MONTH THAT WAS
IGNOU to waive fees for sex workers, prisoners
Chinese diplomat assaulted by US police
Premji is India’s Bill Gates: Forbes
Cannot buy more than one home in Beijing
Now, ICAI lays its hands on books of IPL franchisees
Rs. 5-L fine slapped on PIL mover
Kashmir’s unwanted lot
Mahatma in Palestine
Kolkata: Taking education to sex workers and prisoners in jail in West Bengal, the Indira Ganndhi National Open University (IGNOU) has decided to waive fees for them. "To start with, IGNOU has decided to select the red light district of Sonagachi here from where 26 sex workers are likely to join courses on healthcare and food and nutrition programmes" IGNOU Vice-Chancellor V N Rajsekharan Pillai said here. He said that the Kolkata Regional Centre would focus on entrepreneurship development and vocational programmes to help sex workers and their children gain economic independence. IGNOU runs a study centre to educate sex workers and their children. It was also providing certificate course to prisoners at the Alipore central jail. Besides sex workers and prisoners, IGNOU was helping the farming community in the use of Integrated Pest Management technology in potato cultivation, in collaboration with the West Bengal Agriculture Department and has also started a certificate course for them. "The state government has agreed in principle to sponsor 6,000 progressive farmers for the programme," Pillai told reporters here.
Chinese diplomat assaulted by US police
Beijing: China said its deputy Consul-General in Houston and his family were assaulted by American police and asked Washington to ensure ‘inviolability’ of its diplomatic staff and premises. The US Embassy in Beijing said the State Department was taking the matter ‘very seriously’ and findings of the investigations would be shared with China. China’s deputy consul-general to Houston and his family were assaulted by US police while on their way back to China’s consulate-general in Houston by car, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said. "Protecting the safety of all foreign diplomatic and consular staff in the United States is essential," she said.
Premji is India’s Bill Gates: Forbes
Washington: India’s software tycoon Azim Premji plans to set up a world-class university to train teachers who will fan out to the teacher training institutes in India’s 600 districts.
"It will be a world-class university with a large endowment," Premji (64) told Forbes magazine noting, "Most of these institutes are a complete mess with the teachers leading the classes worse than the teachers that come to get trained."
The proposed university to upgrade teaching methods will be the latest venture of Azim Premji Foundation that focuses on education, improving standards in India by training teachers and, among other things, funding model schools.
Started nine years ago and funded solely by Premji, the foundation was given stock valued at "much more than" Rs 450 crore or roughly $101 million, estimated by a newspaper.
Much like Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Premji also plans to give away most of his money during his lifetime, the US business magazine revealed.
"Even if I was to give my wealth, it would be more than they can digest in many lifetimes," he said by way of explaining.
For Premji, Forbes said philanthropy boils down to a simple philosophy: "To those to whom much is given, much has to be given back."
If the Indian software billionaire, who ranks No. 28 among the richest people in the world with $17 billion to his name, winds up giving away most of his money to charity, he would be a rare breed among Asian entrepreneurs who have tended to pass their wealth onto their children rather than putting it to philanthropic use, it said.
The efforts of Premji’s foundation are separate from the philanthropic initiatives Wipro pursues, Forbes noted.
Some of these initiatives, such as Mission 10X, which is focused on making India’s engineering students more employable in the information technology industry, clearly dovetail with Wipro’s business interests.
"It will be a world-class university with a large endowment," Premji (64) told Forbes magazine noting, "Most of these institutes are a complete mess with the teachers leading the classes worse than the teachers that come to get trained."
The proposed university to upgrade teaching methods will be the latest venture of Azim Premji Foundation that focuses on education, improving standards in India by training teachers and, among other things, funding model schools.
Started nine years ago and funded solely by Premji, the foundation was given stock valued at "much more than" Rs 450 crore or roughly $101 million, estimated by a newspaper.
Much like Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Premji also plans to give away most of his money during his lifetime, the US business magazine revealed.
"Even if I was to give my wealth, it would be more than they can digest in many lifetimes," he said by way of explaining.
For Premji, Forbes said philanthropy boils down to a simple philosophy: "To those to whom much is given, much has to be given back."
If the Indian software billionaire, who ranks No. 28 among the richest people in the world with $17 billion to his name, winds up giving away most of his money to charity, he would be a rare breed among Asian entrepreneurs who have tended to pass their wealth onto their children rather than putting it to philanthropic use, it said.
The efforts of Premji’s foundation are separate from the philanthropic initiatives Wipro pursues, Forbes noted.
Some of these initiatives, such as Mission 10X, which is focused on making India’s engineering students more employable in the information technology industry, clearly dovetail with Wipro’s business interests.
Cannot buy more than one home in Beijing
Beijing: China has banned its citizens from buying more than one home in the capital in an effort to rein in artificial demand created by the real estate sector and curb sky-high prices of apartments. "One family can only buy one new apartment in the city for the time being." The Beijing Municipal government said in a statement. The order was passed with a directive to implement the central government policies banning mortgages for the purchase of a third or third-plus home. The capital in the recent months witnesses soaring real estate prices even though many of thousands of sky scrappers dotting city skyline have large empty spaces. Ever since the government lifted ban on private property about two decades ago. Chinese of all hues invested in more and more real estate sector buying more and more flats taking advantage of the easy lending policies adopted by the government controlled banks. The government has also ordered an investigation into property projects that witnessed overly high sale prices or very rapid rises in price.
Now, ICAI lays its hands on books of IPL franchisees
New Delhi: Accounting regulator ICAI has started scrutinising the financial statement of the IPL franchisees to ascertain whether the auditors followed the prescribed norms while preparing them.
"We are collecting the financial statements of the IPL franchisees from the Registrar of Companies. We have got some of them and we are studying those," Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) president Amarjit Chopra told reporters on the sidelines of an IFRS workshop here.
The ICAI would also examine if the auditors of the eight IPL franchisees complied with the accounting standards while preparing their financial statements, Chopra said, adding the institute will also try to find out names of the auditors.
"We are doing this suo moto. Just to see if our auditors complied with the (accounting) standards and the best practices," he said.
Corporate affairs minister Salman Khurshid had said that as many as five franchisees filed their balance-sheets with the RoCs and the other teams were given a deadline of May 3. The third edition of IPL was embroiled in controversies, including allegations about the Union ministers influencing the auction of IPL franchisees. The tax and various enforcement authorities have been probing the finances of the cricket body and its franchisees.
"We are collecting the financial statements of the IPL franchisees from the Registrar of Companies. We have got some of them and we are studying those," Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) president Amarjit Chopra told reporters on the sidelines of an IFRS workshop here.
The ICAI would also examine if the auditors of the eight IPL franchisees complied with the accounting standards while preparing their financial statements, Chopra said, adding the institute will also try to find out names of the auditors.
"We are doing this suo moto. Just to see if our auditors complied with the (accounting) standards and the best practices," he said.
Corporate affairs minister Salman Khurshid had said that as many as five franchisees filed their balance-sheets with the RoCs and the other teams were given a deadline of May 3. The third edition of IPL was embroiled in controversies, including allegations about the Union ministers influencing the auction of IPL franchisees. The tax and various enforcement authorities have been probing the finances of the cricket body and its franchisees.
Rs. 5-L fine slapped on PIL mover
The Bombay High Court today imposed Rs. 5 lakh costs on a petitioner for filing a frivolous public interest litigation that urged action against top bureaucrats and police officers for failing to avert 26/11 terror attacks.
The division bench of Justice J N Patel and Justice S C Dharmadhikari were hearing a petition filed by Goldie Sud stating that two officers including State Director General of Police and Chief Secretary failed to protect citizens from terrorists.
The judges said the "petition is an abuse of the process of court and is without any basis or foundation". The judges directed the costs to be paid within four weeks to the Collector, Mumbai. The judges said failure to do so, the Collector can proceed to recover the same as a land recovery.
The division bench of Justice J N Patel and Justice S C Dharmadhikari were hearing a petition filed by Goldie Sud stating that two officers including State Director General of Police and Chief Secretary failed to protect citizens from terrorists.
The judges said the "petition is an abuse of the process of court and is without any basis or foundation". The judges directed the costs to be paid within four weeks to the Collector, Mumbai. The judges said failure to do so, the Collector can proceed to recover the same as a land recovery.
Kashmir’s unwanted lot
Jammu: Millitants who laid down arms in Jammu and Kashmir are an unwanted lot. The government’s promise of money and jobs failed to come through, militant outfits call them traitors and society shuns them for their past.
In 2004, the state government announced a policy asking militants to give up their life on the run and rejoin their families. The add –ons were Rs. 150,000 in fixed deposit for three years, a monthly stipend pf Rs. 2,000 and preference in jobs.
At least 415 militants bit the bait and came out of hiding. But instance of complete rehabilitation are hard to find.
Shabir Ahmed of Mahore in Reasi district was one of those who laid down arms in September 2004. "We were told that we would be rehabilitated. We would be given money and dignity. We got neither, Shabir said.
"On one hand, the goernmnet has ditched us and, on the other, the militants are after our life. We are traitors for them," Shabir said in Reasi, 80km north of Jammu.
There are similar stories from others who gave up violence. Rashid, who gave only his first name, belongs to Dessa, an area that suffered hugely due to militancy.
"Life is a double misery for us," he said. The government and its departments, however, pass the buck. Police say after the militants surrender, their files are sent to the state home department. "The money is with the home department; we are only the executing agency," said a police officer. The home department refused to answer calls.
Hope of a peaceful life after years on the run also have not happened as society eyes them with suspicion. The tag of a surrendered militant is a disgrace for their families.
More than 40,000 people have died during the insurgency that started in 1989. Thousands of youth, mainly the unemployed, joined the ranks of separatists to fight for the cause. Police acknowledge that the militants’ response to the surrender scheme has been "disappointing".
"Now militants are not coming forth to surrender because there has been a disconnect between the promise and implementation," said a senior police officer, a 20-year counter-insurgency veteran in the state.
Adding to the concerns of the surrendered men is the constant fear of reprisal from militant groups. In 2004, Mariam Begum of Doda had her nose and ears cut off by militants a few months after her brother Mohammad Latif surrendered.
Surrendered militants are offered amnesty from small criminal cases, but hardcore ones and those involved in major terror attacks do not qualify for the scheme.
In 2004, the state government announced a policy asking militants to give up their life on the run and rejoin their families. The add –ons were Rs. 150,000 in fixed deposit for three years, a monthly stipend pf Rs. 2,000 and preference in jobs.
At least 415 militants bit the bait and came out of hiding. But instance of complete rehabilitation are hard to find.
Shabir Ahmed of Mahore in Reasi district was one of those who laid down arms in September 2004. "We were told that we would be rehabilitated. We would be given money and dignity. We got neither, Shabir said.
"On one hand, the goernmnet has ditched us and, on the other, the militants are after our life. We are traitors for them," Shabir said in Reasi, 80km north of Jammu.
There are similar stories from others who gave up violence. Rashid, who gave only his first name, belongs to Dessa, an area that suffered hugely due to militancy.
"Life is a double misery for us," he said. The government and its departments, however, pass the buck. Police say after the militants surrender, their files are sent to the state home department. "The money is with the home department; we are only the executing agency," said a police officer. The home department refused to answer calls.
Hope of a peaceful life after years on the run also have not happened as society eyes them with suspicion. The tag of a surrendered militant is a disgrace for their families.
More than 40,000 people have died during the insurgency that started in 1989. Thousands of youth, mainly the unemployed, joined the ranks of separatists to fight for the cause. Police acknowledge that the militants’ response to the surrender scheme has been "disappointing".
"Now militants are not coming forth to surrender because there has been a disconnect between the promise and implementation," said a senior police officer, a 20-year counter-insurgency veteran in the state.
Adding to the concerns of the surrendered men is the constant fear of reprisal from militant groups. In 2004, Mariam Begum of Doda had her nose and ears cut off by militants a few months after her brother Mohammad Latif surrendered.
Surrendered militants are offered amnesty from small criminal cases, but hardcore ones and those involved in major terror attacks do not qualify for the scheme.
Mahatma in Palestine
West Bank: Though militancy and stone throwing remain deeply ingrained in the Palestinian psyche, passive resistance protests on the lines of what India’s iconic leader Mahatma Gandhi followed and espoused at the turn of the 20th century, is gaining favor with some West Bank politicians and the public.
It’s taken years, but the predominantly passive Palestinian protest movement started in Billin seems to be making inroads among a broader swath of Palestinians, winning public support from the likes of Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, reports the Christian Science Monitor (CSM).
Frustrated with unending peace talks and disillusioned with the recent military Intifada, many Palestinians are looking for a new path to statehood.
It’s taken years, but the predominantly passive Palestinian protest movement started in Billin seems to be making inroads among a broader swath of Palestinians, winning public support from the likes of Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, reports the Christian Science Monitor (CSM).
Frustrated with unending peace talks and disillusioned with the recent military Intifada, many Palestinians are looking for a new path to statehood.
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