main target of Maoists was not Dantewada but Delhi and so joint efforts were needed to fight the menace.

''The aim of the Maoists and Naxals is not Dantewada. They want to take over the country's economy and democracy by targetting the Centre,'' he said.

Dr Singh was speaking during a panel discussion on ''Maoists and Naxalism: Challenges and Solutions'', organised by Forum for Integrated National Security (FINS) here.

Giving out facts, the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister said it was very much visible that the Maoists, who were not less than terrorists, had been focusing on mostly those places or states in the country which were rich in resources.

''States full of mines of iron-ore, bauxite, coal, oil, among other resources, have always remained their main target. This proves that they want to conquer the country's economy,'' he said.

Giving a clarion call to the nation, Dr Singh said since it was the problem of the whole country, every citizen would have to stand together and fight the menace.

''At this stage, we will have to keep aside politics and stop thinking whether the thought-process of two bureaucrats matches,'' he said.

In reply to a question, if the state was planning to bring about any change in its strategy to fight Maoism, he said, ''Strategies are ought to change with time.''

Dr Singh also referred to certain issues regarding Maoism and called them ''myths''.

''I will like to clarify three myths that people in Delhi have been talking about. Firstly, Chhattisgarh government is not using any trading operation to bring in Multi-National Companies in Bastar. We have only been carrying out value addition works,'' he said.

''Secondly, it is a misconception that Naxalism is an outcome of social, cultural and economic differences only. There is no Zamindar, no rich, no poor, no particular caste in Bastar. In fact, the male to female ratio in the state is second best in the
country,'' he added.

The third issue raised by the Chief Minister was of development. ''Everybody says that Naxals and Maoists have been doing this in demand for their development. It is not whole truth. To cite an example, to construct a 22-km-road in 20 days, altogether 12 policemen had to lose their lives because the localities did not
want development,'' he said.

However, Dr Singh asserted that 98 per cent of the state's people want peace and non-violence and the state government has been taking all possible steps to curb the menace.

He noted that one of the biggest problem in the state was of less force. ''In addition, the country's force is not at all prepared for Guerrilla warfare either mentally or physically,'' he said.

In this regard, Dr Singh said the need was that every Indian state should have an institute or a training centre wherein the country's force could be trained for guerrilla warfare.

Before the discussion, a two-minute-silence was also observed remembering those who lost their lives in the recent Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh wherein Maoist guerrillas triggered a powerful landmine under a bus killing 31 people, many of them
civilians.

Online campaign to ban honour killings launched

New Delhi, May 18 (UNI) Responding against honour killings, a women's institution working on social action has launched an online campaign requesting the President of India to ban verdicts by Khap panchayats that justify cruelty and murder.

Launched by the Centre for Social Research(CSR), the campaign urges the citizens to support the initiative against the panchayats who have been dictating ruthless verdicts and operating as parallel courts, becoming a social challenge.

''The so-called 'preservers of the Indian tradition' are surpassing the Panchayati Raj Institution and Indian Judicial System thereby violating the rights of individuals in a democracy,'' CSR director Ranjana Kumari said.

The tyranny unleashed by the Khap panchayats on the pretext of safeguarding tradition needed to be quelled under threat of severe punishment, she added.

People can join the campaign by clicking on the following link, http//www.ipetitions.com/petition/bankillingsinthenameofhonor/.

Dr Kumari noted that the petitions will be sent to President Pratibha Devisingh Patil almost every day.

The social activist added that by creating the false impression that all marriages of choice between young couples are incestuous, ''the Khaps are actually opposing the right to choose a marriage partner.''

Referring to the Khap Panchayats in Haryana who are now seeking legal sanction for verdicts, she said, ''Lawyers and public representatives are backing such self-imposed caste-based dictators, mainly emboldened by the political patronage they
receive.''

She alleged that such self-styled counsels were common in the interior areas of several states mainly Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan.

Condemning the gruesome acts of killings in the name of 'honour', Dr Kumari asserted that every adult has a right to marry a partner of his or her choice and no self-styled council have the right to impose their choice on them.

''There is a strong need to ban such panchayats and councils,'' she added.