With a view to attract more tourists Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is all set to lay the foundation of a world class convention centre at Rajgir worth Rs 33 crore even as Opposition leaders have termed his holiday at the tourist place as a waste of money.
Bihar Cabinet ministers arrived at the Rajgir hillock on Tuesday to conduct their weekly Cabinet meeting.
Nitish himself came for the meeting in a helicopter. The state government gifted its employees a New Year gift and cleared the Sixth Pay Commission at the well-known tourist spot of Bihar.
"I took a break and came here. We held a Cabinet meeting too," says Nitish.
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi says, "This is a gift for the people of Bihar."
Nitish also seems to be in a party mood as he along with his team of officials will be at Rajgir for one week.
The purpose, he says, is to hit two birds with one stone - take a break as well as promote Rajgir on the national tourism map.
"This is a tourist place and we need to promote it," says Nitish
From tonga (horse pulled cart) rides to enjoying the beauty of nature and local delicacies, he is revelling in all this place has to offer with the media following his every move.
Nitish's political opponents have found enough reasons to train their guns at him for what they call holidaying at public expense.
But Nitish seems unfazed. Maybe taking a cue from Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi who has gone all out to promote Gujarat as a tourist destination, Nitish plans to promote not just Rajgir, but other tourist spots of Bihar.link
Wednesday 30 December 2009
Tuesday 29 December 2009
Paswan wants Buddhist control over Bodh Gaya's Mahabodhi temple
The LJP will fight for Buddhist control over the management of the Mahabodhi temple and to ensure it we seek an amendment to the Mahabodhi Temple Management Act, 1949," Paswan said.
Paswan said that the LJP will launch an agitation for Buddhist control over the management of the Mahabodhi temple if the Bihar government failed to amend the act.
"It was wrong to deny rights to Buddhists, it was against the constitution. Buddhists deserve a total control over the management of the Mahabodhi temple," Paswan said.
For a long time Buddhist monks have been demanding total control over the 1,500-year-old temple at Bodh Gaya, located 110 km from here, where the Buddha attained enlightenment 2,550 years ago. They decided to intensify their agitation last month as the Bihar government was not paying heed to their demands. Buddhist monks are unhappy with the Bihar government for "deliberately" delaying an amendment to the Mahabodhi Temple Management Act, 1949, to ensure Buddhist control over the management of the temple. They described the delay as a "conspiracy" by the government to keep the management under the control of non-Buddhists.
According to the existing law, the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BGTMC) should comprise four Buddhists and the same number of Hindu members for a three-year period with the Gaya district magistrate as its ex-officio chairman.link
Paswan said that the LJP will launch an agitation for Buddhist control over the management of the Mahabodhi temple if the Bihar government failed to amend the act.
"It was wrong to deny rights to Buddhists, it was against the constitution. Buddhists deserve a total control over the management of the Mahabodhi temple," Paswan said.
For a long time Buddhist monks have been demanding total control over the 1,500-year-old temple at Bodh Gaya, located 110 km from here, where the Buddha attained enlightenment 2,550 years ago. They decided to intensify their agitation last month as the Bihar government was not paying heed to their demands. Buddhist monks are unhappy with the Bihar government for "deliberately" delaying an amendment to the Mahabodhi Temple Management Act, 1949, to ensure Buddhist control over the management of the temple. They described the delay as a "conspiracy" by the government to keep the management under the control of non-Buddhists.
According to the existing law, the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BGTMC) should comprise four Buddhists and the same number of Hindu members for a three-year period with the Gaya district magistrate as its ex-officio chairman.link
Four children die in Bihar after eating chapattis
Four children of a family died while two others fell sick after eating 'chapattis' apparently mixed with chemicals at Visnnupur Bathua village in Samastipur district late last night.
Sunita, Shanti, Bajrangi and Raja - all children of Ramprit Sah's family - died after having the meal while two others Sulekha and Chuniya were admitted to a hospital, police sources said.
The chapattis were apparently mixed with sulphur when their mother Shankuntla Devi was away but a thorough probe was on to ascertain the cause of their death, the sources said.link
Sunita, Shanti, Bajrangi and Raja - all children of Ramprit Sah's family - died after having the meal while two others Sulekha and Chuniya were admitted to a hospital, police sources said.
The chapattis were apparently mixed with sulphur when their mother Shankuntla Devi was away but a thorough probe was on to ascertain the cause of their death, the sources said.link
Wednesday 23 December 2009
Progeria patients surviving for existence
Seeing 22-year-old Ikramul Khan and his brother Ali Hussein, a 11-year-old child, with their almost translucent skin, emaciated bodies, thin hair, weird looking fingers and a pair of alien-like eyes with a big smile revealing unaligned teeth … is not a very pleasant sight. They are like Auro in the film Paa starring Amitabh Bachchan, who plays the role of a child suffering from progeria, a genetic disorder in which the child ages at an unbelievably fast rate. It is a debilitating, rare illness with just 45 odd cases in the world. The disease, which infects one in four lakh people, is present in India's Bisul Khan and Razia Khatun's family, where more than one member suffers from progeria. Bisul Khan (45) and his wife Razia (40) had seven children in all. Five of them were born with progeria, which is characterized by premature ageing. Out of the five, three daughters are dead. Their daughter Sanjita (21) and youngest child Gulab are healthy. Ikramul and Ali Hussein are still alive but their medical ages are 85 and 66 respectively. Rehana was 23 when she died a natural death last year. Her medical age was 90 years. Though they are basically from Dumri village in Saran district of Bihar, they were forced by the villagers to shift their base out of the village in 2003. Villagers believed that the children of Razia and Bisul Khan were cursed. "We could not forget those dreadful days. My children could not come out of the house during daytime.
They were considered bad omens; they were called 'ghosts' and the villagers abused my wife as a witch. We were forced to live at the periphery of the village," said Bisul, who works as a security guard in Kolkata. Their mother Razia too could not stop herself and says, "The villagers made our life hell. The children could not wear stitched clothes, as they would not fit. They had to wrap blankets around their body. Whenever they came out with blankets around them, people laughed at them. So, they used to sit locked up in the house all day." Tired of being taunted and ostracized, Razia and Bisul Khan even planned a family suicide. Until they reached Kolkata about six years ago, they had no clue about this medical condition. Bisul became sure that his children were abnormal, as they could not bend their legs while sitting for toilet. Their legs were stiff even at tender ages of two and three. "We did everything for our children. We took them to child specialist, skin specialist, homeopathy and even ayurvedic practitioners. But no one could diagnose the disease. Had we been explained the problem earlier, we would not have gone for so many children," said Bisul. It was a chance meeting with doctors like Apurba Ghosh, director of the Institute of Children Health, Kolkata and Dr Chandan Chatterjee from Switzerland, who were the first to diagnose this disorder. In fact, when Rubena died of pneumonia, it was the first time the medical team was convinced that the kids were affected with progeria. Rubena's death proved that progeria was actually an inherited and recessive condition. "There are, in all, 45 known cases worldwide, all isolated and seemingly random.
A progeric child's ageing process remains normal up to the age of seven. After that they develop striking characteristic syndromes like failure to thrive, premature baldness, heart disease, thinning bones and arthritis and several other symptoms that people grapple with in their old age. But progeria does not hamper the average IQ level of the children," says Shekhar Chatterjee, general secretary of S B Devi Charity Home, Kolkata which takes care of progeria family's needs, financial problems and medical requirements. Dr Chatterjee has been working in collaboration with the University of Basel, Switzerland, where a team led by him has been constantly monitoring the progress of the family. Progeria is caused by a single tiny defect in the child's genetic code, but it has devastating and life-changing consequences. Traditionally, progeria victims do not live beyond their early 20s. But as compared to other victims, Ikramul who is now 22 is still alive. "We know there is no cure for the condition, but over the years we have seen that healthy food and lifestyle changes can enhance the life expectancy. All the credit goes to proper medication, healthy diet and regular psychological sessions that Ali and Ikramul have been able to survive for so long," says Dr Ajay Mukherjee, the senior researcher with the project. Ali is vivacious among them. He sounds more like an enthusiastic 11-year-old despite the 66-year-old body where he has been trapped. "I'm a die hard Salman Khan fan and could dance like him six months back. I danced well in a Rotary Club function. They had given us Rs 2,000 to get a set-top box." Ikramul loves Shahrukh Khan. But his frail body cannot retain this enthusiasm. He takes long breaths in between. His slow movement from one place to another inside the house proves that his brittle bones and stiff joints do not permit him to move freely. Both the boys know about the film Paa and want to meet Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan. "I'll be very happy to meet them. At least they thought it important to work in a film based on our life," said Ikramul. For Ali also meeting Amitabh will be a memorable day of his life." The Khans look upon Dr Chatterjee as a family member. "He looks after us, bears all our expenses, provides us accommodation. Due to his kind cooperation we are now able to stay at our village home.
Our relatives and neighbours frequent our home to see Ikramul (23), the only progeric person to have survived this long. He is father figure for our children," said Bisul Khan, father of the boys. But in spite of all endeavours, life is far from normal for the boys. According to Dr Chatterjee, both of them suffer from astro-arthritis and cannot bend their legs or sit properly. Apart from weak bodies, they have underdeveloped livers and hearts. "They face difficulty in maintaining their balance when a fan is in full speed. They even need help for simple activities like changing clothes," says their mother. Ikramul, who speaks less and is depressed ever since his elder sister Rehana passed away, knows the pitiable condition of his disease. "I feel bad that I cannot run and play like other children. My ailments are like those of old people. I feel so sorry for myself," he laments. In spite of knowing that death is imminent for them, they enjoy their lives and have fun in their own way. Ali and Ikramul spend most of their time watching TV or downloading songs on the mobile phone, which Dr Chatterjee has gifted them and manage to find reasons to smile.link
They were considered bad omens; they were called 'ghosts' and the villagers abused my wife as a witch. We were forced to live at the periphery of the village," said Bisul, who works as a security guard in Kolkata. Their mother Razia too could not stop herself and says, "The villagers made our life hell. The children could not wear stitched clothes, as they would not fit. They had to wrap blankets around their body. Whenever they came out with blankets around them, people laughed at them. So, they used to sit locked up in the house all day." Tired of being taunted and ostracized, Razia and Bisul Khan even planned a family suicide. Until they reached Kolkata about six years ago, they had no clue about this medical condition. Bisul became sure that his children were abnormal, as they could not bend their legs while sitting for toilet. Their legs were stiff even at tender ages of two and three. "We did everything for our children. We took them to child specialist, skin specialist, homeopathy and even ayurvedic practitioners. But no one could diagnose the disease. Had we been explained the problem earlier, we would not have gone for so many children," said Bisul. It was a chance meeting with doctors like Apurba Ghosh, director of the Institute of Children Health, Kolkata and Dr Chandan Chatterjee from Switzerland, who were the first to diagnose this disorder. In fact, when Rubena died of pneumonia, it was the first time the medical team was convinced that the kids were affected with progeria. Rubena's death proved that progeria was actually an inherited and recessive condition. "There are, in all, 45 known cases worldwide, all isolated and seemingly random.
A progeric child's ageing process remains normal up to the age of seven. After that they develop striking characteristic syndromes like failure to thrive, premature baldness, heart disease, thinning bones and arthritis and several other symptoms that people grapple with in their old age. But progeria does not hamper the average IQ level of the children," says Shekhar Chatterjee, general secretary of S B Devi Charity Home, Kolkata which takes care of progeria family's needs, financial problems and medical requirements. Dr Chatterjee has been working in collaboration with the University of Basel, Switzerland, where a team led by him has been constantly monitoring the progress of the family. Progeria is caused by a single tiny defect in the child's genetic code, but it has devastating and life-changing consequences. Traditionally, progeria victims do not live beyond their early 20s. But as compared to other victims, Ikramul who is now 22 is still alive. "We know there is no cure for the condition, but over the years we have seen that healthy food and lifestyle changes can enhance the life expectancy. All the credit goes to proper medication, healthy diet and regular psychological sessions that Ali and Ikramul have been able to survive for so long," says Dr Ajay Mukherjee, the senior researcher with the project. Ali is vivacious among them. He sounds more like an enthusiastic 11-year-old despite the 66-year-old body where he has been trapped. "I'm a die hard Salman Khan fan and could dance like him six months back. I danced well in a Rotary Club function. They had given us Rs 2,000 to get a set-top box." Ikramul loves Shahrukh Khan. But his frail body cannot retain this enthusiasm. He takes long breaths in between. His slow movement from one place to another inside the house proves that his brittle bones and stiff joints do not permit him to move freely. Both the boys know about the film Paa and want to meet Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan. "I'll be very happy to meet them. At least they thought it important to work in a film based on our life," said Ikramul. For Ali also meeting Amitabh will be a memorable day of his life." The Khans look upon Dr Chatterjee as a family member. "He looks after us, bears all our expenses, provides us accommodation. Due to his kind cooperation we are now able to stay at our village home.
Our relatives and neighbours frequent our home to see Ikramul (23), the only progeric person to have survived this long. He is father figure for our children," said Bisul Khan, father of the boys. But in spite of all endeavours, life is far from normal for the boys. According to Dr Chatterjee, both of them suffer from astro-arthritis and cannot bend their legs or sit properly. Apart from weak bodies, they have underdeveloped livers and hearts. "They face difficulty in maintaining their balance when a fan is in full speed. They even need help for simple activities like changing clothes," says their mother. Ikramul, who speaks less and is depressed ever since his elder sister Rehana passed away, knows the pitiable condition of his disease. "I feel bad that I cannot run and play like other children. My ailments are like those of old people. I feel so sorry for myself," he laments. In spite of knowing that death is imminent for them, they enjoy their lives and have fun in their own way. Ali and Ikramul spend most of their time watching TV or downloading songs on the mobile phone, which Dr Chatterjee has gifted them and manage to find reasons to smile.link
Monday 21 December 2009
World Bank arm moots mantra for Bihar's development
A World Bank arm has suggested strengthening of the monitoring process in Bihar government's functioning and transparency in development works for the state's growth.
"Strengthening the monitoring process in government functioning and more transparency in the development measures will pave way for a developed Bihar," said World Bank Institute Vice-President Sanjay Pradhan.
Pradhan was addressing a session in a two-day conclave that concluded Sunday night. The World Bank Institute is the learning, training and capacity building arm of the World Bank.
Pradhan said lack of monitoring in government functioning and less transparency has been a stumbling block in the state's development.
"There was a need to strengthen the vigilance bureau and the Right to Information (RTI) to make headway for development of Bihar. People can use RTI to get any kind of information. The RTI has provided a rare opportunity to people to receive information," he said.
He said the RTI was yet to be implemented at grass root level and its benefit is yet to reach the marginalised sections of society.
Pradhan further said the World Bank was committed to pump $150 million for development of Bihar.
He said Bihar is poised for development as it recorded a growth rate of 7.7 percent during 2005-08.
Pradhan hails from Patna and was one of the over 100 professionals from Bihar who made a mark in various fields at home and abroad and attended the conclave.link
"Strengthening the monitoring process in government functioning and more transparency in the development measures will pave way for a developed Bihar," said World Bank Institute Vice-President Sanjay Pradhan.
Pradhan was addressing a session in a two-day conclave that concluded Sunday night. The World Bank Institute is the learning, training and capacity building arm of the World Bank.
Pradhan said lack of monitoring in government functioning and less transparency has been a stumbling block in the state's development.
"There was a need to strengthen the vigilance bureau and the Right to Information (RTI) to make headway for development of Bihar. People can use RTI to get any kind of information. The RTI has provided a rare opportunity to people to receive information," he said.
He said the RTI was yet to be implemented at grass root level and its benefit is yet to reach the marginalised sections of society.
Pradhan further said the World Bank was committed to pump $150 million for development of Bihar.
He said Bihar is poised for development as it recorded a growth rate of 7.7 percent during 2005-08.
Pradhan hails from Patna and was one of the over 100 professionals from Bihar who made a mark in various fields at home and abroad and attended the conclave.link
Wednesday 16 December 2009
Excess fluoride content in Darbhanga village
Bihar PHED minister Ashwani Choubey has directed officials to confirm excess fluoride content in water sources at Rampura village of Sighwara block in Darbhanga.
"Till date excess Fluoride was not detected Darbhnga. But I have asked officials to confirm the newpaper reports so that we can take appropriate steps," Choubey said pointing out that 12 districts of the state were afflicted by fluoride which causes fluorosis, a disease nicknamed by medical professionals as "bone crusher". Reported the detection of excess floride by a team of researchers.
Choubey conceded that fluoride and arsenic had been emerging as a major health problem in Bihar. "There are 13 districts in the state where arsenic poisioning have been detected and another 12 district where excess fluoride have been identified from the water source, There are three districts common in this list which have both arsenic and fluoride poisoning. They include Bhagalpur and Munger," he said. He pointed out that around 600 tolas and localities have been identified across the state which were identified as places where arsenic and floride were detected from the water source.
The minister claimed that the state government had mooted a Rs 1000- crore scheme for meeting the challenge. "It's a multi-village scheme in which tanks will be contructed and surface water will be supplied to the effected localities," he said. He said work has already started in Ara where 35 villages are hit due to arscenic, Vaishali and Patna(Maner). The three projects alone will cost over Rs 200 crore", he said.
He said the department had amlso mooted setting-up mini-plants for treatment of floride and arscenic water. "We will run these plants with solar power at places where there are no power", he stressed. He said in addtion to all these the department will install 2000 special tubewells which have mechanism to prevent fluoride and arsenic posioning",he remarked.
The minister claimed that the department had achieved about 60 per cent of its target in sinking 1.09 lakh tubewells across the state. He also spoke about the "Muktidham" Yojna of the state government aimed at making crematory ghats equiped with furnaces for burning bodies, shades, toilet, gardens and shops. He said that out of 50 such ghats selected, work was under progress in 21 of them and 15 would be copleted during this financial year. He, however, said that work was still to begin in many ghats because the land either belonged to private persons or the railways. link
"Till date excess Fluoride was not detected Darbhnga. But I have asked officials to confirm the newpaper reports so that we can take appropriate steps," Choubey said pointing out that 12 districts of the state were afflicted by fluoride which causes fluorosis, a disease nicknamed by medical professionals as "bone crusher". Reported the detection of excess floride by a team of researchers.
Choubey conceded that fluoride and arsenic had been emerging as a major health problem in Bihar. "There are 13 districts in the state where arsenic poisioning have been detected and another 12 district where excess fluoride have been identified from the water source, There are three districts common in this list which have both arsenic and fluoride poisoning. They include Bhagalpur and Munger," he said. He pointed out that around 600 tolas and localities have been identified across the state which were identified as places where arsenic and floride were detected from the water source.
The minister claimed that the state government had mooted a Rs 1000- crore scheme for meeting the challenge. "It's a multi-village scheme in which tanks will be contructed and surface water will be supplied to the effected localities," he said. He said work has already started in Ara where 35 villages are hit due to arscenic, Vaishali and Patna(Maner). The three projects alone will cost over Rs 200 crore", he said.
He said the department had amlso mooted setting-up mini-plants for treatment of floride and arscenic water. "We will run these plants with solar power at places where there are no power", he stressed. He said in addtion to all these the department will install 2000 special tubewells which have mechanism to prevent fluoride and arsenic posioning",he remarked.
The minister claimed that the department had achieved about 60 per cent of its target in sinking 1.09 lakh tubewells across the state. He also spoke about the "Muktidham" Yojna of the state government aimed at making crematory ghats equiped with furnaces for burning bodies, shades, toilet, gardens and shops. He said that out of 50 such ghats selected, work was under progress in 21 of them and 15 would be copleted during this financial year. He, however, said that work was still to begin in many ghats because the land either belonged to private persons or the railways. link
Friday 11 December 2009
SC directs Bihar govt to appoint 34,540 primary teachers
If you are a trained teacher and unemployed, you should head for Bihar which has just been directed by the Supreme Court to recruit a whopping 34,540 primary teachers within six months.
The recruitment cannot be delayed as the apex court has kept pending a contempt petition to see the sincerity of the Nitish Kumar government to abide by its undertaking given to SC on January 18 and 23 of 2006.
The Patna High Court on September 26, 1996, had directed the state government to resume recruitment of teachers and it was of the opinion that the order was meant to force the state government to execute a public plan to help eradicate illiteracy.
The Bihar government had appealed against the HC judgment. However, during the pendency of the appeal, it sought to withdraw it in view of the state's decision to comply with the HC judgment, saying, "The government has prepared a policy framework for education in the state."
It had stated that recruiting teachers and filling vacancies of teachers posts in primary schools was its top priority. Recording this undertaking, the SC had disposed of the appeal on January 23, 2006.
However, one Nand Kishore Ojha filed a petition alleging that the Nitish Kumar government had done precious little to fulfil its promise to the apex court. Appearing for the state, attorney general G E Vahanvati and senior advocate Kailash Vas dev tried to convince the court that it was not the intention of the state to sidestep the undertaking before the SC.
Accepting the vacancy figure as mentioned in the 2003 advertisement, a Bench comprising Justices Altamas Kabir and H L Dattu said, "Notwithstanding the number of trained teachers available, we direct that the said available vacancies of 34,540, shown in the advertisement for appointment of primary teachers, be filled up with the said number of trained teachers as a one-time measure to give effect to the undertaking which had been given on January 18, 2006 and January 23, 2006."
The Bench added, "Let the contempt petition be adjourned for a further period of six months to enable the state government to implement this order and to submit a report on the next date as to the result of the discussions held between the petitioner and the concerned authorities."
The recruitment cannot be delayed as the apex court has kept pending a contempt petition to see the sincerity of the Nitish Kumar government to abide by its undertaking given to SC on January 18 and 23 of 2006.
The Patna High Court on September 26, 1996, had directed the state government to resume recruitment of teachers and it was of the opinion that the order was meant to force the state government to execute a public plan to help eradicate illiteracy.
The Bihar government had appealed against the HC judgment. However, during the pendency of the appeal, it sought to withdraw it in view of the state's decision to comply with the HC judgment, saying, "The government has prepared a policy framework for education in the state."
It had stated that recruiting teachers and filling vacancies of teachers posts in primary schools was its top priority. Recording this undertaking, the SC had disposed of the appeal on January 23, 2006.
However, one Nand Kishore Ojha filed a petition alleging that the Nitish Kumar government had done precious little to fulfil its promise to the apex court. Appearing for the state, attorney general G E Vahanvati and senior advocate Kailash Vas dev tried to convince the court that it was not the intention of the state to sidestep the undertaking before the SC.
Accepting the vacancy figure as mentioned in the 2003 advertisement, a Bench comprising Justices Altamas Kabir and H L Dattu said, "Notwithstanding the number of trained teachers available, we direct that the said available vacancies of 34,540, shown in the advertisement for appointment of primary teachers, be filled up with the said number of trained teachers as a one-time measure to give effect to the undertaking which had been given on January 18, 2006 and January 23, 2006."
The Bench added, "Let the contempt petition be adjourned for a further period of six months to enable the state government to implement this order and to submit a report on the next date as to the result of the discussions held between the petitioner and the concerned authorities."
Friday 4 December 2009
Bihar to promote litchi liquor
Time to get tipsy with litchi — literally. Bihar has accepted a proposal of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to produce litchi liquor or wine, the first of its kind in India.
An official at the chief minister’s office said the Shahi litchi variety, largely grown in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district, will be used to make the liquor or wine.
According to him, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has accepted ICAR director general Mangala Ram’s proposal. “The government will formally make an announcement.”
The official said during a recent meeting with the chief minister, Ram explained the potential use of litchi, abundant in Bihar. “He said Bihar could increase its revenues by manufacturing litchi liquor or wine.”
Impressed by the proposal, the state government has decided to set up plants in Muzaffarpur for this purpose.
Officials at the National Research Centre for Litchi at Muzaffarpur said the making of liquor would be a shot in the arm for litchi farmers.
“They would not be forced to sell litchi at throwaway prices and there will be less chance of damage due to poor processing and packaging facilities,” they said.
About 70 percent of litchis produced in India are grown in Muzaffarpur and neighbouring districts, with the number of farmers engaged in growing the fruit increasing in the last decade.
However, in a report released last year, the World Bank had noted that litchis good enough for export were being grown in only about 10 percent of the 2,000-odd orchards in Muzaffarpur.
Countries that import litchis from India include the Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Canada, Russia and Yemen.link
An official at the chief minister’s office said the Shahi litchi variety, largely grown in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district, will be used to make the liquor or wine.
According to him, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has accepted ICAR director general Mangala Ram’s proposal. “The government will formally make an announcement.”
The official said during a recent meeting with the chief minister, Ram explained the potential use of litchi, abundant in Bihar. “He said Bihar could increase its revenues by manufacturing litchi liquor or wine.”
Impressed by the proposal, the state government has decided to set up plants in Muzaffarpur for this purpose.
Officials at the National Research Centre for Litchi at Muzaffarpur said the making of liquor would be a shot in the arm for litchi farmers.
“They would not be forced to sell litchi at throwaway prices and there will be less chance of damage due to poor processing and packaging facilities,” they said.
About 70 percent of litchis produced in India are grown in Muzaffarpur and neighbouring districts, with the number of farmers engaged in growing the fruit increasing in the last decade.
However, in a report released last year, the World Bank had noted that litchis good enough for export were being grown in only about 10 percent of the 2,000-odd orchards in Muzaffarpur.
Countries that import litchis from India include the Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Canada, Russia and Yemen.link
Thursday 3 December 2009
Manpower shortage hits passport office
At least 39,000 passport applications are pending in Bihar because of acute shortage of manpower. On an average, the Patna passport office receives 16,000 applications per month of which 30 per cent of the applications are from the two districts of Siwan and Gopalganj.
Normally, it takes at least three months to issue passport to an individual.According to a rough estimate, the pending list has touched approximately 39,000 till November-end. Out of the total 90 sanctioned staff, only 45 are on the rolls here which has caused delay in issuing the passports. The existing sanctioned posts were allotted way back in 1997.
"Since then, the work load here in issuing passports has increased four fold," says newly appointed passport officer Anand Kumar.
Kumar, who is an Indian Railway Account Service (2000) cadre, joined as the new passport officer here only on Tuesday.
"There is also a lack of infrastructural facility here. We have only two existing passport printing machines out of the total requirement of four. We have already written to the ministry of external affairs (MEA) to increase the number of machines," Kumar said.
He said the existing daily passport issuing capacity was only 450 as against the normal capacity of 700. "Right now we have only two passport issuing officials here as against the normal requirement of four," Kumar said.
Asked about the corrupt practises in issuing passports, Kumar said he would utilize his experiences in the railways in dealing it corrupt practices and touts. Kumar, who hails from Buxar district, had also worked in various various other centres including Ambala Cantt., Lucknow and Delhi for the railways prior to joining the passport office here.
"I am committed to check corrupt practises in the passport office. I'll certainly utilize my vast experiences in the railways to contain corruption. First, I will have to streamline my internal system," Kumar said.
The two districts of Siwan and Gopalganj still maintain their top position in applying for passports. "Out of the total 16,000 applications for passports per month, nearly 5,330 come from these two districts alone," he said.
For the issuing of Tatkal passports, "we normally take one week to deliver the passport. But most of the applicants do not provide the copy of identity card. It is now essential to provide a copy of I-card for issuing passport," Kumar said.link
Normally, it takes at least three months to issue passport to an individual.According to a rough estimate, the pending list has touched approximately 39,000 till November-end. Out of the total 90 sanctioned staff, only 45 are on the rolls here which has caused delay in issuing the passports. The existing sanctioned posts were allotted way back in 1997.
"Since then, the work load here in issuing passports has increased four fold," says newly appointed passport officer Anand Kumar.
Kumar, who is an Indian Railway Account Service (2000) cadre, joined as the new passport officer here only on Tuesday.
"There is also a lack of infrastructural facility here. We have only two existing passport printing machines out of the total requirement of four. We have already written to the ministry of external affairs (MEA) to increase the number of machines," Kumar said.
He said the existing daily passport issuing capacity was only 450 as against the normal capacity of 700. "Right now we have only two passport issuing officials here as against the normal requirement of four," Kumar said.
Asked about the corrupt practises in issuing passports, Kumar said he would utilize his experiences in the railways in dealing it corrupt practices and touts. Kumar, who hails from Buxar district, had also worked in various various other centres including Ambala Cantt., Lucknow and Delhi for the railways prior to joining the passport office here.
"I am committed to check corrupt practises in the passport office. I'll certainly utilize my vast experiences in the railways to contain corruption. First, I will have to streamline my internal system," Kumar said.
The two districts of Siwan and Gopalganj still maintain their top position in applying for passports. "Out of the total 16,000 applications for passports per month, nearly 5,330 come from these two districts alone," he said.
For the issuing of Tatkal passports, "we normally take one week to deliver the passport. But most of the applicants do not provide the copy of identity card. It is now essential to provide a copy of I-card for issuing passport," Kumar said.link
Bihar government may be hard put to explain starvation deaths
The Bihar government is likely to face trouble over a lawsuit alleging at least 100 people have died of hunger in the state in the last three years, as the Patna High Court has directed the petitioner to take it up with the state human rights commission.
Social activist Ramashray Singh, who had filed the public interest litigation (PIL), said he would approach the commission this week. Officials say the state government may not be in a position to answer all the questions asked by the commission.
An official appointed by the Supreme Court had said in October that at least 100 people have died of hunger in the past three years in Bihar. But the state government dismissed the claim.
"It is a hard fact that 100 people died of hunger in Bihar in the last three years due to the failure of food- and work-related government schemes," said Rupesh, state adviser to the commissioner of the Supreme Court to monitor the implementation of food-related schemes of the Bihar government.
Rupesh said he had submitted a report on hunger deaths in Bihar to the state government in August and another in October. The reports were also sent to the commissioner of Supreme Court N.C. Saxena.
Rupesh said the reports not only confirm the deaths due to hunger but "reveal the pathetic situation regarding implementation of food and social security schemes in Bihar".
These schemes include the Integrated Child Development Scheme, the Midday Meal Scheme, the public distribution system, the Antyodaya Anna Yojana, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, the National Maternity Benefit Scheme, the National Social Assistance Programme, the National Family Benefit Scheme and the Annapurna Yojana.
"Apart from major leakages and corruption, the coverage of government food schemes is so meagre that they leave huge holes in the social security net through which large numbers of most destitute women and men, girls and boys slip into starvation and hunger," said Rupesh.
The reports warned that the situation can worsen "if all possible action is not taken before it becomes uncontrollable".
Bihar has been hit very badly by drought and flood. As many as 26 districts are drought-affected. Nearly 40 percent of Bihar's 83 million people live below the poverty line, the highest in India, according to a World Bank report.
Rupesh said researchers led by him visited Begusarai, Muzaffarpur, Gaya, Jehanabad, Nalanda and Patna between June and August. These are the districts where starvation deaths have been reported by the media in the last two-three years.
Rupesh said that in Ratubigha village in Jehanabad district and Jhamawara village in Nalanda district, the block development officer (BDO) did not feel it necessary to send the body for postmortem or get a medical report after alleged starvation death.
In Tetua Tola Kharuna village in Gaya district, Murti Devi in her late 40s died Oct 10. Although the local administration denied that she died of hunger, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered a probe.
In Ratubigha village in Jehanabad district, about 50 km from here, three starvation deaths took place over four days in August, Rupesh said.
Ajay Dome, the son of one of the victims, Chalitar, claimed that his father went without food for eight days before he died. Rupesh's report points out that Ajay and his wife Renu Kumari were not on the list of people below the poverty line, so they did not get subsidised food. Chalitar' unemployed son said the family was fighting for survival.link
Social activist Ramashray Singh, who had filed the public interest litigation (PIL), said he would approach the commission this week. Officials say the state government may not be in a position to answer all the questions asked by the commission.
An official appointed by the Supreme Court had said in October that at least 100 people have died of hunger in the past three years in Bihar. But the state government dismissed the claim.
"It is a hard fact that 100 people died of hunger in Bihar in the last three years due to the failure of food- and work-related government schemes," said Rupesh, state adviser to the commissioner of the Supreme Court to monitor the implementation of food-related schemes of the Bihar government.
Rupesh said he had submitted a report on hunger deaths in Bihar to the state government in August and another in October. The reports were also sent to the commissioner of Supreme Court N.C. Saxena.
Rupesh said the reports not only confirm the deaths due to hunger but "reveal the pathetic situation regarding implementation of food and social security schemes in Bihar".
These schemes include the Integrated Child Development Scheme, the Midday Meal Scheme, the public distribution system, the Antyodaya Anna Yojana, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, the National Maternity Benefit Scheme, the National Social Assistance Programme, the National Family Benefit Scheme and the Annapurna Yojana.
"Apart from major leakages and corruption, the coverage of government food schemes is so meagre that they leave huge holes in the social security net through which large numbers of most destitute women and men, girls and boys slip into starvation and hunger," said Rupesh.
The reports warned that the situation can worsen "if all possible action is not taken before it becomes uncontrollable".
Bihar has been hit very badly by drought and flood. As many as 26 districts are drought-affected. Nearly 40 percent of Bihar's 83 million people live below the poverty line, the highest in India, according to a World Bank report.
Rupesh said researchers led by him visited Begusarai, Muzaffarpur, Gaya, Jehanabad, Nalanda and Patna between June and August. These are the districts where starvation deaths have been reported by the media in the last two-three years.
Rupesh said that in Ratubigha village in Jehanabad district and Jhamawara village in Nalanda district, the block development officer (BDO) did not feel it necessary to send the body for postmortem or get a medical report after alleged starvation death.
In Tetua Tola Kharuna village in Gaya district, Murti Devi in her late 40s died Oct 10. Although the local administration denied that she died of hunger, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered a probe.
In Ratubigha village in Jehanabad district, about 50 km from here, three starvation deaths took place over four days in August, Rupesh said.
Ajay Dome, the son of one of the victims, Chalitar, claimed that his father went without food for eight days before he died. Rupesh's report points out that Ajay and his wife Renu Kumari were not on the list of people below the poverty line, so they did not get subsidised food. Chalitar' unemployed son said the family was fighting for survival.link
Tuesday 1 December 2009
Free condoms at fair price shops
People in Bihar will soon get free condoms at fair price shops. The distribution of free condoms will be made through PDS (public distribution system) shops in the state, official sources said Tuesday.
Bihar State AIDS Control Society (BSACS) has decided to use PDS shops to distribute free condoms in the state. "BSACS plans to distribute condoms through PDS shops to promote their use so that the spread of HIV/AIDS can be prevented," director of BSACS Ravi Parmar said here.
The aim of distributing free condoms at PDS shops is to check and control people from HIV and AIDS, Parmar told IANS. "We want to create awareness about the use of condoms by putting it on the shelves of PDS shops."
Last year, BSACS launched a programme under which barbers were given condoms and asked to distribute them to their customers in order to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Bihar has distributed 1.4 million condoms this year. But the target is to distribute 28 million condoms during 2009-10. The state distributed 10.1 million condoms in 2007-08. The figure was 8.6 million in 2006-07 and 3.5 million in 2002-03.
Officials said most of the condoms were distributed through NGOs. BSACS has tied up with different NGOs and distributes condoms through social marketing at subsidised rates among target groups.
Experts regard Bihar as a highly vulnerable state in connection with HIV/AIDS. The total number of people in Bihar with HIV/AIDS is 24,835.
The condom distribution programme is also expected to aid family planning efforts. Bihar has a population growth rate of 4.1 percent, almost double the national average of 2.1 percent.
Bihar State AIDS Control Society (BSACS) has decided to use PDS shops to distribute free condoms in the state. "BSACS plans to distribute condoms through PDS shops to promote their use so that the spread of HIV/AIDS can be prevented," director of BSACS Ravi Parmar said here.
The aim of distributing free condoms at PDS shops is to check and control people from HIV and AIDS, Parmar told IANS. "We want to create awareness about the use of condoms by putting it on the shelves of PDS shops."
Last year, BSACS launched a programme under which barbers were given condoms and asked to distribute them to their customers in order to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Bihar has distributed 1.4 million condoms this year. But the target is to distribute 28 million condoms during 2009-10. The state distributed 10.1 million condoms in 2007-08. The figure was 8.6 million in 2006-07 and 3.5 million in 2002-03.
Officials said most of the condoms were distributed through NGOs. BSACS has tied up with different NGOs and distributes condoms through social marketing at subsidised rates among target groups.
Experts regard Bihar as a highly vulnerable state in connection with HIV/AIDS. The total number of people in Bihar with HIV/AIDS is 24,835.
The condom distribution programme is also expected to aid family planning efforts. Bihar has a population growth rate of 4.1 percent, almost double the national average of 2.1 percent.
595 fresh HIV positive cases are recorded every month in Bihar in 2009
About 595 fresh HIV positive cases are recorded every month in Bihar in 2009 as against zero in the state before 2001, according to the figures of NACO's Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres (ICTC).
With 6550 fresh cases detected in the current year so far, the total number of HIV-infected now stands at 24,835 which is, however, far less than the estimated 82,000, the ICTC report said.
The rise in the positive cases has been registered despite crores of rupees being spent under the HIV Prevention and Treatment Programme.
On an average National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) spends about Rs22 crore every month in Bihar to contain the spread of the dreaded disease, NACO sources said.link
With 6550 fresh cases detected in the current year so far, the total number of HIV-infected now stands at 24,835 which is, however, far less than the estimated 82,000, the ICTC report said.
The rise in the positive cases has been registered despite crores of rupees being spent under the HIV Prevention and Treatment Programme.
On an average National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) spends about Rs22 crore every month in Bihar to contain the spread of the dreaded disease, NACO sources said.link
Wednesday 25 November 2009
Woman gives birth to son in train
A woman who gave birth in a running train in Bihar is so inspired by the former chief minister and railway minister Lalu Prasad that she named her newborn son after the politician.
Gayatri Devi, in her mid 20s, gave birth to a boy on Tuesday in Lohit Express at Desari railway station on the Hajipur-Bachabar rail section of East Central Railway.
"I named my son Lalu Prasad so that he becomes like Lalu Prasad. I like Lalu's style and his pro-poor talk," she said.
Railway official B Ram said Gayatri Devi, who was travelling in a sleeper coach, gave birth with the help of co-passengers. She and her child have been admitted to a private clinic.
Gayatri Devi boarded the train from Siliguri in West Bengal where her husband works. She was coming to Bihar to visit her native village.link
Gayatri Devi, in her mid 20s, gave birth to a boy on Tuesday in Lohit Express at Desari railway station on the Hajipur-Bachabar rail section of East Central Railway.
"I named my son Lalu Prasad so that he becomes like Lalu Prasad. I like Lalu's style and his pro-poor talk," she said.
Railway official B Ram said Gayatri Devi, who was travelling in a sleeper coach, gave birth with the help of co-passengers. She and her child have been admitted to a private clinic.
Gayatri Devi boarded the train from Siliguri in West Bengal where her husband works. She was coming to Bihar to visit her native village.link
Sunday 8 November 2009
Woman ends life after being diagnosed with AIDS
A 25-year-old woman in Bihar ended her life by immolating herself in bathroom moments after being diagnosed with deadly AIDS, police said today.
Police said the victim, a resident of More Pashchimi under Mokama police station in Patna district, entered into her bathroom on Saturday night and immolated herself. She died on the spot.
Police said the victim had stuffed rags in her mouth to let cries of her pain not reach her neighbours.
According to reports, on the fateful day the victim had visited a local hospital to find out if she had the killer disease.
“She was tested HIV positive in the hospital report and the revelation shocked her so much that she committed suicide at night out of fear of being socially ostracised”, local villagers told the police.
According to an official report, there are 8,228 identified cases of HIV positive Bihar and more than 1,100 cases of full blown AIDS in Bihar.
The deadly disease has, so far, claimed 80 lives, including that of 13 children. link
Police said the victim, a resident of More Pashchimi under Mokama police station in Patna district, entered into her bathroom on Saturday night and immolated herself. She died on the spot.
Police said the victim had stuffed rags in her mouth to let cries of her pain not reach her neighbours.
According to reports, on the fateful day the victim had visited a local hospital to find out if she had the killer disease.
“She was tested HIV positive in the hospital report and the revelation shocked her so much that she committed suicide at night out of fear of being socially ostracised”, local villagers told the police.
According to an official report, there are 8,228 identified cases of HIV positive Bihar and more than 1,100 cases of full blown AIDS in Bihar.
The deadly disease has, so far, claimed 80 lives, including that of 13 children. link
IGNOU To Set Up 400 Training Centres In Bihar
Indira Gandhi National Open University has plans for developing 400 training centres in Bihar to improve educational facilities in the state and provide more vocational opportunities of the youths.
The IGNOU training centres "will be equipped with computer labs to provide distance education through information technology to the remotest parts of the state", said IGNOU.
In addition "it is estimated that during the year 2009-10, 25,000 government officials will be trained by the IGNOU”.
Despite the fact that the value of the Human Development Index has been constantly increasing, it is yet to reach the level of other states.
"These programmes will not only enable them become competitively skilled, on par with the workforce of other states, but also help Bihar to significantly improve its Human Development Index," the official said.
A deal has been signed between IGNOU and the state government of Bihar for the rolling out of projects, which are backed by government, called 'Samarth'.
The IGNOU training centres "will be equipped with computer labs to provide distance education through information technology to the remotest parts of the state", said IGNOU.
In addition "it is estimated that during the year 2009-10, 25,000 government officials will be trained by the IGNOU”.
Despite the fact that the value of the Human Development Index has been constantly increasing, it is yet to reach the level of other states.
"These programmes will not only enable them become competitively skilled, on par with the workforce of other states, but also help Bihar to significantly improve its Human Development Index," the official said.
A deal has been signed between IGNOU and the state government of Bihar for the rolling out of projects, which are backed by government, called 'Samarth'.
Wednesday 4 November 2009
Polio virus goes wild in Bihar, 98 kids affected
The alarming rise in number of polio cases has baffled the health officials with fresh 98 cases reported till October this year.
Health officials said of the total cases, 93 were reported from those children who were covered in the last seven rounds of the Polio Immunization Drive.
Experts are now questioning the maintenance of cold chain required fro maintaining the efficacy of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV).
“How do you expect OPV vials to work when the volunteers carry them in bare hands and they are exposed to sun rays”, asked a health expert Dr SA Krishna.
Of the total cases reported this year, the maximum number of 22 cases have been reported from Saharsa district, followed by 15 cases in Khagaria and 13 in Patna.
The WHO provides technical support to the polio eradication programme whereas the UNICEF takes care of the social mobilisation exercise.
“The latest polio statistics are indeed perplexing. Either the affected children suffer from serious immunity deficiency or the OPV has failed to produce required immunity to them”, the state immunization officer Dr Gopal Krishna said.
last year, Bihar had recorded 300 new polio cases.link
Health officials said of the total cases, 93 were reported from those children who were covered in the last seven rounds of the Polio Immunization Drive.
Experts are now questioning the maintenance of cold chain required fro maintaining the efficacy of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV).
“How do you expect OPV vials to work when the volunteers carry them in bare hands and they are exposed to sun rays”, asked a health expert Dr SA Krishna.
Of the total cases reported this year, the maximum number of 22 cases have been reported from Saharsa district, followed by 15 cases in Khagaria and 13 in Patna.
The WHO provides technical support to the polio eradication programme whereas the UNICEF takes care of the social mobilisation exercise.
“The latest polio statistics are indeed perplexing. Either the affected children suffer from serious immunity deficiency or the OPV has failed to produce required immunity to them”, the state immunization officer Dr Gopal Krishna said.
last year, Bihar had recorded 300 new polio cases.link
Power Project for 2000 Off-Grid Villages in Bihar
Shell Foundation announced the second round of support for Husk Power Systems (HPS), a rural electrification company, to further scale up operations of their unique biomass gasification technology which converts rice husks into electricity.
HPS owns and operates 35-100 kW "mini power-plants" that deliver electricity as a pay-for-use service to villages of 2,000 to 4,000 inhabitants in the Indian Rice Belt. Each plant becomes operationally profitable in the first six months of operations. HPS has successfully implemented projects in 50 villages in Bihar and will expand its footprint to 100 villages in 2009, 400 in 2010, and 2000 in 2012.
The second round of support will help deliver more power plants, increase the operational and technical capacity of the company and develop the Husk Power Systems brand in India and the US. Shell Foundation has been a partner to Husk Power Systems since November 2008, providing ongoing business development assistance and technical support.
Rice husks (the casing on the outside of rice grains) have traditionally been discarded. However, upon heating, rice husk releases gas and which HPS uses to run modified diesel engines to generate electricity. The waste product of the process is high in silica and can be sold to concrete manufacturers. The business has also been awarded the first prize in the 2009 Global Business Plan Competition by leading global venture capital firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ) and Cisco.
Simon Desjardins, Analyst, Shell Foundation, said: "Today, more than 40% of the Indian population, or approximately 1,25,000 villages, have no access to reliable electricity. Existing energy options in rural communities such as diesel generator sets and kerosene lanterns are polluting, prohibitively expensive, and logistically difficult to disseminate. Those villages which do have access to electricity are often subject to frequent power cuts and shortages in power supply. This directly impedes the economic development of the affected communities and indeed India as a whole."
"Husk Power Systems is using unique technology and processes to tackle the rural energy deficit in India in an environmentally and commercially sustainable way. They are proving that rural Indian communities are willing and able to pay for reliable electricity and that Bihar represents a viable market in which to deliver modern energy services. The Husk Power Systems team has surpassed Shell Foundation's expectations and we are excited to build on this partnership with a second round of financing required to lay the groundwork for a wider scaling up of operations," he further added.
Chip Ransler, Chief Strategy Officer, Husk Power Systems, said "The first round of Shell Foundation financing provided access to energy for 15 villages and critical improvements to scale our business. This new round of support will take us over the hump: funding more expansion, but also the people and resources we need to make Husk Power Systems an important player in the Indian rural power market."
"The Shell Foundation gets our vision - that power is critical to creating a new reality for rural Indians and that innovative technology and service models are critical to delivering it in a meaningful, sustainable way."
The company which has set up 10 plants is creating new job opportunities locally in Bihar. Ransler continued, "We are currently looking for 3 regional managers (to oversee 35-50 plants each) dozens of mid-level managers (in terms of fresher mechanical engineers, talented fresher management trainees, and experienced project managers), and close to 100 field workers (mainly skilled mechanical technicians from local technical schools) to join the Husk Power team. As we scale up, we'll hire hundreds of employees - most of them coming from Bihar. Candidates will be trained at our training facility where they will become skilled in large engine repair and maintenance, facility management, and continuous improvement processes.link
HPS owns and operates 35-100 kW "mini power-plants" that deliver electricity as a pay-for-use service to villages of 2,000 to 4,000 inhabitants in the Indian Rice Belt. Each plant becomes operationally profitable in the first six months of operations. HPS has successfully implemented projects in 50 villages in Bihar and will expand its footprint to 100 villages in 2009, 400 in 2010, and 2000 in 2012.
The second round of support will help deliver more power plants, increase the operational and technical capacity of the company and develop the Husk Power Systems brand in India and the US. Shell Foundation has been a partner to Husk Power Systems since November 2008, providing ongoing business development assistance and technical support.
Rice husks (the casing on the outside of rice grains) have traditionally been discarded. However, upon heating, rice husk releases gas and which HPS uses to run modified diesel engines to generate electricity. The waste product of the process is high in silica and can be sold to concrete manufacturers. The business has also been awarded the first prize in the 2009 Global Business Plan Competition by leading global venture capital firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ) and Cisco.
Simon Desjardins, Analyst, Shell Foundation, said: "Today, more than 40% of the Indian population, or approximately 1,25,000 villages, have no access to reliable electricity. Existing energy options in rural communities such as diesel generator sets and kerosene lanterns are polluting, prohibitively expensive, and logistically difficult to disseminate. Those villages which do have access to electricity are often subject to frequent power cuts and shortages in power supply. This directly impedes the economic development of the affected communities and indeed India as a whole."
"Husk Power Systems is using unique technology and processes to tackle the rural energy deficit in India in an environmentally and commercially sustainable way. They are proving that rural Indian communities are willing and able to pay for reliable electricity and that Bihar represents a viable market in which to deliver modern energy services. The Husk Power Systems team has surpassed Shell Foundation's expectations and we are excited to build on this partnership with a second round of financing required to lay the groundwork for a wider scaling up of operations," he further added.
Chip Ransler, Chief Strategy Officer, Husk Power Systems, said "The first round of Shell Foundation financing provided access to energy for 15 villages and critical improvements to scale our business. This new round of support will take us over the hump: funding more expansion, but also the people and resources we need to make Husk Power Systems an important player in the Indian rural power market."
"The Shell Foundation gets our vision - that power is critical to creating a new reality for rural Indians and that innovative technology and service models are critical to delivering it in a meaningful, sustainable way."
The company which has set up 10 plants is creating new job opportunities locally in Bihar. Ransler continued, "We are currently looking for 3 regional managers (to oversee 35-50 plants each) dozens of mid-level managers (in terms of fresher mechanical engineers, talented fresher management trainees, and experienced project managers), and close to 100 field workers (mainly skilled mechanical technicians from local technical schools) to join the Husk Power team. As we scale up, we'll hire hundreds of employees - most of them coming from Bihar. Candidates will be trained at our training facility where they will become skilled in large engine repair and maintenance, facility management, and continuous improvement processes.link
Teacher held on charge of vehicle lifter
The chemistry teacher of a Patna college have been arrested on charge of being the mastermind of a gang of vehicle lifters.
Police said Amarnath Gupta, a chemistry teacher of the Guru Gobind Singh College, was arrested by a police team from state's Kaimur district from his Rajendra Nagar residence here yesterday. Another person Girija Kesri was also apprehended from the city.
The arrests were made in the wake of one Raju Kumar lodging an FIR with the Mohania police station in Kaimur district alleging Gupta and Kesri sold him a vehicle with fake documents.
The complainant said he returned the vehicle on discovery that the chassis number did not match the one mentioned in the document. However, he failed to get his money back despite repeated pleas, the FIR said.
Superintendent of police, Kaimur, PK Srivastava said the police were probing if Keshri and Gupta had links with other vehicle lifter gangs.
Police said Amarnath Gupta, a chemistry teacher of the Guru Gobind Singh College, was arrested by a police team from state's Kaimur district from his Rajendra Nagar residence here yesterday. Another person Girija Kesri was also apprehended from the city.
The arrests were made in the wake of one Raju Kumar lodging an FIR with the Mohania police station in Kaimur district alleging Gupta and Kesri sold him a vehicle with fake documents.
The complainant said he returned the vehicle on discovery that the chassis number did not match the one mentioned in the document. However, he failed to get his money back despite repeated pleas, the FIR said.
Superintendent of police, Kaimur, PK Srivastava said the police were probing if Keshri and Gupta had links with other vehicle lifter gangs.
Monday 2 November 2009
Bamboo toilets for the poor
The government in Bihar is constructing bamboo toilets for the poor living in the rural parts of the state, according to a senior state government official.
The low cost toilets, the official said, will have their doors and roofs made of treated bamboo easily available in the region.
As of now, 1.8 crore households in Bihar do not have toilet facilities compelling the villagers to defecate in the open.
“The initial response has been tremendous and we hope this model will be a running success”, the principal secretary of Public Health and Engineering Department HC Sirohai said.
He said the department was training carpenters and masons for constructing such toilets for the poor.
Very recently, the department had begun constructing toilets for the families below poverty line (BPL) and above poverty line (APL) under its total sanitation plan but the government was able to construct only 21 lakh toilets so far.
The low cost toilets, the official said, will have their doors and roofs made of treated bamboo easily available in the region.
As of now, 1.8 crore households in Bihar do not have toilet facilities compelling the villagers to defecate in the open.
“The initial response has been tremendous and we hope this model will be a running success”, the principal secretary of Public Health and Engineering Department HC Sirohai said.
He said the department was training carpenters and masons for constructing such toilets for the poor.
Very recently, the department had begun constructing toilets for the families below poverty line (BPL) and above poverty line (APL) under its total sanitation plan but the government was able to construct only 21 lakh toilets so far.
Finnair launches initiative for children of Bihar
Nordic carrier Finnair has launched a new programme as part of its corporate social responsibility initiative in India to ensure safe drinking water and proper sanitation for the children of Bihar.
Called the "Change for Good Campaign", the carrier will start collecting money from its passengers - even small change, and hence the name - that would be routed via the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) to the children of the state.
"We want a safe learning environment for the children of Bihar. Our objective is also to encourage children, families and communities to adopt hygienic practices and practical water treatment measures," said Kari Stolbow, Finnair director for the Indian subcontinent.
The collection starts end of this month and will continue till Jan 10 next year, he said, adding Finnair will also make its own contributions to the programme.
The Change for Good Campaign has been arranged on nearly all the international flights of Finnair. The donated cash/change can be placed in a collection envelope on seatback pockets, which can be sealed and given to the cabin crew.
Donations can also be made online at www.unicef.fi/lahjoitaverkossa. This apart, people can also participate by giving their donations to the airline's passengers, who can put it into the collection boxes located at Finnair lounges at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport.
This is the 14th time the carrier has arranged the campaign. Over the years, it has been directed to education programmes in Rwanda and Nepal, HIV/AIDS in Vietnam and Kaliningrad and an emergency relief project in Kosovo.link
Called the "Change for Good Campaign", the carrier will start collecting money from its passengers - even small change, and hence the name - that would be routed via the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) to the children of the state.
"We want a safe learning environment for the children of Bihar. Our objective is also to encourage children, families and communities to adopt hygienic practices and practical water treatment measures," said Kari Stolbow, Finnair director for the Indian subcontinent.
The collection starts end of this month and will continue till Jan 10 next year, he said, adding Finnair will also make its own contributions to the programme.
The Change for Good Campaign has been arranged on nearly all the international flights of Finnair. The donated cash/change can be placed in a collection envelope on seatback pockets, which can be sealed and given to the cabin crew.
Donations can also be made online at www.unicef.fi/lahjoitaverkossa. This apart, people can also participate by giving their donations to the airline's passengers, who can put it into the collection boxes located at Finnair lounges at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport.
This is the 14th time the carrier has arranged the campaign. Over the years, it has been directed to education programmes in Rwanda and Nepal, HIV/AIDS in Vietnam and Kaliningrad and an emergency relief project in Kosovo.link
Madhubani paintings attract attention from Mauritius
Madhubani paintings attract attention from MauritiusPatna, Nov 2 - Mauritius has invited two experts of the famous Madhubani paintings of Bihar to train its artists and art teachers at a workshop beginning Nov 4, an official said here Monday.
Rabindra Nath Tagore Institute under the Youth, Sports, Art and Culture Ministry of Mauritius invited the two experts - noted art designer Amitabh Pandey and Madhubani painter Raj Kumar, son of internationally known Madhubani painter late Yashoda Devi.
Mauritius artists and art teachers will be trained at a 16-day workshop.
"Mauritius has invited two experts of famous Madhubani painting from Bihar to train its artists and art teachers," an official of art and culture department said.
For ages, rural people, mostly women, of Mithila in Bihar have developed their tradition of art, popularly known as Madhubani paintings - named after Madhubani district. This painting tradition dates back to the seventh century AD.
Traditionally, Madhubani paintings were made on the eve of certain religious festivals and weddings. In the last few decades, master painters have popularised Madhubanipaintings the world over.
The famous Madhubani paintings are now an exclusive brand as they have been registered under the provisions of Global Indications (GI) Act for patenting.
Mauritius has strong cultural ties with Bihar as the Indian state is the land of the ancestors of a large number of people of Mauritius.
Last year, Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam visited Bihar and stressed on developing closer cultural ties with India.
Ramgoolam had touched the ground after alighting from the aircraft here, and quickly smeared some mud on his forehead.
His grandfather Mohit Ramgoolam was one of the hundreds of labourers forcibly taken by the British from Bihar to work in Mauritius sugarcane plantations in 1871. About 60 percent of the 1.2 million population of Mauritius is of Indian origin, a large number of them from Bihar with Bhojpuri as their mother tongue.link
Rabindra Nath Tagore Institute under the Youth, Sports, Art and Culture Ministry of Mauritius invited the two experts - noted art designer Amitabh Pandey and Madhubani painter Raj Kumar, son of internationally known Madhubani painter late Yashoda Devi.
Mauritius artists and art teachers will be trained at a 16-day workshop.
"Mauritius has invited two experts of famous Madhubani painting from Bihar to train its artists and art teachers," an official of art and culture department said.
For ages, rural people, mostly women, of Mithila in Bihar have developed their tradition of art, popularly known as Madhubani paintings - named after Madhubani district. This painting tradition dates back to the seventh century AD.
Traditionally, Madhubani paintings were made on the eve of certain religious festivals and weddings. In the last few decades, master painters have popularised Madhubanipaintings the world over.
The famous Madhubani paintings are now an exclusive brand as they have been registered under the provisions of Global Indications (GI) Act for patenting.
Mauritius has strong cultural ties with Bihar as the Indian state is the land of the ancestors of a large number of people of Mauritius.
Last year, Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam visited Bihar and stressed on developing closer cultural ties with India.
Ramgoolam had touched the ground after alighting from the aircraft here, and quickly smeared some mud on his forehead.
His grandfather Mohit Ramgoolam was one of the hundreds of labourers forcibly taken by the British from Bihar to work in Mauritius sugarcane plantations in 1871. About 60 percent of the 1.2 million population of Mauritius is of Indian origin, a large number of them from Bihar with Bhojpuri as their mother tongue.link
Sunday 1 November 2009
Ex-Jharkhand CM Koda in illegal deals worth Rs 2000 cr
The noose around former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda tightened further on Sunday with Income-Tax and ED officials carrying out Madhu Koda interacts with media persons in Ranchi raids at several places in the state as well as outside, including the home of a former secretary of senior leader Shibu Soren.
The I-T department, probing a disproportionate assets charge against Koda, conducted raids in eight cities and over 60 premises owned by the former CM and his associates.
A senior ED official claimed that the documents seized so far proved that Koda was involved in illegal transactions worth over Rs 2,000 crore.
The I-T department and Enforcement Directorate jointly raided houses of Harendra Singh, Koda’s personal secretary, and M N Pal, Soren’s secretary, on Saturday.
Koda to be summoned for questioning soon
As former Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda comes under increasing pressure over alleged financial irregularities, Income Tax director (investigation ) Ujjwal Choudhary said: “We have come across some deals when Koda was the mines and geology minister and Arjun Munda was the chief minister. The deals indicate unaccounted transaction of money.”
Raids were also conducted on the houses of two mediapersons, Arup Chatterji and Prem Shyankaran. “The raids were conducted at the houses and offices of Arup Chatterji and Prem Shyankaran. Arup was till last month a reporter with Sahara News channel. He is planning to open a news channel. Prem is a contractor who started a Hindi newspaper,” Ujjwal Chaudhary said.
The searches were being conducted by at least 70 teams comprising 400 I-T sleuths and assisted by ED men in New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Lucknow, Nashik, Ranchi, Chaibasa and Jamshedpur.
Income tax sources confirmed after the raids that the department would soon summon Koda for questioning in the alleged hawala cases. They said notices would be sent under section 131 of Income Tax Act, 1961, which authorises the department to issue summons or to force attendance of any person for being examined on oath or to compel production of books of account and other documents.
Rags to illegal riches
Born into a poor family in Patahatu village in west Singhbhum, Koda worked as a labourer before joining BJP in 1994 Contested assembly polls in 2000 and became a minister when Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar. Between 2000 and 2005, served as minister during the Babulal Marandi and Arjun Munda regimes. Left BJP and fought 2005 state elections as an independent from Jagannathpur, won. Became mines and geology minister in BJP govt formed with support of 5 other independents.
Reports of corrupt dealings emerge. In September 2006, brought down Munda govt, became CM with support from Cong, RJD and Shibu Soren’s JMM. Several reports of corruption during tenure as CM from Sept 2006 to August 2008. In 2009, fought Lok Sabha election and won as independent from Singhbhum. Two corruption cases lodged against Koda, accused of purchasing mines in Liberia worth Rs 8.5 crore in the names of aides. Assets worth Rs 1800 cr alleged. Case lodged also under Prevention of Money Laundering Act. link
The I-T department, probing a disproportionate assets charge against Koda, conducted raids in eight cities and over 60 premises owned by the former CM and his associates.
A senior ED official claimed that the documents seized so far proved that Koda was involved in illegal transactions worth over Rs 2,000 crore.
The I-T department and Enforcement Directorate jointly raided houses of Harendra Singh, Koda’s personal secretary, and M N Pal, Soren’s secretary, on Saturday.
Koda to be summoned for questioning soon
As former Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda comes under increasing pressure over alleged financial irregularities, Income Tax director (investigation ) Ujjwal Choudhary said: “We have come across some deals when Koda was the mines and geology minister and Arjun Munda was the chief minister. The deals indicate unaccounted transaction of money.”
Raids were also conducted on the houses of two mediapersons, Arup Chatterji and Prem Shyankaran. “The raids were conducted at the houses and offices of Arup Chatterji and Prem Shyankaran. Arup was till last month a reporter with Sahara News channel. He is planning to open a news channel. Prem is a contractor who started a Hindi newspaper,” Ujjwal Chaudhary said.
The searches were being conducted by at least 70 teams comprising 400 I-T sleuths and assisted by ED men in New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Lucknow, Nashik, Ranchi, Chaibasa and Jamshedpur.
Income tax sources confirmed after the raids that the department would soon summon Koda for questioning in the alleged hawala cases. They said notices would be sent under section 131 of Income Tax Act, 1961, which authorises the department to issue summons or to force attendance of any person for being examined on oath or to compel production of books of account and other documents.
Rags to illegal riches
Born into a poor family in Patahatu village in west Singhbhum, Koda worked as a labourer before joining BJP in 1994 Contested assembly polls in 2000 and became a minister when Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar. Between 2000 and 2005, served as minister during the Babulal Marandi and Arjun Munda regimes. Left BJP and fought 2005 state elections as an independent from Jagannathpur, won. Became mines and geology minister in BJP govt formed with support of 5 other independents.
Reports of corrupt dealings emerge. In September 2006, brought down Munda govt, became CM with support from Cong, RJD and Shibu Soren’s JMM. Several reports of corruption during tenure as CM from Sept 2006 to August 2008. In 2009, fought Lok Sabha election and won as independent from Singhbhum. Two corruption cases lodged against Koda, accused of purchasing mines in Liberia worth Rs 8.5 crore in the names of aides. Assets worth Rs 1800 cr alleged. Case lodged also under Prevention of Money Laundering Act. link
Sonepur Mela begins
The Sonepur fair in Bihar, described as Asia’s largest cattle fair, has formally begun attracting a huge number of cattle from across the country, officials said today.
The fair began here last evening with deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi formally inaugurating it amid a galaxy of ministers.
“We will develop it as a modern fair having international look and quality of services”, Modi announced while inaugurating the fair.
According to officials, about 60 foreign tourists from Japan, Germany, Australia and Austria have booked their lodging in the tastefully-designed cottages having traditional look to enjoy the fair.
“We are providing every facility to the foreign guests to attract more and more tourists in our cottages decorated with traditional items”, said Ajay Kumar, in-charge of the cottages being managed by State Tourism Development Corporation.
Officials also said more than a lakh oxen, cows, bulls, elephants and horses have already reached the fair and have become the centre of attraction for the visitors.
One of the cattle businessmen Suresh Rai sold a pair of oxens for Rs 71,000 at the fair, officials said.
The fair will continue for 30 days, instead of 25 which was its earlier period.
The fair began here last evening with deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi formally inaugurating it amid a galaxy of ministers.
“We will develop it as a modern fair having international look and quality of services”, Modi announced while inaugurating the fair.
According to officials, about 60 foreign tourists from Japan, Germany, Australia and Austria have booked their lodging in the tastefully-designed cottages having traditional look to enjoy the fair.
“We are providing every facility to the foreign guests to attract more and more tourists in our cottages decorated with traditional items”, said Ajay Kumar, in-charge of the cottages being managed by State Tourism Development Corporation.
Officials also said more than a lakh oxen, cows, bulls, elephants and horses have already reached the fair and have become the centre of attraction for the visitors.
One of the cattle businessmen Suresh Rai sold a pair of oxens for Rs 71,000 at the fair, officials said.
The fair will continue for 30 days, instead of 25 which was its earlier period.
Find kidnapped doctors or face strike, says Bihar medicos
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Monday threatened to paralyse medical services in Bihar if the two doctors who were allegedly abducted nearly forty-eight hours ago in the state’s Samastipur district were not found soon.
The association also protested against the “police’s failure” in recovering the abducted doctors.
A.K. Sahay and Santosh Kumar, doctors who work at a nursing home located in a village, went missing late Saturday evening from Sahpur Patauri in Samastipur. They were abducted when they were out on work, a police official said.
“Police have failed to make any breakthrough, though two suspected people involved in the abduction were detained,” an official in Samastipur said.
A hunt has been launched to find the doctors after their motorcycles were recovered and investigations have begun in the case, he added.
“A special police team has been constituted to look into the case,” Deputy Inspector General (Darbhanga range) Baldeo Prasad said.
Their families suspect that both were kidnapped over a property dispute.
Abductions are common in Bihar for ransom and revenge. According to police sources here, 45 people have been abducted for ransom in the state from January to July this year. Last year, 32 people were kidnapped during the same period.
Nearly four months ago, the Bihar government said that between 2001 and 2009, 2,167 children had been kidnapped. Of them, 1,752 were found and 75 killed while the fate of 340 was still unknown.link
The association also protested against the “police’s failure” in recovering the abducted doctors.
A.K. Sahay and Santosh Kumar, doctors who work at a nursing home located in a village, went missing late Saturday evening from Sahpur Patauri in Samastipur. They were abducted when they were out on work, a police official said.
“Police have failed to make any breakthrough, though two suspected people involved in the abduction were detained,” an official in Samastipur said.
A hunt has been launched to find the doctors after their motorcycles were recovered and investigations have begun in the case, he added.
“A special police team has been constituted to look into the case,” Deputy Inspector General (Darbhanga range) Baldeo Prasad said.
Their families suspect that both were kidnapped over a property dispute.
Abductions are common in Bihar for ransom and revenge. According to police sources here, 45 people have been abducted for ransom in the state from January to July this year. Last year, 32 people were kidnapped during the same period.
Nearly four months ago, the Bihar government said that between 2001 and 2009, 2,167 children had been kidnapped. Of them, 1,752 were found and 75 killed while the fate of 340 was still unknown.link
Monday 19 October 2009
Child dies, 100 ill after eating prasad in Bihar
A child died and over 100 people fell ill after eating adulterated sweets at the inauguration of a godown of the Primary Agriculture Cooperative Society in Bhojpur district.
"The sweet, cooked with adulterated flour and vanaspati distributed after puja during the inauguration, led to the child's death and over 100 people to fall ill yesterday," district magistrate Safeena AN Said said today.
The affected people complained of nausea, uneasiness, abdominal pain, while scores fainted at the function in Banauli under Narayanpur police station in the district, official sources said. The district magistrate said she had ordered an investigation. link
"The sweet, cooked with adulterated flour and vanaspati distributed after puja during the inauguration, led to the child's death and over 100 people to fall ill yesterday," district magistrate Safeena AN Said said today.
The affected people complained of nausea, uneasiness, abdominal pain, while scores fainted at the function in Banauli under Narayanpur police station in the district, official sources said. The district magistrate said she had ordered an investigation. link
Saturday 17 October 2009
Post Offices, SBI to sell police job forms in Bihar
Post Offices and State Bank of India branches will sell the forms related to police jobs in Bihar, police officials said today.
“We have disassociated ourself from the selling of police job forms. Now, these forms will be sold through post offices and SBI branches functioning in Bihar”, a senior police department official said today.
The official said the new arrangement would help thousands of job seekers making rounds of police offices to procure job forms.
“The syllabus for the written test is ready and the job forms will be available there within 10 days”, Bihar’s director general of police Anand Shankar said.
Officials said about 3,000 persons are to be recruited to fill the vacant posts in the police department.
The recruitment process will start from next month, they said.link
“We have disassociated ourself from the selling of police job forms. Now, these forms will be sold through post offices and SBI branches functioning in Bihar”, a senior police department official said today.
The official said the new arrangement would help thousands of job seekers making rounds of police offices to procure job forms.
“The syllabus for the written test is ready and the job forms will be available there within 10 days”, Bihar’s director general of police Anand Shankar said.
Officials said about 3,000 persons are to be recruited to fill the vacant posts in the police department.
The recruitment process will start from next month, they said.link
Friday 16 October 2009
France may fund Bihar's hydel project
France has evinced its interest in funding Bihar's proposed multi-purpose 126 MW hydel power project, the biggest one in the state, a senior government official said.
"France has shown its interest in external funding for the Dagmara project in Supaul district...We have sent the detailed project report through state's finance department to the Government of France for consideration," Principal Secretary (energy) Ravikant told.
The project is planned for irrigation, flood protection and power generation of 126 MW, he said.
A French delegation had inspected the project site.
The French Development Agency was expected to fund 70 to 80 per cent of the estimated Rs 693 crore, Ravikant said.
Earlier, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) was to fund the project, but it was later decided to hand it over to France.link
"France has shown its interest in external funding for the Dagmara project in Supaul district...We have sent the detailed project report through state's finance department to the Government of France for consideration," Principal Secretary (energy) Ravikant told.
The project is planned for irrigation, flood protection and power generation of 126 MW, he said.
A French delegation had inspected the project site.
The French Development Agency was expected to fund 70 to 80 per cent of the estimated Rs 693 crore, Ravikant said.
Earlier, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) was to fund the project, but it was later decided to hand it over to France.link
Bihar to launch E-shakti scheme
Aiming to root out corruption in implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) in Bihar, the state government has decided to cover one million beneficiaries under the e-shakti scheme by March 31, 2010.
"In the very first year, the project, with the help of service provider Smaartech Technologies limited, will cover beneficiaries from Patna district. This will entail issuing 10 lakh E-shakti cards in over 1300 villages spread over 23 blocks in the district," Smaartech Director (Bihar) B K Mishra told the news agency.
Mishra said subsequently over the next four years, the project would be set up in the remaining 37 districts to cover 24 million NREGA beneficiaries in approximately 39,000 villages spread over 534 blocks.
In total, about three crore E-shakti cards would be distributed under the state pilot project in Patna which was in the process being implemented early.
Smart cards have already been processed for job card holders of village Baritangrila and the rest of the beneficiaries will be issued their personalised E-shakti cards once the smart card distribution starts in a few months.
E-shakti project is an initiative by the department of rural development, government of Bihar, inspired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for successful implementation of NREGA in the state.
Since there had been allegations that the NREGA is beset with corruption and there is no proper method of work measurement, taking attendance and disbursing wages, the ICT (Informatiion and Communication Technology) has been used to rid NREGA of corruption charges, official sources said.
The E-shakti would also facilitate registration process of individuals which includes recording of personal information as well as biometric information (photograph and all 10 fingerprints), Mishra said.
A separate bank account is being opened for each adult member of the household.
The E-shakti project was inaugurated on February 24, 2009 in the Paliganj block of Patna district by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and till now around 8.76 lakh village labourers of 14 blocks have been registered under it.
An estimated 3000 smart cards have already been distributed.
Mishra said the information technology application was introduced to bring effective coordination in execution, better targeting of beneficiaries, establishing transparency and accountability, e-based grievance redressal mechanism and establishing state of art financial management systems.
All these together constitute a complete technological solution for the preparation and execution of poverty alleviation programmes proposed by the Department of Rural Development in Bihar, Mishra said.
The project, when fully becoming functional, would empower the rural economy of the state.
Mishra said Bihar thus became the first state in the country to start a call centre under E-shakti project dedicated exclusively to NREGA.
Chief Minister Kumar had on October 14 last inaugurated the E-shakti call centre at 538, AG Place, West Boring Canal Road, Patna, by dialing a toll free number 18003452244 and asking a few questions regarding E-shakti.
He said Smaartech has the expertise in making innovative effort for increased efficiency in e-governance projects country wide.
Kumar had expressed hope that the call centre would not restrict itself to only providing information and registering complaints but in future would enable beneficiaries to know as to where they could get their work done in respective areas. link
"In the very first year, the project, with the help of service provider Smaartech Technologies limited, will cover beneficiaries from Patna district. This will entail issuing 10 lakh E-shakti cards in over 1300 villages spread over 23 blocks in the district," Smaartech Director (Bihar) B K Mishra told the news agency.
Mishra said subsequently over the next four years, the project would be set up in the remaining 37 districts to cover 24 million NREGA beneficiaries in approximately 39,000 villages spread over 534 blocks.
In total, about three crore E-shakti cards would be distributed under the state pilot project in Patna which was in the process being implemented early.
Smart cards have already been processed for job card holders of village Baritangrila and the rest of the beneficiaries will be issued their personalised E-shakti cards once the smart card distribution starts in a few months.
E-shakti project is an initiative by the department of rural development, government of Bihar, inspired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for successful implementation of NREGA in the state.
Since there had been allegations that the NREGA is beset with corruption and there is no proper method of work measurement, taking attendance and disbursing wages, the ICT (Informatiion and Communication Technology) has been used to rid NREGA of corruption charges, official sources said.
The E-shakti would also facilitate registration process of individuals which includes recording of personal information as well as biometric information (photograph and all 10 fingerprints), Mishra said.
A separate bank account is being opened for each adult member of the household.
The E-shakti project was inaugurated on February 24, 2009 in the Paliganj block of Patna district by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and till now around 8.76 lakh village labourers of 14 blocks have been registered under it.
An estimated 3000 smart cards have already been distributed.
Mishra said the information technology application was introduced to bring effective coordination in execution, better targeting of beneficiaries, establishing transparency and accountability, e-based grievance redressal mechanism and establishing state of art financial management systems.
All these together constitute a complete technological solution for the preparation and execution of poverty alleviation programmes proposed by the Department of Rural Development in Bihar, Mishra said.
The project, when fully becoming functional, would empower the rural economy of the state.
Mishra said Bihar thus became the first state in the country to start a call centre under E-shakti project dedicated exclusively to NREGA.
Chief Minister Kumar had on October 14 last inaugurated the E-shakti call centre at 538, AG Place, West Boring Canal Road, Patna, by dialing a toll free number 18003452244 and asking a few questions regarding E-shakti.
He said Smaartech has the expertise in making innovative effort for increased efficiency in e-governance projects country wide.
Kumar had expressed hope that the call centre would not restrict itself to only providing information and registering complaints but in future would enable beneficiaries to know as to where they could get their work done in respective areas. link
Sunday 11 October 2009
First Children's Film Festival in Patna
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday inaugurated children's film festival at Mona Theater in Patna organized by the state Information and Public Relations department in coordination with the Children's Film Society of India.
The festival that will run until November 14 would feature a host of nationally and internationally acclaimed film for the younger audience and would be replayed in Gaya, Muzaffarpur, and Bhagalpur later next month.
Kumar, in the presence of hundreds of children, wished them success in future and urged them to grow up to be good citizens and contribute towards a better, developed Bihar.
Prior to the screening of the first movie, children associated with 'Kilkari' presented a short play 'Sheikh Chilli' that left the audience laughing aloud.
The Chief Minister announced a grant of Rs. 5 lakh for developing 'Kilkari' and suggested an annual award event for its young artists.
Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, in his address, lamented the decline – both in quantity and quality – in children's films saying the proliferation of television had resulted in the loss of interest in films.
"There used to be a certain pleasure in going to films with friends and family members and this film festival aims to revive that tradition," Modi said.
Information and Public Relations Minister Ramnath Thakur, department director Rajesh Bhushan and a number of senior bureaucrats were present on the occasion.link
The festival that will run until November 14 would feature a host of nationally and internationally acclaimed film for the younger audience and would be replayed in Gaya, Muzaffarpur, and Bhagalpur later next month.
Kumar, in the presence of hundreds of children, wished them success in future and urged them to grow up to be good citizens and contribute towards a better, developed Bihar.
Prior to the screening of the first movie, children associated with 'Kilkari' presented a short play 'Sheikh Chilli' that left the audience laughing aloud.
The Chief Minister announced a grant of Rs. 5 lakh for developing 'Kilkari' and suggested an annual award event for its young artists.
Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, in his address, lamented the decline – both in quantity and quality – in children's films saying the proliferation of television had resulted in the loss of interest in films.
"There used to be a certain pleasure in going to films with friends and family members and this film festival aims to revive that tradition," Modi said.
Information and Public Relations Minister Ramnath Thakur, department director Rajesh Bhushan and a number of senior bureaucrats were present on the occasion.link
RTI a tool in hands of aam-admi to fight red-tapism
To own a house was the dream of 70-year-old rickshaw puller Mazloom Nadaf which he nurtured throughout his life.
For once, he felt his wish will be realised when he was given Rs 25,000 for a house under Indira Awaas Yozna but little did he know that getting the money from Block Development Officer would be a tough task.
Nadaf, hailing from Madhubani district in Bihar, claims that he was asked to pay a bribe of Rs 5,000 to get the due amount under the scheme.
Four years ago, the Right to Information Act came into being and Nadaf utilised it to the fullest, an NGO that helps educate people on the RTI Act said.
Not only did he get the substantial amount without paying any bribe within 10 days of filing an application, but he also became one of the first persons from Bihar to reap the benefits of the Act.
Later, the remaining portion was also sent to him with which he managed to fulfil his dream of buying a house.
On the eve of the Act completing four years, many a common man like him find themselves empowered.
"Nadaf was the first RTI applicant from Bihar and today many have followed his footsteps. Most of the time you will find Nadaf transporting people who have problems, in his rickshaw. He carries them to some RTI activist," said Ashok Kumar Singh, a member of the NGO.
Manish Sisodiya, an RTI activist in Delhi said, "This is the power of RTI - even an ordinary rickshawala becomes as powerful as the member of Parliament."
In another case, villagers filed different RTI applications and have successfully brought eight villages under the count of the Census.
"Bhawanipur, Bichiya, Naibarti Tadiya, Kailash Nagar Dhakia, Dilshad Nagar, Gokulpur, Mehboobnagar and Kautarniya Ghat were never under the count of the Census. All development work was denied with the excuse that it was not in the map. People were devoid of school, clean drinking water, toilet and all development schemes of the government," Sisodia said.
"People living in this area were considered encroacher of land by the government. We had bright students in this area who got selected in Shastastra Seema Bal but were denied jobs as they did not have a residence proof. They could vote but they did not have a voter I-card," he said.
Finally, these eight villages are recognised and all come under the count of the Census, he said.
"It's a very difficult question. The point here is that it has started having an impact. So to say that it has delivered is going a little far. What I can say that it has started making a major impact on government's functioning," Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah said when asked whether the Act has delivered on the expectations of the common man.
For once, he felt his wish will be realised when he was given Rs 25,000 for a house under Indira Awaas Yozna but little did he know that getting the money from Block Development Officer would be a tough task.
Nadaf, hailing from Madhubani district in Bihar, claims that he was asked to pay a bribe of Rs 5,000 to get the due amount under the scheme.
Four years ago, the Right to Information Act came into being and Nadaf utilised it to the fullest, an NGO that helps educate people on the RTI Act said.
Not only did he get the substantial amount without paying any bribe within 10 days of filing an application, but he also became one of the first persons from Bihar to reap the benefits of the Act.
Later, the remaining portion was also sent to him with which he managed to fulfil his dream of buying a house.
On the eve of the Act completing four years, many a common man like him find themselves empowered.
"Nadaf was the first RTI applicant from Bihar and today many have followed his footsteps. Most of the time you will find Nadaf transporting people who have problems, in his rickshaw. He carries them to some RTI activist," said Ashok Kumar Singh, a member of the NGO.
Manish Sisodiya, an RTI activist in Delhi said, "This is the power of RTI - even an ordinary rickshawala becomes as powerful as the member of Parliament."
In another case, villagers filed different RTI applications and have successfully brought eight villages under the count of the Census.
"Bhawanipur, Bichiya, Naibarti Tadiya, Kailash Nagar Dhakia, Dilshad Nagar, Gokulpur, Mehboobnagar and Kautarniya Ghat were never under the count of the Census. All development work was denied with the excuse that it was not in the map. People were devoid of school, clean drinking water, toilet and all development schemes of the government," Sisodia said.
"People living in this area were considered encroacher of land by the government. We had bright students in this area who got selected in Shastastra Seema Bal but were denied jobs as they did not have a residence proof. They could vote but they did not have a voter I-card," he said.
Finally, these eight villages are recognised and all come under the count of the Census, he said.
"It's a very difficult question. The point here is that it has started having an impact. So to say that it has delivered is going a little far. What I can say that it has started making a major impact on government's functioning," Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah said when asked whether the Act has delivered on the expectations of the common man.
Wednesday 7 October 2009
Magadh University 2009 PG Results
Magadh University, Bihar has declared Under Graduate (UG) and Post Graduate (PG) Results For Academic Year 2009.
Magadh University is today one of the largest universities of Bihar and India. The University has developed horizontally and vertically having 24 post Graduate Departments, 44 Constituent and 85 affiliated Colleges, altogether with above 2 lakh students and 2 thousand teachers. Prof. B.N.Pandey, an academician of excellence is the Vice – Chancellor. The university expands over an area comprising of Gaya, Jehanabad, Patna, Nalanda, Nawada and Aurangabad districts. The areas of Bhojpur, Buxar and Rohtas and Kaimur districts have been separated under a new University – Veer Kunwar Singh University, with its headquarters at Ara in October 1992. The headquarters of this university is established at Gaya, about 2.5 Km away from the world famed heritage site of Mahabodhi Mahavihara or the Great Temple.
The Gaya – Dobhi National Highway No. 83 passes by and gives it passage to east – west connections with other urban centres of the country. It is 16 Km from Gaya, linked with Railways communication getting linkages with Delhi – Kolkata and also from Patna – the Capital city of the state. The recently built up International Airport will further facilitate its academic importance to countries like Thailand, Srilanka, Myanmar, Colombia, Vietnam, Japan, Korea, China, Singapore and others. Naturally, the University is fortunate to have this background to remain developing in coming days.
Results on Magadh University Website – http://magadhuniversity.ac.in
Magadh University is today one of the largest universities of Bihar and India. The University has developed horizontally and vertically having 24 post Graduate Departments, 44 Constituent and 85 affiliated Colleges, altogether with above 2 lakh students and 2 thousand teachers. Prof. B.N.Pandey, an academician of excellence is the Vice – Chancellor. The university expands over an area comprising of Gaya, Jehanabad, Patna, Nalanda, Nawada and Aurangabad districts. The areas of Bhojpur, Buxar and Rohtas and Kaimur districts have been separated under a new University – Veer Kunwar Singh University, with its headquarters at Ara in October 1992. The headquarters of this university is established at Gaya, about 2.5 Km away from the world famed heritage site of Mahabodhi Mahavihara or the Great Temple.
The Gaya – Dobhi National Highway No. 83 passes by and gives it passage to east – west connections with other urban centres of the country. It is 16 Km from Gaya, linked with Railways communication getting linkages with Delhi – Kolkata and also from Patna – the Capital city of the state. The recently built up International Airport will further facilitate its academic importance to countries like Thailand, Srilanka, Myanmar, Colombia, Vietnam, Japan, Korea, China, Singapore and others. Naturally, the University is fortunate to have this background to remain developing in coming days.
Results on Magadh University Website – http://magadhuniversity.ac.in
One dead, 50 injured in Bihar train accident
A passenger was killed and at least 50 injured when the Amritsar-Katihar Amarpali Express express train derailed in Bihar, police said Thursday.
The engine and seven bogies of the train derailed late Wednesday between the Pasraha and Gauchari railway stations near Naugachia.
Railway sources said the accident took place because the track had caved in following incessant rain for 24 hours.
The dead passenger was identified as Puran Singh of Purnia district.
Train services on the Barauni-Katihar divison were paralysed due to the accident.
Additional Director General of Police Neelmani said the Government Railway Police escort party rescued the driver and dozens of passengers from the derailed bogies.
Railway officials and a medical relief team have reached the site of the accident.link
The engine and seven bogies of the train derailed late Wednesday between the Pasraha and Gauchari railway stations near Naugachia.
Railway sources said the accident took place because the track had caved in following incessant rain for 24 hours.
The dead passenger was identified as Puran Singh of Purnia district.
Train services on the Barauni-Katihar divison were paralysed due to the accident.
Additional Director General of Police Neelmani said the Government Railway Police escort party rescued the driver and dozens of passengers from the derailed bogies.
Railway officials and a medical relief team have reached the site of the accident.link
Tuesday 6 October 2009
Human rights violation cases very high in Bihar jails
A prisoner dies almost every second day in Bihar owing to very pathetic living conditions and alarming health facilities prevailing in jails, according to an official report.
According to an official report, a total of 175 prisoners died in various jails of Bihar last year, followed by 180 in 2007 and 164 in 2006 while the number of custodial death cases in 2005 was 205. This year, 56 prisoners have died till April.
“The allegations of tortures to the prisoners are not correct. In fact, the poor health facilities could be largely blamed for this”, said IG (Jails), Bihar, Shiv Kumar.
“The number of prisoners in Bihar jails has gone up alarmingly in recent years but in the same ratio, the number of doctors and para-medical staffs has not increased and this is the problem “, the IG said.
According to the jail officials, a total of about 1400 prisoners in the age-group of 65-70 are currently suffering from serious health ailments.
As per report, a total of about 44,000 prisoners are currently lodged in total 54 jails of Bihar.
Of the total prisoners, over 30,000 are Hindus, 6851 are Muslims, 115 Sikhs and 132 Christians.
Of them, 91 have been sentenced to hanging, 6765 have been awarded life imprisonment while 1828 have given imprisonment for 10 or more than 10 years.link
According to an official report, a total of 175 prisoners died in various jails of Bihar last year, followed by 180 in 2007 and 164 in 2006 while the number of custodial death cases in 2005 was 205. This year, 56 prisoners have died till April.
“The allegations of tortures to the prisoners are not correct. In fact, the poor health facilities could be largely blamed for this”, said IG (Jails), Bihar, Shiv Kumar.
“The number of prisoners in Bihar jails has gone up alarmingly in recent years but in the same ratio, the number of doctors and para-medical staffs has not increased and this is the problem “, the IG said.
According to the jail officials, a total of about 1400 prisoners in the age-group of 65-70 are currently suffering from serious health ailments.
As per report, a total of about 44,000 prisoners are currently lodged in total 54 jails of Bihar.
Of the total prisoners, over 30,000 are Hindus, 6851 are Muslims, 115 Sikhs and 132 Christians.
Of them, 91 have been sentenced to hanging, 6765 have been awarded life imprisonment while 1828 have given imprisonment for 10 or more than 10 years.link
Monday 5 October 2009
Bihar win National Sub-Junior Kabaddi competition
For the first time in the 21-year history of the National Sub-Junior Kabaddi competition, the Bihar team emerged as the winner of the tournament beating out the Delhi team with a score of 40-28 at the Moinul Haque stadium in Patna on Sunday.
Bihar's girl team, however, despite excellent display of skill, strategy, and agility, lost to Delhi 19-8.
Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan earned the third place in the boys category while Manipur and Haryana were placed third in the girl's category.
Bhawesh Kumar of Bihar and Delhi's Rakhi were adjudged the best players in the boys and girls categories respectively.
Earlier, Bihar's boys defeated Uttar Pradesh 41-23 in the semi-finals to reach the final where it met with Delhi that defeated Rajasthan 17-15 in the semi.
Bihar's girls team, on the other hand defeated Manipur 16-13 in the semifinals where it met with Delhi that earlier defeated Haryana 39-15 to reach the final round.
Governor Debananda Konwar and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Patna Central Shatrughan Sinha gave away the prizes to the first and second place winners.
Bihar's girl team, however, despite excellent display of skill, strategy, and agility, lost to Delhi 19-8.
Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan earned the third place in the boys category while Manipur and Haryana were placed third in the girl's category.
Bhawesh Kumar of Bihar and Delhi's Rakhi were adjudged the best players in the boys and girls categories respectively.
Earlier, Bihar's boys defeated Uttar Pradesh 41-23 in the semi-finals to reach the final where it met with Delhi that defeated Rajasthan 17-15 in the semi.
Bihar's girls team, on the other hand defeated Manipur 16-13 in the semifinals where it met with Delhi that earlier defeated Haryana 39-15 to reach the final round.
Governor Debananda Konwar and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Patna Central Shatrughan Sinha gave away the prizes to the first and second place winners.
Saturday 3 October 2009
Chief minister Nitish Kumar to open NREGA call centre on Oct 14
Bihar is set to become probably the first state in India to have a call centre for entertaining queries regarding National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) schemes and complaints regarding denial of benefits under the Act.
The Act guarantees 100 days of assured employment to people willing to work in the countryside.
Once operational, the call centre can be approached on the toll-free number, 1800-345-22-44. "The call centre would become operational from October 14 when chief minister Nitish Kumar would dedicate it to public," rural development department principal secretary Vijay Prakash told.
The call centre is being set up by the same agency which has been roped in by the state government for making biometric cards for NREGA beneficiaries under its ambitious e-Shakti project.
Prakash said anyone willing to get general information like making of a job card, work, wages etc could make a call to the call centre. Complaints pertaining to the problems facing the NREGA beneficiaries would also be received and forwarded to the official concerned for quick action.
"The complainant would be given a complaint number using which s/he can seek information about the follow-up action," Prakash said.
With the ultimate goal being providing biometric cards to all the NREGA beneficiaries, the call centre would be equipped with more features once these cards are distributed among the beneficiaries.
"In the next phase, the call centre could also be used by those looking for jobs under NREGA and the caller would have to give details of the job card number to get information about the jobs available under ongoing NREGA schemes," Prakash said.
Incidentally, details of six lakh NREGA beneficiaries have already been collected which would be used for making the biometric cards. "We expect to deliver the cards to many of these beneficiaries by next month," Prakash said.
He said efforts are also being made to ensure wage payment through these biometric cards. The new system entails payment to NREGA beneficiaries at the work site itself. The payment would be made by `bank correspondents' after verifying the beneficiary's biometric card. link
The Act guarantees 100 days of assured employment to people willing to work in the countryside.
Once operational, the call centre can be approached on the toll-free number, 1800-345-22-44. "The call centre would become operational from October 14 when chief minister Nitish Kumar would dedicate it to public," rural development department principal secretary Vijay Prakash told.
The call centre is being set up by the same agency which has been roped in by the state government for making biometric cards for NREGA beneficiaries under its ambitious e-Shakti project.
Prakash said anyone willing to get general information like making of a job card, work, wages etc could make a call to the call centre. Complaints pertaining to the problems facing the NREGA beneficiaries would also be received and forwarded to the official concerned for quick action.
"The complainant would be given a complaint number using which s/he can seek information about the follow-up action," Prakash said.
With the ultimate goal being providing biometric cards to all the NREGA beneficiaries, the call centre would be equipped with more features once these cards are distributed among the beneficiaries.
"In the next phase, the call centre could also be used by those looking for jobs under NREGA and the caller would have to give details of the job card number to get information about the jobs available under ongoing NREGA schemes," Prakash said.
Incidentally, details of six lakh NREGA beneficiaries have already been collected which would be used for making the biometric cards. "We expect to deliver the cards to many of these beneficiaries by next month," Prakash said.
He said efforts are also being made to ensure wage payment through these biometric cards. The new system entails payment to NREGA beneficiaries at the work site itself. The payment would be made by `bank correspondents' after verifying the beneficiary's biometric card. link
Friday 2 October 2009
Maoists threaten to kill Bihar Chief Minister
The banned CPI (Maoist) has threatened to kill Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar if two of their top leaders were not released from jail, official sources said today.
'Dabloo', a naxalite leader, in an sms from the mobile phone number -- 09308670993 -- to a reporter of a private TV channel, claimed that there was a plan to kill the chief minister, State Home Department Principal Secretary Amir Subhani said.
The message demanded the release of naxalite leaders 'Raviji' and Diren Singh.
"Director General of Police Anand Shankar and IGP (Operations) S K Bhardwaj are probing the issue," Subhani said.
"We have tightened the security for the CM," he said.link
'Dabloo', a naxalite leader, in an sms from the mobile phone number -- 09308670993 -- to a reporter of a private TV channel, claimed that there was a plan to kill the chief minister, State Home Department Principal Secretary Amir Subhani said.
The message demanded the release of naxalite leaders 'Raviji' and Diren Singh.
"Director General of Police Anand Shankar and IGP (Operations) S K Bhardwaj are probing the issue," Subhani said.
"We have tightened the security for the CM," he said.link
59% of Bihar school students consume tobacco
Around 59 per cent of the school students and approximately 60 per cent of the population consume tobacco in various forms in Bihar, this was revealed at a workshop organised here to mark the first anniversary of law coming to prohibit smoking at public places.
“As per the WHO report 58.9 per cent students of class 8 to 10 standard consume tobacco in various forms in Bihar schools...Around 60 per cent of the population of Bihar consume tobacco,” Mr Mahavir Das, Ex-Director-in-Chief Health Services, Bihar said a t a function organised by Bihar Voluntary Health Association (BVHA).
About 5.4 million people die every year from tobacco related disease worldwide and this figure could touch 10 million by the end of 2030 and seven million will fall prey to such diseases in south Asia alone, Mr Das said and added that 10 lakh people die in India from tobacco related disease.
If serious and concerted efforts like awareness campaign and other measures were not taken the number of deaths caused from tobacco consumption could rise phenomenally and may touch 160 million by 2050.link
“As per the WHO report 58.9 per cent students of class 8 to 10 standard consume tobacco in various forms in Bihar schools...Around 60 per cent of the population of Bihar consume tobacco,” Mr Mahavir Das, Ex-Director-in-Chief Health Services, Bihar said a t a function organised by Bihar Voluntary Health Association (BVHA).
About 5.4 million people die every year from tobacco related disease worldwide and this figure could touch 10 million by the end of 2030 and seven million will fall prey to such diseases in south Asia alone, Mr Das said and added that 10 lakh people die in India from tobacco related disease.
If serious and concerted efforts like awareness campaign and other measures were not taken the number of deaths caused from tobacco consumption could rise phenomenally and may touch 160 million by 2050.link
Maoists gun down 16 villagers including five children
At least 50 Maoist guerrillas attacked a Bihar village and brutally gunned down 16 people, including five children, after tying their hands and legs, police said Friday as the issue gained political overtones with demands for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's resignation.
The incident, which appeared to be a dispute over land, took place late Thursday in Amausi village in Khagaria district, about 200 km north of Patna.
Villagers told police that the guerrillas had tied the hands and legs of the victims before shooting them dead.
Eleven people have been detained and are being interrogated.
'During raids, we have detained 11 people suspected to be involved in the incident,' Bhagalpur Inspector General of Police (IGP) A.R. Kinni told.
Bihar police chief Anand Shankar added that the priority was to arrest those involved in the incident.
'Over 50 armed Maoist rebels attacked Amausi village and shot dead 16 villagers, including five children,' Deputy Superintendent of Police Ajay Pandey said, adding that the killing appeared to be over a land dispute but that the police were still investigating.
'All senior district officials are camping in the village and security forces have been deployed. The Special Task Force along with district police have launched combing operations against Maoists in Khagaria,' Pandey added.
Nitish Kumar condemned the incident and asked top officials of the state administration to investigate.
'It is a shocking incident and should be condemned by one and all,' the chief minister said, while announcing compensation of Rs.150,000 to the families of each victim.
He said Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi and Director General of Police Anand Shankar would visit the village later Friday.
The incident prompted opposition Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan to demand Nitish Kumar's resignation.
Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad also targeted Nitish Kumar by saying the state government had failed to curb the spread of Maoists.
Lalu Prasad said it was not a caste massacre but a killing by Maoists.
He added that his party leaders had rushed to the village and so should Nitish Kumar.link
The incident, which appeared to be a dispute over land, took place late Thursday in Amausi village in Khagaria district, about 200 km north of Patna.
Villagers told police that the guerrillas had tied the hands and legs of the victims before shooting them dead.
Eleven people have been detained and are being interrogated.
'During raids, we have detained 11 people suspected to be involved in the incident,' Bhagalpur Inspector General of Police (IGP) A.R. Kinni told.
Bihar police chief Anand Shankar added that the priority was to arrest those involved in the incident.
'Over 50 armed Maoist rebels attacked Amausi village and shot dead 16 villagers, including five children,' Deputy Superintendent of Police Ajay Pandey said, adding that the killing appeared to be over a land dispute but that the police were still investigating.
'All senior district officials are camping in the village and security forces have been deployed. The Special Task Force along with district police have launched combing operations against Maoists in Khagaria,' Pandey added.
Nitish Kumar condemned the incident and asked top officials of the state administration to investigate.
'It is a shocking incident and should be condemned by one and all,' the chief minister said, while announcing compensation of Rs.150,000 to the families of each victim.
He said Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi and Director General of Police Anand Shankar would visit the village later Friday.
The incident prompted opposition Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan to demand Nitish Kumar's resignation.
Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad also targeted Nitish Kumar by saying the state government had failed to curb the spread of Maoists.
Lalu Prasad said it was not a caste massacre but a killing by Maoists.
He added that his party leaders had rushed to the village and so should Nitish Kumar.link
Wednesday 30 September 2009
Not any women special police station in Bihar
Women in Bihar still fear lodging a case with a male-dominated police station. To date there is no exclusive police station for women in Bihar where they can lodge their complaints.
Out of the 881 police stations in Bihar, there is not a single separate police station for women. CM Nitish Kumar had initiated a number of measures to ensure women's empowerment, the first being reservation of 50 per cent posts for them in the Panchayati Raj institutions and local bodies.
In a RTI query, state police headquarters admitted there is not a single women police station in Bihar. Out of the 881 police stations, there are only 10 separate police stations for scheduled castes in the state.
The proposal for setting up separate women police stations one each at Patna, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga and Gaya are still under consideration. The home department, in its annual report tabled in the state legislature in the last monsoon session, said that the government is committed to set up separate police stations for women so that they could lodge their complaints without any fear.
The government was also committed to set up psychological support center and helpline exclusively for women and children.
Incidentally, the government report suggests that incidents of atrocities on women in Bihar witnessed a rise in 2008 especially in the cases related to abduction, dowry-related deaths, molestation, eve-teasing and rape.
According to the figures compiled by the state police headquarters, as many as 6,186 cases of atrocities (1,041 incidents related to rape, 1,494 kidnapping, 1,233 murder for dowry, 2,230 dowry harassment and 188 cases of eve-teasing and molestation) were registered against women across Bihar in 2008.
A comparative study of the figures available clearly indicates there was increase in such incidents in 2008 compared to the corresponding period the previous year. While 1,012 cases were registered in connection with kidnapping of women in 2007, the number went up to 1,494 in 2008.
The number of dowry death rose from 1,226 in 2007 to 1,233 in 2008. Similarly, cases of atrocities perpetrated on women for dowry rose to 2,230 in 2008 from 1,493 in 2007.
Cases relating to eve-teasing and molestation shot up to 188 during 2008, 20 more than the previous year. The recent disrobing of a woman in Patna in full public view on the busy Exhibition Road had put the NDA government on the back foot. CM Nitish Kumar had described the stripping of the woman in public view as a slur on a civilized society.link
Out of the 881 police stations in Bihar, there is not a single separate police station for women. CM Nitish Kumar had initiated a number of measures to ensure women's empowerment, the first being reservation of 50 per cent posts for them in the Panchayati Raj institutions and local bodies.
In a RTI query, state police headquarters admitted there is not a single women police station in Bihar. Out of the 881 police stations, there are only 10 separate police stations for scheduled castes in the state.
The proposal for setting up separate women police stations one each at Patna, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga and Gaya are still under consideration. The home department, in its annual report tabled in the state legislature in the last monsoon session, said that the government is committed to set up separate police stations for women so that they could lodge their complaints without any fear.
The government was also committed to set up psychological support center and helpline exclusively for women and children.
Incidentally, the government report suggests that incidents of atrocities on women in Bihar witnessed a rise in 2008 especially in the cases related to abduction, dowry-related deaths, molestation, eve-teasing and rape.
According to the figures compiled by the state police headquarters, as many as 6,186 cases of atrocities (1,041 incidents related to rape, 1,494 kidnapping, 1,233 murder for dowry, 2,230 dowry harassment and 188 cases of eve-teasing and molestation) were registered against women across Bihar in 2008.
A comparative study of the figures available clearly indicates there was increase in such incidents in 2008 compared to the corresponding period the previous year. While 1,012 cases were registered in connection with kidnapping of women in 2007, the number went up to 1,494 in 2008.
The number of dowry death rose from 1,226 in 2007 to 1,233 in 2008. Similarly, cases of atrocities perpetrated on women for dowry rose to 2,230 in 2008 from 1,493 in 2007.
Cases relating to eve-teasing and molestation shot up to 188 during 2008, 20 more than the previous year. The recent disrobing of a woman in Patna in full public view on the busy Exhibition Road had put the NDA government on the back foot. CM Nitish Kumar had described the stripping of the woman in public view as a slur on a civilized society.link
Monday 28 September 2009
National Institute of Design to overhaul Patna museum
Government of Bihar has approached National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad to overhaul Patna museum. Department of culture and youth, Bihar has approached NID to take up the project. Two faculty members Anil Sinha, senior faculty in graphic design and co-ordinator of NID's design consulting services and Mihir Bholey, faculty of interdisciplinary design studies, recently visited Patna to conduct a two-day workshop with historians, archaeologists, academicians, architects, museologists and senior bureaucrats.
Bihar government approached the institute for this project soon after NID designed a logo for Bihar Tourism. "I had visited the museum and done a detailed study of the building, its spaces and the display currently given to things. The workshop covered all aspects of current condition of the museum, right from the entrance and window ticket to the use of natural and artificial lights and porches," said Sinha.
"The presentation was divided into two distinct parts. I covered design part of the museum and Bholey covered the communication aspect. In the workshop, there was a lot of criticism about the condition of things in the museum and authorities took it well," added Sinha. Their recommendations included arranging artefacts in a story form.link
Bihar government approached the institute for this project soon after NID designed a logo for Bihar Tourism. "I had visited the museum and done a detailed study of the building, its spaces and the display currently given to things. The workshop covered all aspects of current condition of the museum, right from the entrance and window ticket to the use of natural and artificial lights and porches," said Sinha.
"The presentation was divided into two distinct parts. I covered design part of the museum and Bholey covered the communication aspect. In the workshop, there was a lot of criticism about the condition of things in the museum and authorities took it well," added Sinha. Their recommendations included arranging artefacts in a story form.link
Bhojpuri superstar Manoj Tiwari's nephew held for murder
Superstar of Bhojpuri cinema Manoj Tiwari's nephew Rakesh Tiwari was arrested for allegedly killing a woman in Bihar's Kaimur district, police said Monday.
Rakesh, accused of killing young married woman Punam Devi, was arrested late Sunday night, a police officer said.
Rakesh allegedly killed Punam after she refused his overtures. "Some villagers told police that Punam was against the relationship. This angered Rakesh and he killed her," the officer added.
Punam was found dead on Sep 24 in her parents' house in Kaimur district. Rakesh had denied his involvement in the murder case. link
Rakesh, accused of killing young married woman Punam Devi, was arrested late Sunday night, a police officer said.
Rakesh allegedly killed Punam after she refused his overtures. "Some villagers told police that Punam was against the relationship. This angered Rakesh and he killed her," the officer added.
Punam was found dead on Sep 24 in her parents' house in Kaimur district. Rakesh had denied his involvement in the murder case. link
Friday 25 September 2009
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar orders probe into police high-handedness
Following allegations of high-handed attitude of police at a village in Buxar district, a probe was today ordered by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
A complaint was made to the Inspector General of Police ( Patna Zone) seeking legal action against policemen who allegedly assaulted residents of Mukundpur village yesterday when they went to arrest a man named in an FIR for atrocities on a woman, official sources said.
Angry villagers had attacked the policemen, injuring two, leading to retaliation by the authorities, the sources said.link
A complaint was made to the Inspector General of Police ( Patna Zone) seeking legal action against policemen who allegedly assaulted residents of Mukundpur village yesterday when they went to arrest a man named in an FIR for atrocities on a woman, official sources said.
Angry villagers had attacked the policemen, injuring two, leading to retaliation by the authorities, the sources said.link
Thursday 24 September 2009
Security alert for Durga Puja in Bihar
High security alert has been sounded in Bihar ahead of Durga puja to ensure peace and harmony in communally sensitive areas of the state.
Patrolling has been intensified in communally sensitive areas. Two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) have taken position in Patna and Bhagalpur, Additional Director General of Police (headquarters) Neelmani told reporters.
In more communally-sensitive areas, the RAF would stage flag march once in a day to instill confidence among the people, while extra security arrangements have been made to protect all vital installations, including properties of the Railways and Centre.
Besides, patrolling has also been intensified in communally-sensitive pockets in Patna, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Madhubani and West Champaran districts.
Static deployment of Bihar Military Police and district armed police personnel has been made in vulnerable areas to prevent any untoward incident, he said.link
Patrolling has been intensified in communally sensitive areas. Two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) have taken position in Patna and Bhagalpur, Additional Director General of Police (headquarters) Neelmani told reporters.
In more communally-sensitive areas, the RAF would stage flag march once in a day to instill confidence among the people, while extra security arrangements have been made to protect all vital installations, including properties of the Railways and Centre.
Besides, patrolling has also been intensified in communally-sensitive pockets in Patna, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Madhubani and West Champaran districts.
Static deployment of Bihar Military Police and district armed police personnel has been made in vulnerable areas to prevent any untoward incident, he said.link
Tuesday 22 September 2009
Nitish orders probe into rumours about mehendi and milk
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said vested interests were behind spread of rumours of skin rashes after applying 'mehendi' and contamination of milk supplied by a state-run diary firm and asked the police to go into the matter.
"The rumours have been fanned by vested interests to spike the festive spirit on the occasion of Eid....The milk pouches have been found contamination-free," Kumar said adding that it seemed to be part of a bigger conspiracy.
The Chief Minister has asked the ADG (headquarters) Neelmani to thoroughly investigate it and bring the guilty to book.
With rumours about supply of contaminated milk, angry residents had yesterday destroyed hundreds of pouches of milk manufactured by a state-run dairy firm.link
"The rumours have been fanned by vested interests to spike the festive spirit on the occasion of Eid....The milk pouches have been found contamination-free," Kumar said adding that it seemed to be part of a bigger conspiracy.
The Chief Minister has asked the ADG (headquarters) Neelmani to thoroughly investigate it and bring the guilty to book.
With rumours about supply of contaminated milk, angry residents had yesterday destroyed hundreds of pouches of milk manufactured by a state-run dairy firm.link
Saturday 19 September 2009
Unpaid teachers will not celebrate Eid or Dussehra
Over 10,000 teachers of colleges and universities in Bihar will not celebrate Eid or Dussehra festival this year as they have not been paid even a paisa for the last four months. Even as the government has sanctioned necessary funds for payment of salaries to the college and university staff, the payment is unlikely to be made before the festivities since most universities have already been closed for Puja vacation.
Taking strong exception to the inordinate delay in payment of monthly salaries to the teachers, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Federation of University (Service) Teachers' Associations of Bihar (Fustab) and Federation of University Teachers' Associations of Bihar (Futab), at its meeting held here on Friday under the joint presidentship of Ram Jatan Sinha and K B Sinha, demanded immediate release of funds to the universities. The government is trying its best to humiliate the teachers by issuing all sorts of "dictates" and compelling them to starve by withholding payment of their salaries, the JAC said.
Instead of following the dictates of the HRD with regard to their daily attendance, the college and university teachers would act as per the provisions of the university Acts and statutes. Teachers have already been discharging their duties efficiently and the university authorities are competent enough to catch hold of the "shirkers", observed the JAC.
JAC conveners Dilip Chaudhary and Sanjay Kumar Singh warned the state government that the teachers would court arrest before the state legislature if their demands were not conceded by it soon. link
Taking strong exception to the inordinate delay in payment of monthly salaries to the teachers, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Federation of University (Service) Teachers' Associations of Bihar (Fustab) and Federation of University Teachers' Associations of Bihar (Futab), at its meeting held here on Friday under the joint presidentship of Ram Jatan Sinha and K B Sinha, demanded immediate release of funds to the universities. The government is trying its best to humiliate the teachers by issuing all sorts of "dictates" and compelling them to starve by withholding payment of their salaries, the JAC said.
Instead of following the dictates of the HRD with regard to their daily attendance, the college and university teachers would act as per the provisions of the university Acts and statutes. Teachers have already been discharging their duties efficiently and the university authorities are competent enough to catch hold of the "shirkers", observed the JAC.
JAC conveners Dilip Chaudhary and Sanjay Kumar Singh warned the state government that the teachers would court arrest before the state legislature if their demands were not conceded by it soon. link
Bihar to give 100 acres of land for AMU centre
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said that 100 acres of land would be alloted to Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) for establishment of an education centre in Bihar's Kishanganj district.
"We have decided to give 100 acres of land, free of cost, to AMU for opening its centre in Kishanganj district," Kumar said in a letter faxed to the university's vice-chancellor P K Abdul Azis.
"The AMU centre will be very helpful in imparting quality education to the student of minority community and will improve the educational atmosphere of the state," he said adding that the district is Muslim dominated with poor literacy figures.link
"We have decided to give 100 acres of land, free of cost, to AMU for opening its centre in Kishanganj district," Kumar said in a letter faxed to the university's vice-chancellor P K Abdul Azis.
"The AMU centre will be very helpful in imparting quality education to the student of minority community and will improve the educational atmosphere of the state," he said adding that the district is Muslim dominated with poor literacy figures.link
Teacher breaks student's hand
A 10-year-old girl broke her hand after being allegedly assaulted by her school teacher in Madanpur area of Aurangabad district, police said today.
Akhtari Praveen's mother has lodged an FIR against a teacher of Kasturba Gandhi Residential Girls School on September 14, Superintendent of Police Nishant Tiwari said.
"The teacher, incensed over Akhtari's failure to answer a couple of questions, beat her up and broke her hand," Tiwari said while quoting the police complaint.
"I have ordered supervision of the case by the deputy superintendent of police. Action will be taken based on the injury report and preliminary investigations," the SP added.link
Akhtari Praveen's mother has lodged an FIR against a teacher of Kasturba Gandhi Residential Girls School on September 14, Superintendent of Police Nishant Tiwari said.
"The teacher, incensed over Akhtari's failure to answer a couple of questions, beat her up and broke her hand," Tiwari said while quoting the police complaint.
"I have ordered supervision of the case by the deputy superintendent of police. Action will be taken based on the injury report and preliminary investigations," the SP added.link
Thursday 17 September 2009
BCECEB declares Bihar Polytechnic Entrance Exam 2009 result
The Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board (BCECEB) has declared the results for Bihar Polytechnic Entrance Exam 2009 (Second stage).
The Bihar Polytechnic Entrance Exam 2009 (Second stage) result is available at following link: results
The BCECEB has been constituted by the Government of Bihar to conduct Combined Competitive Entrance Examinations (BCECE) for admission in Graduate level Vocational Courses in Engineering, Medical and Agricultural streams available in the Universities, Colleges and Institutions of the State of Bihar as well as those situated outside Bihar against State Quota seats.
The Bihar Polytechnic Entrance Exam 2009 (Second stage) result is available at following link: results
The BCECEB has been constituted by the Government of Bihar to conduct Combined Competitive Entrance Examinations (BCECE) for admission in Graduate level Vocational Courses in Engineering, Medical and Agricultural streams available in the Universities, Colleges and Institutions of the State of Bihar as well as those situated outside Bihar against State Quota seats.
Wednesday 16 September 2009
Over 500,000 pray to ancestors in Gaya
Over 500,000 Hindu devotees have come to Bihar’s Gaya town to perform the ‘pinda daan’ ritual for ancestors, officials said Thursday.
“Till date more than five lakh devotees have performed the pinda daan. It was more than what we expected in view of the drought in several states across India,” an official of the Gaya district administration told.
The district authorities said they had estimated that 400,000 devotees would come to Gaya to perform pinda daan during pitrupaksh, a fortnight-long ancestor worship period. But the numbers of devotees have crossed 50,000 already.
“Two days are still to go to offer pinda daan during the pitrupaksh period,” an official said.
Special facilities as well as tight security arrangements have been made for the devotees.
Magadh Commissioner Sanjeev Sinha said: “This time gathering of devotees was more than last year, it was a positive sign”.
Pinda daan was also offered for the king of pop Michael Jackson in Gaya by Suresh Narayan, even though he never met the singer.
“On Sunday I offered pinda daan for the salvation of Michael Jackson as a tribute to him,” said Narayan.
Hindus believe offering pinda daan ensures salvation for the souls of their ancestors.
“The soul keeps wandering till this ritual is performed by male descendants of the dead,” Murari Lal, a priest said.
Pinda daan is traditionally offered by Hindus, but historical records available with priests show that some Muslims also performed the ritual in the past.link
“Till date more than five lakh devotees have performed the pinda daan. It was more than what we expected in view of the drought in several states across India,” an official of the Gaya district administration told.
The district authorities said they had estimated that 400,000 devotees would come to Gaya to perform pinda daan during pitrupaksh, a fortnight-long ancestor worship period. But the numbers of devotees have crossed 50,000 already.
“Two days are still to go to offer pinda daan during the pitrupaksh period,” an official said.
Special facilities as well as tight security arrangements have been made for the devotees.
Magadh Commissioner Sanjeev Sinha said: “This time gathering of devotees was more than last year, it was a positive sign”.
Pinda daan was also offered for the king of pop Michael Jackson in Gaya by Suresh Narayan, even though he never met the singer.
“On Sunday I offered pinda daan for the salvation of Michael Jackson as a tribute to him,” said Narayan.
Hindus believe offering pinda daan ensures salvation for the souls of their ancestors.
“The soul keeps wandering till this ritual is performed by male descendants of the dead,” Murari Lal, a priest said.
Pinda daan is traditionally offered by Hindus, but historical records available with priests show that some Muslims also performed the ritual in the past.link
Higher interest rates on PF savings of teachers and staff of minority schools
Depositing provident fund of teachers and non-teaching staff of government-aided secondary schools in PPF accounts, instead of savings accounts, has been made mandatory.
This decision of the Bihar government on Wednesday will ensure higher interest rates on PF savings of teachers and staff of minority schools. The state cabinet also approved over Rs 27 crore as grant for the government-aided minority schools.
The tenure of the Bhagalpur riots commission has been extended till February 25, 2010. It was constituted on February 26, 2006 to probe the cases related to the infamous 1989 riots which had not been pursued by the previous regime. The state cabinet also extended the tenure of the judicial commission probing the police firing at Kahalgaon in January 2008.
Administrative approval has been given for construction of bridges over the Bagmati river at Belsand in Sitamarhi district and another bridge over the same river in Sheohar district. The estimated cost of the two bridges is about Rs 100 crore.
The cabinet also approved funds for preparing a feasibility report and detailed project report for four-laning Gaya-Rajgir-Nalanda NH 82 and Patna-Jehanabad-Gaya-Bodh Gaya NH 83. It also sanctioned over Rs 7.24 crore for DPR for the Bihar State Highway Project I and II.
In another important decision, the cabinet increased the annual income cap for entitlement to free legal aid from the Legal Aid Authority from Rs 25,000 per year to Rs 50,000 per year. It also sanctioned Rs 10 crore as establishment cost for IGIMS-Sheikhpura and allotted funds for the state farmers commission. link
This decision of the Bihar government on Wednesday will ensure higher interest rates on PF savings of teachers and staff of minority schools. The state cabinet also approved over Rs 27 crore as grant for the government-aided minority schools.
The tenure of the Bhagalpur riots commission has been extended till February 25, 2010. It was constituted on February 26, 2006 to probe the cases related to the infamous 1989 riots which had not been pursued by the previous regime. The state cabinet also extended the tenure of the judicial commission probing the police firing at Kahalgaon in January 2008.
Administrative approval has been given for construction of bridges over the Bagmati river at Belsand in Sitamarhi district and another bridge over the same river in Sheohar district. The estimated cost of the two bridges is about Rs 100 crore.
The cabinet also approved funds for preparing a feasibility report and detailed project report for four-laning Gaya-Rajgir-Nalanda NH 82 and Patna-Jehanabad-Gaya-Bodh Gaya NH 83. It also sanctioned over Rs 7.24 crore for DPR for the Bihar State Highway Project I and II.
In another important decision, the cabinet increased the annual income cap for entitlement to free legal aid from the Legal Aid Authority from Rs 25,000 per year to Rs 50,000 per year. It also sanctioned Rs 10 crore as establishment cost for IGIMS-Sheikhpura and allotted funds for the state farmers commission. link
Monday 14 September 2009
Mithila masters
Painters Satyanarayan Lal Karn and Moti Karn — a husband-wife duo— are some of the few Mithila artists who stringently follow the 5000-year-old tradition of the dying art form. Gathering international acclaim for their work, they are National awardees with a passion for their art. Their work will be on display at the Jamaat Art Gallery from September 15 to October 7.
“We use natural elements to make our art. But we never buy flowers or pluck them; instead we pick them when they fall naturally. We grind these flowers, making natural paint that lasts a life time,” says Satyanarayan, who now teaches at Bal Bhavan in Delhi.
Moti adds, “We are against commercialising our art. That’s why we don’t use brushes or synthetic paint. We use thin broom sticks. Some Mithila painters are using sketch-pens and ink-pens to make quick money. We do not mind if filling in details takes us a month,” she says.
Mithila art, originated in Bihar and the themes painted are religious, social and nature. The work is intricate and usually passed down from mother to daughter.
Moti got trained in the art when she was 8 and realised she didn’t want to study. Her mother Karpudi Devi, an artist of repute, dissuaded her at first. “My mother is well known and had displayed her art in Japan. Eventually she allowed me to paint,” says Moti who has not stopped her son from painting though he prefers graphic designing.
Satyanarayan struggled to learn too. “Mithila art is woman dominated, so I secretly watched my mother, Jagdambad who has won a Padmashree. She realised I was keen to learn and disciplined me. At 10, I charged Rs 5,000 for my first painting. I overcharged because I didn’t want to sell, but when they still bought it I was pleased,” he recalls.
It’s been a long journey for the two. “It’s difficult because in India there’s a trend of Modern and Contemporary art, but traditional art is not given enough importance. It hurts when only Westerners promote and write about our art,” says Satyanarayan.
Struggle has its rewards too. Besides this solo exhibition and patronage from the Gandhi family, their dream to open an institute for Mithila painting in their village in Bihar is coming true. “Only when they live away from the city, will the next generation of painters realise what Mithila art is about,” they add.link
Five killed, seven injured in cylinder blast
Five members of a family, including two women, were today killed and seven others injured when a cooking gas cylinder exploded in a house in Bihar's Khagaria district.
The LPG cylinder exploded at the time of cooking in the house of Pappu Bhagat, head of Bandehra village, killing three persons on the spot, sources said.
Other two died of injuries on way to hospital here, the police said.
The dead persons included two women identified as Shyampyari Devi and Puja Devi.
The injured were admitted to a government hospital here where condition of two was stated to be critical, they said.link
The LPG cylinder exploded at the time of cooking in the house of Pappu Bhagat, head of Bandehra village, killing three persons on the spot, sources said.
Other two died of injuries on way to hospital here, the police said.
The dead persons included two women identified as Shyampyari Devi and Puja Devi.
The injured were admitted to a government hospital here where condition of two was stated to be critical, they said.link
Wednesday 9 September 2009
Lalu calls Nitish bad omen
Desperate to revive his fortunes with the Assembly by-elections, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad has called the Nitish Kumar government jinxed for Bihar. In his election meetings, Lalu has been saying that the state has witnessed natural calamities like floods and drought for two consecutive years because the Nitish government was inauspicious. "Did Bihar witness any such drought or flood during the 15 years of RJD rule?" he asks the crowds at villages where he goes for campaigning.
Stoking up superstitious beliefs of rural people, Lalu even blames the chief minister for the scanty rainfall this monsoon season. Poor rains resulted in drought which, in turn, has caused prices of essential commodities to soar.
And, according to Lalu, this is all because Nitish committed the sin of eating biscuits during the total solar eclipse at Taregna near Patna on July 22. "He kept on munching biscuits during the solar eclipse. This made Lord Indra (the rain God) angry, leaving the state to face one of the worst droughts," Lalu told the crowd at Waris Nagar in Samastipur earlier this week. In his attempt to regain foothold among the electorate, Lalu links Nitish's "inauspicious" act with spiraling prices. "Dal (pulses) has disappeared from the plates of the poor. Aloo (potato) is being sold at Rs 16 a kg. Was aloo ever so costly during the days of Lalu?" he asked the people at one place.
But Lalu's reasoning seems to have fallen flat. Laughing off his jibes, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leaders say Bihar has been experiencing enough rains ever since the RJD chief started blaming Nitish for the drought.
"He has lost his support on the ground. It seems nobody likes him even up there," said a senior JD-U leader, pointing skywards.
Nitish has taken Lalu head-on in the rough and tumble of electioneering. He counters Lalu's attempts to stoke up superstitious fears with logic.
"My elder brother (Lalu) has been claiming that Bihar is facing drought because I ate biscuits during the solar eclipse. But then, why are other states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh facing drought? The CMs of those states didn't have any biscuits during the eclipse?" he asks voters.
Nitish says Lalu has been "uttering irresponsible things" because he has lost the trust of people. The CM claims he is seeking votes in the name of development alone.
Bypolls are being held for 18 constituencies in Bihar in two phases on September 10 and September 15. The counting of votes will take place on September 17.
The bypolls were necessitated because of the resignation of MLAs, who either changed party or were elected to the Lok Sabha.
The bypolls are a litmus test for Lalu, who has tied up with Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party again after the Lok Sabha polls. He, however, failed to stitch up a pre-poll alliance with the Congress despite his best efforts.
The Congress has fielded candidates on all the 18 seats, making Lalu's task more daunting. A multi-cornered contest may help the JD-U. Perhaps that's why Lalu is desperate to discredit the CM.link
Stoking up superstitious beliefs of rural people, Lalu even blames the chief minister for the scanty rainfall this monsoon season. Poor rains resulted in drought which, in turn, has caused prices of essential commodities to soar.
And, according to Lalu, this is all because Nitish committed the sin of eating biscuits during the total solar eclipse at Taregna near Patna on July 22. "He kept on munching biscuits during the solar eclipse. This made Lord Indra (the rain God) angry, leaving the state to face one of the worst droughts," Lalu told the crowd at Waris Nagar in Samastipur earlier this week. In his attempt to regain foothold among the electorate, Lalu links Nitish's "inauspicious" act with spiraling prices. "Dal (pulses) has disappeared from the plates of the poor. Aloo (potato) is being sold at Rs 16 a kg. Was aloo ever so costly during the days of Lalu?" he asked the people at one place.
But Lalu's reasoning seems to have fallen flat. Laughing off his jibes, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leaders say Bihar has been experiencing enough rains ever since the RJD chief started blaming Nitish for the drought.
"He has lost his support on the ground. It seems nobody likes him even up there," said a senior JD-U leader, pointing skywards.
Nitish has taken Lalu head-on in the rough and tumble of electioneering. He counters Lalu's attempts to stoke up superstitious fears with logic.
"My elder brother (Lalu) has been claiming that Bihar is facing drought because I ate biscuits during the solar eclipse. But then, why are other states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh facing drought? The CMs of those states didn't have any biscuits during the eclipse?" he asks voters.
Nitish says Lalu has been "uttering irresponsible things" because he has lost the trust of people. The CM claims he is seeking votes in the name of development alone.
Bypolls are being held for 18 constituencies in Bihar in two phases on September 10 and September 15. The counting of votes will take place on September 17.
The bypolls were necessitated because of the resignation of MLAs, who either changed party or were elected to the Lok Sabha.
The bypolls are a litmus test for Lalu, who has tied up with Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party again after the Lok Sabha polls. He, however, failed to stitch up a pre-poll alliance with the Congress despite his best efforts.
The Congress has fielded candidates on all the 18 seats, making Lalu's task more daunting. A multi-cornered contest may help the JD-U. Perhaps that's why Lalu is desperate to discredit the CM.link
Tuesday 8 September 2009
Baby born with intestine outside stomach in Bihar
A baby girl was born at a nursing home here with her intestine protruding from the stomach, making it the second case of congenital anomaly in the state in less than two weeks when a child was born with his heart outside the chest.
The baby girl is now at the Patna Medical College Hospital and the hospital plans to either perform a corrective surgery in the PMCH or take her to AIIMS in New Delhi, where the boy with ectopia cordis (heart outside the chest) was successfully operated upon.
"The central abdominal defect has caused protrusion of small intestine outside her abdomen which is covered by membranes. Since the membrane is tough, there is no need for an urgent surgery," paediatric surgeon T P Gupta, attending on the baby, told.link
The baby girl is now at the Patna Medical College Hospital and the hospital plans to either perform a corrective surgery in the PMCH or take her to AIIMS in New Delhi, where the boy with ectopia cordis (heart outside the chest) was successfully operated upon.
"The central abdominal defect has caused protrusion of small intestine outside her abdomen which is covered by membranes. Since the membrane is tough, there is no need for an urgent surgery," paediatric surgeon T P Gupta, attending on the baby, told.link
CPI-ML activists burn job cards, BPL cards
Hundreds of CPI-ML (Liberation) activists burned job, red, yellow and white cards at the collectorate of Bihar's Bhojpur district here alleging short- supply of foodgrains and the difficulties the poor people face in drawing ration at subsidised rate, official sources said.
The CPI-ML workers led by its leader Kamata Prasad Singh assembled before the District Magistrate's office here yesterday and held demonstration for two hours.
They also burnt the cards in protest against alleged short-supply or lack of food grains.
Later, a delegation of party activists called on the District Magistrate Sabina A N and submitted a memorandum to him seeking action against the PDS dealers and hoarders.
When contacted, Sabina too admitted shortage of food grains in the district saying against the demand of 18,000 quintals for the BPL and APL families in the district, hardly 3,000 quintals to 4,000 quintals of food grains were being made available to the district per month.
He hoped that the problem would soon be resolved.link
The CPI-ML workers led by its leader Kamata Prasad Singh assembled before the District Magistrate's office here yesterday and held demonstration for two hours.
They also burnt the cards in protest against alleged short-supply or lack of food grains.
Later, a delegation of party activists called on the District Magistrate Sabina A N and submitted a memorandum to him seeking action against the PDS dealers and hoarders.
When contacted, Sabina too admitted shortage of food grains in the district saying against the demand of 18,000 quintals for the BPL and APL families in the district, hardly 3,000 quintals to 4,000 quintals of food grains were being made available to the district per month.
He hoped that the problem would soon be resolved.link
Monday 7 September 2009
Shatrughan Sinha against online pinda daan
After two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ministers, now actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha of the party has also come out against the Bihar government’s proposal for an online facility for Hindus to offer ‘pinda daan’ ritual, terming it a “short cut method” minus any “feeling”.
“It is neither proper nor practical to go for an online facility to offer pinda daan. I am against online pinda daan,” Sinha said of the ritual performed by Hindus for the dead.
Sinha performed the ritual Sunday for his parents and ancestors at the Vishnupad Temple in Gaya.
“The proposed online pinda daan is a shortcut method to perform the rituals without any real touch and feeling. But physical presence to perform the rite gives peace of mind. I favour that people should visit Gaya and in person perform the pinda daan,” Sinha said.
The actor said the ritual for his parents was overdue for a long time because he had been busy despite regularly visiting Patna, his native town, but he was able to perform the pinda daan personally at last. “It was an amazing experience, I fulfilled my duty,” he said.
Sinha’s view has been welcomed by Hindu priests who are against the proposed online facility.
In June, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi had announced the government’s decision to introduce a video-conferencing facility for Indians abroad to perform pinda daan.
However, priests in the holy town of Gaya who have been conducting the ritual described the government’s decision as “interference” and an “attack on an age-old religious service”.
The priests won support from a section of the BJP, with ministers Ashwani Kumar Choubey and Prem Kumar asking the government to reverse its decision.
Last month, the Bihar government decided to postpone its plan for an online facility.
Thousands of Hindus from across India and abroad gather in Gaya to offer pinda daan during the fortnight-long Pitrapaksh period that began last week. Legend has it that Lord Rama and his wife Sita performed this religious rite for his father, King Dasharath in Gaya.
“It is neither proper nor practical to go for an online facility to offer pinda daan. I am against online pinda daan,” Sinha said of the ritual performed by Hindus for the dead.
Sinha performed the ritual Sunday for his parents and ancestors at the Vishnupad Temple in Gaya.
“The proposed online pinda daan is a shortcut method to perform the rituals without any real touch and feeling. But physical presence to perform the rite gives peace of mind. I favour that people should visit Gaya and in person perform the pinda daan,” Sinha said.
The actor said the ritual for his parents was overdue for a long time because he had been busy despite regularly visiting Patna, his native town, but he was able to perform the pinda daan personally at last. “It was an amazing experience, I fulfilled my duty,” he said.
Sinha’s view has been welcomed by Hindu priests who are against the proposed online facility.
In June, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi had announced the government’s decision to introduce a video-conferencing facility for Indians abroad to perform pinda daan.
However, priests in the holy town of Gaya who have been conducting the ritual described the government’s decision as “interference” and an “attack on an age-old religious service”.
The priests won support from a section of the BJP, with ministers Ashwani Kumar Choubey and Prem Kumar asking the government to reverse its decision.
Last month, the Bihar government decided to postpone its plan for an online facility.
Thousands of Hindus from across India and abroad gather in Gaya to offer pinda daan during the fortnight-long Pitrapaksh period that began last week. Legend has it that Lord Rama and his wife Sita performed this religious rite for his father, King Dasharath in Gaya.
Sunday 6 September 2009
Bihar's Uppal gears up for international karate contest
Bihar's Patna Central School student Amrit Lekh Uppal, who has already earned a name and place for himself in karate at the national and world level championship fights, is now headed to participate in the Commonwealth Karate Championship to be held at Johannesberg, South Africa, in October this year.
He, however, would also require monetary support. Bihar Karate Black Belt treasurer Nisha Pal and vice-president Kajal Madhu have appealed to both CM Nitish Kumar and sports minister Renu Devi to provide support to meet the cost of journey to Johannesberg and back.
Whether the state government would respond to their call as morale boosting exercise is a moot point, it is wished for since the government has been promoting sports activities and also rewarding sportspersons of repute who have excelled even nationally.
At present, all attention of junior Uppal is focused on the Commonwealth Championship at Johannesberg, which would be held from October 15 and 17. The state's karate coach Guatam Kumar has been giving him training to further hone his skill in preparation for the new karate international contest in his career.
Earlier, in July this year, he performed well in Greece, and also won gold and silver medals at the national championship held in Kolkata. All India Karate Do Federation president R Tyagarajan has selected junior Uppal for the Commonwealth Championship. For this, the national karate coach Premjit Sen congratulated him on telephone from Kolkata. Congratulation also flowed from All India Seishinkai Shito-Ryu Karate Do Federation general secretary Malika Sen. Well wishers, however, have been hoping that he is on right track to also excel at Johannesberg.link
He, however, would also require monetary support. Bihar Karate Black Belt treasurer Nisha Pal and vice-president Kajal Madhu have appealed to both CM Nitish Kumar and sports minister Renu Devi to provide support to meet the cost of journey to Johannesberg and back.
Whether the state government would respond to their call as morale boosting exercise is a moot point, it is wished for since the government has been promoting sports activities and also rewarding sportspersons of repute who have excelled even nationally.
At present, all attention of junior Uppal is focused on the Commonwealth Championship at Johannesberg, which would be held from October 15 and 17. The state's karate coach Guatam Kumar has been giving him training to further hone his skill in preparation for the new karate international contest in his career.
Earlier, in July this year, he performed well in Greece, and also won gold and silver medals at the national championship held in Kolkata. All India Karate Do Federation president R Tyagarajan has selected junior Uppal for the Commonwealth Championship. For this, the national karate coach Premjit Sen congratulated him on telephone from Kolkata. Congratulation also flowed from All India Seishinkai Shito-Ryu Karate Do Federation general secretary Malika Sen. Well wishers, however, have been hoping that he is on right track to also excel at Johannesberg.link
Friday 4 September 2009
Praying for ancestors' salvation, Hindus head for Gaya
The Hindu holy town of Gaya in Bihar is set to attract up to 400,000 devotees who are coming here to perform the pinda daan, a religious service for dead ancestors, during the fortnight-long pitrupaksh beginning Friday.
"Pitrupaksh has begun amid tight security in view of threats of terrorists and other trouble makers," Gaya District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Singh told.
Magadh Commissioner Sanjeev Sinha said: "This time we expect more than four lakh people will come to Gaya to offer pind daan for the salvation of the souls of their ancestors during the pitrupaksha period."
Hindus believe offering pinda daan during the pitru paksh period ensures salvation for the wandering souls of their ancestors.
"The soul keeps wandering till this ritual is performed by male descendants of the dead," priest Murari Lal said.
Gaya, about 100 km from state capital Patna, is considered the holiest place for the purpose. Legend has it that Lord Rama and his wife Sita performed this religious rite for his father, King Dasharath, here.
The town drawing a large number of people from all parts of India and abroad every year during pitrupaksh, the 15 days of the waning moon during the Hindu month of Ashwin.
Pinda daan is traditionally offered on the banks of the Falgu river here.
According to a priest, the rituals are conducted at nearly 50 vedis, or altars, the more important ones being Vishnupad, Ramshila, Pretshila, Baiterni, Akshay Vat and Mahabodhi temple.
Gayawal pandas, claiming to be superior priests, perform the rituals.
It is mandatory for the devotees offering pinda daan to shave their heads and take a holy dip and head for the Baitarni pond. However, some rituals are conducted in the Falgu river nearby.
The prayers are performed at the famous Vishnupad temple named after Lord Vishnu.
"Pitrupaksh has begun amid tight security in view of threats of terrorists and other trouble makers," Gaya District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Singh told.
Magadh Commissioner Sanjeev Sinha said: "This time we expect more than four lakh people will come to Gaya to offer pind daan for the salvation of the souls of their ancestors during the pitrupaksha period."
Hindus believe offering pinda daan during the pitru paksh period ensures salvation for the wandering souls of their ancestors.
"The soul keeps wandering till this ritual is performed by male descendants of the dead," priest Murari Lal said.
Gaya, about 100 km from state capital Patna, is considered the holiest place for the purpose. Legend has it that Lord Rama and his wife Sita performed this religious rite for his father, King Dasharath, here.
The town drawing a large number of people from all parts of India and abroad every year during pitrupaksh, the 15 days of the waning moon during the Hindu month of Ashwin.
Pinda daan is traditionally offered on the banks of the Falgu river here.
According to a priest, the rituals are conducted at nearly 50 vedis, or altars, the more important ones being Vishnupad, Ramshila, Pretshila, Baiterni, Akshay Vat and Mahabodhi temple.
Gayawal pandas, claiming to be superior priests, perform the rituals.
It is mandatory for the devotees offering pinda daan to shave their heads and take a holy dip and head for the Baitarni pond. However, some rituals are conducted in the Falgu river nearby.
The prayers are performed at the famous Vishnupad temple named after Lord Vishnu.
Wednesday 2 September 2009
Summons to Bihar chief minister in 1991 case
A Bihar court has issued summons to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in a case relating to firing at an election booth during the 1991 Lok Sabha elections.
The Barh sub divisional judicial magistrate’s court issued the summons to Nitish Kumar Wednesday, as he was an “accused” along with three others in the case, official sources said.
Nitish Kumar was a candidate from Barh Lok Sabha seat in the 1991 parliamentary elections.
One man was killed in the firing at an election booth.
The Barh sub divisional judicial magistrate’s court issued the summons to Nitish Kumar Wednesday, as he was an “accused” along with three others in the case, official sources said.
Nitish Kumar was a candidate from Barh Lok Sabha seat in the 1991 parliamentary elections.
One man was killed in the firing at an election booth.
Three women killed in temple stampede
Three women were killed and at least 50 people injured in a stampede at a hilltop temple in Bihar's Jehanabad district on Thursday morning, police said.
The stampede occurred when hundreds of Hindu devotees were offering prayers at the hilltop Siddhnath temple in Jehanabad district.
"A rumour spread like wildfire that a railing had broken and it created panic among the devotees causing the stampede," a police officer said.
The injured were taken to a nearby hospital. Jehanabad District Magistrate Palka Sahni said that a medical team had been rushed to the site. link
The stampede occurred when hundreds of Hindu devotees were offering prayers at the hilltop Siddhnath temple in Jehanabad district.
"A rumour spread like wildfire that a railing had broken and it created panic among the devotees causing the stampede," a police officer said.
The injured were taken to a nearby hospital. Jehanabad District Magistrate Palka Sahni said that a medical team had been rushed to the site. link
Government Initiates Study on Rapid Metro Rail for Patna
Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, at a press conference at Bihar Chamber of Commerce in Patna on Wednesday, said that the state government was mulling the idea of having a rapid transit rail system on the line of Delhi Metro Rail to deal with the traffic quandary that plagues the capital city due to rise in automobile ownership.
Modi said that the state has entrusted the Infrastructure Development Authority, Bihar, to prepare a feasibility report to develop metro trains in Patna after the Central government appealed to all the cities with a population of 10 lakh or above to find out possibilities of having alternate transit system to lessen over-crowding on the streets and minimize pollution in the urban areas.
"The goal is to develop a transit system that is capable of handling the growing population of Patna by the time it reaches 20 lakh," the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said.
The state Urban Development department has asked the Infrastructure Development Authority to study the current traffic pattern, available public transportation system, its pluses and minuses, and the geographical availability in the state capital to prepare its report that would also form the basis of the administration's traffic policy, Modi said.link
Modi said that the state has entrusted the Infrastructure Development Authority, Bihar, to prepare a feasibility report to develop metro trains in Patna after the Central government appealed to all the cities with a population of 10 lakh or above to find out possibilities of having alternate transit system to lessen over-crowding on the streets and minimize pollution in the urban areas.
"The goal is to develop a transit system that is capable of handling the growing population of Patna by the time it reaches 20 lakh," the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said.
The state Urban Development department has asked the Infrastructure Development Authority to study the current traffic pattern, available public transportation system, its pluses and minuses, and the geographical availability in the state capital to prepare its report that would also form the basis of the administration's traffic policy, Modi said.link
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