Easy wins for DPA Academy, Satluj PS Academy

 CHANDIGARH, June 24 : Desh Prem Azad Cricket Academy and Satluj Public School Academy of Panchkula recorded victories in the Ind-Swift Inter-Academy Cricket Tournament for Under-15 being organized by DPA Cricket Academy here today. Azad Academy outplayed DAV Senior Secondary School-8 Academy by six wickets while Satluj Public School Academy outclassed Shree Shree Academy of Panchkula by nine wickets.

At the St Stephen's School ground in Sector 45, DAVSSS-8 Academy won the toss against DPA Cricket Academy and batted first. They were dismissed for 170 in 37.3 overs. Pardeep (52, 8x4s, 1x6) and Bhagminder (31, 5x4s, 1x6) were their main scorers. Bhagminder and Viplab (12) were associated in a 43-run partnership for the third wicket. Pardeep and Narain (9) realized 49 runs for the last wicket partnership. Shivam Sharma (4 for 31) and Jagpreet (2 for 25) were the main wicket-takers for Azad Academy. Daksh Aggarwal took three fine catches behind the wicket.

Azad Academy overtook their rivals' total in 28.3 overs by scoring 173 for 4 for their easy victory. Captain Talwinderjit Singh (40, 6x4s) and Jagpreet (35, 6x4s) were their main scorers.  Openers Daksh Aggarwal (17) and Karan Aggarwal (16) put on 23 runs for the opening wicket partnership. Gaurav contributed 25 runs.

For the fourth wicket stand, Jagpreet and Talwinder realized a match-winning partnership of 62 runs. Arvind of DAVSSS-8 Academy bagged 2 for 32.

In another match, facing a target of 123 for victory Satluj PS Academy achieved it in 13.2 overs as they made 128 for the loss one just one wicket against Shree Shree Academy. Vaneet Dhaka (51, 36 balls, 9x4s, 1x6) and Amit (56 not out, 8x4s, 2x6s) guided their team to facile verdict in their favour.

Earlier, Shree Shree Academy were dismissed for 122 in 21.3 overs.Karanveer (4 for 24) was the wrecker-in-chief. He was well supported by Shubham (2 for 1). Himanshu (46, 9x4s) and Navjeet (21, 5x4s) batted well for the losers.

Brief scores: DAVSSS-8 Academy: 170 in 37.3 overs (Pardeep 52, 8x4s, 1x6, Bhagminder 31, 5x4s, 1x6, Shivam Sharma 4 for 31, Jagpreet 2 for 25). DP Azad Academy: 173 for 4 in 28.3 overs (Talwinderjit Singh 40 not out, 6x4s, Jagpreet 35, 6x4s, Daksh Aggarwal 17, Karan Aggarwal 16, Gaurav 25, Arvind 2 for 32. DPA Academy win by six wickets.

Satluj Public School Academy, Panchkula: 122 in 21.3 overs (Himanshu 46, 9x4s, Navjeet 21 5x4s, Shubham 2 for 1) Shree Shree Academy, Panchkula: 128 for 1 in 13.2 overs (Amit 56 not out, 8x4s, 2x6s, Vaneet Dhaka 51, 9x4s, 1x6). SPS Academy win by nine wickets.

Tomorrow's fixtures: MCA Mohali vs SPS Academy, Panchkula at MCA ground, Mohali.
Shree Shree Academy, Panchkula vs APJ Academy, Kharar at St Stephen's School ground in Sector 45.

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By :  News Team

Need for organizing more activities of IRCS stressed

June 24, 2009 :  The meeting of the Executive Committee of the Hospital Welfare Section of H.P Red Cross Society, Shimla was held here today which was presided over by Smt. Sheela Dhumal, Chairperson, Hospital Welfare Section of Red Cross Society.

Smt. Sheela Dhumal reviewed the activities being undertaken by the Society. While congratulating the members of the Society for successfully organizing the Fair, she directed them to organize variety of activities for children on Independence Day, Environment Day and other important occasions.

The meeting was also attended by the other members of the Hospital Welfare Section of H.P Red Cross Society, Shimla.
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By :  News Team

Monkey Sterilization Geared up- Shri Nadda

June 24, 2009 : In its endeavour to find a viable solution to curb monkey menace in the State, wildlife wing of Forest Department has started monkey sterilization on priority.Shri J.P. Nadda, Forest Minister today visited Tutikandi Monkey Sterilization Centre to assess the arrangements made and the progress being done so far in sterilizing monkeys.

He said that two more monkey sterilization centres at Sastar in Hamirpur and Gopalpur in Kangra districts have started functioning. He said that a total of 5300 monkeys which includes 2402 male and 2898 females have been sterilized in the State so far. He said that one more monkey sterilization centre will be operational in district Una within six months for which site for the construction has been selected and funds to the tune of Rs. one crore have been provided for the purpose.

Shri A.K. Gupta, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (WL) HP, Dr. Harsh Mittar, CCF Eco-Tourism, Shri S.S. Kataik, DFO Publicity, Shri L.C. Katoch and DFO Zoo and Rescue were also present on the occasion.
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By :  News Team

11 ITIs to be upgraded to Centres of Excellence

June 24, 2009 :  Shri S.S. Guleria, Director and Special Secretary, Technical Education disclosed here today that Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister would inaugurate the 2nd Joint Review Mission being held to discuss issues pertaining to the improvement in vocational training on 26th and 27th June, 2009 at Shimla. 22 States of the Country are participating in this Joint Review Mission including the officers from Ministry of Labour and Employment and Members of World Bank Team.

Shri Guleria said that Government of India has launched a scheme for the upgradation of ITIs into Centres of Excellence. Under this scheme 11 ITIs of Himachal Pradesh have been selected for upgradation, out of which three ITIs namely ITI, Solan, Una and Rampur have been covered under Domestic Funding Scheme and remaining 8 ITIs namely Nahan, Nadaun, Mandi, Shimla, Shahpur, Chamba and Reckong Peo have been covered under Vocational Training Improvement Project through World Bank Assistance in the ratio of 75:25 mode i.e. 75% of total amount to be funded by Central Government and remaining 25% shall be borne by the State Government.

He said that the approved outlay of the scheme is Rs. 3782 lacs in the ratio of 75:25 i.e. 75% of the total amount shall be allocated by the Centre Government and 25% of the total amount shall be borne by the State Government. The funds to the tune of Rs. 1553 lacs have been allocated by the Centre Government and Rs. 318.66 lacs have been allocated by the State Government. The above mentioned ITIs have been upgraded in the sectors of Automobile, Electronics, Electrical, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Information Technology and Fabrication sectors.

He said that the main objective of the scheme is to develop overall skills of the trainees. The total training duration for the courses covered under Centres of Excellence is for two years, out of which trainee has to undergo one year comprehensive training in Broad Based Basic Training Modules (BBBT) in which training is imparted in total six modules having two months duration of each to make a trainee multi-skilled. After the period of one year, six months Advance Module training is imparted to make a trainee more skillful in the particular sector. And even after this, six months training in Specialized Module is imparted with the help of industries to make a trainee will conversant with the industrial atmosphere. It is a multi entry and multi exit system. The admissions are being made through Centralized Counseling at Directorate level. The strength of trainees in each sector is 126 BBBT and 126 in Advance Modules respectively.

He said that the Director General Employment and Training, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India is funding as well as monitoring the scheme as per the guidelines of World Bank.

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By :  News Team

Varma to make movie of aspiring filmmaker who can 'shock' him

In a bid to promote his yet-to-be-released thriller 'Agyaat', filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has come up with a contest the winner of which stands a chance to make a movie with him.The director has promised to produce a movie of an aspiring filmmaker "who can shock him."

Both he and producers UTV have invited entries for 'Agyaat Short Film Contest'.Anyone who has a chilling and scary story to tell in visual can participate in the contest by sending an entry.Participant can shoot a short film and upload the link on Agyaat's website. The winner will get a chance to direct a film that will be produced by UTV and Varma. 

Varma, who is back with another chilling experience after 'Phoonk', takes the audience into "an unknown zone" with 'Agyaat'."'Agyaat' is about the unknown or forces that cannot be defined...it is about something beyond human understanding. And most of all it is very scary," he said.

"There are so many people who have potential to become a good director but they never get access to the industry.This is our endeavor to find potential filmmaker. Its easy to shoot a film now with just a mobile phone, handy cam and a laptop so we are inviting people to showcase their talent," Varma said.

"The clip should shock, thrill or scare us. Once we are convinced with the capability of the person, we would give him or her a chance to direct the film and take their subject forward," Varma said.'Agyaat' has an ensemble cast of Priyanka Kothari, Nitin, Gautam Rode, Ravi Kale, Howard Rosemeyer, Kali Prasad, Rasika Duggal, and Joy Fernandis. The movie will be released on 24th July.
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By :  News Team

Strategy to be chalked out for integrated development of technical education: Smt. Archana Chitnis

Bhopal:Wednesday, June 24, 2009: Education Minister Smt. Archana Chitnis has said that during the next two days a detailed action plan will be chalked out keeping in view technical education's integrated development in Madhya Pradesh and its future requirements. This action plan will be presented before the Chief Minister, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan on June 27. Smt. Chitnis was addressing a daylong workshop of experts of technical education here today. Those present at the workshop on 'Restructuring technical education in Madhya Pradesh through strategic visioning and action-oriented planning' at Hotel Palash Residency included Principal Secretary Technical Education Shri Sewa Ram, vice-chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya, Bhopal, Dr. Piyush Trivedi, chairman of Fee Regulatory Committee Shri PL Chaturvedi, several experts of technical education, directors and principals of technical institutions.

Smt. Chitnis said that need is being felt for the last many years for extension of technical education and improvement in its quality. It has now become imperative for serious brainstorming over the issue and taking appropriate decisions. In this era of globalisation, there is a crying need of linking technical education with self-employment and efforts are being made by the state government to give it more practical touch. With this in view, suggestions have been sought from experts of technical education by sending letters to them. The state government may enact an Act for overhaul of technical education setup in the state, if required.

Earlier, Principal Secretary Shri Sewa Ram said that technical education should be such that it should not only produce degree and diploma holder engineers but also ensure their participation in industrial development. Loan facility for technical students should also be made easier. Chairman of the Fee Regulatory Committee Shri PL Chaturvedi said that benefit of suggestions made by experts of technical education should be taken while formulating action plan for improving technical education.

Throwing light on the increasing trend among students to go in for professional courses, Dr. Piyush Chaturvedi said that RGPV has introduced a number of technical education courses.

Earlier, Smt. Chitnis declared the workshop open by lighting a lamp. Those present on the occasion included Director Technical Education Shri Ashish Dongre, Additional Director Shri KK Shrivastava, SV Polytechnic Bhopal's principal Shri TK Shrivastava and others. Shri TK Shrivastava welcomed the guests. Shri Ashish Dongre threw light on the objectives of the worksop and presented mementoes to the guests.
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By :  News Team

Scientists discover protein that stops spread of cancer

In a major breakthrough that might increase the survival rate of cancer patients, an American research team has identified a protein which inhibits spread of affected cells to other parts of the body from a carcinogenic tumour.

Researchers at Children's Hospital Boston have isolated a protein called prosaposin which stops metastasis or the spread of cancer cells to other parts of the body, by blocking the growth of blood vessels. 

Assistant Professor Randoph S Watnick in USA found that metastatic tumours prepare landing places in distant organs for their migration, by secreting certain proteins that encourage tumour growth and attract feeder blood vessels. 

Now, he and his colleagues show that non-metastatic tumours secrete a protein called prosaposin -- which inhibits metastasis by causing production of factors that block the growth of blood vessels. 

"Prosaposin, or derivatives that stimulate p53 activity in a similar manner in the tumour stroma, might be an effective way to inhibit the metastatic process in humans," says Watnick in his findings, which were published in the online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences during the week of June 22.
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By :  News Team

Bharat's unit to manufacture 100 mn doses of animal vaccine

Bharat Biotech International Ltd, vaccines manufacturer, on Tuesday said it is in the process of setting up a Rs 100-crore unit near Bangalore that will manufacture 100 million doses of animal vaccines."The new unit, to be commissioned in two months, will have a production capacity of 100 million doses of vaccine for cattle and other animals," company's Chairman and Managing Director Krishna M Ella told a news agency.

The main product of the new venture, to be called BIO-VET International Limited, would be a vaccine for the foot and mouth disease prevalent among cattles, he said.Ella said the company was all set to garner a business of over Rs 400 crore in the current fiscal compared to Rs 300 crore in 2008-09.

In the last one and a half years, BBIL had supplied 500 million doses of polio vaccine to the country, he said.On the export front, BBIL, the largest manufacturer of Hepatitis-B, clinched Rs 80 crore worth orders, supplying various types of vaccines to over 65 countries, he said.

Ella claimed that BBIL was the only bio-tech company to export 20 lakh tonnes of preservative free vaccines to regulated markets across the globe.
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By :  News Team

Amarnath yatra suspended from Jammu

Owing to large number of devotees stranded at transit base camp at Baltal, Amarnath yatra has been suspended from Jammu base camp on Wednesday."No batch was allowed to Baltal base camp from here today. The yatra was suspended as there is a heavy rush of stranded devotees at Baltal," police officials at Jammu said adding over 15,000 pilgrims are stranded at the transit camp.

Over 2,700 pilgrims have been left waiting for resumption of the yatra at Jammu base camp in Bhagwati Nagar due to the suspension.Jammu and Kashmir government and Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has set up three base camps at Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu, at Nunwan in Pahalgam and at Baltal for providing

boarding and lodging facilities to pilgrims visiting cave shrine.While, Jammu base camp facilitates boarding and lodging for over 20,000 pilgrims at a time, Baltal and Nunwan can house over 5,000 pilgrims at a time.Till now, nearly 70,000 pilgrims have paid obeisance at the 3888 mt Amarnath cave shrine till now. 

Meanwhile, a high level assessment team headed by SASB Chief Executive Officer B B Viyas on Tuesday carried out an aerial survey of the traditional Pahalgam route to take a final decision on opening of the route, which has been covered with snow for last few days, to the pilgrims. 

The team has submitted its report on resumption of yatra via traditional Pahalgam route to Governor N N Vohra.
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By :  News Team

Army Chief visits Kohima and Tezpur

During His two days visit to North Eastern region Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor, visited Kohima today. The Army Chief was accompanied by Lt Gen VK Singh, GOC-in-C Eastern Command and Lt Gen RK Loomba GOC 3 Corps.

On arrival at Kohima the Chief called on His Excellency the Governor of Nagaland. In a brief interactive session at Rajbhawan the Army Chief assured of continued support and full cooperation from Security Forces to the civil administration in maintaining peace, harmony and security within the framework of agreed Ceasefire ground rules in the state of Nagaland.

Later in the day the Chief was briefed by Inspector General of Assam Rifles (North) about the prevailing security situation in the state and the operational preparedness of Assam Rifles.

Army Chief also visited Gajaraj Corps at Tejpur along with Lt Gen VK Singh, GOC-in-C Eastern Command and reviewed the overall security scenario in the state of Assam and activities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh .

Interacting with officers the Army Chief appreciated the fact that all operations in the Corps Zone were being carried out in a befitting manner to create an environment for peace, stability and progress in the state.
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By :  News Team

Community Radio Station to Start at Mahila SEWA Trust, Ahmedabad

Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India has signed a Grant of Permission Agreement for establishing, maintaining and operating a Community Radio Station at Mahila SEWA Trust. Letter of Intent had been issued to the Institute after recommendations of Inter Ministerial Committee and seeking requisite clearances from various Ministries. The Community Radio Station is expected to be operational within three months as per the agreement. With this, the number of CRS will increase to 49 in the country.

SEWA started its community radio initiatives for building capacity of the women of the informal sector. The main objective of the activity is to provide information and education to the members in the remotest of the villages. The radio programmes are made on different subjects like health, water, agriculture, animal husbandry, national and international events etc. The programmes particularly emphasize community participation. The professional experts give the training to the women at grassroot level.

Mahila SEWA (Self Employed women association) was set up on 18th June 1975 under the Bombay Public Trust act. Mahila SEWA Trust's main goals are to organize women workers for full employment and self reliance. Mahila SEWA Trust organizes women to ensure that they obtain full employment. Mahila SEWA Trust provides childcare, healthcare, insurance and conducts trainings and seminars.

The Ministry encourages setting up of the Community Radio Stations as CRS promises to provide an opportunity to the local communities to express themselves, and empower the women. The main aim of starting the CRS is to provide different and useful information to the people in nearby villages.
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By :  News Team

LINKAGES WITH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES IN INDIA

By : Kalpana Palkhiwala :Climate change impacts and associated vulnerability are of particular concern to developing countries like India. Vast population depend on climate sensitive sectors like agriculture and forestry for livelihood. By adversely affecting freshwater availability and quality, biodiversity and desertification, climate change tends to disproportionately impact the poorest in the society exacerbating inequities in access to food, water and health. The capacity to adapt is a function of access to wealth scientific and technical knowledge, information, skills, infrastructure, institutions and equity and therefore varies among regions and socio-economic groups. Climate change therefore is intrinsically linked to other environmental issues and to the challenge to sustainable development.

For climate change research to feed into national level policymaking, an understanding of the regional micro-level aspects of poverty and climate change vulnerability is required. The third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) called for "greater emphasis on the development of methods for assessing vulnerability, especially at national and sub-national scales where impacts of climate change are felt and responses are implemented.

Sustainable development issues are of core concern to the country providing the best mechanism to address most of these issues. Commitment to the UNFCCC as well as many other Multilateral Environmental Agreements Highlights India's concerns related to these issues besides other steps that have been taken to address to push socio- economic development and eradicate poverty. India is particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts in view of the high percentage of population dependent on climate sensitive sources for a living and the impact on economic growth. Sensitivities due to long coastline exposed to sea level rise and storm surges, poverty and lack of access to even basic facilities and services like water, health and electricity to many area critical factor.

The Government in this view has been trying to mainstream these concerns into the relevant sector policies. Several ongoing efforts address some of these vulnerability concerns, although they are primarily driven by the objective of sustainable livelihood and poverty alleviation.

Following are some of the ongoing programmes of the Government to promote sustainable agriculture, forestry and coastal zone development:

• Drought and Flood Proofing Measures

• Zero-tillage Practices

• Development of Drought Resistant varieties and salt tolerant varieties

• Promoting on-farm water management practices and promotion of water conserving technologies

• Kissan Credit Scheme

• Promoting Crop Diversification

• Insurance

• Integrated Watershed Management Programme

• Coastal Zone Management Plan

• Joint Forestry Management Plan

• Joint Forestry Management Programme and many others to add.

Funding Procedures

In response to these concerns, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has announced the development of four funds, to support adaptation-the Least Developed Country (LDC) Fund, Strategic Priority on Adaptation, the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) and the Kyoto Protocol Driven Adaptation Fund. While the first three funds have been operationlised the resources available under the funds that are made available. The World Bank estimates to Climate-proof investments in developing countries alone indicate resources required at the scale of US $ 10 billion to $ 40 billion per year (World Bank, 2006). Procedures regarding the implementation of the Adaptation fund are still not finalised as proceeds from the Clean Development Mechanism Projects will be directed towards operationalising this fund.

Strengthening institutional frameworks, correcting market failures (e.g., failures to reflect environmental damage or resource depletion in prices or inadequate economic valuations of biodiversity), and prompting public participation, education and capacity building can help in adaptation measures. Regional cooperation and experience sharing amongst countries would assist in developing adaptation options.

The challenges lie in identifying opportunities that would facilitate sustainable development by making use of existing technologies and development policies that make climate –sensitive sectors resilient to today's climate variability. This strategy will require developing countries to have access to appropriate technologies, information, and adequate financing. As it is the coping mechanisms in developing countries are stretched to deal with natural calamities. Adding the climate change dimension implies additional burden and adaptation will require anticipatory planning; failure to prepare systems for projected changes in climate variability and extremes could lead to capital intensive development of infrastructure or technologies that are ill suited to future conditions, as well as missed opportunities to lower the costs of adaptation.

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By :  News Team

'Hunar', a road to self-reliance for women in Bihar

'Hunar', a scheme jointly launched by the Union HRD Ministry and Bihar Government to make women from minority communities self-dependent, is turning out to be a "huge success" in the state with over 13,000 of them joining the programme.

Under the scheme, started on an experimental basis in July last year, women from minority communities are being trained in computers and other skills like weaving, knitting, and child and maternity care.

"Hunar (Talent) is a huge success in Bihar which is the first state in India to implement the scheme. Altogether 13,884 candidates got enrolled for the programme," National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) Chairman Dinesh Singh Bishth told a news agency.

The NIOS in collaboration with Bihar Education Project is engaged in implementing the scheme.

S Singh, Regional Director of the programme, said that the success of the project has encouraged the state government to extend the scheme for a further period of one year with a plan to enroll 50,000 Muslim girls this year.

Describing the programme as "highly-effective" in Bihar, state minority commission chairperson Baushad Ahmed said the scheme was proving to be "a big help in improving the social condition of the Muslims".

Called as skill development scheme for women from minorities, the blueprint for the project was prepared by the NIOS, which is provide free boarding for girls at the training centres.

There are over 10 millions Muslims in Bihar accounting for over 15 percent of the state's population. Despite several schemes for minorities, only 36 percent of the Muslims in Bihar are literate.

However, Muslim women in Bihar have literacy rate of 31.5 percent.

Under 'Hunar' scheme, after successfully completing the training, the candidates would be given Rs 2,000 as a grant to purchase machines or equipment related to their trade so that the can start their own business, Bishth said.

From this session, bee keeping, mushroom production, computer hardware, drawing, DTP, embroidery and elementary computer would also be added in the training, he said.

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By :  News Team

Govt will try to implement Yash Pal report in 100 days: Sibal

Taking forward the process of reforms, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal on Wednesday said the govt will try to implement in 100 days the Yash Pal committee's recommendations for setting up of a national commission in higher education and research.

"The report seeks to show a roadmap for future of education in India. The recommendations are pivotal for reforms. I believe it will be accepted by the nation," Sibal told reporters after eminent educationist Prof Yash Pal submitted the report to him at his office in New Delhi.

"Yash Pal committee has taken everybody on board in preparing the report. We will proceed with consensus and try to implement the report in 100 days," he said.The report on 'Renovation and Rejuvenation of Higher Education' has been prepared after much consultation with all the stakeholders, including students and teachers, Prof Pal said.

"Our education system has become compartmentalised over the years. We have tried to bridge the gap between institutions and disciplines. We have suggested setting up of National Commission for Higher Education and Research which will be an apex body in education," he said.

The 24-member panel in its report has said that existing regulatory bodies like UGC and AICTE have no business to perform the regulatory role.The universities will be made self-regulatory agencies.The National Commission for Higher Education and Research will be a constitutional body like Election Commission.

Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition and Chief Justice of India will select people for the post of chairperson and members of the commission.The Constitution will have to be amended to create the commission.

The government will bring a new bill for creation of the commission.The bill will specify the role of the councils and whether the councils will continue at all."We have said these councils will no more decide what should be the design and structure of courses in universities. The universities themselves will decide their own course," a member of the panel said.

The thrust is to give full autonomy to universities which will function as self regulatory bodies and will be vested with all academic responsibilities.They will design the function and structure of programmes, including the medical and engineering courses, the member said.

The Commission will oversee the functioning of the universities and act as a facilitator for proper growth of higher education and research.Institutions will be empowered to offer all types of courses, including medical and engineering programmes.

Each programme will be inter-disciplinary in approach, the member said.Critical of the functioning of deemed universities, the committee suggested stringent regulations to ensure that these varsities provide quality education.

The committee had submitted its interim report in March this year.The committee was set up in February 2008 with the mandate of studying the functioning of different agencies in higher education and suggest measures to restructure the system of higher education.
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By :  News Team

Jagganath Rathyatra begins in Puri today

Puri, the coastal city of Orissa, is all set to host the 7-day world-famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, commencing from Wednesday.

The millennia-old annual festival is considered as one of the world's longest surviving holy celebration. More than 10 lakh pilgrims are likely to throng to Puri to watch Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra being pulled along the Grand Road on their respective chariots, the Nandighosa, Devidalana and Taladhwaja.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the smooth conduct of the Rath Yatra.

Thousands of policemen and paramilitary personnel patrol the streets in Puri town to ensure the safety to devotees thronged, to witness the annual rathyatra procession.

 

Puri being a coastal city on the Bay of Bengal, the Orissa Police has requested the Coast Guard to remain vigilant on the long coast line of Orissa for any terror attack from the sea. It has also deputed 81 platoons of security personnel and two companies of Rapid Action Force for any kind of law and order situation during the Rath Yatra.

 

Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had held a high-level meeting at Puri recently to review the arrangements for this grand religious festival. 

The Indian Railways has also announced to run 66 trains during Rath Yatra for the better convenience of the tourists.

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By :  News Team

"Dont Hide anything from your parents" says Monica Bedi

Courtsey : www.theindiapos.com
Chandigarh, June 24 : "Dont Hide anything from your parents" says Monica Bedi, On the occasion of launch of her album "Ek Om KAr" in Chandigarh, where our student reporter, Aerika Singh had a chance to catch Monica Bedi for a one to one.

It is quite inspirational to see her emerge back still stronger and determined after facing many setbacks which could have taken toll on an ordinary person. "Will power" & "Faith in God" is what she attributes her new Avtara to! She has nothing against choosing a career in modeling, fashion world or bollywood but has a strong advice for the youngsters "Don't hide anything from your parents, they always remain your well-wishers during thicks and thins of your life".

"Friends are always there to show you greener pastures, but one should always keep in mind that they are eqully imature as you are" Monica adds a word of advice.Sharing her best moments of life she recalls that she was happiest when she saw her mother come out of Coma after a serious accidents. Monica has loads of moments which she will like to erase from her memories.

On her reality show stint, she rues that most of the time the negative aspects are projected, but beamingly adds that she was received well by the public.  With her plates full with reality show and a movie which has to be finished by September, she has no plans to further venture into music albums.

Monica finds it very encouraging on the part of the IndiaPost to provide such oppurtunites to youngsters.

(Aerika Singh, Class X, Guru Nanak Public School, Chandigarh)

 

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By :  News Team