Centre launches mother-child healthcare scheme

MEWAT (Haryana), June 1, 2011

Concerned over the high maternal and infant mortality rate in the country, the Centre on Wednesday launched an ambitious national programme to provide free services to pregnant women for deliveries and neo-natal care, if needed, up to a month after birth.

The facility will be available to all women in government health institutions in both rural and urban settings, and is expected to benefit over one crore women annually.

Launching the Janani-Shishu Suraksha Karyakram, a Central scheme sponsored by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare from Mewat — a predominantly Muslim area in Haryana here, Sonia Gandhi, chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance said the UPA government had always tried to give women their dues, Constitutionally and legally. "If 50 per cent of the population lags behind, a Nation cannot progress," she said, while admitting that the government was aware of the difficulties faced by women in proving their talent due to social barriers.

"It is our duty to realise the talent of our women and take measures for their progress," Ms. Gandhi said, while describing as unfortunate the high maternal and infant mortality rate in the country. She said the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), launched in 2005, had improved the overall healthcare facilities in the urban settings, the new programme would focus on pregnant and lactating mothers and their new-borns. "Even blood will be provided free of cost under the scheme," she said.

Speaking of the UPA's policy of inclusive growth, Ms. Gandhi said Dalits, minorities and economically backward sections of society had equally benefited from the government schemes.

The scheme has been launched in view of the difficulty being faced by pregnant women and parents of sick newborns along with high out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them on delivery and treatment. The scheme, drafted after all States approved of it, will provide free services to pregnant women, including normal deliveries and caesarean operations and treatment to sick new borns (up to 30 days after birth) in government hospitals, community health centres and primary health centres. The present initiative supplements the cash assistance given to pregnant women under the Janani Suraksha Yojana and is aimed to mitigate the burden of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the families.

The free facilities will include delivery including C-section, drugs and consumables, diagnostics, special diet during stay in the health institution, free provision of blood, exemption from user charges of all kinds, transport to and back from health facility after 48 hours and transport between facilities in case of referral. A child will also be entitled to free treatment and transportation up to a month after birth.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said more than Rs. 1,100 crore had been provided for drugs, diet and ambulances under the National Rural Health Mission during 2011-12. He said 67,000 women in India die every year due to pregnancy related complications and 9 lakh children died within the first four weeks of life. These deaths can be prevented, he added.

Keywords: free delivery scheme, Janani-Shishu SurakshaKaryakram, Sonia Gandhi, woman and child health

Much of Headley's deposition already known to us: Chidambaram

NEW DELHI, June 1, 2011

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Wednesday said most aspects of Lashkar-e-Taiba operative David Coleman Headley's ongoing deposition before a Chicago court were known to the government.

“Except one or two pieces of information, the rest had been brought to my notice by the National Investigation Agency team which had interrogated David Headley,” Mr. Chidambaram told journalists here.

Replying to a question, he said it would be worthwhile to wait for the entire examination of Headley to be over. “We cannot have a running commentary on it.”

To another query at his monthly review press conference of the Home Ministry, Mr. Chidambaram said the government had not taken any decision on being a party to a lawsuit in the U.S. against Pakistani intelligence agency, ISI.

Maran issue

Responding to a question whether Union Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran should offer his resignation in the wake of allegations against him on 2G spectrum scam, Mr. Chidambaram said: “In telecom matter, the CBI is investigating and the Joint Parliamentary Committee is inquiring, it will be completely unfair on my part to make any comment as I have no personal knowledge.”

On the status of mercy petition of Parliament House attack convict and death row prisoner Afzal Guru, the Home Minister said that during his tenure of past 30 months 11 mercy petitions had been decided against just two decisions between May 2004 and November 30, 2008. Out of 31 mercy petitions with the Ministry, 19 had been resubmitted to the President. He said a mercy petition was put in the serial according to the date of conviction and the date of filing the plea.

“Black list”

Mr. Chidambaram said names of 169 Sikh NRIs which were included in the “black list” were reviewed by the Home Ministry and 142 names were removed and necessary instructions were issued to the Indian Missions.

In the wake of terror attack on the Pakistan Navy base in Karachi, a high-level review of the coastal security was taken up. A detailed security review of all ports and vital installations along the coast would be undertaken by the Shipping Ministry with the Navy.

Mr. Chidambaram, who completed two-and-half years in office as Home Minister, said he had set the objective of enhancing the capacity of the intelligence agencies and security forces.

The number of operational battalions of the Central armed police forces had gone up to 573 against 541 on November 30, 2008. Besides, 21 new battalions were being raised. The total strength of Central forces, including all ranks, would swell to 7.77 lakh personnel. “We have built an additional 538 km of border roads, completed an additional 1,394 km of border fencing and replaced 652 km of fencing, and completed an additional 600 km of flood-lighting.”

Police modernisation

Mr. Chidambaram said that in the past two years, State police forces had taken up modernisation seriously and constructed 528 new police stations, procured over 10,000 new vehicles and acquired 30,000 weapons.

On the legislative front, the Home Ministry successfully piloted 13 Bills in Parliament and secured their passage. Among them were the National Investigation Agencies Act, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act and the Land Ports Authority of India Act.

Keywords: David Headley, 26/11, Mumbai terror attack, Chidambaram press meet, internal security

Hazare extends support to Ramdev’s fast against corruption

Ralegan Siddhi (Maharashtra), June 2, 2011

Accusing the government of cheating civil rights activists on the issue of Lokpal Bill, Anna Hazare on Thursday extended his support to yoga guru Baba Ramdev’s fast against corruption and said he will join the agitation.

The Gandhian said that the government lacks intention to root out corruption from the system.

“I will join Baba Ramdev on June 5. The fight is against corruption. The government has tried to cheat us. The government had assured us that they would look into our demand,” he said, adding that he would hold discussions with the yoga guru on the way forward.

He said the government has “cheated” civil rights activists on the issue of Lokpal Bill and people have realised the betrayal by the government.

“I will support Baba Ramdev so that the government does not do what it did when we were fighting. We will fight together against corruption,” he said, adding that “henceforth, we will not be content with oral assurances on the issue of weeding out corruption“.

Mr. Hazare also noted that the yoga guru has a standing in the public and wherever he goes people gather to hear him.

His remarks came a day after Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee accompanied by Kapil Sibal, Pawan Kumar Bansal and Subodh Kant Sahay held talks with Ramdev to persuade him to give up his indefinite fast on corruption but the yoga guru said he would go ahead with it from June 4.

Keywords: India corruption, Ramdev fast, Lokpal Bill

Hyderabad couple harassed for 'adopting' a Muslim girl

Jun 2, 2011

Hyderabad:  Papalal is a painter from Hyderabad and four almost four years, his family has been facing harassment.

Reason? Papalal found a little girl at the blast site near Gokul chat centre in Hyderabad in August 2007 and brought her home.

As no one came to claim the child, Papalal and his wife have been taking care of her as their own eldest daughter, even after they realised that she was probably born to Muslim parents.

"Only after she came to our home, I became pregnant. Even if I haven't given birth to her, she will always be my eldest daughter,'' says Sonia's foster mother Jayshree.

Love above religion, however, was not acceptable to all. Both fundamentalist Muslim and Hindu groups objected to a Muslim child being raised by a Hindu couple.

"They want us to give the child away to an orphanage. Which religious text has said something like this? Hindu or Muslim makes no difference to us. We will never give her away,'' says Papalal.

The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has ordered the local police to ensure the family's safety but social harassment and threats have continued.

A 3-member advocate commission appointed by the SHRC has directed that the child should either be legally adopted or handed over to the child welfare department. For Papalal, this is not a choice he needs to think about. He already considers Sonia as his daughter and will soon legally adopt her. 

Unable to pay for fuel, Air India grounds 60 flights

June 02, 2011 

Mumbai:  Losses are taking a huge toll over the national carrier Air India. After a major strike over pay parity with its pilots, Air India has been forced to ground 10% of its fleet to tide over the fuel companies dues.

60 Air India flights have been withdrawn both from domestic and international routes, many connecting extremely busy airports like London, Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. 

This comes right in the middle of the peak travel season. 

Air India has been unable to clear fuel companies' dues of Rs. 2,700 crore. So, last week the oil companies refused it additional credit. Now, the airline is forced to fly only on a pay-and-fly basis since it does have the money to fly its entire fleet every week.

Air India: FLYING LOW
                   
SECTOR                      ROUND TRIPS WITHDRAWN

Delhi-London                            14                       

Delhi-Tokyo                               4                         

Delhi-Dubai                               14                

Delhi-Mumbai                             4

Air India officially denies a crisis and says the cutback is routine.
"Flights are curtailed every lean season, This is being done for commercial reasons, Air India told NDTV.

On May 24, Air India launched a new flight between Kolkata and Kanpur - a new route where it will have to build passenger loyalty. Question is why the airline is flying new routes while curtailing profitable flights on its tried and tested sectors? 

Mayawati to meet Bhatta-Parsaul farmers today

June 02, 2011
Lucknow:  To thrash out a novel land acquisition policy, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has invited farmers' representatives from different corners of the state for a 'kisan panchayat' in Lucknow today that would set the pace for major changes in the state's land acquisition policy.

"The chief minister is contemplating a completely new policy whereby the state government will not acquire land sought by the private sector for industrial or commercial development," a top official in the chief minister's office told IANS.

"We were working on a proposal whereby settlement of compensation would be negotiated directly between the farmer and the organisation seeking land, with the government limiting its role to that of a facilitator," he said.

According to him, "several other changes in the existing acquisition policy would be made in accordance with the needs and demands of the farmers".

A broad framework of the desired amendments in the existing acquisition policy is understood to have been drawn up by Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh, who was stated to be the key man behind the move.

Earlier, Mayawati had asked Agriculture Minister Chaudhary Laxmi Narain to hold talks with farmers after anti-land acquisition protests in Tappal and Bhatta-Parsaul villages in Greater Noida.                                          

PM was alerted about Kalmadi's 'excesses' in 2007

June 02, 2011

New Delhi:  Letters between former Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reveal that the ministry had alerted the PM about former Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi's "excesses" and "dictatorial style of functioning" in 2007 itself. 

In one of these letters, accessed under Right to Information Act, the former Sports Minister had even said, "Without a drastic overhaul of both the executive and Organizing Committee for the Commonwealth Games, I fear that it will prove to be practically impossible for the government to significantly address the excesses of Suresh Kalmadi and his cohorts" 

In another letter to the PM dated October 25, 2007, Mani Shankar had written, "I grow increasingly alarmed at the profligacy of the chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Commonwealth Games 2010. The Ministry has failed to establish a genuinely cooperative working relationship with the Organizing Committee."

"The chairman stooped so low as to describe us (Sports Ministry) as 'cartoons sitting in one room in Shastri Bhawan," another letter read. "Chairman (Kalmadi) saw the Ministry as a milch cow to extract as much money as he can," it added.

Kalmadi was arrested on April 25 this year by the CBI in connection with the CWG scam. He has been charged with fraud, conspiracy and acts of corruption and faces seven years in jail if convicted.

ISI handler sought progress report on Mumbai terror plot

Chicago, June 02, 2011- Pakistani born Canadian Tahawwur Rana exchanged mails with the mysterious "Major Iqbal" of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI) about "progress made" on the Mumbai terror attack plot, an FBI agent has testified. In an July 7, 2008 e-mail, "Major Iqbal", who confessed Pakistani-America

n terrorist David Headley says was involved in planning the Mumbai attack allegedly asked Rana if there was any "progress made on the project," the agent told a Chicago Federal court Wednesday.

Prosecutors claim he was referring to the planned attacks, but defence attorneys have said any discussion Iqbal had with Rana centred on their plans to work as partners in Rana's immigration business, according to Chicago Sun Times.

Headley testified earlier that Iqbal provided money to open an office of Rana's business in Mumbai, which was used by the key Mumbai plotter as a cover to scout targets for the attack.

The message was one of the email and phone communications between Rana, Headley, and "Major Iqbal," who is also charged in the case, verified by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents, five of whom testified at Rana's trial Wednesday.

One witness, a linguist talked about the quality control behind translating the numerous recorded phone conversations between the men in Urdu and Punjabi.

The prosecution's witnesses were aimed at bolstering their case that Rana, charged with providing material support to Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) for the attack knew and helped his long time friend Headley to conduct surveillance.

Prosecution attorneys said Wednesday that they had one remaining witness.

Prosecutors plan on presenting their last witness Monday when the trial resumes. Closing arguments could begin as early as Tuesday.

An FBI agent also told the court that when Headley, was arrested at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport in 2009Airport, he had a map of Copenhagen, a copy of the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten that had published cartoons of prophet Muhammad and a Jewish prayer book.

Two other FBI agents said they helped search Headley's house and his luggage after he was arrested.

Rana had purchased Headley's round-trip tickets to Copenhagen using Headley's American Express, according to court testimony.

Although Rana's lawyers earlier said they have not decided whether Rana will take the stand, they told US District Judge Harry Leinenweber the chances were slim, the Times said.

A computer expert and an Immigration lawyer from Canada are among some of the witnesses Rana's defence may call during the trial, he said

             

I will join Baba Ramdev on June 5: Anna Hazare

Jun 02, 2011 

New Delhi: After the Baba Ramdev scare, there is a new complication for the government. Now, Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev pose a combined challenge to the UPA government and the Congress party.

Anna hazare on Thursday declared that he will join Baba Ramdev in his protest fast against black money saying he won't allow the government to weaken the anti-corruption agitation.

"I will join Baba Ramdev on June 5. The fight is against corruption. I will talk to Baba on how to go forward on the fight against corruption. The government has tried to cheat us. The government had assured us that they would look into our demand," he said.

"I will support Baba Ramdev so that the government does not do what it did when we were fighting. We will fight together against corruption," he added.

Anna Hazare also said that there is no divide in the civil society ove rthe Lokpal bill.

"There is no two views on Lokpal bill between us and Baba," he said.

Meanwhile, the UPA's outreach to Baba Ramdev continues. Ministers are expected to meet Ramdev on Thursday as well.

The Cabinet too is expected to discuss the Ramdev issue. significantly the Congress Core Committee will also meet today. Baba Ramdev though is firm on going ahead with his fast, starting Saturday.

The meetings come even as the party indicated it was miffed with the government's red carpet rolled out to the Yoga guru at the airport on Wednesday - he was received by four Union Ministers and the cabinet secretary.

The party is also worried about the fact that the RSS has come out in support of Baba's protest.

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Not affected by Afridi's decision: Butt

Lahore, June 1, 2011

A defiant Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt on Wednesday said he is not affected by Shahid Afridi’s decision to quit the game till the time he was incharge of the PCB and insisted that the temperamental player will have to explain his shock retirement.

“(Do it immediately) Sau Bismillah to him if he does not want to play under my Chairmanship,” Butt told the media when asked to comment on Afridi’s remarks that he would not play under the present cricket set-up.

A stubborn-looking Butt made it clear that Afridi had violated several clauses of his code of conduct not for the first time in recent times.

“He has violated the contract codes and like any other player he now has to explain his actions to the board,” Butt said.

The board yesterday started disciplinary action against Afridi for his sudden decision to retire from international cricket and for making disparaging comments about the board and its officials.

As part of the disciplinary measures, the board has revoked his NOC’s, cancelled his central contract and issued him a show cause notice to which he has to respond within seven days and also suspended all payments to him as part of his central contract.

Support for Afridi

The feud between the board and Afridi has already started becoming a political issue with the Pakistan sports minister Engineer Shaukatullah saying he is with the player.

“I am with Afridi and will support him in this issue.

Ijaz Butt has been running the board like his own kingdom and it is time he was held accountable for his actions and sacked,” the minister said.

He said he would be speaking to the Prime Minister to apprise him of the shambles in which Pakistan cricket was and to take steps to restore Afridi as captain and change the board set-up.

The heads of the National Assembly and Senate standing committees on sports, Iqbal Mohammad Ali and Ghaffar Qureshi have also come out in favour of the temperamental all-rounder blaming Butt for the fresh crisis in Pakistan cricket.

“These players are our assets and they are not being treated justly by Butt and the board and there is a limit to this problem of senior players being disrespected by the board. We are going to ask the government to take immediate notice and change the board set up,” Iqbal said.

Qureshi insisted Afridi remained a valuable player and had committed no crime to be treated this way.

Keywords: Shahid Afridi, Ijaz Butt

FIFA vote to go ahead after FA call rejected

Zurich, June 1, 2011

FIFA president Joseph Blatter looked set to be elected to a fourth term of office after a bid to postpone the vote was rejected on Wednesday.

Delegates at the FIFA congress in Zurich overwhelmingly rejected a motion by England’s Football Association to delay the elections in view of corruption allegations against executive committee members.

The FA’s motion was backed by 17 delegates but rejected by 172.

English FA chairman David Bernstein, putting the proposal to the Congress, said: “The election has turned into a one-horse race. Only with a contested election will the winner have...a proper, credible mandate. We are faced by an unsatisfactory situation and universal criticism from governments, sponsors, media and public.” Delegates from Congo, Cyprus, Benin and the Fiji Islands were highly critical of the FA in speeches backing Blatter, who is expected to be formally elected later on Wednesday.

Keywords: Sepp Blatter, FIFA elections, 2022 FIFA WC

It's mission redemption for Fletcher in West Indies

Port of Spain (Trinidad), June 1, 2011

His first assignment as India's cricket coach is also a redemption mission for Duncan Fletcher as it was in the West Indies four years ago that he last left as head coach of a national side.

Fletched resigned from his England post after a horrible run in the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean.

It added to the bitterness of losing the ICC Champions Trophy finals to the West Indies in 2004; the 2003 World Cup loss to Australia at Port Elizabeth and the Natwest series final where India hunted down 325 runs to win in 2002.

Even as recent as in the 2011 World Cup in India, Fletcher, as a consultant to the side, couldn't help South Africa progress to the semifinals.

While Fletcher was coach, England played 175 one-day internationals and won only 75 with a winning percentage of 47.47. Most of these wins also included matches against Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Namibia and the Netherlands.

There is no such issue in Tests though where England won 42 of the 96 matches under Fletcher, including the Ashes triumph of 2005 which secured the Zimbabwean's reputation.

Fletcher had then bemoaned the lack of contribution from team's number 9, 10 and 11 batsmen for England's failure and this perhaps was the thinking which led him to fiddle with the batting order all too often.

Even though Fletcher's real test would be later this summer in England, he can't afford to start on the wrong foot and emboss further his poor reputation as a one-day strategist.

India has sent its second string side to the West Indies which doesn't look too bad given that West Indian Cricket Board (WICB) has contrived to weaken its own squad all the more.

Fletcher left India stating that the team had a plan to stay on top in the West Indies even though he cautioned his wards not to take the host lightly in its own backyard.

“Any team playing at home is difficult and we should not be complacent,” was his cautionary word.

Fletcher's plan almost certainly would include a good dose of spin and sharp fielding inside the ring as West Indian batsmen have conceded their inability to rotate the strike as their biggest falling.

He would have to make do with India's medium-pacers even though his preference for 90mph-plus bowlers is well known.

He would also have to eschew his preference for openers who can put 100 runs regularly on the board since India's choice is Shikhar Dhawan and Parthiv Patel.

Keywords: India's tour of West Indies, Duncan Fletcher, Suresh Raina

Manmohan reviews India’s nuclear safety measures

New Delhi, June 1, 2011

In the wake of recent nuclear radiation scare in Japan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday reviewed India’s atomic disaster preparedness at a high level meeting here and directed that the best practices and procedures be put in place.

Chairing a special meeting of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Dr. Singh tasked it to put in place the world’s best possible safety precautions and procedures at nuclear plants, sources said.

The meeting discussed various steps to meet nuclear disasters.

These include fast-tracking of creation of disaster response forces in places in addition to existing four and procurement of special radiation-detection vehicles.

At the meeting, the Prime Minister reviewed the nuclear safety issues being looked after by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and Department of Atomic Energy, sources said.

Dr. Singh also took stock of guidelines of management of nuclear and radiological emergencies issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

Among the various steps to be considered as part of the chemical, biological, radiological nuclear response and rescue preparedness is a project for installation of ‘dosi-meters’ in 1000 police stations in 35 cities having more than one million population.

Keywords: National Disaster Management Authority, nuclear safety issues, AERB, Manmohan Singh

Jayalalithaa launches free rice scheme

Chennai, June 1, 2011

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Wednesday launched her government’s initiative of providing 20 kg of rice free of cost to all ration-card holders in the state.

The AIADMK supremo launched the scheme from a government-run outlet at Alwarpet here, keeping the promise made in her party’s election manifesto for the April 13 polls.

Ms. Jayalalithaa handed over rice bags to some of the beneficiaries, marking the launch of the scheme.

The new scheme will benefit more than 1.65 crore ration card holders in the state, the government said in a release, adding the Chief Minister also launched another scheme to provide 35 kg of rice free of cost per month to beneficiaries under the ‘Antyodaya Annayojana’ scheme.