First Anna and then Binayak make activists a happy lot. Last week Anna Hazare made the government blink on the Lokpal bill and now the apex court's bail to human rights activist from Chhatisgarh Binayak Sen has brought joy to the city's motley group of activists and campaigners.
Especially after Anna Hazare's anti corruption campaign that galvanized the entire nation and got the government to bend, social activists are seeing human rights activists Binayak Sen's release as a major morale booster for civil society, whose voice is now finally being heard.
" We welcome the Supreme Court's (SC) decision which was long awaited. Justice was delayed but not denied and we are happy about it," says Wilfred Dcosta, convenor, Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF). " It is a great victory for us because the issue galvanized the people who were in slumber and have now woken up. Though symbolic it has given us a moral boost and we will continue our fight against injustice," Dcosta adds. Goldwin Fonseca who actively campaigned for Sen's release on the Internet is jubilant.
"I welcome the SC's decision. The state was out of touch with its people and now they're being forced to listen. It's a people's democracy and not the government's and we are finally moving in that direction," he says. On being asked if it was too early to celebrate only symbolic victories he retorted, " It might be only symbolic but in a country like ours only symbolism has brought people together.
"Surprisingly, two common men, Anna Hazare and Binayak Sen have become rallying points for the people to stand for a cause, giving them much needed hope in these distressing times.
Explaining that Anna's movement was successful in mobilizing the large and often ignorant middle class, Surendra Srivastava, who heads the Loksatta campaign in Mumbai says, "Anna's movement proved that when the people unite for a specific issue, change can happen. The powerful can't ignore the people any more." He adds that Sen's bail has moved those who had lost faith in the system.
Showing posts with label Regional News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Regional News. Show all posts
Monday, April 18, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
25 Percent Thane Policemen Suffer From Heart Ailments
A medical check- up of women members of Thane police reveals that about 25 per cent of them run the risk of developing heart disease due to stress at work. The startling findings emerge from the medical check- up camp held earlier this month by a private Thane Hospital.
Of the 61 police constables who underwent the investigations, seven were detected with symptom of hypertension, high blood pressure and diabetes while five of them with symptoms of cardiac disease.
Dr Nirmal Jain, interventional cardiologist of Vertex Hospital, which conducted the check- up, said doctors found that 12 women constables ( out of 61 who underwent investigations) showed symptoms related to heart disease and are referred to further medical investigations.
Hectic duty schedules during elections, festivals and pressure of maintaining law and order are the causative factors for the rising stress levels in the police force, the findings revealed. When contacted, a top police officer said that the home ministry has taken note of the findings and that the needful would be done to reduce health risk for the cops.
Of the 61 police constables who underwent the investigations, seven were detected with symptom of hypertension, high blood pressure and diabetes while five of them with symptoms of cardiac disease.
Dr Nirmal Jain, interventional cardiologist of Vertex Hospital, which conducted the check- up, said doctors found that 12 women constables ( out of 61 who underwent investigations) showed symptoms related to heart disease and are referred to further medical investigations.
Hectic duty schedules during elections, festivals and pressure of maintaining law and order are the causative factors for the rising stress levels in the police force, the findings revealed. When contacted, a top police officer said that the home ministry has taken note of the findings and that the needful would be done to reduce health risk for the cops.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Veteran of abstract art gives Delhi a new show
It's an attitude towards work that is so typical of his generation of artists — an attitude that not just made them but also became the groundwork on which Indian art built its structure that we so love to admire today. Despite old age and despite not- somuch in pink- of- health, Jeram Patel, the 81- year- old renowned artist from Baroda is marking his presence daily at his ongoing exhibition at Triveni Kala Sangam. Even if it involves sniffling almost ceaselessly and sitting with feet stretched on another chair and covered in a blanket.
“ If work has to be done, it has to be done,” he says nonchalantly, making nothing of the special effort he is putting in to be present at his exhibition. That attitude, one can gather, must have been the reason why Patel was able to pursue art in the first place. “ My family didn’t appreciate me taking to painting but I knew that no matter what, I would continue to paint. After all, what is to be done, has to be done,” he repeats the refrain almost unconsciously.
What renders Patel’s art special is the fact that it was not just his love for paints and brushes that made him an artist but also his subconscious ideology to give a new, individual identity to the art of a new nation. Along with fellow artists such as N. S. Bendre, Sankho Chowdhuri and Jagdish Swaminathan, he was instrumental in founding the Group 1890, a collective that sought to free Indian art from the trappings of colonial influences.
“ Today, people don’t have the strength to question and take stands. Art too is purely a business of paying obeisance,” says the artist, almost at the risk of giving vent to a generational angst, that is not totally untrue.
Like his ideology, his art too has stood the test of time — he has painted in black and white for as long as he can remember, and even his latest works follow his tryst with the two colours. It should not come as a surprise that all the 14 canvases on display were finished only in past three months.
Besides Patel, an individual one should not miss meeting if visiting the show, is collector and admirer Asit Shah, who has brought this show to the city. While Patel himself would not like to indulge in talking about his art, Shah offers great insight into what makes Patel’s art great.
“ If work has to be done, it has to be done,” he says nonchalantly, making nothing of the special effort he is putting in to be present at his exhibition. That attitude, one can gather, must have been the reason why Patel was able to pursue art in the first place. “ My family didn’t appreciate me taking to painting but I knew that no matter what, I would continue to paint. After all, what is to be done, has to be done,” he repeats the refrain almost unconsciously.
What renders Patel’s art special is the fact that it was not just his love for paints and brushes that made him an artist but also his subconscious ideology to give a new, individual identity to the art of a new nation. Along with fellow artists such as N. S. Bendre, Sankho Chowdhuri and Jagdish Swaminathan, he was instrumental in founding the Group 1890, a collective that sought to free Indian art from the trappings of colonial influences.
“ Today, people don’t have the strength to question and take stands. Art too is purely a business of paying obeisance,” says the artist, almost at the risk of giving vent to a generational angst, that is not totally untrue.
Like his ideology, his art too has stood the test of time — he has painted in black and white for as long as he can remember, and even his latest works follow his tryst with the two colours. It should not come as a surprise that all the 14 canvases on display were finished only in past three months.
Besides Patel, an individual one should not miss meeting if visiting the show, is collector and admirer Asit Shah, who has brought this show to the city. While Patel himself would not like to indulge in talking about his art, Shah offers great insight into what makes Patel’s art great.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
BMC dismayed by Sena-BJP's refusal to hike in water tariff
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation ( BMC) administration has expressed serious concerns over the ruling Shiv Sena- BJP's reluctance to increase water tariffs. The continual supply at low rates is expected to hamper civic body's future water supply projects in a big way, they said.
While presenting the annual budget for 2011- 12, civic chief Subodh Kumar had strongly stressed on phase- wise increase in tariff for water supply. He said, the operation and maintenance cost of water supply projects currently stands at Rs 287 crore per year. On the completion of future projects like Middle Vaitarana, Gargai and Pinjal, the cost will rise to Rs 544 crore per year. Development of new sources will result in increase in revenue at present tariff.
However, due to increase in operation and maintenance cost to distribute additional water and also due to debt charges, the cost of production will also increase phase- wise. Hence to achieve 100 per cent cost recovery of projects, it would be necessary to increase the tariff for water supply phase- wise, he added.
But barely minutes later, Shiv Sena leader and standing committee chairman Rahul Shevale nipped Kumar's logic for a tariff hike in the bud, as he vehemently refused to a hike and instead put the onus on the central government to help the BMC in its water supply projects. " The centre has aided several municipal corporations like Chennai for their water supply projects like desalination. Similarly if it supports BMC, the people of Mumbai will not suffer from increase in water charges." The ruling alliance had thwarted the administration's several earlier attempts to increase water charges. Due to fear of a political outcry, the administration had deferred its plan to hike water tariff.
The continued refusal of Sena- BJP towards a tariff hike has added to the dismay of civic officials. " Nowhere in the country you get water at such cheap rates. If we continue to supply water at such low rates, our future water supply projects will suffer in a big way," a senior official from hydraulic department said.
The BMC generates water at Rs10.40 per kilo litre, and supplies it to middle- class housing societies at just Rs 3.50. Supply to slums is made at an even cheaper rate due to political pressure.
According to the civic officials, Sena- BJP's refusal to hike water charges is aimed at civic elections due for next year.
While presenting the annual budget for 2011- 12, civic chief Subodh Kumar had strongly stressed on phase- wise increase in tariff for water supply. He said, the operation and maintenance cost of water supply projects currently stands at Rs 287 crore per year. On the completion of future projects like Middle Vaitarana, Gargai and Pinjal, the cost will rise to Rs 544 crore per year. Development of new sources will result in increase in revenue at present tariff.
However, due to increase in operation and maintenance cost to distribute additional water and also due to debt charges, the cost of production will also increase phase- wise. Hence to achieve 100 per cent cost recovery of projects, it would be necessary to increase the tariff for water supply phase- wise, he added.
But barely minutes later, Shiv Sena leader and standing committee chairman Rahul Shevale nipped Kumar's logic for a tariff hike in the bud, as he vehemently refused to a hike and instead put the onus on the central government to help the BMC in its water supply projects. " The centre has aided several municipal corporations like Chennai for their water supply projects like desalination. Similarly if it supports BMC, the people of Mumbai will not suffer from increase in water charges." The ruling alliance had thwarted the administration's several earlier attempts to increase water charges. Due to fear of a political outcry, the administration had deferred its plan to hike water tariff.
The continued refusal of Sena- BJP towards a tariff hike has added to the dismay of civic officials. " Nowhere in the country you get water at such cheap rates. If we continue to supply water at such low rates, our future water supply projects will suffer in a big way," a senior official from hydraulic department said.
The BMC generates water at Rs10.40 per kilo litre, and supplies it to middle- class housing societies at just Rs 3.50. Supply to slums is made at an even cheaper rate due to political pressure.
According to the civic officials, Sena- BJP's refusal to hike water charges is aimed at civic elections due for next year.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
MUMBAI COPS TO HAVE OWN HOSTAGE NEGOTIATORS
When one hears of a hostage situation, the first reaction that crops up in the mind is about launching a rescue operation. But the most vital requirement in such a tight situation is that of a ' negotiator'. A hostage negotiator is needed to buy time to successfully release hostages held captive by criminals and terrorists.
Post 26/ 11, Mumbai police created Force One, an anti- terrorist force on the lines of India's elite terror combat force, National Security Guards also known as Black Cat Commandos. Now, the police has moved a step ahead and is in the process of setting up a highly- trained team of hostage negotiators. One of the most ambitious project that will soon start taking shape in the city police force is, training policemen to be highly- skilled hostage negotiators.
According to the plans, a batch of 20 people has been selected to undergo training for hostage negotiations and crisis management. In the programme that is slated to begin within two months, a team of experts from a foreign country will come to Mumbai and train the first batch. The officials stated that talks with the concerned institute are in the final stages of approval.
Amitabh Gupta, Additional Commissioner of Police ( Western Region), who is coordinating this entire project said, " The batch of 20 people comprise of 16 police officers and four other non- policemen who have a background of psychology and strong language skills." The team of experts would strengthen their language skills and teach them various techniques of buying time till a final decision is taken at the senior level in dealing with the crisis situation arising out of a terror attack. Gupta added, " During hostage situation, buying time is vital in an anti- terror operation.
Police or anti- terrorist squads need to ensure that the criminals don't go berserk killing hostages." The need for hostage negotiators was felt badly by the political executive in the country after the 26/ 11 terror attack, since anti- terror operations were crippled, because negotiators had to be flown down from Delhi.
Currently, three- IPS officers viz. K L Prasad, K P Raghuvanshi and Sanjay Barve have undergone a similar training program on individual level.
After the 26/ 11 terror strikes, the police sent Shalini Sharma, a Crime Intelligence Unit officer for a two- week- long training session at Hendon Police Training Academy in UK. Gupta said, " At the moment, the plans are to train the first batch, following which, we would pick a team of four seasoned people, who will later train other police teams."
Post 26/ 11, Mumbai police created Force One, an anti- terrorist force on the lines of India's elite terror combat force, National Security Guards also known as Black Cat Commandos. Now, the police has moved a step ahead and is in the process of setting up a highly- trained team of hostage negotiators. One of the most ambitious project that will soon start taking shape in the city police force is, training policemen to be highly- skilled hostage negotiators.
According to the plans, a batch of 20 people has been selected to undergo training for hostage negotiations and crisis management. In the programme that is slated to begin within two months, a team of experts from a foreign country will come to Mumbai and train the first batch. The officials stated that talks with the concerned institute are in the final stages of approval.
Amitabh Gupta, Additional Commissioner of Police ( Western Region), who is coordinating this entire project said, " The batch of 20 people comprise of 16 police officers and four other non- policemen who have a background of psychology and strong language skills." The team of experts would strengthen their language skills and teach them various techniques of buying time till a final decision is taken at the senior level in dealing with the crisis situation arising out of a terror attack. Gupta added, " During hostage situation, buying time is vital in an anti- terror operation.
Police or anti- terrorist squads need to ensure that the criminals don't go berserk killing hostages." The need for hostage negotiators was felt badly by the political executive in the country after the 26/ 11 terror attack, since anti- terror operations were crippled, because negotiators had to be flown down from Delhi.
Currently, three- IPS officers viz. K L Prasad, K P Raghuvanshi and Sanjay Barve have undergone a similar training program on individual level.
After the 26/ 11 terror strikes, the police sent Shalini Sharma, a Crime Intelligence Unit officer for a two- week- long training session at Hendon Police Training Academy in UK. Gupta said, " At the moment, the plans are to train the first batch, following which, we would pick a team of four seasoned people, who will later train other police teams."
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Sand Mining Ban : Builders turn to Ferroc for construction needs
City Builders and contractors are looking for cost-effective alternatives in wake of the Bombay High Court's directive to the State government, that the latter should not award any contract for sand-mining or allow further excavation unless the agency concerned obtains an environmental clearance.
While industry players feel the HC direction might disturb the demand- supply equations of the sand for construction activities in the city, builders and contractors are looking at alternatives options to keep their trade on track.
Sumer Group of companies which is into real- estate and construction has already switched to equally cost efficient Cement Plaster like Ferroc. Deepak Shah, Managing Director, Sumer Infrastructure Private Limited, said, " Our group company Sumer Infrastructure deals in the Ferroc Plaster and it is the best replacement for Site Mixed Cement: Sand Plaster . The prices of Ferroc Plaster don't fluctuate as much as that of sand and hence, our projects are not exposed to the price volatility." Sumer Infrastructure that deals in Ferroc Plaster is registering an increasing interest of builders and contractors in Ferroc. " We have started using this material and it yields very good result. The interest of builders and contractors who work on value based projects and working in the tighter deadlines to complete the projects will benefit from Ferroc. With the anticipation of increase in sand prices, we are getting more inquiries on Ferroc," said, Deepak Shah, Managing Director, Sumer Infrastructure Private Limited.
" We have used and applied Ferroc cement plaster based on the artificial sand and found the result to be satisfactory. We observed the applied plaster for 18 months and found the plaster to be crack free and durable," said, Ajit Bhogavkar, Project Manager, Shapoorji Pallonji & co Ltd.
Ferroc is an eco- friendly, fiber reinforced cement plaster mortar formulated using state- of- the- art additives for superior quality internal and external plastering work. Ferroc is accurate and consistent quality of plaster for external and internal plaster as it is factory mixed mortar for uniform results.
While industry players feel the HC direction might disturb the demand- supply equations of the sand for construction activities in the city, builders and contractors are looking at alternatives options to keep their trade on track.
Sumer Group of companies which is into real- estate and construction has already switched to equally cost efficient Cement Plaster like Ferroc. Deepak Shah, Managing Director, Sumer Infrastructure Private Limited, said, " Our group company Sumer Infrastructure deals in the Ferroc Plaster and it is the best replacement for Site Mixed Cement: Sand Plaster . The prices of Ferroc Plaster don't fluctuate as much as that of sand and hence, our projects are not exposed to the price volatility." Sumer Infrastructure that deals in Ferroc Plaster is registering an increasing interest of builders and contractors in Ferroc. " We have started using this material and it yields very good result. The interest of builders and contractors who work on value based projects and working in the tighter deadlines to complete the projects will benefit from Ferroc. With the anticipation of increase in sand prices, we are getting more inquiries on Ferroc," said, Deepak Shah, Managing Director, Sumer Infrastructure Private Limited.
" We have used and applied Ferroc cement plaster based on the artificial sand and found the result to be satisfactory. We observed the applied plaster for 18 months and found the plaster to be crack free and durable," said, Ajit Bhogavkar, Project Manager, Shapoorji Pallonji & co Ltd.
Ferroc is an eco- friendly, fiber reinforced cement plaster mortar formulated using state- of- the- art additives for superior quality internal and external plastering work. Ferroc is accurate and consistent quality of plaster for external and internal plaster as it is factory mixed mortar for uniform results.
Monday, January 17, 2011
MMRDA clears hurdle in Metro corridor
With the deadline of the first corridor of Metro in sight, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority ( MMRDA) has cleared another hurdle in the path of implementing the first Metro rail corridor when it gave 103 tenements to the civc authorities, towards temporary accommodation of residents of Ghatkopar’s Sarvodaya Hospital Quarters.
The quarters were posing a roadblock as they fell in the first line of the Versova- Andheri- Ghatkopar (VAG) Metro.
The houses have been provided at Nahur, demanded by the project affected people after the building where they are currently living was declared dilapidated by the BMC. Earlier, MMRDA had decided to shift them to Deonar, but considering their daily travel pattern to the hospital, where most of them work, they have been provided accommodation at Nahur.
Sarvodaya Quarters is a 40- year- old multi- storeyed building located on Golibar Road, about 500 meters from Ghatkopar station, being managed by the Sarvodaya Trust. It is located at about 15 meters from the site of VAG Corridor of the Metro line. The residents can shift back once the reparation is completed. Last January, the residents had protested against the Metro work, as they feared their building would collapse.
Though the BMC had declared it as a dilapidated structure in 2002, the trust did not start any restoration or repair work in the past eight years.
The quarters were posing a roadblock as they fell in the first line of the Versova- Andheri- Ghatkopar (VAG) Metro.
The houses have been provided at Nahur, demanded by the project affected people after the building where they are currently living was declared dilapidated by the BMC. Earlier, MMRDA had decided to shift them to Deonar, but considering their daily travel pattern to the hospital, where most of them work, they have been provided accommodation at Nahur.
Sarvodaya Quarters is a 40- year- old multi- storeyed building located on Golibar Road, about 500 meters from Ghatkopar station, being managed by the Sarvodaya Trust. It is located at about 15 meters from the site of VAG Corridor of the Metro line. The residents can shift back once the reparation is completed. Last January, the residents had protested against the Metro work, as they feared their building would collapse.
Though the BMC had declared it as a dilapidated structure in 2002, the trust did not start any restoration or repair work in the past eight years.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Wait and watch for BMC's ward level online services
Even as the ambitious project of offering ward- level services in the city- based cyber cafes and grocery shops is yet to materialize, the civic administration is moving at snail's pace in providing information on licenses, certificates etc by furnishing them on its web portal.
It is still a wait and watch situation for people to just visit their nearest cyber café or grocery shop to seek details about shops and establishments, registration, trade licenses, hoarding licenses, birth and death certificates, which the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation ( BMC) had assured last month. However, the city corporation has now made the database available on its web portal under section Citizen Services.
In a bid to ensure transparency and ease services delivered to citizens, the BMC web portal has opened a huge data regarding registration, certificates which it has collected through the years. " People can now access primary information regarding certificates, registration etc from BMC website. The move will also reduce the Right To Information applications as majority database is now for free access," said Aseem Gupta, Additional Municipal Commissioner.
He further said people could now verify, if hoardings and hawkers in their area are legal or not. " It would ease the process of complaining too," added Gupta.
Currently, people can go to any Sify e- port or franchise outlets owned by ITZ Cash and pay water and property tax as BMC has signed an agreement with both the companies to offer these services by charging only Rs 10 to the people.
BMC had earlier assured that during Diwali this year, additional services like issuing birth and death certificate, applications for different types of license, filing and tracking complaints etc would be made available.
Nevertheless, people will still have to wait a little longer to have all 108 ward- level services at their nearest cyber cafes or grocery shops.
It is still a wait and watch situation for people to just visit their nearest cyber café or grocery shop to seek details about shops and establishments, registration, trade licenses, hoarding licenses, birth and death certificates, which the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation ( BMC) had assured last month. However, the city corporation has now made the database available on its web portal under section Citizen Services.
In a bid to ensure transparency and ease services delivered to citizens, the BMC web portal has opened a huge data regarding registration, certificates which it has collected through the years. " People can now access primary information regarding certificates, registration etc from BMC website. The move will also reduce the Right To Information applications as majority database is now for free access," said Aseem Gupta, Additional Municipal Commissioner.
He further said people could now verify, if hoardings and hawkers in their area are legal or not. " It would ease the process of complaining too," added Gupta.
Currently, people can go to any Sify e- port or franchise outlets owned by ITZ Cash and pay water and property tax as BMC has signed an agreement with both the companies to offer these services by charging only Rs 10 to the people.
BMC had earlier assured that during Diwali this year, additional services like issuing birth and death certificate, applications for different types of license, filing and tracking complaints etc would be made available.
Nevertheless, people will still have to wait a little longer to have all 108 ward- level services at their nearest cyber cafes or grocery shops.
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