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Hills may get Besu second campus |
Kolkata: There is a possibility that the government may
invite Bengal Engineering and Science University (Besu) to
set up a second campus in Kalimpong. The idea is being
considered amidst proposals to upgrade Besu by conferring
the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST)
tag to it.
In the midst of proposal and long wait to upgrade Bengal
Engineering and Science University (BESU) into an institute
of national importance by conferring the tag of Indian
Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST),
there is now a possibility that the government may invite
BESU to set up a second campus in Kalimpong district.
On Saturday, senior Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader and
Kalimpong MLA Harka Bahadur Chhetri met education minister
Bratya Basu and discussed the proposal. After the meeting,
Chhetri said, “It has been a long time since the Hills have
got any touch of modernization. I would want the university
to set up a second campus there.
Since, Darjeeling is over crowded and there is paucity of
space in Darjeeling, Kalimpong is the next best option.
Being an elected representative, I would genuinely want to
identify land and offer it to Besu so that they can set up a
satellite campus.”
Besu, which till now is a state university, will not find it
difficult to continue with a second campus even when it is
upgraded to IIEST. “If the campus is established, it will
always remain so.
Even after being conferred an IIEST tag, it will not create
any impediment to continuing with the second campus,” said a
senior higher education department official. Besides intake
of more students, the second campus will only mean intake of
more students which will open up new avenues in North
Bengal, feels Chhetri. “Though it may not be possible to
reserve all seats in second campus for students from the
area, we would urge the government to look into the
possibility of reserving 15% to 20% seats for students from
North Bengal,” said Chhetri. “If Besu accepts the proposal
and decides to set up a campus then initially they would
inaugurate only a few courses which will be beneficial for
the locality. GIS mapping, bio-technology and pharmaceutical
engineering may be on the anvil. There is a huge potential
for pharmaceutical engineering to flourish since North
Bengal is rich in medicinal plants. If at all the plan
crystallizes, then courses will only be offered in phases.
Moreover, Besu authorities would like to hold discussions
with local schools so that it is easier to identify courses
which will be in demand,” added the higher education
official.
When contacted Besu VC Ajay Ray said, “We will consider the
possibility after a formal proposal is made. We will discuss
it in the academic council and then take a decision.”
In the meantime, Besu has also requested chief minister
Mamata Banerjee for a land adjacent to the existing campus
which is lying vacant for several years.
The university has sent a letter to the CM requesting her to
allow them to set up an extended campus on the land adjacent
to the university. It will solve the space crunch and also
give an impetus to Besu’s stake as IIEST |
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Eye check up camp by Marwari Yuva Manch |
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OUR CORRESPONDENT
Gangtok: All India Marwari Yuva Manch, Dalkhola unit, in
association with Power Grid Corporation of India (PCCI),
organized a free health check up cum eye screening programme
at Nichitpur F P school complex. Dr. I B Kumar from Kolkata,
along with doctors from Siliguri Lions Netrayala checked
total 170 eye patients, 13 of them were sent to Siliguri
Lions Netrayala for operation and 30 were provided glasses.
PCCI provided medicines free of cost, informs a release by
Narayan Agarwal of Marwari Yuva Manch. |
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Awareness programme by NGO |
AJAY THAPA
 Pakyong:
An awareness program on HIV/AIDS and blood donation was held
On February 5 at Basilakha Lalturning which was organized by
Sungava Samazik Sewa Sawstha, a local NGO. The resource
persons present were Pempa Lhamu Bhutia, nurse of primary
health centre, Basilakha and Kyongsee ASHA, Mrs. Meenu
Gurung. Vice president of the NGO Mrs. Madhu Subba and
Secretary Phiprang Subba, members of Nagbeli NGO and local
people were present.
The resource persons informed the gathering about HIV/AIDS
and advantages of blood donation. Vice president of the
Sungava SSS NGO Mrs. Subba informed that the NGO has been
promiting awareness of the local people in many health
related issues with the help of government health officers. |
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Govt likely to bring more
services in tax net |
New Delhi:The government is likely to bring
more services in the tax net to raise revenues and may
introduce a negative list in the forthcoming Budget. The
government is expected to keep 22 services in the negative
list and impose 10% tax on the rest, sources said, adding
that services for the purpose would be defined as all kinds
of economic activities, barring goods, money and immovable
property.
At present, the tax is levied on 119 services. For the
current fiscal, Centre hopes to mop up Rs 82,000 crore from
this levy.
Last month, the empowered committee of state finance
ministers on GST had approved imposition of service tax
based on a negative list of services after the Central Board
of Excise and Customs (CBEC) came out with a draft report in
December.
Sources said the ministry is working hard to introduce the
negative list from the next fiscal (2012-13) as that would
help it garner more revenue.
The Budget is expected to be announced by mid-March.
In their pre-Budget consultative meeting with the Finance
Minister, industry too demanded that government should come
out with negative list, while expanding the service tax
base. A negative list based on service tax represents a
change in the government's approach as it is taxes on the
principle of the positive list.
The negative list concept is practiced globally and is
proposed to be introduced in India as part of the Goods and
Services Tax (GST).
The government is trying to introduce the new GST regime,
which will subsume various levies like excise, service tax
and states tax, like value-added tax, entry tax and purchase
tax.
Services account for nearly 63 per cent of India's GDP and
widening of the net could yield an additional 20 per cent in
service tax.
The Empowered Committee had suggested that all the items
mentioned in the Constitution's Schedule II, such as
entertainment, should be included in the negative list to
ensure that the Centre cannot impose tax on them. (Agencies) |
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PMO seeks inputs from depts
on controversies |
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New Delhi: The Budget Session of
parliament may be some time away but the Prime Minister's
Office has initiated an exercise to collect inputs on
"controversies" surrounding various ministries to prepare
itself against the opposition onslaught. The PMO has written
to various ministries and departments asking them to furnish
notes on the controversial issues that could be raised by
opposition in parliament, a source said.
The inputs were sought from various ministries and
departments including finance, commerce, financial services,
corporate affairs, disinvestment, heavy industry and the
department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP). The
Industry Ministry has been in the news over the issue of
opening of foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand
retail, which the government had to withdraw following
protest from several quarters including its key ally
Trinamool Congress.
Other important issues that are likely to come up in the
Budget Session, which is expected to begin in the second
week of March, relate to black money, inflation, new
Companies Bill and poor response to disinvestment.
(Agencies) |
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EC wants details of planes used in
campaign |
Lucknow: The Election Commission has
ordered that political parties and candidates will have to
provide the details of planes and helicopters being used for
campaigning by them.
Joint CEO Anita Meshram on Saturday said that the candidates
and political parties will also provide the route plan and
number of flights three days in advance to CEO and District
Election Officers of the district where the plane is going
to land or from where it will take off.
The candidates and political parties will also have to
provide all information about planes and helicopters which
include hiring cost, name of the company from which the
planes were hired, and number of passengers who will travel
in the plane.
She said the Air Traffic Control will have to provide the
flight plans of all private planes and helicopters of next
24 hours to the CEO. ATC will also provide flight plans of
private planes to the concerned district election officer
and expenditure observer, she said.
She said the DEOs have also been instructed to update the
log books of all plane landings and take-offs in districts.
She said the CISF deployed at airports have been ordered to
inform Income Tax department if they come to know of Rs 10
lakh or one kg gold being carried towards the
airport.(Agencies) |
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Mithun project launched |
Dimapur: Much awaited mithun Project was
launched at N. Longidang village on January 28, with Dr.
Thungchamo Ezung, Deputy Director, Veterinary and Animal
Husbandry as chief guest. The project was launched with the
cutting of ribbon by the chief guest.
The chief guest, during his speech thanked the Mithun
Rearing Society, for the hard work and sacrificing every
available resources of the society in reviving the rich
tradition of the Village and also assured the members that
the department is always ready to help in every possible
ways as and when required by the society.
Chairman, Mithun Rearing Society, N. Longidang Village,
Zantsemo Ngullie also thanked Department of Veterinary and
Animal Husbandry Nagaland, contributing three Mithuns for
starting the project. He had also given report that at
present the Society has 9 (nine) mithuns altogether for
starting the project. |
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State to procure 600 MW to overcome power shortage |
Guwahati: The State expects to overcome
power shortage by the next summer with the availability of
additional power of around 600 MW from the National Thermal
Power Corporation’s (NTPC’s) Bongaigaon Thermal Power
Station and the ONGC-Tripura Power Co’s Palatana Thermal
Power Project.
The present shortfall in the State’s power availability is
in the range of 250 MW and 300 MW, against the demand of
around 1,200 MW during the summer peak load hours.
The power demand of the State is expected to go up to around
1,350 MW next summer. The annual growth rate of the State’s
power demand is in the range of 8 per cent to 10 per cent,
said sources in the Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB).
Two units of the NTPC’s 750 MW (250 MW× 3) Bongaigaon
project are expected to be commissioned by June-July next.
Assam is to get 400 MW from these two units at an average
cost of around Rs 3.50 to Rs 4.00 per unit. By September
next, the State also expects to get around 200 MW from the
Palatana project at an average cost of Rs 4 per unit. But
carrying power from this plant will also involve an
additional transmission cost. |
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Pollution takes a toll on Umiam Lake |
Shillong: With the Union ministry of
tourism recently selecting Umiam Lake (Barapani) as a mega
tourist destination, the issue related to pollution in the
lake has been raked up again. The lake is among 45 tourist
circuits in the country to be developed as a major tourist
spot.
Out of the 45 identified projects, 30 have already been
sanctioned, an official statement said. “For each identified
mega destination and circuit, the ministry of tourism’s
contribution as Central financial assistance is Rs 25 crore
and Rs 50 crore respectively under the scheme of
product/infrastructure development for destinations and
circuits,” the statement read.
Nevertheless, tonnes of silt, filth, soil and other solid
waste are draining into the lake, slowly polluting the most
enchanting fresh water body in the northeast. It was
constructed in 1965 for storage of water for power
generation. But over the years, the scenic lake became the
most visited tourist spot in Meghalaya. |
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Priyanka hits out at Mayawati |
Inhauna: In an attack on Chief Minister
Mayawati, Congress’ star campaigner Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on
Sunday said people should decide whether they want a
government which works for them or one which spends crores
on buildings.
Addressing a public meeting in Inhauna on the third day of
her five-day tour, she said, “it is up to electorates to
understand whether they want a government which thinks or
works for them, or one which wastes thousands of crores of
rupees on buildings“.
She said the forthcoming polls in the district on February
19, 2012 were important as people do not have to think about
their area alone, but also about the State and the country.
“You (people) create leaders, you form the government. A
leader, who does not have feeling of service towards people
and who thinks that power is a chance of self promotion,
only you people can teach him a lesson,” Ms. Vadra said.
She that responsibility of being rejected by public
representatives was the responsibility of the people and
they should turn indifferent towards politics, which rejects
the masses.
She alleged that in the last 22 years, the State witnessed
governments which did not work for the people.
Exuding confidence on the victory of party candidate Doctor
Muslim from the area, Ms. Vadra said, “I have this hope
because I know how much development was done and people’s
problems were heard from the MLA’s side. Whatever
development took place it happened from the centre and MP
fund. No work was done from the government or MLA side”. |
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Mandatory death penalty is unconstitutional: SC |
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has ruled that
mandatory death penalty for an offender under the Arms Act
was unconstitutional as it violated fundamental rights
guaranteed to a citizen.
A bench of Justices Asok Kumar Ganguly (since retd) and J S
Khehar said Section 27(3) of the Arms Act, which imposed
mandatory death penalty, was also "ultra vires and void" as
it restricts the powers of the court in awarding sentences
to an accused in such cases.
"A law which is not consistent with notions of fairness
while it imposes an irreversible penalty like death penalty
is repugnant to the concept of right and reason," the bench
said.
"All these concepts of 'due process' and the concept of a
just, fair and reasonable law has been read by this court
into the guarantee under Articles 14 and 21 of the
Constitution.
"Therefore, the provision of Section 27(3) of the Act is
violative of Article 14 (equality before law) and 21
(liberty) of the Constitution," Justice Ganguly, writing the
judgement, said.
The apex court passed the appeal while dismissing a Punjab
government appeal challenging the acquittal of Dalbir Singh,
a CRPF constable charged with indiscriminately firing at his
superiors with a rifle over a service row in 1993.
He was charged with murder (Section 302IPC) and various
offences under the Arms Act. Section 27(3) mandates that
"whoever uses any prohibited arms or prohibited ammunition
or acts in contravention of Section 7 and if such use or act
results in the death of any other person then that person
guilty of such use or acting in contravention of Section 7
shall be punishable with death."
The apex court while upholding the acquittal of Singh said
even if any act done in contravention of Section 7, namely,
acquisition or possession, or manufacture or sale, of
prohibited arms results in death of any person, the person
in contravention of Section 7 shall be punished with death.
"This is thus a very drastic provision for many reasons.
Apart from the fact that this imposes a mandatory death
penalty the section is so widely worded to the extent that
if as a result of any accidental or unintentional use or any
accident arising out of any act in contravention of Section
7, death results, the only punishment, which has to be
mandatorily imposed on the person in contravention is,
death," the bench said. (Agencies) |
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'US forces to stay in Afghan even after pullout' |
Washington: The US plans to keep its
Special Operations forces that hunt insurgent leaders and
train local troops in Afghanistan despite an earlier
announcement to end the NATO-led combat mission in 2014, a
media report has said. The plan, if approved by President
Barack Obama, would amount to the most significant evolution
in the military campaign since he sent in 32,000 more troops
to wage an intensive and costly counterinsurgency effort in
Afghanistan, The New York Times reported citing senior
Pentagon officials.
Under the plan, American conventional forces, focused on
policing large parts of Afghanistan, will be the first to
leave, while thousands of American Special Operations forces
(SOF) remain, making up an increasing percentage of the
troops on the ground; their number may even grow, the paper
said. The evolving strategy is far different from the
withdrawal plan for Iraq, where almost all American forces,
conventional or otherwise, have left.
The emerging plan is to use Afghanistan's most elite troops
to counter any residual terrorist threat over the coming
months as well as to devote the military's best trainers to
the difficult task of preparing Afghan security forces to
take over responsibilities in their country. The plan would
put a particularly heavy focus on Army Special Forces, also
known as the Green Berets. They would be in charge of
training a variety of Afghan security forces.
Green Berets, created by president John F Kennedy in the
1960s and conducting quiet missions in dozens of nations
around the world, are known for what is as called "foreign
internal defence" - using combat, mentoring, language and
cross-cultural skills to train local forces in rugged
environments, the NYT said.
At the same time, the elite commando teams within SOF would
continue their raids to hunt down, capture or kill insurgent
commanders and terrorist leaders and keep pressure on cells
of fighters to prevent them from mounting attacks.
Under the plan, the US would no longer be carrying out large
numbers of patrols to clear vast areas of Afghanistan of
insurgents, or holding villages and towns vulnerable to
militant attacks, the NYT said.
Those tasks would fall to Afghan forces, with Special Forces
soldiers remaining in the field to guide them. White House
officials confirmed in broad terms the shift to a Special
Operations mission, and said a formal announcement on the
future of the mission was expected at the May summit meeting
of NATO leaders in Chicago, the paper said. "The President
said in June that when the drawdown of surge forces is
complete in September, US troops will continue coming home
at a steady pace and our mission will shift from combat to
support as the Afghans take the lead," National Security
Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said. Defence Secretary Leon
Panetta had last week announced that US forces would step
back from a leading role in combat missions by mid 2013,
turning over security responsibilities to Afghan forces a
year earlier than expected. |
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Reserve Bank hints at more OMOs to infuse liquidity |
Mumbai: The apex bank has undertaken nearly
Rs 78,000 cr of operations.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)?has hinted at more open
market operations (OMOs) to ease tight liquidity conditions
in the banking system.
RBI?Deputy Governor Subir Gokarn, who is in charge of
monetary policy at the Reserve Bank, also said the RBI’s
choice of securities to buy in OMOs is not aimed at reducing
the cost of borrowing for the government, but to ensure that
there is adequate liquidity in the system.
“The aggregate objective of OMOs is to put in a certain
amount of liquidity into the market and not help the
government borrowings,” Gokarn said, talking to reporters at
a global investor summit organised by HSBC here. “The choice
of securities is driven by the need to be reasonably certain
about achieving the aggregate number. So these are two
separate decisions. Reality of the situation is OMO is
driven by liquidity shortage, not by the government
borrowing,” he said.
“These are really two separate discussions. You can call it
private placement or quasi private placement, regardless of
what the mix of securities is. It doesn’t matter, but that’s
not the case,” he said, in response to a query if OMOs are
not a kind of quasi-private placements aimed at helping
government bond yields.
Speaking to a business channel separately, Gokarn also ruled
out any room for aggressive rate cuts as in 2008 following
the fall of the Lehman Brothers, given high commodity prices
and sticky inflation, though he admitted that easing of
interest rates is the next logical step for the central bank
against the backdrop of a growth slowdown as well as
lessening inflationary pressure.
“That sort of room for very aggressive and very rapid rate
cuts simply does not exist in today’s situation. The
behaviour of commodity prices is and remains a risk to our
inflation and growth outlook,” he said. |
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GoM meeting on ATF import, FDI, AI on Thursday |
New Delhi: In a bid to safeguard interests
of ailing aviation sector, a Group of Minister will meet
later this week to give final touches on allowing
investments in Indian carriers by foreign airlines, direct
import of jet fuel by Indian carriers and Air India's
financial restructuring plan.
The GoM meet on Thursday may also decide on the investment
cap by foreign airlines in buying equity in Indian carriers,
official sources said.
The GoM is also likely to take a decision on allowing Indian
airlines directly import aviation turbine fuel to get some
breather from the high sales tax regime imposed by state
governments.
During the meeting, cash-strapped Air India's financial
restructing plan (FRP) and turnaround plan (TAP) would come
up for a review and a decision on injecting additional
equity into the national carrier is likely to be taken.
The debt-ridden carrier has outstanding loans and dues worth
Rs 67,520 crore, of which Rs 21,200 crore is working capital
loan, Rs 22,000 crore is long-term loan on fleet
acquisition, Rs 4,600 crore is vendor dues besides an
accumulated loss of Rs 20,320 crore, according to official
figures.
Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh, after his meeting with
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on January 17, had said
that he had discussed the issue with him and that he had
expressed his agreement to it.
His ministry is to prepare a note for the Cabinet.
Singh had said FDI was one of the factors which would help
the industry to survive the current financial crisis.
"We all know that the aviation industry is under a lot of
stress. Allowing foreign airlines to pick up stake in Indian
carriers would mark a major policy shift," Singh had said.
Earlier, foreign airlines were not allowed to invest in
Indian airlines though foreign direct investment of upto 49
per cent was allowed.
A Committee of Secretaries has proposed a 49 per cent cap on
FDI by foreign airlines.
But earlier, the Civil Aviation Ministry had suggested 24
per cent, while the Department of Industrial Policy and
Promotion (DIPP) had recommended 26 per cent. |
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Protests grip Cairo as pressure mounts for early vote |
CAIRO (Reuters) - An Egyptian government
building was set on fire on Sunday as protests disrupted the
heart of Cairo for a fourth day and public figures demanded
a faster transition to civilian rule.
It was unclear who was behind the attack, shown by Egyptian
television after midnight, with the state news agency
blaming "unknown" arsonists.
The building is near the Cairo headquarters of the Interior
Ministry, the focus of the latest wave of protests against
the army-led government triggered by the deaths of 74 people
in violence at a soccer stadium in Port Said on Wednesday.
Seven people have been killed in protests around the
Interior Ministry since Thursday, with another five killed
in demonstrations in Suez, a city east of Cairo.
Protesters and security forces clashed again on Saturday in
Cairo despite efforts by some activists to halt the
violence.
Youths threw rocks at police who fired tear gas to disperse
them in bouts of violence throughout the day. The Interior
Ministry said the police were trying to protect the
building.
Protesters hold the Interior Ministry responsible for the
deaths in Port Said. There has been intense speculation
about the cause of the soccer stadium disaster, Egypt's
worst.
Some believe remnants of the Mubarak regime triggered
violence that caused a stampede, part of a plot to create
chaos to reassert their influence. The interior minister has
blamed the incident on provocations by rival fans.
The Port Said incident has heightened criticism of the
Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, due to hand power to a
new president at the end of June according to its own
timetable.
Responding to one of Egypt's bloodiest weeks since Mubarak
was toppled, the council said the country was going through
"the most important and dangerous period" in its history.
A civilian council set up to advise the generals recommended
on Saturday they bring forward preparations for presidential
elections, a view echoed by a leading member of the Muslim
Brotherhood, the biggest party in parliament.
"In view of the seriousness of the events, the carnage that
happened, we cannot be silent, we cannot wait," said Mona
Makram Ebeid, a council member. "It's a revolutionary plea."
"The advisory council will consider halting its meetings if
the military council does not respond," Sherif Zahran,
another member of the body, told Reuters. Formal nominations
for the presidency should be accepted starting February 23,
according to the recommendation, nearly two months sooner
than the April 15 date previously announced.
That could lead to an election as soon as April or May. The
existing timetable states the generals will hand power to a
president by the end of June. Officials had indicated the
election would happen just before then. Essam el-Erian, the
deputy head of the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party,
told Reuters the presidential election could be held in May,
shaving a month off the interim period. (Additional
reporting by Tom Perry and Marwa Awad; Writing by Tom Perry
Editing by Maria Golovnina) |
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7 Indian-Americans among Intel Science finalists in US |
Washington: Seven Indian-Americans have
figured among the 40 finalists for the Intel Science Talent
Search; which is the most prestigious science and maths
competition for high school students in the United States.
The Intel Science Talent Search finalists, who represent
America’s most promising high school seniors with the
greatest potential to solve pressing challenges in the
world, will gather in Washington, in March to compete for
USD 630,000 in awards with the top winner receiving USD
100,000 from the Intel Foundation.
While two of the Indian-American finalists are from
California – Saurabh Sharan and Sayoni Sah, two others are
from Michigan – Siddhartha Gautama Jena and Nithin Reddy
Tumma.
The other three Indian-American finalists are Neel S Patel
from Florida; Anirudh Prabhu (Indiana) and Neil Kamlesh (New
York).
“The US needs these talented innovators to go as far and as
fast as they can, solving the world’s most critical
challenges, imagining and creating a new and better future
for us all,” said Wendy Hawkins, executive director of the
Intel Foundation.
“Math and science are the language and tools of this
innovation – that’s why Intel is so proud to invest in these
students, and to advance math and science education for all
students,” he said. -(Agencies) |
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Rahman to star in Ekk Deewana Tha song |
AR Rahman may have shied away from the
camera for years, but the music maestro will soon be seen in
the first-ever music video of the romantic number,
Mohabbatein from Ekk Deewana Tha (EDT).
The multiple Oscar-winning composer sung the song himself.
EDT director and Rahman’s friend, Gautham said.
Menon has shot the video for him. “AR has been extremely
excited about the entire album. In fact, it was his idea to
shoot the song,” says Vijay Singh of Fox Star Studios,
producer of EDT.
Previously, Rahman made a cameo in Akon’s music video of the
popular hit, Beautiful. However, this time, he will be seen
singing the song and playing the piano. Mohabbatein is
Rahman’s favourite song from the film’s soundtrack. “It’s a
very romantic song. And since the film is all about romance
and love, Rahman sir’s involvement with the song has made it
(the song) special for all of us,” says a source from the
production unit. Makers plan to unveil the video at the
success party of the song, Hosanna.
Starring Prateik and Amy Jackson, EDT is a remake of Menon’s
Tamil film, Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa. Rahman composed score
for the Tamil version too. He and other cast members
released the soundtrack album at Taj Mahal in Agra.
Playback on screen
Vinod Rathod appeared in Baazigar’s (1993) Chupaana Bhi Nahi
Aata, and Shaan and Sadhna Sargam in Chain Aapko Mila from
Hungama (2003). Pritam featured in Life In A…Metro (2007),
Atif Aslam in Pehli Nazar Mein in Race (2008) and Rahat
Fateh Ali Khan in a song in Dil Kabaddi (2008). Now, Kailash
Kher has appeared in Gali Gali Chor Hai’s title song. (Media
Watch) |
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Film industry to strike on Feb 23 |
Film production all over the country will
be shut down protesting the Central Government’s proposal to
levy service tax
The Film Federation of India (FFI) has called for a strike
by all film bodies in the country protesting the Central
Government’s proposal to levy service tax for films.
At a joint meeting of all the film associations, convened by
the FFI on January 10 in Chennai, it was decided to request
the finance minister to remove the levy of service tax on
copyright. A core committee comprising senior members of the
film industry, along with members of parliament, have
presented detailed statistics stating the losses of the film
industry and the meagre success rate to the finance
minister. But they are still waiting for a reply from the
ministry.
The Tamil film industry has also decided to lend its support
to this token protest.
“Since the service tax is levied by the central government,
it affects all film industries in India. So, the Tamil film
industry will also join other members in this one-day
protest,” confirms the Tamil Film Producers’ Council (TFPC)
president S A Chandrasekharan.
The FFI is of the view that for the past 10 years, only 7-8
per cent of the films from all over India have been
successful but the government, carried away by the
collections of hits like Bodyguard, feels the film industry
is making huge profits. But the success rate in the industry
has been declining year after year. “The film industry is
already burdened with the entertainment tax and VAT being
levied by several states. Unfortunately, producers,
distributors and exhibitors cannot pass on the service tax
to the consumer since all the state governments have put a
cap on the rates of admission in theatres,” said a press
release.
L Suresh, honorary secretary of the South Indian Film
Chamber of Commerce (SIFCC), adds that while the one-day
strike will be a “token protest”, the film bodies will be
deciding on further plans to make their plea heard by the
government.(Agencies) |
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Yuvraj has cancer, undergoing chemotherapy in US |
New Delhi, Feb 5: Yuvraj Singh, who played
a stellar role in India's ODI World Cup triumph last year,
has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing
chemotherapy in the United States.
The 30-year-old left-hander has been in US since last month
being treated for what was earlier claimed to be a tumour in
the lungs by his family.
But it has now been diagnosed as malignant and Yuvraj is
currently undergoing chemotherapy in the Cancer Research
Institute in Boston.
His physiotherapist Dr Jatin Chaudhary, however, assured
that the ailment is curable and the batsman would be fit to
resume cricket in May. His mother Shabnam Singh could not be
reached for her comments.
"It is a rare tumour and is cancerous but it has been
detected in stage one itself. Doctors had to decide whether
to continue medication or go for chemotherapy but since
parts of the tumour are just above the artery of his heart,
there was a danger that while running it could burst. But it
is 100 per cent curable," Chaudhary said.
"The doctors decided that he would have to undergo
chemotherapy and he travelled to the US on January 26. End
of March, he would undergo a CT scan and should recover by
then. After that it is just some rehabilitation in April
before he is fit to be back on the field in May," he added.
Yuvraj, who was Player of the Tournament in the World Cup
last year with 362 runs, 15 wickets and four
Man-of-the-Match awards, has also been taking ayurvedic
medicines to battle the disease. "After ayurvedic treatment
only three cycles of chemotherapy are required. Initially
when the cancer was diagnosed after a biopsy in October end,
doctors feared that the treatment would be six cycles of
chemotherapy," Chaudhary said.
"Thankfully no surgery is required, he is already a lot
better than what he was and can't wait to be back on the
cricket field," he said.
Chaudhary said the detection of cancer was delayed by wrong
diagnosis by an Indian hospital.
"His first biopsy report was stolen from his car and the
second from a hospital, I don't want to name, did not give
the correct diagnosis. It was a Russian doctor who detected
the cancer and after consultations with doctors in US, it
was decided that Yuvraj would undergo chemotherapy," he
said.
"Once he is done with chemo in March, his rehabilitation
would be complete by April end and he would be perfectly fit
to play in May," he added.
Yuvraj has played 37 Tests, scoring 1775 runs at an average
of 34.80.He has 8051 runs at an average of 37.62 from his
274-match ODI career, the highlight of which was his stellar
role in India's World Cup triumph last year.
In 23 Twenty20s, Yuvraj has scored 567 runs at 31.50. |
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Brett Lee out of tri-series with broken foot |
Melbourne: The Australian cricket team
suffered a massive blow today after its veteran pace
spearhead Brett Lee was ruled out of the entire ODI
tri-series against India and Sri Lanka due to a broken foot.
The 35-year-old pacer will remain out of action for four to
six weeks, also leaving him in doubt for the tour of West
Indies starting March 16.
Australia team doctor Trefor James said a bone in Lee`s
right foot broke when he was struck hard by Indian skipper
Mahendra Singh Dhoni`s slog in his followthrough in the
second Twenty20 on Friday.
"He was able to complete the over, however the foot became
more painful and swollen the following day. An X-ray has
confirmed a fracture of the small toe," James said.
"We now expect Brett will return to cricket in four to six
weeks."
The replacement for Lee will be decided after today`s first
one-day international against India here.
Lee retired from Test cricket in 2008. In the shorter
formats, he has taken 357 wickets at an average of 22.89 in
205 ODIs and 23 wickets in 23 Twenty20 internationals. |
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Defending champions roll into semifinals |
STUTTGART, GERMANY: World No. 2 Petra
Kvitova has sealed her country's place in the Fed Cup by BNP
Paribas World Group semifinals after coming from a set down
to defeat No. 14 Sabine Lisicki 67(2) 64 61.
The defending champions had taken a 2-0 lead into the
reverse singles rubbers after Iveta Benesova came back from
a set down to defeat Lisicki 26 64 62 and Kvitova did the
same against Goerges, albeit in a much closer encounter,
eventually pulling through 36 63 108.
Czech Republic's 3-0 victory means they will face either
Ukraine or Italy in April's semfinals. |
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Williams gives US 2-0 lead over depleted Belarus |
Former world number one Serena Williams
gave the United States a commanding 2-0 lead over Belarus in
their Fed Cup tie on Saturday after top ranked Victoria
Azarenka was unable to compete for the eastern Europeans
because of a sore lower back.
American Christina McHale defeated Belarus` Anastasia
Yakimova 6-0, 6-4, then Williams beat Olga Govortsova 7-5,
6-0 in the World Group II tie indoors at Worcester,
Massachusetts.
Australian Open champion Azarenka will be eligible to face
Williams, if she responds to treatment, in the first match
of the reverse singles on Sunday. A doubles match is also
scheduled for Sunday.
Williams has been hampered by an injured ankle that she
sustained before the Australian Open, but said it was
improving.
"It`s feeling fine," she told reporters. "I`m surprised as
how well it`s doing considering. I`m actually really excited
about the progress." |
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Boxing will get bigger after London Olympics: Vijender |
New Delhi, Feb 5: Star Indian pugilist
Vijender Singh expects boxing to get bigger in the country
after the London Olympics as he feels men in the ring will
deliver more than one medal in the quadrennial extravaganza
this July. Vijender won a bronze in the 2008 Beijing Games,
the lone Olympic medal in India's boxing history, and he
said the country would better that in London which will
further raise the profile of the sport.
"Boxing became big after Beijing Olympics and it will get
bigger after London. I don't want to predict how many medals
India will win from boxing in London but I think we will do
better than Beijing this time. But fingers crossed, it
depends on our performance," he said.
The former world number one said the profile of boxing in
the country has been rising with the consistently good
performance of the pugilists and availability of money in
the sport. "Now there is money in boxing. There is World
Series Boxing and then the Fight Night series. Boxers can
earn money and now they are better off than before," he
said.
"There is more enthusiasm among youngsters now and they are
taking to boxing in more numbers than the days when I took
to the sport. More schoolchildren are taking to boxing now.
There is change coming in for the better," said Vijender on
the sidelines of NDTV's 'Marks for Sports' initiative.
Vijender, who is yet to qualify for London Olympics, said he
is focussing on making the Games and not looking beyond. He
will take part in the Asian Olympic Qualifiers at Astana,
Kazakhstan in April."I am training hard in Patiala and
focussing to qualify for the Olympics. By grace of God I am
hoping to qualify for London and not thinking other than
that," said Vijender.
Vijender supported the initiative to give marks to sports in
schools in the country and said he wants it as a subject in
curriculum.
"Giving marks to sports will help sportspersons take to
studies and I hope sports can be a subject in schools in
future," he said.
"There is a change in the perception of the parents in their
children taking up to boxing and to sports in general.
Giving marks to sports or sports becoming a subject will
further accelerate this change in perception," he said. |
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