India is blessed with amazing diversity, but this does not prevent promotion of good relations between people of different communities, examples of which can be found in every nook and corner of the country. One such example comes from the Loco Colony in Gaya district in the eastern state of Bihar. Here, people from different communities celebrate all festivals together with enthusiasm. And, communal amity is not restricted just to festivals. The Durga Temple located nearby exemplifies strong bonds of friendship between both Hindus and Muslims. When a culture has so many differing elements, like India, it is important for the people to respect the differences.
Monday 25 February 2013
Postal era begins for Bihar Gangsters and other criminals
Gangsters and other criminals in Bihar are shunning mobile phones and emails and turning to postal letters and couriers to run their rackets, threaten people and extort money, say police. The reason: letters help them avoid the police radar while phones are easy to track.
"They are reluctant to use mobile phones and emails to establish contact with their associates or issue threat to demand extortion, fearing that police will catch them, using its technology network," a police officer said, not wishing to be identified.
"Now they have adopted old methods to give us a slip," said the officer posted in police headquarters here. He did not want to be named.
According to police, gangsters and criminals are using ordinary post and courier services to protect their identity and keep their location secret.
"After we arrested some hard-core criminals by tracking their movement through mobile surveillance, they have become shy of using cellphones," said the officer.
Another officer said in the last few months, they came across several instances where criminals in many districts sent letters or couriers to issue threats.
"It was revealed during investigations in few cases that criminals or gangsters lodged in jails across the state are using letters to run their network," said the official, who too did not want to be identified.
The inmates, he said, send letters outside the jail through visitors or after bribing the guards.
However, Maoist guerrillas in rural Bihar have been using letters to threaten contractors and traders.
It was common in Bihar for criminals to use mobiles to issue threats or demand money from businessmen, traders, doctors, contractors and even legislators and members of parliament.
"Using mobile surveillance, police cracked many cases and arrested many criminals," said another officer.
Bihar's tech savvy police chief Abhyanand is known to employ innovative ways of policing and ordering officials to use mobile surveillance to check and control crime.
Police are probing several cases, including the murder case of Ranvir Sena chief Brahmeshwar Singh from June last year, where the main accused has been found using letters to communicate with his men.
"After we arrested half a dozen suspects through mobile surveillance, the main accused stopped using mobiles," a police official said. Police are yet to arrest the accused Abhay Pandey and Nand Gopal Pandey.
Use of letters to issue threats was spreading among inmates in Patna, Gaya and Munger jails, said police.
They opted for the alternative after police, using voice spectrograph tests, found five inmates of Munger jail demanding extortion on phone.
"They are reluctant to use mobile phones and emails to establish contact with their associates or issue threat to demand extortion, fearing that police will catch them, using its technology network," a police officer said, not wishing to be identified.
"Now they have adopted old methods to give us a slip," said the officer posted in police headquarters here. He did not want to be named.
According to police, gangsters and criminals are using ordinary post and courier services to protect their identity and keep their location secret.
"After we arrested some hard-core criminals by tracking their movement through mobile surveillance, they have become shy of using cellphones," said the officer.
Another officer said in the last few months, they came across several instances where criminals in many districts sent letters or couriers to issue threats.
"It was revealed during investigations in few cases that criminals or gangsters lodged in jails across the state are using letters to run their network," said the official, who too did not want to be identified.
The inmates, he said, send letters outside the jail through visitors or after bribing the guards.
However, Maoist guerrillas in rural Bihar have been using letters to threaten contractors and traders.
It was common in Bihar for criminals to use mobiles to issue threats or demand money from businessmen, traders, doctors, contractors and even legislators and members of parliament.
"Using mobile surveillance, police cracked many cases and arrested many criminals," said another officer.
Bihar's tech savvy police chief Abhyanand is known to employ innovative ways of policing and ordering officials to use mobile surveillance to check and control crime.
Police are probing several cases, including the murder case of Ranvir Sena chief Brahmeshwar Singh from June last year, where the main accused has been found using letters to communicate with his men.
"After we arrested half a dozen suspects through mobile surveillance, the main accused stopped using mobiles," a police official said. Police are yet to arrest the accused Abhay Pandey and Nand Gopal Pandey.
Use of letters to issue threats was spreading among inmates in Patna, Gaya and Munger jails, said police.
They opted for the alternative after police, using voice spectrograph tests, found five inmates of Munger jail demanding extortion on phone.
Sunday 24 February 2013
Pakistani team learning success of polio drive in Bihar
Impressed with success of anti-polio campaign in Bihar, a four-member team from Pakistan is here on the invitation of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to take tips about the programme particularly in minority Muslim dominated areas.
On the start of five-day polio eradication drive in the state beginning today, the Pakistani team visited Samanpura in Raza Bazar area here to see for themselves the success of the programme among Muslim community.
On the start of five-day polio eradication drive in the state beginning today, the Pakistani team visited Samanpura in Raza Bazar area here to see for themselves the success of the programme among Muslim community.
Pro-Pak cyber vandals hack, deface Bihar tourism site
Unidentified cyber vandals hacked the official website of Bihar tourism, heaped abuse on Indians and posted the slogan, ‘Pakistan zindabad’. The hacking of website www.bihartourism.gov.in was discovered on Saturday. Official sources said it was
significant the hacking came so soon after the Hyderabad twin blasts on Thursday.
“A message posted by the hackers read: Indians beware, stop abusing us or else we will retaliate…,” said a senior police officer. “The server was located within seven minutes of detection of the defacement, around 1 pm”, he claimed.
Sources claimed the hackers had also posted images of Hyderabad blasts. But this could not be confirmed.
The state administration rushed into damage control mode by removing the abusive messages from the site. An official said the data logs indicated the postings originated from a private company based in Jaipur.
“The site was immediately blocked and postings were removed,” said a shocked Bihar tourism minister Sunil Kumar Pintu.
The national informatics center (NIC) and a Mumbai-based firm, which had designed the website, had been alerted and asked to take remedial action to avoid a recurrence of the incident, Pintu told.
News of the hacking went viral on the internet, with users venting their outrage over the attack by poating messages on Facebook and Twitter.
Bihar director general of police (DGP) Abhayanand confirmed the incident. “I have asked IG (economic offence unit) Praveen Vashista to conduct an inquiry into the episode”, he told HT.
Contacted Sunday afternoon, Vashista said he would initiate action as soon as the matter was referred to him.
significant the hacking came so soon after the Hyderabad twin blasts on Thursday.
“A message posted by the hackers read: Indians beware, stop abusing us or else we will retaliate…,” said a senior police officer. “The server was located within seven minutes of detection of the defacement, around 1 pm”, he claimed.
Sources claimed the hackers had also posted images of Hyderabad blasts. But this could not be confirmed.
The state administration rushed into damage control mode by removing the abusive messages from the site. An official said the data logs indicated the postings originated from a private company based in Jaipur.
“The site was immediately blocked and postings were removed,” said a shocked Bihar tourism minister Sunil Kumar Pintu.
The national informatics center (NIC) and a Mumbai-based firm, which had designed the website, had been alerted and asked to take remedial action to avoid a recurrence of the incident, Pintu told.
News of the hacking went viral on the internet, with users venting their outrage over the attack by poating messages on Facebook and Twitter.
Bihar director general of police (DGP) Abhayanand confirmed the incident. “I have asked IG (economic offence unit) Praveen Vashista to conduct an inquiry into the episode”, he told HT.
Contacted Sunday afternoon, Vashista said he would initiate action as soon as the matter was referred to him.
Bihar village’s irony: Rising wages help fight hunger
Khedu Ram and hunger had long been friends. When he was young and needed more food to keep working, hunger wouldn't leave his side. Some 30 years ago Khedu and his wife had six to feed.
The choice was often between eating and feeding the children. No amount of work earned enough. Soon his wife died. But their four children lived. They lived to see a better time. "No one, not one soul, in this village is hungry any more," says Khedu, his deep-set eyes showing no emotion, at Chhapwa in East Champaran, Bihar.
Khedu is over 60 years old. He does not remember when he was born. Nor does his son Bhikhari. The boy and this writer used to be village pals. That was in the early 1980s. Khedu was a young man then, a much fuller frame moulded by hard physical toil. He looked 30.
"My wife hardly ever had a full meal in her short life," says Khedu, a member of the "Chamar" caste, who has spent his years well under the poverty line, however imaginatively you draw it. "I wish she were alive today. Between Bhikhari and I, we feed a family of 11 now."
Stove's Burning
Bhikhari Ram, whom the free village school along with free lunch could not educate, fathered nine children. Eight alive. His wife does some seasonal farm work. But she has little time to spare from childcare and cooking two and a half kilo of rice for lunch and two and a half kilo of atta for dinner. Where does all this grain come from?
Who is keeping Khedu's stove burning? "We have two red ration cards," says Khedu. "Between father and son, we get about 60 kg of rice and wheat a month." The rest they buy from the open market, he says. Has Khedu discovered prosperity at the sooty bottom of a rice pot? "For us, to be poor is to be hungry," he says, starkly. "Look at this sweater, this new towel."
Turn to Jung Bahadur Thakur, another life member of the below poverty line club. He is from the opposite extreme of the caste divide but is united with his Dalit villagefolk in a tight bond of chronic want. "I am almost 70 and I have seen real hunger in the past," says Thakur. "What you see today is heaven. Do you not notice all the new brick houses?"
There's Work
Thakur and Bhikhari point to MGNREGS, the rural job guarantee programme. Thakur's son has a job card but takes no part in the scheme. Bhikhari has not bothered to register. Both, however, say the scheme has helped change the labour market and, in turn, their lives. "The MGNREG scheme pays just over Rs 100 a day, after 'cuts'. But due to it, daily wages here are Rs 200," says Thakur.
"One can make Rs 5,000 a month right here in the village. That's a lot of food." Bhikhari, still in the prime of his work life, says there is much local work, even in the non-farming season. "There is a lot of construction work. And unlike in the past, wages are now paid promptly."
His baby brother Munna went to Punjab a decade ago. He died of a snakebite working the fields. "He did not want to go but he had no choice," says Bhikhari, his eyes impassive. Villages around here are indeed rebuilding. Thakur has a three-room pucca house, built last year. Khedu Ram has two brick-and-concrete rooms. Both owe in part to another rural scheme, the Indira Awas Yojana.
Telephone boom in Bihar most visible sign of economic growth
One of the most visible signs of economic growth of Bihar could be witnessed through boom in telecom sector as reflected from the fact that on an average every household have two mobile phones now.
According to Economic Survey 2012-13, which was tabled in the state Assembly by Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi last week, Bihar has 4.6 crore telephone connections in 38 districts of the state of which mobile phones had a share of over 98 per cent with private operators playing a big role.
Teledensity (number of telephone per 100 population) in urban areas of Bihar stood at 196.24 in 2012, which is more than the national average of 169.55, the survey report, quoting Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, said.
Only Kerala and Odisha were ahead of Bihar in urban teledensity.
But, the same is not reflected in rural areas where teledensity in Bihar in 2012 was 25.58 against 39.22 at the national level, the report said.
Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi told PTI that mobile phone has become cheaper and handy for citizens. People wish to remain connected with each other nowadays hence mobile phone has become a necessity, he added.
Modi said there has been tremendous scope for telephone expansion in Bihar which has been surging ahead towards economic prosperity.
The craze for mobile phone could be understood from the fact that in rural areas where there is crisis of electricity, people rush to kiosks to charge their handset, the Bihar Deputy CM said, adding this process is creating income also.
The NDA government under Engineer Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been giving priority to use of IT in the field of sectors catering to needs of common people.
The state government has linked Right to Public Service (RTPS) with mobile information service.
Modi said that the state government with the help of bank has facilitated information regarding payment of taxes over mobile phone. Traders paying tax get information on mobile about it, he added.
State's Information Technology minister Shahid Ali Khan told PTI that all the 38 districts of state would be developed as 'e-districts' by 2014.
Data centre is being established for storing information.
The chief minister has been giving preference to use of IT in the field of governance.
Kumar writes a blog in his own name through which people gets regular information about redressal of their grievances by the government machinery.
According to Economic Survey 2012-13, which was tabled in the state Assembly by Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi last week, Bihar has 4.6 crore telephone connections in 38 districts of the state of which mobile phones had a share of over 98 per cent with private operators playing a big role.
Teledensity (number of telephone per 100 population) in urban areas of Bihar stood at 196.24 in 2012, which is more than the national average of 169.55, the survey report, quoting Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, said.
Only Kerala and Odisha were ahead of Bihar in urban teledensity.
But, the same is not reflected in rural areas where teledensity in Bihar in 2012 was 25.58 against 39.22 at the national level, the report said.
Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi told PTI that mobile phone has become cheaper and handy for citizens. People wish to remain connected with each other nowadays hence mobile phone has become a necessity, he added.
Modi said there has been tremendous scope for telephone expansion in Bihar which has been surging ahead towards economic prosperity.
The craze for mobile phone could be understood from the fact that in rural areas where there is crisis of electricity, people rush to kiosks to charge their handset, the Bihar Deputy CM said, adding this process is creating income also.
The NDA government under Engineer Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been giving priority to use of IT in the field of sectors catering to needs of common people.
The state government has linked Right to Public Service (RTPS) with mobile information service.
Modi said that the state government with the help of bank has facilitated information regarding payment of taxes over mobile phone. Traders paying tax get information on mobile about it, he added.
State's Information Technology minister Shahid Ali Khan told PTI that all the 38 districts of state would be developed as 'e-districts' by 2014.
Data centre is being established for storing information.
The chief minister has been giving preference to use of IT in the field of governance.
Kumar writes a blog in his own name through which people gets regular information about redressal of their grievances by the government machinery.
Thursday 14 February 2013
Nalanda University gets library gift from Singapore
Singapore will design, build and donate a state-of-the-art library, estimated to cost US$5-7 million (S$6.2-8.7 million), to the upcoming Nalanda International University in Bihar.
This was revealed by Singapore's former foreign minister George Yeo.
Mr Yeo leads the international advisory panel for raising funds for the university. He said the board, led by Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen, had approved Singapore's proposal. "People of Singapore are upbeat and keen on making their contribution to the university project," added Mr Yeo.
India's external affairs minister Salman Khurshid has also offered funds. He said a special provision of funds will be made in India's upcoming budget for the university.
Many countries, including Singapore, China, Thailand and Japan, have showed keen interest in helping the university that had existed till 1197 and at its heyday was once home to over 10,000 international students and scholars from Korea, China, Japan, Persia and Turkey. It was the centre of higher learning in Bihar then and had been supported by patronage from the Hindu Gupta rulers as well as Buddhist emperors. The ruins of the university still remain on site and Professor Sen has urged for the site to be included in the UNESCO heritage list.
The project to rebuild this ancient university was an initiative of India's former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in 2006. According to the board's plans, the university will be built on a vast area of 446 acres in Rajgir, 10km from the site of the ancient Nalanda University located in south-east Patna.
Eight architectural companies, six from abroad and two Indian companies, have shown interest in designing the university and have already submitted their proposals to the board. The vice-chancellor of Nalanda University Dr Gopa Sabharwal said the short-listed firms would be called to make their presentation by April.
The new Nalanda International University will offer residency facilities to students and teachers, much like its predecessor, and offer courses in science, philosophy and spiritualism along with social sciences.
The university is set to begin academic activities from the 2013-14 session from rented premises with two subjects - historical studies and environment and ecological studies.
Prof Sen who is also the university's chancellor said: "There has been some delay but things will be back on schedule. The two faculties with which we will start the academic session are the School of Historical Studies and Archaeology and Environmental Studies and Ecology."
This was revealed by Singapore's former foreign minister George Yeo.
Mr Yeo leads the international advisory panel for raising funds for the university. He said the board, led by Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen, had approved Singapore's proposal. "People of Singapore are upbeat and keen on making their contribution to the university project," added Mr Yeo.
India's external affairs minister Salman Khurshid has also offered funds. He said a special provision of funds will be made in India's upcoming budget for the university.
Many countries, including Singapore, China, Thailand and Japan, have showed keen interest in helping the university that had existed till 1197 and at its heyday was once home to over 10,000 international students and scholars from Korea, China, Japan, Persia and Turkey. It was the centre of higher learning in Bihar then and had been supported by patronage from the Hindu Gupta rulers as well as Buddhist emperors. The ruins of the university still remain on site and Professor Sen has urged for the site to be included in the UNESCO heritage list.
The project to rebuild this ancient university was an initiative of India's former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in 2006. According to the board's plans, the university will be built on a vast area of 446 acres in Rajgir, 10km from the site of the ancient Nalanda University located in south-east Patna.
Eight architectural companies, six from abroad and two Indian companies, have shown interest in designing the university and have already submitted their proposals to the board. The vice-chancellor of Nalanda University Dr Gopa Sabharwal said the short-listed firms would be called to make their presentation by April.
The new Nalanda International University will offer residency facilities to students and teachers, much like its predecessor, and offer courses in science, philosophy and spiritualism along with social sciences.
The university is set to begin academic activities from the 2013-14 session from rented premises with two subjects - historical studies and environment and ecological studies.
Prof Sen who is also the university's chancellor said: "There has been some delay but things will be back on schedule. The two faculties with which we will start the academic session are the School of Historical Studies and Archaeology and Environmental Studies and Ecology."
Tuesday 12 February 2013
Jilted lover chops off girl's nose in Kishanganj district
A young girl's nose was chopped off by her jilted lover, who also made an unsuccessful attempt to rape her in Bihar's Kishanganj district, police said on Tuesday.
The incident took place on Sunday when the youth finding the girl alone in her house here tried to rape her.
The girl resisted him and the youth in a fit of rage chopped off her nose with a sharp weapon, the police said.
The youth, who was in a relationship with the girl, was opposed by her family.
He was arrested after the incident and a local court sent him to jail, while the girl is under treatment.
Her mother had filed a complaint with the police a month ago that the girl was being pressurised by a neighbour to marry the youth.
The police had arrested the neighbour but the youth kept harassing the girl, the police said.
The incident took place on Sunday when the youth finding the girl alone in her house here tried to rape her.
The girl resisted him and the youth in a fit of rage chopped off her nose with a sharp weapon, the police said.
The youth, who was in a relationship with the girl, was opposed by her family.
He was arrested after the incident and a local court sent him to jail, while the girl is under treatment.
Her mother had filed a complaint with the police a month ago that the girl was being pressurised by a neighbour to marry the youth.
The police had arrested the neighbour but the youth kept harassing the girl, the police said.
Monday 11 February 2013
Bans jeans, T-shirt for girls in Siwan
After three of its girls went missing, a village in Siwan district has barred girls from using mobile phones and wearing jeans and T-shirts, an official said Monday.
The villagers also imposed heavy fines on girls if they violated the diktat.
The ban was imposed Sunday by self-styled social reformers of Makhnupur village under Pachrukhi police station in Siwan district, 150 km from here.
The decision was taken after three girls - including two cousins - went missing last week. They are yet to be traced.
"A group of villagers issued an order to impose a fine of Rs.10,000 if a girl is found anymore using a mobile phone or wearing jeans and a T-shirt outside her house," a local police official said.
An 11-member committee has been formed to implement the ban.
Mobile phones, jeans and T-shirts are the cause of all evil in our society, including increasing love affairs and elopement," said Satyender Sharma, a villager.
In the last three months, nearly half a dozen village panchayats across the state have banned girls and women from using mobile phones and ordered them not to wear provocative clothes.
The villagers also imposed heavy fines on girls if they violated the diktat.
The ban was imposed Sunday by self-styled social reformers of Makhnupur village under Pachrukhi police station in Siwan district, 150 km from here.
The decision was taken after three girls - including two cousins - went missing last week. They are yet to be traced.
"A group of villagers issued an order to impose a fine of Rs.10,000 if a girl is found anymore using a mobile phone or wearing jeans and a T-shirt outside her house," a local police official said.
An 11-member committee has been formed to implement the ban.
Mobile phones, jeans and T-shirts are the cause of all evil in our society, including increasing love affairs and elopement," said Satyender Sharma, a villager.
In the last three months, nearly half a dozen village panchayats across the state have banned girls and women from using mobile phones and ordered them not to wear provocative clothes.
Friday 8 February 2013
Bihari scientist settled in US offers his services in the state for developing Nano sciences
Professor RatneshwarLal , who hails from a remote village in Darbhanga district, currently at the university of CaliforniaSan Diego (UCSD) has earned abig name in Nano medicine. Lal is positive about state's potentials for developing Nano sciences. "During my brief stay in Bihar I got an opportunities to meet some of the bureaucrats. I am willing to share my experiences in Bihar if the government needs my services and expertise", Lal told.
Lal was in India week-long visit to deliver key note lectures at the 13th international conference of the Controlled Release Society (CRS) India Branch in Hyderabad and National Centre for Biological Sciences in Bangalore. While in Bihar he gave a public lecture at LN Mithila university, department of Physics. In Patna he made his presentation before a select group of academics and bureaucrats at the Aryabhatt knowledge university, Magadh Mahila College and NIT Patna. Lal is married to an US PhD scholar in Sociology Debby Sherman. He said that he is more willing to pay back to the society.
There are many diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (with progressive memory loss as we grow older), Parkinson disease (muscle tremors), tuberculosis, type 2 diabetes, arthritis and some kinds of cancer are linked to defective arrangements of proteins" he added.
Talking about his latest research on nano medicine, he said : "When proteins are not properly arranged (the process commonly known as protein misfolding), they make structures that are usually toxic to cells and tissues in our body. Above mentioned diseases and many more diseases are linked to such protein misfolding".
According to Lal, misfolded proteins have disordered structures and often appear as clumps (commonly called plaques) in the pathological samples from diseased patients. All Alzheimer's patients' brain samples have such plaques. Interestingly, all different diseases have plaques but they are made of different proteins.
"Ratnakar leads a simple life at home and work and enjoys strong ethical standards. He does not miss to visit his relatives and friends whenever he visits India and abroad. For him achievements in professional life should not be at the cost of social bonding", recall his two social scientists friends Pramodanand Das and Rajeshwar Mishra .
Lal born in a small village, Balour in Darbhanga district did his early education in Balour, Patna and Muzaffarpur, graduating in BSc Physics (Hons) in 1976. He then moved to JNU in New Delhi for higher education.
He then moved to USA and received his PhD in 1987 in neurobiology from the university of Alabama. After postdoctoral training at California Institute of Technology (Caltech), he was a faculty member at the university of Chicago and the University of California at Santa Barbara. Before assuming his current position at University of California San Diego (UCSD), he was a professor and the director of the newly established Centre of Nanomedicine at the University of Chicago.
Lal was in India week-long visit to deliver key note lectures at the 13th international conference of the Controlled Release Society (CRS) India Branch in Hyderabad and National Centre for Biological Sciences in Bangalore. While in Bihar he gave a public lecture at LN Mithila university, department of Physics. In Patna he made his presentation before a select group of academics and bureaucrats at the Aryabhatt knowledge university, Magadh Mahila College and NIT Patna. Lal is married to an US PhD scholar in Sociology Debby Sherman. He said that he is more willing to pay back to the society.
There are many diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (with progressive memory loss as we grow older), Parkinson disease (muscle tremors), tuberculosis, type 2 diabetes, arthritis and some kinds of cancer are linked to defective arrangements of proteins" he added.
Talking about his latest research on nano medicine, he said : "When proteins are not properly arranged (the process commonly known as protein misfolding), they make structures that are usually toxic to cells and tissues in our body. Above mentioned diseases and many more diseases are linked to such protein misfolding".
According to Lal, misfolded proteins have disordered structures and often appear as clumps (commonly called plaques) in the pathological samples from diseased patients. All Alzheimer's patients' brain samples have such plaques. Interestingly, all different diseases have plaques but they are made of different proteins.
"Ratnakar leads a simple life at home and work and enjoys strong ethical standards. He does not miss to visit his relatives and friends whenever he visits India and abroad. For him achievements in professional life should not be at the cost of social bonding", recall his two social scientists friends Pramodanand Das and Rajeshwar Mishra .
Lal born in a small village, Balour in Darbhanga district did his early education in Balour, Patna and Muzaffarpur, graduating in BSc Physics (Hons) in 1976. He then moved to JNU in New Delhi for higher education.
He then moved to USA and received his PhD in 1987 in neurobiology from the university of Alabama. After postdoctoral training at California Institute of Technology (Caltech), he was a faculty member at the university of Chicago and the University of California at Santa Barbara. Before assuming his current position at University of California San Diego (UCSD), he was a professor and the director of the newly established Centre of Nanomedicine at the University of Chicago.
Bihar to focus on electronics equipment manufacturing
After success in food processing, the information technology (IT) and telecom hardware manufacturing has caught the eyes of Bihar government. The state has now decided to give special attention to this sector and plans to declare it as a "thrust area".
"We may have missed the BPO bus," said Naveen Verma, principal secretary of the Industries Department, "but we do not want to miss this opportunity. The central government has already announced, in its National Policy on Electronics, that use of locally made component will be encouraged. The policy makes the use of local component mandatory for electronics manufacturers. It is a huge opportunity for us as the policy offers fiscal incentives." The policy, which was introduced last year, aims to boost indigenous manufacturing of electronic goods, so that it can fill the gap between domestic demand and supply in electronics goods.
"We may have missed the BPO bus," said Naveen Verma, principal secretary of the Industries Department, "but we do not want to miss this opportunity. The central government has already announced, in its National Policy on Electronics, that use of locally made component will be encouraged. The policy makes the use of local component mandatory for electronics manufacturers. It is a huge opportunity for us as the policy offers fiscal incentives." The policy, which was introduced last year, aims to boost indigenous manufacturing of electronic goods, so that it can fill the gap between domestic demand and supply in electronics goods.
Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajpaksa arrives at Bodh Gaya
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajpaksa, accompanied by his wife Shiranthi Rajpaksa and a 70-member delegation, on Friday arrived at the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya for pilgrimage.
Rajpaksa was received at the Gaya International Airport by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Education Minister PK Shahi and senior state government civil and police officials, official sources said. He was accorded a guard of honour by the state police.
From the airport, the cavalcade of the Sri Lankan President and members of his delegation drove straight to the Mahabodhi temple where they will perform religious rituals, the sources said.
Rajpaksa would meditate before a peepal tree where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment and visit the Sri Lankan Buddhist Vihar in the temple town. The Chief Minister will host a lunch for the Sri Lankan President and his delegation, the sources said.
Meanwhile, CPI(M-L) Liberation workers raised slogans against the Sri Lankan President from some distance as his cavalcade drove towards the Mahabodhi temple.
The protesters, who had mingled in the crowd that gathered to welcome the visiting dignitaries, shouted slogans like the 'Killer of Tamils go back'. Two of the protesters have been detained for questioning, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Law and Order), Rakesh Kumar Dube said.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made in Bodh Gaya town in view of the Sri Lankan president's visit, police sources said.
Rajpaksa was received at the Gaya International Airport by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Education Minister PK Shahi and senior state government civil and police officials, official sources said. He was accorded a guard of honour by the state police.
From the airport, the cavalcade of the Sri Lankan President and members of his delegation drove straight to the Mahabodhi temple where they will perform religious rituals, the sources said.
Rajpaksa would meditate before a peepal tree where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment and visit the Sri Lankan Buddhist Vihar in the temple town. The Chief Minister will host a lunch for the Sri Lankan President and his delegation, the sources said.
Meanwhile, CPI(M-L) Liberation workers raised slogans against the Sri Lankan President from some distance as his cavalcade drove towards the Mahabodhi temple.
The protesters, who had mingled in the crowd that gathered to welcome the visiting dignitaries, shouted slogans like the 'Killer of Tamils go back'. Two of the protesters have been detained for questioning, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Law and Order), Rakesh Kumar Dube said.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made in Bodh Gaya town in view of the Sri Lankan president's visit, police sources said.
Saturday 2 February 2013
Rapist gets death sentence within four days of trial at fast-track court
A rapist at Katihar has been sentenced to death within four days of being produced before a fast-track court. The accused had been charged with raping his 3-year-old niece. He had also allegedly strangled her to death.
Police provided the court with evidence within 24 hours of arresting the man, speeding up the process further. However, his lawyer says he will take up the matter to high court.
"We are going to appeal the decision in the high court because the sentence has been given based only on circumstantial evidence. There are no witnesses," defence lawyer, DK Jha said.
The accused raped his niece on January 24 and also threatened to kill her if she told anyone. Within four days of the hearing the district and sessions court judge sentenced the accused to be hanged on the basis of the evidence.
Police provided the court with evidence within 24 hours of arresting the man, speeding up the process further. However, his lawyer says he will take up the matter to high court.
"We are going to appeal the decision in the high court because the sentence has been given based only on circumstantial evidence. There are no witnesses," defence lawyer, DK Jha said.
The accused raped his niece on January 24 and also threatened to kill her if she told anyone. Within four days of the hearing the district and sessions court judge sentenced the accused to be hanged on the basis of the evidence.
Friday 1 February 2013
Agriculture to go hi-tech in Bihar
But now the Government has awakened to the occasion by putting its machinery in top gear to improve productivity of the land and also to tackle the problem of labour crisis in the farm sector effectively.
Numbers themselves speak volume of the State Government’s intentions as 6,338 tractors were given to farmers, several of them small and medium scale tillers during 2012-13, enjoying benefit of huge subsidy. The Government has fixed the target of distributing 9,000 tractors among farmers during 2013-14.
The State Government has made a special mention about the farm mechanisation in its ambitious Agriculture Road Map (2012-17) too, spelling out targets to be achieved during the period.
Since small and marginal farmers constitute a huge number in the State’s farm sector, farm mechanisation suitable for small holding agriculture will be promoted. Gender friendly farm machinery will also be encouraged to reduce the drudgery in agriculture, states Agriculture Road Map document.
President Pranav Mukherjee had launched the Agriculture Road Map during his visit to the State in October last year.
State Agriculture Director M Saravanan told The Pioneer that the State Government has taken the farm mechanisation in the right earnest for varieties of reasons including enhancing the productivity of the land.
The number of power tillers distributed among farmers during 2012-13 was 5387 while 136 combined harvesters, several of them already started operating in the paddy growing areas of Rohtas and other adjoining districts in the State. The State Government grants subsidy up to `3.5 lakh to farmers for the purchase of combined harvesters.
Earlier, combined harvesters used to come from places like Varanasi and even from far away places like Haryana but now the scenario in the agricultural fields is changing for better with a comprehensive farm mechanisation drive in the State.
Numbers themselves speak volume of the State Government’s intentions as 6,338 tractors were given to farmers, several of them small and medium scale tillers during 2012-13, enjoying benefit of huge subsidy. The Government has fixed the target of distributing 9,000 tractors among farmers during 2013-14.
The State Government has made a special mention about the farm mechanisation in its ambitious Agriculture Road Map (2012-17) too, spelling out targets to be achieved during the period.
Since small and marginal farmers constitute a huge number in the State’s farm sector, farm mechanisation suitable for small holding agriculture will be promoted. Gender friendly farm machinery will also be encouraged to reduce the drudgery in agriculture, states Agriculture Road Map document.
President Pranav Mukherjee had launched the Agriculture Road Map during his visit to the State in October last year.
State Agriculture Director M Saravanan told The Pioneer that the State Government has taken the farm mechanisation in the right earnest for varieties of reasons including enhancing the productivity of the land.
The number of power tillers distributed among farmers during 2012-13 was 5387 while 136 combined harvesters, several of them already started operating in the paddy growing areas of Rohtas and other adjoining districts in the State. The State Government grants subsidy up to `3.5 lakh to farmers for the purchase of combined harvesters.
Earlier, combined harvesters used to come from places like Varanasi and even from far away places like Haryana but now the scenario in the agricultural fields is changing for better with a comprehensive farm mechanisation drive in the State.
Bartan boy' Subodh Gupta shines at India Art Fair
The shine of a large miror and the collective gleam of bright steel utensils arranged with an artistic purpose catch visitors eye at the ongoing India Art Fair here. And, by now, the artist behind the work is a familiar enough name.
Subodh Gupta, internationally renowned artist known for fashioning signature installation art out of mundane steel and kitchen utensils is presenting another iconic art bearing his trademark. There are three other works by him showcased at the four-day fair which opened to public viewing today after a special VIP preview yesterday.
Titled, "Mirror Stage", and carried by an Italian gallery has been priced at 275,000 euros. The exhibit made out of steel glasses, bowls and cutlery juxtaposed vertically over a flat mirror, and visitors were seen admiring their reflection in it.
Asked if he'd created it especially for the fair, the artist said he doesn't work just for the fair but this is just one aspect of his creative pursuits.
"I don't work just for a fair. I have other works on which I continuously work on and art fairs like these only display a part of my collective oeuvre which is much deeper than what people see here," Gupta told.
The 49-year-old artist who is known to produce large oil painting works has exhibited smaller canvases with incidentally a Victorian frame running around it.
Two smaller-scale oil paintings depicting a breakfast table with china and cutlery, a half-sipped tea in a cup, also adorn the wall at the Galleria Continua's space at the India Art Fair, being held at the NSIC complex here.
The 'Hungry God' famed artist said he's working to develop the work into a full series.
"Yes, I'm working on this idea, the glimpse of which I have shown here but I'm doing a series soon," Gupta told.
"Subodh works with oil has always been on large scale and his choice of the Victorian frame is very deliberate to give throwback to the classic painting that were framed that way. But, if you see his subject here, its trademark Gupta," said Ananjay Bhushan, a Patna-based gallery owner and a long-time associate of Gupta.
"While the installation is priced at 275,000 euros, the two oil paintings are euros 50,000 each," Mylene Ferrand from Galleria Continua said.
Subodh's other works are being displayed by the city-based Nature Morte gallery where two of his classic steel wonders, "Still Life" and "Family Portraits" are up for sale.
Subodh Gupta, internationally renowned artist known for fashioning signature installation art out of mundane steel and kitchen utensils is presenting another iconic art bearing his trademark. There are three other works by him showcased at the four-day fair which opened to public viewing today after a special VIP preview yesterday.
Titled, "Mirror Stage", and carried by an Italian gallery has been priced at 275,000 euros. The exhibit made out of steel glasses, bowls and cutlery juxtaposed vertically over a flat mirror, and visitors were seen admiring their reflection in it.
Asked if he'd created it especially for the fair, the artist said he doesn't work just for the fair but this is just one aspect of his creative pursuits.
"I don't work just for a fair. I have other works on which I continuously work on and art fairs like these only display a part of my collective oeuvre which is much deeper than what people see here," Gupta told.
The 49-year-old artist who is known to produce large oil painting works has exhibited smaller canvases with incidentally a Victorian frame running around it.
Two smaller-scale oil paintings depicting a breakfast table with china and cutlery, a half-sipped tea in a cup, also adorn the wall at the Galleria Continua's space at the India Art Fair, being held at the NSIC complex here.
The 'Hungry God' famed artist said he's working to develop the work into a full series.
"Yes, I'm working on this idea, the glimpse of which I have shown here but I'm doing a series soon," Gupta told.
"Subodh works with oil has always been on large scale and his choice of the Victorian frame is very deliberate to give throwback to the classic painting that were framed that way. But, if you see his subject here, its trademark Gupta," said Ananjay Bhushan, a Patna-based gallery owner and a long-time associate of Gupta.
"While the installation is priced at 275,000 euros, the two oil paintings are euros 50,000 each," Mylene Ferrand from Galleria Continua said.
Subodh's other works are being displayed by the city-based Nature Morte gallery where two of his classic steel wonders, "Still Life" and "Family Portraits" are up for sale.
Eight architectural companies keen to design Nalanda University
Eight architectural companies, including six from abroad, have shown interest in designing the upcoming Nalanda University in Bihar, the vice chancellor said Friday.
"We are happy that eight companies, including two Indian companies, have submitted their proposals for a global competition to finalize the design for the university," Gopa Sabharwal said here.
She said the short-listed firms would be called to make their presentation either this month or next month.
The university is set to come up on 446 acres in Rajgir, 10 km from the site of the ancient university in Nalanda district, southeast of Patna.
The university will be fully residential, like the ancient Nalanda university. It will offer courses in science, philosophy and spiritualism along with social sciences.
The project took shape in 2006 at the initiative of then president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
The ancient university at Nalanda was home to over 10,000 students and nearly 2,000 teachers.
It existed until 1197 and attracted students and scholars from Korea, Japan, China, Tibet, Indonesia, Persia (now Iran) and Turkey.
"We are happy that eight companies, including two Indian companies, have submitted their proposals for a global competition to finalize the design for the university," Gopa Sabharwal said here.
She said the short-listed firms would be called to make their presentation either this month or next month.
The university is set to come up on 446 acres in Rajgir, 10 km from the site of the ancient university in Nalanda district, southeast of Patna.
The university will be fully residential, like the ancient Nalanda university. It will offer courses in science, philosophy and spiritualism along with social sciences.
The project took shape in 2006 at the initiative of then president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
The ancient university at Nalanda was home to over 10,000 students and nearly 2,000 teachers.
It existed until 1197 and attracted students and scholars from Korea, Japan, China, Tibet, Indonesia, Persia (now Iran) and Turkey.
Bihar exceeds procurement of foodgrains target by Jan end
The Bihar government has exceeded the target set up for procurement of foodgrains from farmers by by purchasing 3.43 lakh tonnes of grains till January end.
The government had set a target to purchase 3 lakh tonne of grains during the period.
A total of 2.75 lakh tonnes of grains was procured by the government by January end in 2011-12 fiscal, state Food Minister Shyam Rajak said.
The Nitish Kumar government has set a target to procure 30 lakh tonne of foodgrains by April this year.
The process of purchase of produce from the farmers have picked up with the easing of winter when grains are not in good condition due to moisture.
"We will achieve the procurement target within time," Rajak said.
The official figures reveal that procurement by the end of January was maximum in Magadh region comprising Gaya, Jehanabad, Arwal, Nawada and Aurangabad with lifting of 68,928 tonne of grains against the target of 42,800 tonne.
The minister said as part of efforts to augment storage capacity for foodgrains the state government has sanctioned creation of 500 tonne capacity godown in all the blocks of the state.
A total of 423 godowns would be established across the state of which 300 have already been achieved, he said.
Rajak said the department was taking effective steps for strengthening distribution of subsidised foodgrains through 42,000 ration shops in the state.
To streamline the PDS functioning, the government has ordered observation of "Foodgrains diwas (day)" across the state during last three days of every month.
Though the Union government is providing ration to 65 lakh BPL and APL beneficiaries in Bihar, the state government is providing subsidised ration to 80 lakh more people from its own kitty as according to its count, on the basis of Saxena committee and Tendulkar committee, there are 1.45 crore eligible people for subsidised ration in the state.
The government had set a target to purchase 3 lakh tonne of grains during the period.
A total of 2.75 lakh tonnes of grains was procured by the government by January end in 2011-12 fiscal, state Food Minister Shyam Rajak said.
The Nitish Kumar government has set a target to procure 30 lakh tonne of foodgrains by April this year.
The process of purchase of produce from the farmers have picked up with the easing of winter when grains are not in good condition due to moisture.
"We will achieve the procurement target within time," Rajak said.
The official figures reveal that procurement by the end of January was maximum in Magadh region comprising Gaya, Jehanabad, Arwal, Nawada and Aurangabad with lifting of 68,928 tonne of grains against the target of 42,800 tonne.
The minister said as part of efforts to augment storage capacity for foodgrains the state government has sanctioned creation of 500 tonne capacity godown in all the blocks of the state.
A total of 423 godowns would be established across the state of which 300 have already been achieved, he said.
Rajak said the department was taking effective steps for strengthening distribution of subsidised foodgrains through 42,000 ration shops in the state.
To streamline the PDS functioning, the government has ordered observation of "Foodgrains diwas (day)" across the state during last three days of every month.
Though the Union government is providing ration to 65 lakh BPL and APL beneficiaries in Bihar, the state government is providing subsidised ration to 80 lakh more people from its own kitty as according to its count, on the basis of Saxena committee and Tendulkar committee, there are 1.45 crore eligible people for subsidised ration in the state.
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