The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Monday threatened to paralyse medical services in Bihar if the two doctors who were allegedly abducted nearly forty-eight hours ago in the state’s Samastipur district were not found soon.
The association also protested against the “police’s failure” in recovering the abducted doctors.
A.K. Sahay and Santosh Kumar, doctors who work at a nursing home located in a village, went missing late Saturday evening from Sahpur Patauri in Samastipur. They were abducted when they were out on work, a police official said.
“Police have failed to make any breakthrough, though two suspected people involved in the abduction were detained,” an official in Samastipur said.
A hunt has been launched to find the doctors after their motorcycles were recovered and investigations have begun in the case, he added.
“A special police team has been constituted to look into the case,” Deputy Inspector General (Darbhanga range) Baldeo Prasad said.
Their families suspect that both were kidnapped over a property dispute.
Abductions are common in Bihar for ransom and revenge. According to police sources here, 45 people have been abducted for ransom in the state from January to July this year. Last year, 32 people were kidnapped during the same period.
Nearly four months ago, the Bihar government said that between 2001 and 2009, 2,167 children had been kidnapped. Of them, 1,752 were found and 75 killed while the fate of 340 was still unknown.link
Sunday 1 November 2009
Monday 19 October 2009
Child dies, 100 ill after eating prasad in Bihar
A child died and over 100 people fell ill after eating adulterated sweets at the inauguration of a godown of the Primary Agriculture Cooperative Society in Bhojpur district.
"The sweet, cooked with adulterated flour and vanaspati distributed after puja during the inauguration, led to the child's death and over 100 people to fall ill yesterday," district magistrate Safeena AN Said said today.
The affected people complained of nausea, uneasiness, abdominal pain, while scores fainted at the function in Banauli under Narayanpur police station in the district, official sources said. The district magistrate said she had ordered an investigation. link
"The sweet, cooked with adulterated flour and vanaspati distributed after puja during the inauguration, led to the child's death and over 100 people to fall ill yesterday," district magistrate Safeena AN Said said today.
The affected people complained of nausea, uneasiness, abdominal pain, while scores fainted at the function in Banauli under Narayanpur police station in the district, official sources said. The district magistrate said she had ordered an investigation. link
Saturday 17 October 2009
Post Offices, SBI to sell police job forms in Bihar
Post Offices and State Bank of India branches will sell the forms related to police jobs in Bihar, police officials said today.
“We have disassociated ourself from the selling of police job forms. Now, these forms will be sold through post offices and SBI branches functioning in Bihar”, a senior police department official said today.
The official said the new arrangement would help thousands of job seekers making rounds of police offices to procure job forms.
“The syllabus for the written test is ready and the job forms will be available there within 10 days”, Bihar’s director general of police Anand Shankar said.
Officials said about 3,000 persons are to be recruited to fill the vacant posts in the police department.
The recruitment process will start from next month, they said.link
“We have disassociated ourself from the selling of police job forms. Now, these forms will be sold through post offices and SBI branches functioning in Bihar”, a senior police department official said today.
The official said the new arrangement would help thousands of job seekers making rounds of police offices to procure job forms.
“The syllabus for the written test is ready and the job forms will be available there within 10 days”, Bihar’s director general of police Anand Shankar said.
Officials said about 3,000 persons are to be recruited to fill the vacant posts in the police department.
The recruitment process will start from next month, they said.link
Friday 16 October 2009
France may fund Bihar's hydel project
France has evinced its interest in funding Bihar's proposed multi-purpose 126 MW hydel power project, the biggest one in the state, a senior government official said.
"France has shown its interest in external funding for the Dagmara project in Supaul district...We have sent the detailed project report through state's finance department to the Government of France for consideration," Principal Secretary (energy) Ravikant told.
The project is planned for irrigation, flood protection and power generation of 126 MW, he said.
A French delegation had inspected the project site.
The French Development Agency was expected to fund 70 to 80 per cent of the estimated Rs 693 crore, Ravikant said.
Earlier, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) was to fund the project, but it was later decided to hand it over to France.link
"France has shown its interest in external funding for the Dagmara project in Supaul district...We have sent the detailed project report through state's finance department to the Government of France for consideration," Principal Secretary (energy) Ravikant told.
The project is planned for irrigation, flood protection and power generation of 126 MW, he said.
A French delegation had inspected the project site.
The French Development Agency was expected to fund 70 to 80 per cent of the estimated Rs 693 crore, Ravikant said.
Earlier, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) was to fund the project, but it was later decided to hand it over to France.link
Bihar to launch E-shakti scheme
Aiming to root out corruption in implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) in Bihar, the state government has decided to cover one million beneficiaries under the e-shakti scheme by March 31, 2010.
"In the very first year, the project, with the help of service provider Smaartech Technologies limited, will cover beneficiaries from Patna district. This will entail issuing 10 lakh E-shakti cards in over 1300 villages spread over 23 blocks in the district," Smaartech Director (Bihar) B K Mishra told the news agency.
Mishra said subsequently over the next four years, the project would be set up in the remaining 37 districts to cover 24 million NREGA beneficiaries in approximately 39,000 villages spread over 534 blocks.
In total, about three crore E-shakti cards would be distributed under the state pilot project in Patna which was in the process being implemented early.
Smart cards have already been processed for job card holders of village Baritangrila and the rest of the beneficiaries will be issued their personalised E-shakti cards once the smart card distribution starts in a few months.
E-shakti project is an initiative by the department of rural development, government of Bihar, inspired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for successful implementation of NREGA in the state.
Since there had been allegations that the NREGA is beset with corruption and there is no proper method of work measurement, taking attendance and disbursing wages, the ICT (Informatiion and Communication Technology) has been used to rid NREGA of corruption charges, official sources said.
The E-shakti would also facilitate registration process of individuals which includes recording of personal information as well as biometric information (photograph and all 10 fingerprints), Mishra said.
A separate bank account is being opened for each adult member of the household.
The E-shakti project was inaugurated on February 24, 2009 in the Paliganj block of Patna district by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and till now around 8.76 lakh village labourers of 14 blocks have been registered under it.
An estimated 3000 smart cards have already been distributed.
Mishra said the information technology application was introduced to bring effective coordination in execution, better targeting of beneficiaries, establishing transparency and accountability, e-based grievance redressal mechanism and establishing state of art financial management systems.
All these together constitute a complete technological solution for the preparation and execution of poverty alleviation programmes proposed by the Department of Rural Development in Bihar, Mishra said.
The project, when fully becoming functional, would empower the rural economy of the state.
Mishra said Bihar thus became the first state in the country to start a call centre under E-shakti project dedicated exclusively to NREGA.
Chief Minister Kumar had on October 14 last inaugurated the E-shakti call centre at 538, AG Place, West Boring Canal Road, Patna, by dialing a toll free number 18003452244 and asking a few questions regarding E-shakti.
He said Smaartech has the expertise in making innovative effort for increased efficiency in e-governance projects country wide.
Kumar had expressed hope that the call centre would not restrict itself to only providing information and registering complaints but in future would enable beneficiaries to know as to where they could get their work done in respective areas. link
"In the very first year, the project, with the help of service provider Smaartech Technologies limited, will cover beneficiaries from Patna district. This will entail issuing 10 lakh E-shakti cards in over 1300 villages spread over 23 blocks in the district," Smaartech Director (Bihar) B K Mishra told the news agency.
Mishra said subsequently over the next four years, the project would be set up in the remaining 37 districts to cover 24 million NREGA beneficiaries in approximately 39,000 villages spread over 534 blocks.
In total, about three crore E-shakti cards would be distributed under the state pilot project in Patna which was in the process being implemented early.
Smart cards have already been processed for job card holders of village Baritangrila and the rest of the beneficiaries will be issued their personalised E-shakti cards once the smart card distribution starts in a few months.
E-shakti project is an initiative by the department of rural development, government of Bihar, inspired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for successful implementation of NREGA in the state.
Since there had been allegations that the NREGA is beset with corruption and there is no proper method of work measurement, taking attendance and disbursing wages, the ICT (Informatiion and Communication Technology) has been used to rid NREGA of corruption charges, official sources said.
The E-shakti would also facilitate registration process of individuals which includes recording of personal information as well as biometric information (photograph and all 10 fingerprints), Mishra said.
A separate bank account is being opened for each adult member of the household.
The E-shakti project was inaugurated on February 24, 2009 in the Paliganj block of Patna district by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and till now around 8.76 lakh village labourers of 14 blocks have been registered under it.
An estimated 3000 smart cards have already been distributed.
Mishra said the information technology application was introduced to bring effective coordination in execution, better targeting of beneficiaries, establishing transparency and accountability, e-based grievance redressal mechanism and establishing state of art financial management systems.
All these together constitute a complete technological solution for the preparation and execution of poverty alleviation programmes proposed by the Department of Rural Development in Bihar, Mishra said.
The project, when fully becoming functional, would empower the rural economy of the state.
Mishra said Bihar thus became the first state in the country to start a call centre under E-shakti project dedicated exclusively to NREGA.
Chief Minister Kumar had on October 14 last inaugurated the E-shakti call centre at 538, AG Place, West Boring Canal Road, Patna, by dialing a toll free number 18003452244 and asking a few questions regarding E-shakti.
He said Smaartech has the expertise in making innovative effort for increased efficiency in e-governance projects country wide.
Kumar had expressed hope that the call centre would not restrict itself to only providing information and registering complaints but in future would enable beneficiaries to know as to where they could get their work done in respective areas. link
Sunday 11 October 2009
First Children's Film Festival in Patna
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday inaugurated children's film festival at Mona Theater in Patna organized by the state Information and Public Relations department in coordination with the Children's Film Society of India.
The festival that will run until November 14 would feature a host of nationally and internationally acclaimed film for the younger audience and would be replayed in Gaya, Muzaffarpur, and Bhagalpur later next month.
Kumar, in the presence of hundreds of children, wished them success in future and urged them to grow up to be good citizens and contribute towards a better, developed Bihar.
Prior to the screening of the first movie, children associated with 'Kilkari' presented a short play 'Sheikh Chilli' that left the audience laughing aloud.
The Chief Minister announced a grant of Rs. 5 lakh for developing 'Kilkari' and suggested an annual award event for its young artists.
Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, in his address, lamented the decline – both in quantity and quality – in children's films saying the proliferation of television had resulted in the loss of interest in films.
"There used to be a certain pleasure in going to films with friends and family members and this film festival aims to revive that tradition," Modi said.
Information and Public Relations Minister Ramnath Thakur, department director Rajesh Bhushan and a number of senior bureaucrats were present on the occasion.link
The festival that will run until November 14 would feature a host of nationally and internationally acclaimed film for the younger audience and would be replayed in Gaya, Muzaffarpur, and Bhagalpur later next month.
Kumar, in the presence of hundreds of children, wished them success in future and urged them to grow up to be good citizens and contribute towards a better, developed Bihar.
Prior to the screening of the first movie, children associated with 'Kilkari' presented a short play 'Sheikh Chilli' that left the audience laughing aloud.
The Chief Minister announced a grant of Rs. 5 lakh for developing 'Kilkari' and suggested an annual award event for its young artists.
Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, in his address, lamented the decline – both in quantity and quality – in children's films saying the proliferation of television had resulted in the loss of interest in films.
"There used to be a certain pleasure in going to films with friends and family members and this film festival aims to revive that tradition," Modi said.
Information and Public Relations Minister Ramnath Thakur, department director Rajesh Bhushan and a number of senior bureaucrats were present on the occasion.link
RTI a tool in hands of aam-admi to fight red-tapism
To own a house was the dream of 70-year-old rickshaw puller Mazloom Nadaf which he nurtured throughout his life.
For once, he felt his wish will be realised when he was given Rs 25,000 for a house under Indira Awaas Yozna but little did he know that getting the money from Block Development Officer would be a tough task.
Nadaf, hailing from Madhubani district in Bihar, claims that he was asked to pay a bribe of Rs 5,000 to get the due amount under the scheme.
Four years ago, the Right to Information Act came into being and Nadaf utilised it to the fullest, an NGO that helps educate people on the RTI Act said.
Not only did he get the substantial amount without paying any bribe within 10 days of filing an application, but he also became one of the first persons from Bihar to reap the benefits of the Act.
Later, the remaining portion was also sent to him with which he managed to fulfil his dream of buying a house.
On the eve of the Act completing four years, many a common man like him find themselves empowered.
"Nadaf was the first RTI applicant from Bihar and today many have followed his footsteps. Most of the time you will find Nadaf transporting people who have problems, in his rickshaw. He carries them to some RTI activist," said Ashok Kumar Singh, a member of the NGO.
Manish Sisodiya, an RTI activist in Delhi said, "This is the power of RTI - even an ordinary rickshawala becomes as powerful as the member of Parliament."
In another case, villagers filed different RTI applications and have successfully brought eight villages under the count of the Census.
"Bhawanipur, Bichiya, Naibarti Tadiya, Kailash Nagar Dhakia, Dilshad Nagar, Gokulpur, Mehboobnagar and Kautarniya Ghat were never under the count of the Census. All development work was denied with the excuse that it was not in the map. People were devoid of school, clean drinking water, toilet and all development schemes of the government," Sisodia said.
"People living in this area were considered encroacher of land by the government. We had bright students in this area who got selected in Shastastra Seema Bal but were denied jobs as they did not have a residence proof. They could vote but they did not have a voter I-card," he said.
Finally, these eight villages are recognised and all come under the count of the Census, he said.
"It's a very difficult question. The point here is that it has started having an impact. So to say that it has delivered is going a little far. What I can say that it has started making a major impact on government's functioning," Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah said when asked whether the Act has delivered on the expectations of the common man.
For once, he felt his wish will be realised when he was given Rs 25,000 for a house under Indira Awaas Yozna but little did he know that getting the money from Block Development Officer would be a tough task.
Nadaf, hailing from Madhubani district in Bihar, claims that he was asked to pay a bribe of Rs 5,000 to get the due amount under the scheme.
Four years ago, the Right to Information Act came into being and Nadaf utilised it to the fullest, an NGO that helps educate people on the RTI Act said.
Not only did he get the substantial amount without paying any bribe within 10 days of filing an application, but he also became one of the first persons from Bihar to reap the benefits of the Act.
Later, the remaining portion was also sent to him with which he managed to fulfil his dream of buying a house.
On the eve of the Act completing four years, many a common man like him find themselves empowered.
"Nadaf was the first RTI applicant from Bihar and today many have followed his footsteps. Most of the time you will find Nadaf transporting people who have problems, in his rickshaw. He carries them to some RTI activist," said Ashok Kumar Singh, a member of the NGO.
Manish Sisodiya, an RTI activist in Delhi said, "This is the power of RTI - even an ordinary rickshawala becomes as powerful as the member of Parliament."
In another case, villagers filed different RTI applications and have successfully brought eight villages under the count of the Census.
"Bhawanipur, Bichiya, Naibarti Tadiya, Kailash Nagar Dhakia, Dilshad Nagar, Gokulpur, Mehboobnagar and Kautarniya Ghat were never under the count of the Census. All development work was denied with the excuse that it was not in the map. People were devoid of school, clean drinking water, toilet and all development schemes of the government," Sisodia said.
"People living in this area were considered encroacher of land by the government. We had bright students in this area who got selected in Shastastra Seema Bal but were denied jobs as they did not have a residence proof. They could vote but they did not have a voter I-card," he said.
Finally, these eight villages are recognised and all come under the count of the Census, he said.
"It's a very difficult question. The point here is that it has started having an impact. So to say that it has delivered is going a little far. What I can say that it has started making a major impact on government's functioning," Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah said when asked whether the Act has delivered on the expectations of the common man.
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