Monday, December 31, 2007

Orissa: PM assures to restore communal harmony


New Delhi, Dec 31: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today assured that communal harmony would be restored in the violence-hit areas of Orissa. Dr Singh also told a group of Christian leaders, who met him, that necessary action would be taken to restore communal peace in the state.

He further said that any attempts to disturb communal peace and the secular fabric of the country would be sternly dealt with, adding that the Government would take steps to protect the religious freedom to all citizens. He assured the delegation that steps would be taken to offer appropriate compensation for damage to property. A Union Minister is likely to visit the State in this regard. Earlier today, Dr Singh talked to Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the situation in the state.
The law and order situation in Orissa's Kandhamal District has largely improved. At least three people were killed in the violence that was sparked off on December 24 when Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists led mobs burnt down churches.

Over a dozen churches and prayer houses in Khandamal District were torched by the suspected saffron activists over Christmas celebrations.

The saffron activists were reportedly agitated following an attack on VHP leader Laxamanananda Saraswati, who led an anti-conversion movement.



ANI

LA Gang F13 Accused of Targeting Blacks

LOS ANGELES (AP) - In a murderous quest aimed at "cleansing" their turf of snitches and rival gangsters, members of one of Los Angeles County's most vicious Latino gangs sometimes killed people just because of their race, an investigation found.

There were even instances in which Florencia 13 leaders ordered killings of black gangsters and then, when the intended victim couldn't be located, said "Well, shoot any black you see," Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca said.

"In certain cases some murders were just purely motivated on killing a black person," Baca said.

Authorities say there were 20 murders among more than 80 shootings documented during the gang's rampage in the hardscrabble Florence-Firestone neighborhood, exceptional even in an area where gang violence has been commonplace for decades. They don't specify the time frame or how many of the killings were racial.

Los Angeles has struggled with gang violence for years, especially during the wars in the late 1980s and early '90s between the Crips and the Bloods - both black gangs. Latino gangs have gained influence since then as the Hispanic population surged.

Evidence of Florencia 13, or F13, is easy to find in Florence-Firestone. Arrows spray-painted on the wall of a liquor store mark the gang's boundary and graffiti warns rivals to steer clear.

The gang's name comes from the neighborhood that is its stronghold and the 13th letter of the alphabet - M - representing the gang's ties to the Mexican Mafia.

Federal, state and local officials worked together to charge 102 men linked to F13 with racketeering, conspiracy to murder, weapons possession, drug dealing and other crimes. In terms of people charged, it's the largest-ever federal case involving a Southern California gang, prosecutors say. More than 80 of those indicted are in custody.

But eliminating the gang won't be easy. It's survived for decades and is believed to have about 2,000 members. Its reach extends to Nevada, Arizona and into prisons, where prosecutors say incarcerated gang leaders were able to order hits on black gangsters.

According to the indictment, F13's leader, Arturo Castellanos, sent word in 2004 from California's fortress-like Pelican Bay State Prison that he wanted his street soldiers to begin "cleansing" Florence-Firestone of black gangsters, notably the East Coast Crips, and snitches.

His followers eagerly obeyed, according to federal prosecutors.

In one case, F13 members came across a black man at a bus stop, shouted "Cheese toast!" and fired. "Cheese toast" is a derogatory name for East Coast Crips, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin S. Rosenberg said.

The victim, apparently targeted only because of his skin color, survived being shot several times, Rosenberg said.

F13 isn't the only Latino gang linked to racial killings. Last year, four members of The Avenues, a gang from the Highland Park area east of downtown Los Angeles, were convicted of hate crimes for killing a black man in what prosecutors called a campaign to drive blacks from that neighborhood. And last January, authorities announced a crackdown on the 204th Street gang following the killing of a 14-year-old black girl.

The violence goes both ways, said Adam Torres, a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department gang detective whose beat includes Florence-Firestone.

During a recent patrol on the east side of the neighborhood, he pointed to a cinderblock wall peppered with bullet holes. Torres said the Crips still control that area and any Hispanic there is at risk of being shot.

Despite the wave of violence, George Tita, a criminologist with the University of California, Irvine, said racially motivated gang killings are an exception. Latinos and blacks are far more likely to be murdered by one of their own.

"You don't see these major black-brown wars, either within the context of gangs or outside the context of gangs," Tita said.

Residents of Florence-Firestone are loath to discuss gangs, fearful they might end up as targets, but there are signs of change. Murders in the neighborhood dropped from 43 in 2005 to 19 in 2006, Baca said. For 2007, there were 19 murders as of Dec. 24.

Jose Garcia sees the difference. The security doors on the store where he works aren't covered with graffiti as often and he hasn't heard a gunshot in two months.

"It used to be at least once or twice a week," he said.


Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
ET

Bhutto's son named as successor

Benazir Bhutto's 19-year-old son Bilawal has been chosen to take over her Pakistan People's Party, after her assassination on Thursday.
Bilawal, who will be a titular head while he finishes his studies at Oxford University said: "My mother always said democracy is the best revenge."

Ms Bhutto's widower, Asif Ali Zardari, who will run the party day-to-day, said it would contest upcoming elections.

But it is unclear whether the vote will go ahead as planned early next month.

Mr Zardari appealed to the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif - a long-time Bhutto rival - to drop his threat to boycott the polls.

Name change

Mr Zardari and his son were speaking at a news conference after a meeting of the PPP leadership in Naudero, near Larkana in southern Pakistan.

Another senior party official, vice-chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim, said Ms Bhutto had named Mr Zardari as her successor as party chairman.

But he said Mr Zardari had turned it down in favour of his son - a decision he said the party leadership had endorsed.

Mr Zardari also announced that the couple's children would now change their names and be called Bhutto Zardari.

Sitting between his father and Mr Fahim, Bilawal himself said his father would run the party while he was away at university.

"When I return, I promise to lead the party as my mother wanted me to," he said.

But Mr Zardari blocked any further reporters' questions to Bilawal, saying that although party chairman, he was still of "tender age".

"We are all in mourning," he said.

Mr Zardari also said he had refused to allow an autopsy on Ms Bhutto's body.

"I've lived here long enough to know how and where an autopsy would have been conducted," he said.

Instead, he said the party was asking the United Nations and the British government to conduct an investigation similar to the one carried out after the killing of the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

And he appealed for an end to the unrest in Pakistan, which has killed at least 38 people since Ms Bhutto's killing.

New pictures

Earlier, Pakistani television released new pictures it said showed Ms Bhutto's attackers - a gunman and a suicide bomber. They also apparently showed Ms Bhutto was inside her car, and no longer standing through the sun roof, when the explosion happened.

The images added to the dispute over Ms Bhutto's death.

Interior ministry spokesman Brig Javed Iqbal Cheema said on Friday that she was killed when the force of the bomb blast knocked her head against a sun roof fitting, and was not hit by bullets.

The PPP has insisted she was killed by two bullets, one of which pierced her skull and another which hit her in the neck.

The assassination opened the question of whether elections due on 8 January would go ahead as planned.

The ruling party says they are likely to be delayed for several weeks, on the grounds that the vote would "lose credibility" if held under current conditions.

Opposition parties have been calling for a delay, amid widespread unrest and political disarray following the murder of Ms Bhutto.

Tariq Azim of the ruling PML-Q party said a delay would allow the PPP more time to re-organise.

Pakistan's election commission has called an emergency meeting for Monday, to decide whether the poll should be delayed.

But the PPP says it wants the elections to go ahead as planned - even though it is not clear who would be its leading candidates.

At 19, Bilawal is legally too young to stand for parliament.

And his father has been repeatedly accused of corruption - though he denies the charges and has never been convicted in court.

Mr Zardari said party vice-chairman Mr Fahim would probably be its candidate for prime minister.

But the BBC's Owen Bennett-Jones - reporting from Naudero - says filling the political gap left by Benazir Bhutto will be a very big challenge for her party.

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Taleban sack military commander

Taleban leader Mullah Omar has dismissed one of his top military commanders, Mansoor Dadullah, accusing him of not following orders.
Mansoor succeeded his elder brother Mullah Dadullah when he was killed in a joint Afghan/Nato operation in May.

He was the highest-ranking Taleban official to be killed since 2001.

A Taleban statement did not say how Mansoor Dadullah had disobeyed orders. But it said his associates should carry on with their duties as usual.

Intense attacks

"Mansoor Dadullah does not obey the rules of the Islamic emirate and violates it.

"Therefore it was decided not to appoint any post in the emirate to him," the statement said.

Mansoor Dadullah has been heading Taleban operations in Helmand, Kandahar and other southern provinces where attacks against the Kabul government and international forces are most intense.

His brother was thought to have been the mastermind of Taleban military operations after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.

He was said to be particularly close to the Taleban leader Mullah Omar.

Mullah Omar himself has eluded capture by the Afghan and US authorities despite a multi-million dollar reward offer.

Hairsplitting, Northeastern style

A gang of girls from the Northeast is going snip-snip with their scissors — and they’re loving it



IN THE beginning, all that Remi noted, were the differences.
“The weather, the food, the language, the people, the dress- es — all reminded me of how far away I was from Kalimpong,” says the charming hairdresser at Mrs Runu
Mukherjee’s Aphrodite salon at Chittaranjan Park.
Now the little local market facing the Kali temple is her sec on home. “The first, of course, is our parlour with my friends and colleagues,” says Remi, flashing a big grin. Mrs Mukherjee, an expert beautician herself, says: “The girls from the Northeast are smart, good-looking, customer-friendly and sincere. Their hands are set for hair. Most of my clients who come for hair jobs ask for them.”
Mimi’s stint at her workplace had a tricky start. The tall, slim
girl from Nagaland could speak just Naga and English. Most of her
colleagues wouldn’t understand her. But that led to an interesting
situation: “The result was we learnt English and she learnt Hindi,
says Rachana, a co-worker.

Remi, a Sikkimese Lepcha settled in Kalimpong, has also found out ways to ‘return’ to her lifestyle right here in Delhi• “Can’t wear frocks and sleeveless dresses like we can freely in the hills used to be my constant crib. Then I realised it was the same for everybody. So I decided not to complain and be ‘in fashion’ during group outings,” she says. Seema Tamang, another hairdresser, came to Delhi in ‘98. “I
miss the tea gardens but when I go there, I miss Delhi,” she says with a smile counting the city’s pluses: Red Fort, Lotus temple — there are so many places to visit. All kinds of people can live and earn here.”

The band of girls from the Northeast and north Bengal love the work environment. “10 am, to 6p.m. are our duty hours. Dai ly it’s 4-5 haircuts, 12-15 during peak season — it’s not all that
tough,” says Seema. Their relationship with their Punjabi landlord is also clear )X cut and correct: “He just wants money — on time. Money for
rent, money for water and electricity. And why won’t he?” Remi denies the outsiders’ oft-quoted claim of the city’s snob- bishness. “Many of our customers have turned friends. They ask us about our homes, we ask about theirs.”

Friday, December 28, 2007

Indian police shoot three dead


Police in the eastern Indian state of Orissa shot and killed at least three people on Thursday in continuing communal violence, officials say.
Police opened fire on a large crowd of Hindus after a village police station was set on fire.

The crowd had been complaining about a lack of protection after Christians set fire to several Hindu homes.

Christians had retaliated after 19 churches were destroyed in violence that began on Christmas Eve.

The disorder in the remote tribal area has continued despite a curfew and the deployment of a large number of state and federal police.

Reinforcements

The state government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the violence, which has disrupted telephone lines and other communications.

An additional 200-strong paramilitary force is being deployed to the area after Orissa's chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, called for more federal help to quell the violence.

Members of the hardline Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) said Christians sparked the violence by attacking one of their leaders, Swami Laxamananda Saraswati, on Monday.

Hindu groups also accuse Christian missionaries of forcing tribal people and low-caste Hindus to convert to Christianity.

But Christians deny the claims and accuse the Hindus of objecting to them celebrating Christmas.

The BBC's Tinku Ray in Delhi says the issue of conversions is very sensitive in India, where several states have laws that forbid or make it difficult to convert.

Orissa has seen some of the worst attacks on the minority Christian community.

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Curfew continues in riot-hit areas of Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Dec 27: Curfew continued on Thursday in four towns of Orissa's Kandhamal District following the killing of a youth and the ransacking of churches.

Paramilitary troops today marched through riot-hit areas, which were relatively peaceful after clashes between the two communities since the Christmas eve. Superintendent of Police Narasimha Bhol said except one or two minor incidents, the Kandhamal district by and large remained peaceful in the past 18 hours. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will stage a flag march in the other affected areas of the district. Meanwhile, the district administration had constituted a peace committee in the area.

The situation in some parts has improved. But tension continued in other areas such as Baliguda and Daringibadi. Many Christian families flee homes in Barkhama.

Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik has reviewed the situation and the steps being taken to bring normalcy in Kandhamal district. Meanwhile, the Centre has asked the State Government for a detailed report. Fresh incidents of violence were reported from curfew-bound areas of Barakhama and Jaleshpata on Wednesday.

According to police, four houses were torched outside Abraham, and six others were set on fire in Jaleshpata. Laxmanananda Saraswati, a VHP leader and prominent anti-conversion activist was allegedly attacked on Monday that gave a violent turn to things.

Violence broke out in Phulbani, Baliguda, Daringibadi and Brahmanigaon as VHP activists ransacked six churches in Baliguda area disrupted Christmas festivities on Tuesday.

More than 27 platoons of armed police and three companies of CRPF have been deployed in the district to prevent further escalation of violence. As a precautionary measure, prohibitory orders were also imposed in Phiringia, Tikabali, Udaigiri and Raikia.

The CPM has condemned the attacks on minorities and their institutions. In a press statement in New Delhi, the Polit Bureau accused the Orissa Government of having failed to protect them and their property. It demanded deployment of adequate security forces in the affected areas and punishment to those responsible for the violence.

ANI

Son hacks father to death in Nagaland

Kohima, Dec 27: In a shocking incident, a police constable in the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) allegedly hacked his father to death at Chumukedima under Dimapur district in Nagaland.

Official sources said here today that the victim, a police officer in the Nagaland Armed Police, had reportedly abandoned his wife and sons, including the accused, and started living with another woman.

Three of the victim's sons had an altercation with their father yesterday, following which, the accused hit his father on the head with a sharp weapon.

The injured victim was rushed to a nursing home at Dimapur where he succumbed to his injuries.

Police registered a case and arrested the accused and investigation was on, the sources said.

UNI

Unidentified gunmen injure three minors in Nagaland

Kohima, Dec 27: Three minor siblings were injured when unknown miscreants fired indiscriminately in the Kangtsung village under Tuli subdivision at Mokokchung district of Nagaland.

Official sources said here today that altercations were on in the village between the supporters of Legislator Talinungsang Ao from the Tuli Assembly Constituency and aspiring candidate Imti Jamir since December 23.

In the show of strength, some unidentified gunmen fired indiscriminate gunshots early yesterday, injuring three children, who were shifted to the Jorhat Civil Hospital in Assam.

This was the second incident of firing at Kangtsung village. A person was killed in gun firing in the village about two months back.

The Nagaland Assembly election is scheduled for February. The Election Commission was yet to declare the scheduled dates. However, state Election department sources said the Election Commission was expected to declare the schedule by mid-January.

UNI

Tripura to set up super-specialty hospital on PPP basis

Agartala, Dec 27: The Tripura government has decided to sign an MoU with the Kolkata-based GPT Health Care Pvt Ltd for setting up a 100-bed super-speciality hospital at Agartala.

State Health Minister Tapan Chakraborty said here today that the Tripura government would provide 3.5 acres of land on the outskirts of the city on 99-year lease for the multi-facility hospital at a cost of Rs 40 crore.

Mr Chakraborty said modern health care facilities, including trauma centre, orthopaedic and arthroscopic joint replacement, neurology, nephrology and urology along with ICCU, would be set up in the hospital.

''As part of the mission to expand modern heath care facilities in the state, we will be setting up the hospital on Public-Private-Partnership model,'' Mr Chakraborty said, adding that even after establishing two medical colleges, the healthcare facilities in the state were not adequate, which prompted the state government to go for the venture.

UNI

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Indian churches come under attack

A curfew has been imposed in parts of the eastern Indian state of Orissa after Hindu hardliners attacked up to a dozen Christian churches, police say.

One person was killed and more than 25 were injured in the violence in the Kandhamal area on Tuesday, police said.

The clashes followed differences between local Hindu tribal and Christians over Christmas celebrations.

Security was tightened at churches in Orissa, which has seen violence between Christians and Hindus in the past.

The trouble began on Monday morning at Brahmanigaon village, 150km (95 miles) from the main district town of Phulbani, over Christmas celebrations.

While local Christians wanted to celebrate the event in a grand way, the local Hindus opposed the plan, police said.

This led to a clash between the two communities.

Trouble escalated in the afternoon after a group of people attacked the vehicle carrying a local Hindu leader, Swami Laxamananda Saraswati, as he was on his way to the area.

While his vehicle was partially damaged, Mr Saraswati and one of those accompanying him were injured, district police chief Narasimha Bhol said.

Mr Saraswati is recovering in a government hospital.

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Millions celebrate Christmas Day


Millions of Christians around the world are marking Christmas Day - the traditional day of Christ's birth.
In the West Bank town of Bethlehem, the Biblical site of Jesus' birth, thousands of worshippers gathered to celebrate midnight Mass.

Local officials in Bethlehem say double the number of pilgrims have visited this year compared to last.

In Rome, Pope Benedict XVI celebrated a special Mass in St Peter's Basilica, watched by thousands of pilgrims.

Those who were unable to join the congregation filling the church watched the Mass on giant video screens in the square instead.

Nazareth Nativity

A new floodlit Nativity scene was officially unveiled in the square in front of the basilica.

This year the larger-than-life-size statues of the baby Jesus and his family have been placed in a Nativity scene set not in a Bethlehem stable, but in a room in Joseph's house in Nazareth.

Vatican officials say the change was made to illustrate the notion that Jesus was born everywhere, not just in Bethlehem.

In his sermon Pope Benedict urged people to find time and space for God, the needy and the suffering.

On Tuesday at noon (1100 GMT) the Pope will deliver his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" Christmas message to the world from a balcony overlooking St Peter's Square.

Tourist revival

In Bethlehem fears about security and Israel's West Bank barrier - an imposing eight-metre (24-foot) concrete wall separating the town from Jerusalem - have discouraged potential visitors in recent years.

During the second Palestinian uprising, which started in September 2000, tourism collapsed.

But with the relative stability of the last two years, tourists and pilgrims are returning to the town in larger numbers.

"Between 25 to 35,000 pilgrims and tourists are going to be around today and tomorrow - twice as much as last year... Today we have about 60 to 70% of the normal tourism and pilgrimage to the city," Victor Batarseh, the mayor of Bethlehem said.

"This year is much better than the last seven years for tourism," local shopkeeper Jacques Aman told Associated Press. "The atmosphere is better in general. There is relative calm, from the security standpoint," he added.

But the BBC's Bethany Bell says there are still far fewer tourists than there used to be before the uprising and that many of those celebrating outside the Church of the Nativity were local people.

There was still a heavy police presence, and before worshippers arrived bomb squads swept cars and buildings for explosives.

Message of peace

Christmas carols played to a crowded Manger Square, in front of the Church of the Nativity - built on the site of the stable where Jesus is said to have been born.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a Muslim, joined the midnight Mass in Bethlehem and emphasised that not only Christians were celebrating the festival.

"The new year, God willing, will be a year of security and economic stability," he said.

"We pray next year will be the year of independence for the Palestinian people," he added.

Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, the Catholic leader in the Holy Land, called for peace in the Middle East as he led the Mass.

"This land belongs to God. It must not be for some a land of life and for others a land of occupation and a political prison," he said in a sermon delivered in his native Arabic.

Monday, December 24, 2007

Nepal agrees to abolish monarchy

Nepal's government has agreed for the first time that the 240-year-old monarchy should be abolished.

After more than two months of arguing, the leaders of the main political parties have finally yielded to pressure from Maoist former rebels.

The rebels demanded that a republican system be decided upon before elections rather than after them.

However the monarchy will not be scrapped until polls, rescheduled for next spring, have taken place.

Austere king

Now that this agreement has been signed by the leaders of the most powerful parties - including the Maoists - it is likely to be passed by the parliament and to take effect after the elections to a constituent assembly.

While a milestone, the move is no surprise. The Maoists walked out of the government three months ago, vowing not to return unless the royal system was scrapped.

They have now secured what they wanted, even though the other parties in the ruling coalition had said, up to now, that the electorate should decide on the issue via the new assembly.

Many, perhaps most, Nepalis will be happy to have a republic.

Since the death of the well-loved King Birendra in the notorious palace massacre of 2001, the monarchy's popularity has sunk under his austere brother, Gyanendra, whose efforts to counter the Maoist insurgency worsened an already very bad human rights situation.

Ethnic violence

However, questions will remain about the strong-arm tactics used by the Maoists to get their way.

They abandoned clauses in last year's peace agreement as their leader threatened to "fight for 40 more years" if their demands were not met.

They also have not stopped using violent tactics from time to time. They will now return to the government.

This year of political squabbling has also seen mounting ethnically based violence - it has continued in southern Nepal in the past few days.

Representatives of the increasing number of ethnic groups now battling for their rights may feel the decision on the monarchy will do little for their own cause.

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Housing complex for the poor in Shillong

Shillong, Dec 22 : Meghalaya is all decked up to celebrate Christmas with its picturesque capital city Shillong already wearing a festive look.

The bedecked city of Shillong resembles a fairyland with spectacular illumination of lights and festoons with red lights atop the houses to symbolise the descent of Lord Jesus to the Earth.

Christmas trees and wreaths adorned almost every household. All the Churches, missionary schools and institutions were also decorated with colourful buntings and lights. Tourists from other states of the country were flocking to the city to participate in the celebrations.

All communities, irrespective of religious faith, joined their Christian brethren in this predominantly Christian state to celebrate Christmas enthusiastically. The Central Puja Committee (CPC), the apex Hindu body in the state, also decided to participate in the Christmas celebrations. "We too will celebrate Christmas to mark the arrival of the messenger of peace and love," CPC general secretary J L Das said. "'It's awesome to see children from different religious backgrounds chanting Christmas hymns," Ruchika Sheth, a travel writer from Maharashtra, said.

Meanwhile, Christmas carols could already be heard across Meghalaya since the past one-week, braving the chilled winter. All the young and old joined Santa Claus in Christmas carols.

All the hotels and tourist lodges in the city had started arranging parties and other activities. "This year, we decided to celebrate Christmas in Shillong as the city extended its hospitality and goodwill to people from all over the world and therefore, we felt that this is the best place to celebrate Christmas," Adrian Black, a tourist from England, who arrived here with his wife Julia, said.

Special Christmas cakes were being prepared in almost every household and bakeries to add embellishments to the festival.

Christmas preparations in Meghalaya

Shillong, Dec 22 : Meghalaya is all decked up to celebrate Christmas with its picturesque capital city Shillong already wearing a festive look.
The bedecked city of Shillong resembles a fairyland with spectacular illumination of lights and festoons with red lights atop the houses to symbolise the descent of Lord Jesus to the Earth.

Christmas trees and wreaths adorned almost every household. All the Churches, missionary schools and institutions were also decorated with colourful buntings and lights. Tourists from other states of the country were flocking to the city to participate in the celebrations.

All communities, irrespective of religious faith, joined their Christian brethren in this predominantly Christian state to celebrate Christmas enthusiastically. The Central Puja Committee (CPC), the apex Hindu body in the state, also decided to participate in the Christmas celebrations. "We too will celebrate Christmas to mark the arrival of the messenger of peace and love," CPC general secretary J L Das said. "'It's awesome to see children from different religious backgrounds chanting Christmas hymns," Ruchika Sheth, a travel writer from Maharashtra, said.

Meanwhile, Christmas carols could already be heard across Meghalaya since the past one-week, braving the chilled winter. All the young and old joined Santa Claus in Christmas carols.

All the hotels and tourist lodges in the city had started arranging parties and other activities. "This year, we decided to celebrate Christmas in Shillong as the city extended its hospitality and goodwill to people from all over the world and therefore, we felt that this is the best place to celebrate Christmas," Adrian Black, a tourist from England, who arrived here with his wife Julia, said.

Special Christmas cakes were being prepared in almost every household and bakeries to add embellishments to the festival.

India's BJP wins Gujarat election

The Hindu nationalist BJP has won a key election in the western Indian state of Gujarat, nearly complete results show.
It marks a big victory for controversial right-wing Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who is credited with pursuing successful economic policies.

The governing Congress party admitted defeat in the communally-divided state. Correspondents say the victory will boost the BJP as it challenges Congress in the run up to a general election due in the next 18 months.

The BJP has already won an absolute majority of the seats in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly and, if constituencies where it is in the lead are taken into account, it has 116 seats, the Electoral Commission of India says.

The Congress Party won or is leading in 60 constituencies, with the remaining six seats likely to go to smaller parties.

It is the fourth consecutive BJP election victory in Gujarat.

Gandhi setback

The Congress Party acknowledged its defeat in Gujarat, but reminded voters of religious riots in 2002.

Mr Modi has been accused of failing to protect Muslims in the riots, which claimed the lives of 1,000 people.

"I do not grudge him the victory," Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the Times of India.

However, he added that the win did not remove the "blot" of the religious riots of 2002.

The Congress party campaigned hard to defeat him, with major rallies by its top leaders including Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul, the latest member of the Nehru Gandhi-dynasty in Indian politics.

But their defeat means that it is back to the drawing board and a major setback ahead of the more important national poll, the BBC's correspondent in Delhi, Sanjoy Majumder, says

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Nepal court rules on gay rights

Nepal's Supreme Court has ordered the government to scrap laws that discriminate against homosexuals.
The court ordered that sexual minorities should be guaranteed the same rights as other citizens.

Campaigners said the ruling was a "huge victory". Homosexuality is frowned upon in conservative South Asia.

Nepalese laws do not explicitly criminalise homosexuality, but an "unnatural sex act" currently carries a prison term of up to a year.

Human rights campaigners say the provision has been used to justify arrests of men who have sex with men and transgender people.

'Encouraging'

Gay men and women and members of other sexual minorities have long complained of discrimination in Nepal.

In their ruling, two Supreme Court judges said: "The government of Nepal should formulate new laws and amend existing laws in order to safeguard the rights of these people.

"Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and intersex are natural persons irrespective of their masculine and feminine gender and they have the right to exercise their rights and live an independent life in society."

Activists said it was a landmark ruling.

"It's a very encouraging and progressive decision. We all feel we are liberated today," Sunil Babu Pant, the president of the Blue Diamond Society which campaigns for Nepal's sexual minorities, told the AFP news agency.

"There were no specific laws to protect the rights of sexual minorities but the Supreme Court's decision has opened the doors to enjoy our rights."

Mr Pant said education, citizenship papers and jobs could now be given to people without them having to identify themselves as male or female, or giving their gender as "third sex".

There was no immediate response from the government to Friday's ruling.

Friday, December 21, 2007

Mumbai milk 'poisoned children'

Officials in the Indian city of Mumbai have stopped supplies of flavoured milk to schoolchildren after it was suspected of causing food poisoning.
About 50 children fell ill in two separate incidents, leading to the milk scheme being suspended in more than 1,000 of the city's schools.

Police in the city are questioning a man who is alleged to have supplied milk to one of the schools affected.

Milk is provided to some 450,000 Mumbai children for nutritional reasons.

Vomiting

Last week, 35 children were taken to hospital after they consumed the flavoured milk.

However, it was treated as a one-off incident and the scheme continued.

On Wednesday, 14 children from a second municipal school fell ill.

On both occasions the children, some under 12, suffered from vomiting and severe stomach ache soon after they drank the strawberry-flavoured milk.

They were given intravenous glucose and monitored by local hospitals for a day.

Joint municipal commissioner SS Shinde said the milk scheme had been suspended while quality controls were carried out. It is to resume once health checks are complete.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Indian airlines in merger plans

Two of India's airlines have unveiled a plan to merge in an attempt to boost profitability amid rising costs and falling air fares.
Deccan, Indian's first discount carrier, is entering a tie-up with the more upmarket Kingfisher Airlines.

Kingfisher is owned by alcohol baron Vijay Mallya and is named after his flagship beer brand.

There is intense competition in India's aviation sector as more people become able to afford plane travel.

There are currently 10 Indian carriers, up from three in 2003, with at least 14 more airlines seeking government approval to start flying in India.

The merger follows earlier consolidation in the sector. The country's largest domestic carrier, Jet Airways, bought Air Sahara for $340m in April.

'Logical'

Deccan has struggled this year, and sold a 26% stake to Mr Mallya's UB group in June, which was raised to 46% in October.

"The merger will bring about synergies across the board and lower the cost of operating both airlines," Deccan founder GR Gopinath said.

Next August will mark five years of Deccan operating, which means that under Indian law, it can then fly lucrative overseas routes.

Kingfisher will also gain this privilege as part of the merger.

"The merger is logical under the circumstances," said Kapil Kaul of the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA).

"But it has to be done right because the two airlines come from cultural extremes - one a low-cost carrier and the other a full-service premium airline."

UN team visits Mizoram

Aizawl, Dec 20 : UNESCAP (UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific) and SARDEG (South Asian Regional Development Gateway) officials have arrived at this Northeastern town to initiate a poverty alleviation programme in Mizoram.

On the request of the Mizoram government’s high-level working group, the UN team have arrived here last evening. The team members comprise Regional Advisor on Poverty Reduction in UNESCAP Dr Amitiva Mukherji, CEO and Chairman of SARDEG Dr Baharul Islam and SARDEG Technical Adviser Atique Rehman Barbhuiya.
They had a meeting with I&PR Minister and Chairman of the high level working committee R Lalthangliana and chief secretary Haukhum Hauzel and various department officials.

Briefing their initiatives in more than 60 Asia Pacific countries including India, Amitiva Mukherji expressed his enthusiasm to launch their mission - ‘poverty reduction’ here in Mizoram. He expressed serious concern over the conditions of majority of the people in India, when compared to those of the developed countries. He, however, appreciated its emerging situation and expressed his expectation on Mizoram to come to the forefront in this development trend.

The Mizoram government has constituted a high power inter- departmental committee on international cooperation under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Zoramthanga to seek foreign assistance in the fields of education, sports and employment opportunities. Moreover, a high-level working group on international cooperation under the chairmanship of I&PR minister R Lalthangliana has been initiated to do the needful in negotiating matters like education, youth welfare and sports, health and medical education and different projects to invite as many foreign helps as possible.

As a follow up programme of the working groups activities, a World Bank-sponsored SARDEG’s delegates had earlier studied Mizoram. The UN team is scheduled to meet the Governor, acting chief minister, speaker and legislators, besides departmental officials this afternoon.

50 airports/airstrips in the North-Eastern region

GUWAHATI, DEC 18: With the objective of operating up to 50 airports/airstrips in the North-Eastern region by the end of the XIth Five Year Plan and providing up to 600 flights per week

within the region by using the appropriate type of aircraft; making the required improvements in existing airports / airstrips in a time-bound manner, the North-East Council has directed the Ministry of Development of North-Eastern Region and other related agencies of the Government of India to proceed expeditiously

Most of the places in the North Eastern region are inaccessible and located in far-flung areas. The road and rail infrastructure is inadequate therefore, air-connectivity is the most viable means of transportation in the region, both for intra-state connectivity and the region's linkage to the mainland.

Keeping this in mind, the Government of India, has accorded top-most priority to development, by setting up 'Greenfield' Airports and opening operation of airstrips in the North-East region, with the objective of operating upto 50 airports / airstrips in the North Eastern region by the end of the XIth Five Year Plan, and providing upto 600 flights per week within the region.

There are a total of 23 airports in the North-Eastern region, out of which 11 are currently operational. These airports are Agartala, Aizawl, Dibrugarh, Dimapur, Guwahati, Imphal, Jorhat, Lilabari, Shillong, Silchar and Tezpur. The airport at Lengpui, Aizawl is owned by the State Government. The 12 non-operational airports are Along, Daparizo, Kailashahar, Kamalpur, Khowai, Pasighat, Rupsi, Tezu, Tura, Turial, Ziro and Shella.

The AAI is also planning to develop new 'Greenfield' airports at Cheithu in Nagaland, Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh and one at Pakyong near Gangtok in Sikkim, which is estimated to cost Rs 320 crore.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) also has plans to develop two new 'Greenfield' airports at Kokrajhar in Assam and Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, as part of its efforts to expand air connectivity to the North-Eastern states.

"The Government of India is laying special emphasis on development of airports in the North-Eastern region, and as per our plan, we are preparing feasibility studies for new airports in Kokrajhar, Tawang," remarked G K Chaukiyal, executive director (Planning), AAI at a recently held conference on Airport Development and Modernisation.

Statistics available with the Ministry of Development of North-Eastern region (DONER), Government of India, indicate that there was a reported growth of 23.4 per cent in aircraft movement in the North-Eastern region (NER) between 2004-05 and 2006-07 and a growth of 40.2 per cent in passenger traffic for the same period.

At present airlines, operating in the region include Indian, Alliance Air, Jet Airways, Air Deccan, Kingfisher Airlines, Spicejet, Jet Lite and Indigo.

There has also been an increase of 17.2 per cent in capacity, both with regard to flights per week and seats deployed between 2006 and 2007. In the case of flights it is 17.2 per cent and for seat deployment it is 18.9 per cent, as per statistics available with DONER.

For the proposed Greenfield airport at Pakyong in Sikkim, it was indicated that the DPR (Detailed Project Report) has been prepared and forwarded to the Planning Commission. The estimated cost of the project is likely to be Rs 320 crore. The Government of Sikkim has been allocated Rs 100 crore by the 12th Finance Commission for development of the airport. The Planning Commission has proposed sharing of cost on 1:1 basis between GBS of Ministry of Civil Aviation and resources from AAI.

For the Cheithu 'Greenfield' Airport in Nagaland, the consultants have submitted the interim report for the techno-economic feasibility study which is under examination by AAI and likely to be finalised soon. The techno-economic feasibility study for the proposed Greenfield airport at Banderdeva site at Itanagar has been prepared. (Express Travel World)

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Farmers delighted as King Chilli goes international

Kohima, Dec 18 : Naga King Chilli, touted as the hottest chilli in the world is vying for its rightful place in the world. The first phase of filing of Intellectual Property Rights has begun.
The King chilli was on display and sale at the exhibition hall at Naga Heritage Village Complex, Kisama about 12 kilometers away from Kohima.

With peace ruling in Nagaland, people are dreaming big and trying to fulfill their desires that have long remained suppressed due to the turbulent times in the State.

Farmers in Nagaland are keen to take up commercial cultivation of Naga King Chilli. The attraction for its cultivation has grown after a memorandum of understanding signed recently by the State government, Indian Tobacco Company Limited and Spice Board of India.

Thangi Mannen, Commissioner and Secretary, Department of Horticulture, said: “We have entered into a memorandum of understanding with the ITC and Spice Board of India for crop diversification and to increase the production of the chillies.”

“Until now people here were cultivating Naga King Chilli on a small scale in their homes. Commercial cultivation requires technology and inputs which we hope to acquire through this MOU,” Mannen added.

Nagaland government has also started the process of securing Intellectual Property Rights for this chilli that has attracted millions of people for ages for their taste buds. The local farmers are now expecting a good return in the near future.

Chen Rengma is a farmer from Tsonsinyu village of Nagaland. He is visibly delighted and proud of the chillies that he grows. Earlier, for a long time, he was perplexed whether he should continue with chilli farming or not. But the recent agreement has generated a fresh hope of prosperity for many farmers like Rengma in the State.

Rengma, said: “It (Naga King Chilli) has immense potential for farmers. If it is cultivated on a commercially viable scale it can bring fabulous returns to the farmers improving their livelihood phenomenally.” Rengma added: “More chillies means more peace, more happiness and more money for the rural farmers.”

Abe Mero, Promoter of Naga King Chilli, said: “Naga people no doubt want to carve a niche and a new identity for themselves. They know they have the potential, and given the right kind of environment, people would harness the development process for a better morrow.” Mero added: “Eco tourism and horticulture industries in the State are two major sectors that are in for a major boost. Peace is paying phenomenal dividends and it is reflected in the people’s confidence, in their attitude to development and life.”

Truck supplying rice to Mizoram looted

Aizawl, Dec 18 : A rice-laden truck, heading for Lawngtlai in Mizoram, was looted on its way in between Leite and Maudarh hamlets under Hnahthial police station, police said here today.

The driver of the looted truck, which was the last of the convoy of three trucks, realised after reaching the Maudarh village that a few bags of rice had gone missing from his truck.

It was suspected that some miscreants climbed on the moving truck and fled with the rice bags. Meanwhile, the truck drivers supplying rice to government godowns in rural areas expressed the fear of being robbed on the way following the widespread famine caused by bamboo flowering in the State.
Some of the supply truck drivers said many people had requested them to sell them some of the rice, even as the state, particularly its southern parts, was reeling under acute rice shortage following the Mautam famine.

“It is so distressing to see old women urging us to sell the rice. Sometimes we had to lie that we were carrying sugar, iron rods or something else,” a driver said.

Confirming that all government godowns across Mizoram were running out of rice stocks, the supply drivers said whatever amount of rice arrived at the Bairabi railhead, were being distributed to different destinations as soon as they arrived.

“The clarifications of government officials in newspapers and TV channels that the rice shortage is not as bad as that alleged by the media is totally different to the actual situation,” the drivers pointed out.

Previously, the Centre had allegedly remained inactive during the previous Mautam in the late 1950s and early 60s, which triggered 20-year-long insurgent uprising led by Laldenga.

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga, the late Laldenga’s former right-hand man, also expressed fear of recurrence of another such rebellion if the Centre did not act fast to relieve Mizoram from the prevailing rice shortage.

India's violent north-east

A wave of violence in the north-eastern Indian states of Assam and Nagaland has again highlighted the tensions and fissures in this part of the country. News Online looks at why there is so much violence in north-eastern India.
Why is north-eastern India so restive?

Before the British, none of the previous empires in India had managed to control the remote north-eastern areas.


So the region had enjoyed a long history of independence. There are also sharp differences in culture and tradition with the rest of the country.

Separatists in Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur and Assam have tapped into these differences and been able to challenge the control of the Indian state.

The central government has used military force to quell these rebellions, which in turn has often provoked more violence.

Recent years have seen the growth of conflicting demands for independent homelands between various ethnic groups in the region, which have also resulted in much bloodshed.

How serious is the violence?

Very - particularly the violence between the various ethnic militias of the region, into which innocent villagers and non-combatants have often been drawn.

Violence unleashed by ethnic rebel armies against the settlers from outside the region has also assumed serious proportions.

How is the central government trying to end the violence?

It uses military force to try to contain the rebels and weaken them.

But Indian military commanders admit that only political solutions can resolve the many conflicts.

The Indian government has opened dialogues with many of these groups and correspondents say its attitude is more flexible than in the past.

Its basic position is that the various rebel groups have to accept Indian sovereignty over the region and give up violence.

The central government also pumps in a lot of federal funds to promote economic development that is seen as crucial to win the hearts and minds of the locals.

But local people complain that lot of these funds are pilfered by a corrupt local elite in collusion with unscrupulous contractors and businessmen resulting in a lack of development.

Are the conflicts restricted to Indian territory?

They are largely restricted to Indian territory but rebels from north-eastern India have ethnic cousins across the borders in Burma, Bangladesh and Bhutan.

They find shelter in those countries, particularly in the remote border hill regions.

Are there any beacons of hope?

The peace settlement in Mizoram, signed in 1986 between the Indian Government and the Mizo National Front, has held good and the once-troubled state is largely peaceful.

The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), the strongest rebel group of Nagaland and perhaps in the whole region, has also been negotiating with the central government for six years now.

Civil society groups in the region are more active than ever before. They are playing a leading role in initiating dialogues and sustaining the peace process.

After 50 years of bloody guerrilla campaigns, many civilians are tired and desperate for peace.

(courtesy - bbc)

NEC to build capacity of states to implement projects

Aizawl May 17: In the 54th North East Council meeting which was held held today, Doner and NEC Secretary Ms Sushma Singh said among the thrust area of NEC during the 11th Plan would be to improve capacities of states to implement projects.

While giving her report, Ms Singh said NEC will now no longer take up projects that are less than Rs 200 crores and will discontinue with small projects except to complete ongoing projects during the 11th Plan and this too with the spill-over of Rs 1921.69 crores from the 10th Plan.

The first priority in thrust area for NEC for the 11th Plan is road and air connectivity with power sector taking the second place. Ms Singh said several fiscal reforms had been made in the road sector that would bring about improvement in implementing the road projects. Among the fiscal reforms is bringing in a third party to oversee quality control on projects.

Transport (road, river and air) was given the lion’s share during the 10th Plan which amounted to 58.72 percent of the total outlay for Tenth Five Year Plan which was Rs 2511.50 crores of which Rs 2495.67 crores was spent during the period.

Two road schemes and seven out of ten proposed airports were completed during the period.

According to the NEC Secretary, 4.3 percent of the total outlay was allocated to manpower development during the last Five Year Plan from which several hostels were constructed in Delhi for students from the region.

During the same period, NEC funded 500 schools and 24 colleges to be covered under IT education.

Ms Singh also informed the meeting that from now on, all financial transaction would be done through electronic transfers, mainly core banking and NEC will release funds to the states only through this method.

Bad weather today caused Doner minister and NEC chairman Mani Shankar Aiyer to arrive in Aizawl at 12:30 pm as a result of which the meeting was commenced without him at 10:30 am, half an hour late from the scheduled commencement of the meeting.

Connectivity was the main theme of all chief ministers’ and governors’ speeches which underlined the poor connectivity – road and air – that the region has. Apart from this, other commonalities that the states had are power development, agriculture and its allied sector and tourism, except for Sikkim which has a thriving tourism industry already.

NEC will hold its 5th Sectoral Summit concerning mostly air connectivity tomorrow here.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

spiderman web of words






play pingpong very interesting






Monday, December 17, 2007

desktop christmas tree free to download

Friday, December 14, 2007

Job opportunities for Mautam victims

Aizawl, Dec 13 : The Mizoram Cabinet on December 10 passed a resolution to double employment opportunities through BAFFACOS fund to provide relief to victims of Mautam famine.
The meeting issued an order to Deputy Commissioners of districts to increase employment opportunities provided through BAFFACOS fund by two-fold and to hand out funds to victims of the famine which has ravaged majority of the crops in the State.

The Cabinet also resolved to increase the weekly ration of rice from two kgs to three kgs for every person. This order, however, does not include the eight district headquarters.

The Cabinet noted that the shocking news printed by media persons that Lamherh village is in a state of crisis due to famine is false and urged media persons in the State to have reliable information first before publishing news as they can mislead the people. The Cabinet meeting also issued an order to increase supply of sugar by two-fold during the Christmas season.

The Cabinet meeting assured that the State Government is working for the welfare of the people and urged the people not to be in any state of panic due to the Mautam famine or other disasters.

Blast in Rajdhani Express in Assam 5 killed

Guwahati, Dec 13 : Five people were killed and four others injured in a bomb blast in a Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express in Assam's Golaghat district early on Thursday morning.

The explosion, carried out by suspected militants, happened in the luggage van of the 2423A Dibrugarh-Guwahati-Delhi Rajdhani between Naujan and Sugajan at around 1 am, North Eastern railway CPRO Trikal Rabha said.

Five people died on the spot while the four injured were rushed to Golaghat Civil hospital. The luggage van was damaged as well as small portion of track.

The train resumed its journey at around 6am after passengers in the affected van were shifted to a 3 tier AC boggie. Top railway officials have rushed to the site.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

merry xmas








Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Indian Civil Services - Complete overview

Power, challenges, unmatched opportunities for specialisation, decision-making autonomy, and the ability to change your environment—no other career offers such exposure and variety as the civil services. It comes as no surprise that many professionals still want to switch to the civil services if given a chance.
Of the 307 candidates that were selected through the ui’sc exams in 2006-2007, as many as 93 are qualified engineers, 24 medical doctors and another 54 are from the science field.
What is it in the civil services that keeps the youth of this country so captivated despite the odds? The pay scales of Indian Civil Service officers still come across as a bit of a rude joke in comparison to a very bullish private sector which is willing to command the best and pay a price for it as well. Even after 30 years of service, an officer of the rank of secretary to the government of India would not draw more than Rs 56,000 as monthly salary. The services barely produce 550 odd jobs every year—this number is likely to go down further rather than up. And the thought of being in a transferable service with little control over who is pulling the strings could be daunting to many. Yet, the odds are anything but a deterrent for those who are motivated by the prospect of cracking the examinations through some dizzying competition.
Out of 3.49 lakh aspirants, approximately 500-550 (depending on the annual requirement put out by the department of personnel) are practically handpicked for a force that provides the steel frame of the country. For each person who makes it, there are 580 who don’t. If that’s not challenging enough, what is? In fact, the civil services have held sway over the Indian masses even as defence services are losing their appeal. The number of candidates who appeared for the Union Public Service Commission (UPsC) entrance examination increased from 3,36,196 in 2003-2004 to 3,36,840 in 2005- 2006. On the contrary, the number of applicants who appeared for the defence services examinations went down from 2,69,970 in 2003-2004 to 2,45.2 14 in 2005-2006.
“I agree that the civil services are not as attractive to the youth because the MNC salaries have a bigger pull and the real talent is going there. But, even a CEO of a large company does not have the kind of impact that a young person like me would have in our first posting itself as deputy commissioner,” says Nitin Desai, a 2006 batch ii’s officer trainee who also happens to be an lIT graduate. Nitin decided to take up the police services against all opposition from family and friends and feels that people like him—though in a minority—would do well to change the services as well as do away with the stereotypes that have come to be associated with it over the years.
A mention of the word bureaucrat’ is enough to bring up images of power giddy ‘babus’ obsessed with procedures,
out of sync and inaccessible to the masses they have to govern. This stereotype could be a thing of the past if we continue to get this kind of talent in our civil services—professionals who have given up thriving careers and chosen to step into governance for improving the force as well as their own prospects of long term learning. This is one reason why the median age of the services has also gone up by a few years. On an average, a majority of the males fall in the 24-28 age group whereas it is 2 1-26 for the females. Most of them have already appeared for the exam at least two times and could also be posted with a service. “The IQ level and maturity level of these candidates is very high irrespective of where they come from, rural or urban,” says Kalpana Dube, senior deputy director at the academy in
Mussoorie. At this stage, aspirants have made up their mind and chosen the services for all the right reasons, not just
because of the prestige-power factor. “Remember that the government is the most benevolent employer of them all,”
adds Dube, as she does a quick analysis. After all, which company in the private sector invests two years on training new recruits, gives them two years off after five years of service (in case they desire) as study leave, rarely gives its officers high blood pressure and ulcers for not fuffihling targets and deadlines. What’s more, in case there are any allegations of corruption and misuse of power, no civil servant can by removed by any state government without the central public services commission following the due procedure of enquiry.

Officers are given more perks as they go up the seniority ladder. There is free housing, conveyance, even free domestic help and generous reimbursements for education, medical and travel expenses. So if you are posted with the
railways in Delhi, you could be staying in a sprawling bungalow in Chanakyapuri, in Mumbai, it would be no less than Churchgate. For this reason, civil service still remains an extremely coveted career, especially for women who are now making up almost a quarter of the candidates being selected every year. They also happen to have a higher strike rate, 16.2 per cent compared to 7.8 per cent for the male candidates. It is an extremely secure career with a lot of respect and prestige attached to it for women, adds a railway accounts officer.


But our young talented crop is not just excited about the unmatched non-pay perks. It is the wide canvas on which they get to operate. Satwant Khanalia, another 2006 batch Indian Foreign Officer trainee, who happens to be an MBA in international relations, believes that the civil services give you an opportunity to formulate policy for your country, thereby exposing you to a completely new set of challenges. On the other hand, the private sector happens to be completely lacking in this regard. Take the case of Amaninder Dhindsa, former IT professional with Adobe, who is happy with his Indian Revenue Services posting. In his new avatar as a customs officer, he will not miss spending a major part of his day trapped in a room full of computers and wires. That is neither a sustainable nor a desirable lifestyle, he explains.


As a civil service officer, one receives top of the line training in the three K5A areas—knowledge, skills and attitudes. Personality development is key and students often experience a makeover of sorts after they have completed their training at the different academies. For instance, trainees at the LB5NAA compulsorily go on difficult treks to different locations for a number of days. They are expected to tide over physical difficulties, their inhibitions and develop a sense of esprit d’corps. They are then exposed to administration at different levels beginning right from the village level. They must work with officers posted at this level and prepare case studies on which they are assessed, In addition to local governance, they also get an exposure to the functioning of international organisations like the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organisation, to name a few. Interspersed with study and hectic lecture schedules are cultural programmes, dance shows, sports meets and even occasional blood donation camps to complete the bonanza. Officer trainees could also pick up an additional language at the academy and then further hone their language skills at the state academies. The exposure, therefore, is truly varied and unique.

Training undertaken at the various apex and state level academies is also quite dynamic. It is frequently moulded to the changing demands of the market. B-governance is an upcoming area, for example. And to get going, all the central training academies have been networked. The academy also formulates its own case studies so that trainees are able to pick up from a variety of experiential accounts. As the government withdraws from different sectors, the role of bureaucracy is also being redefined as that of a facilitator rather than a controlling authority. For this reason, public-private partnership is another important module at the training academies. Trainees get to work with the private sector and understand its constraints and demands. This all- round training makes senior officers ideal head-hunting material for the private sector. Maruti chief Jagdish Khattar who was an lAS officer before he became the president of Maruti Udyog recalls how the civil services stint prepared him to take tough decisions early in life.

The notion of a government person as a babu, who is only a file pusher, and a pen pusher may be fast changing. So, if you are not chasing the moolah but want autonomy to do things that have far-reaching consequences, civil services is your best bet.

 

 

upsc4

For Atul Kumar, his passion for becoming an Indian Administrative Services (lAs) officer emanated from the need to make government servants more accessible and positive. “Everyone blamed the government for all the wrong that was
happening and nobody was praising it for all the right that it has done,” he noted. This attitude had to be changed
and that could only happen when people like him chose to get into the lAs with the right set of objectives.
The lAS is really the civil service dream. A majority of the three-and-a- half lakh students who sit for the
gruelling preliminary-mains-interview routine every year aspire to become administrative officers. Of these, only 80-90 will make it. This makes it it a selection rate of 0.01 per cent—perhaps even more gruelling than the lIT-nM selections. Many of these are officers who are already serving civil servants for instance, Mona Pruthi, last year’s usc civil services
topper was a customs officer who wanted to get into the lAS. What is it that gives the administrative services
their unique unmatched sheen? To begin with, if the Indian Civil Services (ics) offers you a wide canvas to be able to actualise your ideas and objectives, the lAS is really considered to be the frontrunner service in this regard. With the top brass being allotted to this service, it is really the cremedc-la creme of the civil service crop of talent, the brightest and the most competent (although a number of the toppers choose to go for the other central services like the Indian Police). lAS officers wield phenomenal amount of power, not to mention the proximity they enjoy to the elected respresentative of the country, no less than the level of the minister. Dr Prashant Goyal, a member of the 2006 batch presently undergoing his training at the academy and a medical doctor by profession, did not mind giving up all his years of MBBS study to chase his lAS dream. “It would mean being able to touch many more lives than a doctor ever could on his own,” he says. Because of the uniqueness of the service, the training imparted is also unique in many ways. After the foundation course at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy of Administration (lB5NAA) along with officer trainees from all the other services, lAS officer trainees proceed for extensive training called phase I-professional training. This includes an initial exposure to academic inputs from a variety of experts after which they proceed for ‘bharat darshan’ for two months. Different groups are sent off to different districts, villages and state level administration, Here, they observe and work as attachment trainees with both the state and non-governmental machinery. They could be attached to the municipal corporations or NGOs, reveals a LBSNAA faculty member.

After this exposure to state machinery, trainees return to the academy for their phase 2 professional training. Henceforth begin detailed sessions in law, Constitution, public administration laws, system of governance, ethics and a host of other subjects. Training is imparted in a total of fourteen modules. Experts from different areas are roped in as visiting faculty to provide necessary case studies laced with personal experiences.
Once the seminars, conferences and lectures are over, officer trainees are once again headed to different states; this time, it is the state to whose cadre they have been allotted. Trainees spend a substantial portion of their time at the state training institutes. These are responsible for training the provincial cadres that have been selected through the state public service commissions and offer state specific training in issues like language, laws and so on. Adds Kalpana Dube, senior deputy director at LBSNAA, “Often there are unpleasant surprises for the officer trainees. The first is when they don’t get the service of their choice, and the other is pertaining to their cadre in case it is a cadre-specific service like the lAS.” Getting a home cadre (the state to which you belong) is a dream come true for all officers. In case they are allotted cadres that they are not really looking forward to, faculty members take on the onerous task of motivating them all along the way.

After their training, officers go on to assume phenomenal amount of responsibility in their first posting itself. Even at the first level called the junior time scale, they are posted as sub-divisional magistrates who look after law and order, general administration and development work. After approximately four years of service, they go on to become district officers variously known as district magistrate, district collector or deputy commissioner. This is also the most prestigious and identifiable post held by members of the service. Here, they look into district affairs, including implementation of developmental programs. Officers can also serve in the state secretariat as heads of department or in public sector undertakings. In the state secretariat, they can begin at the level of undersecretaries to the Government of India. After nine years of service, they are eligible for the post of deputy secretary. Approximately 67 per cent of the posts are directly filled from the usc candidates and 33 per cent from the provincial cadres. lAS officers have to function in consultation with the concerned minister. They could also be deputed to the central administration in various capacities. At the top of the hierarchy is the Cabinet secretary followed by secretary, additional secretary, joint secretary, director, deputy secretary and under secretary. All these are incredibly prestigious postings.

 

foreign services

Being a diplomat is much like being a fish in a glass bowl. Whatever you do or say is analysed, observed, and assessed ad riauseum. Now that could be a privilege or a curse depending which way you look at it. Hard core diplomats are trained to believe that the former is truer than the latter and are prepared to face the consequences either way.
“Even a casual remark made at a time when you have your guards down can snowball into a full blown controversy,” says ambassador Surendra Kumar who also happens to be the director of the Foreign Services Institute (FsI) in Delhi. The FSI is the apex training body for the foreign services and routinely takes in an annual crop of 20-25 from the ui’sc after they have finished their foundation course at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy in Mussourie.
The foreign services are perhaps the most glamourous of the civil services. Traditionally considered to be the gateway to the world, they provided ample opportunities to travel and see places that you could only see on a map. However, with the economy on fast track growth and MNC5 dominating the workspace, the opportunity to travel abroad is no longer the domain of the foreign services. But then there are other perks. For one, your circle of friends could include many ambassadors, high commissioners and even heads of state. There is an opportunity to experience a number of cultures from very close quarters, not to mention the prestige factor involved in representing your country wherever you go.

In addition to this, diplomats must at all times keep themselves up to date on world affairs, economic and political developments. By design or default, this poses a great opportunity for self improvement, says a foreign services
officer who also happens to be a medical doctor and gave up his practice to be in the services. Speaking on condition of anonymity, he adds, “India is taking its due place in the world and we have to do a good job of representing her,” he adds. But its not just about basking in the limelight and attending endless parties. There are some downsides as well. Imagine, serving your three year tenure in war stricken places like Afghanistan or Iraq. Diplomats often face life- threatening situations in such places. Almost 85 per cent of the postings are not Geneva, Paris and Washington. Also, the journey to head of mission or ambassador for a grade one mission is long—it could take upto 30 years before you are selected to go as head of mission. In most of the cases, political appointees take precedence over an officer whose term has matured.

There are challenges to be faced on a daily basis like dealing with alien languages, culture and food. Often, procuring basic amenities that one is used seems like a bit of an ordeal. And of course, family life takes a serious setback.
But don’t be dismayed. Diplomats invent means to amuse themselves when they feel lonely in a foreign land and the government of the host country as well as the home country pitch in with their best.
Those who dream of the foreign services are definitely looking out for adventure, a sense of authority and the ability to be instrumental in policy implementation. Diplomats are key to designing foreign policy and its implementation. ‘As diplomats, our job is to conduct India’s relations with the neighbours, with the region and the world at large,” says KumaL
A typical training module would include plenty of discussions with the guest faculty with other classmates that tend to be from different backgrounds and professions, interspersed with course work, practical experiences gauged at organisations like the IMF, UN, World Bank, a prominent B- school like uM-Ahmedabad, the Supreme Court, the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Human Rights Commission and even army training. The idea is to be able to equip the future diplomats with indepth knowledge of the different services. Guest faculty could include former ambassadors, senior teachers at JNU and ou and some very eminent personalities that usually make an appearance only on television, here, you get to be up, close and more engaged. The idea is to have multi-dimensional understanding of how the country is run, views and opinions held by different political groups and social communities.

Promotion and remuneration is as per government scales. An ambassador at the grade three level is equivalent to a joint secretary to the Government of India, a grade two ambassador is equivalent to a secretary and a grade one ambassador is equivalent to a full secretary. One is required to put in 25 years of service at the grade three level before being appointed head of mission. Promotion to grade A is after an average 32-33 years of service.
While the pay scales are the same as that of other government functionaries, diplomats also get a foreign allowance that varies from one country to another. “Our diplomats should not feel in any way less capacitated than the others. They are given a lifestyle that is at par with the other diplomats,” says KumaL In addition to this, other expenses like their children’s school and college education, medical and health expenditure, house and travel expenses are all paid for by the government.

ips

 

For Satwant Atwal Trivedi, Superintendent of Police, Himachal and Assistant Director of the National Police Academy in Hyderabad, her training as a police officer gave her the confidence to match up to any thug who could be many times stronger and more ruthless than her. “Just having the confidence made all the difference. Plus, the uniform was my biggest safety,” she says as she recalls the times she had to go around patrolling areas that were notorious for crime, most of these happened to be in the dead of the night.
Training for the police force is one of the most rigorous a civil servant has to undergo because it involves the responsibility of combating crime. Each year, close to 100 candidates receive a 46-week training at the apex body, the Sardar Vallabhai Patel National Police Academy at Hyderbad.
A typical day starts at 6 am with parades, physical fitness exercises followed by training in operating weapons like AK-47, light machine guns and revolvers. This goes on for almost three and a half hours before trainees can proceed to classrooms. Here, basics of law, criminology, policing and forensic sciences take over for the major part of the day with senior police officers who have been there, done that, pitching in as lecturers. “The idea is to combine theory with practical knowledge and our teaching is mostly demonstrative,” says Director General of the Academy, Dr G.S. Rajagopalan.

Teaching young officers the nittygritties of ethics and criminology might not be such a daunting task but the challenge is to be able to convey the same level of understanding to people from diverse backgrounds—they could be doctors, engineers, lawyers, horticulturists, even former teachers. All the trainees have to be prepared to take on the onerous responsibility of managing and motivating a workforce.
Post training, they go on to become superintendents of police and in effect, the commandant of a battalion that also happens to be armed. They must plan and manage this workforce and deploy it for disaster management, management of events like elections, public gatherings and so on.
In addition to this, there is the responsibility of carrying out crime reviews, analysis of crime trends, charting out crime preventing strategies, collection of intelligence or information pertaining to criminal activities and nexus and passing this on to the right quarters.
Trainees get large doses of law and criminology. Those who are not familiar with the field are not at any particular disadvantage because of the nature of instruction. In fact, a majority of the students who are able to crack the ur’sc choose subjects like geography, sociology, statistics, mathematics that are more scoring. The latest trend is that of engineering students taking on the civil services. Therefore, there’s little chance that you

could be studying the same subject that you prepared for the entrance examination. Those who do, have to practically unlearn and then begin afresh. Dr Rajagopalan’s case is a quotable example. After an MA in Political Science, he scored more in history than political science and economics in his upsc entrance exam. “This happens because examiners are looking for a basic understanding of how you interpret the knowledge you already have rather than the depth of knowledge,” he explains. The major difference between a police job and that of any other is that of commitment. This is not your typical 9-5 job. Officers are working practically round the clock without getting paid much for it. Working conditions might not be the best either especially if you are posted in far flung areas, not to mention the frequency of transfers. Despite all the obvious drawbacks, police services happen to be the second most popular among the civil services after the administrative services. Not surprising because it offers a unique combination of challenge with tremendous job satisfaction, “People come to the police when they have lost all other hope. If you are able to help them at that time then they really bless you and that gives immense satisfaction,” says SP Atwal. Police officers are trained for all this and more. They have to be team players and ready to put their lives on the line if the situation requires. Officers are also routinely required to go on deputation to different apex agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation, Narcotics, Intelligence Bureau and so on and this gives them great exposure.
Once the training is over, officers get a taste of the real thing when they are posted as circle officers or assistant superintendents of police (ASP) put incharge of a sub division. Average tenure at the ASP level is two years after which promotion to p is more or less automatic. “This is a very attractive proposition because just after four years (two years of training and two of work), a person can rise to the si’ level with entire districts under their control. There are people who’ve left lucrative jobs for such work experience,” adds Dr Rajagopalan. At the ASP level, one starts with Rs 15,000 per month and goes on to Rs 55,000 per month at the level of director general.

irs

Having an income tax officer on your side could save you from a lot of trouble. No wonder, then that the revenue services are the fourth most sought after, after the administrative, police and foreign services. “The IRS is the service of the future because no country can operate in isolation and economic concerns are taking precedence over political issues in the 21st century,” says Saroj Bala, director of the National Academy of Direct Taxes, Nagpur.
An IRS pfficer has to complete the assessment of tax returns which requires a lot of inquiry and investigation work. Over the years, there has been a sea-change in the nature of work. It involves more technology play and less of examining files.

Officers are also sent on deputation to a variety of organisations like the WTO, World Bank, OECD, SEBI, vigilance department, Enforcement Directorate, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Narcotics Control Bureau apart from the Ministry of Finance. This gives them a lot of exposure.
Starting with the prestigious post of assistant commissioner, IRS officers can become deputy commissioners in approximately four years, joint commissioners in 8-10 years, additional commissioners in 10-21 years and finally commissioner after 30 years of service. Some of the fortunate ones could also be selected as chairperson of the Central Bureau of Direct Taxes.

 

excise

Interested in knowing what’s leaving and coming to the Indian ports, or the classification and supervision of industry goods? Customs could be your true calling. Of course, many people end up with Customs and Central Excise simply because they don’t want to be restricted to a state cadre all their life like the police services.

Customs and Central Excise, like revenue, falls under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance and even offers great scope for some academic satisfaction while on the job. Consider distinguishing between items like wildlife products, archaeological items, antiques, skins and hides, health and medicinal goods among a host of others. And if this wasn’t enough, having to distinguish between 500 different varieties of cloth that are produced and traded in the country.
The National Academy of Customs Excise and Narcotics at Faridabad is the apex body that trains A-level officials of this service. Annually, around 65 trainees are taken into the institute for a year-long training. This also includes some in-service attachments that would include the major customs houses among other things. New concepts like e-commerce, money laundering, service tax have been recently introduced into the curriculum as they offer great opportunities. An academy official stated that the arena of service tax would prove to be another area of opportunity in the years to come.

railways

Workingwith the largest rail services in the world brings with it immense responsibilities. After all, how many other officers would be managing 15 million people who opt for this mode of transport every day.
Owing to its sheer size, railways happens to be the largest employer among all the government agencies. The categories under railways for which a candidate can apply include Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTs), Indian Railway Accounts Service (wAs), Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPs) and Indian Railway Protection Force (IRPF).
The job holds challenges ranging from taking care of all commercial aspects of Railways like reservation, catering and ticket checking, ensuring proper recruitment of personnel, protection of railway property, passenger security and disaster management.
Says Shri Kant Mishra, vice principal, Jagjivan Ram Railway Protection Force Academy, Lucknow, ‘Anybody joining the railways should remember that it is a job of responsibility combined with hospitality. The passenger is to be treated with respect and courtesy while ensuring a safe journey for him.”
After completion of training, candidates go on to take the positions of assistant security commissioner for IRPF, assistant commercial manager or assistant operations manager with IRTS, assistant account officer for IRAS, and assistant personnel officer for the IRPS.

forest

Indian forests cover an area of 6,34 lakh square kilometres and are home to a teeming variety of wildlife and unique plants. Joining the Indian Forest Service will give you an opportunity to manage these vast resources.
Forest service personnel are selected by the ui’sc through a separate examination which is different from the regular civil services exam. Only candidates with a science background in college are eligible to apply.
Selected candidates undergo rigorous training at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), Dehradun. They are also required to lead a big team of subordinate forest staff to protect and conserve the forests. The job responsibilities also include protecting the land against land mafia and stopping illegal wildlife trade. Candidates can choose from from a broad range of topics which include wildlife management, biodiversity conservation, remote sensing and geographical information systems, forest resource assessment, forest engineering, and marketing and certification. On completion of two-year training, candidates are posted as assistant conservator of forests. They are promoted as deputy conservator of forests after four years of service.
Speaking of the advantages of this field, a source from IGNFA says, “The main attraction primarily lies in the healthy mix of administrative, managerial and technical responsibilities.”

postal

The Indian postal service, with over 1.55 lakh post offices, is the most widely distributed postal service in the world and could be a part of the Guinness Book of World Records. It is also one of the few organisatons that truly has a pan India presence. And no matter how much you blame them for inadequate service in the cities, the truth is that in several rural sections, postal service still offers the only link with the central government.
The primary responsibility of an officer is to ensure efficient functioning of all the post offices that fall under their geographical jurisdiction. For this, they are granted tremendous decision making freedom in management and marketing department. This invariably is a source of great exposure that further leads to better career opportunities and growth prospects.
It is one of the few civil services which offer a unique multi-dimensional exposure to its officers in their first posting itself. The officers have to deal with personnel, financial operations and project management. This is unlike any other service where different cadres are assigned for each of these departments. ‘In our first posting itself we get to manage one to three districts and have 700-1000 people working under us,” says Manoj Kumar, Indian Postal Service probationer. This offers an overwhelming exposure for human resource management, he adds.
After induction and training, the officer is posted as a Senior Superintendent of Post Office or Senior Superitendent of Railway Mail Service. From here officers can rise up to the level of secretary, Department of Posts who is also the Chairman, Postal Services Board.

 

(to be continued)