David Zohmangaiha become first Mizo to scale Mt Everest

Aizawl, May 20, 2013 [The Mizoram Post] --- David Zohmangaiha (38) s/o K Zokhuma (L) has turned out to be the first Mizo to scale the highest mountain in the world, Mt Everest. He, along with team members, set foot on the mountain peak at 5:30 AM on May 18. Along with David Zohmangaiha, other 7 persons from North East also scaled the world's highest mountain. Vanlalliana, Maubawk, Head Adventure of Sports & Youth Services deptt, was also in the expedition team as Base Camp Manager. Meanwhile, 3 persons of the team could not reach the mountain peak due to physical problem.  The team of 1st North East India Mt Everest Expedition, which included 2 Mizo, consists of 16 members, of which 11 climbed the mountain. According to the Expedition team base camp manager Vanlalliana, 3 members from the team scaled the mountain in the morning of May 17. Then at night on May 17 itself, another 5 climbed up towards the peak, and reached it on May 18 morning. On talking to ZALEN daily, family of David exclaimed, "We are very happy and we are also very proud of him". "In the beginning we were almost disheartened as lakhs of rupees was required, and adding to that it was also a bit difficult to get sponsored as no Mizo has yet scaled the Mt Everest before. So, while we are almost losing heart, he but turned out successful which is really a matter of joy for us", the exuberant family of David added. The expedition team, who set out to scale the Mt Everest on April 5, 2013, reached the Camp IV, the base stage before reaching the peak which is of 7920 metre (feet 26,000) high on the night of May 16 around 10 AM from when they proceeded upward to reach the peak measuring 8848 metre (feet 29,029). They had to stop for some time when they reached 'South Col' which is near Camp IV, as speedy wind of 60 kilometre per hour blew along and also because of the snow fall. Also, even after 3 of the team members reached the peak, the other members had to stop at 'South Col' due to lack of oxygen and foods, and also because night was favourable time to climb the mountain. They started again on Friday night, and the other 5 climbers reached the peak in the morning of May 18. The expedition conducted under the aegis of Manipur Mountaineeing & Trekking Association and Manipur was sponsored by North Eastern Council. Sources also informed that Vanlalliana's contribution for the success of the expedition is immense, citing that after when the Team doctor faced physical problem, he even helped in taking care of the members' physical condition. In order to scale Mt Everest it is required to secure Grade 'A' in each of Adventure Course, Basic Mountaineering, Advance Mountaineering and Search & Rescue. After these, it is necessary to scale at least one Minor and Major Peak, of a height ft. 20,000 and ft. 22,000 respectively. Even after fulfilling all these requirements, it is further required to undergo successful Pre-Expedition for Major Peak. In terms of logistics too, Advance Booking and a total amount required by one person is Rs 18 lakh per individual. The team members from Mizoram were sponsored by Sports & Youth Services department besides DRDA Project Director, Rotluanga and D3 Business Enterprise, Ramhlun North. Starting on April 5, 2013 from New Base Camp, 8 of the expedition team members scaled the mountain peak during May 17-18. They will leave New Base Camp on May 22 and proceed to New Delhi. David Zohmangaiha, the first ffrom Mizoram to set foot on the peak of the Mt Everest, is the present leader of Silver Hawk Adventure Club, Republic Veng, Aizawl. His club Silver Hawk Adventure Club had during 2006-2010 reached out all the Mizoram boundaries. Record has it that one Mizo Dr Capt Samuel Lalrintluanga (Indian Army), employed at Medical Office of Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkasi, Uttaranchal State had earlier participated as Team Leader of Mt Everest Joint Expedition under the aegis of Nehru Institute of Mountainering and Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF).  The team had scaled the Mt Everst on May 21, 2009 at 6 AM. Although Samuel Lalrintluanga was the first Mizo to participate in the team of expedition to scale Mt Everest, but due to certain problems, he failed to book his name among the team members who reached the mountain peak. Also in 1995, Mizoram Alpine Club had climbed Mt Abigabin (24,639 ft) on behalf of Mizoram Adventure Association (MAA), but after being qualified for expedition to scale Mt Everest, they could not do so due to financial problem. But then, as they were already qualified earlier, they opened up the way for Adventure Club which is under MAA. It may be recalled that Sir Edmund Hillary, Auckland, New Zealand and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, Nepal were the first to scale Mt Everest, the highest mountain in the world.

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Manipur Board Exam 2013 Results to be announced shortly

The Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BSEM) will announce the result of Class X Exam 2013 Result on 20/05/2013, the Manipur Result portal manresult.nic.in put up a notice on its website. Similarly, the Sr.Secondary Exam 2013 (COHSEM) will be announce on 22/05/2013.

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Munirka residents waited 620 Bus for over an hour

Buses for Munirka to Connaught Place is almost invisible today New Delhi, May 18, 2013 [Media Incharge, NE HELPLINE] --- To catch a bus for Connaught Place, one must think twice now. I have waited Bus No. 620 from Munirka bus stand today intending to reach my office in Connaught Place, at around 12.40 pm. However 620 did not come for more than an hour. There were many people beside me, who are also eagerly waiting for 620. Young children, women and men have been sweating under the scorching sun in the bus shed for so long. Especially the Munirka residents who are waiting the much awaited 620 buses faced the brunt of the negligence of DTC officials. Some says these buses were hardly found like this in the recent past. Many buses which have 764 numbered arrived repeatedly one after another in non-stop. When the 620 buses became invisible to our eyes for so long, I began to record the frequency of buses which appeared before our eyes here in Munirka bus stand, as given below. Timing                       Bus Route No. 1.16 pm                      Two buses arrived at the same time - 680 and 507 1.17 pm                      511A 1.19 pm                      764 1.20 pm                      507 1.22 pm                      764 1.23 pm                      764 1.26 pm                      507 (followed by DTC AC Bus which has no route no. It was empty!) 1.27 pm                      Four buses arrived at the same time - 764, 448A, 511 and 764 1.29 pm                      448A 1.31 pm                      Two buses arrived at the same time - One AC (Red) bus which has no Route No. The last 4-digit No.  is 7852. It was followed by 764 Last 4-digit No. 6393. 1.32 pm                      448A (AC) Last 4-digit No. 8723 1.34 pm                      OMS RK Puram-1 Last 4-digit No. 7781 1.35 pm                      Four buses arrived at the same time – (1) 511 (AC) Last 4-digit No.  9392, (2) 615 (Green) Last 4-digit No. 8569, (3) 615 (Green) Last 4-digit No. 8193 and (4) 764 (AC) Last 4-digit No. 7144. 1.37 pm                      764 (Green) Last 4-digit No. 7720 1.38 pm                      Two buses arrived at the same time - (1) 511A (Green) Last 4-digit No. 7607 and (2) 764 (AC) Last 4-digit No. 8733. 1.40 pm                      Two buses arrived at the same time - (1) 615 (AC) Last 4-digit No. 7728 and (2) Outer Mudrika (OMS) Last 4-digit 7232 1.41 pm                      511 (AC) Last 4-digit No. 9453 1.42 pm                      511A (AC) Last 4-digit No. 9502 1.45 pm                      511A (AC) Last 4-digit No. 7105 1.47 pm                      507 (AC) Last 4-digit No. 8952 1.48 pm                     Two buses arrived at the same time - 620 (AC) DL-1P-C8969 immediately followed by 620 (Non AC) DL-1P-C8593, which I boarded (8593) with a 15-Rupees Ticket No. 64529. This was the luckiest time for those who are waiting 620! Imagine, after a long wait, two 620 Buses – one AC (Red) and the other non AC (Green) arrived together in which the AC was followed by the non AC, with a gap of about 3-4 feets only. Why was so at the same time? Why not in a different interval? These need a prompt response from the concern authority? The total waiting time taken in waiting 620 Buses was definitely 1 hour and 8 minutes (98 mins) as I have waited the bus at 12.40 pm which and last till 1.48 pm. The record began at 1.16 pm. Before the record began, around 8 to 10 buses appeared, none of them is 620. From the above recordings, it is crystal clear that 764 Buses have the highest frequency while 620 have the less, twice at the same time! The less frequency of 620 buses created a big problem to the daily commuters who are residing in Munirka as well as others in south Delhi areas. Why was DTC Bus 620 so less today between 12.40 pm to 1.48 pm? There is something wrong from the DTC officials or DTC drivers.  The concern authority must take immediate action to remove the hurdles meted by the daily commuters.

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Zous held Indo-Myanmar seminar on Language

Our Correspondent MOREH, MAY 17, 2013--- A two-day seminar on Zou Language, Literature, Culture & Custom was held at Broder Trade Centre Hall in Moreh. The seminar was a joint collaboration of United Zo Organisation (USA), Zou Literature Society, Manipur (India) and UZO, Moreh Block. Chairman of ADC Chandel district M. Lhukhosei Zou inaugurated the seminar on May 15 which was concluded on May 16. Forty five Zou delegates from India and 26 from Myanmar participated in the seminar. The resource persons comprised of a retired senior surgeon Dr. M. Lachinkhai, Chairman ZLS, Rev. Fr. Mark Thangkhanai Vice-Chairman ZLS and Co-ordinator of Radio Veritas Asia (Zomi-Chin Service), Aloysius T. Nehkhojang, Secy ZLS, advocate Chinlunthang, Gen Secy, UZO and Suankhanmang, Adviser, UZO.  From the Myanmar side, Tamu Parish priest Rev. Fr. Andrew Cin Go Lian, Kalaymyo KZBC pastor Rev. Go Cin Lang, Zou Synod (PCM) Yangoon pastor Rev. Ai Lien Mang and Kalaymyo ZBA Mission Director Rev. Thang Khan Khai has also presented seminar papers. "The Zou people in Myanmar and abroad used it as 'ZO' while their brethrens in India used 'ZOU' since longtime ago.  Now the importance of having common literature and uniformity of its usages is felt among the Zous in India and Myanmar", said a well-known Zou writer and a participant, Syanlyan Tungnung, while speaking to our correspondent over telephone today. He added that a declaration on consistent uniformity in Zou Language, Literature, Custom and Culture has been made on the concluding day. In Manipur, Zou is one of the recognized tribes. According to the Zou people, the word 'Zou' or 'Zo' is believed to be the progenitor of today's Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi tribes which are predominantly found in Northeast India – Manipur, Mizoram, Assam and Tripura (Jampui hill ranges), Chittangong Hills Tract (Bangladesh) and Chin Hills (Myanmar). The year 2001 was a remarkable year for the Zou community, Zou MIL for Class IX was recognised by BSEM for the first time. The Zou MIL for Class X to XII has been introduced in 2002, 2006 and 2007 respectively.   Source:  The Mizoram Post, Aizawl, Saturday 18th May, 2013, Pg. 3 [www.themizorampost.net] ~ Joint Editor, ZOGAM TODAY ZOGAL Links ZOUGAL (1917-1919): Dr David Vumlallian Zou The Unforgettable Warriors: Zou Resistance Against the British Zou Gal Day 2011: A Historic First Observed in Delhi and Manipur THE LAST TEARS OF ZOUGAAL ~ Hausienmuan Munluo Zous celebrate Zogal Day in Manipur ZOU GAL DAY: LAMKA & DELHI Delhi leh Lamka khopi ah Zou Gal Day thupitah in kizang Zogal Memorial Shield 2015: Football Final ZOGAL DAY OBSERVANCE-cum-KIHANTOHNA 2025 Invitation to Zou Gal Day Observation at Delhi and Lamka Khopi Zou Raid Threats 1918 Letters: Chief Luanvunga’s Plea | British Records Zogal kaap te'n Mizo khuo Chingbung leh Loannbung luh sawmna thu | British Records The Zou as a Minority Community Zou Gaal song composer Pu Mangzathang passes away Zou Gal (1917-19) leh Chivu: Dr S Thangboi Zou ZOUGAL TANCHIN TOMKIM: DR S THANGBOI ZOU ZOGAL TIMELINE **************

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UPSC Civil Services Exam 2012 a eimi lohchingte Final marks

UPSC Civil Services Exam 2012 a eimi (Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi) lohchingte mark muhjah UPSC aspirant te ading khualna in taklat ahi. Hih marks te ahihleh UPSC site apat lakkhiak ahi a, kuamah mimal selphouna leh demna ahikei a, hih exam lunglutna neite challenge theihna ahihkhak leh chih tupna ziak a taklat ahizaw hi. Mi tangpi hisap dan a mark tampi muh ngai ding chih ahihman in, tuabang ngaihdan abeitheih khak leh chih deihna toh eimite hih services a tamjaw lut ding deihna toh hibang hong ki taklang jaw hi. Kuahiam in zadah, theisiamlou I omleh Contact us page apat hong zasak mai ta un.

ROLL NO. --NAME                     WRITTEN     Interview           Total

                                                         Mark            Mark                     Mark

                                         ( OUT OF 2000 )     (OUT OF 300)        (OUT OF 2300)

                 

110551              --NEILENTHANG TELIEN---792---198---------990

317267            ---GRACE LALRINDIKI

                             PACHUAU------------------714----207--------921

011389             --ERIC C LALLAWMPUIA—681---  218--------899

219433            --LALRINPUII HRAHSEL--- -672--- 215--------887

111246            --SAMUEL S VAIPHEI-----    689--- 195---------884

041269            --K LALBIAKCHHUNGA----702----170--------872

010110            --J OEL G HAOKIP---------- 718---- 150--------868

Source: upsc.gov.in

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Northeast braces itself to face cyclone Mahasen

GUWAHATI/IMPHAL/AIZAWL--- With cyclonic storm Mahasen heading towards the Northeast, state governments of the region have swung into action to tackle any eventuality.

Besides putting the State Disaster Management Authority and the National Disaster Response Force on high alert, the Assam government on Thursday banned the plying of all kinds of boats and ferries on the Brahmaputra for three days. The governments of Manipur and Mizoram declared holidays for educational institutes on Friday.

"The Met office has informed there is low probability of Mahasen hitting Guwahati, but we are taking all required measures to meet any eventuality," an Assam government spokesperson said. The Kamrup (metro) district administration started a disaster-response toll-free number: 0361-2733052.

A Met office bulletin said under the influence of Mahasen, heavy to very heavy showers might occur at most places in southern Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura and Nagaland during the next 36 hours. A 55-65 kmph strong wind was expected over the states for the subsequent 24 hours.

"Damage is expected over south Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura and Nagaland," the bulletin said. "Damage to thatched huts. Breaking of tree branches causing minor damage to power and communication lines also expected."

The Nagaland government issued an alert on Mahasen and called upon the public to be prepared for any kind of disaster.

In Aizawl, the Mizoram government issued a circular to all heads of educational institutions to close on Thursday afternoon and on Friday in view of the impending cyclonic storm.

Vanlalzara, principal scientific officer of the science and technology department, said the squall was likely to spare Aizawl and northern parts of Mizoram. Vanlalzara told mediapersons the squall was likely to weaken on hitting Mizoram, which it would at the southern tip of the state, on Thursday night. But he said unprecedented heavy rain was likely to lash the whole state, justifying the closure of educational institutions.

The Manipur government also ordered the shutdown of all educational institutions on Friday. Manipur principal secretary (relief and disaster management) Ram Muivah sent a message to this effect to all DCs and additional DCs of the state. Muivah told the media the district administrations had been asked to take all possible measures to face the probable consequences of the cyclone.

Deployment of disaster-management personnel would also be done in all districts to tackle the situation, official sources said, while pointing out a hotline had been opened in Manipur as well.

What's in the name?

Cyclone Mahasen is a tropical cyclone that originated in the Indian Ocean. The name Mahasen was given by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the World Meteorological Organization Typhoon Committee after King Mahasen who ruled Sri Lanka from 277 to 304 AD. But Sri Lanka has objected to the use of the Sinhala king's name for a cyclone, saying King Mahasen had brought prosperity to the island and not destruction.

Source: TOI

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Contact Numbers of Delhi Police Night Duty Officers

PUBLIC NOTICE:  Delhi Night GO (for entire Delhi) Mobile No.:8750870099 You may also dial for direct accessibility with District Night GOs (ACP) between 2300 Hrs. to 0500 Hrs. in case of need. District                                  Mobile No. North District                     8750870199 North-West District         8750870299 Outer District                     8750870399 Central District                  8750870499 New Delhi District            8750870599 East District                         8750870699 North-East District           8750870799 South District                     8750870899 South-East District           8750870999 South-West District         8750871099 West District                      8750871199 Delhi Police E-mail: delpol@vsnl.com E-mail to CP, Delhi at: cp.neerajkumar@nic.in For immediate Police help call 100 To share information call 1090

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Supreme Court Guidelines against Sexual Harassment

Hishaka Guidelines against Sexual Harassment at Workplace

Guidelines and norms laid down by the Ho'nble Supreme Court in Vishaka and Others Vs. State of Rajasthan and Others (JT 1997(7) SC 384)

HAVING REGARD to the definition of 'human rights' in Section 2 (d) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993,

TAKING NOTE of the fact that the present civil and penal laws in India do not adequately provide for specific protection of women from sexual harassment in work places and that enactment of such legislation will take considerable time,

It is necessary and expedient for employers in work places as well as other responsible persons or institutions to observe certain guidelines to ensure the prevention of sexual harassment of women.

DUTY OF THE EMPLOYER OR OTHER RESPONSIBLE PERSONS IN WORK PLACES AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS

It shall be the duty of the employer or other responsible persons in work places or other institutions to prevent or deter the commission of acts of sexual harassment and to provide the procedures for the resolution, settlement or prosecution of acts, of sexual harassment by taking all steps required.

DEFINITION

For this purpose, sexual harassment includes such unwelcome sexually determined behaviour (whether directly or by implication) as:

a) Physical contact and advances;

b) A demand or request for sexual favours;

c) Sexually coloured remarks;

d) Showing pornography;

e) Any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature.

Where any of these acts is committed in circumstances where-under the victim of such conduct has a reasonable apprehension that in relation to the victim's employment or work whether she is drawing salary, or honorarium or voluntary, whether in government, public or private enterprise such conduct can be humiliating and may constitute a health and safety problem. It is discriminatory for instance when the woman has reasonable grounds to believe that her object would disadvantage her in connection with her employment or work including recruiting or promotion or when it creates a hostile work environment. Adverse consequences might be visited if the victim does not consent to the conduct in question or raises any objection thereto.

PREVENTIVE STEPS

All employers or persons in charge of work place whether in public or private sector should take appropriate steps to prevent sexual harassment. Without prejudice to the generality of this obligation they should take the following steps:

A. Express prohibition of sexual harassment as defined above at the work place should be notified, published and circulated in appropriate ways.

B. The Rules/Regulations of Government and Public Sector bodies relating to conduct and discipline should include rules/regulations prohibiting sexual harassment and provide for appropriate penalties in such rules against the offender.

C. As regards private employers, steps should be taken to include the aforesaid prohibitions in the standing orders under the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946.

D. Appropriate work conditions should be provided in respect of work, leisure, health and hygiene to further ensure that there is no hostile environment towards women at work places and no employee woman should have reasonable grounds to believe that she is disadvantaged in connection with her employment.

CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS

Where such conduct amounts to a specific offence under the Indian Penal Code or under any other law, the employer shall initiate appropriate action in accordance with law by making a complaint with the appropriate authority.

In particular, it should ensure that victims or witnesses are not victimized or discriminated against while dealing with complaints of sexual harassment. The victims of sexual harassment should have the option to seek transfer of the perpetrator or their own transfer.

DISCIPLINARY ACTION

Where such conduct amounts to misconduct in employment as defined by the relevant service rules, appropriate disciplinary action should be initiated by the employer in accordance with those rules.

COMPLAINT MECHANISM

Whether or not such conduct constitutes an offence under law or a breach of the service rules, an appropriate complaint mechanism should be created in the employer's organisation for redress of the complaint made by the victim. Such complaint mechanism should ensure time bound treatment of complaints.

COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE

The complaint mechanism, referred to above, should be adequate to provide, where necessary, a Complaints Committee, a special counsellor or other support service, including the maintenance of confidentiality.

The Complaints Committee should be headed by a woman and not less than half of its member should be women. Further, to prevent the possibility of any undue pressure or influence from senior levels, such Complaints Committee should involve a third party, either NGO or other body who is familiar with the issue of sexual harassment.

The Complaints Committee must make an annual report to the Government department concerned of the complaints and action taken by them.

The employers and person in charge will also report on the compliance with the aforesaid guidelines including on the reports of the Complaints Committee to the Government department.

WORKER'S INITIATIVE

Employees should be allowed to raise issues of sexual harassment at a workers' meeting and in other appropriate forum and it should be affirmatively discussed in Employer-Employee Meetings.

AWARENESS

Awareness of the rights of female employees in this regard should be created in particular by prominently notifying the guidelines (and appropriate legislation when enacted on the subject) in a suitable manner.

THIRD PARTY HARASSMENT

Where sexual harassment occurs as a result of an act or omission by any third party or outsider, the employer and person in charge will take all steps necessary and reasonable to assist the affected person in terms of support and preventive action.

The Central/State Governments are requested to consider adopting suitable measures including legislation to ensure that the guidelines laid down by this order are also observed by the employers in Private Sector.

These guidelines will not prejudice any rights available under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.

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Manipuri girl committed suicide at Hyderabad

Hyderabad, May 16, 2013 --- An 18 year old Manipuri girl committed suicide in her rented room yesterday evening.

The young girl who hails from Manipur's Kakching area and belongs to Lamkang tribe is staying with her sister and cousin brother at Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. It is learnt that she is working in a private firm in Hyderabad and yesterday was her week off day. According to her sister , being our week off day, we went for shopping during the day. Her cousing adds that since her childhood she was having some sort of mental problems. No suicide note has been recovered.

Doctors at Yashoda Hospital, Somajiguda declared her body brought death. An FIR has been registered at Banjara Hills Police station. Post mortem was being conducted today at Osmania Hospital, Hyderabad. Unreliable sources confirm that her death body will be flown to her hometown once the formalities are completed.

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All three Manipur State MPs lag behind none

Imphal, May 15, 2013 [e-pao.net] --- With the issue of Members of Parliament (MPs) in the country employing closest family members as their own Personal Assistants (PAs) becoming a hot topic of debate rocking the Parliament, it has been found out that all the three MPs from Manipur are not lagging behind anyone.

All the three Congress MPs from Manipur namely Thangso Baite of Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency, Dr T Meinya of Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency and nominated Rajya Sabha MP Rishang Keishing are employing their closest family members and relatives as Personal Assistants (PAs) of their own.

The PA of Thangso Baite is his own son Tongkhohao Baite; the PA of Dr T Meinya is also his own son T Helly while the PA of Rishang Keishing is his granddaughter Ringyaola Keishing.

The matter has come to light when The Indian Express flashed it as its lead story based on datas accessed under RTI Act.

According to the report carried in The Indian Express on its edition today under the headline "It's all in the family: 146 MPs employ relatives as their personal assistants"at least 146 MPs, 104 from Lok Sabha and 42 from Rajya Sabha, have appointed at least 191 relatives as their personal staff.

Under the salary and allowances rules, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats have to pay Rs 30,000 per month to those employed by MPs for secretarial assistance. This amount can be paid entirely to one PA or an MP can split the amount between more than one assistant.

Although an MP appointing a family member or a close relative as a PA does not violate any rule, experts and some senior MPs said it certainly raises questions of ethics and propriety.

Such choices also come at the cost of ignoring loyal party workers or those better qualified from among their voters and supporters, they said. The report further stated that this army of family PAs includes 60 sons, 36 wives, 27 daughters, seven brothers, seven daughters-in-law, four husbands and 10 cousins, among others.

The list also cuts across lines of parties and political ideologies. Of the 146 MPs employing close relatives as PAs, 38 are from the BJP, 36 from Congress, 15 from BSP, 12 from Samajwadi Party, eight from DMK, seven from Biju Janata Dal, six from JD (U) and the rest from other parties.

Of these, 36 MPs have appointed more than one relative as PAs while at least four have appointed three family members in their personal staff.

Some members have appointed a family member as one PA and are paying them a large portion of the Rs 30,000 monthly entitlement and a second, non-family member as a PA for the remaining, smaller amount.

For instance, S K Bwiswmuthiary (Assam), Nikhil Kumar Choudhary (Bihar), Mohammed Ali Khan (Andhra Pradesh), S Thangavelu (Tamil Nadu), Dilipbhai Pandya (Gujarat), Ali Anwar Ansari (Bihar), Munqad Ali and Brajbhushan Sharan Singh (both UP) have appointed their two sons as PAs.

Samajwadi Party MP from UP Tufani Saroj has appointed his two daughters.

C L Ruala, (Congress-Mizoram), Gorakhnath Pande (BSP-UP), Nripendra Nath Roy (AIFB-West Bengal) and Tapas Paul (TMC-West Bengal) have appointed their wife and son.

Sharifuddin Shariqe from J& K has appointed his grandson and granddaughter as PAs.

Saifuddin Soz from J&K and Rishang Keishing from Manipur have appointed their granddaughters.

BSP MP from UP Dr Baliram has appointed his two daughters and wife as PAs.

His party colleague Ramashankar Rajbhar has appointed his two daughters and one son.

BJP MP from Karnataka S Pakkirappa has appointed his son and daughter.

BJP MP from Indore Sumitra Mahajan first appointed her daughter-in-law as her PA in Parliament but when Mahajan was appointed chairman of a parliamentary committee, the same daughter-in-law was appointed PA there too.

Similarly, SP member from Allahabad, Rewati Raman Singh, has appointed his daughter as PA in Parliament and his niece as PA in his parliamentary committee secretariat.

The report further states that 251 PAs of MPs, including some from among the 191 close relatives, are paid much below the minimum wage applicable in Delhi.

The 251 comprise of 202 PAs of Lok Sabha members and 49 PAs of Rajya Sabha members, with some of them being paid Rs 2,000 per month while the minimum wage for even unskilled labourers in Delhi is more than Rs 8,000 per month.

Congress MP from Jammu, Madanlal Sharma, who has appointed his wife and son as his PAs, stresses that he has not violated any rule.

"I am sure I have not violated any rule by appointing my relatives as my PAs.

My son is a law graduate and returned from London.

I depend on him more than anybody.If such appointments are not allowed, I will not do so," he said.Parliamentary experts, however, have a different take.

"This is certainly an ethical issue and related to the conduct of the members," said Subhash Kashyap, former Secretary General of the Lok Sabha.

"This should be considered either by the ethics committees or by the presiding officers of both houses." Ironically though, at least three MPs on the 14-member Lok Sabha ethics committee namely Dara Singh Chauhan, Sumitra Mahajan and Prem Das Rai, and one MP on the 10-member Rajya Sabha ethics panel, E M S Natchiappan, are themselves on the list of MPs employing close relatives as PAs.

"Although there is no bar on appointing close relatives as personal staff, propriety demands that MPs should think and carefully consider before appointing relatives as PAs," said Lok Sabha ethics committee chairman Sis Ram Ola.

The BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad, who is on the Rajya Sabha ethics panel, said he considered this practice "inappropriate".

"There may not be any legal or ethical issue, but this is a matter of political propriety.

I consider it inappropriate. This is a larger issue in a time when politics is becoming family oriented. We will look at it whenever it comes before the ethics committee," he said.

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Assam kids spend just over 2 hours at primary school

NEW DELHI, May 16, 2013 [The Hindu] --- The duration of a class is minimum of 45 minutes in Andhra Pradesh, says an NCERT survey. Total number of working days each year is 180 in Nagaland. Students in government schools in Assam study only for two-and-a-half hours every day at the primary level compared to five-and-a-half to six-and-a-half hours in the rest of the country, an official study has shown. Similarly, the total number of working days in primary schools each year is 180 in Nagaland and Manipur and a maximum of 253 in Bihar and Jharkhand with lower than average literacy rates. But in most other States and Union Territories (UT), the working days are between 201 and 220, a study conducted by the National Council of Educational Research and Training has revealed. The figures do not change substantially at the upper primary and secondary level. The national study reviewed the implementation of the 10-year school curriculum, looking into the school system of different States and UT focussing on the structure of different school stages, agencies for curriculum construction, nomenclature of different subjects, approaches of teaching them, periods allotted, time given for annual examination, and mechanism for evaluation of curriculum. The number of weekly teaching periods is between 19 in Madhya Pradesh to 48 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Uttarakhand, Goa, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The duration of a class is minimum of 35 minutes in Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Nagaland and West Bengal and maximum of 45 minutes in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala, Delhi, Manipur, Puducherry, Tripura, Jharkhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab and Tamil Nadu. In a majority of States/UT, there is only one recess period but there are two recess periods in Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu and Sikkim. Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Daman and Diu have three recess periods, with the duration ranging from 15 minutes in Pondicherry to 80 minutes in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Research studies need to be conducted to see the effectiveness of variations in terms of number of working days, weekly periods, duration of periods, number of recess periods on learning outcomes and a research study needs to be undertaken to know the status of co-scholastic areas in actual practice, the study recommends. The nomenclature of science is general science in five States/ UTs and environmental studies in the remaining 23 States/UTs. The integrated approach is followed in the teaching of environmental studies in 29 States/UTs. Periods allotted per week for teaching the "mother tongue" in Class V is a minimum of three in Nagaland and a maximum of 13 in Maharashtra. English has been introduced in all States/UTs in Class I with weekly periods in Class V being a maximum of eight in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Assam, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh and a minimum of three in Uttar Pradesh. The study suggests it should be ascertained, based on research, in which class English language should be introduced for optimal gains. Weekly periods for teaching mathematics in Class V is the highest at 12 in Andhra Pradesh and lowest (5) in Kerala, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland. Moral science is taught as a separate subject in all States.

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