Saturday, July 11, 1998
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Two
Punjab militants held in Delhi NEW DELHI, July 10 — The Delhi Police has seized 18 kg of RDX with the arrest of two alleged Punjab militants. Addressing a press conference here today, the Commissioner of Police, Mr V.N. Singh, said Babbar Khalsa militants had brought the explosives to target certain VIPs in the Capital... IMA plea to parties on population control NEW DELHI, July 10 — The Indian Medical Association has appealed to all political parties and the government to immediately include population stabilisation in their national agenda... |
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Promoting
eye donation on bicycle SRIGANGANAGAR: To educate the masses to donate eyes so that the blind can also lead a worthwhile life, Manmohan Singh Lamba started his mission on a bicycle on April 27, 1987, touring 24 states, disseminating the message of eye donation throughout the country...
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Govt proposal to discontinue PDS sugar supply NEW DELHI, July 10 — The government is considering a proposal to discontinue the supply of sugar through the public distribution system (PDS), Minister of State for Food and Consumer Affairs Satya Pal Singh Yadav said today... Demonstration by sangh activists NEW DELHI, July 10 — Activists of the Sarv Karamchari Sangh, Haryana, held a demonstration here today to press for the acceptance of their demands... IYC to protest against farmers’ suicides New Delhi, July 10 — The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) will hold a demonstration outside the Punjab Assembly next week to protest against the increase in suicide by farmers in the state... Special cards for PF subscribers NEW DELHI, July 10 — For the first time, social security permanent cards would be given to provident fund (PF) subscribers in the country...  |
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Two Punjab militants held in Delhi From Our Correspondent NEW DELHI, July 10 — The Delhi Police has seized 18 kg of RDX with the arrest of two alleged Punjab militants. Addressing a press conference here today, the Commissioner of Police, Mr V.N. Singh, said Babbar Khalsa militants had brought the explosives to target certain VIPs in the Capital. Mr Singh said the cache was the "biggest" seizure this year. The Police Commissioner said: "It is yet to be known to whom the militants wanted to deliver the consignment and their contacts in Delhi." The explosives were seized from a truck entering the Capital from Haryana last night. The truck driver, Raj Kumar and cleaner, Gurucharan Singh, were arrested by the crime branch of the Delhi Police from Transport Nagar, near Punjabi Bagh, in West Delhi. Along with the RDX, the police seized one AK 47 rifle, two .30 pistols of Chinese-made, 230 rounds of cartridges, four ABCD timers, four handgrenades and 10 detonators, Mr Singh said. About 18 kg of RDX was seized from the truck and the explosive material in the present could have been kept without any adverse consequence for 194 days, the Police Commissioner stated. Narrating the sequence of events leading to the arrest of two militants, Mr Singh said the Punjab Police had given a tip-off that a few suspects were on their way to Delhi from Batala in a truck with a plan to kidnap a rich man of the Capital. Even though the name of the man was not disclosed, the police laid a trap on the Delhi-Haryana border to nab the suspects. The truck bearing the Delhi registration number was intercepted near Punjabi Bagh. The occupants of the truck during interrogation stated that they were not planning to kidnap anyone. However, they disclosed that they belonged to the Babbar Khalsa outfit, Mr Singh said. The militants told the police that they had brought the consignment on the directions of three Babbar Khalsa activists — Gursewak Singh Babla, Mokham Singh and Satvinder Singh alias Twinkle — who were lodged in Tihar Jail. |
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| Promoting eye donation on bicycle From Balwant Garg SRIGANGANAGAR: To educate the masses to donate eyes so that the blind can also lead a worthwhile life, Manmohan Singh Lamba started his mission on a bicycle on April 27, 1987, touring 24 states, disseminating the message of eye donation throughout the country. What speaks volumes of Mr Lamba's missionary zeal and a silent commitment to the cause of the blind is that he did not hesitate to leave his job of a bus conductor to pursue this noble cause. He stops at a school, college or an office on his way to pursue the cause of eye donation. He also distributes eye donation forms to be filled by those who are convinced about the cause of eye donation. It was during his halt at Sriganganagar that one got a chance to have a tete-a-tete with Mr Lamba. But it was only when the conversation veered round to the subject of bilindness that the soft-spoken "crusader" for eye donation warmed up. "Blindness is a big problem with people generally oblivious of their existence," he said, adding that more than 1 crore 20 lakh people in India suffer from blindness and 10 lakh of them could be cured through eye transplantion. About 2500 eyes were donated in India every year and the spirit needed to be imbibed more by the masses. Mr Lamba has appeared in 36 radio and 11 TV programmes. He was featured also in a telefilm
"Premdan" directed by Sawan Kumar. He pursuaded
a general manager of Haryana Roadways to have the slogan
"Netra daan, maha daan" marked on all buses.Impressed by his devotion to the cause of eye donation, Mr Deve Gowda, the then Prime Minister, had recommended a free bus pass for him but nothing has come out of that as yet, he rued. Belonging to Jhansi (Madhaya Pradesh), Mr Manmohan Singh had to bear the brunt of communal frenzy during the 1984 riots when miscreants burnt down his house. He later, shifted to Dawbali (Haryana), where he runs a small cloth shop. There is no background to his devotion for the disabled. "It just happened to come my way when I read in a newspaper about 12 years ago that the eyes of the dead could be of immense benefit to the blind", he pointed out. He resigned from his job of a bus conductor and set off on a countrywide tour to disseminate the message of eye donation. More than 1000 people of the Chhatarpur area (MP) subscribed to his idea of eye donation and filled the form with the commitment to donate their eyes after death. For Mr Lamba, it seems, the old Biblical message still works: "Blessed are those who give than those that receive". |
| IMA plea to parties on population control Tribune News Service NEW DELHI, July 10 — The Indian Medical Association has appealed to all political parties and the government to immediately include population stabilisation in their national agenda. Addressing newspersons on the eve of the World Population Day, the IMA general secretary, Dr Prem Aggarwal said the nation ought to treat population stabilisation as a national emergency. Dr Aggarwal said the IMA had proposed constitution of an apex committee headed by the Prime Minister to tackle this emergency. He said despite being the first country to have a national family planning programme in 1951, India had miserably failed in controlling its population. In a press release issued here today, the IMA has identified three causes behind the failure of the national planning programme. These include failure to remove illiteracy and the resulting gender bias, extreme centralisation of the programme and lack of people’s involvement. In its action plan, the IMA has suggested eradication of illiteracy and gender bias, adoption of a holistic national approach, strengthening the primary health centres and the rural sub-centres, special programmes for adolescents and participation of all sections of society to combat the national emergency. |
| 2.3
lakh kids die
of measles annually NEW DELHI, July 10 (UNI) — Despite the tremendous strides made over the past two decades in immunisation of infants against the “big six” diseases, measles remains the number one vaccine-preventable killer of children under five and India alone accounts for 230,000 of the over 8,00,000 deaths from the disease every year. Measles continues to thrive in the cities of Africa and Asia, especially in deprived neighbourhoods and just 20 countries in this region account for 85 per cent of measles deaths of children under five years, says the just-released “The progress of nations, 1998” report of UNICEF. In addition, measles immunisation coverage has remained static or slipped in 32 of the 44 poorest countries since 1990, it says. The scenario with regard to neonatal tetanus deaths is somewhat better and India is among the 20 countries successful in reducing the death toll from this disease. Neonatal tetanus deaths in India were brought down from 77,700 in 1990 to 59,100 in 1997, says the report. Immunisation of infants against measles, tetanus, whooping cough, tuberculosis, polio and diphtheria is duly recognised by the report as the greatest public health success story in history with 80 per cent coverage in developing countries today from a mere 5 per cent two decades ago. But despite this, two million children continue to die each year from vaccine-preventable diseases. Deaths from these six diseases have drastically reduced by three million a year and at least 750,000 fewer children are left blind, paralysed or mentally disabled as a result of improved vaccination coverage. Yet notwithstanding the low cost of the existing immunisation package, 26 million infants worldwide annually do not receive their three DPT shots. Malaria kills over one million children under the age of five every year — a child every 30 seconds — in about 100 malaria-endemic countries around the world. Treated bednets are a vital protection against malaria-carrying mosquitoes as the disease is increasingly resistant to drug treatment and the development of an effective vaccine is proving difficult. But families at risk in at least 14 countries have to pay more to protect themselves from the disease as their governments impose stiff tariffs on imported bednets. According to the report, UNICEF has adopted three related goals to combat malaria — to have 20 per cent of children under five in high-risk areas sleeping under bednets by the year 2000, 50 per cent by 2005 and universal access to bednets by 2010. Steps to cut the costs of bednets including the removal of import tariffs will be crucial to the success of the campaign to eliminate malaria. Diarrhoeal dehydration is another of the world’s great child killers, claiming over two million children under the age of five in developing countries. Up to 90 per cent of these deaths could be prevented by replacing lost body fluids with oral rehydration salts (ORS). The success of the immunisation programme depends on building the capacity of local and national systems so they can vaccinate one year’s generation of 130 million babies on five separate occasions and repeat the process each year. Also, families and communities have to be convinced of the importance of starting and continuing immunisation of their children. The report recommends a two-pronged strategy to safeguard the health and well-being of the world’s poorest children. First, the children not receiving the existing vaccines must be reached and secondly, steps must be taken to ensure that these children are not bypassed by wonder drugs which will cost much more than those currently in use. The reality, it says, is that some vaccines already on the market have never even made it to their intended targets. The antigen for hepatitis B — A disease that kills around one million people each year - has been available since the early 1980s but many countries cannot afford this vaccine. Yellow fever is again menacing Africa and Latin America and outbreaks of the disease have occurred in Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia and Peru. In each case, expensive emergency immunisation efforts were needed to stop the spread of the disease. |
| Govt
proposal to
discontinue PDS sugar supply NEW DELHI, July 10 (PTI) — The government is considering a proposal to discontinue the supply of sugar through the public distribution system (PDS), Minister of State for Food and Consumer Affairs Satya Pal Singh Yadav said today. Replying to a written question in the Rajya Sabha, Mr Yadav said the ministry had already ascertained the views of the state governments on the proposal of the Mahajan Committee to phase out the supply of sugar through the PDS in two years. The minister said the committee had also suggested the abolition of collection of levy sugar from the mills after the expiry of two years. Mr Yadav said the Kerala Government had expressed reservations regarding the suggestion to discontinue sugar supply through the PDS. At present a quantity of 425 grams is allotted per person through the PDS and the government provides a subsidy of Rs 0.60 per kg. |
| Demonstration by sangh activists Tribune News Service NEW DELHI, July 10 — Activists of the Sarv Karamchari Sangh, Haryana, held a demonstration here today to press for the acceptance of their demands. The activists, who had come from different parts of the state, demonstrated against the “indifferent” attitude of the state government towards their demands. Addressing the activists, the president of the sangh, Master Sher Singh, said a pen-down and tools-down strike would he held in the state on July 16. “Employees would also court arrest in Chandigarh on July 23,” he said. The government had failed to remove the Fourth Pay Commission anomalies, he alleged. Some of the demonstrators sustained injuries when the police resorted to a lathi charge to disperse them at Parliament Street. Tear gas and water cannons were also used by the police. The senior vice-president of the sangh, Mr P. C. Rathi, said that an agreement had been reached between the Sangh and the government on March 4 “but the government had not implemented it till now. The government had also promised to resolve the salary issue of municipal employees, but nothing had been done.” |
| IYC to protest against farmers’
suicides Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 10 — The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) will hold a demonstration outside the Punjab Assembly next week to protest against the increase in suicide by farmers in the state. Addressing a press conference here today, the president of the IYC, Mr Manish Tewari, said thousands of party workers would demonstrate outside the Vidhan Sabha on July 15 to protest against the government’s anti-farmer policy. Mr Tewari stated that more than 100 farmers from Sangrur district alone had committed suicide and the state government had not taken any steps to redress their grievances. “We would demand from the government to waive the loans taken by these farmers and discipline the rural credit system,” the IYC president said. He said the youth wing of the Congress party was planning to undertake a nation-wide agitation from August 9 for the non-availability of power and water in large parts of the country, rise in prices of essential commodities and problems of law and order problem in the BJP-ruled states. |
| Special cards for PF subscribers NEW DELHI, July 10 (PTI) — For the first time, social security permanent cards would be given to provident fund (PF) subscribers in the country. The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has decided to start on a pilot basis the process for issuing such cards to PF subscribers in Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh. The decision was taken at a two-day combined review meeting of regional PF commissioners and controllers of pension which concluded here yesterday. The meeting, which discussed core issues for effective implementation of EPF schemes, decided to improve service delivery system to PF subscribers through comprehensive computerisation of all EPF offices in Delhi, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. For mitigating grievances of PF subscribers, it was agreed to hold lok adalats on the 10th of every month in central, regional and subregional offices of the EPF. |
| In brief First civilian Everest expedition NEW DELHI: President K.R. Narayanan on Thursday received the members of the first civilian expedition to Mt Everest of the country. The team was accompanied by Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sharad Pawar, a press note said. Organised as part of the celebrations of the golden jubilee of India’s independence and title sponsored by Tata group of companies. The expedition was titled Tata Everest India ‘98. It was flagged off by Vice-President Krishan Kant on February 13. The team scaled the world’s highest peak on May 18-19 and unfurled the national flag on the summit. — PTI Gastroenteritis claims 16 lives ELURU: Gastroenteritis has claimed 16 lives, while more than 250 persons were hospitalised in West and East Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh for the past 15 days West Godavari district medical and health officer G. Swatantra Bharati said eight of the 10 persons, who had died in this part of the district hailed from Eluru town. About 232 persons, who were affected by the disease were admitted to hospitals. Mr Bharati said 11 health teams and five medical teams had been sent to the affected areas to prevent the disease from becoming epidemic. Drinking water samples had been sent for laboratory tests. — UNI Joshi wants military training for all MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi has advocated a two-year complulsory military training for all citizens in the country. Addressing the golden jubilee celebration function of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) here, on Tuesday, Mr Joshi said he would soon meet Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and try to impress upon him to launch compulsory two-year military training programme. “The military training should be made compulsory to all. Let that person be a writer, artist, student or scientist, “ Mr Joshi said and added that what Israel could achieve could very well be achieved by India too. — PTI 10 pilots pass out CHENNAI: A total of 10 pilots — eight from the Navy and two from the Coastguards — on Friday passed out of the helicopter training school at a parade held at the Naval air station, INS Rajali, here. Rear Admiral K. Mohan Rao, Chief of staff, Eastern Naval Command, reviewed the parade and later presented the awards and certificates to the pilots. The passing-out parade marked the completion of the 50th helicopter conversion course. The trainees underwent six months of rigorous flying training and intensive study of aviation subjects. — PTI Rajasthan transfers JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Government has reshuffled 30 officers of the State Administration Service (RAS) with immediate effect, according to an official announcement here late on Thursday night. Seventeen RAS officers have been placed aginst the vacant posts, while remaining were reshuffled at Jaipur, Hanumangarh, Ajmer, Bikaner, Udaipur, Bhilwara, Nagaur, Jaisalmer and Pali districts. — PTI Tripura militants release hostages AGARTALA: National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) militants have released two hostages, a government employee and a student, the police said here on Friday. The militants, who had kidnapped State Electricity Department junior engineer Ganesh Das from Manu area of Dhalai district on June 11, freed him on Thursday, they said. Bimal Debnath, a class six student, who was kidnapped along with his elder brother Biplab by militants on Wednesday from Khamarbari village, returned home unharmed on Thursday night. — PTI |
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