making security arrangements for the giant elephant- BMC polls

MUMBAI: Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik, on Tuesday expressed confidence in the security arrangements for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections on 16^th February.

“2,375 officers and 20,982 policemen from Mumbai police will be deployed to ensure law and order during the elections. In addition to 2,000 home guards three companies of Rapid Action Force and five companies of state Police will also be working to ensure that the elections are smooth and peaceful,” he said. Speaking to reporters about the security arrangements Mr Patnaik said that even though the upcoming elections are of a municipal corporation, the stakes are very high for all the parties and the Police have to check each lane and street to ensure law and order.

“We had started policing long back because of which so far no unpleasant incident or violence has been reported. Election officers and police will move in on Wednesday when Electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be shifted to polling booths,” he said.

Mumbai Police has marked over 200 centers marked sensitive to ensure better policing, “After discussing the history of the area, background of politicians standing for elections, local rivalries, supports behavior and possibility of clashes we have marked 221 centers (having 883 booths) as sensitive and 4 centers as hyper sensitive,” he said. Speaking to reporters two days before the polling he said,” Now that the rallies and public meetings are over we have started to focus on the polling. As preventive action, Over 300 firearms have already been deposited in police stations, 83 people have been extenuated and over 170 people have submitted security bonds under 107 Cr Pc,” he said.

An additional police control room set up has been set up at Banda Kurla center (BKC) and two emergency phone lines (22623054, 22621983) have been set up at the control rooms for public to report any incident of election violation or violence etc. “We appeal the public to use them judiciously to report any relevant activity in their neighborhood,” he added. (Eom)

India’s future, half stunted, quater minus food…

MUMBAI: A recent study by ‘Save the Children’, an international organization working for children’s rights has revealed that close to half the children in India are stunted from malnutrition and a quarter of parents surveyed said that their children often go without food.

The survey, conducted in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Peru and Nigeria, countries which are the home to half of the world’s stunted children, also concluded that recent rises in global food prices are forcing the parents of malnourished children to cut back on food and pull children out of school to work. In India, 17 per cent parents reported to have asked children to skip school to work to help pay for family’s food and 29 per cent reduced the amount of food they buy for families.

The report survey was released along with Save the Children’s report, ‘A Life Free from Hunger: Tackling Child Malnutrition by Save the Children International. The report states that 2.6 million child deaths each year are caused by, malnutrition and if current trends continue, 450 million children around the world will be impacted by stunting in the next 15 years. The survey was conducted between December 19, 2011 and January 9, 2012.

In India, despite experiencing huge economic growth in the past few years, almost half of children under the age of five suffer from chronic malnutrition, being home to more than a third of the world’s stunted children. The growing trend of malnutrition is especially alarming in Asia, where more than a third of the children are chronically malnourished or stunted, accounting for almost 100 million (60per cent) of the global total.

While India is said to have a shockingly high rate of 48 per cent of children who are stunted, the report shows that social protection programmes increase food expenditure and increase dietary diversity. And impact studies on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act(MGNREG) in India, which guarantees poor households 100 days of paid employment, found the scheme increased food spending by 40 per cent on average, and that the effect is strongest for the poorest households who participated in the scheme the longest.

The survey contains a snap-shot of the hardship that families are facing in countries already struggling with high rates of malnutrition. A large majority of people in India (66per cent) said that increase in food prices had become their most pressing concern in 2011 and 24 per cent of families reported that their children go without food for an entire day while the proportion of such families is 27 per cent in Nigeria. In both India and Nigeria, parents who are less educated, have more than one child and lower income are more likely to report this.

The report points out that although malnutrition is the underlying cause of a third of child deaths in the world (2.6 million each year), it has not received the same high-profile campaigning and investment as other causes of child mortality like HIV/AIDS or malaria. Press release issued by Save the Children states the CEO Thomas Chandy demanding political will to address the issue effectively. The report recommends setting up a nutrition mission, better-defining and refining the selection criteria of families below poverty line and a host of essential interventions to improve nutritional security of families. Also it is stated that countries need to invest in health services to ensure that well-trained health workers are able to deliver the interventions needed to improve nutrition, especially among the poorest and most vulnerable people.

In India, Save the Children has appealed the government to urgently enact a comprehensive National Food Security Bill that includes family’s nutritional security needs and to make appropriate budgetary allocations in nutrition sector that meet the requirements of the Supreme Court April 2004 Order.

For the love of Graffiti, we shall deface the wall

“i love Pooja’- so direct so clear and so effective, now that is how u communicate an emotion like love…even if pooja is a rather common name and even if the above stated line was written by scratching paint of a metal partition of a Mumbai local train.

Whether or not Pooja reciprocates the emotion, the manner of declaring love reminded me of all the times when monuments, rocks, walls, trees, school desks and even public toilets have become a banner for announcing love. While there are few writings that speak of patriotism or profanities a majority are declarations of love. From the anonymous declarations of love to the job advertisements and the ever assuring ‘Jesus loves u’ messages the train is full of it all. From the temples where people wait in queues to have a Darshan to the canteen tables are all places where we find affection expressed in ways that is unique.

There are notices in school which forbid students from sketching and writing on desks and they might get dirty and there are Municipal corporations that try to find ingenious ways to cover up the city facade. Few years ago Chennai’s street walls were all marked to be painted in a manner that depicted the culture and discouraged political or personal graffiti. It is amusing to have Read the scribbling on the day of valentines, it was fresh indeed but needless to say unless the anonymous lover was 100 per cent sure that the object of his affection would read it and know who wrote it- it was all a waste. Despite not being a sure shot of announcing love the number of scratched walls and painted stones keep increasing – perhaps the idea is just to say it out loud.

While it might seem like an act of defacing a public property or spreading a random rumor – it brings to light two explanations, either we fall in love and often fail to express it personally or we just love so much that we can not resist not sharing it with the entire world. Not just sentences, symbols of hearts with arrows, smiles, abbreviations of names and codes all have found their way to any an devery flat surface that could be scratching, etched, scraped or written or painted on.

But there is a thin line, like the arrow across the heart that usually carries the name of two loves, that differentiate defacing public property form free of expression. On other days i would think of how it makes our public transport look and the money spent on cleaning it up, but today i guess he really had to tell pooja.

the innocent query the sudden realisation

“so he has three sons who have one son each……. and all the three sons are married?”….i heard this and my brain froze for few seconds, how do i translate and ask a 90 year old man from an interior Haryana village if all his sons, father of one son each, are married. That’s when i understood that in India we take certain things for granted, everyone gets married- ever heard of someone ‘not’ getting married- unless u r a criminal, genius or schizophrenic , well actually even they might.

The seemingly innocent question came from someone whose dedication towards understanding the complexities of India society often made him bring out the things that are usually found under the Indian carpet. So everyone gets married, every married couple has children, no children are born out of marriages..etc

Traveling in the by-lanes of my own territory with a foreigner proved to be a breath of fresh air as i explained in great details the things that i never even noticed- “why does the bride not look happy?” he asked as he turned the pages of a wedding album. He was right  the bride was not smiling, neither was she looking at the groom or the camera, he body language suggested that she was about to be executed not married. but what explanation did i have,”We take marriages seriously.” it was a fact, we do…..once u r married- u r done! unlike many cultures marriage is not based on commitment and love but love and commitment are a by product of marriages.

“SO no body gets divorced here cause they found someone else?” …..good questions i thought, “There are divorces and often caused by adultery and ‘finding someone else’  but  no one likes it……i barely convinced my self…

The entire episode made me aware of how we as a country have inherited the idea of what is right esp in our personal lives, we have no problems if a husband is beating his wife or if the wife is an adulteress…”its their personal problems’ it may lead to gossip but no one will support separation unless its its the only other choice….other than suicide/murder. As long as the couple makes entries in social events looking happy ……we are all ok. Sp does it only depend on “appearance’? Considering how we expect married women to suddenly change their entire wardrobe and appearance , yes it is a matter of appearances as well. A long as you give the impression of happiness we will accept that yu are happy and hence by Indian standard- a good match.

gap of 2 million wordforce in India, vocational skills need development…

MUMBAI: A Conference on ‘National Initiatives in Vocational Skills Development’ saw participation of eminent personnel from public and private sector, emphasizing the need to meet the growing demand of skilled workforce in the country

Speaking on the issue, Dr Narendra Jadhav, member Planning Commission said, “The focus of the 12th plan five-year plan is on faster, more inclusive and sustainable growth. The manufacturing sector, currently growing at around eight per cent, needs to grow at 11-12 per cent each year, hence creating at least two million new jobs annually… to fill this gap we have new initiatives like the Kaushal Vikas Yojana that involves setting up of 1,500 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and 5,000 skill development centres in public-private partnership (PPP) mode.”

He added that the government follows a three-fold framework, a National Skill Development Council headed by the Prime Minister, a National Skill Development Coordination Board to coordinate 17 ministries, headed by the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, and the National Skill Development Corporation. “We are a young, large and growing population but we need reforms in education and skill development sector to turn into a super power. At present there is training in 11th and 12th standards but consideration is being given to provide vocational education early on, say from the 9th and 10th standards,” DrJadhav said.

The conference also focused on the role of Industry Engagement and saw many members from industry speak about the areas of vocational training that needed attention. Chairman, CII National Skills council, S Mahalingam, said that, “Quality, faculty and employability are the main guidelines to be followed while designing vocational training. It important that the industry acts on the recommendations that they make so that the growth in workforce in not just in numbers but quality as well. We also need to ensure that those who are conducting the training have industrial experience.”

Mr. V.K Singh, Director Administration, Directorate General of Employment & Training (DGET) emphasized the importance of PPP in ITIs and their sustainability as a cause of concern. “We have 9,415 ITIs in India out of which 2244 are run by Government and 7171 are private. We have a seating capacity of 13.29 lakh which can be trained in over 121 trades in courses that vary from 6 months to three years. However with the rising demand of skilled workforce we need to ensure that they are providing the best quality of training and industrial experience.”

The conference also felicitated the best ITIs under PPP in the country with ITI Andheri and industry partner Keystone Realtors being adjudged the best in the country. (Eom)

MNS disallowed to blow poll trumpet in silence zone

MUMBAI: Bombay high court, on Friday refused to grant Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) the permission to hold public meeting at Shivaji Park as it falls under a silence zone.

A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice R V More said that granting the permission would set a wrong precedence, “If we grant permission in this case then how can we deny any other political party that approaches the court in future.” MNS sought permission from court after Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) turned down its request to use loud speakers at the rally scheduled to be held on February 13 at Shivaji Park.

An earlier order passed by the court, on a petition from NGO Wecom trust, declared Shivaji Park a silence zone, however a Dusshera rally organised by Shiv Sena was held at the park. The BMC counsel while justifying the permission granted to Shiv Sena earlier said, “Permissions were granted earlier for cultural and religious events but cannot be granted for public meetings prior to elections.”

Advocate Sandeep Aole, appearing for NGO Wecom told the court that political parties often violate the assurance given to the court, “They use loud speakers thus increasing the noise level above 50 decibel…in the Dusshera rally held by Shiv Sena there were blatant violations of the noise pollution rules,” he said.

MNS’s counsel YS Jahagirdar maintained that MNS would be holding the rally in the day time and there would not be any violations of the provisions of the Noise Pollution (Control) Act. “These political parties and their supporters don’t come silently. They shout slogans and use loud speakers which are banned under the Noise Pollution rules in a silence zone,” additional government pleader PG Lad said.

Investigation in 13/7 brings out pak’s hand, Let’s training

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) claim to have uncovered evidence that show Haroon Naik, accused in the July 13, 2011 serial bombings, received ‘rigorous and advanced training in Pakistan by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).’

Speaking of Haroon Naik as ‘very very important person in Indian Mujahideen (IM) ’ Maharashtra ATS chief Rakesh Mariasaid that Naik had undergone advanced levels of rigorous training with Indian Mujahideen founder Yasin Bhatkal in Pakistan. ATS was on Wednesday granted custody of jailed IM operative Naik in the blasts case as he was suspected of having participated in the conspiracy and provided financial aid to carry out blasts in July last year that claimed 27 lives.

“Haroon has been the member of the core committee of IM; he is very well trained and has undergone courses of Daura-e-aam and Daura-e-khaas in Bahawalpur, Pakistan in 2000-2001. He later went for a training course of Bait-e-rizwan and during 2005 he fought along with Al Qaeda in Kandhakar,” he said while speaking to reporters on Friday.

“In between 2001-05 Haroon Naik kept coming and going from India to Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal using fake passports… We have evidence that shows that in 2005 he crossed over to Pakistan on a fake Nepal passport. In 2008 he was IM operative in Saudi Arabia and was coordinating money transactions from there,” Mr Maria added. He said that investigations were on to see if the same money trail had funded any other blasts.

Haroon Naik was apprehended on August 22 for allegedly possessing fake currency to the tune of Rs 80,000 from Mumbai international airport. According to ATS Naik arranged for Rs 10 lakh through Hawala from Saudi Arabia and sent to Kanwar Nain Wazeer Chand Patrija to be handed over to Yasin Bhatkal and was used in the 13/7 blast.

ATS also claimed to have recovered significant evidence from Patrija’s Ghaziabad residence, “We have recovered two diaries, two broken mobile phones and one sim card from Patrija’s house. The diaries have very important pieces of information about the dealing of Indian Mujahideen (IM) operatives and the Hawala money transactions,” Maharatra ATS chief Rakesh Maria said.

Patrija is a suspected Hawala operator who allegedly handed over Rs 10 lakh to fugitive IM top operative Yasin Bhatkal to execute the blasts that killed 27 people in July. Refusing to comment on the contents of the diary Mr Maria said that the information is very sensitive and can not be shared as the matter is currently under investigation as ATS is still working towards finding out the hideouts of fugitive IM top operative Yasin Bhatkal.

remand extended….

MUMBAI: A local court on Thursday extended the police custody of Naqi Ahmed Sheikh (22) and Nadeem Akhtar Ashfaq Sheikh (23), suspected Indian Mujahideen (IM) operatives, till 10^th February.

The alleged terrorists were arrested on 12th January in connection with the 13^th July triple blasts in Mumbai. The custody was extended as Maharashtra Anti terrorist Squad (ATS) sought to probe into the source of explosive materials and possible future terror targets arrested in connection with the blasts. ATS told the court that the accused used to travel to Darbhanga of Bihar and Delhi very often and the intentions for these visits was yet to be ascertained.

The two had stayed in Mumbai even after the blasts and ATS stated that it needed to investigate if any more blasts were planned. “Their modus operandi is to stay at a place, plan terror attack and execute it. Since the two continued to stay here even after the blasts, their further custody is required to know if they had planned further strikes. If yes, then what are their targets?” ATS said.

According to ATS, Naqi and Nadeem had stolen four two-wheelers from south Mumbai. Two of the bikes were used to plant explosives at Zaveri Bazaar and Opera House. The other two were taken to Bihar. Naqi, came to Mumbai in September 2010 and helped Yasin Bhatkal, maser mind of the attack and two other accused find accommodation at Byculla. He has also been charged for providing SIM cards to them.

police lacks apathy, society lacks what???

MUMBAI: The recent acid attack on a 22 year old woman at a crowded railway station, by a man who had allegedly attacked her twice before, has raised questions over police apathy in dealing with cases of harassment as much as safety. “This is the third time that she has been attacked, earlier she was attacked on the face, with a small knife.

After the first attack we moved from Malwani to Nallasopara to feel safer,” Seema Thakur, mother of the victim said. On Wednesday Railway police arrested a 25 year old man, her former land lord for throwing acid on her face. The victim, presently at Singhvi hospital has been provided police protection, however her earlier attempts to book a complaint went in vain. “I don’t know why the police did not register a case when we approached them earlier…her doctors are confident that she will recover but the family will always be scared,” the petrified mother said.

“Incident such as an acid attack does not emerge suddenly; negative feelings repressed over a long time finally result into something so hurtful. So why does the police and society refuse to act when it can be stopped, before it ruins a woman’s identity?” asked Shirin Juwaley, who survived an acid attack by her husband in 1998. While Juwaley regards Mumbai as ‘safe for women’ she adds that ‘mindsets are very unsafe’, “We are socially conditioned to accept that men can eve tease or harass women and the only time we address the issue is when something shocking happens. The police also does not feel the need to address the issue unless a women is traumatised enough to make it to the headlines,” said Juwaley who currently runs an NGO, Palash, to help women in similar situations and helps victims of disfigurement.

Expressing shock over police inaction Soniya Gill, secretary Maharashtra All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) said, “Why did the police wait to act until the woman was attacked with acid, how could the earlier attacks with blades not be registered?…Police must be asked why it did not do anything when the girl approached them on two previous occasions?” While officials at Malwani police station refused to speak on the issue, the railway police very proudly claimed that adequate measures were in place to ensure safety of women passengers, “There are extra constables in each local train compartment from 8:30 pm till 6 am, helpline numbers are written everywhere so that in case of a problem there is a quick response,” said Ankush Shinde, DCP, Railway police, western railways. “In the recent case the victim was not in the train but at the platform- a very crowded area. Even then the police quickly rushed her to the hospital and later helped in the arrest by CCTV footage,” he added.

“I see thousands of women rushing to work and back everyday, if this were not a safe city how they could be so free? There might be few stray cases but we can not question the safety of women all together,” Pramodini Balaram Matre, homeguard at the Mumbai Central railway station said rejecting the notion that there is any safety concern for women in Mumbai. However the Mumbai police cut a sorry figure in providing data for cases of attacks on women, “There are very few cases of such attacks that are actually reported because in most cases the attacker is a known person,” spokes person of Mumbai Police said.

The victims however recall each detail of the treatment given by police, “I was burned and completely disfigured but when I asked the police to file a case against my husband and his brother, I was asked to forgive, forget and reconcile,” said Sneha Jawale. Ms Jawale was harassed for dowry and in 1997 she was doused with kerosene oil and burned. “How much security can you have, if you are attacked in your house by your husband and the police refuse to register a case what can security do then? she questioned. “It was not until our divorce proceedings that the incident was recorded, before that the police simply refused to acknowledge it.” Today Sneha Jawale is a successful astrologer and writes dialogues for Marathi films and TV serials.

Acid attacker held

MUMBAI: Railway police, on Wednesday, arrested a 25 year old man for attacking a woman, his former tenant, by throwing acid on her face. The accused Nasir Shaikh alias Pintu, allegedly attacked the 22 year old outside Goregaon railway station on Tuesday evening when she was punching her railway ticket coupon, while speaking on the phone.

Pintu was nabbed near Borilvilli railway station and was produced before a local court on Wednesday morning, which remanded him to police custody till February 7. “The court sent him to police remand till February 7, we have booked him under sector 307(attempt to murder), Inspector L G Dombre of the Boriville police station said.

Inspector Dombre added that the victim was first attacked in November last year and again in December, “Both times she was attacked on her face with a small blade, we are yet to ascertain if the same person is responsible for all the attacks. Also it is not confirmed whether he executed the acid attack himself or hired someone.”

The woman, working at an IT company at Goregaon was on her back home when the attack happened, “The injuries are not life threatening, she has received 10-15 per cent burns on her face, neck and forearms,” the police added. The victim was admitted to a private hospital after the attacker threw acid on her and fled.