In deference to a long-pending demand of local tribals, the Government will soon close down the Field Firing Range at Netarhat in Jharkhand.
The assurance was given today by Defence Minister A K Antony to Bihar Assembly Speaker Uday Narain Chaudhary, when he led a four-member delegation from Jharkhand to raise the demand.
"The Defence Minister has given an assurance that the Field Firing Range will be closed down soon,"a Bihar government press release said.
Demand for its closure has been made by the people of the tribal-dominated area as tribes like Asur and Birhore as also wildlife were leaving the area in search of safer habitations.
The delegation also demanded that the area be declared a reserved forest.link
Saturday 7 February 2009
Bihar objects to shifting of Gaya military centre to Karnataka
Strongly opposing any move to shift the military centre from Gaya in Bihar to Karnataka, Bihar Assembly Speaker Uday Narain Chaudhary today said the state, sharing international border with Nepal and Bangladesh, needed more such units.
During a meeting with Defence Minister A K Antony here, the Speaker said that after its bifurcation, the state was left with only two military centres at Gaya and Danapur, near Patna, a Bihar government press release said.
" This is negligible from the point of view of Bihar&aposs location and Naxal problem,"he said, adding that there was no justification behind shifting the Gaya centre to Karnataka, where seven such units already exist.
He said the Gaya centre offered employment to youth from 19 neighbouring districts.
"Hence, the Gaya centre should not be shifted. Rather, new units should be opened,"he said.link
During a meeting with Defence Minister A K Antony here, the Speaker said that after its bifurcation, the state was left with only two military centres at Gaya and Danapur, near Patna, a Bihar government press release said.
" This is negligible from the point of view of Bihar&aposs location and Naxal problem,"he said, adding that there was no justification behind shifting the Gaya centre to Karnataka, where seven such units already exist.
He said the Gaya centre offered employment to youth from 19 neighbouring districts.
"Hence, the Gaya centre should not be shifted. Rather, new units should be opened,"he said.link
Bihar RTI-on-phone project earns it top e-governance prize
Bihar's unique attempt to accept Right to Information (RTI) applications through phone calls - Jaankari - has been selected by the Centre for the first prize (gold) for "outstanding performance in citizen centric service delivery" under its e-Governance project for the year 2008-09.
Incidentally, 11 of the total 18 National Awards for e-Governance under different categories this year have gone to NDA-ruled states with Gujarat taking the lead with five prizes, including one gold, one silver and three bronze.
Announcing the annual awards, minister of state for personnel Prithviraj Chavan said: "These awards are given to recognize and promote excellence in implementation of e-governance initiatives."
Under the category of citizen-centric service delivery in which Bihar won the gold for Jaankari, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh were selected got the bronze for their e-krishi-kisan (Agricultural University, Anand) and HIMPOL (state police website), respectively.
Praising the Bihar government's citizen-centric service delivery project "Jaankari — RTI facilitation on phone", Chavan said: "In this, you can make a phone call and the call centre person will keep all the details. The cost of the RTI application will be deducted by adding it to the phone call charges." He said the Delhi government had also shown an interest in implementing the project.
The awards to these states will be given away during the 12th National Conference on e-Governance in Goa on February 12-13.
On excellence in government process re-engineering, Chhattisgarh's department of food and civil supplies bagged the first prize while in the exemplary horizontal transfer of best practice the first prize went to Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.
Nagpur Municipal Corporation, the national panchayat portal of the ministry of panchayati raj and the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, Hyderabad, won awards in the category of best government websites. Tripura, Karnataka and Haryana were the other states which won awards in different categories for their efforts towards promoting e-governmence for the benefit of citizens.
Chavan said as part of Centre's initiative to streamline the official websites, the government has issued guidelines for all official portals which will help people to get required information easily.
As part of the government's e-governance plan, 27 mission mode projects would be rolled out across the country with an outlay of Rs 20,175 crore. Out of this, 16 projects have already been cleared by the Union Cabinet with an outlay of Rs 10,626 crore.link
Incidentally, 11 of the total 18 National Awards for e-Governance under different categories this year have gone to NDA-ruled states with Gujarat taking the lead with five prizes, including one gold, one silver and three bronze.
Announcing the annual awards, minister of state for personnel Prithviraj Chavan said: "These awards are given to recognize and promote excellence in implementation of e-governance initiatives."
Under the category of citizen-centric service delivery in which Bihar won the gold for Jaankari, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh were selected got the bronze for their e-krishi-kisan (Agricultural University, Anand) and HIMPOL (state police website), respectively.
Praising the Bihar government's citizen-centric service delivery project "Jaankari — RTI facilitation on phone", Chavan said: "In this, you can make a phone call and the call centre person will keep all the details. The cost of the RTI application will be deducted by adding it to the phone call charges." He said the Delhi government had also shown an interest in implementing the project.
The awards to these states will be given away during the 12th National Conference on e-Governance in Goa on February 12-13.
On excellence in government process re-engineering, Chhattisgarh's department of food and civil supplies bagged the first prize while in the exemplary horizontal transfer of best practice the first prize went to Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.
Nagpur Municipal Corporation, the national panchayat portal of the ministry of panchayati raj and the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, Hyderabad, won awards in the category of best government websites. Tripura, Karnataka and Haryana were the other states which won awards in different categories for their efforts towards promoting e-governmence for the benefit of citizens.
Chavan said as part of Centre's initiative to streamline the official websites, the government has issued guidelines for all official portals which will help people to get required information easily.
As part of the government's e-governance plan, 27 mission mode projects would be rolled out across the country with an outlay of Rs 20,175 crore. Out of this, 16 projects have already been cleared by the Union Cabinet with an outlay of Rs 10,626 crore.link
I will do anything for Bihar: Neetu Chandra
Bollywood actor Neetu Chandra is fierce about her Bihar roots. "For Bihar I will do anything," she stressed. Chandra has come to perform in `Fantasians-2009' scheduled on Saturday at the Bharatiya Nritya Kala Mandir.
The event is being organized by the Notre Dame Academy Almuni Association and Chandra is an almuna of this school and Bihar's only girl in Bollywood. "My director was pressing to go ahead with the shooting. But I cancelled the shooting to be here," she remarked and pointed out that this would be the first time she would be performing in Bihar. The proceedings of the show will go to her school for upgrading its computer lab.
The `Garam Masala' girl has a busy 2009. Her next film `13th B' is scheduled for next year. Other films `Khusat Prasad' and `Sandy' - the film launching Shatrughan Sinha's son Luv - are also scheduled to be released this year. "In Bollywood, I have to fight for my career and my image as a Bihari," she said, pointing out that she was often asked in Bollywood if she lived in a village in Bihar where farming was done.
"That's the image Bihar has," Chandra, who has lived in Patna throughout her life before shifting to Mumbai, stressed. She said that it took quite a lot of persuasion in Bollywood to make other stars to come to Patna. "Perhaps it is because of their past experience in Bihar," she said.
Though Bihar has thrown up quite a few male actors in Bollywood - Shatughan Sinha, Manoj Bajpayee and Shekhar Suman - to name a few, Chandra happens to be the only female actor, "Perhaps more women from Bihar will come to Bollywood if we change our mentality. The parents, schools and teachers all have to contribute. I was encouraged in school and by my parents. There are Bihari girls working for theatres in Delhi. Perhaps they will come," she said.
Talking about `exposing her body', Chandra stressed that she had no hesitation in dressing as per the demand of the character played by her. "If I have to wear a swimming suit I will wear it. There is a protocol which has to be adhered to or else there are thousands of others who will do it," she remarked. She said that she has no objection to working in Bhojpuri films. "But I have asked the directors to make a film which a child can see with his grandfather," she stressed, pointing out that it was the presentation which mattered. "One can look decent in a swim suit and vulgar in a saree," she stressed.link
The event is being organized by the Notre Dame Academy Almuni Association and Chandra is an almuna of this school and Bihar's only girl in Bollywood. "My director was pressing to go ahead with the shooting. But I cancelled the shooting to be here," she remarked and pointed out that this would be the first time she would be performing in Bihar. The proceedings of the show will go to her school for upgrading its computer lab.
The `Garam Masala' girl has a busy 2009. Her next film `13th B' is scheduled for next year. Other films `Khusat Prasad' and `Sandy' - the film launching Shatrughan Sinha's son Luv - are also scheduled to be released this year. "In Bollywood, I have to fight for my career and my image as a Bihari," she said, pointing out that she was often asked in Bollywood if she lived in a village in Bihar where farming was done.
"That's the image Bihar has," Chandra, who has lived in Patna throughout her life before shifting to Mumbai, stressed. She said that it took quite a lot of persuasion in Bollywood to make other stars to come to Patna. "Perhaps it is because of their past experience in Bihar," she said.
Though Bihar has thrown up quite a few male actors in Bollywood - Shatughan Sinha, Manoj Bajpayee and Shekhar Suman - to name a few, Chandra happens to be the only female actor, "Perhaps more women from Bihar will come to Bollywood if we change our mentality. The parents, schools and teachers all have to contribute. I was encouraged in school and by my parents. There are Bihari girls working for theatres in Delhi. Perhaps they will come," she said.
Talking about `exposing her body', Chandra stressed that she had no hesitation in dressing as per the demand of the character played by her. "If I have to wear a swimming suit I will wear it. There is a protocol which has to be adhered to or else there are thousands of others who will do it," she remarked. She said that she has no objection to working in Bhojpuri films. "But I have asked the directors to make a film which a child can see with his grandfather," she stressed, pointing out that it was the presentation which mattered. "One can look decent in a swim suit and vulgar in a saree," she stressed.link
The Bihar Quiz 2009
You might be a Bihari. But your knowledge about the native state is in for a test with noted quiz master Terry O'Brien ready with a plethora of questions related to some interesting facts about the state.
O'Brien will ask these questions in `The Bihar Quiz 2009', which is being organised by the state art, culture and youth affairs department as part of the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of India's first President Rajendra Prasad.
To be held at the Sri Krishna Memorial Hall on Sunday, the quiz show has elicited tremendous response with schools from all the 38 districts consenting to send in their teams for the competition.
"The purpose of the quiz programme is to showcase the state's rich culture and heritage and to get the youth rediscover Bihar," said Vivek Singh, secretary of the art, culture and youth affairs department.
O'Brien told the excitement generated in his quizzing quest motivated him to prepare a power-point presentation in Hindi and English, which would be shown on Sunday. "In my quizzing experience over the years, it has been my research on Bihar that has enthralled me the most," he said. There would be audience prizes as well at this event.link
O'Brien will ask these questions in `The Bihar Quiz 2009', which is being organised by the state art, culture and youth affairs department as part of the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of India's first President Rajendra Prasad.
To be held at the Sri Krishna Memorial Hall on Sunday, the quiz show has elicited tremendous response with schools from all the 38 districts consenting to send in their teams for the competition.
"The purpose of the quiz programme is to showcase the state's rich culture and heritage and to get the youth rediscover Bihar," said Vivek Singh, secretary of the art, culture and youth affairs department.
O'Brien told the excitement generated in his quizzing quest motivated him to prepare a power-point presentation in Hindi and English, which would be shown on Sunday. "In my quizzing experience over the years, it has been my research on Bihar that has enthralled me the most," he said. There would be audience prizes as well at this event.link
Bihar government to dismiss striking employees
A month after over 300,000 of its employees went on strike, the Bihar government has decided to dismiss them, officials said on Saturday.
The government would begin to serve dismissal notices to striking employees on Saturday, said Amir Subhani, secretary, Personnel and Administrative Reforms department. The notices would be sent to the employees' homes.
According to official sources, a decision to serve dismissal notices, under section 8(2) of the Bihar Government Servant Conduct Rules, 1976, was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by chief secretary RJM Pillai.
"Some top officials were busy till late on Friday night preparing the final list of employees to be served notices," the sources said.
The move comes a day after the government told the Patna High Court that it would not hold negotiations with the associations of the striking employees until the month-long stir was withdrawn.
The employees went on an indefinite strike on Jan 7 demanding implementation of the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission in "letter and spirit" after failure of talks with Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who also holds the finance portfolio.
The government issued the striking employees show-cause notices on Jan 22, a day after the deadline to resume work lapsed, warning them of action including denial of salary and suspension from work. However, the striking employees did not return to work as their demands were not accepted by the government.
Modi, who refused to accept the employees' demands because of a funds crunch, had earlier ruled out any possibility of the government negotiating with the striking employees.
The strike has affected the functioning of the government departments and health services across the state. Most of the government offices, particularly the treasury and registration departments, wear a deserted look.
However, the leaders of the striking employees said that strike will continue despite the threats to dismiss them.
Earlier, the striking employees ignored the state government's "no work, no pay" warning. "We will not end our strike unless our demands are accepted by the government," said Manjul Kumar Das, general secretary of the Bihar State Non-Gazetted Employees Federation (BSNGEF).link
The government would begin to serve dismissal notices to striking employees on Saturday, said Amir Subhani, secretary, Personnel and Administrative Reforms department. The notices would be sent to the employees' homes.
According to official sources, a decision to serve dismissal notices, under section 8(2) of the Bihar Government Servant Conduct Rules, 1976, was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by chief secretary RJM Pillai.
"Some top officials were busy till late on Friday night preparing the final list of employees to be served notices," the sources said.
The move comes a day after the government told the Patna High Court that it would not hold negotiations with the associations of the striking employees until the month-long stir was withdrawn.
The employees went on an indefinite strike on Jan 7 demanding implementation of the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission in "letter and spirit" after failure of talks with Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who also holds the finance portfolio.
The government issued the striking employees show-cause notices on Jan 22, a day after the deadline to resume work lapsed, warning them of action including denial of salary and suspension from work. However, the striking employees did not return to work as their demands were not accepted by the government.
Modi, who refused to accept the employees' demands because of a funds crunch, had earlier ruled out any possibility of the government negotiating with the striking employees.
The strike has affected the functioning of the government departments and health services across the state. Most of the government offices, particularly the treasury and registration departments, wear a deserted look.
However, the leaders of the striking employees said that strike will continue despite the threats to dismiss them.
Earlier, the striking employees ignored the state government's "no work, no pay" warning. "We will not end our strike unless our demands are accepted by the government," said Manjul Kumar Das, general secretary of the Bihar State Non-Gazetted Employees Federation (BSNGEF).link
Thursday 5 February 2009
Director Prakash Jha likely to contest LS poll
Noted film director-producer Prakash Jha is likely to be the candidate of the Ram Vilas Paswan led LJP from Bettiah Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar.
Party sources said that Jha has already held discussions with Paswan three-four times on the issue and the party has in principle agreed to field Jha from the seat.
The latest round of telephonic discussion between the two took place last night in which Jha is reported to have said that he is ready to fight the election.
"We have decided to field Jha from Bettiah but a formal announcement would be made after we decide whether to contest alone or in a UPA alliance," a senior party leader said on the condition of anonymity.
Party sources say that initially the party was in double mind and was also thinking of finalizing a candidate keeping in mind the minority community, which has a sizeable population in Bettiah.
Jha, a resident of Barharwa village of the West Champaran district, whose headquarters is Bettiah, had contested the last Lok Sabha election as an independent candidate. He had a crushing defeat and he lost even his security deposit as the contest became a direct one between BJP and RJD.
RJD had wrested the seat from BJP with its leader Raghunath Jha defeating the saffron party's Madan Prasad Jaiswal by over 26,000 votes. The seat was earlier held by BJP.
Sources say that the sitting MP from Bettiah Raghunath Jha is this time interested in contesting from Bagha, earlier a reserved seat, which has now become general after the delimitation.
Grapevine has it that RJD MP from Gopalganj and party supremo Lalu Prasad's brother- in law Anirudh Prasad Yadav alias Sadhu Yadav is keen on shifting to Bettiah seat this time.
Speculation was rife earlier that Jha may contest the Lok Sabha election on either a JD (U) or a BJP ticket. A LJP leader however said that Jha was "in touch with us for quite a long time" and the party has "almost decided" to field Jha from Bettiah.
Jha has directed Bollywood films like Apaharan, Gangajal, Mrityudand, Damul, Hip Hip Hurray and Bandish. He has also been a producer for many other films, a large number of which deal with social themes like casteism, poverty and hunger.
Jha had directed the Ajay Devgan starrer "Apharan" immediately after contesting the Lok Sabha election in 2004.
The film dealt with the issue of the nexus between crime and politics in Bihar against the backdrop of a spate of abductions in the Hindi heartland. After the election, Jha had promised to make another movie on Bihar politics "Rajniti", which is yet to be released.
Party sources said that Jha has already held discussions with Paswan three-four times on the issue and the party has in principle agreed to field Jha from the seat.
The latest round of telephonic discussion between the two took place last night in which Jha is reported to have said that he is ready to fight the election.
"We have decided to field Jha from Bettiah but a formal announcement would be made after we decide whether to contest alone or in a UPA alliance," a senior party leader said on the condition of anonymity.
Party sources say that initially the party was in double mind and was also thinking of finalizing a candidate keeping in mind the minority community, which has a sizeable population in Bettiah.
Jha, a resident of Barharwa village of the West Champaran district, whose headquarters is Bettiah, had contested the last Lok Sabha election as an independent candidate. He had a crushing defeat and he lost even his security deposit as the contest became a direct one between BJP and RJD.
RJD had wrested the seat from BJP with its leader Raghunath Jha defeating the saffron party's Madan Prasad Jaiswal by over 26,000 votes. The seat was earlier held by BJP.
Sources say that the sitting MP from Bettiah Raghunath Jha is this time interested in contesting from Bagha, earlier a reserved seat, which has now become general after the delimitation.
Grapevine has it that RJD MP from Gopalganj and party supremo Lalu Prasad's brother- in law Anirudh Prasad Yadav alias Sadhu Yadav is keen on shifting to Bettiah seat this time.
Speculation was rife earlier that Jha may contest the Lok Sabha election on either a JD (U) or a BJP ticket. A LJP leader however said that Jha was "in touch with us for quite a long time" and the party has "almost decided" to field Jha from Bettiah.
Jha has directed Bollywood films like Apaharan, Gangajal, Mrityudand, Damul, Hip Hip Hurray and Bandish. He has also been a producer for many other films, a large number of which deal with social themes like casteism, poverty and hunger.
Jha had directed the Ajay Devgan starrer "Apharan" immediately after contesting the Lok Sabha election in 2004.
The film dealt with the issue of the nexus between crime and politics in Bihar against the backdrop of a spate of abductions in the Hindi heartland. After the election, Jha had promised to make another movie on Bihar politics "Rajniti", which is yet to be released.
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