The Bihar government will launch a special scheme to make 40,000 prisoners in different jails across the state literate, officials said.
'A six month course for illiterate prisoners, aged between 15 to 50, would be launched on August 9 this year to make them literate,' official sources in the state human resource department said.
An official said initially two centres would be set up in each jail. Each centre would cater to 50 prisoners, while two literate prisoners would serve as teachers at each centre. The 'teachers' would be paid Rs.150 each daily.
Over 44,000 prisoners are lodged in 54 jails - six central jails, 33 district jails and 15 sub-jails - in the state, which only have the capacity to accommodate 24,500 prisoners.link
Friday 5 June 2009
Bihar denied chance to set up mega food parks
The Union food processing ministry has not included Bihar in the list of 10 states which would have mega food parks. The state has thus been denied the opportunity to establish two such parks at Muzaffarpur and Bhagalpur.
Union food processing minister Subodh Kant Sahay, during his tenure as the junior Union minister in the department, had announced at a state potato conference held at Patna in the mid-2008 that two mega food parks would be set up at Muzaffarpur and Bhagalpur with the support of the Centre.
The state NDA government had assigned the job of setting up two mega food parks to Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) right from conceptualisation to commissioning.
The state government had framed its food processing policy in December 2008 with a pledge to develop at least two mini food parks at Muzaffarpur and Bhagalpur. It had also announced a scheme for integrated development of the food processing sector.
In its food processing policy, the state government had said that the state has an excellent climate with fertile soil and abundant water for cultivation of a diverse range of food grains, fruits and vegetables. No wonder, the state is the largest producer of delicious litchi and nutritious makhana.
Sensing a political reason for non-inclusion of Bihar among the states to have mega food parks, deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi told that Bihar-born Subodh Kant Sahay was elected MP from Jharkhand and as a UPA minister, he included Jharkhand among the 10 states where mega food parks would be established.
Modi said that the Bihar government would renew its demand before the Centre for establishment of two mega food parks in the state.
IL&FS agronomist Amitabh Bhattacharya said the central scheme for setting up mega food parks was more lucrative as it had a provision for a grant of Rs 50 crore or 50 per cent of the total project, whichever is minimum, to the special purpose vehicle (SPV).
But the Bihar government, despite having less resources, has announced providing Rs 15 crore or 20 per cent of the total project cost, whichever is less, to the SPV under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode for setting up the mini food park.
At Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur district, a piece of land has been earmarked for setting up a mini food park, but Bihar Agro Products, which was selected as its SPV, does not have enough fund to go for it, Bhattacharya said.
On the other hand, land has not yet been made available at Muzaffarpur for the establishment of a mini food park, he said, adding that two industrialists engaged in food processing industry and K P S Keshri and Kedia brothers are interested in getting the job of the SPV, but they lack fund.
He said local entrepreneurs were initially urged to become SPV. Investors from other states would be interested only if the Centre includes Bihar under its lucrative grant for setting up mega food parks, he added. link
Union food processing minister Subodh Kant Sahay, during his tenure as the junior Union minister in the department, had announced at a state potato conference held at Patna in the mid-2008 that two mega food parks would be set up at Muzaffarpur and Bhagalpur with the support of the Centre.
The state NDA government had assigned the job of setting up two mega food parks to Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) right from conceptualisation to commissioning.
The state government had framed its food processing policy in December 2008 with a pledge to develop at least two mini food parks at Muzaffarpur and Bhagalpur. It had also announced a scheme for integrated development of the food processing sector.
In its food processing policy, the state government had said that the state has an excellent climate with fertile soil and abundant water for cultivation of a diverse range of food grains, fruits and vegetables. No wonder, the state is the largest producer of delicious litchi and nutritious makhana.
Sensing a political reason for non-inclusion of Bihar among the states to have mega food parks, deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi told that Bihar-born Subodh Kant Sahay was elected MP from Jharkhand and as a UPA minister, he included Jharkhand among the 10 states where mega food parks would be established.
Modi said that the Bihar government would renew its demand before the Centre for establishment of two mega food parks in the state.
IL&FS agronomist Amitabh Bhattacharya said the central scheme for setting up mega food parks was more lucrative as it had a provision for a grant of Rs 50 crore or 50 per cent of the total project, whichever is minimum, to the special purpose vehicle (SPV).
But the Bihar government, despite having less resources, has announced providing Rs 15 crore or 20 per cent of the total project cost, whichever is less, to the SPV under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode for setting up the mini food park.
At Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur district, a piece of land has been earmarked for setting up a mini food park, but Bihar Agro Products, which was selected as its SPV, does not have enough fund to go for it, Bhattacharya said.
On the other hand, land has not yet been made available at Muzaffarpur for the establishment of a mini food park, he said, adding that two industrialists engaged in food processing industry and K P S Keshri and Kedia brothers are interested in getting the job of the SPV, but they lack fund.
He said local entrepreneurs were initially urged to become SPV. Investors from other states would be interested only if the Centre includes Bihar under its lucrative grant for setting up mega food parks, he added. link
Task-force in every Bihar district to tackle crime
Alarmed by the sudden spurt in criminal activities in Bihar, the state police headquarters is setting up a task-force in all the districts to prevent such incidents.
"We have decided to constitute a special task-force in each district in the wake of the spurt in the incidents of abduction for ransom, bank robbery, cash loot and petty crime", top state officials said.
Fully equipped with modern facilities, the task-force, comprising station house officers (SHO’s) and efficient police officers, would deal with criminal gangs perpetrating abduction, contract killing, bank dacoity and road robbery, they said.
The task-force would work under the purview of superintendent of police of the respective districts.
The deputy inspector general of police has been asked to identify the gangs operating in their respective zones and engage the task-force personnel to attain the desired results, they added.
The security personnel involved in the task-force would also keep watch on the activities of the gang-lords running a crime syndicate from behind the bars, they said.link
"We have decided to constitute a special task-force in each district in the wake of the spurt in the incidents of abduction for ransom, bank robbery, cash loot and petty crime", top state officials said.
Fully equipped with modern facilities, the task-force, comprising station house officers (SHO’s) and efficient police officers, would deal with criminal gangs perpetrating abduction, contract killing, bank dacoity and road robbery, they said.
The task-force would work under the purview of superintendent of police of the respective districts.
The deputy inspector general of police has been asked to identify the gangs operating in their respective zones and engage the task-force personnel to attain the desired results, they added.
The security personnel involved in the task-force would also keep watch on the activities of the gang-lords running a crime syndicate from behind the bars, they said.link
Woman saves hundreds of dying trees in Bihar
A young woman has saved hundreds of trees in Bihar's East Champaran district by finding a cure for their ailment.
Kiran Kumari, a 19-year-old science student of Class 12, discovered a remedy that treated Seesam trees spread over about 600 acres. The trees - highly prized for their timber - regained instant health three years after they had been afflicted by a disease.
She is a resident of Manjhar village in East Champaran, about 200 km from here, and a farmer's daughter. Her efforts were recognised last year when she was awarded president's medal.
"Kiran's hard efforts to protect Seesam trees bore fruit as greenery was back on trees and smile back on faces of people," said Maheshwar Singh, a villager.
"After experimenting with dozens of remedies to protect Seesam trees, I discovered a simple but effective remedy to save these trees afflicted by diseases. I treated the roots of the trees with a diluted solution of kerosene (50 ml kerosene with 10 litres of water) and painted the stems with lime solution mixed with tobacco," Kiran told.
Kiran plans to study environmental science and then to work for the protection of trees. "I love to devote my time to protect trees and greenery," she said. link
Kiran Kumari, a 19-year-old science student of Class 12, discovered a remedy that treated Seesam trees spread over about 600 acres. The trees - highly prized for their timber - regained instant health three years after they had been afflicted by a disease.
She is a resident of Manjhar village in East Champaran, about 200 km from here, and a farmer's daughter. Her efforts were recognised last year when she was awarded president's medal.
"Kiran's hard efforts to protect Seesam trees bore fruit as greenery was back on trees and smile back on faces of people," said Maheshwar Singh, a villager.
"After experimenting with dozens of remedies to protect Seesam trees, I discovered a simple but effective remedy to save these trees afflicted by diseases. I treated the roots of the trees with a diluted solution of kerosene (50 ml kerosene with 10 litres of water) and painted the stems with lime solution mixed with tobacco," Kiran told.
Kiran plans to study environmental science and then to work for the protection of trees. "I love to devote my time to protect trees and greenery," she said. link
Thursday 4 June 2009
JD(U) leader finds place in Limca Book of Records
Janata Dal (U) leader and a former MLC Ram Karan Pal has made it to the prestigious Limca Book of Record-2009 for creating a “national record” by publishing a book on the original news clippings about him. Pal has brought out a book on original news clippings on himself (in their original form) titled “Dr Ram Karan Pal: Vyaktitva Aur Vichar”. It was published in 2003. Pal is the only man from his shepherd community, an extremely backward caste (EBC) in Bihar, who became a legislator.
“Of the 1,100 copies published in the first edition, all were given out as complimentary copies to museums, libraries, universities, state legislative assemblies etc,” a certificate issued by the Limca Book of records, reads. Pal’s name feature on page nos. 107-08 of the latest edition of the record book which hit the stands across the country recently.
Pal said the recognition has encouraged him further to champion the cause of the downtrodden. “My goal in life is to struggle for the suffering humanity,” he said. Seventy-year-old Pal served as a member of Bihar Legislative Council from 1995 to 1997 and 1998 to 2004 when he was chief whip of the ruling RJD. He was also a member of various boards, councils and commission of various ministries of Central and state government.
Pal started collecting the news clippings published on him in different newspapers and magazines across the country ever since he joined mainstrean politics. In 2003, he got them compiled and published a book which turned out to be only one of its kind in the country. “It was, indeed, a painstaking effort,” Pal said.
During his long political career, Pal was jailed thrice as political prisoner and was member of various committees of Bihar Legislative Council and different political parties. He also served as chairman of Bihar State Hydel Power Corporation from 2003-05. Several leaders, intellectuals and social and cultural organisations have congratulated Pal on his achievement.link
“Of the 1,100 copies published in the first edition, all were given out as complimentary copies to museums, libraries, universities, state legislative assemblies etc,” a certificate issued by the Limca Book of records, reads. Pal’s name feature on page nos. 107-08 of the latest edition of the record book which hit the stands across the country recently.
Pal said the recognition has encouraged him further to champion the cause of the downtrodden. “My goal in life is to struggle for the suffering humanity,” he said. Seventy-year-old Pal served as a member of Bihar Legislative Council from 1995 to 1997 and 1998 to 2004 when he was chief whip of the ruling RJD. He was also a member of various boards, councils and commission of various ministries of Central and state government.
Pal started collecting the news clippings published on him in different newspapers and magazines across the country ever since he joined mainstrean politics. In 2003, he got them compiled and published a book which turned out to be only one of its kind in the country. “It was, indeed, a painstaking effort,” Pal said.
During his long political career, Pal was jailed thrice as political prisoner and was member of various committees of Bihar Legislative Council and different political parties. He also served as chairman of Bihar State Hydel Power Corporation from 2003-05. Several leaders, intellectuals and social and cultural organisations have congratulated Pal on his achievement.link
Impostors appearing for CPMT exam arrested
Aliganj police arrested five persons who were appearing in CPMT examination in the name of other people here on Thursday. Those nabbed identified themselves as Amit Kumar Koniyar, Sudhir, Jitendra Pal Singh, Jitendra Kumar Sharma and Satyendra Kumar. All of them were nabbed from Kendriya Vidyalaya and Public Service Commission.
During the initial interrogation from them police came to know that all of them hailed from a different city and had no connection with each other. Amit is from Motihari in Bihar, Sudhir from Khatripur in Ghosi Mau, Jitendra Pal Singh from Jhansi, Hitendra Kumar Sharma from Banda and Satyendra from Kheri in Lakh Sarai of Bihar.
Police said that substantial details about how Amit committed the crime was known but investigations were on with regards to the involvement of others in the similar crime.
ASP and circle officer (CO) Aliganj, Shalabh Mathur said that Amit was appearing in the examination in place of Vijay Kumar of Jaunpur district. With regards to the family background of Amit, Shalabh added that he was the son of a farmer and last year had cleared the examination of CET Karnataka. Since his family is financially weak he could not pay the fees of the institute in which he got the admission.
Coincidentally he met a boy, Deepu in Patna who told him that if he appears for the medical entrance examination in place of his friend, Vijay Kumar, he would pay him Rs 1.50 lakh in order to complete his studies.
The sum promised to be paid was to be delivered only on the condition if the impostor cleared the examination. Amit left Bihar from Shramjeevi Express two days ago and then after collecting the admit card from Vijay came to Lucknow to sit for the test.
It was during the checking when the photograph on the admit card which was of Amit did not match the photograph with the authorities which was of Vijay. Amit confessed his crime in front of the Aliganj police but claimed that he committed the crime for the first time and had no idea if Deepu and Vijay had committed the crime previously too.
About the arrest of the other four, police said that investigations were on but they were initially taken into custody as they could not give satisfactory answers to the authorities concerned with regards to marks obtained in intermediate examination.
Shalabh Mathur said they were waiting for an official complaint from the medical authorities to come out with some thing substantial with regards to remaining four in custody.link
During the initial interrogation from them police came to know that all of them hailed from a different city and had no connection with each other. Amit is from Motihari in Bihar, Sudhir from Khatripur in Ghosi Mau, Jitendra Pal Singh from Jhansi, Hitendra Kumar Sharma from Banda and Satyendra from Kheri in Lakh Sarai of Bihar.
Police said that substantial details about how Amit committed the crime was known but investigations were on with regards to the involvement of others in the similar crime.
ASP and circle officer (CO) Aliganj, Shalabh Mathur said that Amit was appearing in the examination in place of Vijay Kumar of Jaunpur district. With regards to the family background of Amit, Shalabh added that he was the son of a farmer and last year had cleared the examination of CET Karnataka. Since his family is financially weak he could not pay the fees of the institute in which he got the admission.
Coincidentally he met a boy, Deepu in Patna who told him that if he appears for the medical entrance examination in place of his friend, Vijay Kumar, he would pay him Rs 1.50 lakh in order to complete his studies.
The sum promised to be paid was to be delivered only on the condition if the impostor cleared the examination. Amit left Bihar from Shramjeevi Express two days ago and then after collecting the admit card from Vijay came to Lucknow to sit for the test.
It was during the checking when the photograph on the admit card which was of Amit did not match the photograph with the authorities which was of Vijay. Amit confessed his crime in front of the Aliganj police but claimed that he committed the crime for the first time and had no idea if Deepu and Vijay had committed the crime previously too.
About the arrest of the other four, police said that investigations were on but they were initially taken into custody as they could not give satisfactory answers to the authorities concerned with regards to marks obtained in intermediate examination.
Shalabh Mathur said they were waiting for an official complaint from the medical authorities to come out with some thing substantial with regards to remaining four in custody.link
Bihar govt works on 'Sahabhagi' model of development
The Bihar government during the last three years has ensured construction of at least 54,000 school buildings by giving funds worth Rs 3 lakh each to school committees comprising of parents of the children studying in these schools.
“We have not only incorporated the principles of ‘Sahabhagi’ in our party JD(U)’s manifesto but our government is also following them in its actions,” chief minister Nitish Kumar told a Times Foundation delegation which delivered him a letter from The Times of India Group chairman Indu Jain at his residence here on Thursday.
Congratulating Kumar on adopting the concept of ‘Sahabhagi’, an initiative launched by Times Foundation to promote inclusive governance by involving citizens in the administrative decision-making process, the letter said the JD(U) move also manifested itself clearly in people’s verdict during just-concluded parliamentary elections in favour of development with pro-people policies gaining the predominance.
“The entire nation today looks at Bihar as a state deeply engaged in building a sustainable model of development through partnered approach of its government with the people,” the letter read and added the ‘Sahabhagi’ model of working with the people will go a long way in building a dependable and transparent support system for inclusive growth in the state through inclusive governance and people’s cooperation.
Kumar said his government is executing programmes with direct participation of people. “By ensuring that every family has a member in the village-level Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS), which were earlier used to be run by a select group, we are trying to ensure a positive engagement between the people and the power,” he said.
The CM was informed that as part of the ‘Sahabhagi’ initiative, Times Foundation in collaboration with state governments was working in education, health, environment and disaster management areas in places like Delhi, Mumbai, Tamil Nadu and Jammu & Kashmir.
“Public participation is showing encouraging results in Bihar, too. This has also minimized cost on execution and checked pilferage,” Kumar said. Earlier, the delegation called on deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, who also reiterated the state government’s commitment to promoting ‘Sahabhagi’ principles.
Later, an interactive session was held on ‘Sahabhagi: An instrument to bring people and power together’ at ADRI. Jointly organized by ADRI and Art of Living, the meet was attended by the city’s intelligentsia. Those present included ADRI member secretary Shaibal Gupta, senior bureaucrats Anup Mukherjee and Manoj Srivastava, CII’s Bihar chapter chairman Satyajit Kumar Singh and AoL’s Indu Sinha.link
“We have not only incorporated the principles of ‘Sahabhagi’ in our party JD(U)’s manifesto but our government is also following them in its actions,” chief minister Nitish Kumar told a Times Foundation delegation which delivered him a letter from The Times of India Group chairman Indu Jain at his residence here on Thursday.
Congratulating Kumar on adopting the concept of ‘Sahabhagi’, an initiative launched by Times Foundation to promote inclusive governance by involving citizens in the administrative decision-making process, the letter said the JD(U) move also manifested itself clearly in people’s verdict during just-concluded parliamentary elections in favour of development with pro-people policies gaining the predominance.
“The entire nation today looks at Bihar as a state deeply engaged in building a sustainable model of development through partnered approach of its government with the people,” the letter read and added the ‘Sahabhagi’ model of working with the people will go a long way in building a dependable and transparent support system for inclusive growth in the state through inclusive governance and people’s cooperation.
Kumar said his government is executing programmes with direct participation of people. “By ensuring that every family has a member in the village-level Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS), which were earlier used to be run by a select group, we are trying to ensure a positive engagement between the people and the power,” he said.
The CM was informed that as part of the ‘Sahabhagi’ initiative, Times Foundation in collaboration with state governments was working in education, health, environment and disaster management areas in places like Delhi, Mumbai, Tamil Nadu and Jammu & Kashmir.
“Public participation is showing encouraging results in Bihar, too. This has also minimized cost on execution and checked pilferage,” Kumar said. Earlier, the delegation called on deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, who also reiterated the state government’s commitment to promoting ‘Sahabhagi’ principles.
Later, an interactive session was held on ‘Sahabhagi: An instrument to bring people and power together’ at ADRI. Jointly organized by ADRI and Art of Living, the meet was attended by the city’s intelligentsia. Those present included ADRI member secretary Shaibal Gupta, senior bureaucrats Anup Mukherjee and Manoj Srivastava, CII’s Bihar chapter chairman Satyajit Kumar Singh and AoL’s Indu Sinha.link
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