Chinese consul in India says dispute in South China Sea with Vietnam a bilateral affair, wants other countries to stay away.

Chinese consul in India says dispute in South China Sea with Vietnam a bilateral affair, wants other countries to stay away.

                    By Girish Kumar Dubey
                                            
Consul General in India of People's Republic of China, Niu Qingbao on Saturday (September 24) said that its dispute in South China Sea with Vietnam was a bilateral affair.

Niu hoped that "countries outside the region" would support efforts made by the two countries to resolve the row.

"China has undisputed sovereignty on that piece of the region of the sea area, so there is dispute there. China says that we have undisputed claim on this or Vietnam says that it enjoys some ownership, so this is a dispute between China and Vietnam. I hope that countries outside the region will support whatever efforts are made by the two countries to solve their bilateral dispute," said Niu, while interacting with the media persons on the sidelines of an event held in India's northern Varanasi city.

A joint energy project between India and Vietnam in the South China Sea infringes on China's territorial sovereignty, an official Chinese newspaper said on Thursday (September 22).

Intro

Consul General in India of People's Republic of China, Niu Qingbao says its dispute in South China Sea with Vietnam is a bilateral affair and hopes that countries outside the region will support efforts made by the two countries to resolve the row.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

Shotlist

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (SEPTEMBER 24, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. NIU QINGBAO, CONSUL GENERAL IN INDIA OF PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA,

ADDRESSING THE AUDIENCE

2. NIU STANDING ON STAGE

3. A MAN GARLANDING NIU

4. NIU SITTING ON STAGE WITH OTHER MEMBERS

5. AUDIENCE SITTING

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NIU QINGBAO, CONSUL GENERAL IN INDIA OF

PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, SAYING:

"China has undisputed sovereignty on that piece of the region of the sea area, so there is dispute there. China says that we have undisputed claim on this or Vietnam says that it enjoys some ownership, so this is a dispute between China and Vietnam. I hope that countries outside the region will support whatever efforts are made by the two countries to solve their bilateral dispute."

7. A BANNER READING 'INDIA CHINA FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION'

8. NIU SITTING ON STAGE

9. EVENT IN PROGRESS

Original Script Date

Sep 24 20:45 (3 days ago)

Modified Script Date

Sep 24 20:45 (3 days ago)

Script Version

1

Headline

Chinese consul in India says dispute in South China Sea with Vietnam a bilateral affair, wants other countries to stay away.

Services

Subcon Extra

Locations

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Dates Shot

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Sound

NATURAL WITH ENGLISH SPEECH(AUDIO AS INCOMING)

Duration

1:58

Women in India’s northern state observe International Literacy Day

Women in India's northern state observe International Literacy Day.

                                   By Girish Kumar Dubey
To mark the International Literacy Day, women in Varanasi city of India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh organised a mass street rally on Thursday (September 08).

Huge number of women from varying age groups participated in the rally that was organised to spread the message on the importance of educating the girl child and women folk to enable a bright future for the country.

World Literacy of Canada, an international NGO working for the literacy of adults co-hosted this rally.

"This awareness rally has been organised to spread awareness. The women who are with us know about the importance of literacy, but women who hesitate in coming out of their homes, they would become more aware through this rally," said Shitanshu Sharma, Programme Director of World Literacy of Canada, an international NGO working for the literacy of adults in the state.

Half a dozen volunteers from Canada also participated in this awareness rally.

The participants displayed enthusiasm by raising pro-women literacy slogans.

The well-known adage about teaching a boy merely educates an individual whereas letting a girl child, you educate the entire nation was projected on the occasion.

Mamta Yadav, a participant, said that by educating a woman, who are the main homemakers, an entire family can be educated, which would ultimately build a brighter future for the country.

"It is very important for a woman to be literate because if a woman is aware, then the entire family including her husband and her child would become aware. So it is important that the awareness should be spread within women folk," said Mamta Yadav, a participant.

Female literacy rate of Varanasi has increased by 15.15 percent as per the provisional data of census 2011.

There has been overall improvement in female literacy rate of the city for the 2001 to 2011 decade, as it has risen from 53.05 percent in 2001 to 68.20 percent in 2011.

To highlight the importance of literacy in society, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on November 17, 1965 declared September 8 as International Literacy Day.ANI

Intro

On the occasion of International Literacy Day, women in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh organise a rally to spread the message on the importance of educating the girl child and women folk to enable a bright future for the country.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

Shotlist

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (SEPTEMBER 08, 2011) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. WOMEN TAKING OUT A RALLY

2. A WOMAN RAISING SLOGANS ON THE ESSENCE OF LITERACY

3. A WOMAN HOLDING A PLACARD

4. A FOREIGNER PARTICIPATING IN THE RALLY

5. WOMAN PARTICIPANTS TAKING OUT THE RALLY

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SHITANSHU SHARMA, AN ORGANISER, SAYING:

"This awareness rally has been organised to spread awareness. The women who are with us know about the importance of literacy, but women who hesitate in coming out of their homes, they would become more aware through this rally."

7. VARIOUS WOMEN CARRYING PLACARDS

8. ANOTHER FOREIGNER PARTICIPATING IN A RALLY

9. WOMEN STANDING, WHILE HOLDING PLACARDS

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) MAMTA YADAV, A PARTICIPANT, SAYING:

"It is very important for a woman to be literate because if a woman is aware, then the entire family including her husband and her child would become aware. So it is important that the awareness should be spread within women folk."

11. WOMEN WALKING

12. RALLY IN PROGRESS

Original Script Date

Sep 08 23:13 (16 days ago)

Modified Script Date

Sep 08 23:13 (16 days ago)

Script Version

1

Headline

Women in India's northern state observe International Literacy Day.

Services

Subcon Extra

Locations

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Dates Shot

SEPTEMBER 08, 2011

Sound

NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH

Duration

1:06

Sleuths of anti-terrorist squad raid house of absconding militant’s house in northern India

Sleuths of anti-terrorist squad raid house of absconding militant's house in northern India

                                                   By Girish Kumar Dubey

Consequent to the blast outside the Delhi High Court that rocked India's national capital, a special team of the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) conducted raid at the residence of suspected Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) militant Shameem at Launda Jhansi village near Mughalsarai in Chandauli district of northern Uttar Pradesh state on Wednesday (September 07).

Incidentally, Shameem's name had cropped up in the 2006 blast at the Sankat Mochan temple in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh state.

He has been absconding for the past four years since his name emerged in the case of Varanasi blast.

Earlier in the day, a powerful bomb placed in a briefcase outside the Delhi High Court in the national capital blasted claiming 11 lives and injured 76 others.

On their part, the authorities said they are investigating a claim of responsibility allegedly made by the Harkat-ul-Jihad Islami (HUJI) militant group -- an al Qaeda affiliate with bases in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Ilyas Kashmiri, who US authorities believe was recently killed in Pakistan, was the head of the group and senior al Qaeda member.

Briefing the media at Chandauli, Shalabh Mathur, Superintendent of Police (SP) said that the ATS sleuths swung into action once HuJI's name surfaced in the blasts at New Delhi.

"As you know that a blast has taken place in New Delhi and we have been doing checks at various places including court and other sensitive areas. As part of these checks, we also conducted raid at the residence of a man named Shameem, whose name had cropped up in relation to the blast that took place at Sankat Mochan temple in Varanasi," said Shalabh Mathur.

According to local media reports, the ATS team officials confiscated the mobile phones of Shameem's family members.

However, Shameem's mother Nagina at Launda Jhansi said that it has been a long time since they last saw him.

"It has been a long while since he left, he was studying in Varanasi and he left one early morning and since then he has not been seen. I have not seen him, I do not know whether he died or what else happened to him," said Nagina, mother of the suspect Shameem.

Forensic evidence initially showing nitrate based explosives with possible traces of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), a powerful high explosive, a senior Home (interior) Ministry official.

Meanwhile, sketches of two suspects have also been released to the public.

In an e-mail to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the South Asian militant group, called on India to repeal the death sentence of a man convicted in connection with an attack on the Indian parliament in 2001 and warned it would otherwise target major courts in the country.

An attack in broad daylight at such a high-profile location, which lacked CCTV cameras and had faulty security scanners, quickly led critics to question the authorities readiness especially as it came ahead of the September 11, 2001 anniversary of attacks in the United States.ANI

Intro

In the wake of the blast outside the Delhi High Court, a special team of the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) conducts raid at the residence of suspected Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) militant Shameem, whose name cropped up in the 2006 blast at Sankat Mochan temple in Varanasi in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

Shotlist

CHANDAULI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (SEPTEMBER 07, 2011) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. OVERALL VIEW OF LAUNDA JHANSI VILLAGE UNDER CHADAULI BLOCK

2. VILLAGERS GATHERED AT THE HOUSE OF SHAMEEM, A SUSPECTED MILITANT OF HARKAT-UL-JIHAD-AL-ISLAMI (HUJI) OUTFIT

3. A CAR PARKED OUTSIDE A POLICE STATION

4. 'SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE' WRITTEN ON THE CAR'S NUMBER PLATE

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SHALABH MATHUR, SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE (SP), CHANDAULI, SAYING:

"As you know that a blast has taken place in New Delhi and we have been doing checks at various places including court and other sensitive areas. As part of these checks, we also conducted raid at the residence of a man named Shameem, whose name had cropped up in relation to the blast that took place at Sankat Mochan temple in Varanasi."

6. A SIGNBOARD READING 'POLICE STATION'

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) NAGINA, MOTHER OF SHAMEEM, A SUSPECTED MILITANT OF HARKAT-UL-JIHAD-AL-ISLAMI (HUJI) OUTFIT, SAYING:

"It has been a long while since he left, he was studying in Varanasi and he left one early morning and since then he has not been seen. I have not seen him, I do not know whether he died or what else happened to him."

NEW DELHI, INDIA (SEPTEMBER 07, 2011) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

8. MEDIA STANDING NEAR A SIGNBOARD READING 'DELHI HIGH COURT'

9. CROWD GATHERED AT THE BLAST SITE

10. POLICE VEHICLE AND FIRE TENDERS AT THE BLAST SITE

11. A BOMB BLAST SQUAD VEHICLE AT THE BLAST SITE

12. POLICE PERSONNEL CARRYING A BLUE PLASTIC SHEET, DEBRIS FROM THE BLAST SITE

Hindus take a holy dip in northern India hoping to be bestowed with children

Hindus take a holy dip in northern India hoping to be bestowed with children
                                           By Girish Kumar Dubey

Hindu devotees took a dip in a water tank in order to be blessed with children and be cured of their diseases in Varanasi city of India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday (September 03).

'Lolark Chhath' is celebrated two days after the festival of 'Ganesh Chaturthi', the birthday of the Hindu God Ganesha.

A local temple priest informed about the significance of the event.

"If one takes a holy dip here, then his wish of bearing a child is fulfilled. People offer fruits here and after they have offered, they do not take it back," said Anand Tiwari, a local priest.

According to Hindu legend, it is believed that the Sun God had meditated at this holy site of water tank for thousands of years. Thus, locals believe that the water of the tank has been purified and holds curative powers.

The villagers are also heard narrating the folklore of the pious water being capable of curing skin diseases, leprosy and other serious ailments.

However, the villagers are confident in the powers of the water in the holy tank. They believe that people shall be bestowed with offsprings, irrespective of caste and class.

Childless couples come from across the country to take a dip and perform traditional rituals at the water tank.

"My wish has been fulfilled. We had prayed for a child after taking a holy dip here and our wish was fulfilled," said Reshma, a devotee.

As per sacred rituals, the childless couples who take a dip in the water tank, leave behind their clothes and shoes at the bathing site, signifying the start of a new life.

Devotees who are blessed with children flock to the water tank and the temple to present religious offerings. They also get their children tonsured in an act of gratitude to the gods.

Intro

Hopeful to be blessed with children, hundreds of Hindu devotees take a holy dip in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state, on the occasion of Lolark Chhath.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

Shotlist

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (SEPTEMBER 03, 2011) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. DEVOTEES STANDING

2. DEVOTEES TAKING A HOLY DIP

3. DEVOTEES TAKING DIPS IN A WATER TANK

4. DEVOTEES STANDING

5. A DEVOTEE WALKING DOWN THE STAIRS TO THE WATER TANK

6. DEVOTEES GATHERING AT THE WATER TANK

7. DEVOTEES WALKING DOWN THE STAIRS TO THE WATER TANK

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) ANAND TIWARI, A LOCAL PRIEST, SAYING:

"If one takes a holy dip here, then his wish of bearing a child is fulfilled. People offer fruits here and after they have offered, they do not take it back."

9. DEVOTEES OFFERING PRAYERS

10. A PRIEST STANDING

11. A DEVOTEE PLAYING DRUMS

12. A DEVOTEE SITTING, CARRYING A CHILD IN HER ARMS

13. A LOCAL PREPARING A DISH

14. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) RESHMA, A DEVOTEE, SAYING:

"My wish has been fulfilled. We had prayed for a child after taking a holy dip here and our wish was fulfilled."

15. DEVOTEES WALKING DOWN THE STAIRS TO THE WATER TANK

Original Script Date

Sep 03 08:21 (3 days ago)

Modified Script Date

Sep 03 08:21 (3 days ago)

Script Version

1

Headline

Hindus take a holy dip in northern India hoping to be bestowed with children.

Services

Subcon Extra

Locations

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Dates Shot

SEPTEMBER 03, 2011

Sound

NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH

Duration

2:02

India's #1 Language Portal

News »  April 24, 2008  » India

Hefty duty on raw materials hit traditional weavers in Varanasi

Newsletter

Its Free!

Get latest updates on cars, bikes, accessories.

                        By Girish Kumar Dubey

Varanasi, Apr 24 : Artisans weaving the traditional sarees in Varanasi, popularly known as Banarasi sarees, find it hard to continue their work.

The increase in duties makes the sarees costly and there are no buyers.

"Earlier, when the prices were right, there was a small amount of profit. But, now due to inflation, there is hardly any income," said Salauddin, an artisan.

The handloom sector is the mainstay of the city's labour-intensive Banarasiaree industry.

Exporters in the business said they were not able to compete in the market as their initial costs were and the high and the government has responded to their requests.

"In other countries, duty on raw materials is less than the duty on the finished products. Whereas in our country there is a ten per cent duty levy on finished cloth and 35 per cent duty on silk. Exporters are paying a heavy price for that. The tax waivers that we enjoyed, were slowly withdrawn," said Arun Aggarwal, an exporter.

The Banarasi sarees that became popular during the Mughal era, is a cottage industry for millions of people around Varanasi.

According to official reports, the Banarsi saree industry has also been adversely affected due to the import of cheap Chinese fabric.

ANI

Displaced weavers to pull cycle rickshaws in Varanasi

Thursday, February 07, 2008 8:09:01 PM by admin ( Leave a comment )

By Girish Kumar Dubey

Varanasi, Feb.7 (ANI): Many weavers, who have been displaced or have been badly hit due to the slump in the Benarasi saree industry, will now earn a living by pulling specially designed aero-dynamic rickshaws in Varanasi.
Thanks to a rehabilitation programme started by a local NGO in cooperation with the Guwahati-based NGO, Centre for Rural Devlopment (CRD), the rickshaws have been provided on nominal installments.
These rickshaws have been provided under a Janmitra Rickshaw Project, a part of Rickshaw Bank Project funded by the Punjab National Bank (PNB), which was formally inaugurated in Varanasi this past week.
According to a trustee of the Janmitra Nyas, all rickshaw owners have paid an initial payment of Rupees 350. Besides they will pay Rupees 25 on daily basis for about a year-and-half to become rickshaw owners.
"Within one-and-a-half year, they will become the owners of their rickshaws. They just have to deposit their daily installment in the bank. They have opened a bank account also. After that they will not have to work under anybody. They will have a rickshaw available with them for 24 hours of the day so that they can use it any time. Generally, rickshaw pullers have to pay double the rent for crossing eight hours duration. Now, they will not have any such problem," said Shruti, a trustee of Janmitra Nyas, the NGO.
Designed by A.K.Das, a mechanical engineer by qualification, the aerodynamic rickshaws offer protection from both the sun and rain to the rickshaw driver and their passengers. It also has wide space for luggage.
"This is the modified version of the rickshaw, so it will make it easier to pull rickshaw. An IIT professor has designed this model of rickshaw. The NGO's are providing the rickshaws on reasonable rates. The NGOs involved in assembling this rickshaw are non-profit organisations," said Dr. K. C. Chakravarti, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Punjab National Bank.
The success of the Janmitra Rickshaw Bank project will enable the Centre for Rural Devlopment (CRD) to help the 76 beneficiaries through housing loans from the PNB, Charavarti added.
Moreover, these rickshaw pullers have been given a life insurance of up to Rupees 100,000. The amount also covers passengers up to Rupees 20,000.
"The first thing is that I have got free insurance with the rickshaw. I am the owner of this rickshaw which is an achievement for me because in today's time I am not earning as much that I can buy my own rickshaw," said Abhay Narayan, a rickshaw puller.
The Centre for Rural Devlopment (CRD), a non-government organization from Guwahati has facilitated the sale of nearly 3,000 aero-dynamic designed rickshaws under similar projects in Guwahati (Assam), Surat (Gujarat), Agartala (Tripura) and Chennai (Tamil Nadu).
The CRD plans to replicate the project in 99 more cities, starting with Allahabad, Lucknow, Gorakhpur and Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh, depending on the success of the present project in Varanasi. (ANI)

Married women in northern India pray for marital bliss on the occasion of Hindu festival ‘Teej’.

Married women in northern India pray for marital bliss on the occasion of Hindu festival 'Teej'

                                         By Girish Kumar Dubey

Married women in Varanasi city of India's northern Uttar Pradesh state celebrated Teej festival, dedicated to Hindu deities, Lord Shiva and his wife goddess Parvati, with traditional fanfare on Wednesday (August 31).

It is believed that praying to goddess Parvati, who is also known as Gauri, consort of Shiva, on the occasion of Teej bestows marital bliss. Women observe fast to rededicate themselves to their husbands and family. "Married women carry out Teej prayers. They eat last at night and after midnight they rest and the next morning gather at the banks of Ganges to pray. They make offerings of sweets and fruits," said Priest, Kishore Anand Sharma.

Women gathered at the banks were dressed in their finery and prayed for the well being of their husbands and other family members.

"This is an extremely auspicious day for women who pray for their husband's long life. We fast the entire day and pray to Parvati and offer lots of fruits and sweets to her. We break our fast the next day with make offerings to priest (brahaman)," said married woman, Kalki Devi.

On Teej, folk songs are generally sung in praise of goddess Parvati, whose devotion to her husband Lord Shiva, the god of destruction and rejuvenation is considered exemplary.

The festival of Teej marks the onset of the monsoon in the month of Shravan after the long and arduous summer. It also marks the beginning of a series of fairs and festivals through the autumn and winter months, culminating in the spring festival of Gangaur.

Intro

Married women in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state celebrate Hindu festival 'Teej', dedicated to Hindu deities, Lord Shiva and his wife goddess Parvati, with traditional fanfare.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

Shotlist

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (AUGUST 31, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. TOP OF A HINDU TEMPLE

2. GATHERING OF MARRIED WOMEN AT THE BANKS OF THE TEMPLE

3. ENTRY GATE OF THE TEMPLE

4. PRIEST CHANTING HYMNS AS WOMEN WATCH

5. A WOMAN WITH FOLDED HANDS

6. PLATE FILLED WITH FRUITS AND SWEETS

7. WOMEN SITTING WITH FOLDED HANDS

8. PRIEST PROCEEDING WITH THE PRAYERS

9. WOMEN PRAYING

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) KISHORE ANAND SHARMA, HINDU PRIEST, SAYING:

"Married women carry out Teej prayers. They eat last at night and after midnight they rest and the next morning gather at the banks of Ganges to pray. They make offerings of sweets and fruits."

11. WOMEN SITTING IN THE PRAYER

12. IDOLS OF HINDU GOD SHIVA AND HIS WIFE GODDESS PARVATI

13. WOMEN PUTTING VERMILION ON EACH OTHER

14. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) KALKI DEVI, MARRIED WOMAN, SAYING:

"This is an extremely auspicious day for women who pray for their husband's long life. We fast the entire day and pray to Parvati and offer lots of fruits and sweets to her. We break our fast the next day with make offerings to priest (brahaman)."

15. WOMEN TAKING DIP IN WATERS OF GANGES

Original Script Date

Aug 31 18:23 (18 hours ago)

Modified Script Date

Aug 31 18:23 (18 hours ago)

Script Version

1

Headline

Married women in northern India pray for marital bliss on the occasion of Hindu festival 'Teej'.

Services

Subcon Extra

Locations

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Dates Shot

AUGUST 31, 2011

Sound

NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH

Duration

2:16