News across India for the month of May

[Pintu]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Politics/Nation/articleshow/5938514.cms

Stampede at New Delhi railway station kills 2, over 15 injured
17 May 2010, 0216 hrs IST,ET Bureau

NEW DELHI: A stampede at the New Delhi railway station, which left two dead and more than 15 injured, is set to turn into a political tussle ahead of the Bihar elections. A change of platforms for two Bihar-bound trains at the last moment triggered the incident in which a woman and a child were killed and several others injured.

The incident is likely to spark off a political row, with the Bihar elections likely to be held by the year-end. The NDA is most likely to point an incriminating finger at the UPA government and its railway minister Mamata Banerjee for not paying enough attention to the management of the railways.

The minister, for her part, has instructed officials to ensure that strict action is taken against those responsible for the stampede. The railway minister has ordered a probe into the stampede and has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased, Rs 50,000 for the seriously injured and Rs 15,000 for those with minor injuries.

Ms Banerjee was quick to react to the incident. But she refused to blame the railways. "It is not the failure of the administration. People are responsible for such chaos. It is difficult to control such situations," Ms Banerjee said from Kolkata. Her statement seems to be an attempt to duck the blame for the incident in the wake of what appeared to be a case of last-minute change in plans.

The stampede occurred at around 2:45 PM after an announcement was made about the change of platforms for Delhi-Muzaffarpur Sapt Kranti Express and Delhi-Bhagalpur Vikramsila Express. A 35-year-old woman Soni, hailing from Bhagalpur, and a boy, about 10-12 years of age, who is yet to be identified, died in the incident.

A three-member committee of the senior divisional commissioner, operating commissioner and senior divisional commercial manager will look into the matter.

The railways confirmed that a high-level enquiry had been ordered into the stampede, but added that over-crowding and heavy rush led to the incident. The Delhi police also said the stampede took place after last minute changes in the platform numbers.

The matter could be brought up in a big way by the NDA, which will make out a case for negligence on part of the railways. Ms Banerjee has already come in for considerable flak for devoting a large part of her time and efforts to West Bengal politics rather than the running of the Indian Railways. Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit mourned the deaths at the New Delhi station. The injured were taken to the LNJP hospital in the Capital for treatment.

 

[Pintu]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...emand-for-early-polls/articleshow/5938523.cms

Buddha rebuffs Didi's demand for early polls
17 May 2010, 0224 hrs IST,ET Bureau

KOLKATA: West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Sunday dismissed Union railway minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's demand that the assembly elections in the state be advanced if CPM loses the May 30 civic polls.

He instead said the assembly elections would be held on schedule in May 2011 and there was no question of advancing it. Addressing a press conference at the CPM's headquarters on Alimuddin Street on Sunday, Mr Bhattacharjee also came down heavily on Ms Banerjee for demanding early polls.

The CM said: "Those who have been seeking early polls are probably in the dark about the constitutional provisions in this light. It is only the state government that can recommend early assembly elections."

For the last few days, Ms Banerjee has been claiming that the state assembly elections, scheduled in May 2011, would be advanced. She had also claimed that she would press the Centre for early elections if the CPM lost the polls to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and 80 other civic bodies, which are scheduled on May 30.

This is the first time that the CM openly rebutted the railway minister's demand for early elections. "The elections to the state assembly will take place on time and there is no question of advancing it," said Mr Bhattacharjee.

He sought to know what the half-a-dozen odd Union ministers of state from Bengal, who won the 2009 LS elections on Trinamool tickets, had been doing for the past one year.

 

[nrj]

Singh sheds 'weak leader' tag in UPA-II

New Delhi: A CNN-IBN and Hindustan Times opinion poll conducted on the eve of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government completing its first year in office on Monday has thrown up some interesting facts.

According to experts, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who the Opposition alleged to be a 'weak leader', is seen as effective, firmly in control and purposeful in the second UPA Government despite failing to impress critics on the issue of price rise and corruption among his ministerial colleagues.

The findings are ironic in the sense that during the 2009 elections, the Opposition's main poll plank was that Singh was a 'weak leader'. Neither the voters bought the Opposition line then and nor do the experts now.

Among those polled, 61 per cent rate Dr Manmohan Singh as effective, speedy and purposeful while seven per cent see him as unimaginative and slow. Only four per cent feel that he is ham-handed and inconsistent. Significantly 28 per cent think he needs to be bolder.

However, despite the overall positive findings, the experts have rated the Prime Minister poorly on critical issues of price rise and stemming corruption.

Thirty-one per cent of respondents say that the Prime Minister failed to be tough on corrupt and tainted ministers while 39 per cent think that his inability to check prices was his biggest failure.

Nevertheless, despite the mounting controversies involving ministers in UPA's second term in office, experts still rate the Prime Minister as hands-on.

Forty-two per cent respondents rate him as being very firmly in charge whereas 24 per cent see him as an out of the box thinker.

However, foreign policy seems to be his biggest drawback. As fallout of the Sharm-el-Sheikh fiasco, only seven per cent agreed he was successful in building political consensus over foreign policies.

On the issue of building political consensus over domestic policies, 20 per cent think Manmohan Sigh carried his party along; 24 percent think he has improved Indo-US ties while 37 per cent think he saved India from serious spillover from world recession and led to economic growth.

Source

 

[Pintu]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...l-at-Physics-Olympiad/articleshow/5942644.cms

Mumbai girl at Physics Olympiad
TNN, May 18, 2010, 01.28am IST

MUMBAI: Three years ago, as a student at Jamnabai Narsee, Aakanksha Sarda just about managed to go past the red line in physics. A decision was arrived at that day: Sarda would pursue English literature at St Xavier's, and would never have to look at the complex formulae and equations that physics throws up. In that short journey from school to college, though, something changed fundamentally and on Monday Sarda became the second Indian girl to qualify for the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO).

Sarda and four others — Mehul Kumar from Jaipur; Sanchar Sharma from Jodhpur; Shivam Handa from Delhi and Vipul Singh from Bhilai — will all represent India in the 41st IPhO 2010 to be held in Zagreb, Croatia, from July 17 to 25. "My mother pushed me to relook at physics and the logic of the subject soon dawned on me. Physics is my favourite subject," said the 18-year-old who has been admitted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to pursue her undergraduate education.

About 36,000 students from across the nation participated in the first level examination. Of these, 312 were selected to move up to the next level, the Indian National Physics Olympiad (INPhO) examination. The INPhO examination was conducted in 15 centres across the nation and 37 students were selected to participate in an intensive training camp from May 4 to 17. On Monday, the five finalists were declared.

"All the students who participated in the camp were brilliant. The top five we have selected will go on and represent India at the International Physics Olympiad 2010 and I am sure they will do the country proud," said Vijay Singh, National Coordinator for Science Olympiads.

In physics, India has been faring rather well at the Olympiads — since some years, the Indian team's tally has remained similar — it has bagged four gold medals and a silver. "This year, we are hoping for all five golds," said Sathaye College student Sarda. A student who has topped the ranks since some years, Sarda also topped the Class X ICSE exams two years ago and has spent the past two years preparing for various entrance tests along with the Olympiads.

"I am sure that Aakanksha will make it to the Indian Institutes of Technology too. But she feels that MIT is where she belongs. She has been a student who used to hate physics, but had an open mind towards it. She is now one of the finest brains in the subject," said Praveen Tyagi, proprietor of IITians' Pace, a coaching academy, where Sarda was tutored.

But does falling in love with physics alter more than her career path? "Not really. I still manage to catch a couple of movies every week. I learn French and I am going for the international linguistics Olympiad. Last year, I won a silver," said Sarda.

Along with Sarda, Mehul Kumar from Jaipur is also part of the team. He said his preparation for IIT-JEE helped him since it required in-depth studying. "Also, several topics for the Physics Olympiad are similar to those in the CBSE curriculum for Standard XI, XII. A strong hold over the basics is also a must," said Kumar.

 

[Pintu]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Mumbai/Rape-accused-seeks-bail-/articleshow/5941254.cms

Rape accused seeks bail
PTI, May 17, 2010, 06.56pm IST

MUMBAI: A 29-year-old man arrested for allegedly raping and murdering a minor and then dumping the body on the terrace of a building in police quarters, on Monday approached the sessions court seeking bail.

Mohammad Ajmeri Shaikh, a rickshaw driver, was arrested on March 9 this year for allegedly raping and then murdering nine-year-old Anjali Jaiswal. Anjali had gone missing from her home at Nehru Nagar in suburban Kurla on March 5. Her body was recovered the next day from the terrace of a building in police quarters nearby.

Shaikh, who was arrested on March 9, in his bail plea alleged that the police have falsely implicated him in the case due to the hue and cry created by local people over no action taken by the police.

"On March 5, a group of people had assaulted Shaikh accusing him of committing a theft in the area and had taken him to the police station where he was kept the whole day. On March 6, Shaikh was undergoing treatment for his injuries at a local hospital and thus the question of him murdering and raping Anjali does not arise," his lawyer Prakash Wagh said.

The lawyer said also the DNA samples taken from the victim and Shaikh do not match. The court will hear the bail plea on May 20.

 

[Pintu]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...es-tie-knot-in-Mumbai/articleshow/5938381.cms

60,000 couples tie knot in Mumbai
Chittaranjan Tembhekar, TNN, May 17, 2010, 12.55am IST

MUMBAI: It was marriage season in all its resplendence on Sunday. Flower-bedecked pandals sprung up in every nook and corner of the city and brightly-lit banquet halls, hotels and gardens were overflowing with guests and caterers as nearly 60,000 couples tied the knot on the auspicious Akshay Tritiya.

Akshay Tritiya marks the beginning of the marriage season. According to the Hindu calendar, this year it arrived on the heels of the one-and-half month period of 'Adhikmas', which is considered inauspicious for weddings. As such, there had been no muhurats since March onwards.

Leading caterers like Maharaja Caterer, which is owned by former Association of Hotels and Restaurants president Chandrahas Shetty, served at seven marriage parties throughout the day. "We were under a lot of pressure as there was a shortage of cooks, cleaning staff and utensils. Even the delivery of sweets from our wholesale manufacturers was delayed," said Shetty.

A corollary of the wedding spree is that all government-owned and private hotels and resorts are choc-a-bloc.

MTDC general manager Vijay Chavan said bookings for the next one-and-a-half to two months are already 100% full, as honeymooners had reserved their 'love resorts' well in advance. The same is true of private resorts and getaways.

 

[Pintu]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...woman-to-prostitution/articleshow/5938436.cms

Man arrested for driving woman to prostitution
Nitasha Natu, TNN, May 17, 2010, 01.15am IST

MUMBAI: A 24-year-old man was arrested by the Versova police for confining a woman for nearly six years and pushing her into flesh trade. Jugal Singh, the accused, lured the 23-year-old victim to come to Mumbai with offers of roles in Bollywood films. Singh has also been booked for practising slavery, criminal breach of trust, unlawful labour and assault.

The victim, Sunita Basu (name changed) hails from a poor family in Kolkata. Singh had allegedly promised to marry her, police said. "After bringing Basu to Mumbai six years ago, Singh confined her at various areas in the city. During this period, Singh and his associates used to assault Basu," an official said.

Singh would put out advertisements in newspapers and give out his phone number for men looking at befriending young women. Basu was forced to solicit clients. If she refused, he would threaten her with dire consequences.

"Singh used to run a prostitution racket. On May 9, Basu broke the window lock at a house in Versova where she was being detained, and escaped. Singh was asleep at that time. Basu got in touch with Alankar, an NGO working for womens' rights and having an office at Seven Bungalows in Andheri (W). Initially, the police recorded Basu's statement but did not register a complaint.

After a detailed investigation, a case was registered and Singh arrested on May 14. Officials said he had vacated the house at Versova after Basu's escape. He has been sent to police custody till May 17.

 

[Pintu]

http://www.ptinews.com/news/657157_Cyclone-warning-for-nine-coastal-districts-of-Andhra

Cyclone warning for nine coastal districts of Andhra

STAFF WRITER 21:13 HRS IST

Hyderabad, May 17 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh government today alerted the district administrations of nine coastal districts to take preventive measures in view of cyclone warning issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

A low pressure formed over Bay of Bengal today may turn into a cyclone over the coastal districts of the state, official sources here said.

The low pressure area over South-East Bay of Bengal has concentrated into a depression and lay centred about 930 km East-South-East of Chennai.

The low pressure formed over Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm and move initially in North Westerly direction towards Andhra Pradesh coast, according to a warning issued by the Commissioner for Disaster Management.

 

[Pintu]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...e-Laila-inches-closer/articleshow/5951115.cms

Heavy rains batter coastal Andhra as cyclone Laila inches closer
TIMES NEWS NETWORK & AGENCIES, May 20, 2010, 12.54am IST

HYDERABAD: At least eight persons were killed as heavy rains accompanied by fierce winds battered the coastal districts of the state on Wednesday ahead of cyclone Laila which continued its collision course with the AP coastline and is now set to make a landfall close to Machilipatnam in the late afternoon or evening of Thursday.

As of Wednesday night, the severe cyclone Laila was 'practically stationary' and lay centred about 250 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam and 500 km south-southwest of Visakhapatnam.

"It is likely to intensify further and move slowly in a northwesterly to northerly direction and cross the AP coast between Kavali and Kakinada close to Machilipatnam by Thursday afternoon or evening," the Indian Meteorological Department said. After landfall, the cyclonic system is likely to move northeastwards across Orissa and West Bengal.

By Wednesday night, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna and Guntur experienced heavy rainfall and the inclement weather was spreading to Nellore, Prakasam and Visakhapatnam districts. Three persons were electrocuted in Krishna district while five persons were killed due to different incidents caused by the rains and accompanying winds in the other coastal districts since Wednesday evening.

The cyclone is slated to generate wind up to a speed of 125 kmph and a heavy rainfall of up to 25 cms or more in the coastal region over the next 36 hours. Because of the gales and a storm surge of up to two metres above the regular tide, low-lying areas in the coastal districts will get inundated, electric poles uprooted, power and communication lines snapped, thatched huts washed away, trees uprooted and escape routes flooded, the met office said.

Nearly 30,000 people were evacuated from low-lying areas in the coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Evacuation of people from low-lying areas in all the nine coastal districts began on Wednesday evening and a major relief camp set up in Machilipatnam. As many as 770 villages in these districts are likely to bear the brunt of heavy rains. People have been advised to keep important documents and valuables ready and be ready to move to shelters at short notice.

The state government has directed the army to be on standby. Relief teams armed with rescue and relief material, helicopters and boats are ready to be pressed into service. South Central Railway (SCR) and RTC authorities have set up special teams to monitor the damage caused by the cyclone to their properties and take effective preventive and remedial steps.

After reviewing the situation here on Wednesday, revenue minister Dharmana Prasada Rao said the effect of cyclone Laila in the state in the form of rains will remain for another six days. The speed of the gales is expected to intensify to about 140 kmph on Friday and drop to about 105 kmph by Saturday.

The Met office said that the sea condition will be 'phenomenal' along and off the AP coast during the next 36 hours and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea. Apart from rail and road services, even airline services are likely to be affected. After the cabinet meeting, chief minister K Rosaiah directed the coastal district ministers to rush to their respective areas and oversee rescue and relief operations. Nine IAS officers were also posted as special officers to the 9 coastal districts to execute the operations.

Meanwhile, the Centre is rushing over 400 personnel of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) along the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh to meet any exigencies arising out of cyclone Laila. A total of 438 personnel of NDRF along with 64 inflatable boats and search and rescue equipment are being sent to the state. They will be deployed in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Machilipatnam, Guntur, Prakasam and Nellore.

 

[Pintu]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...-dip-in-mercury-level/articleshow/5951299.cms

Laila to bring rain; dip in mercury level
TNN, May 20, 2010, 01.59am IST

BANGALORE: Be prepared for heavy rain in the coming days, warns the meteorological department.

Thanks to Cyclone Laila that is advancing towards coast of Andhra Pradesh, almost entire Karnataka, including Bangalore, will receive moderate to heavy rainfall on Thursday. Heavy rain of 7-12 cm is likely to occur in isolated places across the state in the next 48 hours.

"The coastal areas of the state will bear the brunt. Bangalore will also get a good share of rain along with south-interior and north-interior parts of the state. The rain will continue for at least three to four days before weakening and gradually dissipating," a met official told TOI.

The next two days will also see a considerable dip in temperature. The maximum temperature recorded on Wednesday saw a dip of at least eight degrees. It had dropped from a 32.7 degrees Celsius recorded on Tuesday to just 25.4 degrees Celsius on Wednesday. According to met officials, the temperature is expected to slowly go back to the normal summer days over the weekend.

 

[Pintu]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...o-pressure-halts-work/articleshow/5946889.cms

BDA bows to pressure, halts work
TNN, May 19, 2010, 01.42am IST

BANGALORE: After two days of sudden digging at the site, work on the proposed national military war memorial came to a halt on Tuesday. The entire work area within the Indira Gandhi national musical fountain park wore a deserted look.

BDA supervising engineer Thyagaraj said: "We started work as there was no interim order to stop it. The stay is only on cutting of trees, not on construction of the war memorial. So we went ahead with the digging work. Now we have stopped it due to public pressure."

Added to this was chief minister B S Yeddyurappa making it clear that no work will go on till the high court gives its nod. Echoing the CM's views were walkers and members of Krishna apartments owners welfare association who protested against the construction which they said was in violation of the court's order.

"Somehow, we have been able to stop the work. It's not a personal construction. It's for a war memorial. Why do it in a hurry? When the issue is still in court, status quo has to be maintained. These people are highlighting cutting of trees but the argument is about construction of any kind of structure within the park," said Sudhir Pai, member of the association.

"You might not have cut the trees but have suffocated them by digging. However, we will wait for the final judgment before deciding on any course of action" he added.

 

[Pintu]

http://thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=328496&catid=35

Laila likely to hit state

19 May 2010
KOLKATA, 19 MAY: The cyclonic storm Laila is likely to hit the coastal areas of West Bengal and Orissa on Thursday night or Friday morning. Weathermen have forecast rains and squally weather in the city due to the cyclone in the coastal belt and have advised fishermen not to go out into the sea.
Laila is likely to intensify further and move in a northeasterly to northerly direction and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Kakinada, close to Machilipatnam by Thursday morning. "After this, there is a chance that the cyclone will move towards Orissa and West Bengal affecting the weather in the coastal regions," said Dr GC Debnath, director, Alipore Meteorological office. Finance minister Mr Asim Dasgupta held a meeting to discuss ways to handle disaster management in an efficient manner. The state has decided to send 4.28 lakh tarpaulins to the districts. Meanwhile, two persons were killed and four fishermen injured as heavy rains battered coastal Tamil Nadu while a full alert was sounded in Andhra Pradesh.;SNS

 

[anouchka]

Marico Innovation Foundation recognizes Defence IHARas one of the best Innovations

http://www.business-standard.com/in...at-\innovation-for-india-awards-2010\/395436/


India's best Innovations honoured at 'Innovation for India Awards 2010'
Announcement / Economy May 19, 2010, 19:21 IST

Instituted by the Marico Innovation Foundation, to acknowledge the exemplary efforts
of the Indian innovators, who have made a real difference to the nation

The third edition of the 'Innovation for India Awards 2010', instituted by the Marico Innovation Foundation, culminated its journey, honouring the achievements of a multitude of ingenious minds, behind 'India's Best Innovations'. The evening was a stimulating experience, for the power packed audience of 500 industry stalwarts, dotted with innovations that challenged existing norms.

Eminent industry leaders like Mr. Sam Pitroda (Advisor to PM on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations), Dr. R.A. Mashelkar (Chairman, Marico Innovation Foundation & President, Global Research Alliance & CSIR Bhatnagar Fellow) Mr. Rajan Bharti Mittal (Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Bharti Enterprises) and Mr. Harsh C Mariwala (CMD, Marico & Founder Member, Marico Innovation Foundation) also shared their insights on making India, an innovative landscape.

This year's selection of awardees showed the very best face of Indian inclusive innovation. Bharti Enterprises bagged the 'Global Game Changer Award', for the telecom revolution in India. In the business category, Reliance's KGD6 won for their combined synthesis of advanced technologies, extreme engineering, innovative execution, yielding unprecedented results and impact on India's energy security. The diversity of Indian innovation was evident from Tutor Vista Global Pvt. Ltd.'s initiative, also a winner in the business category, which converted face-to-face personalized tutoring into a virtual personalized service.

In addition, the 'Innovation for India Awards' also acknowledged breakthrough innovation, in various social and public service sectors. Goonj's exemplary efforts of providing access to reusable clothing to the needy, was an excellent social example, of bridging the gap between the urban and the rural. This project ensured continuous resourcing and demonstrated a practical solution, for NGOs and village communities, to emulate and replicate on their own. PRS Legislative, was also a great social innovation in its domain, for being the first port of call, for credible information on Parliament and Legislation, for MPs, journalists and citizens groups.

In the category - Business for social, Tata Chemicals and TERI, were jointly recognized for its unique innovation - Greening of Malara: Solid Waste Dump Site. The highly alkaline and saline site of Malara, was transformed into a green cover, with a living eco system, using bio fertilizers and bioremedian techniques. If replicated, this could contribute to environment tremendously.

This year, the new category of Public Services Awards, saw a number of effective innovations that displayed brilliant examples of inclusive development. Post a challenging shortlisting process; the jury finalized two innovations viz. Jyoti gram Yojana and Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR) innovation in Ladakh.

A revolutionary initiative by the Government of Gujarat, the Jyoti Gram Yojana, has brought about power and irrigation reform in the region. This scheme is a pioneering management of electricity and groundwater found nowhere else in the world. In order to facilitate the socio-economic development in Ladakh, the DIHAR initiative helped the army and local inhabitants to join forces and implement an inclusive model, leveraging the platform of science and technology.

The 'Innovation for India Award' winners were shortlisted, through a rigorous 4-stage selection process, by an eminent external jury and facilitated by Erehwon Innovation Consulting.


About Marico Innovation Foundation

Under the leadership of stalwarts like Dr. R A Mashelkar, the Marico Innovation Foundation focuses on the belief that Innovation is a crucial way for India to leapfrog into the center stage of global business leadership. Over the last seven years, the Foundation has played a catalytic role by disseminating knowledge through cut edge research on breakthrough Innovations. The foundation's initial aim is to reach the business community, both professional and entrepreneurial. Going forward, the reach envisages expanding to future business leaders and the public.

The Marico Innovation Foundation is steered by an eminent Governing Council that oversees both its vision and direction. The Council is chaired by Dr. R. A. Mashelkar and includes other visionaries like Anu Aga (Director, Thermax), Sam Balsara (Chairman & Managing Director, Madison), Ashwin Dani (Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Asian Paints), Ranjan Kapur (Country Manager - India, WPP), Prof Prasad Kaipa (Executive Director, Center for Leadership, Innovation and Change, ISB), Dr. Sujata Ramadorai (Professor, TIFR), Harsh C. Mariwala (Chairman & Managing Director, Marico), K. V. Mariwala (Director, BOIL), Rajiv Narang (CMD, Erehwon Innovation Consulting) and Dorab Sopariwala (Consultant).

 

[Pintu]

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/delhi-hc-restrains-ai-staffcontinuingstrike/95746/on

Delhi HC restrains AI staff from continuing with strike
Press Trust of India / New Delhi May 26, 2010, 18:36 IST

The Delhi High Court today restrained Air India employees from continuing with their strike which is causing huge loss to the airline and inconvenience to passengers.

Justice Rajiv Sakdher issued notice to the striking employees union and posted the matter for further hearing on July 13.

The ex-parte order was passed on a petition moved by National Aviation Company of India (NACIL), which runs the national carrier, alleging that the strike by the employees was illegal when the reconciliation process was going on.

The company submitted that the strike was violative of sections 22 and 24 of the Industrial Disputes Act and it has caused 50 per cent loss in its business since yesterday.

The Air Corporation Employees Unions and All India Aircraft Engineers Association, which are leading the strike, together claim a membership of about 20,000 employees or about 60 per cent of the staff strength.

The Unions are protesting against a 'gag order' on members for talking to the media after Saturday's air crash in Mangalore and 'delay' in payment of salaries. The management however clarified there is only one general circular and that there was no 'gag order".

The High Court also directed the Air Corporation Employees Union, which is leading the strike now, not to go ahead with its proposed strike from May 31.

The union had on May 15 served a mandatory 14 day notice to the management for resorting to strike protesting delay in payment of salaries by a week.

It made it clear to the protesting employees not to cause any obstruction to the passengers and visitors at the airports and various offices of the airlines.

 

[Pintu]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...Rs-87-crore-in-3-yrs-/articleshow/5978664.cms

Mayawati's assets rise from Rs 52 crore to Rs 87 crore in 3 yrs
TNN, May 27, 2010, 12.36am IST

LUCKNOW: She came to power on the call of 'sarvajan hitaye' (for the benefit of all). But, in three years as Uttar Pradesh chief minister, Mayawati has proved that, rhetoric aside, she has industriously ensured her own benefits.

The BSP chief, who loudly claims to represent the poorest of the state's poor Dalits, keeps getting richer. Her net worth at present is more than Rs 87 crore, a gain of at least Rs 35 crore over her 2007 declaration of Rs 52 crore. With more than 67% returns in three years, her performance could beat the best investment deals.

This came to light when Maya filed an affidavit along with her nomination papers for the Vidhan Parishad seat here on Wednesday, before principal secretary Pradeep Dubey, who is also the returning officer for the legislative council elections on June 10. The Dalit queen is yet again preferring a backdoor entry to the UP legislature as her current term in the upper house ends next month.

Her enrichment and her declaration of it comes as a snub to the opposition gunning for her on account of making money through accepting gifts. The gross display of money and the controversial gift of garlands woven out of currency notes to Mayawati at public rallies only strengthened the opposition's viewpoint.

The details of her assets are: Bank deposits worth Rs 11.39 crore and cash up to Rs 12.95 lakh. Her love of jewellery, too, is evident. She holds 1034.26 grams of gold (18 cts) and diamonds (380.17 cts) worth Rs 86.8 lakh. Besides, she has 18.5 kg of silverware worth Rs 4.44 lakh. The value of murals and other assets in her possession is said to be worth another Rs 15 lakh.

Besides these, Maya owns property, both commercial and residential, in Connaught Place, Okhla, and Sardar Patel Marg, in Delhi, besides land in Lucknow Cantonment area and elsewhere. Their cumulative cost is valued at around Rs 73 crore.

 

[Pintu]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...sbands-in-air-crashes/articleshow/5970251.cms

These 3 sisters lost pilot husbands in air crashes
Manju V, TNN, May 25, 2010, 12.29am IST

MUMBAI: The wives of Capt Golikeri and Capt Shamsunder were sisters. Both were widowed in 1979 when an Indian Airlines Avro, in which Capt Golikeri was the pilot and Capt Shamsunder a passenger flying to Mumbai to operate another flight, crashed. Uncannily enough, their third sister, who was also married to a pilot, Capt Gopuphkar, lost him 11 years later in the A320 crash in Bangalore.

The sisters' triple tragedy is one of many stories that have been surfacing during conversations of pilots' families. The last time these families collided head-on with their worst fears was in 2000 after the Patna Boeing 737 crash.

"Those days one wasn't bombarded with television news and so the visual horror hadn't yet entered the equation," says Anita (name changed), the wife of a first officer, whose father is also a senior commander in the same airline.

"I was 18 when the Patna crash happened. Subsequently, I'd be petrified when my dad got rostered for night flights. I couldn't sleep, especially when he went away for five or six days at a stretch."

 

[Pintu]

http://www.ptinews.com/news/672079_AI-union-threatens-another-strike-from-June-12

AI union threatens another strike from June 12

STAFF WRITER 16:24 HRS IST

New Delhi, May 27 (PTI) The Air Corporation Employees Union (ACEU), which spearheaded the two-day strike in Air India, today threatened another such action from June 12 charging the management with conspiring to instigate trouble and later declare a lockout in the national carrier.

"Air India CMD Arvind Jadhav is carrying out dictatorship. He is bent on destroying the airline. He is trying to instigate the workers to go for action and then declare a lockout on that pretext," ACEU General Secretary J B Kadiyan told reporters here.

"This is a conspiracy," he said, adding that the union has served another strike notice from June 12.

In an unprecedented action, Air India sacked a total of 58 employees including union leaders, suspended another 24 and de-recognised two unions which led the stir - ACEU and All India Aircraft Engineers' Association.

 

[Pintu]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...-up-for-ex-servicemen/articleshow/5977838.cms

199 polyclinics to be set up for ex-servicemen
TNN, May 27, 2010, 04.58am IST

NEW DELHI: In some relief to retired military personnel who are unhappy about the medical services being provided to them, the government on Wednesday approved a proposal to establish 199 new polyclinics across the country under the ex-servicemen contributory health scheme (ECHS).

The Union Cabinet approved the 199 polyclinics, which will include 17 mobile medical facilities and 15 new regional centres, at a cost of Rs 141 crore. This comes after the ECHS was first introduced in 2003 by the setting up of 277 polyclinics at stations with ex-servicemen population over 2,500.

"The Cabinet on Wednesday also approved reorganisation and strengthening of the central ECHS organisation by suitably increasing the manpower. It has authorised additional manpower -- 2,263 in number on a contractual basis -- to man the additional 199 polyclinics,'' said an official.

"It has also authorised 315 serving personnel -- 60 officers and 255 other ranks -- for the proposed regional centres and seven officers and 15 other ranks for central ECHS organisation,'' he added.

 

[Pintu]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...est-migrant-community/articleshow/5980468.cms

Indians rank fourth in Australia's biggest migrant community
PTI, May 27, 2010, 01.40pm IST

MELBOURNE: The Indian community in Australia has multiplied in the last six years, surpassing Italians and topping the chart of biggest migrant community on fourth rank.

According to 'The Age' report, the country now had more Indians than Italians which had doubled in just six years.

Quoting new data, the report said the immigration department estimated in 2007-08 the stock of migrants from India grew more than any other country, even Britain or New Zealand.

It estimated that Indian-born population rose from 110,563 in mid-2002 to 239,295 in mid-2008, overtaking Italians to become fourth-biggest migrant community.

In 2007-08 alone, the number of Indian-born people living in Australia grew by 39,529.

Some were skilled migrants while overseas students who also contributed to the figures were hoping to stay on as workers.

Meanwhile, China was the second-biggest source, Chinese-born population growing by 32,563.

New Zealand (31,248) dropped to third place, while Britain (17,397) was a distant fourth, as arrivals were offset by the deaths or return of settlers.

Indian population would have risen faster still in 2008-09, when the number of Indians in temporary residence here grew by 40,000 or 40 per cent.

But that would have been its peak, with the department estimating that total net migration in 2009-10 would be down by more than 50,000.

In 2008-09, for the seventh year in a row, India was the biggest source of permanent settlers in Victoria.

The figures show a net growth of 9004 permanent residents from India, 8034 from China, 5023 from Britain, 4472 from New Zealand and 2569 from Sri Lanka.

The British are still the biggest migrant community, with 1.166 million forming almost 6 per cent of our population and New Zealanders (494,579) were the second-biggest group in mid-2008.

The Italian-born population shrank by 3427, mainly due to the deaths of postwar migrants.

Italian immigration dried up in the early 1970s, but the 2006 census found 852,000 Australians claim Italian ancestry.

 

[Pintu]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...lief-in-next-48-hours/articleshow/5978733.cms

Weatherman: No relief in next 48 hours
Madhuri Kumar, TNN, May 27, 2010, 07.46am IST

PATNA: As if the unusually high temperatures in March were not enough, April too is likely to be hotter than usual in the entire country, except the southern peninsula.

Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) sources said weather conditions and interpretation of model forecast suggest both maximum and minimum temperatures will remain 4 to 8 degree Celsius above normal over many parts of northwest and eastern India.

According to local Met office, Patna and Gaya experienced the hottest April of the last one decade on Sunday and Monday. "During the last one decade, Patna never experienced such a long spell of dry and intense heat wave in the month of April," S I Lashkar, Patna Met office's in-charge (meteorology), said.

Pune-headquartered IMD's deputy director general (weather forecasting) A B Mazumdar said intense heat wave conditions are prevailing over Bihar, Jharkhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, north Rajasthan and some parts of Himachal Pradesh. The same conditions are also prevailing over many parts of Uttar Pradesh, interiors of Orissa and some parts of Chhattisgarh, north Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha. "The highest maximum temperature of 45.6 degree Celsius was recorded at Sambalpur in Orissa on Monday," he said.

Mazumdar said though variations in weather phenomenon are common, the causes of the heat wave and high temperature conditions in March and April this year include the extremely non-cooperative western disturbances, which are very low. "Whatever western disturbances are there, they are affecting only the hilly regions," he added.

For a change in the prevailing weather phenomenon, some high pressure area is needed to be built up in the Bay of Bengal.

There was a large anti-cyclonic follow over northwest and central India that caused downward motion of warm air. The subsidence warming, when combined with lack of moisture and a practically cloudless sky, resulted in more insulation and persistently high temperatures, said the IMD sources.

There will be no departure from the prevailing heat wave condition during the next 48 hours unless and until there is some considerable western disturbances. As per the synoptic features based on 0530 hrs IST observations on Monday, there is a trough in lower levels from Bihar to Tamil Nadu across Jharkhand, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. But the trough line is yet to gain prominence.

Hottest days of April in Patna

Year-----------Temperature---------------Date

2000-----------41.1 degree C ------------April 8

2001-----------42.9 degree C ------------Aril 11

2002-----------42.5 degree C -----------April 21

2003-----------41.3 degree C -----------April 12

2004-----------41.4 degree C -----------April 15

2005-----------40.6 degree C -----------April 25

2006-----------40.9 degree C ------------April 15

2007-----------42.0 degree C ------------April 23

2008-----------42.4 degree C ------------April 28

2009-----------41.4 degree C ------------April 27

2010-----------43.4 degree C -----------April 12