The tomb of Sher Shah Suri, the emperor who built the Grand Trunk Road from Kolkata to Peshawar in the 16th century and thus laid down the foundation of the Indian highway system, is being refurbished here at a cost of Rs.94 crore (Rs.940 million) so that it becomes one of Bihar's major tourist destinations.
Officials in the state tourism department said the surroundings of the tomb, in the emperor's home town, would be beautified; plus a luxury hotel, cafeteria and guest house would be built to attract tourists.
"The department has prepared a plan of over Rs.94 crore to develop and beautify the tomb premises," an official said. The state government has applied to the Unesco to accord World Heritage Site status to the tomb.
A famous army general, Sher Shah Suri wrested the throne of India from the second Mughal emperor Humayun and ruled for five years (1540-45) till his death. He was also a notable administrator who built resting and watering spots and joined existing roads to establish the Grand Trunk Road, which is now named after him.
His successors proved incapable of holding on to the throne, and the Mughals regained power in 1556.
Rohtas district authorities told that officials of the state tourism development corporation and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) held discussions Sunday on the projects to develop the tomb. Sasaram, about 150 km from state capital Patna, is the headquarters of the district.
Acting superintending archaeologist of Patna circle N.G. Nikose, who was also present at the meeting, assured all possible help to the department in developing the area around the tomb.
However, ASI officials made it clear that they would not allow any construction in the prohibited area of 100 metres around the tomb.
Last month, municipal authorities in Sasaram issued notices seeking explanations from all those who have constructed illegal structures in the vicinity of the tomb. The action followed orders of the district magistrate to free the tomb's premises of encroachment after the Patna High Court in November 2008 asked the ASI and the Rohtas district administration to take measures for its preservation.
Ruling on public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a Sasaram resident, who contended the state government was not taking adequate steps to preserve the tomb, the court had expressed unhappiness about the monument's condition due to years of neglect and exposure to pollution.
The ASI has long demanded removal of illegal constructions around the tomb and had also taken up the matter in the high court.
According to ASI guidelines, no construction can be allowed within a 100-metre radius of a historical monument as well as construction beyond a certain height within a radius of 200 metres. However, the rules have been violated time and again.
Also, the tank around the five-storey tomb, is filled with acidic industrial discharge.
Early this year, district authorities banned discharge of polluted water, immersion of idols and bathing in the tank. The ban was imposed early this year by the high court, after the ASI warned of the threats to the tomb as the tank's water had turned acidic, and the water level had gone down.
The historical tomb was declared a national heritage site under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, and the ASI given the responsibility for its preservation and protection.link
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
Engieerrs demand hike in I-T exemption
Welcoming the victory of the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections, the Bihar Engineering Services Association has demanded that the income-tax exemption be raised up to Rs 3 lakh for general salaried people and Rs 3.5 lakh for women employees on the ground that two months of their salaries are paid into the I-T account every year.
Despite a fall in the price index, the prices of essential commodities have gone up beyond paying capacities and therefore they have little in hand for other essential expenses at home, engineers feel.
Moreover, the 6th Pay Commission has categorised the pay-scale of both the assistant engineers and executive engineers under pay band-3 and those of superintending engineers, chief engineers as well as engineer in-chief under pay band-4.
The association has demanded a reform in the pay structure, according to the zonal secretary and state organizing secretary, Ram Swarath Sah.link
Despite a fall in the price index, the prices of essential commodities have gone up beyond paying capacities and therefore they have little in hand for other essential expenses at home, engineers feel.
Moreover, the 6th Pay Commission has categorised the pay-scale of both the assistant engineers and executive engineers under pay band-3 and those of superintending engineers, chief engineers as well as engineer in-chief under pay band-4.
The association has demanded a reform in the pay structure, according to the zonal secretary and state organizing secretary, Ram Swarath Sah.link
Special prelims for select BPSC candidates
The Patna High Court on Tuesday directed the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) to conduct a special preliminary test for the 48th to 52nd combined competitive examinations for state civil services for only those 94 candidates who had raised objections regarding wrong questions and answers.
A division bench comprising Justice S K Katariar and Justice K K Mandal, however, allowed BPSC to conduct the mains of the 48th to 52nd combined competitive examinations on the basis of the results of the preliminary test published earlier.
Giving the verdict on the Letters Patent Appeal (LPA) of BPSC, the division bench “modified” an earlier order of a single bench presided over by Justice Navin Sinha wherein he had set aside the entire preliminary test results and directed BPSC to hold the prelims afresh. The modified order means only a special test for the group of 94.
Pleading for BPSC, advocate general P K Shahi submitted that the 94 candidates appearing at the preliminary test held earlier ought to have raised objections soon after having gone through the questions. He added that instructions in this regard had been given in the questions.link
A division bench comprising Justice S K Katariar and Justice K K Mandal, however, allowed BPSC to conduct the mains of the 48th to 52nd combined competitive examinations on the basis of the results of the preliminary test published earlier.
Giving the verdict on the Letters Patent Appeal (LPA) of BPSC, the division bench “modified” an earlier order of a single bench presided over by Justice Navin Sinha wherein he had set aside the entire preliminary test results and directed BPSC to hold the prelims afresh. The modified order means only a special test for the group of 94.
Pleading for BPSC, advocate general P K Shahi submitted that the 94 candidates appearing at the preliminary test held earlier ought to have raised objections soon after having gone through the questions. He added that instructions in this regard had been given in the questions.link
Child protection unit in each district
In a landmark move, Bihar has notified formation of District Child Protection Units (DCPUs) to promote the interests of child, prevent violations of child rights and ensure effective implementation of Juvenile Justice Act 2000, as amended in 2006.
Bihar thus became the first state in the country to notify DCPUs in all its 38 districts and appoint an assistant director (social security) as the nodal person.
It was the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) of the Union women and child development ministry that proposed setting up of a State Child Protection Unit in each state/UT and DCPU in each district to ensure coordination of associated child protection services for vulnerable and destitute children, including juveniles.
DCPUs were set up at the initiative of department of social welfare in collaboration with Unicef-Patna. The DCPUs are statutory bodies formed under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000.
An eight-day training programme for DCPU consultants was also organized by the department of social welfare and Unicef from May 11 to May 18. As many as 40 consultants were trained on issues related to child rights and Juvenile Justice Act.
Social welfare department's principal secretary S Siddhu said, "All of us have a lot to look forward to in child protection after the establishment of DCPUs in the state. The additional human resources now available will certainly make a lot of difference to our work."
Children are languishing in remand homes and observation homes because of the difficult circumstances they faced in life. The objective is to maintain the standard of services provided in these homes, Siddhu said.
Bihar Unicef's field office chief Bijaya Rajbhandari thanked the social welfare department for initiating the innovative programme on child protection in the state.
"Unicef in collaboration with the state social welfare department is currently piloting DCPUs in 10 districts and plans to strengthen them by providing technical, managerial and monitoring support besides additional human resources," said social welfare department director Masood Hassan.link
Bihar thus became the first state in the country to notify DCPUs in all its 38 districts and appoint an assistant director (social security) as the nodal person.
It was the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) of the Union women and child development ministry that proposed setting up of a State Child Protection Unit in each state/UT and DCPU in each district to ensure coordination of associated child protection services for vulnerable and destitute children, including juveniles.
DCPUs were set up at the initiative of department of social welfare in collaboration with Unicef-Patna. The DCPUs are statutory bodies formed under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000.
An eight-day training programme for DCPU consultants was also organized by the department of social welfare and Unicef from May 11 to May 18. As many as 40 consultants were trained on issues related to child rights and Juvenile Justice Act.
Social welfare department's principal secretary S Siddhu said, "All of us have a lot to look forward to in child protection after the establishment of DCPUs in the state. The additional human resources now available will certainly make a lot of difference to our work."
Children are languishing in remand homes and observation homes because of the difficult circumstances they faced in life. The objective is to maintain the standard of services provided in these homes, Siddhu said.
Bihar Unicef's field office chief Bijaya Rajbhandari thanked the social welfare department for initiating the innovative programme on child protection in the state.
"Unicef in collaboration with the state social welfare department is currently piloting DCPUs in 10 districts and plans to strengthen them by providing technical, managerial and monitoring support besides additional human resources," said social welfare department director Masood Hassan.link
Bihar boy’s film shines at Cannes
Gaya born Abhijeet Kumar’s film Namah Shivaya Shantaya has opened to rave reviews at the Cannes film festival on Monday. The film was screened at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival at the Indian pavillion 108, Village International, organised by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the industry body ASSOCHAM.
The film, based on the teachings from the book of the same name by Shrii Anandamurti, has at its core the renewal of a great and timeless message, still as relevant today as it was in times of old.
Bringing to life the story of Lord Shiva’s fight for justice, righteousness and peace in the fledgling society of his day, that message emerges, in essence, as that of unification: the coming together of all people as one; of all minds as one mind; and – ultimately – of all minds with the Oneness that pervades and encompasses all things for all time.
Born on January 5, 1983 Gaya, Abhijeet did his B.A (Hons.) in Psychology from Magadh University, Bodh Gaya.
A natural artistic talent, Abhijeet Kumar began his film-making journey with a vision of higher-quality entertainment for society. An MA in Film and Television Production, he has produced and directed many critically acclaimed short films and features, and acted in numerous movies, television serials, commercials and plays.
With Namah Shivaya Shantaya, under adverse conditions presenting numerous creative and logistical challenges, he succeeded admirably in pulling off a wide variety of creative and production tasks: director, executive producer, actor, script translator (from the original English), and cast and crew coordination.
Abhijeet’s creative and managerial talents eventually got the film off the ground and completed within a very short span of time and with extremely limited resources.
Currently, Abhijeet Kumar runs his own film production company ‚ DIA Entertainment ‚ and is working towards his next film. He is planning to produce a film “Nalanda” based on the massacre by Muslim invaders at the ancient Nalanda University.
The other Indian films showcased at Cannes this year are - Hrithik Roshan starrer Kites, Teen Patti featuring Amitabh Bachchan as a math professor and Aamir Khan’s hit film Taare Zameen Par among others.link
Mauritius PM Congratulates Nitish Kumar
Nitish Kumar, the Bihar Chief Minister, on Monday, received a call from Navin Chandra Ramgoolam, the Prime Minister of Mauritius, congratulating him on the NDA's spectacular victory in the Lok Sabha elections in Bihar.
Ramgoolam, whose ancestral roots are in Harigaon in Siwan district, told the Chief Minister that the latest election result in Bihar was the fruit of his hard work and it was understandable that his alliance in the state received the majority of the vote validating his commitment to the cause of Bihar, sources in the Janata Dal (U) said.
It may be recalled that the Mauritius Prime Minister, at the invitation of Kumar, visited Bihar in February of 2008.
During his 3-day visit to his ancestral state, Ramgoolam unveiled a statue of his father and the first Prime Minister of Mauritius Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam near Gandhi Maidan in Patna and also visited his ancestral village of Harigaon in Siwan district.
"Just like Mauritius, I am confident Bihar would also prosper in the able hands of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar," Ramgoolam had said during his trip to Bihar.link
Ramgoolam, whose ancestral roots are in Harigaon in Siwan district, told the Chief Minister that the latest election result in Bihar was the fruit of his hard work and it was understandable that his alliance in the state received the majority of the vote validating his commitment to the cause of Bihar, sources in the Janata Dal (U) said.
It may be recalled that the Mauritius Prime Minister, at the invitation of Kumar, visited Bihar in February of 2008.
During his 3-day visit to his ancestral state, Ramgoolam unveiled a statue of his father and the first Prime Minister of Mauritius Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam near Gandhi Maidan in Patna and also visited his ancestral village of Harigaon in Siwan district.
"Just like Mauritius, I am confident Bihar would also prosper in the able hands of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar," Ramgoolam had said during his trip to Bihar.link
Bihar matric results tomorrow
The results of the matriculation exams will be announced tomorrow by Bihar’s Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Hari Narayan Singh.
Official sources said the results would be available at schools. Students could access the results along with the marks on the Internet.
The results will be available at Bihar School Examination Board website http://biharboard.bih.nic.in
Official sources said the results would be available at schools. Students could access the results along with the marks on the Internet.
The results will be available at Bihar School Examination Board website http://biharboard.bih.nic.in
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