Bihar govt to extend Hunar for Muslim girls

Buoyed over by electoral success and Muslims support in the just concluded Lok Sabha elections, the ruling JD(U) has decided to extend the ‘Hunar’ scheme aiming to make uneducated Muslim girls self-dependent.

The Bihar government has decided to continue it next year with around 50,000 Muslim girls enrolled in the project.

“After the success of Hunar scheme which was started on an experimental basis in the state July last year, the state government has decided to extended it for another one year,” National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) chairman Dinesh Singh Bisht told reporters here today.

The central-funded NIOS, a partner in the scheme, provide vocational training to girls.

Under the scheme, candidates who successfully complete the one year training is given Rs 2,000 as grant to purchase equipment of their choice to start their own business.

The girls are trained in tailoring, cutting and dress-making, beauticians, jute production, bakery and confectionery, gram sakhi and taking care of new born babies.

From this session, bee-keeping, mushroom production, computer hardware, drawing, DTP and embroidery have been added, Bisht said.link

Court acquits widow's pet dog

A happy Raj Kumari Devi on Wednesday woke up tension free and "upbeat" after her pet dog Chhotu won a legal battle in a Bihar court.

This was one of several legal wars against Chhotu that Devi's neighbours have been waging. Chhotu was sentenced to death six years ago but Devi obtained clemency for her "only companion".

This time, Chhotu was accused of breaching peace in Purnia town, after neighbours alleged that the eight-year-old canine is mad and has bitten several people in the area.

The case was filed July last against Chhotu and Devi, a frail middle-aged childless widow, under CrPC section 107 (disturbing peace).

Sub divisional officer A D Thackeray Tuesday dismissed the case because it had become time-barred after six months.

The judgement brought back a smile on Devi's face, who was worried over Chhotu's fate.

"After months, I slept Tuesday night without tension and woke up Wednesday morning upbeat to take care of Chhotu," she said.

Official sources in the Purnia district administration said that hearing in the case was deferred several times in the last six months, due to floods and ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

"It is a conspiracy by my neighbours to grab my property. They are targeting my protector, Chhotu," she said.

Dilip Kumar, Devi's lawyer, said several cases had been lodged against Chhotu by her neighbours in the last few years.

She owns some land her neighbours are allegedly trying to encroach upon.

Nearly six years ago when the dog was sentenced to death by a local court she single-handedly fought a legal battle and mobilised the support of animal rights activists, including former central minister Maneka Gandhi.

The order was finally stayed.

"I simply begged for clemency saying that being a widow, Chhotu was my only companion and protector," Devi said.

Kirti Azad to contest from Darbhanga in Bihar

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated cricketer-turned-politician Kirti Azad to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Darbhanga in Bihar. The party Thursday released its list of candidates for 15 constituencies in four states.

BJP president Rajnath Singh finalised the list at a meeting here. The party announced seven candidates for Delhi, three for Gujarat, two for Jammu and Kashmir, and three for Bihar.

BJP general secretary Vijay Goel has been given a ticket from the New Delhi constituency. Goel was initially considered for the Chandni Chowk seat but he wanted to contest from the New Delhi seat.

The general elections will be held April 16-May 13 in five phases. The counting of votes across the country will take place May 16.

Ajay Devgan and Katrina Kaif to help out Prakash Jha

Director Prakash Jha is contesting for the Lok Sabha elections from the Bettiah seat in Bihar and helping out in his campaign will be his ‘Rajneeti’ lead actors, Ajay Devgan and Katrina Kaif. Both are popular public figures and will invite huge crowd.

A source on the project reveals, "Ajay is very close to Jha. Even though he doesn't endorse political parties or take a political stand, he will definitely do everything in his capacity to support Jha. Also Katrina, who has been drawing huge crowds to the locations where the film is being shot, will be roped in. People travel from long distances to come and see her. If she campaigns for Jha, it will definitely add to the glamour element."

Devgan feels Jha will an ideal leader for the constituency. A source adds, "Jha has done to help the flood victims in Bihar, and his Punarvaas campaign has been a huge success and Ajay has personally followed the project. So he wants to support him."

However Ajay Devgan's publicist denied the news, "The news that Ajay is campaigning for Jha in the forthcoming elections is not true."link