Monthly Archives: August 2015

You ask, the commissioner answers

August 20, 2015Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leadersmpositiveone@gmail.com

Police commissioner Jawed Shamim in his office. (Bhubaneswarananda Halder)

Jawed Shamim, commissioner of police, Bidhannagar, answers 10 questions asked by the residents of Salt Lake through The Telegraph Salt Lake.

When you took over as commissioner, what was your message to your force? And in your stint as commissioner, what have been the three biggest challenges faced by you and your team, and what has been your plan of action to face these challenges?

The message was simple: Together we shall and we will provide an effective police force for the residents of this Commissionerate.

Each and every sphere of policing is equally challenging and maintenance of law and order and prevention of crime are the biggest challenges for any city policing force. However, in the short term, the following three targets were identified.

Revamping the traffic system with special emphasis on traffic engineering and infusion of technology in traffic management. More visibility and better enforcement of traffic rules including removal of the auto and bus stands from various important crossings. It has already been implemented at Karunamoyee crossing and we will implement it in other parts of this Commissionerate.

Rein in illegal activities of the various dance bars and restaurants and immoral activities in various parts of this Commissionerate, especially in Baguiati, New Town & Airport areas.

Devising a mechanism to prevent house burglary and theft in the Salt Lake area through human intelligence patrolling and use of technologies, and involving the community in these efforts.

Does the Commissionerate have adequate manpower and what area does it cover?

Manpower is more than what it was before this Commissionerate was formed. However, it has to be increased further and the same is under the active consideration of the government. Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate has got an area of approximately 150sq km covered by 10 police stations.

The area of Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate has seen changes both in its demographical as well as topographical aspects. It has become the IT hub of Bengal. Many government and corporate houses have made this their home. New townships and recreation centres have sprung up. These have necessitated a more intensive and direct policing system. Policing has become much more professional, inculcating all the values needed to serve the people in these ever-changing times.

Does the police plan to install CCTVs at major crossings? A few block residents’ associations have installed CCTVs, but after a theft last year in one, it was found that the cameras were placed too high to capture faces. What is your advice for such private initiatives?

Yes, this Commissionerate will gradually be covered with CCTV cameras. As of now, we have already installed CCTV connections at 29 places in Salt Lake area, monitored centrally at Bidhannagar control room. There is a proposal for increasing the CCTV surveillance in the Smart City project. Red Light and Stop Line violation camera is being installed at one crossing on VIP Road, which will gradually be increased at other crossings of the Commissionerate.

Many CCTVs have been installed by private units. We have also sent request letters to the business establishments and housing societies to install CCTV cameras. Nowadays, CCTV camera comes at a very reasonable rate and individual houses can also afford to install these. This will go a long way in detection and thereby prevention of crime, especially property crimes. Those who are installing CCTV cameras at their own initiative are requested to contact the local police station so that they can get proper guidance regarding the correct installation points.

What steps would the police take to free the northern side of the Eastern Drainage Canal of squatters? While the other side of the bank is being beautified as the approach to Sector V, shacks have come up in rapid succession on this side over the last year and half.

We are aware about the problems of the squatters and have already taken up the matter with Bidhannagar Municipality.

Salt Lake, as the common saying goes, is like one big old-age home. What steps are the police taking to ensure the safety of elderly residents of the township who stay alone?

We are acutely aware that the services to the elderly residents of Salt Lake is one of the prime responsibilities of Bidhannagar Police Commiss-ionerate and it extends beyond normal policing. To cater to the various requirements, we have associated with the NGO called OFFER in the project Sanj Baati which exclusively looks after the problems of elderly residents of the Salt Lake area. Sanj Baati has its office in the Bidhannagar North P.S. compound. To provide ambulance and other medical facilities is also a prime area that we are working on. All police stations have been asked to get a list of the elderly people staying in their respective jurisdiction and to keep in touch with them as far as possible. Those working on 100 dial are also sensitised to attend the calls of elderly people efficiently and promptly.

Are all crimes related to cyber crime to be reported to the cyber crime police station only? Can we lodge such complaints in the other police stations as well?

This being the IT hub, increasing cyber crime has been a natural corollary. Keeping this in mind, Cyber PS has been set up to cater to the crimes arising out of the cyber world. However, it is not mandatory that cyber crime has to be reported only to the Cyber PS. All police stations are authorised to register cyber cases. If need be, they can take the expert help of Cyber PS.

What can a citizen do if a police station refuses to lodge an FIR and pressures the complainant to turn it into a general diary?

On no account should the citizens under the Bidhannagar Commissi-onerate accept the refusal to lodge an FIR. Clear instructions have been given to police stations for registration of all cognisable cases. In spite of that, if there is any reluctance on the part of the police station to register any case, the matter has to be promptly brought to the notice of the concerned Zonal ACPs / ADCPs / DCPs and my office.
There is now a separate section on your website for registration of landlords, tenants, PGs and domestic helps. How has the response been?
There has been steady response to the online registration on our website. Around 30,000 registrations have already taken place but we will urge citizens of the Salt Lake area to use this facility and register themselves in greater numbers.

One complaint from residents of Sectors 1 and 2 is how thieves escape by crossing the footbridges across Kestopur canal and reaching VIP Road. Do you have plans to guard those at night? Also can the patrol cars do a few rounds in the post-lunch hours when some of the petty thefts take place?

Regular vigil at different footbridges connecting stretches of Salt Lake with Lake Town-VIP connector etc is maintained. Police personnel are posted for night duty at the connecting points of footbridges at Salt Lake side. However, more effective methods of patrolling including foot, bicycle and motorcycle patrol are being introduced within the constraints of the available manpower and resources.

What are your goals for the next few years?

The goals for the near future is to build up a dynamic force…
capable of quick response to tackle a law & order situation.
proficient in prevention and detection of crime.
adept in ensuring smooth traffic management.
involved in various community policing projects.

What would you like to ask the police commissioner?
Write to saltlake@abpmail.com

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph, Calcutta,India / Front Page> Salt Lake> Story / Friday – August 14th, 2015

Bengaluru activist gifts e-rickshaw to honest Aabid

August 19, 2015Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issuesmpositiveone@gmail.com

Jaipur :

He woke up at 3.45 am to board the flight from Bengaluru to Jaipur. Sixty-six-year old Lal Chand Nagpal arrived here on Monday to salute and reward Aabid Qureshi, the honest rickshaw puller who had returned Rs 1.17 lakh he had found on the road.

After checking into a hotel, Nagpal met with the family of Aabid and in the presence of commissioner of police, Jaipur, Janga Sriniwas Rao, gifted an e-rickshaw to Aabid.

Nagpal, a businessman-turned-social activist, who had won ‘Sindhu Ratan’ award for his work had read Aabid’s story – Rickshaw puller returns Rs 1.17 lakh found on road’ appeared in Times of India on August 6 and contacted the scribe and wished to reward Aabid.

“After reading the news in Bangalore, I was so impressed with Aabid because if you lost a Rs 100 note these days, you can’t expect to get it back. And this man has returned over Rs 1 lakh despite having a very poor financial condition. I met his family and found that they were very humble. It is a good feeling while I gave them an e-rickshaw to raise bar in terms of their daily earning,” Nagpal said while talking to TOI on Monday.

Nagpal along with social activist Sabir Qureshi (who took Aabid to the commissioner of police, Jaipur, Janga Sriniwas Rao to return the money) came to the Jaipur police commissionerate and the keys of e-rickshaw were handed over to Aabid by the commissioner.

“I think this is the best example of a welfare state. A man shows honesty and another man sitting in a city rewards him. These are the real heroes of the society,” said an elated Rao.

Nagpal said, “There were few friends in Bangalore with whom I discussed the idea. They all encouraged me and also asked me to check the credentials of the man. I am satisfied and humbled after seeing the simplicity of Aabid. However, my only concern is that the people of Jaipur should now ensure that the e-rickshaw I have gifted him should only be utilized to earn his bread and butter. They should not misuse it.”

“I thought just money won’t solve the problems of his life. I am giving him a source which can ensure him a proper monthly income,” said an elated Nagpal.

Nagpal further urged the people of Muslim community who had come to welcome Aabid at the commissionerate that they should work as guarantor to ensure that Aabid should not change his path of simplicity and honesty. “Mujhe bada dukh hoga agar meri mehnat ke paise zaya honge (I will feel bad if my hard earned money will be wasted),” he added.

Aabid and his wife Ameena along with their infant daughter Anam were happiest while they were handed over the keys of e-rickshaw. “I had never thought that good act will fetch me so many things. A day after the news stories on me appeared, I had fever and went to see a doctor. The doctor after seeing me said that he had read my story in newspapers and did not charge a penny as fees as a mark of respect. I will now ensure that I should work hard to earn better in my life for my wife and family members.”

Aabid and people of his colony boarded in the e-rickshaw and departed to their destination while celebrating the moment.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Japipur / TNN / August 18th, 2015

Mahatma Gandhi’s only visit to Udupi was on February 25, 1934

August 19, 2015Leadersmpositiveone@gmail.com

A bust of Gandhiji installed at the Bhujanga Park, Ajjarkad, in Udupi, where he delivered a speech in 1934.

He addressed a public meeting at Ajjarkad ground

The place where Gandhiji visited and gave a speech during his only visit to Udupi on February 25, 1934, is now a park. There is a bust of Gandhiji in the midst of the park and a radio tower also stands close to it.

Vinith Rao, researcher and in-charge of Gandhian Study Centre at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College here, told The Hindu that Gandhiji had come to Udupi as part of his tour for collection of funds for the uplift of the weaker sections of society and also to promote temple entry for people of weaker sections through a consensus. Another object was to collect funds for the relief of persons affected by floods in Bihar.

Gandhiji toured the coastal region in a car. But since there were many rivers and rivulets in between, he and his car were ferried in a barge, then called ‘jungal’ and taken from one bank of the river to another. He was welcomed in Udupi at around 3.30 p.m. by philanthropist Haji Abdulla Saheb.

After inaugurating a ‘Khadi Bhandar’ at Kadabettu here, he went to the Ajjarkad ground to deliver a speech. Nearly 3,000 people attended the event as per a report in the Kannada weekly ‘Rashtra Bandhu’.

In his speech, which was reported in The Hindu on February 28, 1934, and also published in the ‘The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi’ (Volume 57), Gandhiji urged the people to create public opinion for opening temples for weaker sections.

But, he emphasised that the opinion can only be formulated by the gentlest of means. Gandhiji also pointed out in his speech that Lord Krishna had turned himself to give “darshan” to saint-composer Sri Kanakadasa at the Sri Krishna Temple here. He also emphasised on the removal of untouchability.

This speech of Gandhiji in Udupi has also been reported in the journal ‘Harijan’ dated March 9, 1934. Gandhiji received a donation of Rs. 1,240 here.

Gandhiji then left for Kundapur the same day and addressed a public meeting there also and spoke against untouchability. He participated in prayer meeting in Kundapur on February 26, 1934, which was a Monday and Gandhiji used to observe silence on that day. “On February 27, 1934, Gandhiji left Kundapur for Karwar in a steamer named ‘Dayavati,” Mr. Rao said.

Since this was the only visit of Gandhiji to Udupi, a plaque should be erected at the Bhujanga Park, where Gandhiji gave a speech. “Besides the plaque, a small museum could be constructed there with some photographs taken during Gandhiji’s visit to Udupi,” Mr. Rao said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Mangaluru / by Ganesh Prabhu / Udupi – August 15th, 2015

The idea of India

August 17, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leadersmpositiveone@gmail.com

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru with Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan at Miranshah during his visit to the North West Frontier in October 1946. Photo: The Hindu Archives

This Independence Day let’s spare a thought for those Muslims who chose to migrate to Gandhi’s India

Taj Mohammad Khan was a young Pathan when India was carved out on communal lines in 1947. He was a Congress activist in Peshawar and was greatly influenced by Mahatama Gandhi and Frontier Gandhi (Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan). He was a broken man when it became clear that the nation would be divided on communal lines. He was in extreme dilemma whether to stay back in Peshawar, the land of his forefathers, or move to a new place in a new country. And when communal riots broke out post Partition, he decided to leave the homeland for Muslims for secular India. He came to Delhi along with his family and couple of other friends. Today we know him as father of superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

The likes of Taj Mohammad Khan had rejected the two-nation theory with utter disdain. If not thousands, there were many Muslims who shifted to India from newly created Pakistan in 1947 when communal passions were running high.

Many years ago H.C. Shourie, who was the Rehabilitation Commissioner of refugees in Delhi, told this writer that several Muslims families from NWFP region of Pakistan came to India in 1947.They were not ready to live in Jinnah’s Pakistan. That was the region that was not much impacted due to communal violence that engulfed Punjab and Bengal. The local people were close to Gandhiji and Ghaffar Khan. That was the major reason for many Muslims to leave Pakistan and settle in secular India.

Many Hindus, Sikhs and even Muslims migrated to Afghanistan. A former Pakistani diplomat and historian, Nazar Abbas, said that there is a possibility that some Muslims had migrated to India then. “It is a fact that due to Ghaffar Khan, large number of people there were not supporting the idea of Pakistan. As he had a huge support base, I can believe that some of them had shifted to India,” noted Nazar Abbas.

Massive population exchanges occurred between the two newly-formed states in the months immediately following Partition. Once the lines were established, about 14.5 million people crossed the borders. Based on 1951 Census of displaced persons, 7,226,000 Muslims went to Pakistan from India while 7,249,000 Hindus and Sikhs moved to India from Pakistan immediately after Partition. However, the Census failed to identify those Muslims who migrated from Pakistan to India.

Returning to Taj Mohammad Khan and others like him, it goes without saying they would have taken that conscious decision after much thought. Among others, Mohammad Yunus, a close family friend of Nehru-Gandhi family, also came to Delhi with many Muslims. A close relative of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Mohammad Yunus never returned to his native place. For years together, he was heading Trade Fair Authority of India.

Delhi-based noted theatre activist Dr. Shamshul Islam’s family came from Rawalpindi to Delhi after violence broke out there. His father, grandfather and other close relatives were not ready to live in Pakistan. Islam, who teaches in the Capital’s Satyawati College, says that no member of his family has ever regretted their decision to live in Gandhi’s India.

Shah Rukh Khan has said several times that his father was a Congress activist and was totally opposed to the idea of Partition of the country on the basis of religion. He came to Delhi along with his family members. A lawyer, Taj died of cancer in 1981.

It is rather surprising that the reverse migration, albeit small, but very significant, hardly get any attention from historians. Unlike the general perception that only Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India in the wake of partition of the country in 1947, many Muslims families too decided to shift to India rather than staying in an Islamic country. It is not known whether Hindus or Sikhs too migrated to Pakistan then, but it is a fact that large number of Hindus remained there, especially in Sindh and East Bengal (now Bangladesh).

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Vivek Shukla / August 14th, 2015

Four Kick-Boxers from city to represent India at the World Kick-Boxing Championships in Bangkok : Mysurean selected as Indian Team Coach

August 17, 2015Sports, World Opinionmpositiveone@gmail.com

Seen in the picture are (from left) Tanveer Ahmed Syed, R. Rashi, G. Rajesh, Deputy Mayor M. Mahadevamma, former Mayor and Corporator Purushotham, Samarth Vikram, Indian Team Coach M.N. Vikram and Syed Touseef Ahmed.

Mysuru :

Four Muay Thai Kick Boxers from city will be representing the country at the Royal Muay Thai Kick-boxing World Championships, organised by the International Federation of Muay Thai Amateur (IFMA) to be held in Bangkok, Thailand between Aug. 13 and 23.

Vikram is selected as the coach of the Indian National Team for the second time.

The four fighters who have been selected in various categories include: Samarth Vikram, a sixth standard student of JSS Public School, will be fighting in 40-42 kg weight class in 12 to13 years category. R. Rashi, a student of St. Joseph’s College, Mysuru, will be fighting in Senior Female Pin weight category. Syed Touseef Ahmed, a student of SJCE will be fighting in Senior Male Welter Weight category and G. Rajesh, a student of Cauvery College, Mysuru, will be fighting in Senior Male Pin Weight category.

Syed Tanveer Ahmed is deputed for International Referee and Judge course by the National body.

The team along with the coach left for Bangkok today.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / Tuesday – August 11th, 2015

Telegana Oppn leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir felicitated in Chicago

August 17, 2015Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, NRI's / PIO's, World Opinionmpositiveone@gmail.com

Mohammed Ali Shabbir, opposition leader, Telangana State Legislative Party(India) at a reception organized by American Telugu Association (ATA) and Telangana Association of North America (TANA) in Chicago, USA.

Chicago :

American Telugu Association and Telangana Association of North America, headed by its President Iftekhar Shareef, organized a reception dinner in honor of Mohammed Ali Shabbir, MLC, and Opposition leader of Telangana state legislative council at North Shore Banquets, Chicago.

Shabbir said that the extension of the benefit of 4% reservations, during his tenure as cabinet minister, enabled minority students to make their mark in education and employment. “Success in reservation for minorities, despite multiple legal hurdles and strong opposition from some sections of society, was a milestone,” said Shabbir.

Shabbir said nearly two million Telugu diaspora in the USA have been immensely contributing to the growth of both American and Indian economies and thereby making Telugu people proud. He also encouraged them to invest their savings in their home states. “However, considering the heavy incidence of backwardness in the rural areas of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the NRIs, with flair for social service, may use their resources in finding enduring solutions to these problems,” said Shabbir.

“Iftekhar Sharief, who was the first recipient of dual citizenship, continues to be a role model for all NRIs,” said Shabbir and thanked ATA and NATA for arranging the reception.

Iftekhar Shareef, trustee and events chair of the Federation of Indian Association, Chicago, said that the political career of Shabbir reflects the true secular credentials of the Indian voter. “Even though the non-Muslim voters constitute a staggering 92% in his constituency, Shabbir won the elections with thumping majority,” he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> NRI> US & Canada News / August 13th, 2015

Azim Premji, Shiv Nadar among world’s tech billionaires

August 17, 2015Business & Economy, Leaders, Science & Technology, World Opinionmpositiveone@gmail.com

Wipro founder Azim Premji makes it to the tech billionaire's list — Wipro founder Azim Premji makes it to the tech billionaire’s list

Washington :

Two Indian tech tycoons,Wipro chairman AzimPremji and HCL co-founder Shiv Nadar are in the Forbes’ first-ever list of the 100 richest people in the technology field, dominated by Americans with Microsoft founder Bill Gates at the top.

Two Indian-Americans tech czars, Romesh Wadhwani, CEO and chairman of Symphony Technology Group, and Bharat Desai, co-founder of IT consulting and outsourcing company Syntel also figure on the list released last week.

Premji, 70, with a net worth of $17.4 billion is ranked 13th on the list followed by Shiv Nadar, 70, in the 14th spot with $14.4 billion.

Wadhwani, 67, is ranked 73rd with a net worth of $2.8 billion while Desai, 62, with $2.5 billion is in the 82nd spot.

Premji’s Wipro, India’s third-largest outsourcer, reported a 10 percent rise in revenues to $1.9 billion in the last quarter, on the back of new business from clients such as ABB and Philip Morris, the magazine noted.

Nadar, Forbes noted, has diversified into healthcare with HCL Avitas, a new firm in partnership with John Hopkins Medicine International, which has opened 10 clinics in Delhi.

Wadhwani has a degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology and a PhD from Carnegie Mellon. His Symphony Technology Group is a collection of 20 companies spanning big data, analytics and software.

Syntel, co-founded by Desai and his wife Neerja Sethi, now generates over $900 million in revenue, has a market cap of over $3 billion and more than 24,500 employees across the globe.

While 51 American billionaires are on the list, tech barons from Asia made a strong showing as well, with 33 people hailing from that region. Forty of the 100 live in California.

Bill Gates, who’s also the world’s richest man, ranks number one among tech tycoons, with a net worth of $79.6 billion.

Number two on the list is Larry Ellison, founder of database software firm Oracle, with a net worth estimated at $50 billion.

The third richest on the list is Jeff Bezos with a net worth of $47.8 billion followed by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in the fourth place with $41.2 billion.

Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin are ranked fifth and sixth respectively.

Altogether, the world’s 100 richest tech billionaires are worth $842.9 billion.

Just seven women made the list, the wealthiest of whom is Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Steve Jobs, with an estimated net worth of $21.4 billion.

Nearly all of the 100 are self-made billionaires: 94 made their own luck, 3 inherited their fortunes, and 3 have inherited fortunes but have been actively expanding them.

source : http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> NRI> US & Canada News / IANS / August 13th, 2015

Indians must live up to ideals of Constitution, says Delhi Lt Guv Najeeb Jung

August 17, 2015Leadersmpositiveone@gmail.com

He also exhorted the people to set an example of good citizenship and emphasised the need for treating everybody with respect and dignity irrespective of caste, class, gender, religion or region.

In what can be seen as a message to the ruling AAP, which has often termed his orders “unconstitutional” in the bitter ongoing tussle between the two, Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung today stressed on the need for citizens to live up to the ideals of the Constitution.

“We must live up to the ideals of our supreme document, the Constitution of India,” Jung said in his message on the eve of Independence Day.

The Delhi LG urged people to remember and pay homage to the many who through their sacrifice “delivered this much cherished independence to us”.

“Independence Day must mark an occasion for us to renew our pledge to serve our nation with greater sincerity, commitment and truth in all walks of life,” a L-G House statement said.

He also exhorted the people to set an example of good citizenship and emphasised the need for treating everybody with respect and dignity irrespective of caste, class, gender, religion or region.

source: http://www.dnaindia.com / DNA / Home> News> India / Place: New Delhi / Agency: PTI / Friday – August 14th, 2015

Panchala Museum plans gallery for freedom fighters

August 14, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, Travel & Tourismmpositiveone@gmail.com

Bareilly :

With the 69th Independence Day less than a week away, authorities at Panchala Museum are planning to set up a gallery dedicated to the lives of freedom fighters from the Rohilkhand region.

Officials have started collecting pictures, letters and other memorabilia belonging to those who were a part of the freedom struggle.

Abhay Singh, a professor at MJP and the project coordinator, said, “We are requesting families of these bravehearts to provide photographs and texts related to their lives. We are working on a strategy to gather as many belongings of the freedom fighters as we can and we also plan to appeal to the public through newspapers in this connection.”

“Residents aren’t aware of the kind sacrifices freedom fighters from this region made. With the gallery we plan to highlight their glories in our museum. For instance, FR Rahman alias Chunna Miyan who was known as Gandhi of Bareilly worked for creating communal harmony in the city,” Singh added.

However, setting up of the gallery is subject to the availability of required material.

Shyam Bihari Lal, head of the department of ancient history and culture, said, “The gallery will be set up in the museum only after we receive enough material to put things up on display.”

Many people from the Rohilkhand region, including Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Pilibhit, Rampur, Badaun, Moradabad, Bijnor and Sambhal played an active role in the freedom struggle.

Bareilly was the headquarter of the Rohilkhand region during the revolt of 1857. In fact, on May 31 that year, freedom fighters killed several British officials including the principal of Bareilly College.

The museum is located on the MJP Rohilkhand University campus. Till now, it was only accessible to varsity students but it will be opened to public from this month.

“There will be no entry fee for outsiders but there will be timings for public visits,” said Singh. He added the final touches are being given to the renovation and beautification work at the museum.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India/ News Home> City> Bareilly / by Priyangi Agarwal, TNN / August 10th, 2015