Shri Kapil Sibal addressing at the release

Book of Poem ‘My World Within'

The Union Minister for Human Resource Development and Communications and Information Technology, Shri Kapil Sibal addressing at the release of his Book of Poem ‘My World Within’, at World Book Fair, in New Delhi on March 02, 2012.(PIB photo)   02-March-2012

Welcoming the PM’s nod on public health services

This is still far below the WHO recommendations: IDPD

                                            Dr. Arun Mitra, Dr. L. S. Chawla and others at a press conference in Ludhiana (File photo)

While welcoming the Prime Minister’s nod to allocate 2.5% of the GDP on public health services, the Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) has said that this is still far below the WHO recommendations for spending 6% of the GDP on public health services. Dr L S Chawla– President IDPD and Dr Arun Mitra–General Secretary IDPD said in a joint statement that several countries in the world including Sri Lanka are spending this much amount on their health services and it has shown results in their health indicators. In fact the earlier GDP spending in India was only 0.9%. After the NRHM in the last plan it was said that 2-3% would be allocated for public health but in fact only 1.4% was spent that also in a phased manner from 2005 to 2011. Every year 2% of our population goes below poverty line because of out of pocket expenditure on health. Large number of our population has to take loan or shelve their other necessary expenses for healthcare spending even government surveys accepted. A clear cut policy in this regards is needed. The GDP spending should start from 2.5% and increase up to 6%  by the end of the 12th plan.

The 28th Annual Athletic Meet of CMC

Staff Members presented a march-past
Ludhiana, 2nd March, 2012 (Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria) Christian Medical College & Hospital organize 28th annual sports day on Friday with pomp and show. The 28th Annual Athletic Meet of CMC & H started today at the hospital premises. The chief guest, Dr.Subash Batta, Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana declared the event open. The Students and Staff of the Christian Medical College, Dental College, College of Physiotherapy, Alied Health Services and Staff Members presented a march-past.
The event started with assembly of athletes. The oath taking ceremony was led by participants.   Students and Staff members of the Christian Medical College, Dental College, College of Physiotherapy, Alied Health Services and Staff Members participated in events like 100m race, 200m race, 400 m race, long jump, high jump, discus throw, shot put relay and shot put at the annual athletic.
Congratulating and boosting all the participants to reveal true spirit of sportsmanship for the honour of CMC and glory of Sports, the Director Dr.A.G Thomas said: "The participating students should come out with new records so as to cross hitherto kept standardized sports. The first event of the day was for 100 meters races for Students Boys, Girls, Men and Women separately.
Associate Director, Dr.Kim Mammen, Deputy  Director, Dr.William Bhatti, Principal Medical College, Dr.S.M Bhatti, Principal Dental College Dr.Abi M.Thomas, Medical Superintendent Dr.Kanwal Masih, Chairman Mr.Ranjit Theodore were also present on the ceremony.

Sex Workers’ Rights Day

Sex Workers’ Pride March to be held in Sangli

We are delighted to invite you to join us at the Sex Workers’ Pride March to be held in Sangli on the eve of the International Sex Workers’ Rights Day, the 3rd of March. Every year for the past five years we have held our heads high and joyously marched together to declare to the world that we not only exist but do so with pride claiming our right to self worth, dignity and livelihood, a right that no agency can confer or deny.

Come all:

Pride March: Gather at the Collector office, Sangli rally to the banks of the River Krishna.
Date : 2 March 2012
Time : 5pm – 7pm

In Solidarity,
Veshya Anyay Mukti Parishad
contact- meenaseshu@yahoo.com                    Courtesy:kractivist

We are compelled to protest on roads.

Oppose the execution awarded to Bhai Rajoana-Jagminder Singh 

I am writing to express my deep concern that it was confirmed on 13 March that India is preparing to break its moratorium on the death penalty by hanging Balwant Singh on 31 March at 9 AM in Central Jail, Patiala.

By making this announcement India is signaling to the world that when it comes to Sikh prisoners it is prepared to break the moratorium and reverse the trend to abolish the death penalty. -Jagminder Singh 

The most recent announcement also comes on the back of the pre-mature release last month of Kishori Lal, who was awarded the death penalty in the murder of three Sikhs with a chopper knife on 1 November 1984. 

We Sikhs believe Indian judiciary has adopted a double standard in delivering justice with Sikhs and other minorities in India. It’s failed to punish the chief organizers of Sikh holocaust for the last 28 years but very quick in sending the Sikhs to gallows. We are compelled to protest on roads.

Therefore to oppose the execution awarded to Bhai Balwant singh Rajoana the details are given below:-

1.         Date: -                       27-03-2012

            Venue: -                    P.S. Tilak Nagar

           Timings: -                  1800 Hrs

2.         Date: -                       28-03-2012

            Venue: -                    India gate

           Timings: -                  1400 Hrs

An urgent message

Appeal for details of the properties of Freedom Fighters  Confiscated by British Rulars--Another Great effort by Prof. MJS Waraich

ਪ੍ਰੋਫੈਸਰ ਵੜੈਚ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸੰਪਾਦਿਤ ਪੁਸਤਕ 

N. K. Jeet

Advocate Malwinder Singh Waraich, who has written a number of books about the Indian freedom struggle, has filed a writ petition No. 1336 of 2011 titled “Malwinder Singh Waraich Versus State of Punjab & Others” in the Punjab & Haryana High Court Chandigarh, demanding compensation/return of property for those freedom fighters, whose lands and other properties were confiscated by the British Govt for their participation in Indian freedom struggle.
On this petition the High Court has directed Punjab Govt to prepare a list of all those freedom fighters, whose lands and other properties were confiscated by the British Govt.  
We know the Govt machinery is not going to take up this job in right earnest.
Therefore, we appeal to all of you to cooperate with Sh. Waraich, by culling out the information from books and meeting with the families of freedom fighters in the areas around us.
You are most welcome to send this information through E-Mail on the following address: N. K. Jeet
nkjeetbti@gmail.com
Mob. 94175-07363

ਕਈ ਭੇਦ ਖੋਹਲਦੀ ਹੈ ਬਾਬਾ ਹਰੀ ਸਿੰਘ ਉਸਮਾਨ ਦੀ ਡਾਇਰੀ

Ludhiana went on strike

Workers marched with flags and banners in all corners

Various sections of workers and employees of industries, Khet Mazdoors, Construction workers, Hosiery workers, Banks, LIC, BSNL, Transport, Power Sector, Anagnwadi, Asha workers and workers working in other government and semi government sectors in Ludhiana went on strike today on a call given by the All Central Trade Unions  and several National Federations of Employees for a nationwide strike on 28thFebruary 2012 against the anti people, anti workers and anti employees policies of the central and state governments. 

After stopping work in their respective organizations in all the corners of Ludhiana the workers marched with flags and banners and raising slogans of their demands and gathered outside the office of Deputy Commissioner at Mini Secretariat in a big number. 

Addressing the massive rally state leaders Com Inderjit Singh Grewal-President CTU, S. Swaran Singh–Central Committee member INTUC and Com Om Parkash Mehta-Senior Vice President AITUC said that  the call for the strike has been given to demand revision of minimum wages for the workers as Rs. 10,000-00 per month, filling up of all vacant posts on regular basis and not on contract basis, revised provident fund and bonus to all workers without any pre conditions, increase in gratuity rates, pension to all workers/employees, compulsory registration of trade unions within 45 days of filing registration papers, creation of social security fund for the workers in un organized sector as per recommendations of the permanent Parliamentary committee and implementation of labour laws as per ILO convention 87 and 98.

The speakers decried that as a result of neo liberal economic policies pursued at the diktat of World Bank, IMF and WTO our country has witnessed jobless growth as a result of which the condition of toiling masses in India has become miserable. Unprecedented rise in prices of essential commodities has led to rampant malnutrition. This has been made worse due to rise in unemployment. There is total denial of even present stipulated minimum wages not only by the private but also by the public sector units. 

Others who addressed the rally include  Comrades Dharm Paul Maur, Vijay Kumar, Kewal Krishan and  Gurnam Sidhu of AITUC, Shri Nageshwar, Gurbax Rai, Jia Lal Gautam and Bhagirath Paliwal of BMS, Comrades Jatinder Pal and Jagdish Chand, Com Tarsem Jodhan, Com Subhash Rani from CITU, Comrades Paramjit Singh, Daljeet Singh, Mohan Lal Paswan and Raja Ram of CTU, Shri Gujit Singh Jagpal, S K Tiwari, Kaur Chand and Jagmel Singh Khera of INTUC, Com Naresh Gaur- Secretary Bank Employees Federation, Com Gulzar Goria-Gen Secretary Khet Mazdoor Sabha Punjab, Com Kewal Singh Banwait and Com.Ramesh Rattan.

In their address they took a serious note of the fact that despite raising these demands by the workers for a long time, the government under the pressure of corporate sector is ignoring the demands of the workers which has led to flouting of labour laws with impunity not only by the private but also by the public sector. There is no provision for social security to the unorganized workers. Govt. has failed to curb the rising prices and solve the problem of unemployment causing serious effect on the lives of toiling masses. 

Rally expressed satisfaction that it is for the first time that all trade unions have united on one platform on these demands. The leaders warned that if even now the government does not pay heed to the demands and condition of workers, they would be forced to launch more militant struggle in future.  



BKU(Ekta) Bharti Kisan Union Ekta also staged a dharna opposite Mini Secretariat Ludhiana. Speakers raised the issues like Gobindpura and explained the anti farmer policies of Punjab Govt. Rural villages labourer Daarshan Koohli, Hardev Singh Sandhu, Mohinder Singh Seeno, Nirmal Singh Bhamaal, Baldev Singh Rasoolpur, Comrade Kuldeep Singh, Avtar Singh  Taari, Sudagar Singh Ghudani, Tarlochan Singh, Gurcharan Singh, Harbans Singh Lohat Badhi also addressed the BKU rally.   
Other unions:Harjinder Singh from Molder and Steel Workers Union, Romesh Kumar from Hosiery workers union, Malkeet singh from Mazdoor unions Khanna, Samrala area also participated with their supporters.

Ms. Luo Mei in New Delhi

Shri Ajay Maken meeting Ms. Luo Mei

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri Ajay Maken meeting the Secretary, Secretariat, Central Committee, Communist Youth League of China Ms. Luo Mei, in New Delhi on February 27, 2012. [PIB photo]   

Ms. Nandita Das addressing a press conference

A day long Children’s Film Festival on Tagore

The Chairperson, Children’s Film Society of India (CFSI), Ms. Nandita Das addressing a press conference on the occasion of a day long Children’s Film Festival on Tagore, as part of the 150th Birth anniversary celebrations of Tagore, at Nandan, Kolkata on February 27, 2012. The Director, Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Shri Anup Motilal and the Chief Executive Officer of CFSI, Shri Sushovan Banerjee are also seen. [PIB photo] 27-February-2012

“LAVA”

The Vice President, Shri Mohd. Hamid Ansari addressing at the release of a book entitled “LAVA”, a collection of poems by Shri Javed Akhtar, in New Delhi on February 26, 2012.  26-February-2012

‘CALYPSO 2012’, a cultural and musical event

An energy packed evening of dance competition

Ludhiana, 26th Feb, 2012 (Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria) The Student’s council of Christian Dental College, CMC Ludhiana organized ‘CALYPSO 2012’, a cultural and sports interclass competition. The historic ‘Lady Willingdon Hall’ played host to the inauguration of this year’s competition which started on 13th February 2012 with the ‘anthakshari’ competition which was won by the 4th years. The two weeks witnessed both students and faculty pitted against each other, taking part in a variety of sports, games, literary competition and music and dance. The last 3 days of the two week long event saw participants showcasing their musical talent belting out popular contemporary and classical Hindi songs  in ‘Raag’ and English songs in ‘Juke Box’.  The extravaganza was brought to a fitting finale with ‘To the beat’ an energy packed evening of dance competition. 

The prizes for the competitions were distributed by Dr.Rajender Gyani, Chairman, Christian Medical College Ludhiana Society and Executive committee member, Dr.Ajit Singh. Dr.Abi Thomas, Principal, Christian Dental College in his closing remarks congratulated all the participants and acknowledged the encouragement and support of Dr.Abraham G Thomas, Director, and the entire administration of Christian Medical College and Hospital. The overall championship this year was won by the faculty then the interns and in the third place were the third year BDS students.