Smoking can kill 40 million more people
06 Oct 2011
 

A new research says that smoking could cause 40 million excess deaths among smokers, who also suffer from tuberculosis (TB), by 2050.

Once smokers develop the disease, they are more likely to have a consequence that can be fatal. It means that smoking can single-handedly undermine the goal to reduce TB mortality by half between 1990 and 2015, says the research.

The study, led by Sanjay Basu from the University of California, San Francisco, used a maths model to determine the effect of smoking on future TB rates, the BMJ (British Medical Journal) reports. It shows that from 2010 to 2050 smoking could lead to 40 million excess TB deaths worldwide - from 61 to 101 million.

They also conclude that if current smoking trends continue, the number of excess TB cases could rise from 256 to 274 million - 18 million new cases in total.

Nearly one-fifth of the world`s population smokes and that most cigarettes are smoked in countries with high TB prevalence. Given this, the authors wanted to predict how much impact smoking will have on future TB rates.

To read more, visit: http://zeenews.india.com/news/health/health-news/smoking-can-kill-40-mn-more-people_14046.html

Beti Bachao Abhiyan to begin in Madhya Pradesh
05 Oct 2011
 

'Beti Bachao Abhiyan' will soon be launched in Madhya Pradesh. An oath will be taken in all districts of the State for saving daughters.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that Beti Bachao Abhiyan will be turned into a mass movement. It will be attended by representatives of various religions, castes and social, cultural and business organisations apart from social and political workers. All preparations pertaining to the launch of the campaign have been completed at CM House.

In his message, the CM expressed the utmost need to change the mindset of people towards preference of having boys over girls. The Chief Minister warned that if the mindset did not change, the situation may become ugly in future.

Chouhan said it was sad to note that the sex ratio was dismal among the rich, the urban dwellers and the educated while it was good among the poor, rural dwellers and the uneducated.

To read more, visit: http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/11210-mp-cm-to-conduct-beti-bachao-vow.html

Ban junk food in educational institutes: Delhi HC
05 Oct 2011
 

Concerned by the rising health problems among youngsters due to faulty food preferences, the Delhi High Court has asked the central government to ensure the complete ban of carbonated beverages and junk food from school and college canteens.

Giving clear instructions to the govt, the court said that serious and effective steps should be taken to ensure that the sale and supply of junk food is completely banned near the educational institutions.

Earlier, in an affidavit before a division bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the health ministry had mentioned that they wrote to all states and union territories to consider issuing instructions for withdrawing carbonated beverages and junk food from school and college canteens as it is badly affecting the heath of children consuming it. But the court was not satisfied with that and asked the govt to file an action taken report by November 2. It also asked the central government about ways to create awareness among the young generation about the ill effects of consuming junk food.

The court is hearing a petition filed by an NGO Uday Foundation seeking a ban on the sale of junk food and carbonated drinks within a 1,500 feet radius of schools.

To read more, visit: http://zeenews.india.com/news/health/healthy-eating/ban-junk-food-from-school-college-canteens-court_14050.html

Uttarakhand lab sealed over animal experiments
05 Oct 2011
 

A lab in the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Uttarakhand, was sealed by the state’s forest department and an action was taken against the head of department after 28 snakes, three scorpions and a bat were found dead in the lab.

A 14-feet-long king cobra, weighing around 8 kgs, was recently killed and stored in the lab among other dead snakes that included species like the cobras, saw scaled and Russell’s viper, common kraits and some non-venomous ones.

The forest department acted following information provided by People for Animals (PFA) Uttarakhand which has exposed major violations of rules in the animal experimentation carried out at the institute lab in the past. According to PFA's Uttarakhand state secretary, Gauri Maulekhi, the reptiles were discovered in the lab of the Forensics and Toxicology department at HIMS following a tip off received from sources in the institute. However the institute authorities claimed that they took the reptiles from a villager who brought the creatures to them. This action is a clear violation of Wildlife Protection Act Section 9 for which the head of the department should be charged. The institute did not maintain any records of the purchases.

In the past as well, PFA has documented mistreatment of animals and blatant violations of rules in the HIMS’ animal housing facility that resulted in a Government Order being sent to the institute to suspend all animal experiments.

To read more, visit: http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/11211-uttarakhand-lab-in-dock-over-animal-experiments.html

Maharashtra govt issues ration card to sex workers
04 Oct 2011
 

Ration cards were distributed among 50 sex workers from Mumbai’s red light area by Maharashtra govt, which probably will kick start the drive in the whole state.

The cards will have the name of the woman concerned and her children. However the profession would not be listed on the ration card. The orange cards would entitle women to 10 kg of wheat at Rs.7.60, 5 kg of rice at Rs.9.20, one liter of palm oil and around two to three liters of kerosene.

Referring to the recent Supreme Court order to provide ration cards to sex workers, Maharashtra had decided to implement it even before the apex court's directions, said Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anil Deshmukh. He said that all the anomalies would be removed and every commercial sex worker would get a ration card.

Ration card would certainly help these women in procuring other important identity cards and will enable them to have bank accounts, which earlier was denied due to absence of an authentic identity proof. Ration officials have relaxed norms for sex workers and they will be visiting their places of stay to verify if they are staying and cooking there. On that basis they would be allotted ration cards.

To read more, visit: http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article2509794.ece

India’s first sign language training centre by IGNOU
04 Oct 2011
 

India’s first sign language centre is to be started by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). The Indian Sign Language Research and Training Center (ISLRTC) was inaugurated at its main campus in Delhi. The centre has been set up with the help of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

The centre will be a great relief for the hearing impaired community in India as the school is first to be initiated in the nation. It is an exclusive education project for teaching, learning, training and capacity building for the vast deaf population. It will be a full time teaching and training centre for the Indian sign language combined with distance teaching/ learning opportunities.

"This research centre is the first of its kind in India with centers attached to IGNOU,” said Prof. PR Ramanujam, Pro VC, of IGNOU before adding that research and documentation will back up the intensive training being imparted at the centers.

To read more, visit: http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/10944-ignou-sets-up-countrys-first-sign-language-training-centre.html

Multi-user smart ID cards by 2013
03 Oct 2011
 

Govt is working to issue multi-purpose smart identity cards to all adult citizens by the end of 2013, and claims that the move could result in cost savings for the exchequer.

As per the Registrar General and Census Commissioner (RGCC) officials, proposal has been made under Citizenship Act amendment made in 2003. The Registrar General of India has proposed to issue smart identity cards to all citizens of the country above 18 years, which is under consideration by the Department of Expenditure.

Advantage of the card is that it can be used in the place of ration, toll and election cards, among others, resulting in lower costs for the government, as one card could serve various purposes rather than separate ones for each service.

As per the records, adults constitute approximately 65 per cent of the country's population and the government estimates that each smart card will cost about Rs 50.

Among other things, the proposed smart identity cards will carry Aadhar numbers issued by the Unique Identity Authority of India (UIDAI), photographs, biometric data like finger prints and an iris scan of the card holder on an electronic chip.

To read more, visit: http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/govt-planning-multi-use-smart-id-cards-by-2013_734621.html

MNREGA execution 'patchy': Jairam
03 Oct 2011
 

Terming the implementation of UPA's flagship programme MNREGA as "patchy", Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has expressed concern at leakage of funds meant for the scheme but hoped that the proposed 'NREGA 2.0' will deal with the problems in the coming times. He said while he is a strong supporter of MNREGA, "we also recognise that there are very serious issues in its implementation which is detracting from its effectiveness which needs to be addressed sooner rather than later."

"Quality of the community assets (which the scheme seeks to create) leaves a lot to be desired. There are of course the usual stories we read about in the Indian press about leakages of funds," he said at a programme organised by the Public Diplomacy Division of the MEA. He said in some states "The money that was meant for NREGA has been diverted for purchase of Boleros and Pajeros." He said the recently unveiled NREGA 2.0 could remove the shortcomings of NREGA 1.0 in the coming days when it is implemented in parts.

But Ramesh insisted that the programme was not faulty but needed greater planning at the grass-roots level. The Minister said 'NREGA 1.0' has captured people's imaginatiopn in different parts of the country and it has increased agricultural wage rates and it has reduced migration. He said the programme has also created "community assets" in the form of water bodies.

He said the recently unveiled NREGA 2.0 could remove the shortcomings of NREGA 1.0 in the coming days when it is implemented in parts. But he stressed that no legislative amendments required its implementations and a series of executive orders from Centre and states was all it needed.

To read more, visit: http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/ramesh-calls-mnrega-execution-patchy_734681.html

Israel 'increasingly isolated' in Middle East: US
03 Oct 2011
 

The Arab Spring has left Israel "increasingly isolated," the US defence secretary said as he arrived in Tel Aviv on Monday, warning military might could not make up for a weakened diplomatic position.

Speaking to reporters on his plane before landing in Israel on a Middle East tour, Leon Panetta said it was key for Israel to shore up its ties with Egypt and other regional nations that had proved valuable partners in the past. "There's not much question in my mind that they maintain that (military) edge. But the question you have to ask is is it enough to maintain a military edge, if you're isolating yourself in the diplomatic arena?" Panetta said. "At this dramatic time in the Middle East, when there have been so many changes, it's not a good situation for Israel to become increasingly isolated. And that's what's happening," he said.

Panetta, who is due to meet Israeli and Palestinian leaders on Monday before heading to Egypt and a NATO session in Brussels this week, said Israel needed to repair diplomatic ties with countries such as Egypt and Turkey and that Washington was ready to help. "I think for the security of that region, it's really important that we do everything possible to try help them re-establish relations with countries like Turkey and with Egypt," said Panetta. With the end of Hosni Mubarak's rule in Egypt and popular unrest elsewhere casting doubt on the premises underlying Israel's security, Panetta said Israeli leaders were fully aware of the difficult challenge they faced.

To read more, visit: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jcerR3-DML1hS8IEDDcybl7843BQ?docId=CNG.c5032e99f12554c27d6870277cc274ab.291

Biotech bill against the spirit of Gandhi: Swaminathan
03 Oct 2011
 

On the 142nd birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, noted agricultural scientist M S Swaminathan told The Times of India that the proposed Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) bill is against the spirit of Gandhi and decentralised governance.

"The bill has a single-window clearance for the release of genetically modified crops. Unlike the National Biodiversity Act, the BRAI bill does not consult with people at the panchayat level," said Swaminathan who proposed in 2003 the idea of an autonomous and professionally led body for assessing the safety of genetically modified crops.

The Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India bill that is to be tabled at the winter session of the Parliament this year will approve research and commercial release of genetically modified crops. The body will be a regulatory regime for modern technology in the field of agriculture, environment and pharmaceuticals. Though based originally on M S Swaminathan's idea, the bill was reworked in 2008.

Speaking at a meeting organised by the National Biodiversity Authority in Chennai on Sunday, Swaminathan said Gandhi is unexpectedly gaining relevance in today's society "Gandhi believed that 'poorna swaraj' can be achieved only with 'gram swaraj,'" he said. "We have 1.5 lakh varieties of rice and this is because of the knowledge that our farmers, tribals and adivasis have. We need to protect them. We should see ourselves as trustees of nature, the wealth we are born with," he said.

And this, according to Balakrishnan Pisupati, the chairman of National Biodiversity Authority, is the essence of the Biological Diversity Act. "The act is about managing resources at the panchayat level making it sustainable and also securing rural lives," he said. Pisupati said that preparations for next year's Conference of Parties to the Convention on Bio Diversity in Hyderabad is in full swing. Following the conference in Nagoya, Japan last year, 193 countries, representatives from various UN agencies, NGOs and environmentalists will attend the conference to be held between October 1 and 19, 2012.

To read more, visit: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/-Biotech-bill-against-the-spirit-of-Gandhi-M-S-Swaminathan/articleshow/10213483.cms

Gold mine town Raichur has maximum malnutrition deaths
03 Oct 2011
 

Malnutrition has killed almost 2,700 children under the age of six since 2009 and as many 4,531 children are underfed in Raichur district of Karnataka, says the Women and Child welfare department. The irony of the situation is that Raichur is home to India's only active gold mine - Hutti mines and still penury is killing thousands in the district.

Malnutrition has reached epidemic proportions in villages of Deodurg and Manvi taluks in the Raichur district. According to the govt data, 2,689 children have died since 2009 due to malnutrition, of which 811 died in 2009 while the number went up to 1,233 in 2010. As many as 645 such deaths have been recorded till August 2011. Malnourishment is so acute in Raichur that the district is at the bottom of the 30 districts of the state in terms of human development index. Deaths due to hunger have become common to every household in Raichur. The Data also shows that 78,366 children are malnourished in the district, of which 639 are severely malnourished.

Villagers have no access to clean drinking water, public distribution system or government job schemes in the area. Acute poverty, unemployment, poor income and lack of health services coupled with government's indifference and non implementation of NREGA have turned Raichur into a mini Somalia.

To read more, visit: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/malnutrition-death-in-karnataka-kids-die/1/153489.html

SC issues notice on framing Master Plan for Haridwar
03 Oct 2011
 

The Supreme Court has sought the response of Uttarakhand government on framing comprehensive rules for development of basic infrastructure in Haridwar in view of alleged lack of planning.

A bench headed by Justice Dalveer Bhandari issued notice to the State government and other authorities seeking their response on why they have not framed a new Master Plan for the city after the last one lapsed in 2001.

The court passed the order on a petition filed by a Haridwar resident Upendra Dutt Sharma pleading that there is a complete mess in the city due to lack of proper planning, influx of new vehicles and increased population in the pilgrim town. He pleaded that that Master Plan for the year 1985 to 2001 for the city of Haridwar came to an end and after that no Master Plan has been formulated for the city of Haridwar.

“Infrastructure of Haridwar has totally collapsed with the sharp rise in the population and number of vehicles plying in the city and there is apathy of the State government and the development authorities in providing a solution by means of planned development of the city to address the difficulties of the residents,” the petition said.

To read more, visit: http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article2508953.ece

Montek meets PM on poverty line issue
02 Oct 2011
 

Amid a raging controversy over the Rs. 32 per capita per day poverty line definition, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today and will clarify the panel’s stand on the issue tomorrow on Monday.

Mr Ahluwali, who returned from a 10-day foreign visit yesterday, met the Prime Minister today for the first time since the controversy erupted after an affidavit filed by the Plan panel in the Supreme Court.

Mr. Ahluwalia is believed to have discussed the fallout of the controversy relating to the affidavit, which said that persons consuming items worth more than Rs. 32 per day in urban areas (Rs. 26 in rural areas) are not poor, with the Prime Minister.

As per the affidavit, a family of five spending less than Rs. 4,824 (at June, 2011, prices) in urban areas will fall in the BPL (Below Poverty Line) category. The expenditure limit for a family in rural areas has been fixed at Rs. 3,905. The number of poor entitled to BPL benefits, as per the affidavit, has been estimated at 40.74 crore, as against 37.2 crore estimated at the time of accepting the Tendulkar Committee report.

Officials in the Planning Commission have said that providing benefits to more persons would defeat the purpose of the anti-poverty programme. Mr. Ahluwalia is also scheduled to meet Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh on Monday to discuss the issue.

To read more, visit: http://www.thehindu.com/news/article2506327.ece

Rivers in India are sewers: Jairam
02 Oct 2011
 

With India accounting for 58 per cent of all open defecations in the world, the government today sought active involvement of all parties concerned including women panchayat representatives to sensitise the people in creating awareness about public hygiene.

"On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, I would like to mention one such case which is a shame on all of us. No other country in the world where about 60 per cent women have to go to the field for open defecation," Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said in a function organised by the Hunger Project.

Terming the prevailing open defecation in many parts of the country as a "blot on India", Ramesh said this is an issue of public hygiene. "These women do not have access to hygiene. This is actually a very sad commentary on our society. We seem to be not doing much about it," the minister rued.

Referring to the Mahatma, he said Gandhiji had strived for transforming villages into 'nirmal grams' (village free from open defecation). "There are some states like Harayana, Sikkim, Maharashtra, Kerala where hygiene conditions exist but in other states it is not visible," Ramesh noted.

Terming the situation as "paradox", he said, "We prefer to remain clean and dump filth outside. This is a paradox -- individual hygiene and public filth. This is something that we should take up as a challenge. It is a challenge for political parties, the government and society also."

Describing the prevailing condition of rivers, he said, "Rivers are not rivers in India. Rivers have become sewers. The 500-km stretch of Ganga between Kannuaj and Varanasi is just sewer."

To read more, visit: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_rivers-in-india-are-sewers-jairam-ramesh_1594304

Higher education data from UGC surpass govt stats
02 Oct 2011
 

Though official figures show only a small percentage of Indians receiving higher education, the University Grants Commission (UGC) feels the numbers are much higher, closer to China’s.

So, while the ministry of human resource development estimates gross enrolment ratio (GER) at 15% by the end of the 11th Five-Year Plan, the UGC has measured it close to 20%. GER is an indicator of the actual number of students enrolled vis-a-vis the number of potential students.

“Our estimates show GER may have already touched 20%. The National Sample Survey Organisation data too show we are very close to this number. We have overachieved our target and at the current pace of expansion, we might hit 30% much before 2020, thanks to increased participation by the private sector,” UGC chairman Ved Prakash said. This means instead of trailing China (which has a GER of 22%) by a wide margin, India is close and catching up fast. Moreover, if higher education continues to expand at the current pace, the 30% target may be reached in five years, instead of 2020 as projected by the ministry. The UGC has cited NSSO’s 2007-08 survey which found GER crossed 17% to support its estimates.

To read more, visit: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Higher-education-data-from-UGC-surpass-govt-stats--near-China-s/854278/

Don't want to hold any post: Anna Hazare
02 Oct 2011
 

Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare has clarified he does not have desire to hold any post as it would not be possible for him to continue with the work he is doing at present. "I don't desire to be the President. Whatever work is being done by me today won't be possible if I hold that post," Hazare said in an interview.

"Several people tried to persuade me to become an MLA or an MP or minister but I am not interested in these posts either. Whatever I can do today, I won't be able to do so after becoming a minister," he said.

Meanwhile, Hazare reiterated his decision to begin a hunger-strike on the last day of the winter session of Maharashtra Legislature if the Congress-led state government failed to bring in a legislation for a strong and effective Lokayukta in the state.

Maintaining that he was influenced by the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi and Swami Vivekanand, Hazare said he was carrying out his work based on ideologies of these two great persons.

To read more, visit: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/dont-want-to-hold-any-post-anna-hazare/189558-3.html

Dalai Lama to receive Mahatma Gandhi peace prize
02 Oct 2011
 

The Dalai Lama will receive the Mahatma Gandhi peace prize, the legendary Indian leader's granddaughter Ela Gandhi announced on Sunday on Gandhi Jayanti and asked the South African government to grant a visa to the Tibetan spiritual leader to visit the country.

The Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Peace and Reconciliation will be conferred on the 76-year-old Dalai Lama at the annual Satyagraha Awards to be held at the Durban City Hall next Sunday.

The event is one of several public invitations that the Dalai Lama has accepted during a proposed South African visit this week, amid concern that the South African government may not grant him a visa under Chinese pressure. The visit was prompted by an invitation from fellow Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu for the Dalai Lama to join him for his 80th birthday celebrations on Friday.

Denying that the visa was being delayed due to a visit to South Africa's biggest trading partner China by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe last week, South African authorities said the visa was still "under consideration" on Friday, less than a week before the start of his visit. The Dalai Lama had previously been refused a visa in 2009.

Expressing the hope that the visa would be issued in time, Ela Gandhi said the award would be given to a representative of the Dalai Lama in case of his absence. "Since he is a spiritual head and not a political one, there should be no problem issuing the Dalai Lama with a visa," she said.

To read more, visit: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/dalai-lama-to-receive-mahatma-gandhi-peace-prize/189529-2.html

Delhi govt puts blanket ban on plastic bags
02 Oct 2011
 

In a major environment-friendly move, the Delhi government will impose a blanket ban on usage and manufacturing of plastic bags in the next two months and those violating it could face imprisonment up to five years and fine of up to Rs 1 lakh or both.

The ban is being imposed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 under which storage as well as sale of plastic bags will also be considered an offence.

The government has issued a draft notification seeking suggestions as well as objections, if any, to the move from the stakeholders till November 20 following which a final notification will be issued imposing the ban.

According to the draft notification, no person including shopkeepers, vendors, wholesalers, retailers and hawkers will be allowed to sell, store or use plastic carry bags for supply of any goods.

"No person shall (be allowed) to manufacture, store, import, sell or transport any kind of plastic carry bags (including that of Poly Propelene, Nonwoven fabric type carry bags) in the whole of National Capital Territory of Delhi except for export purposes," the notification said. The use of plastic cover/pouch to pack magazines, invitation cards, greeting cards will also be prohibited.

However, the ban will not be applicable for containers used for packing food material, milk and "bags that constitute or form an integral part of the packaging in which goods are sealed prior to use", said the notification.

The Delhi Cabinet had in April decided to go for the blanket ban, considering that a ban imposed on use of plastic bags in January 2009, which did not include manufacturing activities, had not given the desired results.

To read more, visit: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/the-good-earth/Blanket-ban-on-plastic-bags-violators-to-face-5-year-jail/articleshow/10205382.cms

Minority panel blames Rajasthan govt for Bharatpur riots
02 Oct 2011
 

A new report by National Minority Commission has held Rajasthan government responsible for the Bharatpur riots.

In its report, the minority panel has said that the police and local administration were guilty of inaction and use of excessive force during the recent communal clashes in Bharatpur. An internal report of the congress party had also blamed the Rajasthan government for the Bharatpur riots that left 10 dead and 22 injured.

It said that police should have taken immediate action when a religious leader, a Maulvi, was first assaulted by the Gujjar community, which eventually led to the riots. The report also blamed the police for being partisan in dealing with the situation and criticised them for using excess force and firing at protesting crowds.

The Chief Minister's office, however, refused to comment on the report and their stand remains that they've suspended top officials and ordered a judicial probe. But authorities from the National Commission of Minorities feel it's more important to take confidence building measures.

To read more, visit: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/rajasthan-govt-to-be-blamed-for-bharatpur-riots/189553-3.html