AN INTERACTIVE PLATFORM FOR ALL INTERESTED IN INDIA
Its seems that the Indian Government is thinking to give more AZZADI to Kashmir thus going beyond the article 370 of the Indian Constitution.
The State will have full control over the Natural Resources.
Talking with the Wall Street General, External Affairs Minister Mr. S M Krishna has said that India did “not believe that war can solve any problem and that applies to Afghanistan too.” but there could be a political settlement. He further added that “India’s role in Afghanistan is to help them to stabilize on their infrastructure development.” “That’s our immediate concern. That is the reason why we were asked to come to Afghanistan. We are building roads, we are building school buildings and we are building transmission lines,”
Hollywood actress Julia Roberts (right) with Swami Dharamdev in Hari Mandir Ashram in Pataudi, about 80 km south-west of New Delhi. The actress is here shooting for her movie Eat, Pray and Love. Swami Dharamdev gave Indian names to her three children. Laxmi for Hazel, Ganesh for Phinnaeus and Krishn Balram for Henry.
CABINET MINISTERS
1. Shri Virbhadra Singh Minister of Steel
2. Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises
3. Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad Minister of Health and Family Welfare
4. Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde Minister of Power
5. Shri M. Veerappa Moily Minister of Law and Justice
6. Dr. Farooq Abdullah Minister of New and Renewable Energy
7. Shri S. Jaipal Reddy Minister of Urban Development
8. Shri Kamal Nath Minister of Road Transport and Highways
9. Shri Vayalar Ravi Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs
10. Smt. Meira Kumar Minister of Water Resources
11. Shri Dayanidhi Maran Minister of Textiles
12. Shri A. Raja Minister of Communications and Information Technology
13. Shri Murli Deora Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas
14. Smt. Ambika Soni Minister of Information and Broadcasting
15. Shri Mallikarjun Kharge Minister of Labour and Employment
16. Shri Kapil Sibal Minister of Human Resource Development
17. Shri B.K. Handique Minister of Mines and Minister of Development of North Eastern Region
18. Shri Anand Sharma Minister of Commerce and Industry
19. Shri C.P. Joshi Minister of Rural Development and Minister of Panchayati Raj
20. Kum. Selja Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation
and Minister of Tourism
21. Shri Subodh Kant Sahay Minister of Food Processing Industries
22. Dr. M.S. Gill Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports
23. Shri G.K. Vasan Minister of Shipping
24. Shri Pawan K. Bansal Minister of Parliamentary Affairs
25. Shri Mukul Wasnik Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment
26. Shri Kantilal Bhuria Minister of Tribal Affairs
27. Shri M.K. Alagiri Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers
MINISTERS OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
1. Shri Praful Patel Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Ministry of Civil Aviation
2. Shri Prithviraj Chavan Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Ministry
of Science and Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Ministry of Earth Sciences and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office; Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
3. Shri Sriprakash Jaiswal Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Coal and Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
4. Shri Salman Khursheed Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Minority Affairs
5. Shri Dinsha J. Patel Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
6. Smt. Krishna Tirath Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Women and Child Development
7. Shri Jairam Ramesh Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests
MINISTERS OF STATE
1. Shri Srikant Jena Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
2. Shri E. Ahamed Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways
3. Shri Mullappally Ramachandran Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs
4. Shri V. Narayansamy Minister of State in the Ministry of Planning and Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
5. Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
6. Smt. D.Purandeswari Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Resource Development
7. Shri K.H. Muniyappa Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways
8. Shri Ajay Maken Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs
9. Smt. Panabaka Lakshmi Minister of State in the Ministry of Textiles
10. Shri Namo Narain Meena Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance
11. Shri M.M. Pallam Raju Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence
12. Shri Saugata Ray Minister of State in the Ministry of Urban Development
13. Shri S.S. Palanimanickam Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance
14. Shri Jitin Prasad Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
15. Shri A. Sai Prathap Minister of State in the Ministry of Steel
16. Smt. Preneet Kaur Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs
17. Shri Gurdas Kamat Minister of State in the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
18. Shri Harish Rawat Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Employment
19. Prof. K.V. Thomas Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Minister of State in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
20. Shri Bharatsinh Solanki Minister of State in the Ministry of Power
21. Shri Mahadev S. Khandela Minister of State in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
22. Shri Dinesh Trivedi Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
23. Shri Sisir Adhikari Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development
24. Shri Sultan Ahmed Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism
25. Shri Mukul Roy Minister of State in the Ministry of Shipping
26. Shri Mohan Jatua Minister of State in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
27. Shri D. Napoleon Minister of State in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
28. Dr. S. Jagathrakshakan Minister of State in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
29. Shri S. Gandhiselvan Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
30. Shri Tusharbhai Chaudhary Minister of State in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs
31. Shri Sachin Pilot Minister of State in the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
32. Shri Arun Yadav Minister of State in the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
33. Shri Pratik Prakashbapu Patil Minister of State in the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises
34. Shri R.P.N. Singh Minister of State in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
35. Shri Shashi Tharoor Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs
36. Shri Vincent Pala Minister of State in the Ministry of Water Resources
37. Shri Pradeep Jain Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development
38. Ms. Agatha Sangma Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development
http://in.news.yahoo.com/20/20090529/365/twl-fresh-attack-in-australia-petrol-bom.html
In a fresh attack targeting Indians in Australia, a student suffered up to 30 per cent burns after a suspected petrol bomb was hurled at him in his home in Sydney. According to local newspaper for Indian community, South Asia Times, 25-year-old Rajesh Kumar was quickly covered by a blanket by his flatmate after the attack yesterday, an act which saved him from further injuries.
Kumar was sitting on his bed in the front room of his rented house when an unknown person threw what neighbours say was a small petrol bomb through his window. The explosion and subsequent fire left Kumar with burns to a third of his body.
The latest attack came as Shravan Kumar, a 25-year-old student from Andhra Pradesh, was fighting for life in a hospital here after being stabbed by a screwdriver by a group of teens in a weekend attack that also left three of his friends injured. Doctors have said they were not very optimistic about Kumar’s recovery.
Another student Baljinder Singh, stabbed by two attackers with a screwdriver early this week, has been released from hospital today.
Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/30/stories/2009043050360100.htm
KURNOOL: Chenchus of Nallamala forest are close to starvation. Serious malnutrition has induced malaria and dreaded tuberculosis in the community.
According to statistics, around 41.23 per cent of Chenchu population has been struck by malaria and over 2,000 TB cases detected. Infant morality rate was 215 per thousand as against 80 in the rest of the population. Maternal mortality was seven per thousand as against average of four elsewhere.
Their poor health status is attributed to lack of nutritious diet. While there is no incidence of malaria and TB among other forest dwellers, the diseases were dogging the Chenchu population.
Starvation deaths were detected among Chenchus way back in 1994. On the direction of Centre, the State government constituted a high level committee headed by the Chief Secretary to tackle the problem. But the committee appears to have met last only in 1997. When this correspondent was driving on the ghat roads of Nallamala forest recently, emaciated Chenchu children were seen running after the vehicles carrying pilgrims to Srisailam temple for food or money.
The plight of the Chenchus can be attributed to the poor or half-hearted implementation of the government’s guidelines framed in 1994 to help them. For instance, the Antyodaya cards for tribals are expected to ensure that every family gets 35 kg rice at Rs. 3 a kg and 10 kg extra for senior citizens, but only half the families are covered so far.
The 40,000-strong Chenchu tribals, who are spread across six districts, are considered among the poorest of the poor.
It is a losing a battle for them ever since the first law came into force in 1891 reserving the Nallamala forest and seeking to resettle them elsewhere. Since then, the noose around Chenchu necks is tightening year after year.
Income earned from pilgrims in the form of ‘metta’ (resting place) fee is lost after the motorable road was laid to Srisailam. Chenchus also used to collect a small fee for escorting pilgrims to safety as wild animals and dacoits roamed the forests. In the days of yore, Chenchus were taken care of by the temple.
The confrontation with the forest department intensified after declaration of a tiger reserve on 6,197 sq km covering the entire habitat of Chenchus in the nineties. Rampant alcoholism among the Chechus is partly to blame.
http://articles. mercola.com/ sites/articles/ archive/2009/ 05/05/Could- Monsanto- Be-Responsible- for-One-Indian- Farmers-Death- Every-Thirty- Minutes.aspx
Could Monsanto Be Responsible for One Indian Farmer’s Death Every Thirty Minutes?
Over 1,500 farmers in the agricultural Indian state of Chattisgarh have committed suicide after being driven to debt by crop failure. The state was hit hard by falling water levels.
Bharatendu Prakash, of the Organic Farming Association of India, said that, “Farmers’ suicides are increasing due to a vicious circle created by money lenders. They lure farmers to take money but when the crops fail, they are left with no option other than death.”
Mr. Prakash added that the government needs to take up the cause of the poor farmers just as they fight for a strong economy.
Dr. Mercola’s Comments:
Genetically modified plants and foods are, from my perception, one of the largest threats that we have against the very sustainability of the human race and a healthy future existence on earth{. Let’s face it, how long can your descendants survive if there isn’t any food to eat, and Monsanto’s “suicide gene” starts spreading to other native plants so they won’t reproduce naturally? }
Although Monsanto claims this is impossible, is their shortsighted focus on profits is blinding them to the very real threats that their technology is posing to the viability of life on earth? And that’s over and above the unimaginable, direct harm their “scientific marvels” bring to some of the poorest and most vulnerable people on the planet, such as these Indian farmers.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau of India, more than 182,900 Indian farmers took their own lives between 1997 and 2007. It estimates 46 Indian farmers commit suicide every day. That equates to roughly one suicide every 30 minutes!
And although some will argue that natural events are to blame, such as lack of rain, the fact many believe the situation can be traced directly back to the unconscionable tactics of Monsanto, which is driving these farmers into very desperate actions.
Monsanto’s Role in Farmers’ Suicides
Over the past decade, millions of Indian farmers have been promised radically increased harvests and income if they switch from their traditional age tested farming methods to genetically modified (GM) Bt cotton seeds. So, they borrow money to buy GM seeds, which need certain pesticides, which requires more money. And when rain fall is sparse, the GM crops fare far worse than traditional crops – a fact that these farmers oftentimes don’t learn until it’s too late and they’re standing there with failed crops, spiraling debts, and no income.
Monsanto has been ruthless in their drive to use India as a testing ground for genetically modified crops, and it gives us a very clear picture of what could be in store for the rest of the world’s small farmers if they’re allowed to continue.
Making matters worse, {these GM seeds also contain “suicide genes” that render the seeds from this year’s crop useless. They simply won’t grow, so you cannot save them to plant for your next season’s harvest – a traditional farming method that’s been used since the dawn of farming itself. This means farmers are forced to buy the patented seeds and fertilizer again and again, every year. }
But that’s not all.
Bt resistant pests and Roundup tolerant superweeds are on the rise, rendering the two major GM crop traits useless as well. The evolution of Bt resistant bollworms worldwide have now been confirmed and documented.
The end result is that farmers are left with all of the downsides and none of the intended benefits.
So, while drought may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for some farmers in India, it’s the globalization model of agriculture promoted by companies like Monsanto and Cargill that is the underlying cause of the problem.
In the video above, renowned physicist and anti-globalization activist Vandana Shiva describes how farmers are essentially tricked into a corner they cannot get out of. In a 2006 interview with Democracy Now! she said:
“A few weeks ago, I was in Punjab. 2,800 widows of farmer suicides who have lost their land, are having to bring up children as landless workers on others’ land. And yet, the system does not respond to it, because there’s only one response: get Monsanto out of the seed sector–they are part of this genocide — and ensure WTO rules are not bringing down the prices of agricultural produce in the United States, in Canada, in India, and allow trade to be honest.
I don’t think we need to talk about free trade and fair trade. We need to talk about honest trade. Today’s trade system, especially in agriculture, is dishonest, and dishonesty has become a war against farmers. It’s become a genocide.”
This latest round of mass suicides in India should be a wake-up call to us all — that the industrial agriculture model is literally killing the farmers of our world.
I see it as a call to become more vigilant than ever, and speak out against corporations that exploit farmers and the earth for their own selfish and greedy goals. If we don’t, they will succeed – whether intentionally or unintentionally – to create unspeakable suffering for our children, grandchildren and future generations.
Vigilance Requires Paying Attention to Details
Since the 1980s, Monsanto has become the world leader in genetic modification of seeds and has won 674 biotechnology patents, more than any other company. What does this mean for you and your family’s health? Well, many of you probably don’t realize just how ubiquitous GM foods now are.
We’re not just talking about cotton to be used for clothing and other products here; we’re talking about some of the most commonly consumed foods on the market.
Farmers of GM fruits and vegetables across the world have not started committing suicide yet due to failed crops, but the prevalence of these foods are a massive, potentially genocidal, experiment – and you and your children are the guinea pigs.
Did you know that genetically modified foods are so prevalent in the United States that if you randomly pick an item off your grocery store’s shelves, you have a 75 percent chance of picking a food with GM ingredients?
It’s true. At least seven out of every 10 food items have been genetically modified!
The potential health ramifications of these world-wide experiments with our food supply are frightening to say the least. If you care about the health and future of your family, I strongly urge you to pay attention to the details, and refuse the destructive shenanigans of companies like Monsanto by buying only non-GM foods.
The True Food Shopping Guide is a great tool for helping you determine which brands and products contain GM ingredients. It lists 20 different food categories that include everything from baby food to chocolate.
Additionally, here are four simple steps to decrease your consumption of GM foods as much as possible:
Reduce or eliminate processed foods in your diet. The fact that 75 percent of processed foods contain GM ingredients is only one of the many reasons to stick to a whole foods diet.
Read produce and food labels. Conventionally raised soybeans and corn make up the largest portion of genetically modified crops. Ingredients made from these foods include high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), corn flour and meal, dextrin, starch, soy sauce, margarine, and tofu.
Buy organic produce. By definition, food that is certified organic must be free from all GM organisms, produced without artificial pesticides and fertilizers and from an animal reared without the routine use of antibiotics, growth promoters or other drugs. Additionally, grass-fed beef will not have been fed GM corn feed.
Look at produce stickers. The PLU code on stickers for conventionally grown fruit consists of four numbers, organically grown fruit has five numbers prefaced by the number nine, and GM fruit has five numbers prefaced by the number eight.
Organic India Making a Dent
Last November I visited thousands of these Indian farmers. These farmers had escaped the clutches of Monsanto, thanks to the efforts of Organic India that taught them how to grow crops organically.
Organic India has helped over 150,000 farmers change back to time-honored methods that are producing high quality plants and herbs. They have also constructed a number of hospitals and clinics to serve these farmers, and have helped tremendously to restore their dignity.
Information is Power
To further guide you in understanding the problems associated with GM foods, I strongly recommend reading the incredible series Seeds of Doubt, written by staffers at the Sacramento Bee.
And, last but not least, I urge everyone to watch the video The Future of Food. Forward the link to this video widely among your friends, family and acquaintances. This in-depth investigation into the disturbing truth behind genetically modified foods is one of the best documentaries I have ever seen. It will help you understand how and why the genetic engineering we allow to be unleashed today is a very real threat to ALL future generations.
Source: Zee News, 23 April 2009, http://www.zeenews.com/states/2009-04-22/525833news.html
Phulbani: Five witnesses in the nun rape case in Orissa’s Kandhamal district did not testify to the incident in a fast track court on 22 April 2009.
Prahalad Pradhan and his wife Chanchala in whose house the nun and the priest took shelter after the assault and alleged rape during the Orissa bandh on 25 August 2008, two days after the killing of VHP leader Laxmananda Saraswati and four of his associates, did not confirm the incident.
Chanchala in her deposition only admitted that the nun and the priest took shelter at their house and said she did not know anything else. Prahalad, however, said that the two were dragged from their house by a mob.
Three other witnesses, Debendra Naik, Dhaneswar Mallick and Surendra Digal, stated that they had no knowledge about the incident.
http://in.news.yahoo.com/139/20090128/824/tnl-kashmir-band-to-participate-in-an-in.html
The band ‘Valley Youth Xpressions’ funded by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will be competing with musical bands from different countries including Pakistan in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh to give the youth a welcome break from the continuous agitations and strikes in the state.
The main objective of such initiative taken by the CRPF is to promote their musical talent.
“We have taken a decision to support the youth. We support them in many programmes and activities. We give musical instruments and financial assistance to them. CRPF is bearing all the expenses incurred by them during their participation in the International Music Festival. For such kind of activities, we provide financial and moral support,”said D. Pathak, Inspector General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
The participants said that it was a major step taken by the CRPF to pep uphe strife-ridden lives of the youth.
” Such an event gives us a chance for interaction with people from other groups. This will help us a lot to come over the stress. This is plus point for the group. And we want such programmes to organize outside the state and over here to reduce the stress level,” said Farhan, a musician.
The members of the band believe that their enthusiastic music performancesill inspire the youth in the valley to pursue their talents and keep away from all negative influences. By Pervez Butt (ANI)
http://in.news.yahoo.com/139/20090128/824/tnl-coconut-farmers-defy-government-ban.html
Coimbatore, Jan 28 (ANI): Coconut and palm growers spearheaded an agitation in Tamil Nadu demanding the State Government to lift a ban on production and sale of ‘Toddy’, a traditional drink of the state.
‘Toddy’, a local drink extracted from either a coconut tree or a Palm tree flower has been banned in the state since 1987 for being an alcoholic drink.
The farmers want the government to exempt toddy from the list of alcohol products banned in the State.
The farmers have now started tapping toddy and distributing it free of cost amongst the people.
They claim that Toddy, one of the food items in old times in Tamil Nadu, is quite nutritious and healthy.
“For the past 21 years toddy tapping is banned in Tamil Nadu and despite various request made by us to the government to allow tapping toddy, the government refused. But in Kerala and Karnataka tapping toddy and selling it is allowed. But we are not allowed to tap toddy. So now we have decided to tap defying the ban,” said Snethil Kumar, a coconut farmer.
They also claim that allowing Toddy tapping would also benefit hundreds of poor farmers since the state has some 45 million coconut trees.
Also the farmers lament that since the sale of coconut products has come down, Toddy tapping would aid them in enhancing their earnings.
Toddy is prepared by tying a clay pot over a blossoming coconut flower. A small hole is also made in front of the flower so that the white milk like juice from the flower is collected inside the pot.
The mouth of the pot is then covered with a cloth and left for some time. Fermentation starts in the pot and in a day or two, the drink is ready to be consumed. The farmers then sell this Toddy. By Jehova(ANI)
