Ankesh Shahra receives CSR Award for Community Development
February 22, 2013 § Leave a comment
Mumbai, February 20, 2013: Ruchi Soya Industries Limited (Ruchi Soya) has been felicitated with the CSR Award for Community Development during the World CSR Congress. Mr. Ankesh Shahra who manages the international businesses of Ruchi Soya and participates in the CSR activities of the Company was honoured with the felicitation at a glittering event in Mumbai. Dr. Christoph Stueckelberger, Executive Director and Founder of Globethics and Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee, Director General & CEO, Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs handed over the trophy and citation to Mr. Ankesh Shahra.
Commenting on the occasion, Mr.Ankesh Shahra stated, “I am very for honouring Ruchi Soya with the award for Community Development. Ruchi believes in sharing its growth with every stakeholder and giving back to the society in a sustainable and transparent manner. A big congratulations to the team.”
An Integrated player from farm to fork, Ruchi Soya has secured access to oil palm plantations in India and other important parts of the world. Besides being a leading manufacturer of high quality edible oils, soya foods, vanaspati, and bakery fats, Ruchi Soya is also the highest exporter of soya meal, lecithin and other food ingredients from India. Ruchi Soya is committed to renewable energy and exploring suitable opportunities in the sector.
Featuring among the top five FMCG players in India, Ruchi Soya is India’s number one cooking oil maker and marketer through popular brands like Nutrela, Ruchi Gold, Mahakosh and Sunrich. Ruchi Soya is working closely with the communities around its plants in Patalganga and Nagpur in Maharashtra. Ruchi Soya believes in the concept of ‘Giving back to the Society’. The corporate social initiatives of Ruchi Group are executed through Shri Mahadeo Shahra Sukrat Trust with the focus on three core areas of Health, Education and Women Empowerment.
CBI probe against Noida top brass
February 22, 2013 § Leave a comment
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a preliminary inquiry against the former CEO and present chairman of Noida. The move came after Allahabad High Court asked the CBI to investigate appointments of CEO Sanjeev Saran and chairman Rakesh Bahadur and their alleged involvement in allotment of land by the Noida authority.
While the UP government transferred Saran from the post of CEO after the High Court order, Bahadur is still the chairman of Noida authority.
After registering the preliminary inquiry, the CBI asked the Noida authority to provide files relating to land allotments made during the tenure of Bahadur and Saran. The agency also told the UP government that for a fair probe into the case, Bahadur should be transferred.
Sources said that the agency will bring the matter to the notice of the court if Bahadur continues to be the chairman. The High Court had already asked the UP government to transfer Saran and Bahadur and directed the CBI to initiate a probe. The agency plans to question the two officials on the decisions taken by them.
The officials were initially posted as CEO and chairman during the earlier stint of the Samajwadi Party in power. When the BSP came to power, the two officials were suspended. They were re-appointed to the posts when the SP was voted back to power in 2012.
The court said they must be transferred “away from Western Uttar Pradesh” as their presence in the region could “affect the enquiry against them”.
Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/cbi-probe-against-noida-top-brass/1077890/
Two more die of swine flu, season count rises to 11
February 20, 2013 § Leave a comment
Two patients succumbed to H1N1 virus-related complications on Tuesday, taking the swine flu toll to 11 patients since January 1. Also, the tally of diagnosed patients crossed the 500 mark.
A 45-year-old woman at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and a 36-year-old patient at Apollo Hospital in Sarita Vihar succumbed to the illness, reportedly from respiratory complications. Both patients were admitted in the ICU and were on ventilator support. An official said the respiratory problems led to compromised lung function.
“The swine flu virus is known to cause respiratory distress if diagnosed late or in patients suffering from other problems like asthma, diabetes or cardiovascular problems. Once it affects the lungs, patients are unable to breathe on their own,” he said.
Another 53 patients tested positive for the H1N1 virus on Tuesday, after sporadic rainfall over the weekend. A total of 510 patients been diagnosed with the virus since January 1. Compared to this, in 2011 and 2012, 22 and 78 patients, respectively, had tested positive for the virus in the entire year.
Health department officials said the intermittent rainfall over the past two months had led to the rise in swine flu cases.
With more rainfall expected over the coming weekend, officials said the conditions are still conducive for the spread of the virus. “High humidity levels and low temperatures create an environment where the virus can grow and spread. People should wash their hands properly and frequently, and carry a handkerchief as a precautionary measure,” Health minister Dr A K Walia said.
The Health department said there is no need for vaccination against the virus, barring the high-risk people.
Source:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/two-more-die-of-swine-flu-season-count-rises-to-11/1076664/0
60 test positive for swine flu, total crosses the 400-mark
February 18, 2013 § Leave a comment
Another 60 patients tested positive for swine flu on Sunday, taking the total number of diagnosed patients this year to 420.
Health department officials said the continuing cold weather and the intermittent rainfall are responsible for the surge in cases this year. “We had a few days of relief over the past two weeks, but the rainfall on Friday and Saturday brought down the temperatures again. Humidity levels are still high,” an official said.
These conditions, according to experts, are conducive to the growth and spread of the H1N1 virus, which causes swine flu. When the temperatures go up, doctors hope the H1N1 cases are come down.
With the number of diagnosed patients crossing the 400 mark, and nine confirmed deaths reported since January 1, Health Minister Dr A K Walia has held two meetings to review the swine flu management system in Delhi government hospitals. Doctors and scientists from the Central government and National Centre for Disease Control have attended these meetings.
Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/60-test-positive-for-swine-flu-total-crosses-the-400mark/1075747/
Light showers, cloudy sky likely today
February 18, 2013 § Leave a comment
The capital saw about 20 mm of rain in the weekend, but the worst of the storm is over and the weatherman predicted that Monday’s weather will be similar to that of Sunday.
Light showers and partly cloudy sky are expected on Monday, along with light wind, Met officials said. On Sunday, 2.1 mm of rainfall was recorded in the capital. The maximum temperature was 19.5 degree Celsius, five degree below normal, but three degree above Saturday’s maximum.
About 18.6 mm of rainfall was recorded between Friday night and Saturday, when the storm hit the city. The storm was caused by cool air masses from the north colliding with warm air masses from the east, the same formations that caused the record-breaking storm earlier this month, when over 50 mm rainfall was recorded in the capital.
The lowest temperature recorded on Sunday was 12 degree Celsius, a degree above normal, but two degree less than that on Saturday. On Monday, the maximum temperature is expected to be 21 degree Celsius and the minimum will be 10 degree Celsius.
Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/light-showers-cloudy-sky-likely-today/1075746/
Grades instead of divisions, no failing: DU’s plan for 4-yr courses
February 14, 2013 § Leave a comment
Students of the four-year undergraduate programme in Delhi University might see an overhaul of the evaluation system with a grading system replacing the existing division system.
While the task force on redefining education, constituted for the four-year undergraduate programme, is still deliberating on the evaluation method, there is growing support for introducing a grading system.
However, for the proposals of the task force to come into force, it will need the approval of the DU statutory bodies.
Under the existing system of evaluation, a student’s score is division-based — depending on the percentage of marks.
“The grading system will have an in-built conversion mechanism. The idea is to reduce this jostling for marks and the unhealthy competitive environment it creates,” a senior DU official said.
The DU administration is also considering if it can to do away with “failing” students in four year undergraduate programmes.
But, if a student wants to take the exit option after two or three years, their aggregate score should meet a minimum pass aggregate.
The criteria for allotting subjects as minor discipline will be decided by colleges based on the performance of the student in the first two semesters, the official said.
Under the four-year programme, apart from the major discipline in which the student is admitted, he/she can can opt a minor discipline, which will not be restricted to a particular stream.
This means that a student who has taken admission in History (Honours), can opt for a science or commerce subject as a minor discipline.
A re-examination of the internal assessment system has also been called for.
According to the existing internal assessment system, five marks are given to attendance while the remaining are allotted to class tests and assignments. In the four-year system, marks will not be given for attendance, although a minimum attendance criteria for appearing for examination will be in place.
“Twenty marks will be allotted to presentations and five to class participation,” the official said. According to the proposed structure, students will have to study 11 “foundation course” over a duration of four semesters.
These will include two papers in languages — English, Hindi and other modern Indian languages. With the emphasis on inter- and trans-disciplinarity, the university will also offer foundation papers in science, history, environment and public health, psychology, IT, business and entrepreneurship, governance and citizenship, geography and social development as well as mathematics.
Four application-based papers, including English and Hindi, will also be designed and will be taught from the second semester.
Even though marks will not be given to students for sports and other extra-curricular activities, some degree of relaxation in attendance might be offered.
Fourth H1N1 victim in city: 15-yr-old dies at Ganga Ram
February 13, 2013 § Leave a comment
Another suspected swine flu-related death reported from RML, Walia calls meeting.
A 15-year-old girl who was diagnosed with swine flu died on Monday, taking the death toll due to the H1N1 virus to four in the national capital. This is the fourth confirmed death due to the virus since January 1. Another death, reported from Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital on Tuesday, is also suspected to be caused due to complications arising from H1N1.
The girl, who is the first minor to succumb to the illness this season, was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on February 3. Hospital authorities said the girl died of acute respiratory distress syndrome — a severe respiratory disorder commonly associated with the virus. The girl was on ventilator support and doctors said they had tried to contain her symptoms for over a week.
The Delhi government said the situation is being monitored closely and virologists had identified three strains of seasonal flu including H1N1, H3N2 and Influenza B. The Union Health ministry, meanwhile, said there is no pressing need for vaccinations. Delhi Health Minister Dr A K Walia said virologists had identified the specific strains of the disease in the capital and confirmed that H1N1 was the most prevalent.
“Laboratory analysis found three strains of the seasonal flu, of which H1N1 or swine flu was the most common, but two other strains of common virals were also present,” Walia said. To take stock of the situation, Walia chaired a high-level meeting of medical superintendents of all government and private hospitals. The meeting was also attended by officials from National Center for Disease Control and Dr P Ravindran, Director of Emergency Medical Relief (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare).
“The government is monitoring the situation closely, including preparedness, availability of beds and medicine in isolation wards, ICUs and diagnostic facilities. We have identified 17 government and five private hospitals for treatment and three government and five private diagnostic laboratories to manage cases,” Walia said.
Ravindran said there was no need for vaccinations against H1N1 at present. “No prophylactic treatment is required in most of the cases in the existing situation. Only high-risk cases, such as people above 65 years of age with multiple diseases, need prophylactic treatment,” he said.
He added that even hospitalisation was unnecessary for patients exhibiting symptoms of influenza, but that such patients need to be watched closely and require regular follow-ups. Meanwhile, Sanjeev Choubey (42), who was admitted at RML Hospital on February 9, died on Tuesday due to what officials suspect could be H1N1-related complications. Choubey, a resident of Khoda Colony, was referred to RML by a private hospital in Noida. He was kept in an isolation ward with eight other patients.
According to the Health department, 33 new cases of H1N1 were reported on Tuesday, taking the total to 154 since January 1 this year. Officials hope that with the rise in temperature and lowering of humidity, the number of cases in Delhi would decline.
Source:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/fourth-h1n1-victim-in-city-15yrold-dies-at-ganga-ram/1073293/0
SC slams Delhi for dip in sex ratio
February 13, 2013 § Leave a comment
No conviction in sex determination cases, mechanism ineffective: Bench
The Supreme Court on Tuesday criticised the declining female child ratio in the Capital when it said that the Delhi government mechanism to punish violators of pre-natal sex determination laws did not appear to be effective.
A bench of Justices K S Radhakrishnan and Dipak Misra also took strong exception to the fact that there was not a single conviction under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act in Delhi though the government claimed to have registered cases of violations.
“Your own statistics show that there has been a constant decline in the sex ratio in the last three years, up to 2011. Why is it so? Moreover, cases that you initiated against the violators have been pending in courts for years now and there is not even a single conviction. It does not seem that you are pursuing these cases in courts, so that they are brought to logical conclusion and there is a deterrence effect,” the bench said.
The court wondered if the government was taking “any interest” in proper prosecution or if it thought that filing cases was enough. “You have not convicted anybody. We don’t think you have an effective mechanism. Your job is not over only after you file cases. There are 47 court cases pending,” the bench said.
The apex court said it will have to pass directions to the principal sessions judges of Delhi courts to ensure that all cases under the PNDT Act are concluded within a particular time frame. It also said government must upload all information about the hospitals and doctors found guilty under the charges.
During the proceedings, the bench favoured an active campaign on the issue of female foeticide: “Why is there gender inequality? You must hold awareness campaigns to tell people that they should love a girl child like they love a male child. The Act must also be implemented in letter and spirit.”
In its affidavit, the government’s health secretary, who was personally present on the court’s order, conceded that the child sex ratio 0-6 years (CSR) had shown a decline from 868 in 2001 to 866 in census 2011 and that it was on the decline in the last three years too. The national CSR is 920 female per 1000 male child.
“It is submitted that the government is even monitoring birth data of 50 major hospitals every month to look for significant deviations. Such deviations are also being monitored through surveillance on such hospitals by the district appropriate authorities,” the affidavit stated.
It was also said that the Social Welfare department was implementing the Ladli scheme to encourage birth of the girl child through facilitating and empowering families with financial support.
The bench remained unimpressed with the argument and said it will pass a formal order on receiving suggestions from additional solicitor general H P Raval and amicus curiae Colin Gonsalves in the matter.
Source:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/sc-slams-delhi-for-dip-in-sex-ratio/1073288/0
On Valentine’s Day, Delhi has a date with rain
February 12, 2013 § Leave a comment
This Valentine’s Day another spell of rain and thundershower are expected to drench Delhi. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said this round of rainfall could be heavier than the previous that broke the 70-year record for the month of February.
Officials said another set of cold and wet air mass is moving towards Delhi, and is expected to bring moderate snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand. The IMD predicted that the storm will be at its peak on Friday and Saturday nights, with chances of hail and thunder squalls.
Last week, similar air masses brought 46 mm rainfall in 24 hours in Delhi.
Officials said rainfall is also expected in Punjab, Haryana, north Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. After the storm, officials predict the mercury will drop on February 18 for a couple of days and fog will roll in.
Tuesday, however, is expected to be clear after some mist and fog in the morning. The temperatures are expected to stay between 24 and 9 degrees Celsius.
Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/on-valentines-day-delhi-has-a-date-with-rain/1072782/
Swine flu cases cross 100-mark, Health dept calls review meeting
February 12, 2013 § Leave a comment
The Health department has called a meeting to review the measures in place to counter the steadily increasing cases of swine flu. The meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday.
Health Minister Dr A K Walia said epidemiologists from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), representatives of laboratories authorised to conduct the tests and nodal officers designated for swine flu from hospitals will attend the meeting.
On Monday, number of H1N1 cases in city crossed the 100 mark.
Sources confirmed that the Health department was considering purchasing preventive vaccines for high-risk patients and starting prophylactic treatment for doctors and nurses managing swine flu patients. A final decision on this will be taken in the meeting.
“This year, so far, we have not purchased any new vaccines for H1N1 or authorised prophylactic treatment of our hospital staff. In 2009 and 2010, we had to take both of the preventive measures. Now that the cases are rising this year, we are considering repeating these efforts,” an official from the Health department said.
Pregnant women, children, the elderly and those diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases and diabetes are considered to be in the high-risk category, doctors said. People with a history of respiratory diseases are also understood to be at risk of the viral disease.
Dr Walia said: “We have called scientists from NCDC to dwell on the epidemiological reasons for the continued presence of the virus and how long it is expected to last. We will take a final call on purchasing vaccines and review the treatment facilities.”
Last week, the government had issued an advisory to hospitals, instructing them to open their isolation wards and ensure availability of adequate ventilators. The dedicated isolation wards and special ICU facilities had been closed, considering the lull in cases over the past two years.
Twenty-seven new H1N1 cases were reported on Monday — nine from Safdarjung Hospital — taking the total tally of diagnosed cases to 121, since January 1. In 2011 and 2012, only four swine flu cases each had been confirmed over January and February.
The Delhi government has confirmed three deaths from the virus, though individual hospitals have reported more suspected deaths.
Seventeen government and five private hospitals have been designated to provide treatment for swine flu. Eight labs — five private and three government hospitals — have been authorised to perform the diagnostic tests for samples.
The government labs are at AIIMS, NCDC and Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute.
Metro cities news 