Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Healthy ties with China good for Indo-US ties: Roemer

News » August 31, 2010 » India

Healthy ties with China good for Indo-US ties: Roemer

By Girish Kumar Dubey

Varanasi, Aug 31 (ANI): U.S. Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer has said that it is in best interest for both India and US to maintain cordial relations with China.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the Annual Day-2010 event hosted by the Uttar Pradesh Chapter of Indo-American Chamber of Commerce here, Roemer said: "Bilateral issues between India and China could be sorted out by continuous dialogue."

"We see in our efforts and in the press that India with this latest episode of the visa issue is communicating between India and China and I am sure that will work its way through with continued open communication and dialogue between the two countries," said Roemer.

Roemer's comment follows Beijing's refusal to permit Lt. Gen. B S Jaswal, General Officer Commanding of the Indian Army's Northern Command to visit China as part of a defence exchange programme.

Commenting on US President Barack Obama's visit to India in November, Roemer said issues related to global and national security would be in focus.

"The President has worked on expanding the relationship with India in national security, economic security and social security issues, and, we very much look forward for his visit coming up in November, where, he will talk very eloquently about these efforts and especially as your question, I think targeted how are we working on the national security and the global and regional and bilateral ways even closer and closer," he added. (ANI)

Unity of all religions can prevent terrorism: Roemer

By Girish Kumar Dubey

Varanasi, Sep 1 (ANI): U.S. Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer has said that ensuring unity among all religions would prevent terrorism from growing both India and the United State.

Addressing media persons here on Tuesday, Roemer said: "Terrorism is a global problem, a global challenge, and two democracies, two great growing democracies, United States and India, are seeing closely threat and a solution in more and more same light and through the same prism. We welcome different religions, that helps prevent terrorism, not saying that terrorist comes from specific religions."

He further said that US President Barack Obama is one, who believes in dialogue, and as such India and the US are close to signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deal with militancy.

"We are working together to try to, in more ways, 18 different ways, according to counter terrorism MoU to be signed with India on cyber security, counter terrorism, border security, maritime security, anti-piracy initiatives that will be talked about in the future," he added.

"The world is bringing us closer and closer together as two countries, because we see the enemy, we see security, we see democracy the same. We see the practice of religion being important," he said.

Talking about business prospects between the two countries, Roemer said that the US is willing to invest in India to help improve its infrastructure.

"The US businesses are willing to come in here and take risks, and help build projects, whether it is rural projects, port building projects. There are really important projects for both countries to work on in partnership together, and learn from each other. I think India will invest a trillion dollars in infrastructure in the next five to ten years," he added.

He urged India to engage in dialogue with other countries like China and Pakistan. (ANI)

Monday, July 25, 2011

20 years after, Indian economists analyse the repercussions of economic reformsg

20 years after, Indian economists analyse the repercussions of economic reforms
By Girish Kumar Dubey
Analysing the 20 years of economic reforms introduced by Manmohan Singh, former Finance Minister, Indian economists pointed out that though India has undergone massive transformation in several sectors including technology and communication, issues of poverty and corruption have hampered much of progress.

In 1991, Manmohan Singh, in his maiden budget as the finance minister under the PV Narasimha Rao-led Congress government, put forth the financial condition of the country, which stood, on the edge of bankruptcy. Immediate steps needed to be formulated and implemented. In such circumstances, Singh decided to reject the licence Raj and introduced the reforms, which have consequently, transformed the lives of millions of Indian citizens.

Economists from Benaras Hindu University in northern India suggested that the economy has witnessed massive growth, when compared to the pre-1990 period.

Anil Kumar Jain, dean of the Economics Department in Benaras Hindu University in Uttar Pradesh said that the country witnessed an enormous transformation in the past 20 years and the then finance minister, Manmohan Singh brought the country out of a major economic crisis.

"Economic reforms paved the way to massive growth. Prior to it, the condition of the country was deplorable. Our balance of payments was in a bad state. Foreign reserves were barely sufficient for the following next weeks. Since then, every sphere and sector, from every perspective, has witnessed improvement. Agricultural growth rate, which used to be negative, in 2009-10 increased despite famine in some areas," said Anil Kumar Jain, dean of Economic Department in Benaras Hindu University.

Another economist from BHU illustrated that despite the growth, the bane of corruption has cropped up in the past few years, which has caused major setbacks to the Indian economy.

"At that point in time, three important steps were taken -Foreign trade liberalization, deregulation of domestic market and privatization. The first draft written by the then Finance minister, Manmohan Singh can be summarized that he promised many things like end of inequality and unemployment, fall in the prices of commodities, and that labour exploitation would reduce. He claimed that all the sectors like agriculture; technology; transport and communication would witness progress. If we take a look at the macro indicators then surely the GDP growth has increased, poverty percentage has decreased, manufacturing and service sectors have progressed, transportation sector improved. But, a closer analysis of this scenario reveals that the problems that were present 20 years ago have increased manifold and corruption cases, not present 40 years back, are now emerging," said Professor Kiran Barman, Economic Department, Benaras Hindu University.

Meanwhile, many intellectuals noted that the condition of the marginalized has not improved and only a small number of Indian citizens are successful financially.

"The problem with looking only at the economic growth figures or the rate of growth of GDP figure is that it doesn't really talk about whether that growth has really been inclusive, whether it has created jobs, whether it has dispersed across all geographical areas in the country. This, to my mind, has been the biggest limitation, the biggest drawback of the last two decades of economic liberalization. The rich have got richer and so have the middle class, I am not arguing that the poor have become poorer but the rich have certainly got richer at a far faster pace than the poor. Therefore, the gap between the Haves and the Have-nots has widened, which is why we see the kind of inequality we do in India, where one out of four persons in the country, even the government acknowledges, lives below the poverty line. A substantial section of the population lives on barely Rs 20 day and one out of four persons in the country still cannot read or write their own name. So the flip side of economic liberalization has been a widening of economic inequality," said Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, senior journalist.

Also, economists noted that the globalisation of the Indian economy requires the domestic market to be able to compete. While some sectors like biotechnology or pharmaceuticals have been able to do so, other sectors like nuclear technology require major impetus in the form of research and development.

"Globalisation means globally competing. That means you have to generate new knowledge whether it is software, biotechnology, Nanotechnology or aerospace and nuclear technology. For instance, in nuclear technology we are still very dependent on import of technology and so we went for India US nuclear deal. We could not generate our own technology. We have also not been able to generate adequate amount of reprocessing technology and so we feel hurt when there is a ban on sending technology to India. We have not yet been developing this technology. Unfortunately in India, private sector does not do much of research. Public sector in the universities, which used to do such research, is being curtailed because the funding for them has reduced. As a result, R&D (Research and Development) has suffered in India. We are becoming dependent more on import of research and development. We are doing good work in areas like biotechnology or pharmaceuticals but by and large R&D expenditure and achievements are very few," said Professor Arun Kumar, Economics Department, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

Since 1991, India's GDP has increased four times, its forex reserves have surged from $5.8 billion to $279 billion, and exports from $18 billion to $178 billion. The disparity between the rich and poor, meanwhile, has widened largely for the rural people who are unable to cope up with the increasing urbanisation in cities.

Source

ANI

Restrictions

NO ACCESS BBC

Intro

Indian economists analyse the repercussions of the economic reforms, undertaken by the then finance Minister, Manmohan Singh, under the Narsimha Rao-led-Congress Government, 20 years ago.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4: 3 MATERIAL

Shotlist

NEW DELHI, INDIA (JULY 23, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) (ORIGINALLY 4:3)

1. BUILDINGS

2. SIGNBOARD READING 'RBS'

3. SIGNBOARDS OF BANKS

4. MEN WALKING ON THE STREET

5. SIGNBOARD READING 'TDI CITY'

6. VEHICLES MOVING ON THE STREET

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (JULY 23, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) (ORIGINALLY 16:9)

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) PROFESSOR ANIL KUMAR JAIN, DEAN, ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT, BENARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY, SAYING:

NEW DELHI, INDIA (JULY 23, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) (ORIGINALLY 4:3)

8. BUILDINGS

9. SIGNBOARD READING 'PNB HOUSING FINANCE LIMITED'

10. BUILDING WITH MANY BANNERS

11. SIGNBOARDS

12. SHOE SHINERS, SITTING ON A PAVEMENT

13. A SHOE SHINER SITTING

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (JULY 23, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) (ORIGINALLY 16:9)

14. (SOUNBITE) (Hindi) PROFESSOR KIRAN BARMAN, ECONOMIC DEPARTMENT, BENARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY, SAYING:

NEW DELHI, INDIA (JULY 23, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) (ORIGINALLY 4:3)

15. PARANJOY GUHA THAKURTA, SENIOR JOURNALIST SITTING

16. THAKURTA LOOKING

17. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PARANJOY GUHA THAKURTA, SENIOR JOURNALIST, SAYING:

18. A BUILDING

19. SIGNBOARD READING 'ARUN KUMAR'

20. ARUN KUMAR SITTING

21. HAND OF KUMAR

22. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PROFESSOR ARUN KUMAR, ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT, JAWAHARLAL NEHRU UNIVERSITY, SAYING:

"Globalisation means globally competing. That means you have to generate new knowledge, whether it is software, biotechnology, nanotechnology, aerospace and nuclear technology. For instance, in nuclear technology we are still very dependent on the import of technology and so we went for India-US nuclear deal. We could not generate our own technology. We have also not been able to generate adequate amount of reprocessing technology and so we feel hurt when there is a ban on sending technology to India. We have not yet been able to develop this technology. Unfortunately in India, private sector does not do much of research. Public sector in the universities, which used to do such research, is being curtailed because the funding for them has reduced. As a result, R&D (Research and Development) has suffered in India. We are becoming more dependent on import of research and development. We are doing good work in areas like biotechnology or pharmaceuticals but, by and large, R&D expenditure and achievements are very few.

FILE (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) (ORIGINALLY 4:3)

23. FORMER INDIAN PRIME MINISTER, NARASIMHA RAO, SITTING

24. FORMER FINANCE MINISTER, MANMOHAN SINGH, SITTING

25. GHULAM NABI AZAD AND MADHAVRAO SCINDIA, CONGRESS LEADERS, SITTING

26. RAO LOOKING

27. MINISTERS SITTING DURING A CABINET MEETING

28. MANMOHAN SINGH SITTING

Original Script Date

Jul 24 09:28 (1 day ago)

Modified Script Date

Jul 24 09:28 (1 day ago)

Script Version

Headline

20 years after, Indian economists analyse the repercussions of economic reforms.

Services

Subcon Extra

Locations

NEW DELHI/VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH

Dates Shot

JULY 23, 2011, /FILE

Sound

NATURAL WITH HINDI AND ENGLISH SPEECH

Duration

5:57

North Indian court awards life term to two Italians for killing their compatriot

North Indian court awards life term to two Italians for killing their compatriot

By Girish Kumar Dubey

A local court in Varanasi city of northern India's Uttar Pradesh awarded life term imprisonment to two Italians for murdering their friend and compatriot.

Francesco Montis, 28, was found dead in the first week of February 2010 in a hotel in the city.

While talking to mediapersons, public prosecutor, Anil Kumar Singh said the deceased's post-mortem revealed that the death was caused by asphyxia as a result of strangulation and there were six injury marks present on the body before death.

"Italian national Francesco Montis was murdered in room no 459 of Hotel Buddha in the city on the night of February 3 and 4, 2010. Elisa Betti Boncompagni, a woman friend and Tommaso Bruno, a male friend, strangulated him. There were six marks on his body, which were made before death. So, for this (heinous) crime, the Thirteenth ADJ (Additional District and Session Judge) Shri Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra awarded life term imprisonment and a penalty of Rs. 25,000 ($563.82) to each of the convicts," said Singh.

But the counsel for Italian Embassy, Vibhu Shankar told reporters that he was not satisfied with the judgement and it was totally wrong.

"The judgement is wrong. There are certain contradictions. There is no direct witness. All the witnesses are fabricated and planted. The report of doctor is wrong and strangulation is not being proved from anywhere. It's all wrong," said Vibhu Shankar, Advocate of Italian Embassy, New Delhi.

Since the deceased and the convicts were Italians, the district magistrate of Varanasi, Shri Ravindra sent a team of doctors on February 06 for post mortem of the body again.

He added that it was a case of circumstantial evidence and the murder was fallout of love triangle.

All the three Italian nationals Montis, Boncompagni and Bruno worked in a hotel in central London. They had come to Varanasi as a part of their India tour.

Intro

A local court of India's northern Uttar Pradesh awards life term imprisonment two Italians for murdering their friend and compatriot in a hotel room.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

Shotlist

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (JULY 23, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. EXTERIOR OF A LOCAL COURT

2. PEOPLE WALKING ON ROAD

3. POLICE OFFICIALS STANDING OUTSIDE A COURT

4. ANIL KUMAR SINGH, PUBLIC PROSECUTOR OF VARANASI, WALKING

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) ANIL KUMAR SINGH, PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, SAYING:

6. A SIGNBOARD READING 'THIRTEENTH ADDITIONAL DISTRICT AND SESSION JUDGE'

7. POLICE OFFICIAL COMING OUT OF A ROOM

8. TOMMASO BRUNO WALKING

9. BRUNO ESCORTED BY POLICE

10. BRUNO WALKING

11. ELISA BETTI BONCOMPAGNI WALKING ALONG WITH BRUNO

12. POLICE OFFICIALS, BRUNO AND BONCOMPAGNI WALKING

13. BRUNO AND BONCOMPAGNI ENTERING A VEHICLE

14. BRUNO AND BONCOMPAGNI SITTING INSIDE THE VEHICLE

15. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) VIBHU SHANKAR, COUNSEL FOR ITALIAN EMBASSY, NEW DELHI, SAYING:

16. FOREIGN NATIONALS STANDING ON ROAD

17. FOREIGN WALKING

18. FOREIGN NATIONAL SITTING IN A VEHICLE

19. VEHICLE LEAVING

Original Script Date

Jul 24 08:16 (1 day ago)

Modified Script Date

Jul 24 11:10 (1 day ago)

Script Version

Headline

North Indian court awards life term to two Italians for killing their compatriot.

Services

Subcon Extra

Locations

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Dates Shot

JULY 23, 2011

Sound

NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH

Duration

2:28

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

A hairdresser of Azamgarh attempts to set a world record

A hairdresser of Azamgarh attempts to set a world record

Submitted on Fri, 03/0by By Girish Kumar Dubey

Azamgarh, Mar 7: Aspiring to be named in Guinness Book of World Records, Ansar Sheikh, a hairdresser in Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh attempted a unique feat of non-stop haircutting holding the scissors with his mouth.

In his unique endeavour, 41-year-old Ansar Sheikh started cutting hair by holding the scissors with his mouth for 24 hours from 7 pm on March 1 to 7 pm on March 2, no doubt with small breaks for food and water.

People came to see Ansar perform the feat even from far off places. Mohammed Tariq Hashmi was one of them. Ansar is hopeful that his hard work would bear fruit and get him into the Guinness Book of World Records.

Ansar Sheikh said, "If I'm successful in this attempt by the grace of God, then I will open a training centre in Azamgarh District to impart free hair cutting training to visually challenged people and we will give them a certificate stating that they are trained as hair stylists." (ANI)

Development activities in Sonbhadra to curb Naxalism

By Girish Kumar Dubey

Sonbhadra (U.P.)June 20: Development activities in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh hope to contain the spread of naxalism in the area.

Inhabited by a large proportion of tribals, the area has been home to Naxalites for a long time. The Naxalites usually hide in jungles and to effectively chase them, proper roads are a must.

Likewise, police stations are being upgraded alongside building of helipads to ensure a hassle-free transportation during any crisis.

Explaining this action plan, the Inspector General of Police (Varanasi Range), Praveen Singh said that the Union Government has earmarked ample funds for the projects.

"The central government has chosen some regions under the scheme for special infrastructure development in which Uttar Pradesh's Sonbhadra District is included. Under the scheme, roads, police stations, and helipad aids would be provided," said Praveen Singh, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Varanasi Range.

Experts believe that the Maoists spread their influence where people are backward. Keeping these aspects in view, infrastructure development in tribal belts has been given prime importance.

"Some anti-social elements are exploiting their feelings and provoking them to act against the law. Our endeavor is to connect these people to the mainstream and make them aware of the things that government is doing for them," Praveen added.

Local tribals, however, doubt whether such initiatives are likely to benefit them.

"The government has been turning a deaf ear towards us. There is no doctor, no teacher and no IAS officer to serve them. Where should tribals go? Only making roads so that police can reach on time during an attack is not the solution?." said Vibhusha Patra, the coordinator of the Association for Democratic Rights.

Villagers say that despite much progress across the country, the condition of tribals in Sonbhadra hasn't improved. They still live without education, economic development, and proper infrastructure. The zest of the youth to live a better life has taken a violent shape because of the lack of support from administration.

"When the police turns a deaf year to our demands, we fight against such forces. We have to fight for our rights," said, a Naxalite requesting anonymity.

Tribals in Sonbhadra are hopeful that development projects will change the lives of the people in the area.

Copyright Asian News International

To Babloo of Varanasi, physical disability is no handicap

Thursday, September 18, 2008 4:22:19 PM by ANI ( Leave a comment )

By Girish Kumar Dubey

Hathigaon (Varanasi), Sep.18(ANI): Born without hands, Babloo of Hathi Gaon near Varanasi has proved how a determined mind can make a difference and overcome physical handicaps.

Twenty two-year-old Babloo has fought his way to lead a normal life despite not having hands since birth. He refused to give up before his physical disability and trained himself to be an independent person.

Parents were disappointed at his birth, as he was born without forearms. But little did they knew their kid could be a help to them.

Babloo received encouragement at every step in his life.

"My parents asked me to become independent while taking my own time. They started teaching me and I started learning to be independent. Now I can fetch water and play cricket," said Babloo.

Babloo is the only child of his parents. They always wanted him.

"He is handicapped since birth. He can do all the work himself. He has belief in himself and therefore can work independently," said Shantidevi, Babloo''s mother.

Today, Babloo can work almost like any normal human being. He also helps his parents in their routine tasks like fetching water from the well and even ploughing the field.

"I was sad when he was born. I sent him to school and told him to become independent so that he could support us in farming or some other work so that he need not depend on my support," said Lakhidadi Ram, Babloo''s father.

Despite his stumped hands, Babloo plays cricket along with his friends at the village grounds.

His parents are today proud of him. He has become a sort of role model for his friends and many others in the neighbourhood of Hathi Gaon.

"We are not only surprised but also feel really happy when we see that Babloo can do all the work himself," said Sanjay Kumar, Babloo''s neighbour.

The saga of Babloo of Hathi Gaon proves the maxim that when the going gets tough, the tough gets going, and then sky is the only limit. (ANI)

More at : To Babloo of Varanasi, physical disability is no handicap http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/sports/to-babloo-of-varanasi-physical-disability-is-no-handicap_10097240.html#ixzz1SfWxcRL8