We

he State
OCTOBER 20 TO OCTOBER 26 , 2014
Vol-03. Issue-04. Bhopal. Monday Page-12 Price-5/-
POSTAL REGD. MP/BHOPAL/4-323/2013-15
Published simultaneously from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
Online edition available at wethestate.com and wethestate.blogspot.in
Ranbir, Katrina to get
hitched in Feb? The
complete history of
their hush-hush romance
Forgotten Watson
says his best
years are still
ahead of him
Computer to create
labour inspection
lists; Modi
promises to do
away with inspector raj
Poll results affirmation of
Modis continuing grip on electorates imagination
he BJPs terrific performance in
Haryana and its emergence as
the strongest party of
Maharashtra is good news for
economic reform. It is now time to push
ahead with a bolder version of economic
reforms than what would have been possible
if the BJP had not fared so well. The poll
results are positive affirmation of Modis con-
tinuing grip on the electorates imagination.
The Modi wave has swept through
Haryana, demolishing the Congress, the
Indian National Lok Dal and two other par-
ties that do not now even deserve to be list-
ed by name.
From a strength of 4 seats in the 90
member Haryana house, the BJP has now
acquired a majority on its own, thanks pri-
marily to Modis personal appeal. The two
Assembly elections have injected an extra
dose of energy into an already purposeful
Government. With the Congress licking its
wounds and contemplating its own future
under a dynastic leadership, the
Government is likely to move ahead more
decisively in implementing the more diffi-
cult reforms. The dismantling of the eco-
nomic roadblocks created by the earlier
Government will probably be a feature of
the next few months.
Once Shiv Senas junior partner,
BJP now dominant partner
The BJP story has emerged as the sin-
gle largest party in Maharashtra but falls
short of a majority. The BJP was always the
junior partner of Shiv Sena in
Maharashtra, except perhaps in Vidarbha
where it had a significant organisational
network.
In fighting the Assembly elections on its
own steam, the party had to over-extend
itself considerably and bank almost exclu-
sively on the euphoria around its May 2014
triumph. It was an audacious gamble and
based on a claim to form a stable
Government, even when its tentacles didnt
permeate down to every region and locality.
Recall that the BJP had not
contested the majority of
Assembly seats ever since
the 1990 alliance with the
Shiv Sena. From that posi-
tion to attempt outright was
a colossal leap of faith. But
Modi has conclusively
demonstrated that his judg-
ment that the BJP has
become more popular than
the Shiv Sena and deserves
to be the dominant partner
in their alliance has been
vindicated. The partys vote
share has doubled to about
32% and the credit legiti-
mately goes to Modi than to
any regional leader of the
party. The Maharashtra
result is notable for the
Congress retaining about 50
seats, even in its current
state of being completely dis-
credited, leaderless at the
state-level and at the Centre and wholly
clueless about how to revive itself after
being knocked out in the Lok Sabha elec-
tions. This means that a Congress-free
India, which the BJP has declared to be its
medium-term goal, will be quite tough.
T
Make Digital
MP for
Digital
India: CM
Minister hails
labour reforms
announced
by PM
Metro train
to run in
Gwalior
too
7
BJP has reinforced its image as the principal political party and the natural replace-
ment to the Congress as a pan-India party. More important, this success will trigger a
chain reaction in places such as Assam and West Bengal, and to a lesser extent in Kerala
and Tamil Nadu. Almost as if sensing the coming victory, the Narendra Modi government
recently announced the launch of labour reforms, and diesel price deregulation and a
moderate hike in gas prices. LPG subsidies will gradually shift to direct cash transfers,
eliminating the possibility of benami users. The fact that the BJP did not win a majority
on its own in Maharashtra could also be a seen as a plus for reforms, for this means the
party will have to woo the Shiv Sena to form a government in the state. And with the Sena
come 18 MPs in Parliament, including some in the Rajya Sabha. The fact is Modi has a
small window of possibly six to eight months to push through his big-ticket legislative
agenda after which major elections will start looming again. Bihar is due by end-2015,
and after that UP, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu a year later. To be sure, elections are
due to Jammu & Kashmir and Jharkhand over the next two months, but the results there
will not impact the national mood. What will impact is Delhi, where the assembly is in
suspended animation. The BJP has to win Delhi to ensure that the reforms momentum is
not lost due to political loss or poor performance. But Delhi now looks distinctly easier
after wrapping up Haryana, and with the Aam Aadmi Party in some degree of decay.
BJPs success to boost reforms
3
5
8
10
11
e-shopping boom hits local
businessmen in Raipur
The stock of medicine used
to prevent mother-to-child
transmission of HIV has run
out of stock in Chhattisgarh.
Anti-retroviral therapy (ART)
clinics in Chhattisgarh have
run out of the crucial drug
Nevirapine, leaving many
exposed to the risk of the dead-
ly disease.
According to officials,
around 17,000 HIV patients
including 2,500 children are
registered at ART centres in the
state.
Additional project director,
Dr SK Binjhwar, said there is
shortage of nevirapine syrup
but we can't do anything about
it as only one company manu-
factures the same and there is
no supply from it. He said five
ART centres that provide the
drug free to HIV positive
patients across the state have
no stock of nevirapine syrup
and tablets and some other
medicines too could soon run
out since no fresh stocks are
coming in. Chhattisgarh
Network for People Living with
HIV said the shortage had
exposed many to risks of the
disease. Doctors revealed that
pregnant women are supposed
to receive a single dose of the
drug at the time of labour and
their newborn babies get a sin-
gle dose of the drug syrup
immediately after birth. "Many
babies in the state have missed
this required dose, said presi-
dent of Chhattisgarh Network
of Positive People (CNPP),
Rinki Arora.
She said however, medi-
cines- Tenofovir-lamivudine
combination, which is pre-
scribed to adults, and lopinavir-
ritonavir combination syrup
that is given to children, are
available for next two months.
However, they are apprehen-
sive of yet another crises build-
ing up as it's already happened
five times this year that stocks
had run out.
Rinki said she was in Delhi
just to discuss the treatment
strategy, as ART centres would
soon be going out of stock of
many medicines including teno-
fovir-lamivudine and lopinavir-
ritonavir".
She said this is the big issue
as drugs are necessary for the
health of the mother and child.
Secretary of CNPP, K Mukesh,
said recently around 15 deliver-
ies in Durg, 11 in Raipur and
four in Bilaspur were conducted
without the newborns being
given the mandatory dose of
nevirapine. He said the cost of
one bottle is around Rs 1,200
and the dose is given according
to weight but due to its cost,
people don't buy it. He said that
as per new guidelines of NACO,
the drug is required to be
administered to newborns with-
in six months.
Crucial drug to check mother-to-child
transmission of HIV runs out of stock
2
OCTOBER 20 TO OCTOBER 26 , 2014 (MP & CG)
Chhattisgarh Explore
Online shopping industry may touch
Rs 2,800 crore in the country during the
ongoing festive season on rising sales of
consumer electronics and other products,
an Assocham survey has said. In 2013, the
e-shopping sector stood at Rs 2,000 crore,
Assocham said in a study. e-shopping boom
is not restricted to metros alone as people
in other cities like Raipur, Bhopal, Jaipur,
Dehradun also prefer to buy online
As per the chamber's estimates, the
sales of the shopping websites are expect-
ed to go up about 20-30 per cent in October
due to festive demand. Products like
mobile phones, e-tablets, consumer elec-
tronics, gift articles, apparel and orna-
ments are the major attractions for con-
sumers who shop online, it said.
Traditional shopkeepers in the metros are
witnessing a huge decline in their sales
due to the mega discounts being offered by
online shopping portals on a wide range of
products this Diwali season, businessmen
in smaller cities like Raipur have also
started feeling a pinch. The reasons for
number of e-shoppers multiplying include
24 hours shopping advantage and home
delivery of products. Also, the shopping
websites are offering discounts, free gifts
and shopping vouchers to attract con-
sumers, the study said. "Online shopping
has seen a phenomenal rise in the country
and will continue to do so given the great
potential and huge segment of the popula-
tion," Assocham said.
Worried by the impact of increased
sales of consumer durables and electronics
by shopping portals like Flipkart, Amozon,
Snapdeal and Myntra, Raipur business-
men are demanding legislations to regu-
late online shopping. Many shopkeepers
have said the online shopping craze is
picking up fast and if things keep on going
this way its only a matter of time before
their sales took take a hit.
The Chhattisgath Chamber of
Commerce has gone a step further with its
President Amar Parwani appealing to the
state government to ban online shopping.
He claimed that 40 percent business has
been affected due to online shopping, with
small shopkeepers being the worst hit. He
said that the state government is too los-
ing revenue due to online shopping. While
a ban on online shopping may be too far-
fetched, an executive of Bajaj Finance, one
of the leading financiers for consumer
goods, admitted that cash flow is surely
coming down in the market. Raj Kujur,
GM, Magneto Mall said, though impact of
online shopping is less here as compared to
the metros, people, especially young gener-
ation, is fast catching up with it. He said
the "older" ones still prefer to shop the tra-
ditional way. Sujeet Barai, owner of CG
World Furniture, said online shopping is
more common among people who come to
the city from outside the state and employ-
ees of multinational companies. Local peo-
ple still come to buy the products person-
ally. They want to check the product on
their own. A senior executive in multina-
tional company, Abhinav kumar said the
variety of products available online is vast
and its sheer waste of time and money to
shop at local malls. "Higher discounts are
available online this festive season and I'm
fully satisfied with my online shopping
experiences", he said. Amit Kumar, owner
of Amit Sales said, the sales may not have
been affected too much but yes the impact
is clearly visible in the market. "As com-
pared to previous years, craze of online
shopping has increased. Today people
want change and that's why they buy prod-
ucts online", he said.
Raipur
RAIPUR
3
OCTOBER 20 TO OCTOBER 26 , 2014 (MP & CG) MADHYA PRADESH
Rs. 100 crore venture capital fund for new entrepreneurs;
affordable houses for poor; 7% DA to govt staff
A cabinet meeting chaired by C.M.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan decided to create a
Rs. 100 crore venture capital fund for help
of new entrepreneurs. C.M. Chouhan had
made an announcement in this regard. The
fund will be created as per rules of
Securities and Exchange Board of India
(SEBI). In the beginning, help from the
fund will be given to medium, small and
micro entrepreneurs to set up their units.
The Directorate of Institutional Finance
will appoint an advisor through transpar-
ent arrangements for the venture capital
fund and handholding support of institu-
tional arrangements.
The fund will help new and talented
entrepreneurs, who cannot set up innova-
tion-based new enterprises due to lack of
adequate share capital. States young
entrepreneurs will get share capital at
local level. At present, they have to go
other states and metropolitan cities of the
country to avail this facility.
Affordable houses for poor
The cabinet endorsed a scheme under
PPP mode for construction of affordable
houses for Economically Weaker Section
(EWS) and Low Income Group (LIG) fami-
lies. The cabinet also approved the guide-
lines issued for the scheme.
The area of the project on which hous-
es are to be built will be transferred to con-
cerning urban body at Re. 1 annual lease
rent without any premium. Under the
scheme, government land will be identified
by concerning Town Development
Authority and Special Area Development
Authority for construction of houses.
Authority will apply to concerning collector
to transfer this land to them. A committee
headed by collector will decide as to
whether proposed land is suitable for the
project or not. At divisional headquarters,
the committee will be headed by the com-
missioner. In Bhopal investment zone, a
committee of Urban Administration &
Environment Department headed by its
Secretary will ensure action of reservation
on collectors proposal. After reservation of
land, the Authority will prepare a proposal
on the basis of technical and economic via-
bility of the project. The project will be pre-
pared in a manner that VGF is not
required for its implementation. The cabi-
net committee constituted under Atal
Ashray Yojana will be empowered to
remove difficulties in projects implementa-
tion.
7 percent DA to
government servants
The cabinet sanctioned 7 percent dear-
ness allowance to government servants
and 7 percent dearness relief to pensioners
with effect from July 1, 2014. With this,
state government servants DA has risen at
par with 107 percent DA of their counter-
parts in Central Government. It will also
benefit Adhyapak Cadre of Panchayat Raj
Institutions and urban bodies and
Panchayat Secretaries of Panchayats &
Rural Development Department.
Government servants contributing to
General Provident Fund will get increased
DA with the salary for October 2014.
Amount of DA payable from July 1 to
September 30, 2014 will be deposited in
this account. The decision will entail finan-
cial burden of Rs. 705 crore on the excheq-
uer during the current fiscal.
Policies of Renewable Energy
Department amended
The cabinet endorsed amendments
made regarding permission to use revenue
land and performance guarantee in the
policies of Renewable Energy Department.
According to the amendments, rate for
use of revenue land by the project will be
equal to 50 percent of collectors current
rate for unirrigated land as on date on
which agreement for land identified for the
project is signed.
Pension as per sixth pay
scale to employees of 6
universities
The cabinet sanctioned payment of
pension as per sixth pay scale to teaching
and non-teaching staff of 6 universities
without arrears with effect from April 1,
2014. These include Barkatullah
University, Bhopal, Rani Durgawati
University, Jabalpur, Avdhesh Pratap
Singh University Rewa, Devi Ahiliya
Vishwavidyalaya, Indore, Vikram
University, Ujjain and Jiwaji University,
Gwalior.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh
Chauhan has said that metro train will
run in Gwalior in future. He directed to
prepare DPR for this. Chauhan was
addressing a public meeting at Gwalior
today. Union Steel and Mines Minister
Narendra Singh Tomar was also present
on the occasion.
The Chief Minister said that flyovers
necessary for developing Gwalior as ultra-
modern city will be constructed within 5
years. For this, he asked public represen-
tatives to get
action plans
chalked out in con-
sultation with dis-
trict administra-
tion. The Chief
Minister said that
25 thousand hous-
es for the poor will
be constructed in
the city in next 5
years. He assured
to make available
necessary funds for setting right citys
sewage system. The Chief Minister sanc-
tioned Rs. 2 crore for infrastructure works.
He also announced Rs. 50 lakh each for
Antari, Dabra, Bilowa, Bhitarwar and
Pichhor urban bodies.
The Chief Minister inaugurated and
laid foundation stones of 242 development
works of Gwalior costing Rs. 62 crore 68
lakh. He said that pace of industrialisation
will further accelerate following recent
Global Investors Summit and lakhs of
youths will get employment. He said that a
new industrial area is coming up at
Sitapur and a new industrial corridor is
also being developed from Morena to
Gwalior.
Union Minister Tomar said that the
state is achieving new dimensions of devel-
opment under the leadership of Chief
Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan. He
urged people to partner in Chief Ministers
efforts and Make in India campaign of
Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Foundation stone
laid for 100
anganwadi centres
Chauhan laid foundation stones for
100 anganwadi centres at Gwalior today.
Chauhan inaugurated a trauma centre
costing Rs. 4 crore 46 lakh on the premises
of district hospital at Murar. Chauhan
also laid foundation stone for states first
4-storey multi-level parking costing Rs. 10
crore 75 lakh at City Centre and sports
complex costing Rs. one crore 75 lakh. An
attractive exhibition was put up by various
departments at the programme venue.
Metro train to run in Gwalior too
Bhopal
Bhopal
Tour i sm Year t o
be c el ebr at ed i n
Madhya Pr adesh
Bhopal: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh
Chauhan has said that next year will be cel-
ebrated as Tourism Year in the state. During
it, states tourism potential will be displayed
before the world. The Chief Minister was
inaugurating MP Travel Mart here recently.
The Chief Minister said that MP will be
developed as pioneer state in tourism sector.
State has immense tourism potential. MP
government has chalked out a pro-active pol-
icy. Impressive tourism infrastructures are
being constructed in the state. New tourist
circuits are being developed. The state has
also immense potential of religious tourism.
Sanchi, Khajuraho and Bhim Bhetka in the
state are world heritage. MP has also a num-
ber of National Parks and sanctuaries. The
state government wishes to develop tourism
facilities for every section so that people can
spend some peaceful time in present-day
complex life. Minister of State for Tourism
Surendra Patwa said that MP is progressing
rapidly in every sector. During last 8 years,
number of tourists coming to the state has
increased from one crore to 6 crore 40 lakh.
4
OCTOBER 20 TO OCTOBER 26 , 2014 (MP & CG)
Wildlife experts raise
serious security concerns
in zoo enclosures
Flipkart to market
products made by
handloom weavers
Chhattisgarh has signed an agreement with
'Flipkart' for marketing of products made by hand-
loom weavers, informed Chhattisgarh rural indus-
tries minister Punnulal Mohle during the annual
conference of state textiles ministers in New Delhi
recently. Mohle said Chhattisgarh is the second
largest raw tussar silk producing state in the coun-
try. Against the national production demand for 200
metric tonne, the state has been producing 500 met-
ric tonne of raw tussar silk, he added. He said
Chhattisgarh will soon become the first state to pro-
duce one thousand metric tonne in 12th Five Year
Plan. Union minister of state for textiles Santosh
Kumar Gangwar chaired the conference. Drawing
the Centre's attention on problems faced by the
state, the minister said shortage of handloom thread
adversely affects the state's textile industry and
urged the Centre not to stop supply of handloom
thread to Chhattisgarh due to delay in payment.
The tragic incident at Delhi, where a white
tiger mauled a 20-year-old youth after he fell into
the moat, has forced Raipur zoo officials to review
security arrangements. Wildlife experts have
raised serious security concerns in zoo enclo-
sures. Expressing displeasure over the state of
affairs, experts said visitors tease, hoot and even
hurl stones at animals, but officials refuse to
budge. In reply, zoo authorities have erected
warning boards on the premises bearing a few or
no stringent rules to stop the growing nuisance.
Is the Delhi incident not enough to raise an
alarm bell? asked an expert.
"Animal sensitization is must at zoo. National
parks and zoological gardens in state hardly fol-
low Central Zoo Authority guidelines. Lack of
veterinary doctors in case of emergency, insuffi-
cient staff, absence of emergency plan and laid-
back attitude of zoo officials, have raised security
concerns," said Ajay Dubey, an animal activist. A
walk at Raipur's Nandanvan Zoo or Bhilai's
Maitri Bagh will surely get unpleasant on seeing
hundreds of visitors playing mischief and booing
at animals. Zoo authorities, despite having
guards and supervisors, hardly take action, said
Dubey adding that it was partial responsibility of
visitors too to behave properly.
"There are no security guards standing near
the enclosures where the carnivores are kept. Zoo
officials must ensure proper safety of visitors,
especially those of children when they are watch-
ing the animals," said Dubey. Vet at Nandanvan
zoo, Dr JK Jhadia, said, "People lack awareness
about wild animals. Carnivores don't harm till
they are disturbed as they are used to human
intervention with guards, zoo officials." Jhadia
said. Dubey demanded a mechanism where visi-
tors are given basic education about behaviour of
wild animals. Animals are not there for people's
entertainment, he said.
CII eastern region has
signed MoU with Unicef to
establish a Corporate Social
Responsibility hub in
Chhattisgarh and monitor
nutritional levels among preg-
nant women and children up
to six years of age.
The project, which would
be on the lines of work going
on in West Bengal, is part of
CII-Unicef venture being
undertaken across the country.
Under this project, the CII-
Unicef would adopt few
Anganwadi centres in state
and monitor their minimum
nutritional requirements.
Talking to media, chairman of
CII- Eastern Region and man-
aging director, of Mjunction
Services Limited, Viresh
Oberoi, said that nutrition
among pregnant ladies and children up
to six years of age is required and we will
cooperate in this to assess the present
state and point out shortcomings.
Meanwhile a CII team, led by
Oberoi, called on C.M., Raman
Singh and briefed him on CII's
efforts to promote industrial-
ization in state and region.
Oberoi was accompanied by
chairman of CII Chhattisgarh
State Council & executive
director of Godawari Power &
Ispat Limited, Dinesh
Agrawal; Immediate past
chairman of CII Chhattisgarh
State Council and partner of
Beekay Engineering
Corporation, Manish Gupta
and regional director of CII
Eastern Region, Saugat
Mukherjee. The CII team
briefed Singh on CII's
Initiatives over the years, in
the areas of agri & food pro-
cessing, tourism, health care,
skill development and MSME
facilitation. CII is planning a
major agro show - Agro Chhattisgarh in
early 2015.
Nutritional levels among pregnant
women, children to be monitored
RAIPUR TRAIL
Minister hails labour reforms
announced by PM
RAIPUR
Chhattisgarh labour minister Prem Prakash Pandey has
hailed the slew of labour reforms announced by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking recently at a conference of
state labour ministers at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, he said
the new Labour Inspection Scheme and the Shram Suvidha
portal launched by the central government has in one stroke
addressed a long-pending need of the industry as well as the
workers. Pandey said, The micro, small and medium scale
industries are happy to see a formal burial of the inspector
raj.
The minister further said, The power to choose an indus-
trial unit for inspection is now in the hands of an algorithm
and not arbitrary labour inspectors which will largely put an
end to the harassment faced by industry. Also, employers will
be greatly relieved that they are now required to file a single
sheet in place of 80 pages complying with 16 central laws
forms. Pandey said portability through universal account
number for employee provident fund will ensure that EPF
gets deposited in a single account even if work place changes.
He said that the state has just one regional provident fund
association office in Raipur and demanded two sub-regional
offices of PF association in Korba and Raigarh.
The labour minister acknowledged that the introduction
of a single window for online registration of units, reporting
of inspections, submission of annual returns and redressal of
grievances is a move towards Minimum Government,
Maximum Governance promised by the PM, while expressing
happiness at the fillip given to skill development with the
union labour ministry sharing 50 per cent of the stipend dur-
ing the first two years of training, under the Apprentice
Protsahan Yojana. For the workers, the Shram Suvidha
labour facilitation portal will deliver easy portability of EPF
accounts by linking them bank accounts and also significant-
ly help to unlock the Rs 27,000-cr of unclaimed EPF deposit
lying with the Centre, he said.
RAIPUR
RAIPUR
.............................................................................................................
RAIPUR
5
OCTOBER 20 TO OCTOBER 26 , 2014 (MP & CG) MADHYA PRADESH
School children of M.P. creat-
ed a new world record on Global
Handwashing Day, which was
held earlier jointly by Argentina,
Peru and Mexico. In these 3
countries, 740870 people had
created this record by simultane-
ous handwashing at different
places on October 14, 2011. M.P.
is the only state, which has sur-
passed the joint record of 3 coun-
tries.
Authorised information
about handwashing by 15,46,418
students of states 14,429 schools
has been registered. Additional
Chief Secretary Panchayats &
Rural Development Aruna
Sharma informed that hand-
washing with soap was success-
fully done in all one lakh 14
thousand government primary
and middle schools and 80 thou-
sand anganwadis in the state.
For verification of Guinness
Book of World Records, hand-
washing was video-graphed and
recorded on mobile phones in
19,735 schools specially selected
for this purpose. Sharma said
that uncut videography done at
these schools and names of stu-
dents participating in the event
will be presented to Guinness
Book of World Records, which
will officially announce creation
of new world record of hand-
washing after verification.
Sanitation
necessary to
remain
disease-free
Sanitation is necessary for
Disease-free life - Prime
Happiness. This sanitation mes-
sage was given by C.M. Shivraj
Singh Chouhan on Global
Handwashing Day by getting
hands of girl students washed
with soap at the state level pro-
gramme at Government Girls
Higher Secondary School here
recently. With this began the
process of creating world record
of mass handwashing.
Chouhan said that etiquettes
of sanitation and hygiene exist in
India for thousands of years. In
olden times, elders did not allow
anyone enter the household
without washing hands and feet.
He urged to make beginning of
sanitation from ones own house,
neighbourhood and school.
M.P. creates new world
record on Global
Handwashing Day
As a result of state governments efforts to
promote organic farming in M.P., organic agricul-
ture production in M.P. has risen to 5 lakh MT. It
is about 40 percent of countrys total organic pro-
duction.
60 lakh employment
opportunities possible
Cotton, wheat, food grains, fruits and vegeta-
bles are mainly produced through organic farming
in the state. According to a study of ASSOCHAM,
M.P. has the potential of produce wealth of Rs. 23
thousand crore through organic farming. This can
generate 60 lakh employment opportunities. In
the state, 45 percent arable land is conducive to
organic farming.
According to Agriculture and Agriculture
Processed Food Export Development Authority
(APEDA), only 88 kg per hectare non-organic fer-
tilisers among NPK fertilisers are used in M.P.,
which is much less than 144 kg per hectare
national average. In the state, 29 lakh hectare
land has been found suitable for organic farming.
The state government is promoting organic farm-
ing through programmes of village-to-village con-
tact with farmers about bio-farming and benefits
of organic farming. In M.P., 1565 villages are
doing organic farming.
Future possibilities
M.P. holds good possibilities for organic farm-
ing. Since M.P. is the largest organic cotton pro-
ducer, it has large-scale possibilities for producing
organic textile products for Western countries.
This will help textile companies and retail compa-
nies to export their organic products. Due to
increasing awareness towards environment and
health, organic food industries is growing by 20
percent in India. This will provide better opportu-
nities to companies associated with organic food
grains including organic oil, food grains, juice,
dairy products etc. Trend of organic pharmacy
stores has increased much in western countries
and metropolitan cities of India. This has opened
up new opportunities for pharma companies.
It is noteworthy that demand of organic prod-
ucts is increasing continuously in the world.
Organic farming is being done in over 47 lakh
hectare in India producing 12 lakh 40 thousand
MT products. As many as 135 products are export-
ed from India. Their total quantity is one lakh 94
thousand MT including 16 thousand 300 MT
organic textiles.
Organic products are mainly exported to
America, European Union, Canada, Switzerland,
Australia, New Zealand, South Asian Countries,
Middle-East and South Africa. This includes 70
percent soybean, 6 percent food grains, 5
processed food products, 4 percent Basmati rice
and remaining items include pulses, dry fruits,
spices, sugar, tea etc. In view of health hazards
due to agriculture products grown using chemical
fertilisers, demand of organic products is con-
stantly increasing in the world. America is the
biggest market of organic food grains and bever-
ages. On the contrary, maximum organic products
are being produced in developing countries.
Organic agriculture production
in MP rises to 5 lakh MT
3-day National Organic Festival
gets underway at Mandla
A 3-day National Organic
Festival was inaugurated by Zila
Panchayat President Sampatiya
Uikay at Mahatma Gandhi
Stadium in Mandla recently.
During the festival, farmers sym-
posium will be held on organic and
traditional farming and organic
food. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh
Chauhan will conclude the festival
on October 20. It is noteworthy that
80 percent farming in Mandla dis-
trict is done through organic
method. The need is that these 80
percent farmers are selected and
made experts in this field. Such
farmers have been invited to
Organic Festival, whose organic
product business can be linked with
traders and marketing system is
strengthened. It is matter of pride
that tribal-dominant Mandla and
Dindori districts have been selected
at the national level for propagating
organic farming. Various scientists
will inform farmers about different
organic farming methods during the
3-day event. After learning these
methods, farmers will make agricul-
ture a profitable occupation as per
wish of Chief Minister Shivraj
Singh Chauhan. Some new tech-
niques have to be adopted for taking
more yield in limited land in tribal
areas. Farmers will learn to use new
techniques through Kisan Jaivik
Mela and increase their production.
It is hoped that Mandla district will
succeed in giving identity to organic
farming throughout the country.
State has pride of
maximum certified
organic farming
It is noteworthy that MP has
the pride of maximum certified
organic farming in the country. The
state has immense potential of
organic farming. The state govern-
ment has initiated a number of
steps in view of importance of agri-
culture in growth of states econo-
my. States agriculture is a mix of
agricultural and non-agricultural
activities, which is a source of liveli-
hood for various institutions and
persons. Organic farming will play
an important role in states agricul-
ture growth. The state government
is committed to making agriculture
a profitable occupation. For this,
strategy of organic farming has
been chalked out to ensure
resources management, technical
development, wide publicity and
research for increasing production
to attain growth rate equal to pro-
gressive states.
Bhopal
Bhopal
Bhopal
6
OCTOBER 20 TO OCTOBER 26 , 2014 (MP & CG)
EDITORIAL
espite the camels' new status in
Rajasthan and an ongoing animal rights
campaign to end the annual sacrifice, sen-
ior Tonk royal family member Nawab Hamid Ali
Khan told he had not felt pressure to end the
practice. "The 150-year-old tradition ends now to
save the animal and to maintain peace and com-
munal harmony in the Tonk district," Hamid
said. A male goat would be sacrificed instead.
According to census data, there are only 322,000
camels left in Rajasthan state, down from
668,000 animals in 1997. Rajasthan says a law
may now be required to outlaw camel sacrifice
altogether.
D
e always talk of keep-
ing our environment
clean. But, then again,
we are the only ones who pol-
lute it. Swachh Bharat
Abhiyan launched on 2nd
October 2014 stresses on a
Clean India. Prime Minister
has appealed to each and
every one of us to maintain
cleanliness in our homes and
localities. Under these circum-
stances, it will be interesting
to see how people are going to
celebrate Diwali this time,
when this is one festival which
creates the maximum pollu-
tion in a year just, that too,
within a short duration.
Can we follow a Green
Diwali this time? Green
Diwali is not a new concept.
Keeping the impact of environ-
mental pollution in mind, it
should be our duty to play an
environmental friendly and
green diwali this time. And it
is not that tough. If we have
the will, we can do it. First of
all, let us replace the electric
lights by burning earthen
lamps or diyas. The age old
tradition is much better than
the new trend of decorating
homes with electric lights. No
doubt, this consumes more oil
but there will be less pollution
as the duration of the diyas is
shorter. Plus, it looks beauti-
ful. It is easy to say stop
bursting fire crackers but in
reality it is difficult to do so.
After all, how can we stop all
of a sudden an age-old tradi-
tion? It is better to purchase
crackers from legal shops,
where the packets are proper-
ly labelled with the manufac-
turers name, the instructions,
the name of the item, includ-
ing the decibel level.
Nowadays, environmental
friendly crackers are also
available which produce less
smoke and sound. People
should reduce the amount of
purchase of fire crackers. Here
are some precautions which
every one of us should follow:
Select a common open space in
your locality to burst crackers
with all friends, family mem-
bers and others from your
community. Try lighting noise-
less crackers.
Make sure to clean that
area the very next day and
throw the garbage in the allo-
cated space. Make rangolis
using ingredients available in
our homes and kitchen shelves
like as rice powder for white,
turmeric or pulses for yellow,
sindoor for red, including fresh
flowers.
By observing an environ-
ment friendly Green Diwali,
we as citizens of this country,
can make our little contribu-
tion towards the society, the
environment as well as
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
Swachh
Bharat
Abhiyan:
Can we
celebrate
Green
Diwali
this time?
Rajasthan royal family
not to sacrifice camels
A royal family in Rajasthan has reportedly announced that it will no longer
sacrifice camels as part of a religious feast. The Tonk royal family has been
sacrificing two camels every year since 1864 and giving the meat to the poor as
part of the Eid Al-Adha festival. But camels have now been named the state
animal of Rajasthan, making it illegal to hunt or kill them, so the family has
decided to put an end to the tradition. From next Eid Al-Adha, the family will
not sacrifice camels.
W
New Delhi: In order to check the rising prices of
potato and improve domestic supplies, the govern-
ment is planning to import potatoes for the first time.
The prices in some retail markets have gone up by
Rs 6-10 per kg since September 1. Potato prices have
been rising in many cities because of rising demand
due to the festive seasons. Retails prices of potato in
Delhi are in the range of Rs 34-40 a kg.
We are taking all possible measures to control
the rising prices, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan
Singh said recently. National Agricultural
Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd
(Nafed) and SFAC are expected to soon float tenders
for this purpose.
Retail prices have increased in almost all the
markets except Bengaluru where local produced crop
from Hasan is arriving in market. Prices have
increased this year due to less storage of potato crop
in cold storages in major producing regions, SFAC
said in its monthly report for September.
A high high-powered group - comprising secre-
taries from the departments of food, agriculture and
consumer affairs was recently constituted to keep a
watch on prices of essential commodities. A daily
report on retail price situation in four major metros is
sent to the Prime Minister's Office.
7
OCTOBER 20 TO OCTOBER 26 , 2014 (MP & CG)
Commerce
Make Digital MP for Digital India: CM
Industries made Made in MP Brand as states identity
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh
Chauhan has urged for making Digital
MP for Digital India. He exhorted
youths to dream big and cooperate in
making India prosperous. Chauhan
was addressing inaugural function of
Technosearch-2014 of Maulana Azad
National Institute of Technology here
recently. He also inspected Rolta incu-
bation centre and inaugurated a shop-
ping complex on the institutes premis-
es.
The Chief Minister said that the
state will be developed as manufactur-
ing hub. MP will become driving force of
countrys economy. Youths should come
forward and partner in building a new
MP. They should become entrepreneurs
and employers instead of job-seekers.
He said that every dream can be ful-
filled through persistence, passion and
perseverance.
Venture Capital Fund has been
established in MP to promote innova-
tions of entrepreneurs. Schemes like
Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Yojana
and Mukhyamantri Yuva Swarozgar
Yojana have been implemented. Ideas or
suggestions for MPs progress can be
posted on Ideas for CM website, he
added. He said that MPs growth and
agriculture growth rates are the highest
in the country now. Attention is being
paid to Digital MP for realising Prime
Minister Narendra Modis dream of
Digital India. MP will be developed as
most developed state of country and
world. Stress is being laid on invest-
ment to transform the state. Youths
should cooperate in laying a network of
small and cottage industries.
Vishnu Dutt Sharma said that
youths role is vital in countrys develop-
ment. Institutions Director K.K.
Appukuttan said that academics, indus-
tries and government should work in
tandem for countrys integrated devel-
opment. Students Unions President
Harshit vastava threw light on
Technosearh-2014. During the 3-day
event, 60 competitions will be held. The
Chief Minister released institutes
newsletter MANIT News Wagon.
Student Unions Advisor Dr. Shailendra
Kumar Jain proposed a vote of thanks.
Dean Dr. R.M. Sarwaiyya was also pres-
ent on the occasion.
Bhopal
State has farmer-friendly gov-
ernment initiating a number
measures for their welfare. We will
relent only after making agricul-
ture a profitable occupation. State
is on top in the country in agricul-
ture growth rate. This was stated
by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh
Chauhan at Kisan Diwas pro-
gramme organised by John Deere
Works on the first anniversary of
its plant near Khambata in Dewas
district recently. The Chief
Minister said that products manu-
factured here will have their own
identity. Make in MP Brand will
carve out a distinct identity of the
state. Agriculture Minister
Gaurishankar Bisen, Industries
Minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia,
Minister of State for School
Education Deepak Joshi, John
Deere's Managing Director
Satish Nadigar, MP Manohar
Untwal, MLAs Sarv Rajendra
Verma, Ashish Sharma and
Bahadur Mukati were present on
the occasion.
Skilled manpower to
be raised in state
The Chief Minister distributed
tractor golden keys to farmers at
the programme and inaugurated a
custom hiring centre. The Chief
Minister said that the MP is devel-
oping as an industrial state at a
rapid pace. Global Investors Meet
was held successfully recently.
Ultramodern industries are being
established in the state. Giving
example of John Deere plant, the
Chief Minister said that he did not
see such an ultramodern plant
even in Germany. Skilled manpow-
er will be raised in the state.
Chauhan asked John Deere to
impart skill development training
also apart from providing jobs to
youths.
State first in
agriculture sector
The Chief Minister said that
area under irrigation in the state
has been increased to 27 lakh 50
thousand hectares. Narmada and
Kshipra rivers have been inter-
linked in view of requirement of
water in Malwa region. Kali
Sindh, Parwati and other rivers
will also be inter-linked. The Chief
Minister advised farmers to use
ridge and furrow method so that
production is not affected in rainy
season. Agriculture Minister
Gaurishankar Bisen said that pro-
duction has increased manifold as
a result of farmer-friendly policies
in the state. A provision of 40 per-
cent subsidy on sugarcane har-
vester machines has been made in
the state in sugarcane producing
districts. A target has been set to
set up 450 custom hiring centres in
the state this year.
The RAP project team is going
to hold consultative meetings with
the Dima Hasao Autonomous
Council members along with the
Forest Department authorities
and the local village heads. The
team is also pushing for a resolu-
tion against hunting of Amur fal-
cons in Umrangso.
Bhopal
Govt to import
potato to check
rising prices
Cabinet Secretary reviews preparedness
in wake of Ebola crisis
The Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth chaired a high level
meeting here recently to review the state of preparedness in
the context of emerging global crisis on Ebola. In a video con-
ferencing with Chief Secretaries/ Health Secretaries of 19
states/UTs which have international airport/ seaport, he took
stock of the measures being undertaken for strengthening the
preparedness, surveillance and response system in the respec-
tive states.
Health Secretary, Home Secretary, Shipping Secretary and
Secretaries/ representatives of Departments of Health
Research, Civil Aviation and External Affairs were also pres-
ent. The protocol/ preparedness measures including infection
control practices to be followed by the States/UTs have already
been communicated to the states. The State Governments
informed during the meeting that these protocols have been
put in place and all inbound passengers are being screened.
Till October 15, 2014, 22150 passengers have been
screened of which 7 were identified to be at medium risk and
56 at high risk while the others were categorised at low risk.
Low risk passengers are given general advice on the virus
while medium and high risk passengers are kept under obser-
vation for a further period of 30 days and their blood samples
tested. A tracking system has been put in place under the
Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP). No case
of Ebola has so far been reported in the country although
WHO has reported about 9000 cases and 4493 deaths globally.
State Governments informed that in accordance with the pro-
tocol, they have identified hospitals and isolation ward for
Ebola treatment.
New Delhi
The 3rd International Tourism Mart,
organized by the Ministry of Tourism,
Government of India, in association with
the North Eastern States and West Bengal
was officially inaugurated in Shillong,
Meghalaya recently. The International
Tourism Mart was inaugurated by Dr.
Mukul Sangma, C.M. of Meghalaya in the
presence of pad Naik, Union Minister of
State for Tourism and Culture. pad Naik
said that there has been a substantial
increase in inbound tourism during the
recent months.
There has been a growth of 16.9 per
cent in Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in
India during August, 2014 over August,
2013 as compared to a growth of 9.1 per
cent registered in August, 2013 over
August, 2012, he said. Similarly the growth
rate of FTAs in July 2014 was three times
the growth realized in the corresponding
month of 2013.
pad Naik said that the Tourism
Ministry is working out an action plan for
cleanliness of tourism spots in the country.
This is sought to be done with the active
participation of the private sector in order
to build up the necessary tourism infra-
structure which will facilitate travel and
hospitality, he said. Naik said that the
Central Government has announced Rs.
3000 crore for development of National
highways and State roads in the North
Eastern region of the country which will
have a positive impact on the over all devel-
opment of tourism in the North East. He
urged the states to complete the central
projects in time to enhance tourist infra-
structure in the North-East.
The Minister stressed the need to
develop niche and the Innovative
Tourism Products and Services which
should be the focus areas for State
Governments and the Private Sector. The
Minister elaborated that concerted
efforts are required to develop Adventure
Tourism, Eco Tourism, Rural Tourism
including Home Stays, Birding Tours etc
in the region. He asked the North-
Eastern States to prepare a tourism fes-
tival calendar well in advance and take
up publicity of the same both in domestic
and international markets.
The Union Minister also urged the par-
ticipants to discuss the new tourism prod-
ucts of the North East region and to use the
Mart as a platform by the tourism stake
holders from the North East region to
interact with their International counter-
parts and also with the tour operators from
other regions of the country.
8
OCTOBER 20 TO OCTOBER 26 , 2014 (MP & CG) Turning India
In order to provide a bet-
ter environment to the labour
sector of the country, Prime
Minister Narendra Modi
launched a slew of labour
reform initiatives including
computerised inspection lists
and uploading of inspection
reports within 72 hours, say-
ing that better conditions for
labourers are a must to
ensure success of the 'Make in
India' plan. He launched the
'Shram Suvidha' portal,
Universal Account Number
(UAN) facility for Employees
Provident Fund Organisation
(EPFO) subscribers and a
labour inspection scheme.
"The power that
Satyamev Jayate has is the
same power Shramev Jayate
has for the development of
our nation," Modi said after
the launch. Speaking about
the steps to do away with the
inspector raj, Modi said that
the new inspection scheme is
aimed at taking away the dis-
cretionary power of the
inspector and end 'Inspector
Raj'. While so far the units for
inspection were selected local-
ly without any objective crite-
ria, the new scheme envisages
that serious matters will be
covered under the mandatory
inspection list. A comput-
erised list of inspections will
be generated randomly on
predetermined objective crite-
ria and complaints-based
inspection will also be deter-
mined centrally based on data
and evidence.
There will also be provi-
sion of Emergency List for
inspection of serious cases.
"We have replaced 16 forms,
which factory owners had to
fill, with one form, which is
available online. Now com-
puter draw will decide which
inspector (labour) will go for
inspection to which factory
and he will have to upload his
report online in 72 hours.
"These facilities are what I
call minimum government,
maximum governance. I have
been hearing about 'inspector
raj' since childhood," Modi
said. Amongst other reforms,
wage ceiling was also raised
from Rs 6,500 to Rs 15,000
per month and a minimum
pension has also been intro-
duced for the first time, so
after retirement, a person
gets at least Rs 1,000 per
month.
Through UAN, employees
will no longer have to apply
for transfer of provident fund
(PF) accounts claim, while
switching jobs anywhere in
the country. The EPFO is in
the process of allotting a
unique portable number
termed UAN to the employees
across the organised sector.
The unified web portal will
provide a common window for
online registration of units,
reporting of inspections, sub-
mission of annual returns and
redressal of grievances. A
unique labour identification
number or LIN will also be
allotted to each employer
after registration. Modi said
that initiatives have been
taken for development of
entrepreneurship for the
industry and ensuring labour
welfare. He also lauded the
efforts of the labour ministry
and said it efforts were a
great example of how to
change the work culture.
Commenting on the reforms,
FISME President, Dr D
Gandhikumar said the move
would help get rid of the
Inspector Raj. Further, it
would go a long way to help
the industry grow. With
regard to the UAN number,
he said that SMEs have been
lamenting the issue for a long
time. The decision would
help mobility of labourers
from one place to another.
New Delhi
Computer to create labour inspection lists;
Modi promises to do away with inspector raj
Intl Tourism Mart opened in Shillong; Tourism Ministry
working out action plan for cleaning of tourist spots
Woman athlete
branded witch,
severely beaten
SHILLONG
An Indian athlete has described how she was
tied up and severely beaten after being branded a
witch in her village in Assam. Debjani Bora, a
javelin thrower who has won several gold medals,
fears her injuries may prevent her representing
India in a forthcoming Asian contest.
One woman has been arrested for inciting a
crowd to attack Ms Bora. Witch hunts targeting
women are common in parts of India and a num-
ber of those accused are killed every year.
Experts say superstitious beliefs are behind
some of these attacks, but there are occasions
when people - especially widows - are targeted for
their land and property. The latest incident took
place recently in Ms Bora's home village in the
remote hill district of Karbi Anglong, where she
also makes a living as a farm worker and lives
with her husband and three children.
Targeted
She was blamed in the wake of the deaths of
four people in the village, including one man who
took his own life. Police said villagers dragged her
to a community prayer hall to face a "public trial
on charges of being a witch". Ms Bora recounted
her experience to journalists.
"Instead of finding out why all the deaths
occurred, some village elders suspected a witch
was driving the people to death and organised a
prayer. As the villagers were chanting hymns, one
elderly woman identified me as the witch and
shouted that I should be punished," she said. "I
was blamed for all these deaths in the village,
wrapped up in fishing nets and beaten up severe-
ly." Karbi Anglong police chief Mugdha Jyoti
Mahanta said one woman has been arrested after
Ms Bora's family filed a complaint with the police.
"We suspect that she may have targeted Ms Bora
for personal reasons," Mahanta said.
Branding women as witches is particularly
prevalent among tribal communities and tea plan-
tation workers in Assam. Nearly 90 people, most-
ly women, have been beheaded, burnt alive or
stabbed to death after such accusations over the
last five years, police say.
Karbi Anglong (Assam)
Andhra Pradesh is using lat-
est technology tools to gather first-
hand information about the
destruction caused by Cyclone
Hudhud. As per initial estimates,
several small and medium indus-
tries have reported huge losses,
even as the railway and power sec-
tor particularly in Visakhapatnam
has suffered heavy damage.
Extensive damage has been
reported at Visakhapatnam air-
port; and it has been estimated
that repairs to roof, lounge, etc
would take several months to com-
plete. C.M. N Chandrababu Naidu
has appealed to people to upload
pictures and videos of uprooted
industries, trees, breached roads,
damaged buildings, crops and
inundated areas. Further, the
National Remote Sensing Agency
(NRSA) has been asked to do the
mapping.
"The uploaded pictures will be
automatically integrated with
NRSA data and this will help the
government in assessing the dam-
ages and mobilising required men
and material to reach upto the last
point," he said here. Naidu said
this would help the government in
undertaking rescue and relief
operations in an efficient manner.
People having smartphones can
download the mobile app from
www. bhuvan. nrsc. gov. i n and
upload the pictures. Chandrababu
Naidu's Cabinet is expected to be
in Visakhapatnam as the
Government focuses on bringing
life back to normal in the districts
of Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam
and Vizianagaram which bore the
brunt of the cyclonic fury.
According to the State's Revenue
(Disaster Management)
Department, many trees were
uprooted in the region, which was
pounded by rains and gale winds
at speeds ranging from 170 to 180
kmph. In addition, railway lines
have been badly damaged in
Visakhapatnam, while the airport
has been affected as heavy down-
pour and gusty winds downed hun-
dreds of electric poles, trees and
hoardings and blew away light-
weight objects and vulnerable roof-
tops. The government said that
district officials, heads of depart-
ments and every government
employee would be on field for
relief, restoration and rehabilita-
tion work. The CM has directed
Hy de r a b a d- he a dq ua r t e r e d
National Remote Sensing Centre
to use GIS, GPS and remote sens-
ing technologies to spot the dam-
age and put them on the satellite
through geo-tagging. This would
enable the government to have the
data on damages on the map. He
added that photographs of indus-
tries loss, crop loss, damaged
roads, bridges, reservoirs, tanks
and railway lines would be made
available through satellite tech-
nology by Indian Space Research
Organisation.
9
OCTOBER 20 TO OCTOBER 26 , 2014 (MP & CG) Turning India
Rare birds welcomed again in Nagaland
villages renew pledge to save them
e-Haat Yojana for
SHGs and women
to be chalked out
For economic empowerment of
women, they will be connected
with modern techniques of mar-
keting. For this, e-Haat Yojana
will be launched. At a review meet-
ing of Womens Finance
Development Corporation held
recently, Women and Child
Development Minister Maya
Singh said that women need to be
associated with permanent eco-
nomic sources. Only then we can
make them able and empowered in
real terms. Minister Maya Singh
said that a permanent source of
income should be created for
women so that they can lead a bet-
ter life. She said that it is neces-
sary for this that modern market-
ing techniques are adopted on the
basis of which women can move
forward. She stressed the need for
concrete efforts for training.
Reviewing Shaurya Dal activi-
ties, Minster Maya Singh said that
importance and acceptability of
these teams has increased in soci-
ety. She said that Shaurya Dals
should be empowered so much
that they become voice of women
living in last row of society.
e-Haat Yojana
Commissioner, Womens
Empowerment Kalpana vastava
informed that under e-Haat Yojana,
all registered & producer self-help
groups as well as individual woman
entrepreneurs will be identified and
lists of their products prepared on
state and district level. Women
entrepreneurs and groups will be
trained subject-wise on need-based
assessment. She said that registered
brand name Bharti of Women &
Child Development Department will
be used in products under e-Haat
Yojana. Following branding, the
products will be linked with various
purchasing agencies including Haat
Bazaar of Delhi, Suraj Kund Mela,
Gwalior Mela, Bhopal Haat-Bazaar
and Bhopal Utsav Mela. Producers,
self-help groups and woman entre-
preneurs will be informed online
about institutions available for mar-
keting and events. The corporation
will act as a facilitator under e-Haat
Yojana. Apart from directly connect-
ing purchasers and producers, the
corporation will also give high-level
commercial services for quality con-
trol, branding and marketing.
Hudhud: AP using latest technology
to gather info about destruction
Nagaland's Wokha District has been
bustling with excitement since the first batch
of rare raptor birds Amur falcons arrived in the
Doyang Reservoir area last week. Upon the
arrival of their special guests, the villagers of
Ashaa, Pangti and Sungro once again reaf-
firmed their last years commitment and dedi-
cation to protect the falcons with the support of
Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and the Nagaland
Forest Department.
In their incredible journey, the Amur fal-
cons (Falco amurensis), travel from Mongolia,
roost in Nagaland for over a month before car-
rying onwards to the African sub-continent. A
protected species under the Convention of
Migratory Species (CMS), tens of thousands of
these raptors congregate near the Doyang
reservoir in Nagaland every year and this is
believed to be the single largest congregation
of Amur falcons recorded anywhere in India. In
2012, reports from Conservation India high-
lighted that majority of the birds were being
hunted, prompting a Rapid Action Project
(RAP) to protect the birds by WTI and Natural
Nagas with the assistance of the State Forest
Department supported by CAF India. An
awareness campaign was initiated to gain the
local community's support and also sensitize
them on the need to conserve the visiting
guests.
Awareness meetings conducted in different
parts of Wokha emphasised the ecological and
ethical importance of the Amur falcons and
urged villagers to ensure safe passage of these
migratory birds. The local community includ-
ing the village council heads and local forest
department authorities enthusiastically par-
ticipated in this campaign demonstrating their
support to the cause. Local churches also
played a key role in spreading the message of
compassion for Amur falcon, and thus motivat-
ing the community to come forward to protect
the falcons during their roosting period in
Nagaland. An MoU was signed and a subse-
quent resolution passed by the village councils
of Pangti, Ashaa and Sungro, making hunting
Amur falcons illegal and punishable, which
helped in reaching a zero mortality rate in
Doyang, by the end of the birds' roosting peri-
od. This year with the return of the birds to
Nagaland a 'Welcome Programme' was organ-
ised by the Forest Department in the honour of
the falcons at Pangti village, with support from
WTI and the District Administration. Forest
Minister of Nagaland, Dr Nicky Kire as the
Chief Guest inaugurated two watch towers-
one constructed by the State Forest
Department and the other by Nagaland
Bamboo Mission- to witness the phenomenon
of mass migration of these birds.
The Minister also distributed the equip-
ment given by WTI to the protection squads
constituted in the roosting area. "The Amur
falcons also stop in Dima Hasao, which is near
Karbi Anglong, Assam, for a few weeks during
October and November.
During this period, the falcons are hunted
and traded in Dima Hasao. Keeping the suc-
cess of last year's awareness programmes, in
Nagaland, a Rapid Action Project has also been
started in the area to encourage locals to help
conserve these birds which play an important
role in the eco-system by helping check the
insect population," said Radhika Bhagat, Head
of the Wild Aid Division which carries out the
Rapid Action Projects.
Wokha (Nagaland)
Hyderabad
Bhopal
10
OCTOBER 20 TO OCTOBER 26 , 2014 (MP & CG) SPORTS
est Indies cricket faces a potentially crippling
financial crisis after a peeved India Tuesday
suspended future visits to the Caribbean following
the abandonment last week of the tour to India. The
West Indies cut short their tour last Friday because of
an internal pay dispute, even though the fifth one-day
international, a Twenty20 match and three Tests still
remained to be played. India retaliated by cancelling
a tour scheduled for February and March 2016 to play
three Tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 interna-
tional. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI),
one of the richest bodies in world cricket, also said it
would initiate legal proceedings against the West
Indies but gave no details.
All bilateral tours between BCCI and the WICB
(West Indies Cricket Board) stand suspended, BCCI
secretary Sanjay Patel said in a statement on
Tuesday. Indias away tours usually generate huge
sponsorship money for the host nation due to the
countrys large cricket-viewing population. The
WICB is caught between the devil and the deep sea,
popular TV commentator Harsha Bhogle told AFP. If
India dont tour, they (WICB) wont get the revenue
needed to implement the agreement over which they
had the dispute. Veteran Caribbean cricket journal-
ist Tony Cozier, writing on the Cricinfo website last
week, warned that it would be disastrous for the
Islands if India cancelled future tours. With its pur-
chase of broadcast rights, ground perimeter advertis-
ing and sponsorship by its big corporations, India in
the Caribbean brings
more revenue to the
WICB than any other
tour, Cozier wrote.
Indias cricket chiefs had
warned of serious action
against the West Indies
for abandoning their tour.
Tuesdays statement
comes after the BCCIs
working committee held
an emergency meeting in
Hyderabad. West Indies
captain Dwayne Bravo had said before the start of the
tour on October 8 that the players had not accepted
the payment agreement signed on their behalf by the
West Indies Players Association. But the tourists took
to the field for three one-dayers in Kochi, New Delhi
and Dharamsala, while one match in Visakhapatnam
was cancelled due to a severe storm on Indias east
coast. The West Indies board blamed the players, say-
ing it had warned the BCCI the tour was under a
cloud of uncertainty from the inception as a result of
postulations by the players. The BCCI has already
finalised a five-match one-day series against Sri
Lanka to take place in India between November 1 and
15 to replace the cancelled West Indian tour. Cuttack,
Hyderabad, Kolkata and Ahmedabad, which were
originally due to host matches against the West
Indies, will organise the Sri Lanka games, with
Ranchi named as the fifth venue.
enefiting from his return to form in the
abruptly-ended West Indies series,
Indian batsman Virat Kohli claimed num-
ber two slot in the ICC rankings while
swing bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar broke
into top-10 for the first time in his career.
Kohli scored 191 runs, including 127 in the
final match, in Indias 2-1 series win as he
pushed South Africas Hashim Amla to
number three in the list, topped by Amlas
compatriot AB de Villiers.
Indian skipper MS Dhoni was the next
best India at number six (unchanged) while
Shikhar Dhawan lost a place to be eighth.
Left-handed Suresh Raina gained three
places to move to 15th. Bhuvneshwar took
only two wickets in the series but he
jumped seven places to number seven, just
behind Ravindra Jadeja, who slipped to
sixth from fifth. Paceman Mohammed
Shami, who ended the series as the most
successful bowler with 10 for 174, vaulted
five places to 16th and has broken into the
top 20 for the first time in his career. Off-
Spinner was placed at number 18, a loss of
two spots.
In the team rankings, India remain at
number two with 113 points, same as
South Africa, who though have a chance to
snatch top spot from Australia (114) when
they face New Zealand in the three-match
ODI series, starting Wednesday.
A 3-0 series will put South Africa
ahead of the four-time world champion by
one ratings point. If South Africa manages
to win all the three matches against New
Zealand, then it will reclaim the number-
one position for the first time in five years
after handing over the baton to Australia
following its first-round elimination from
ICC Champions Trophy 2009. On the
other side, if New Zealand wins the series,
then it will leapfrog Pakistan into sixth
position.
B
W
West Indies could face
financial trouble if BCCI
presses for payment
Saina, Sindhu and Srikanth lose
in Denmark Open quarters
Forgotten Watson says his best
years are still ahead of him
ever-ending injury concerns
and a string of promising all-
rounders in the wings have not
dulled Shane Watson's optimism
of playing a leading role for
Australia across all formats of
cricket. As Michael Clarke's side
have enjoyed success in the
Middle East against Pakistan,
Watson has spent time rehabili-
tating an unlucky ankle injury
sustained after treading on a ball
and then a calf strain. The burly
33-year-old was named on
Monday in Australia's 13-man
squad for three T20 matches
against South Africa next month
but breaking back into the test
side may prove a more complex
undertaking. Youngster Mitchell
Marsh is all but certain to make
his test debut against Pakistan in
Dubai on Wednesday and the tall
23-year-old has a golden opportu-
nity to make it hard for selectors
to dislodge him.
ndian shuttlers
had a disappoint-
ing outing at the
Denmark Open Super
Series Premier as
Saina Nehwal, P.V.
Sindhu and Kidambi
Srikanth lost their
respective quarter-
final matches here
Friday. While 2012 London
Olympics bronze medallist
Saina lost to World No.2 Shixian
Wang of China 20-22, 15-21 in
45 minutes while two-time
World Championships bronze
medal winner Sindhu went
down 23-25, 20-22 to South
Korea's Sung Ji Hyun. Rising
male shuttler Srikanth failed to
move past South Korea's Wan
Ho Son, who won 23-21, 21-17 in
a 45-minute encounter at the
Odense Sports Park. In the
match between Saina and
Shixian, the World No.7 Indian
pressurised the former World
No.1 with her immaculate drop
shots and quick movement but
missed the killer instinct in the
end to lose the first game 20-22
before the Chinese stamped her
authority in the second game,
winning it 21-15.
I
N
ICC ODI rankings: Kohli climbs to
second, Bhuvi breaks into top 10
11
OCTOBER 20 TO OCTOBER 26 , 2014 (MP & CG) GLAMOUR
Ranbir, Katrina to get hitched in Feb? The
complete history of their hush-hush romance
his is because these are very specific muscles required for a 6
pack and some individuals may simply not have the muscle mass
to bulk up. However, the youngsters -- many of them are from
small towns -- look at Shah Rukh Khan flaunting ten pack abs (!) for his
upcoming movie Happy New Year, and want to look exactly like him.
Before this, there was Hrithik and the Bang Bang posters. The young-
sters dont see the time and effort that these stars put into attaining
that look, rather they tend to only see the results which they want to
attain as quickly as possible.
But heres the bad news about six packs (leave alone, the eight or ten kind).
1: Genetics often dictate the effort required to attain and sustain six
pack abs. Consider that six pack abs are the pinnacle of body compo-
sition, much like professional athletes or CEOs achieve the pinnacle of
their respective fields. Everyone may not be a candidate for six packs.
You can achieve several fitness goals. These fitness goals are extreme-
ly desirable by themselves.
2: The effort you put in to achieve six pack abs may not be sustain-
able long-term. Even the leanest of the bunch, bodybuilders, only
maintain their shredded physique for a few days of the year for their
competitions. Look at them two weeks after a competition, its usually a
whole different story.
3: Achieving six-pack abs can be a considerable undertaking, similar to
climbing a mountain. To compare this with mountaineering, research
recommends climbing mountains over 10,000 feet high in 1,000 foot
stages and then resting before continuing on. Likewise, getting six
packs is a journey.
t has been five years since reports of
Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif being
the "newest item" of Bollywood surfaced
and now, if media reports are to be trusted,
the two may be all set to tie the knot next
year, in February.
A month ago, we heard Kaif finally
admit that Kapoor is a "huge part" of her
life and with reports of the couple moving
in together, it seems a wedding isn't far
behind. However, in the same interview, in
which Kaif admitted her love for Kapoor,
she also said marriage wasn't on the cards.
Whether that was the truth or a ploy to
keep media at bay, we won't ever know for
sure but of course, that doesn't stop
the speculation machine. As far as the
eagle-eyed people in the know are
concerned, it seems a lot of things
that indicate a wedding early next
year. Apparently, preparations are in
full-swing at the Kapoor household. In
the grand tradition of the
Kapoor khandan, it will
probably be a big fat
Punjabi wedding. Also,
Kapoor's cousin, Kareena,
has already promised on
national television that
she would dance to
"Sheila ki Jawaani" and
at her little brother's
wedding. For all those
who feel like a nostalgia
trip or if you've somehow
managed to avoid the
rumours, here are the high-
lights of their five year long hush-hush
romance. Back in 2009, there were rumours
that Kapoor had 'hooked-up' with Kaif during
the shoot of Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahani while
he was still dating Deepika Padukone.
Padukone dropped hints to this effect when she
appeared on Koffee With Karan with Sonam
Kapoor. Kaif, however, continued to deny a
relationship with Kapoor. In the years that fol-
lowed, Kaif followed up her denials with stony
silence.
Last year, a tabloid released photographs
of Kaif holidaying with Kapoor in Spain, which
was taken as confirmation that the two were
dating. After almost a fortnight of those pho-
tos, Kaif finally issued a statement, but it was-
n't very informative. She just requested the
media to stop carrying the images and refused
to acknowledge who she was seeing at the
time. However, the two have since been spotted
at several film screenings and private parties
together.
What it takes to
get the Happy
New Year look
In thirty years of practice, I have never seen
anything close to this frenzy, as men queue up
like never before for six pack abs. Its not just
young aspiring actors, even regular young men
aged between 17 and 25 are willing to do
whatever it takes to attain the perfect body.
Bollywood may make it look easy, but that six
pack is not easy to attain. Many youngsters hit
the gym, but it takes
tremendous hard
work, and just
exercising may not
give that exact rip-
pling effect, in the
short time period
that they
have in
mind.
ctress Jena Malone
will reportedly play
Carrie Kelly - female"
Robin - in the upcoming
film Batman v Superman:
Dawn of Justice. WILX-
10 News station reporter
Kirk Montgomery spoke
with a source at Michigan
State University, where a
scene involving Bruce
Wayne (Ben Affleck) and
Lex Luthor (Jesse
Eisenberg) was being
recently filmed. Ive
learned that the character
of Robin is now female,
he said, reports
variety.com. Warner Bros.
(WB) declined to com-
ment. Malone, who
appeared in The Hunger
Games: Catching Fire,
has been seen on the WB
set. Batman v Superman:
Dawn of Justice, co-star-
ring Henry Cavill and
Gal Gadot, opens March
25, 2016.
A
T
Raveena hails PM Modi's
Swachch Bharat mission
I
Jena Malone to
play the female
Robin in
'Batman v Superman'?
ollywood actress Raveena Tandon Sunday praised
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cleanliness campaign
and appealed to all to lend support to the "swachchta mis-
sion." She was speaking to reporters after formally opening a
jeweller's shop here Sunday evening. The actress said she
loved coming to Sri Krishna's "nagri" so revered and loved by
all. She also asked all to contribute generously to relief oper-
ations in Jammu and Kashmir.
B
12
OCTOBER 20 TO OCTOBER 26 , 2014 (MP & CG)
Owned Printed and Puplished byM.M. Baig. Printed at lucky, 267, Pragati Nagar, Shahanshah garden, Bhopal (MP) and published from H.No. 101, A Sector Indrapuri BHEL, Ward No. 63, Dist. Bhopal- 462021, M.P.
Tele/FAX 0755-4292545, Mob. 9425029901 email-editor@wethestate.comRNI No. MPENG/2012/46415 Editor: M.M. BAIG- Responsible for selection of News & Articles under PRB Act, Subject to Bhopal jurisdiction
NATION
Vision Ambassadors to
act as the link between
donors and eye banks
Dr Harsh Vardhan wants 5 New AIISH-like institutions across India
Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union
Health Minister, has
announced plans for setting
up five new national level
institutions along the lines of
the All India Institute of
Speech and Hearing (AIISH),
the premier centre here,
which is now in its golden
jubilee year. The Minister
would soon form a committee
to decide on the location of the
new centres. A parallel
endeavour would be to set up
speech and audiology depart-
ments in all medical colleges
of the country that desire to
have them. A number of such
colleges have evinced interest
which the Ministry is consid-
ering. Addressing the faculty
and students of AIISH, at
Mysore recently, Dr Harsh
Vardhan said that prevention
of communication disabilities
and rehabilitation of patients
form a major thrust area of
his vision of a healthy India.
He pointed out that aware-
ness should be drilled into
new mothers on the link
between some drugs that are
prescribed during pregnancy
and the risks they carry for
the hearing abilities of the
child after birth. He also
asked the authorities of
AIISH to institute a rural out-
reach model for the whole
country by undertaking sur-
veys in villages on the burden
of hearing and speech disor-
ders. Dr Vardhan inspected
the facilities of AIISH and
interacted with patients,
audiologists and speech ther-
apists.
India says tobacco firms will soon
have to reserve almost all the space on
cigarette packs for health warnings
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan
said by law warnings in pictures
and text would need to cover 85% of
the surface of packs - just 15%
would be for branding. The new
rules will be in force within
months, he said, adding: "Tobacco
means nothing else except death."
India has about 11 crore smok-
ers and the government says smok-
ing kills nearly a million people a
year.
Government orders on new pic-
torial warnings have faced stiff
resistance from tobacco manufac-
turers and the deadline for imple-
menting them have been postponed
a couple of times in the past. The
new rules take effect from 1 April
next year and the health ministry
said printed warnings will need to
be carried on the front and back of
cigarette packs, with highly visible
pictorial warnings as well as the
information that "tobacco causes
mouth cancer". In 2010, two top
tobacco manufacturers in India
halted production in a row over new
health warnings they were
required to put on their packaging.
In recent years, India has come
up with stringent rules to curb the
use of tobacco. Tobacco-related
advertisements are banned and the
sale of tobacco products to minors is
also an offence. A countrywide ban
on smoking in public places came
into effect in 2008 - although it is
blatantly flouted and poorly
enforced.
Diesel price to be market determined
The Union Cabinet Committee
of Economic Affairs, chaired by the
Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
has approved the issues relating to
the under-recovery on sale of diesel
and its present status. Instructions
have been issued to make the price
of Diesel market determined with
effect from midnight of 18th-19th
October 2014. The prices of Diesel
will be market determined at both
Retail and Refinery Gate level for
all consumers thereafter.
Based on an earlier decision of
the Cabinet Committee on Political
Affairs (CCPA), instructions were
issued to the Public Sector Oil
Marketing Companies (OMCs)
allowing them to increase the retail
selling price of Diesel in the range
of 40 paisa to 50 paisa per litre per
month (excluding VAT as applicable
in different States/Union
Territories) till further orders.
Diesel prices will henceforth be
market determined. This will facili-
tate greater competition in the Auto
Fuels Retail segment and enhance
efficiency in service delivery of the
oil companies.
This is expected to benefit con-
sumers due to greater competition
among oil companies and more
choices. The competition is also
expected to foster greater efficiency
in oil companies benefitting the
consumers.
r Harsh Vardhan, Union Health Minister, has wel-
comed the launch of the Vision Ambassador
scheme of The Project Vision, Bangalore. This is a sig-
nificant step towards greater coordination between the
donor and the recipient. It is also a form of building up a
social movement over eye pledging, he remarked.
The programme will be based on the work of volun-
teers who will be called Vision Ambassadors. They
would act as the link between donors and eye banks
which is missing at present. More than 10,000 people
have already pledged their eyes with The Project Vision
and 1,000 people have been declared Vision
Ambassadors. The Minister, who has himself pledged
his entire body, said the government will be working
with NGOs in promoting the concept of eye donation.
There are many lapses on the part of both the
donors families and the eye banks in implementing the
wishes of a donor. Often the bereaved family members
forget to call the eye banks so that the cornea is taken
away swiftly. At other times, the collectors fail to turn up
on time, he noted. Dr Vardhan has decided to review the
progress of the National Programme for Control of
Blindness (NPCB) with a view to toning up its imple-
mentation. The Minister, who was speaking at an event
at Bangalore recently to mark World Sight Day,
remarked that he would ensure that the funds ear-
marked for NPCB for the 12th Plan period (2012-17) are
utilised optimally and that he would raise the matter
with the state governments.
NPCB was launched in 1976 as a 100 percent
Centrally- funded scheme with a goal to reduce the
prevalence of blindness. However, the rate has not
shown much appreciable difference even after 28 years,
the Minister noted. The Rapid Survey on Avoidable
Blindness conducted during 2006-07 showed a reduction
in the prevalence of avoidable blindness from 1.1 percent
in 2000 to 1 percent in 2006. NPCB has now targeted to
bring down the prevalence of blindness to 0.3 percent by
2020 from the present level of 1 percent.
The Health Minister appreciated the work done by
the alliance of ophthalmologists, social workers, faith-
based organisations and ordinary citizens in fighting the
scourge of blindness. In Karnataka the prevalence of
blindness is 13 percent, markedly above the national
average of 8 percent.
India has the largest burden of global blindness
about 3.5 million with 30,000 new cases being added
each year. Only about 35,000 corneas are collected in the
country each year whereas 150,000 are needed to combat
corneal blindness. Father George Kananthanam,
Director, The Project Vision, urged the government to
actively promote the cornea donation culture in educa-
tional institutions.
New Delhi
D
New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi