Turmoil in Western economies has NRIs heading back home

NEW DELHI: Faced with declining salaries and job cuts abroad, an increasing number of NRI professionals are moving back to India in search of greener pastures, a move that will give homegrown companies the chance to target this attractive resource pool.

According to a study by MyHiringClub.com, a recruitment tendering platform, hiring of non-resident Indians (NRIs) will account for 19 per cent of total recruitment activity during October-December this year, compared to 11 per cent in the year-ago period, representing a growth of 8 per cent.

Hiring of NRIs accounted for 21 per cent of total recruitment activity during April-June, 2011.

"The high economic growth in India, with many good opportunities, has fuelled the NRI thought process to head back. In addition to that, many Indian companies are shutting their offices in the West," MyHiringClub.com CEO Rajesh Kumar said.

However, "It is not only the major crisis in the West, but also a combination of economic, social and other factors that has driven this," he said.

The segments that will witness the maximum NRI recruitment during the period under review include IT and ITES, followed by automobiles, manufacturing and engineering, banking and financial services, infrastructure, telecom, FMCG and retail.

The survey, conducted among 429 corporate and 710 recruitment consultants, said appointment of NRIs will rise by 9 per cent in the IT and ITES space during the third quarter of the 2012 fiscal vis-a-vis the year-ago period.

Similarly, hiring in the automobiles, manufacturing and engineering sector will grow by 8 per cent, while NRI recruitment will be up 4 per cent in the banking and financial services space.

In terms of cities, the IT hub of Bangalore will see the maximum growth in NRI recruitment activity, followed by Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad.

Among NRI job seekers, those having work experience of 1-5 years have the maximum chance (52 per cent) of getting hired in India, while job seekers with experience of 5-10 years have a 28 per cent chance. NRI job seekers with experience of more than 15 years have only a 5 per cent chance of recruitment.

Looking ahead, the survey said, "An increasing number of high value NRI professional recruitment is likely to take place in the coming quarter, as wage gaps have declined sharply. An increasing number of people is now returning because now the advantages of returning back to India outweigh the disadvantages by far."

Customs rapped for NRI's detention

Shibu Thomas, TNN Sep 23, 2011, 12.57am IST

Tags:

• Customs department|
• Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport

MUMBAI: The Customs department may be headed for trouble over detaining a non-resident Indian twice at Chhatrapati Shivaji international airport on the basis of an "illegal" lookout notice.

A division bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and P D Kode allowed liberty to 40-year-old Usman Abdul Sattar to file a case against the department, seeking damages for detaining him unauthorisedly.

"Justify the lookout notice," the judges told the Customs department and the state government. "There is no warrant pending against Sattar, nor was he declared a proclaimed offender and absconding. The notice was without any basis," said the judges.

Sattar was apprehended by the Customs last year for failing to declare dutiable goods at the airport and for carrying excess foreign currency. Sattar was released on bail by a magistrate's court and he also paid a penalty to get back the goods seized from him, his lawyer said. The court had also given Sattar permission to travel abroad.

According to his lawyer, in September 2010 and April 2011, when he arrived at the airport, the immigration authorities questioned him and handed him over to the Customs department on the basis of a letter in the form of a lookout circular. This is usually provided to the immigration authorities at checkpoints like airports, to alert them against persons who may be absconding or those who may have a warrant issued against them.

Sattar's lawyers said that he was detained at the airport for six to seven hours even though he was enlarged on bail and allowed to travel.

The Customs department cited the case against Sattar as the reason he was detained.

The court, however, called the Customs department's justification as "preposterous". The court termed the Customs department's letter and lookout notice "illegal" and struck them down.

The court said that Sattar was at liberty to lodge legal proceedings before the appropriate court to seek damages from the Customs department for illegally detaining him.

Sliding Indian rupee encourage NRIs in Kuwait to remit more

KUWAIT CITY: The rupee's fall is fuelling India's inflationary woes, however the slidingIndian rupee begin to induce non-resident Indians (NRIs) to remit more. Indian rupee has come down to its lowest level in a long time, giving NRIs more value in exchange terms. NRIs in Kuwait would want to benefit from the current situation as seen by the beeline at exchange houses. The advantage of the weak rupee helped them to send more money to India.

The Indian rupee touched a recent low on Friday against a Dinar, which further came down on Saturday morning. As of Saturday morning, various money exchanges in Kuwait are offering 5 dinar 620 fills against 1000 Rupees. The volume of remittance has increased substantially in many of the exchange houses in Kuwait.

A Majority of the Indian expats in Kuwait are the working class, who generally send money to India by end of the month when they receive their salaries. The good exchange rate these days gives more reasons for them to enjoy. There are other section of the expats who saves good amount here and waiting for a good exchange rate to shift their savings to India. They also are taking advantage on the weak rupee. High net worth individuals and investors, who can afford to save money, are sending more money as they were waiting for better rates.

In fact, several factors contributed to the recent depreciation of dollar against Indian rupee. Weak local equity markets -- which have slid more than 20 percent so far in 2011 -- have put additional pressure on the rupee as overseas funds sell Indian stocks. 

'Love not crime', teen's lover freed

NEW DELHI: "The act of falling in love cannot be punished in the way other criminals are punished". With this observation, a trial court acquitted 22-year-old Sanjay of Jahangirpuri on charges of raping his 15-year-old girlfriend, although it held him guilty of kidnapping as he had not taken the consent of her parents.

The girl went missing on April 1, 2010, on which her father lodged a complaint that she had been kidnapped. She, however, returned home after a week. The teenager told the court that she had gone on an "outing" to Haridwar with her lover of her own will. The court also noted that the relationship between the two was later approved by both families.

Convicting Sanjay on charges of kidnapping, additional sessions judge Anju Bajaj Chandna sentenced him to three months in jail, but the term was set aside against the period of imprisonment he had already undergone in the course of the trial.

"It is clear that emotion of love and affection compelled the convict to take this step wherein he failed to acknowledge the presence and sanctity of consent of the parents of the girl," the court said. "Sanjay is a young man and is in the process of making his career and future. In my opinion, no purpose would be served by sending him behind bars where he would be living in the company of hardened criminals."

The judge added that the three months which Sanjay spent in jail was sufficient to teach him a lesson. 

Job fears: NRIs heading back home

New Delhi, September 25

Growing economic uncertainty may slow down hiring activities in a host of sectors, but the IT space is likely to remain unaffected and the NRIs returning home due to the gloom in the Western markets might emerge as an attractive talent pool, experts believe.
Companies in the telecom, financial services, construction and auto sectors are going slow with their hiring plans, primarily due to spiralling costs, interest rates and inflationary pressures, the experts said. At the same time, the hiring outlook for the IT industry is steady and human resource providers say that feedback indicates the companies are already geared up for the challenges arising out of economic uncertainties, especially in the Western world, which serves as key customers of Indian technology firms.
Some experts also believe that an increasing number of NRI professionals were moving back to India in search of greener pastures, faced with declining salaries and job cuts abroad. This could give Indian companies a chance to target this attractive resource pool, they said.
According to a study by MyHiringClub.com, a recruitment tendering platform, hiring of NRIs will account for 19 per cent of total recruitment activity during October-December this year, compared to 11 per cent in the year-ago period, representing a growth of 8 per cent. Hiring of NRIs accounted for 21 per cent of total recruitment activity during April-June, 2011.
"The high economic growth in India, with many good opportunities, has fuelled the NRI thought process to head back. In addition to that, many Indian companies are shutting their offices in the West," MyHiringClub.com CEO Rajesh Kumar said.
Looking ahead, he said, "An increasing number of high-value NRI professional recruitment is likely to take place in the coming quarter, as wage gaps have declined sharply. An increasing number of people are now returning because now the advantages of returning back to India outweigh the disadvantages by far." A survey by HeadHonchos.com, a job search portal for senior management professionals, also said that as many as 62.9 per cent of the respondents do not expect the global economic scenario to impact the hiring plans of Indian IT firms.
Nearly 92 per cent of the respondents believe that the impact will be limited to the next six months and only 8.1 per cent expect any long-term fall-out, the survey said.
However, the picture is not that rosy for a host of non-IT sectors. Leading job portal Naukri.com said the employment market was seeing a slowdown, with sluggish hiring activity in the telecom, insurance and realty sectors amid economic uncertainty and rising inflationary pressures. "Hiring has definitely slowed down in telecom, insurance, construction and financial services," Naukri.com Managing Director and CEO Hitesh Oberoi said.
Headline inflation, which has been ruling above the 9 per cent-mark since December, 2010, touched a 13-month high of 9.78 per cent in August. — PTI

GLOOMY PICTURE

• The employment market is seeing a slowdown, with sluggish hiring activity the telecom, financial services, construction and auto sectors and realty sectors
• IT industry is steady as the firms are already geared up for the challenges arising out of economic uncertainties
• During October-December, hiring of NRIs will account for 19 per cent of total recruitment activity

Amidst mounting tension, Pak recalls Hina Khar from US

Kayani meets army top brass

Islamabad, September 25
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani today asked Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to cut short a visit to the US amid strained ties with Washington. Gilani asked Khar, who was representing Pakistan at the UN General Assembly in New York, to return to the country immediately, TV news channels quoted official sources as saying.
The premier had earlier called off his visit to the US and sent Khar in his place. Though Gilani said he had cancelled the visit to oversee relief operations in flood-hit areas, reports said he had decided not to go to the US after President Barack Obama refused to meet him on the sidelines of the UN meet.
Khar had been called back to Pakistan as her presence is vital for a meeting of the country’s political leadership to be convened by the premier, the official sources were quoted as saying. She was the only member of the civilian leadership to have had direct contact with US officials regarding allegations of the ISI backing the Haqqani network and running a proxy war in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s army chief Gen Ashfaq Kayani met his top commanders today at a “special” meeting to discuss the security situation, the military said, as the war of words with the USA escalated.
The extraordinary meeting of the corps commanders came against the backdrop of sharp US allegations that Pakistan army’s powerful spy agency supported the Haqqani militant group Washington blames for the recent attack on its embassy and other targets in Kabul.
“The prevailing security situation was discussed,” military spokesman Major-General Athar Abbas said without giving details. Kayani, who is departing for London to address the International Institute for Strategic Studies and the Royal College of Defence Studies, chaired the meeting. Separately, the US CENTCOM commander Gen James N. Mattis met with Chairman of Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Khalid Shameem Wyne who expressed concern over the “negative statements emanating from (the) US.”
“He (Wyne) stressed upon addressing the irritants in relationship which are a result of an extremely complex situation,” the military said in a statement.
“He reiterated that Pakistan armed forces are committed to achieving enduring peace in the region which will only be possible through mutual trust and cooperation.”
In the most blunt remarks by a US official since Pakistan joined the US-led war on militancy in 2001, the outgoing chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, on Thursday testified before the US Senate that the Haqqani militant network is a “veritable arm” of the Directorate of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) of the Pakistan army. He also for the first time held Islamabad responsible for the Kabul attack, saying Pakistan provided support for that assault.
The Pakistan government as well as the army rejected the allegations and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani spoke to political leaders by telephone on Sunday and decided to call a meeting of to discuss the issue of tensions with the United States.
On Saturday night, Gilani rejected US allegations as a sign of American “confusion and policy disarray.”
Abbas acknowledged that the ISI maintained contacts with the Haqqani network, but said that didn’t mean it supported it. “No intelligence agency can afford to shut the last door of contact,” he told Reuters. “Maintaining contact doesn’t mean that you are endorsing or supporting that terrorist organisation.” — Reuters

MULLEN’S TESTIMONY

The outgoing chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, had on Thursday testified before the US Senate that the Haqqani militant network is a “veritable arm” of the ISI. He also for the first time held Islamabad responsible for the Kabul attack, saying Pakistan provided support for that assault.

PAK REJECTS CHARGES

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani rejected US allegations as a sign of American “confusion and policy disarray.” Gilani’s foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar told Washington on Friday that it risked losing an ally if it kept accusing Islamabad of playing a double game in the war against militancy

Edmonton schools trim unhealthy foods from lunch menus

EDMONTON — Junk food is off the menu this fall in Edmonton’s public schools.

Starting Thursday, the first day of school, public schools can no longer sell or provide students with foods from the Alberta nutrition guidelines’ “choose least often” category.

The low-nutrient foods higher in calories, fat, sugar and salt include various types of chips and crackers, cookies and granola bars, sugary cereal, chocolate bars, candy, frozen desserts such as ice cream, pop and fruit-flavoured drinks and bakery items such as pastries and doughnuts, the Alberta Health Services school nutrition handbook says.

Students can still bring treats from home or buy them outside the schools.

That’s what many students from Victoria School of the Arts do at lunchtime, Grade 11 student Lea Beaudoin said. Students at the downtown school often walk over to the nearby Tim Hortons, Dairy Queen or Humpty’s family restaurant, she said.

But food choices in school have improved the past several years, said Beaudoin, who prefers healthy foods.

“I went to a junior high that had a sandwich machine, but the meat was absolutely disgusting,” Beaudoin said. “It was terrible.”

Harry Ainlay High School has phased out junk food the past three years. Principal David Jones said the kids don’t seem to miss it.

“I thought maybe they would just go to McDonalds across the street or take their car and go to the mall — we’re very close to Southgate Mall,” Jones said. “But you know, it’s interesting that the sales (of food in school) went down dramatically in my first year of doing this for the first month. Then all of a sudden they came back because students know and were educated that it’s not good to have french fries and a Slurpee or a large Coke or an extra burger. They become very aware of what’s going into their bodies.”

Harry Ainlay’s cafeteria serves an array of freshly made fare, including roast beef sandwiches, vegetarian sandwiches, baked chicken with rice and vegetables, pork chops and small sirloin steaks. The school has taken sodium-laden packaged foods such as instant noodles off the menu. Students are sometimes treated to hamburgers with all-beef patties and baked french fries, Jones said.

“Nothing is fried any more. In fact, my deep fryers, I took them out three years ago so there are no deep fryers at all in our buildings,” Jones said. “We’re not in the business of making money at cafeterias. We’re in the business of providing good, healthy choices.”

Students are now less lethargic after lunch and better able to focus on schoolwork, he said.

A junk-food-free environment better aligns schools with their commitment to children’s health, public school board chairman Dave Colburn said.

“It jarred my sensibilities, I can tell you, in my first few years on the board, when I saw these (vending) machines chock-a-block with junk food, and yet I heard principals and teachers and administration talking about the importance of creating healthy and active children,” Colburn said Tuesday.

He led the push in 2006 to create the citywide school board policy to get rid of junk food in the city’s 197 public schools. The policy came into effect March 2008 and included a timeline to phase out unhealthy food and drinks sold in cafeterias, vending machines and school stores.

The work proved complicated, Colburn said. The school district had to honour contracts with food vendors, then work with those vendors to make sure foods will meet Alberta nutrition guidelines for children and youth.

A total of 79,698 students are expected to enrol this year in the city’s public schools.

“Schools have an incredible opportunity to change the health values of children,” Colburn said. “When you consider that virtually every child in Edmonton passes through the doors of a school for about 12 years at an impressionable age, the opportunity we have in the school environment to influence the health values of our children and the next generation of adults is profound and virtually limitless, but we need leadership, we need policy, we need commitment on the part of staff and community and we need an understanding that this (health) problem is very real.”

At Edmonton Catholic Schools, parent councils and school officials have worked together to get rid of junk food and pop, replacing them with healthier snacks such as Sun Chips, plain popcorn and bottled water, said Catholic schools spokeswoman Lori Nagy. “Out of 87 schools, the majority of our schools only provide nutritious snacks in their vending machines,” she said.

Two-thirds of Americans perk up with coffee: Survey

Two-thirds of Americans drink coffee, and many gulp down their first cup within an hour of awakening, according to a survey released on Thursday.

On average, the 65 per cent of Americans who drink coffee each consume an average of 13 cups of coffee per week, and three out of five agreed with the statement "I need a cup of coffee to start my day."

Timed to coincide with Friday's "National Coffee Day," this month's survey of 1,009 Americans, which had a margin of error of 3 percentage points, was commissioned by the 7-Eleven chain of convenience stores. The stores will be giving out free coffee on Friday.

Among the findings, 28 per cent of coffee drinkers had their first cup within 15 minutes of waking up and 68 per cent within an hour, 57 per cent added sugar or sweetener to their brew, and 54 per cent agreed that "coffee makes me feel more like myself."

Punjab officials directed for immediate disposal of NRI property cases

Punjab’s Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Affairs Minister Balbir Singh Bath has asked officials to immediately respond to the grievances of NRIs.

The minister said in a statement that the state government had initiated many new steps for the welfare and security of NRIs.
“In order to safeguard their properties in Punjab, the East Punjab Rent Act has been amended empowering NRIs to get their property on rent vacated from tenants,” Bath said.
He said all 20 districts in Punjab had separate revenue courts for NRIs for speedy disposal of their cases.
“Exclusive NRI police stations have been set up in six districts having predominant NRI population. One court for NRIs has been opened in Jalandhar in consultation with the Punjab and Haryana High Court,” the minister said.
Punjab has thousands of NRIs, especially from the Doaba belt comprising Jalandhar, Nawanshehr, Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala, settled in countries like the US, Canada and Britain.

Gujarat cards popular amongst NRIs

After its initiation in 1999 under the tenure of Keshubhai Patel, Gujarat cards have created a rage amongst the Non-Resident Indians. According to Non-Resident Gujarati’s Foundation (NRGF), the issuing authority, it has till date issued around 8,000 cards to Gujaratis residing in India and abroad. The card holders can avail of various facilities such as discounts on products, purchases and services etc. that have been negotiated by NRGF. Through the cards, NRIs can approach the local government offices for assistance in various fields. It can also be used while communicating with the NRI division of the state government.

Bollywood-Hollywood love affair must grow: Russell Peters

New Delhi, Sep 24 (IANS) Here’s one man who is not in love with Hindi films and its jhatkas. But Canadian Russell Peters, who is of Anglo-Indian origin and has been an international standup comedian for 23 years, says the confluence of Bollywood and Hollywood must grow.

Ontario-native Peters, who has worked in Akshay Kumar’s Indo-Canadian venture ‘Breakaway’, was here in India to promote ‘Speedy Singhs’, the Hindi version of the movie, when IANS caught up with him.

‘Collaborations between India and the West are going to be fruitful. The love affair of Bollywood and Hollywood ought to grow and I think ‘Speedy Singhs’ is a good move from both the sides.

‘We are in a time now where we do not have boundaries or any walls separating the two industries. Thanks to the internet, everybody can see everything. The reach has become global for every artist. It’s just a matter of time before people decide and consolidate the two. Also, there is no reason why Indians in India and Indians abroad, the NRIs, can’t do something together,’ he said.

The 40-year-old, who was born in Canada to Anglo-Indian parents, feels it is advisable for NRIs to come and get a taste of modern India, which has gone through several changes over the years.

‘It’s a good opportunity for Indians who are born and raised abroad to come back and get a reality check of what India is like now. And India today is not the same India that it was 10-15 years ago. It’s way miles ahead of what we think it is. I also feel people here are way more smarter than people in the West. They are way more in tune with the rest of the world,’ he added.

Peters has been entertaining global audiences through his stand-up acts. He is now looking forward to receiving a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame. It will be inducted Oct 1 in Toronto.

‘I have earned my place and now I am getting my due recognition with being honoured by the star at Walk of Fame in Canada when I go back home. To be honoured with something like this and to be recognized, not as Indo-Canadian but as a Canadian, is a pretty big deal,’ he said, flashing a big smile.

Peters, who is known for his observational comedy about communities and culture around the world, says he finds Bollywood ‘useless’, but admits he is in love with the country’s entertainment capital, Mumbai.

‘I don’t follow, nor do I want to follow, Bollywood. I’ve no time for Bollywood. I don’t care about Bollywood at all and I don’t even want to do any film. I don’t like the Bollywood jhatkas and matkas that they call it – the singing and dancing and also the dramatic crying,’ he said without hesitation.

Raise an eyebrow at that, and he retorts: ‘It’s my opinion! Obviously there are billions who like and love them, but I have never seen a Bollywood film in my life. I have refused doing it earlier and will do so in future.’

‘But I love India. I have been here a couple of times. India is one place in the world that I see as very comfortable, and honestly Mumbai is the one city that I see I could fit in, I could live in. I love Mumbai,’ he said.

Peters kickstarted his career in acting with ‘Show Me The Funny’ in 1997 and has since starred in films like ‘Lord Have Mercy’ and ‘Comedy Now’ among others.

‘Breakaway’ is the first film where he has worked in an Indian production with an Indian star-cast, featuring Anupam Kher, Vinay Virmani, Hollywood actress Camilla Belle and Gurpreet Ghuggi.

NRI Shwetak Patel recipient of 2011 MacArthur Fellows

Sep 21, 2011, 04.18pm IST

Tags:

• Shwetak Patel|
• MacArthur Fellows

CHICAGO: The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundationtoday named 22 new MacArthur Fellows for 2011, including non-resident Indian Shwetak Patel.

Patel is a computer scientist who has invented a series of sensor technology systems for home environments with the goal of saving energy and improving daily life through a broad range of applications. Much of his work to date has focused on the development of low-cost and easy-to-deploy devices that can detect and measure household energy consumption without an elaborate network of expensive instruments.

To allow residents to track their energy usage down to the level of individual appliances and fixtures, Patel's distinctive approach leverages existing infrastructure — such as gas lines, electrical wiring, plumbing, and ventilation ducts — and requires only a minimal number of small, wirelessly connected sensors attached to the central hookup of each of these utility sources. When coupled with a machine learning algorithm that analyzes patterns of activity and the signature noise produced by each appliance, the sensors enable users to measure and disaggregate their energy and water consumption and to detect inefficiencies more effectively.

In addition to the resource conservation applications of his sensor systems, Patel is also exploring their potential for home security or elder care, as they serve the related function of sensing human activity and monitoring movement throughout a building's rooms. While envisioning cutting-edge new tools to address pressing social challenges and to make the buildings we live in more responsive to our needs, Patel devises elegant, simple solutions that dramatically reduce the cost of implementation.

Patel received a B.S. (2003) and a Ph.D. (2008) from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Since 2008, he has been an assistant professor in the Departments of Computer Science and Engineering and Electrical Engineering at the University of Washington.

The recipients learned, through a phone call out of the blue from the Foundation, that they will each receive $500,000 in no-strings-attached support over the next five years. MacArthur Fellowships come without stipulations or reporting requirements and offer Fellows unprecedented freedom and opportunity to reflect, create, and explore. The unusual level of independence afforded to Fellows underscores the spirit of freedom intrinsic to creative endeavours. The work of MacArthur Fellows knows neither boundaries nor the constraints of age, place, and endeavour.

"This has been a year of great change and extraordinary challenge, and we are once again reminded of the potential individuals have to make a difference in the world and shape our future," said Robert Gallucci, President of the MacArthur Foundation. "The MacArthur Fellows exemplify how individual creativity and talent can spark new insights and ideas in every imaginable field of human endeavour."

Source: TOI

Image of the day

A child participates in a fashion show on the occasion of Ashwa Puja at Mahalaxmi Racecourse

NRIs throw their weight behind Anna

The anti-corruption movement goes global, as several Indians residing overseas have come together to support Anna Hazare carrying out similar protests in their countries
The anti-corruption movement led by the 73-year-old feisty Anna Hazare is slowly snowballing into a global protest.

The anger amid the common man has spread across the globe with Indians living abroad coming on board to fight the 'cancer of the country'.
Several non-residents Indians (NRIs) have come together and are protesting the arrest of Hazare in their respective countries.

Indu Koul, a NRI from Melbourne told MiD DAY via e-mail that she was seeking police permission to carry out a peace rally in support of Hazare and the Jan Lokpal Bill. 

"I do not know the exact laws of India but one thing is clear that corruption is eating into India and this has fired global angst among people.

In order to support Anna, we have organised a candlelight peace rally in front of the General Consulate of India for 30 minutes."

And while Koul is doing her bit to support the cause, some Indians in London gathered in front of the Indian High Commission yesterday and raised slogans against the Congress government for arresting Hazare.

Young men and women professionals belonging to the IT, medical and banking sectors expressed their anger against the government's decision, since Anna was arrested even before his fast began.

Another Indian from London is planning to fly down to India to encourage Anna. "Since, the time I have come to London all I can think of is why India has such corrupt politicians.
I want to be the part of the entire protest. We have been spreading Hazare's message through social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter."

No lathi charge on Hazare's men
After receiving severe criticism over the Maval incident where three farmers succumbed to police firing, the state government is being doubly cautious about the handling of agitators.

A source told MiD DAY that the State's Home Department has directed police officials not to use any force on followers of Anna Hazare.

Home Minister R R Patil, when asked, said the police have been told to handle the agitations with utmost restraint.

Facebook support
A group in UK has come up with a Facebook Page called Anna Hazare Sathyagraha -UK NRI Support. The page is dedicated to Anna Hazare citizens' movement against Corruption and already has more than 100 members.

Workshop on Understanding Cinema

Short films a treat for participants 

Nainital, September 24Some of the best short films that have been made in the past formed a part of the treat that was on offer for the participants at a workshop on Understanding Cinema that is being held in the Lake City.
The two-day event organised by cultural organisation Yugmanch has experts from the world of the visual medium talking about the finer aspect of the art.
On Saturday, it was Sudarshan Juyal and Sanjay Joshi who provided the participants a peep into the world of making of films. The first session was about the definition and the history of cinema. Juyal began with the filming done by Auguste and Louis Lumiere in 1895 and the subsequent screenings. He went on to talk about the grammer of editing that was introduced by Allan Porter.
Juyal then referred to the contribution of Russians in transforming the entire art of cinema making. He said the existing socio-political realities combined with the developments in the other spheres contributed a lot towards the evolution of cinema as a powerful medium.
Side by side he also related how film making moved from the 16 frames per second shots to 24 frames per second shots and how sound was infused into the films that were shot.
Stating that film making involves contributions from all sorts of professionals, Juyal described it as a “complete form of art”. The session involved screening of two of the critically acclaimed masterpieces shot by Dutch master Bert Haanstra, “Glas” and “Zoo”.
Both these films are considered to be landmarks in the art of short film making and have a liberal usage of Jazz music accompanying the visuals.
The second session was concentrated on the topic of the language of cinema. Two well-acclaimed short animated films “Printed Rainbow” by Gitanjali Rao and “A Chairy Tale” by Norman Mc Laren were showed to the participants to help them understand the concept of the importance of sound in the medium.
The first one is about a big city where an old woman and her cat live in solitude, stuck in their daily chores against the hiss of the city. It brings out the dry character of the metros where everyone is lonely in the streaming crowds. The windows of her apartment look out into more windows with more desolate lives.
The old woman, however, has a secret window which is her precious collection of match boxes. Their printed labels open into a myriad of exotic worlds. The cat is the sole companion in her explorations of these magical worlds where beauty, imagination and wonder triumph over the insignificance of her existence.
The film speaks about the desolation of the old in the metros. The second film humorously portrays central character Jutra's attempts to sit on the chair - and it on him - set to the music of Ravi Shankar and Chatur Lal.
Earlier, at the start of the workshop, Zahoor Alam of Yugmanch underlined, ”There are very few viewers of good cinema. Although good cinema is available, yet collective viewing of such films is very rare.”

Rajbhasha status sought for Kumaoni, Garhwali

Dehradun, September 24
Dhaad, a social welfare organisation of Uttarakhand, has sought rajbhasha status for the Kumaoni and Garhwali dialects in the state. Addressing a press conference here today, Tanmay Mamgain, coordinator, Dhaad, said the Uttarakhand Government needed to do more to promote the Garhwali and Kumaoni dialects.
He favoured studies in the Garhwali and Kumaoni dialects up to the postgraduate level and also making these dialects compulsory subjects up to Class VIII.
Expressing concern over the dwindling number of Garhwali and Kumaoni speakers, he said the Dhaad planned to hold workshops in various districts of the state and other parts of the country to promote the use Garhwali and Kumaoni as the common man’s languages. “We will be holding a Bhasa yatra that will cover every district in Uttarkhand and other parts of the country in order to create awareness about Garhwali and Kumaoni. He said Uttarakhand should have an academy for the promotion of Garhwali and Kumaoni on the lines of the Urdu Academy.
Mamgain said the Uttarakhand Government needed to make efforts to ensure the inclusion of the Garhwali and Kumaoni dialects in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution. He announced the Aditya Ram Nawani Lok Bhasa Award 2012 for Vimala Negi in the Garhwali dialect category and Hyat Singh Rawat in the Kumaoni section.

American trekker still untraceable

Pithoragarh, September 24
Tom Levy Penkin, the American trekker swept away by strong waves of the Gori river on the Munsiyar-Milam way on Thursday, could not be traced till today despite eight 8 teams of disaster management manned by the ITBP, launching a hunt for the the missing trekker on the banks of the river.
“Other 16 members of the trekking team have reached Munsiyari and will leave for New Delhi on Sunday,” said JS Rathor, SDM, Munsiyari.
According to the SDM, the trekkers’ team violated some rules by trekking during evening time. The trekking in evening is considered risky in this part of Himalaya.
“Not only the team violated the trekking norms but also informed the administration 11 hours late on Friday morning though the incident had occurred at 5.30 pm on Thursday,” said the SDM.
The Munsiyari administration has taken the statements of other members of the trekker team, including the statements of Isabella Nori and Donald Kohl, the two trekkers of the team who have claimed to have seen Tom falling into the river.
“Our six teams are looking till the downstream of the Gori at Jauljibi and one team has been kept stand by at Munsiyari and whenever any information of any stuck body reaches us, we will reach the spot immediately to trace and identify the missing trekker,” said the SDM.

Australia willing to boost education ties with India

Melbourne: Australia will boost education and research collaboration with India to help it tide its demand for skilled workforce in the areas of faculty capacity building and curriculum renewal.


"Australia is committed to strengthening education and training ties with India. Opportunities for Australia in India are vast," Parliamentary Secretary for School Education Senator Jacinta Collins has told the inaugural Australia-India Institute (AII) conference here.

Collins, who was representing Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills Senator Chris Evans, also reaffirmed the strength of Australia and India's bilateral education relationship.

"India aims to increase its formally skilled workforce through vocational education and training from the current 12 per cent to 25 per cent by 2017 -- an additional 70 million people in the next five years.

"Australia is well placed to help India achieve this objective. Providers and companies are already developing low cost models of quality Australian training provision in India," she said.

Woman BJP leader set on fire, daughter dies of shock

Dehradun: The daughter of a woman BJP leader today died of shock after she allegedly witnessed her mother being set on fire by a person over personal enmity in Rishikesh near here, police said.

Geeta Shanker, zonal president of Uttarakhand BJP women's wing, was allegedly set on fire by a person, Lakshman Singh, at her house in THDC colony, police said.

Her daughter Khushboo (17), was present at the that time of the incident went into a state of shock after witnessing the gruesome scene. Khushboo was rushed to a nearby hospital where she died during treatment, police said.

Geeta was also rushed to hospital with over 65 per cent burn injuries and was referred to government hospital in Dehradun in view of her serious condition.

Singh had gone to Geeta's house in the morning when her husband was away, poured petrol on her and set her on fire.

Northeast, gateway to Bangladesh ties

Increased trade and investment will not only benefit the northeast but also help the Bangladesh economy grow faster, eventually deterring illegal migrants.

Dhaka - Debates over achievements apart, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Bangladesh, on September 6 and 7, deserves a special mention as he was accompanied by a delegation that included the Chief Ministers of four bordering Indian states — Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram. This has endorsed the significance these States have in the context of growing relations between Dhaka and New Delhi.

The visit was a historic opportunity to open doors, mend fences, and reach out to each other realising the genuine needs of either side. Sadly, the hope was not fully met. While the two countries signed 10 agreements, protocols and memorandums of understanding (MoU), they failed to conclude a few important accords, for which both Dhaka and New Delhi had waited. However, the visit did not go in vain since both countries had felt the need to address pending issues quickly, resolving the political will which they had achieved when Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited India in January 2010.

The presence of the Chief Ministers — Tarun Gogoi of Assam, Manik Sarkar of Tripura, Mukul Sangma of Meghalaya and Lal Thanhawla of Mizoram — gave the visit a new dimension, as it had direct ramifications for much desired trade and connectivity that India needs to connect its landlocked States — some 2,62,230 sq.km. and about five crore people — through Bangladesh.

For the northeast, access to Bangladesh's Chittagong port, 75 km from Tripura, and gateway, was of importance. This has also a direct bearing on India's much talked about “Look East” policy.

During their interactions with government, business and civil society leaders, the Chief Ministers sought increased trade, investment and connectivity. They offered joint venture industrial projects and promotion of tourism. The failure to sign a “letter of exchange” — the transit deal — did frustrate them, but they were in unison pursuing their common goal — connectivity.

Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) president A.K. Azad requested clearance for and movement of goods, and acceptance of certificates issued by the designated national bodies to speed up trade with the northeast.

The geographical proximity between Bangladesh and the northeast should be beneficial to both. Mr. Sarkar asked Bangladeshi businessmen to utilise resources in the northeast, to set up agro-based industries and gas-based units like a fertilizer factory. “Tripura is a potential hub of trade with Bangladesh in the entire northeast India,” he said in an earlier interview. Bangladeshi products have a competitive advantage due to lower transportation costs. He also said once a proposed power plant is commissioned, Tripura could supply 100 MW to power-starved Bangladesh if an accord was negotiated with India.

Mr. Sangma is of the view that Bangladesh and the northeast have “a lot of potentialities and concerns” and must try to engage in fruitful cooperation. Mr. Gogoi said, “We want connectivity of not only roads and infrastructure…. we want connectivity of minds.”

All the Chief Ministers laid stress on improving Bangladesh's relations with the “Seven Sisters” in all sectors and proposed an increase of land ports. They also wanted cooperation in health, education and environment.

They praised the resolve of the Sheikh Hasina government to act against separatists and insurgents. The government, despite strong political adversaries who often term those insurgents “freedom fighters,” has decisively responded to New Delhi's request in this issue. Mr. Gogoi thanked Bangladesh for taking steps against the separatist United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA).

Although there is no official bar, there are demands in a number of bordering States for Bangladeshi TV channels. There was an assurance of ensuring their telecast. Talks were also held on offering package tours to promote bilateral tourism.

Despite a shadow of controversy around the visit because of the Teesta deal, the Prime Ministers did not detract from their commitment to furthering the bilateral relationship.

For the Hasina government, postponement of the Teesta water sharing accord came as an embarrassment. Maybe, more so for India. The Bangladesh media said it was “a big let-down” for Bangladesh.

Another question addressed was the long-standing border issue including 6.5 km of undemarcated land boundary in three sectors — Daikhata-56 (West Bengal), Muhuri River-Belonia (Tripura) and Dumabari (Assam) — and land of adverse possessions — which were a source of conflict. The status of 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh and 51 Bangladesh enclaves in India was addressed.

These deals will not only end border skirmishes but also help improve trade with Bangladesh across West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. The residents of Bangladesh's Dahagram and Angarpota enclaves have already started enjoying their right to round-the-clock movement through the Teen Bigha corridor.

Experts are of the view that increased trade and investment will not only benefit the northeast but also help Bangladesh's economy grow faster, creating jobs and higher income which will eventually deter illegal migrants, a concern India has repeatedly raised. Higher income in Bangladesh will also foster political and social stability, and likely subdue all forms of potential extremism.

The political opposition has claimed that the Hasina government has provided the “corridor” facility to India although it did not gain Bangladesh's just share of rivers. Bangladeshi Nationalist Party leader Khaleda Zia told her loyalists: “This government must be uprooted.” Joined by Islamist radicals, they have announced plans to “dislodge” Sheikh Hasina for her alleged “surrendering” of national interests to India.

The last 40 years of history stipulate that there are varying aspects of criticism of Dhaka-New Delhi relations. While the first group is those who did not forgive India for assisting Bangladesh in achieving independence from Pakistan, the second section considered the “Indian bogey” political capital. And, of course, there is the third section which has a fear or doubt about Bangladesh getting its rightful share or equal treatment from India. This concern, right or perceived, must not be overlooked.

India has its own priorities and domestic compulsions, but for Bangladesh, which is a fragile democracy and a weak economy and which is threatened by Islamists, the lingering irritations may have political implications, say analysts.

India and Bangladesh signed a framework agreement on bilateral cooperation, in which a commitment has been made for cooperation in trade, connectivity and water resources. They also adopted a 65-point joint declaration reaffirming their positions against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and reiterating the assurance that their territories would not be allowed for any inimical activity.

Referring to the presence of the Chief Ministers, Dr. Singh termed it “a special moment,” adding “it is a demonstration of our collective will to shape a better future for ourselves.” He was also right in saying that there are few countries whose destinies are so interlinked.

There was also the resolve to preserve the memory of Bangladesh freedom fighters. New Delhi is to enhance scholarships for their heirs to pursue higher studies in India. Dhaka has also requested facilitation for setting up memorial plaques and visits of family members to the identified graves of freedom fighters buried along the border in Tripura, Meghalaya, Assam and West Bengal. These States, which were the sanctuary of Bangladesh liberation fighters, also sheltered 10 million refuges during the liberation war in 1971.

The building of a durable Bangladesh-India relationship cannot be judged by one trip. The political leadership will have to show prudence to overcome the challenges that may bedevil the relations in the future by taking quick and appropriate measures. Geography and history are for India and Bangladesh to be together.

10 Indians, 2 Americans killed in Nepal plane crash

Kathmandu: Ten Indians were among 19 people killed on Sunday when a small plane carrying them crashed and broke into pieces at Kotdanda hills near the Nepalese capital while returning from a sight-seeing trip around Mount Everest.

The Beechcraft plane (BHA 103), which crashed at 7.30 am local time, belonged to the private Buddha Air airline, according to Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).

All 19 people aboard the plane, including 10 Indians, two Americans and a Japanese national, were killed in the crash, officials said.

Among those killed was a Nepalese passenger, who initially survived the crash but succumbed to his wounds in hospital after being rescued from the accident site at Kotdanda near Bishankhunarayan Temple in Lalitpur district, located 20 km east of the capital.

Apart from 13 foreigners, the plane was carrying three Nepalese passengers and a three-member crew, according to the Rescue Coordination Centre, Tribhuvan International Airport, under the CAAN.

The aircraft, which had taken tourists to view Mount Everest and other high peaks, crashed and broke into pieces at Kotdanda hills minutes after losing contact with the control tower.

The rescue efforts were hampered by bad weather in the region.

The Indian nationals killed in the crash were identified as Pankaj Mehta and his wife Chhaya, and eight men from Tamil Nadu — M V Marathachalam, M Manimaran, V M Kanakasabesan, A K Krishnan, R M Minaxi Sunsaram, K Thiyagarajan, T Dhanasekaran and Kattoos Mahalingam.

57-year-old Mehta was working as chief of the health section of UNICEF, Kathmandu.

According to Mehta’s colleagues here, the couple had been here for the past three years and had possibly come from Gujarat.

The eight tourists from Tamil Nadu were staying at Hotel Grand at Tahachal, according to the hotel’s Sales Manager Phurba Sherpa.

The two Americans killed were identified as Andrew Wade and Natalie Neilan, while the Japanese national was identified as Ujima Toshinori.

The three crew members killed in the crash were Captain J.D. Tamrakar, Captain P. Adhikari and air hostess A. Shrestha.

A Simrik Airlines helicopter landed at the accident site at Kotdanda and transported the dead to Kathmandu, according to Chief District Officer Ratna Raj Pandey.

Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar visited the Tribhuvan International Airport here to take stock of the situation, especially handling of the bodies.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal has formed a three-member team, headed by former CAAN Director General Jajeshraj Dali, to investigate the crash.

In a statement, the Indian embassy here expressed profound grief over the death of the Indian nationals in the crash.

Bodies of all ten Indians were taken to TU Teaching Hospital after being flown to Kathmandu.

Quoting witnesses, local TV channels said flames could be seen coming from the plane just before it crashed.

Buddha Air offers an ‘Everest Experience’ package under which it takes tourists around 8848-metre high Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain, for sightseeing.

In December last year, a Twin Otter plane carrying 22 people, mostly Bhutanese nationals and an American, crashed after taking off from a small airstrip 140 km east of Kathmandu.

Earlier in November, a helicopter, which was on a mission to rescue two stranded climbers, crashed near Mount Everest, killing two people.

Three months before this accident, a plane going to the Everest region crashed in bad weather, killing all 14 people on board, including four Americans, a Japanese and a British national.

HC raps BSNL for wrong info in property case

Chandigarh, September 24
Virtually passing strictures on Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) for making an effort to “pollute the stream of justice by misleading the Court” in a property eviction matter, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has imposed a cost of Rs 1 lakh on the organisation. The amount is to be spent on safeguarding protected monument “Royal Shahi Samadhan” at Patiala.
Going into the background of the controversy, Acting Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Gurdev Singh asserted the ancient monument was declared as a protected monument by Punjab Department of Cultural Affairs, Archeology and Museums, on February 27, 2009. “It was found that the petitioner-appellant has established its office and tower on the protected monument area without any prior sanction and permission of the competent authority….”
The Bench observed that eviction order was issued on August 23 last, but the fact was not brought to the notice of the Court. “The suppression of the order assumes great significance because the petitioner-appellant failed to reveal that the order dated August 23, 2010, stands implemented and they have been deprived of possession. However, they proceeded to institute the writ petition….”
In its detailed order, the Bench observed: “The Writ Courts are the Courts of Equity. The Courts of Equity are required to be kept absolutely clean. There are well known maxims of equity viz., he who seeks equity must do equity and who comes to equity must come to it with clean hands and the misrepresentation before a Court of equity is fatal….
“We find that an effort has been made to pollute the stream of justice by misleading the Court. Accordingly, we hold that the petitioner-appellant is not entitled to any relief…. which even otherwise would not be available to it….
“The cost shall be paid to the Department of Cultural Affairs Archaeology and Museums, Punjab. The amount is required to be spent on protecting and upkeep of the protected monument, namely Royal Shahi Samadhan, situated at Patiala and it would not be utilised for any other purpose. The cost shall be paid within a period of two months failing which appropriate proceedings be undertaken.

Wipro’s exit opens door for small IT firms

Chandigarh, September 21
Information technology (IT) major Wipro’s loss at UT administration’s flagship Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park here has proved to be a gain for a number of small IT firms. The UT administration has decided to carve out smaller plots on the resumed 30-acre plot of Wipro with a view to get in smaller companies.
Confirming the decision, VK Singh, Finance-cum-IT Secretary, today said the decision had been taken since a number of applications for the allotment of sites of smaller dimensions were pending with the administration.
The administration had recently resumed the 30-acre plot as Wipro had not got its construction plan sanctioned even five years after allotment.
The administration had allotted land to the IT giant at Phase II of the IT Park in April 2006 at Rs 40 lakh per acre. This was the second largest plot there after Infosys’.
Sources said preference for smaller IT firms against giants was a part of the smart move by the administration to give a boost to the IT sector in the city.
Since most of the IT majors allotted sites at the IT Park were yet to start operations, the allotment of sites to small IT players made sense, the sources added.
The administration had already been facing rampant subletting of space to non-IT firms by major firms, especially the DLF. The allotment of sites to small IT companies would take care of this subletting of space.
This was perhaps the reason some companies had requested the administration to allow subletting, but the administration had declined to do so. Strict action would be taken against defaulting IT firms, Yogesh Kumar, IT director, had warned.

Why smaller IT firms?

• Best suited for Tier-II cities like Chandigarh
• Will check subletting by big firms to non-IT ones
• Will optimally utilise Wipro’s resumed 30-acre plot
• Will create more room for IT activity in scarce space

Disco-loving police officer suspended

Chandigarh - An inspector with the security wing of Chandigarh Police, has been withdrawn from present duties and posted at the Police Lines.

The inspector had created a ruckus at Score discotheque in Sector 8 here Saturday night. Allegedly in a drunken state, he misbehaved with two young women after they refused to dance with him, police said.

The bouncers at the discotheque confronted the police officer after the women complained. Though the discotheque management called the police, the police control room delayed their response.

Although no case was registered, following a complaint by the discotheque management, senior officers asked Deputy Superintendent Kamal Deep to hold an inquiry.

A police officer told IANS that the probe, based on CCTV footage, found enough evidence against the inspector. Following this, he was placed under suspension.

Two admission agents held for duping NRI woman of Rs 11 lakh

Police say accused changed office address after taking money for admission to MBA course in city
Two college admission agents have been arrested by the Anti-Extortion Cell of the Crime Branch for duping a Non-Resident Indian woman. The police said the two disappeared after taking Rs 11 lakh from the woman to secure admission for a relative of hers in an MBA course in a reputable educational institute in the city.
The suspects were identified as Shishir Ravikant Gupta (24), hailing from Farukhabad district of Uttar Pradesh, and Rajiv Shrivastav (22).

Gupta was arrested on Tuesday and remanded in police custody till July 15, while Shrivastav was arrested yesterday and is to be produced in court today. The complaint was lodged by Meher Nigar Shakeel Siddique, an NRI currently residing in Wanawadi.

"Gupta had started his Siddhivinayak Educational Services recently and claimed to get admissions secured for various courses, including MBA. Gupta had also started a few websites. Gupta had his office registered at the address of Palace Orchid on NIBM road in Kondhwa and Tulip Vila on Undri-Kondhwa road," Police Inspector Sachin Sawant said. "He used to change his address after taking money from interested candidates."

The police officer said Siddique had paid Gupta in Indian and foreign currencies. "Siddique got to know about Gupta's services after which she asked him to secure admission in the MBA Finance course for a relative, Nabila Rashid of Delhi," Sawant said. "We have recovered Rashid's mark-sheets and other documents from Gupta's possession."

Rajasthan minister Maderna accused of rape and murder of Bhanwari Devi

Rajasthan police on Saturday included state Water Resources Minister Mahipal Maderna as an accused in the rape and murder of nurse and midwife Bhanwari Devi late last month.

The case received attention from the media after Amarchand, the victim's husband threatened self-immolation.

He maintained that the minister's name had been removed from the complaint he had filed.

A month after the case was registered, he claimed that investigations were purposefully moving slowly.

Opposition party BJP is also putting pressure on the minister to resign.

Maderna is the son of prominent Jat community leader Parasram Maderna and represents the Osian constituency of Jodhpur in the state assembly.

NRI girl sweet-talked into marriage, deserted; Police register case

A young NRI woman from Muscat was enticed over the internet by the owner of a professional studies college to come to India, given a job in the college, got married to him and was deserted after 20 days. Police have registered a criminal case against the man who along with his family is absconding.
The police said they have registered a criminal case against the culprits under stringent sections of the Indian Penal Code - for rape and demanding dowry.
The family is untraceable although the father of the man claimed that his son is responsible for the crime. "But why have the parents deserted their home and are not accepting her as their daughter in law," the Station Officer (SO) Alka Agrawal told the IANS correspondent. Agarwal had asked the boy's parents the same question.
The 22-year-old graduate from Muscat said: "I trusted his false statement that he can't afford to lose me." The man hid her in a hotel for 20 days after their formal and legal marriage that was solemnized on Aug 16 this year.
When she insisted on visiting his house, the man - the son of a steel trader who runs a professional institute - told her to wait for 10 minutes at the hotel Krishna Sagar after checking out from their room on Sep 9. He told her to wait so that he could convince his parents to accept her as the bride, but he never returned, the woman told this IANS correspondent in the police station.
When the man did not return after the promised 10 minutes on Sep 9, she went to his residence where she had to wait outside the main gate of their residence at RDC-23. The entire family had deserted the house. The maid did not allow her to come inside but reluctantly gave her a glass of water through the closed gate on her request.
The next day she approached the Kavi Nagar police station. The mobile number of the man was found switched off when police sub inspector Deepak Shukla tried to call him while his father, who was contacted on the phone, promised to come to the police station to resolve the issue - but he too has not shown up so far. The police also have not located the place from where he spoke, the woman said.
Giving details of her meeting with the man, the woman said she was trapped by his sweet talk on phone. He insisted that she come to India, offered a job of Manager HR in his institute - Virtuosic Institute of Professional Studies at B-4 RDC Raj Nagar Ghaziabad. He provided her accommodation in a hotel and then deserted her.
She braved opposition from her family to come to India. Her mother was against the boy, she said, but she decided to go ahead. "Now, I have nowhere to complain," she said.
The police registered the case after all efforts to call the man and his family failed. Although the family is in close touch with the police through phone calls but they are not showing up. The woman is keen for the issue to be settled through the police's initiative, but has to wait till the police arrest him.
Alka Agrawal said "We have initiated legal action in the case and hope to arrest the culprit soon. His father has promised to come shortly to us."

Men 'happier than women with their work-life balance'

A new study has found that men are consistently happier than women with their work-life balance.
It found that women across all demographics are 33 per cent unhappier than their male counterparts.
According to a survey of more 670 North American while-collar workers sponsored by Captivate Networks, a digital media company, men are 25 per cent happier at work than women, 8 per cent happier at home and 75 per cent of them report being able to balance their work and personal lives.
"The disparity between men and women when it comes to work-life balance is telling," Live Science quoted Dr. Gilda Carle, a psychotherapist specializing in work-life issues, as saying
"It reflects the reality that while women are as active as men in the workplace, they're still expected to bear most of the responsibility for domestic activities," she added.
Nearly 87 per cent of respondents indicated that work-life balance affects their health -- particularly women, who report more stress, headaches, muscle tension, weight gain and depress than their male counterparts.