MONTH THAT WAS

Vit.D for RMOs

After 11 resident medical officers (RMOs) of Sion Hospital contracted tuberculosis this year due to squalid living conditions in their hostel, the civic body has now arranged for vitamin D tablets for the 500 RMOs. Sources at the hospital have confirmed that the BMC will provide vitamin D tablets for the RMOs. A study conducted by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has proved that vitamin D could help the body fight the TB bacteria. According to the study, TB patients recover more quickly when given the vitamins along with antibiotics.

PSU banks NPA rises to Rs 1.12 lakh cr

Mumbai : State-run banks and foreign banks were hit by bad loans as their non-performing assets rose, says the Reserve Bank.

Led by state-run banks and foreign lenders, “the asset quality of the banking system deteriorated significantly in FY12 after a period of sustained improvement,” says RBI report on ‘Trend and Progress of Banking in 2011-12′ released.

Non-performing assets of public sector banks rose to Rs 1,11,664 crore in 2012 from Rs 52,807 crore in 2003, data from the Reserve Bank of India showed.

The non-performing assets (NPAs) of country’s bank SBI and its associates in 2012 (as of March 31) were at Rs 45,695 crore from Rs 16,958 crore in 2003, while that of nationalised banks’ were at Rs 65,969 crore versus Rs 35,849 crore.

Though the report states that there is no systemic risk to the banking system as the fundamentals are robust, the Reserve Bank says the banking system is weaker because of rising bad loans as growth has fallen below potential and companies are reeling under obstacles to project clearances.

“Inadequate credit appraisal during the boom period of 2003-07, coupled with the adverse economic situation in the domestic as well as the external fronts, have resulted in the current increase in NPAs,” says the report.

The fall in asset quality was more visible among public sector banks, which saw their bad loans rise on both priority and non-priority loans.

In FY12, gross NPAs of state-run banks rose to 3.3 per cent, higher than the 3.1 per cent at the system-level. Foreign banks also saw a rise in NPAs, but the report did not specify how much was their NPA level. But the RBI report said that state-run and foreign lenders’ recovery performance was better than their private sector counterparts which relied more on write-offs than recovery.

The report said among banks, new private sector lenders relied more on writing off NPAs as a measure to contain their NPA levels. Loans worth Rs 1,800 crore were written off by new private sector banks in FY12, according to the report.

To strengthen the NPA management framework of the banks, RBI its in 2012-13 Monetary Policy has advised the banks to put in place a robust mechanism for early detection of signs of distress, and implement measures to preserve the economic value of assets.       

Hand grenade in Newcastle school

A school in Australia's New South Wales (NSW) was evacuated after a student brought a hand grenade, the police said.

The students of the Hunter Christian School at Mayfield in Newcastle were taken to a nearby park, police said.

The school principal called police in the morning after it became known that the year five student had brought a grenade to the school.

Specialists from police and the Australian Defence Force were examining the World War II 'pineapple' model grenade believed to be inert, reported Xinhua.

Now its ‘vox populi’ TV channel

Hyderabad: In an unique initiative, a TV channel funded by the people was launched in Andhra Pradesh. Over two lakh people, including a few hundred daily wage earners, have contributed to make it a “people’s channel.”

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy unveiled the logo of the channel whose tag line said, “the fourth estate with a sixth sense.” In a state with over 15 regional news channels, 10TV presents an unique ownership model. 

Though the channel is perceived to have Left leanings, the promoters said: “This is an alternative platform for those looking for serious journalism. We will show the real picture. At a time when news channels in the state have started airing adult contents for TRP ratings, we will show what a news channel should be,” said 10TV chairman K Nageshwar, a journalism professor and independent member of the state Legislative Council, known for his Marxist views. 

“A team of progressive ideologists who care for the people, society and democracy have come together to form Sphoorthi communications and joined hands with Pragathi Broadcasting and Abhuyadaya Broadcasting to promote 10TV,” the official website of the channel said. 

A total of Rs 60 crore was raised in the last two months through donations, with people from the most unlikely quarters contributing in multiples of Rs 10. Around 300 labourers from a coastal Andhra town made donations. In a couple of districts, entire villages contributed, while teachers and bank and insurance employees were the most enthusiastic donors. 

The donors have elected a board of directors which, in turn, appointed the news team. The managing director was previously employed in the insurance sector. “The Press Commission had earlier suggested that big businesses and the media should not be connected. This is an alternate model that can work,” said Nageshwar. 

Help & get robbed

Mumbai: A 25-year-old man was brutally beaten and robbed by four unknown person when he stopped his motor-bike to give a lift to a physically handicapped person.

According to police, the incident took place when Ibrahim Abdul Kuddus Shaikh, a resident of Vijay Nagar, Antop Hill, stopped at a petrol pump near Flock Road, Sion, who was headed towards Sahar Airport. The police said, Shaikh who works in a private firm was stopped by a physically disabled man near Maruti service centre, and requested for a lift.  In his given statement Shaikh said that the disabled man asked him to drop him near Shanmukhananda Hall from the service centre. “As soon as Shaikh and the accused reached near Shanmukhananda Hall, three unknown persons attacked Shaikh from behind and took his chain and a ring worth Rs 70,000,”, said a police officer.  The three accused and the disabled person fled from the spot after injuring Shaikh badly. The police said that the case of robbery has been registered against four unknown person and further probe is on.

Extortion bid by jurnos

Mumbai: A case of extortion and defamation was registered against two persons who pretended to be a journalist and editor of a weekly tabloid for demanding Rs 10 lakh, and 30 seats each in mass media and business management courses, from the Wilson College principal.

One of the accused was arrested by Marine Drive police whereas the editor had surrendered himself in court. The duo were granted bail by the court after paying Rs 15,000 deposit.  The Marine Drive police have registered a case of 385 (extortion), 501 (printing defamatory matter) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code, after the Wilson college principal, Dr A H Sirvaiya submitted the written complaint against Arvind Tiwari and Raghunath Dekhle.  Rajendra Patil, police inspector of Marine Drive said, the duo who had their small office of their weekly tabloid named as “Adarsh Maharashtra” had printed some stories in which he had alleged the Wilson college authorities for taking donation for admission.