Results out in record time
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Officials of the Pareeksha Bhavan and other wings of the Education Department have something to be proud of. They have succeeded in bringing out the results in a record 32 days after the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examinations.
As Education Minister M.A. Baby said after announcing the results here on Thursday, the credit goes to the collective efforts of the teachers, officials, and heads of departments who coordinated the entire process in a flawless manner.
The government agencies such as C-DIT (Centre for Development of Imaging Technology), IT@School, and the National Informatics Centre played a role in expediting the process.
The consistent efforts to reduce the time for announcing the results yielded result, a proof of the efficiency of those involved in the process.
The results were announced on May 13 in 2008, May 8 in 2009 and May 3 in 2010.
On March 27 this year, a day after the examinations ended, subject experts met for framing the guidelines for valuation of the answer-sheets.
Fifty-four valuation camps were conducted in the State from April 1 to 20. As many as 1,181 additional chief examiners and 12,225 assistant examiners worked under the leadership of 108 camp officers and deputy camp officers to value the answer-papers.
Yet another remarkable achievement is the increase in pass percentage in schools which have been adopted for enhancing the quality of education since 2006-07. Since the performance was alarmingly low in many schools, the government adopted 107 of them under the scheme called “Quality education, a right of students.”
Since the adoption, the performance of the schools improved.
Reference from The Hindu.
Spraying of Endosulfan State-sponsored crime’
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A rapid assessment of the effects of Endosulfan on cashew plantations, ecology, biodiversity and the people in Kasaragod, conducted by V.S. Vijayan of Salim Ali Foundation, has suspected that the human sufferings and loss of biodiversity caused by the aerial spraying of Endosulfan by the State-owned Plantation Corporation of Kerala in Kasaragod district would qualify as ‘State-sponsored crime'.
The study said the State was duty-bound to provide total support to the victims for life or till they recovered completely and could earn a living.
It proposed that a team of doctors along with a committed social worker and ward member concerned should conduct a thorough survey of the victims to ascertain their numbers and the category of health issue and decide on the kind of remedial measures.
The survey should cover the 11 panchayat areas where Endosulfan was sprayed, as well as the adjacent panchayats from where the effects of the pesticide had been reported. The impact of Endosulfan, if any, on the reported alarming decline in the population of Koraga — a primitive tribal community in Badiadka Panchayat — should be verified during the survey and steps taken to treat and protect them.
The team, led by Dr. Vijayan, proposed that a rehabilitation centre with modern facilities for treatment of all the victims of Endosulfan be established. A satellite rehabilitation centre could be opened in each panchayat region so as to make accessibility easy. The victims can prefer to undergo treatment under allopathy, Ayurveda, Sidha, or other branches of medicine. Further, a system should be established to physically support the invalid victims at their homes.
The victims should be offered appropriate occupation depending on their physical and mental condition, not primarily for income generation but for keeping them engaged. Monetary support to the victim's family should be provided on a monthly basis. As most of the families of victims had borrowed money from local moneylenders at extremely high interest rates for their treatment, a one-time waiver of loans should be considered. The study also suggested that each panchayat could be allotted 20 to 25 acres of land from the Corporation for setting up vegetable gardens and the same could be used as demonstration and extension centres of organic farming involving all stakeholders and beneficiaries, preferably families of victims. It recommended that rehabilitation centres and other support mechanisms to the victims and their families should be run by an independent society. Its members should include family members of the victims, local panchayat member and president, block panchayat members from the respective area, and the district panchayat president.
Reference from The Hindu.
Sai Baba did not leave any will, says Trust
PUTTAPARTHI (Anantapur district): Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust has clarified that Sai Baba has not left any will on its property and activities.
The Trust asserted that Sai Baba had no bank account, flats or any other possessions in his name as “he was above the worldly possessions” and that the trustees would continue the programmes launched by him and monitor the day-to-day administration.
Refuting reports of differences among the trustees, V. Srinivasan, a trustee, said they were united.
All the Trust members jointly addressed a press conference on Thursday fielding a volley of questions on the understandings about the future of the Trust, medical treatment given to Sai Baba and reports of rift among them. The Trust would soon finalise the chairman, from among the members.
Cheque signing power
On delegating the cheque signing power, S.S. Naganand, an advocate and Member of the Council of Management, said Sai Baba had the power and he was signing the cheques till March 28. The need for signing cheques did not arise after his hospitalisation as they were issued once at the end of every month.
The trustees would together take a decision and nominate at least two of them for joint operation of the accounts, said Sai Baba's nephew and trustee R. J. Ratnakar.
The Trust strongly refuted the reports of gold bricks having been smuggled out of the Prashanthi Nilayam, claiming it to be “totally mala fide” and aimed at tarnishing the image of the Trust by vested interests.
On the value of the property, Mr. Srinivasan said it was inconsequential as they were not meant for commercial development.
The value was entered in the account books and the Trust had not violated any Income Tax law or the Foreign Currency Regulations. Legal proceedings had been initiated against a daily for publishing “irresponsible and derogatory” reports, he said.
Family's demand
Asked about the demand from Sai Baba's family members for broad-basing the Trust, giving them representation in it, he said the question of anyone demanding a place did not arise, as all the Trustees were handpicked by the Baba himself.
None in the Trust had clamoured for any position and “we are all here because the Sai Baba wanted us to be.”
The Trust was made a full-fledged body last year when Mr. Ratnakar was taken on board. Sai Baba would have inducted other members had he wanted to do so at that time itself.
Justice P.N. Bhagwati, also a trustee, said the Andhra Pradesh government offered its cooperation to the trustees to carry forward the mission of Sai Baba assuring them that it would not intervene in the Trust's affairs.
Among others who were present at the press conference were secretary K. Chakravarthi and members Indulal Shah and S.V. Giri.
Reference From The Hindu.
Sathya Sai Baba interred with State honours
PUTTAPARTHI: The mortal remains of the 85-year-old spiritual guru, Sathya Sai Baba, were interred amid State honours at the same spot in the Sai Kulwant Hall from where he used to deliver his message to his devotees for decades.
Vedic rituals were performed as the body was laid to rest while Christian, Muslim, Buddhist and Jewish priests recounted their scriptures. The last rituals were performed by the Sai Baba's nephew R.J. Ratnakar, who is also a member of the Central Trust, amid chants by a group of scholars led by Kandakuri Kondavadhani from East Godavari district.
The ceremony commenced behind the large maroon screen which was lifted once the religious rites were completed as the audience watched the ceremony, fighting emotions.
A guard of honour was given by policemen who came in slow march, draped the national tri-colour on the glass casket and removed it after a while as the buglers sounded the Last Post.
Half a platoon of policemen fired three shots in the air in a gun salute. A general salute was also offered by the men in uniform.
Among the VIPs present were Governors E.S.L. Narasimhan (Andhra Pradesh) and Shivraj Patil (Rajasthan), Chief Ministers N. Kiran Kumar Reddy (AP) and B.S. Yeddyurappa (Karnataka), former Chief Ministers N. Chandrababu Naidu (AP) and Ashok Chavan (Maharashtra) and Andhra Pradesh Ministers N. Raghuveera Reddy (Revenue) and J. Geetha Reddy (Major Industries).
The actual process of laying the mortal remains to rest began after the rituals were completed.
The vault had a foundation and a layer of the finest marble, said to have been sourced from Rajasthan.
Water from sacred rivers and soil from every State in the country were dispersed on the memorial.
After the casket was lowered and the ‘samadhi' made ready, VIPs walked upto it and sprinkling sacred ash, prayed and paid their last respects. The ceremony that started at 8.45 a.m. came to a close with a traditional ‘harathi' after which entry into the Sai Kulwant Hall was barred for a while. Devotees were allowed to have darshan and pay their respects from noon. Interestingly, media attention peaked when Sai Baba's personal caregiver Satyajit, who has been provided security by the police, made an appearance the first time after Sunday when Sai Baba passed away.
He was seen seated near the body throughout the whole two-hour long ceremony that started at 8.45 a.m. and came to a close by about 11 a.m.
Reference from The Hindu.
Binayak Sen released on bail
RAIPUR: At 7 O'clock on a sultry Monday evening, human rights activist and paediatrician Binayak Sen walked out of the Raipur Central Jail and into the arms of his daughters Aparajita and Pranhita. “I know in my heart that I never betrayed the people of this country,” Dr. Sen said soon after he was released on bail, pursuant to a March 15 order of the Supreme Court.
On December 24 last, a Raipur district and sessions court sentenced Dr. Sen, Kolkata businessman Pijush Guha and alleged Maoist activist Narayan Sanyal to life imprisonment on the charges of conspiring to commit violation and aiding the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist).
Dr. Sen was released on a personal bail bond of Rs.50,000, a surety for Rs.50,000 and on the condition that he surrender his passport and attend court whenever summoned.
At a news conference at his residence in Raipur later, Dr. Sen thanked the broad alliance of national and international activists who had campaigned for his release. Following his conviction, activists from across the country and 40 Nobel laureates issued statements of solidarity and support. “I am not alone, we are all in this together,” Dr. Sen said.
In March this year, Dr. Sen and Mr. Guha had appealed against their conviction and moved the Chhattisgarh High Court for bail. While the High Court agreed to re-examine the sentence, Justices T.P. Sharma and R.L. Jhanwar refused to grant bail. Dr. Sen was finally released after his defence filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court.
Dr. Sen was arrested in May 2007 on the suspicion that he had served as a courier for Narayan Sanyal. Prison records indicate that Dr. Sen had visited Mr. Sanyal several times in the Raipur jail, where Mr. Sanyal was lodged.
Dr. Sen maintained that he had made the visits in his capacity as a doctor and the Chhattisgarh secretary of the People's Union for Civil Liberties.
In his interaction with the media, Dr. Sen reflected on the “hundreds of prisoners fighting charges of sedition in Chhattisgarh and elsewhere in the country.” Pointing to a recent statement in which Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily spoke of re-examining the sedition law, Dr. Sen said: “I hope we can break out of this colonial framework and work towards a free citizenry in a free country.”
Reiterating his support for a peaceful and lawful solution to the Maoist insurgency in central India, Dr. Sen called for dialogue between all parties in the conflict.
My fast begins today, says Anna Hazare
NEW DELHI: Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare will observe fast unto death from Tuesday until the government acts out a comprehensive law such as the Jan Lokpal Bill to tackle the threat.
“My fast unto death begins tomorrow. I was saddened when the Prime Minister rejected the demand by leading civil society members to include them and senior Ministers in the joint committee to draft the Jan Lokpal Bill [Citizen's Ombudsman Bill],” 72-year-old Mr. Hazare told a press conference here on Monday.
He said a Group of Ministers headed by Sharad Pawar was looking into the contents of the proposed anti-corruption bill and civil society members would be consulted later.
Retired IPS officer Kiran Bedi and social reformist Swami Agnivesh were also present and pledged their support to Mr. Hazare.
Mr. Hazare lamented that the views of eminent persons such as Justice (retired) Santosh Hegde, advocate Prashant Bhushan and Swami Agnivesh were not considered important by the government and “a Minister like Sharad Pawar, who is known for possessing large amounts of land in Maharashtra, is heading a committee that will draft the bill.”
Swami Agnivesh said he attended the meeting in the morning of the sub-group on transparency of the National Advisory Council (NAC) headed by Sonia Gandhi. A ‘Jan Lokpal' should be set up at the Centre and a ‘Jan Lokayukta' appointed in each State to handle corruption cases, probe them and ensure prosecution.
“If the NAC had also decided to look into our demands, Hazare would not have to sit on fast. At an earlier meeting of ours with the GoM, Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily kept saying there was no precedent of having a joint committee to draft such a bill”, Swami Agnivesh said.
Ms. Bedi said just like the nation was united during the Cricket World Cup to boost India to victory, people, activists and the media had to create a non-stop movement till the Jan Lokpal Bill is adopted by Parliament.
The activists also claimed support of 1983 cricket world cup winning captain Kapil Dev and said he had written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to support their demand.
A resolve to end corruption
Amruta Byatnal
reports from Pune:
Gudi Padwa, the day celebrated as the beginning of the new year all over Maharashtra, was marked by a resolve to end corruption at Ralegan Siddhi, Mr. Hazare's hometown in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district.
In solidarity with the India against Corruption movement that is taking momentum across the country, 80 per cent of the residents erected a ‘gudi' with a black cloth, instead of the traditional red.
“The gudi outside every home symbolises a new beginning, and we want to start a life without corruption. Anna is undertaking a historic task tomorrow [Tuesday] by starting an indefinite fast. We want to show our support to the cause,” said Sanjay Pathade, a teacher.
A gram sabha was convened last week, where everyone was asked to erect the black gudi.
Those who did not have a black cloth did not erect a gudi at all, Mr. Pathade told The Hindu.
“There was no excitement over the festival, but the resolution is firm in people's minds. Anna has said he will not return without getting the Bill passed and we extend our whole-hearted support,” Mr. Pathade said.
Reference from The Hindu.
Cardinal Vithayathil passes away
KOCHI: Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, passed away here on Friday afternoon. He was 84.
The Cardinal was admitted to Lissie Hospital here following a heart attack in the afternoon after a private holy mass at his official house here. The end came at 2 p.m.
The funeral is likely to be held here on April 10, since many archbishops and bishops are in Rome now. Till then, the body will be kept in the mortuary of Little Flower Hospital, Angamaly.
The Curia Bishop Mar Bosco Puthur will take over as Administrator of the Major Archiepiscopal Church till the Synod elects a new Major Archbishop by a two-thirds majority, said Fr. Paul Thelekkat, spokesperson of the church. Church bells would chime and special prayers would be offered in churches in memory of the Cardinal during the period.
Vithayathil was born on May 29, 1927 at Varapuzha Puthenpalli (off Kochi) to Chevalier Joseph Vithayathil, a judge of the Kerala High Court, and Thresiamma. He had five brothers and two sisters.
Pope John Paul II appointed him as Apostolic Administrator of the Syro-Malabar Church and the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese on December 18, 1996. He was committed as bishop on January 6, 1997, appointed as Major Archbishop on December 23, 1999 (enthroned on January 26, 2000) and nominated to the college of cardinals on January 21, 2001. He participated in the conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI.
In a biography, Straight from the Heart, written by Fr. Thelekkat after interviewing the Cardinal for around two weeks. The Cardinal says: “I do not have any enemies from followers of other religions, my priests or any other group/political party. They know that I sincerely love all though I cannot agree with the ideology of some.” Fr. Thelekkat remembers how the Cardinal's sincere and honest words often created ‘crosses' for him, since he did not employ a ‘diplomatic' language.
Even in matters of liturgy and discipline, he was for decentralisation and veriety. Although quite outspoken, he did not hurt anyone. He considered the way of salvation as a pilgrimage to the Other.
Those who arrived at the hospital to pay their last respects to the high priest included Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat, Fisheries Minister S. Sarma, and K.P. Dhanapalan and P. Rajeev, MPs. Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony was among those who conveyed their condolence.
Condolences
Special Correspondent writes from Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala are among those who condoled the Cardinal's death.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan described Major Archbishop Varkey Vithayathil as a religious leader who tried to propound the message of universal humanism both within and outside the Christian Church.
In a statement here on Friday, Mr. Vijayan said Archbishop Vithayathil was one who always thought about the poorest of the poor and maintained excellent relations with the Communists. He sincerely believed in the need for peaceful beingness with Communists. He could never compromise with violence.
His views on the role of the Church in education were noteworthy for their pro-poor bias and democratic concerns, Mr. Vijayan said.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat has condoled the death of Cardinal Mar Varkey Vithayathil. Mr. Karat said at Kochi on Friday that the Cardinal was an eminent religious leader.
In a separate statement, RSP State secretary V. P. Ramakrishna Pillai recalled that Archbishop Vithayathil was one who held intellectual views on the relationship between the Church and politics.
The State committee of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), on Friday, condoled the death of Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil.
Reference from The Hindu.
Pratibha Patil presents Padma awards to 64 winners
NEW DELHI: President Pratibha Patil on Friday presented the second lot of Padma awards for 2011 to 64 winners, including Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, the former Attorney-General K. Parasaran, WIPRO chief Azim Premji, Telugu film star Akkineni Nageswara Rao, and the former Finance Commission Chairman Vijay Laxman Kelkar, who were honoured with the Padma Vibhushan.
In all, the government had announced 128 awards — 13 Padma Vibhushan, 31 Padma Bhushan and 84 Padma Sri on Republic Day eve.
At the first investiture ceremony on March 24, the President presented the awards to four Padma Vibhushan, 15 Padma Bhushan and 42 Padma Shri winners. On Friday, eight persons received the Padma Vibhushan, 16 the Padma Bhushan and 40 the Padma Shri.
The other Padma Vibhushan recipients honoured on Friday were the first woman photo journalist, Homai Vyarawalla, scientist Palle Rama Rao and Oriya Laureate Sitakant Mahapatra.
Those who received the Padma Bhushan included actor Shashi Kapoor, National Security Advisory Board member Shyam Saran, Infosys co-founder S. Gopalakrishnan, HCL co-founder Ajai Chowdhry, NIIT Group chairman R.S. Pawar, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories chairman K. Anji Reddy, ICICI managing director Chanda Kochhar, singer Dwijen Mukherjee, Rajashree Birla of the Aditya Birla Group, theatre director Satyadev Dubey, journalist and author T.J.S.George, artists Arpita Singh and Krishen Khanna and educationist R.M. Pai.
In addition, two Padma Bhushan awards were presented posthumously to cardiologist Keki Byram Grant and designer Dasharath Patel.
Among the Padma Shri awardees were actors Kajol Devgan and Sahabzade Irfan Ali Khan, singer Usha Uthup, filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli, sportspersons Gagan Narang and Krishna Poonia, Tamil scholar Avvai Natarajan, legal expert Upendra Baxi, social worker M.A. Chen, mountaineer Harbhajan Singh, musician S.R. Janakiraman, journalist Barun Mazumdar, architect C.N. Raghavendran and U.S. National Science Foundation Director Subra Suresh.
The other Padma Shri awardees were Suman Sahai, K. Raghavendra Rao, M. Ahmed Ali, S. Vittal, O.P. Agrawal, Devanoora Mahadeva, Anita Reddy, P.K. Marar, D.P. Dwivedi, Sunayana Hazarilal, Krishna Kumar, Mahima Bora, P.S.R. Chandrudu, J.S. Mhase, Gulshan Nanda, Sheela Patel, K. Pavithram, A. Marthanda Pillai, Buangi Sailo, G.N. Shankar, D.D. Sharma, N.D. Sharma, E.A. Siddiq, Mamang Dai, Makar Dhwaja Darogha, K.H. Tailor and N.S.B. Zipashni.
Reference from The Hindu.
5,000 policemen deployed for World Cup final
Mumbai: A 5,000-strong force of the Maharashtra police and officers of specialised security agencies will be stationed at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium for the ICC cricket World Cup final on Saturday.
Already the area around the stadium, with the sea on one side, has turned into a fortress, bolstered with stringent measures for the coast and air space.
“Preparations of the police are complete. Senior police officers from Maharashtra have been deployed on a large scale. Around 3,000 police personnel will be stationed here as part of the security arrangements. The police have done comprehensive planning for a strict bandobast. The Police Commissioner himself has taken the initiative to keep the spectators safe during the game,” Home Minister R.R. Patil told journalists after reviewing the arrangements at the stadium on Thursday.
Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik also took stock of the measures.
In addition to the Maharashtra police, battalions of the National Security Guard, the Rapid Action Force and the Central Industrial Security Force have been pressed into service.
Local holiday
The State has declared a local holiday for Mumbai and its suburbs. However, exams will be held on schedule. Mr. Patil appealed to the people to cooperate with the security agencies.
Reference from The Hindu
Anna Hazare faults Lokpal Bill
Mumbai: Social activist Anna Hazare said here on Monday that though the Prime Minister had a good character, the reason he failed to take action against the corrupt was because of ‘remote control'. “It is only because of the ‘remote control' that he cannot do anything. Otherwise he is such a good man,” Mr Hazare said during a press conference organised by ‘India Against Corruption' to gather support for the ‘Jan Lokpal Bill.'
Magsaysay Award winner Arvind Kejriwal and His Eminence Cardinal Oswald Gracias, along with representatives of prominent social and spiritual organisations, were also present for the press meet.
When asked who was the ‘remote control,' or were there many ‘remote controls,' he refused to answer. “You all know it well. Why do you want it from my mouth?”
Mr. Hazare launched a scathing attack on the ruling government for “failing to respond urgently to the most critical problem of corruption faced by the country today.” While comparing the ‘Lokpal Bill' draft made by the government and the ‘Jan Lokpal Bill' draft made by the representatives of civil society, he said the government's draft defeated the purpose of curbing corruption.
“We approached the Prime Minister for talking about our draft Jan Lokpal Bill. But he says he does not have time to take action against corruption till May 13. Today corruption has increased so much that no one has remained unaffected by it,” he said.
Criticising the draft Bill made by the government, he said the intention behind the Bill was to protect the corrupt politicians and bureaucrats, rather than prosecute them. He said the Jan Lokpal Bill would instead give wider powers to the Lokpal to initiate action and prosecute corrupt public servants. It will also give powers to protect the whistle-blowers, said Mr. Kejriwal.
The Jan Lokpal Bill has been drafted by Santosh Hegde, former Supreme Court judge and the resent lokayukta of Karnataka; Prashant Bhushan, Supreme Court lawyer; and Mr. Kejriwal, social activist.
“The nine members of the Group of Ministers appointed for drafting the anti-corruption Bill are some of the most corrupt Ministers,” Mr Hazare alleged, while criticising the government's casual approach towards treating corruption.
“In the Jan Lokpal Bill that we have drafted, if corruption is found through a Right to Information query, the person will have to be immediately jailed. The investigation of charges can happen after that,” he said, adding that the draft had stringent legal penalties to curb corruption.
“The RTI act became so strong and stringent, and one of the best legislation in Asia was because it had the participation of the civil society as well,” he said.
“Today no government official or politician is afraid of law, because they know they will not be prosecuted,” he said.
He said the Lokpal at the Centre or the Lok Ayukta in the States should be made autonomous. “They should have powers to suo motu investigate a matter and take action against the culprits. It should not be an advisory body, as given in the present bill drafted by the government,” Mr Kejriwal said.
He said that provision in the government-drafted bill that complaint should be given to the speaker of the Lok Sabha or the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, will restrict the purview of the Lokpal and promote mainly politically motivated cases.
Reference from The Hindu.