Shutdown by Maoists in Nepal affects industries

Marchwar (Nepal), May 18 (ANI): The Maoist insurgency in Marchwar district of Nepal has led to huge industrial losses, as both industrialists and workers are facing problems due to recent shutdown called by the Maoists.

Talking to reporters, Bidur Dhungana, General Manager of Jagdamba Cement, said: ” The shutdown has affected transport services because of which the goods are not delivered on time.

“The shutdown has affected transport services because of which in the hilly areas, there is lack of food supply…common people are not receiving the supply on time, which has led to increase in prices, and instead of industrial growth there is a downfall. If the situation remains the same it shall worsen things for the country,” Dhungana said.

The daily-wage worker has been the most affected by the shutdowns.

“The situation has led to problems. What will the common man do in case of such shutdowns? How will they earn? How will we pay them salary? For businessmen, it”s not that huge a concern but for those who survive on daily wages, for them it”s a huge concern,” said Ganesh K Nelsan, Managing Director of Ayur Shri Private Limited.

Manufactured goods are not reaching the market on time, which has affected supply and demand, both.

Even though large-scale industries are surviving, cottage and small-scale industries are facing a lot of problems.

The shutdowns are threatening the entire economy of Nepal, as they have already hit the industrial sector hard.

On May 9, police had scuffled with Maoists supporters and fired teargas shells after demonstrators tried to picket a government building in Kathmandu.

The violence came a day after the Maoists called off an indefinite strike on May 8 demanding that the government step down.

The strike, which shutdown shops and stopped all transportation entirely, had literally paralysed the Himalayan nation since May 2.

The strike was called off due to both domestic and international pressure on the Maoists to find a more peaceful means to get their message through. (ANI)

Supreme Court allows Reddy brothers to mine in undisputed areas

New Delhi, May 10 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Monday gave permission to the Reddy brothers to mine in undisputed areas, but said it should not be within 150 metres of the Karnataka border.

Janardhan Reddy and his brother Karunakara Reddy, both ministers in Karnataka Government, are facing allegations of illegal mining of iron ores by encroaching upon a large chunk of forest land in the area causing huge damage to the environment.

Earlier, the apex court had appointed a Survey of India (SoI) panel to conduct a detailed mapping of the three mines of the Reddy brothers. The SoI submitted its report, saying mining should not be allowed till a fresh demarcation of the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border is complete.

The SoI panel had given its nod to Reddy”s 68.5-hectare iron ore mine, asserting that there was no major encroachment. The panel said that of the 68.5 hectares, only 66 hectares could be mined.

The remaining 2.5 hectares were set aside for road construction. The panel found the Reddys mining all 68.5 hectares.

The apex court had on March 22 suspended the Reddy brothers”” mining operations in Andhra Pradesh and ordered a survey team to examine the allegations and submit an interim report within two weeks.

The apex court had asked the survey team to monitor the six mines on the Andhra-Karnataka border – three of which belong to the Reddys – to check whether or not they encroached on forestland.

Tumti Iron Ore owner Tapal Ganesh had filed a police complaint in 2006 alleging that the Reddy brothers were encroaching on his mine and later filed a petition in the Supreme Court in 2009. (ANI)

Prime petitioner against Reddy brothers attacked in Bellary

Bellary (Karnataka), Mar 29 (ANI): Tumti Iron Ore owner Tapal Ganesh, on whose plea the Supreme Court suspended the Reddy brothers mining operations in Andhra Pradesh, was on Monday attacked by an eight-member gang in Bellary.

Police said Ganesh and two of his brothers were attacked when they were waiting outside a hotel here to meet the officials of the Survey of India team that has been formed by the Supreme Court to see if the reserved forest areas have been encroached by the Obulapuram Mining Company, owned by G Janardhana Reddy.

Attackers armed with sticks also beat up four media personnel, before fleeing the spot in a car, added the police.

The police later shifted the injured mine owners to a hospital and are investigating the incident.

Ganesh is a third-generation miner who is fighting a battle against Obalapuram Mining, owned by the infamous Reddy brothers – Janardhana and Karunakara.

His mine lies on the Karnataka side of the border while the Reddy brothers” mine on the Andhra side – both adjoining.

Ganesh had filed a police complaint in 2006 alleging that Reddy brothers were encroaching on his mine and later filed a petition in the Supreme Court in 2009.

The five-member Survey of India team formed by the Apex court has been meeting officials of the forest and mines and geology department for obtaining details of the six mines on the Andhra-Karnataka border.

The Supreme Court had on March 22 suspended the Reddy brothers mining operations in Andhra Pradesh and ordered a survey team to examine the allegations and submit an interim report within two weeks.

The Apex court had also asked the survey team to monitor the six mines on the Andhra-Karnataka border – three of which belong to the Reddys – to check whether or not they encroach on forestland.

The case will be taken up for next hearing on April 9. (ANI)

Prime petitioner against Reddy brothers attacked in Bellary

Bellary (Karnataka), Mar 29 (ANI): Tumti Iron Ore owner Tapal Ganesh, on whose plea the Supreme Court suspended the Reddy brothers mining operations in Andhra Pradesh, was on Monday attacked by an eight-member gang in Bellary.

Police said Ganesh and two of his brothers were attacked when they were waiting outside a hotel here to meet the officials of the Survey of India team that has been formed by the Supreme Court to see if the reserved forest areas have been encroached by the Obulapuram Mining Company, owned by G Janardhana Reddy.

Attackers armed with sticks also beat up four media personnel, before fleeing the spot in a car, added the police.

The police later shifted the injured mine owners to a hospital and are investigating the incident.

Ganesh is a third-generation miner who is fighting a battle against Obalapuram Mining, owned by the infamous Reddy brothers – Janardhana and Karunakara.

His mine lies on the Karnataka side of the border while the Reddy brothers” mine on the Andhra side – both adjoining.

Ganesh had filed a police complaint in 2006 alleging that Reddy brothers were encroaching on his mine and later filed a petition in the Supreme Court in 2009.

The five-member Survey of India team formed by the Apex court has been meeting officials of the forest and mines and geology department for obtaining details of the six mines on the Andhra-Karnataka border.

The Supreme Court had on March 22 suspended the Reddy brothers mining operations in Andhra Pradesh and ordered a survey team to examine the allegations and submit an interim report within two weeks.

The Apex court had also asked the survey team to monitor the six mines on the Andhra-Karnataka border – three of which belong to the Reddys – to check whether or not they encroach on forestland.

The case will be taken up for next hearing on April 9. (ANI)

Wildlife organization introduces alternative elephant training techniques

Thiruvananthpuram, Mar 25 (ANI): In an attempt to introduce an alternative to traditional elephant training methods in India, the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) is organizing a series of workshops.

Australian animal trainer Andrew McLean is supervising workshops.

According to WTI, the initiative is supported by the Working for Animals, Australia which aims to sensitize concerned authorities on the need and availability of a new elephant training methods throughout the World.

The first workshop was organized on Wednesday in Triruvananthapuram, in collaboration with the Kerala Forest Department.

McLean demonstrated the “Positive Learning Method,” on captive elephants to over 70 participants including forest department officials, veterinarians, elephant owners among others.

“Elephant training like the teaching of any species involves capturing their motivations and rewarding correct responses. Science gives us an enlightened toolbox with which we can teach elephants to do what we want in a much faster and safer way than traditional methods,” McLean said.

“My experience in Nepal showed that change could occur so swiftly that the Nepalese Government committed a five-year plan for us to prove our positive learning method. If successful, our method would be made mandatory throughout Nepal,” he added.

The WTI claimed that currently, there are about 4000 captive elephants across India and all of these elephants have undergone traditional training methods, which are considered, by many, a painful exercise for the animals.

“These training methods have continued to thrive for lack of awareness about availability of alternative methods,” said NVK Ashraf, Director, Wild Rescue Programme, WTI.

Addressing the workshop, the Kerala Elephant Owners’ Federation, president K B Ganesh Kumar, opined that there is a need for establishing elephant training facility to popularize better training methods among trainers.

In a statement the WTI said the workshops target authorities within the government and non-governmental institutions as well as other stakeholders including elephant owners, trainers and experts concerned with captive elephant welfare, to prompt favorable changes in the traditional training methods.

The WTI said that in addition to Kerala, the workshops would also be conducted in Assam, which has the highest captive elephant population and in Delhi to introduce the concept to relevant policymakers.

The Asian elephant has been associated with various aspects of Indian culture and religion for thousands of years. Taming and training of elephants for war, temple festivals and timber yards has been a tradition in India since time immemorial.

There are ancient texts and scriptures that deal in depth with matters of trapping, training and treatment of elephants. This tradition is especially strong in the states of Assam and Kerala.

Trapping and training elephants is an ancient art and science in India but has been found to be risky to the trainers involved. (ANI)

Curfew relaxed in communal-hit Maharashtra towns

Sangli (Maharashtra), Sep 9(ANI): Curfew in the riot-hit towns of Sangli, Miraj and Ichalkaranji in Maharashtra was relaxed on Wednesday, as the situation was gradually improving.

Communal clashes had broken out at in Miraj town and Sangli city last week.

Trouble started on September 3 (Anant Chaturdashi Day), when some pro-Hindutva organisations tried to raise an arch on the immersion procession route, depicting the killing of the Mughal warrior Afzal Khan by Maratha King Shivaji. This led to group clashes.

An all party meeting was held in Mumbai on Tuesday during which a peace formula was worked out.

Meanwhile, Sarvajanik Ganesh mandal representatives in Miraj have decided to immerse the idols tomorrow. (ANI)

Brown does a U-turn, vows to support IRA victims suing Libya

London, Sep. 7 (ANI): Hours after refusing to get involved in the issue, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has vowed to support IRA victims’ families in their fight to get compensation from Libya.

He declared that he would set up teams of Foreign Office officials dedicated to helping victims and their loved ones sue Libya.

“I care enormously about the impact of all IRA atrocities on the victims, their families and friends,” The Sun quoted him, as saying.

Earlier, Brown had written to the families’ lawyers saying a compensation bid would be fruitless, and insisted that it was more important to keep Libyan dictator Colonel Gaddafi as a friend on terrorism and trade.

However, he took a U-turn after his letter surfaced.

But his move added fuel to the lingering row over the Lockerbie bomber, in which critics claim terminally-ill Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi was freed to protect oil and trade deals with Libya.

“I believe the reason why the Government is not asking Libya for an apology or compensation is because of one oil deal with BP. I really believe that. It breaks my heart if we are doing deals for oil with the lives of British citizens,” said Jonathan Ganesh, who was injured in the 1996 Docklands bomb in London.

Furious campaigners pointed out that former US President George Bush forced a 1.5 billion dollar compensation settlement for terror victims out of Gaddafi, despite threats of an end to trade deals with America.

Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: “The Prime Minister’s announcement is a stunning admission that the Government has failed to support the families of the victims of IRA terrorism in their pursuit of compensation from Libya.”

On Sunday, cancer specialist Professor Karol Sikora revealed that Libya’s government had paid to say that Megrahi had just three months to live.

He confirmed he had originally given the terror convict one year to live. But he later changed his mind when he was told he would only be freed if his life expectancy was three months or less. (ANI)

Devotees throng famous Lalbag Ganesha shrine in Mumbai

Mumbai, Sep 7 (ANI): After the conclusion of the ten-day Ganesha Chaturthi, devotees on Sunday made a beeline to the famous ‘Lalbag ka Raja’ shrine in Mumbai.

Devotees came to seek blessings from the reverent deity, Lord Ganesha, during the Ganesha Chaturthi festival and offered coconuts.

“This year a lot many devotees visited ‘Lalbag ka Raja’ and sought blessings from Lord Ganesha. As a result plenty of coconuts were offered by devotees to the god,” said Satish Khankar, President of the shrine.

“Those of our friends and relatives who cannot visit Lalbag during the festival, we are buying coconuts for them and will distribute it to all those who need it,” said Shailesh, a devotee.

The Ganesh Chaturthi festival began August 23. At the end of the 10-day long festival, the idols of Lord Ganesha were taken in grand processions and immersed in water bodies.

Ganesh Chaturthi, the most important festival in Maharashtra is also celebrated in southern states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. (ANI)

Ganesha Chaturthi festival charms devotees across the country

Bhubaneshwar/ Bangalore, Aug.23 (ANI): On the occasion of Ganesha Chaturthi (birthday), many devotees in different parts of the country like to pay their special obeisance to Lord Ganesha in distinct ways.

In Bhubaneshwar, an artist has sculpted Lord Ganesha idols from soap for the 10-day annual Ganesha Chaturthi which commenced on Sunday (Aug.23).

Rao sculpted different kinds of idols of Lord Ganesha to exhibit them during the festival. Till date, he has sculpted 36 idols with soap.

“Ganesh festival has arrived and so I am sculpting different models of Lord Ganesha from different soaps. During Ganesha festival people including kids will come to watch these idols. I will teach the art free of cost to kids who are interested to learn,” said L. Eshwara Rao, an artisan.

In Bangalore, a man is running a museum where he has exhibited a wide variety of Ganesha idols for people.

S.Tyagarajan is a collector of Ganesha idols and has put on display 2,000 different idols of the deity in his museum.

He started collecting Ganesha idols after the death of his wife who was a devotee of Lord Ganesha.

Tyagarajan procured some of the idols from his friends living overseas. He says that people feel rejuvenated after visiting the museum.

“I see in everybody’s face who come to see my museum happiness. And they say that there is some sort of positive energy and positive aura when they come inside the museum. And some of them say that here they get a sort of feeling that they felt when they meditated when they come in museum,” said S.Tyagarajan, owner of a museum of Lord Ganesha.

Ganesha Chaturthi is one of the most important festivals of Hindus in India.

On the concluding day of the festival, the idols are carried in grand processions and immersed in rivers or seas.

Lord Ganesha, is one of the most revered Gods of Hindus, and is worshipped at the beginning of every auspicious occasion.

Ganesha, as the God of knowledge is described as “Vinayaka”and as remover of obstacles he is called “Vighanharta”. He is worshipped at the beginning of every auspicious occasion for blessings of luck and success.

The son of Shiva and Parvati, Ganesha has an elephantine countenance with a curved trunk and big ears, and a huge pot-bellied body of a human being.

He is revered as the Lord of success and destroyer of evils and obstacles besides being worshipped as the God of education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth.

Legend has it once Goddess Parvati, while bathing, created a boy out of the dirt of her body and assigned him the task of guarding the entrance to her bathroom. When Lord Shiva, her husband returned, he was surprised to find a stranger denying him access, and struck off the boy’s head in rage.

Parvati broke down in utter grief and to soothe her, Shiva sent out his squad (gana) to fetch the head of any sleeping being who was facing the north. The company found a sleeping elephant and brought back its severed head, which was then attached to the body of the boy. Shiva restored its life and made him the leader (pati) of his troops.

Hence, his name ‘Ganapati’. Shiva also bestowed a boon that people would worship him and invoke his name before undertaking any venture. By Sarda Lahangir / Jaipal Sharma (ANI)

Swine flu as Ganesh Chaturthi’s theme in Pune

Pune, Aug 21 (ANI): Organisers of the hugely popular Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Pune take up swine flu as festival theme to spread awareness among the people.

The highlights of the festival are fibre mannequins wearing swine flu masks erected by talented artists in the Pune

These special mannequins will have audio-visual support to convey the message regarding swine flu precautions. Some of them are portrayed as school going kids, teachers, doctors all are shown wearing masks.

“During this 10-day Ganesh festival, we have started an awareness programme about swine flu. The aim is to aware people about the flu. Also, there will be allopathic, homeopathic and ayurvedic doctors in the festival, who will provide medication to those who need,” said Srikant Shete, President of Kasba Sarwajanik Ganesh Mandal, Pune.

Another motive is to remind people to take precautions and avoid swine flu infection during the celebration.

India recorded its first H1N1 case in Hyderabad in May and since then the virus has spread across the country with dozens of cases from western Pune city. The latest death toll in India is 33. (ANI)

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Maharashtra Govt may allow private hospitals to treat Swine Flu patients

Mumbai, Aug.9 (ANI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on Sunday said that his Government was considering a proposal to allow private hospitals fulfilling Government guidelines to treat swine flu cases.

Chavan on Sunday convened a five-hour-long high-level meeting on the Swine Flu situation in the State, which has seen three of the four H1N1 deaths recorded in the country.

Interacting with the mediamen, Chavan said: “A decision on the issue would be taken in two days after a meeting with private hospital managements.”

“Those private hospitals who are willing to set up isolated wards and follow Government of India’s guidelines would be considered,” he added.

There are, however, no restrictions on private doctors examining suspected cases, Chavan said.

Chavan said people should wear masks in public place.

A doctor should send suspected cases to screening centres, which would take throat swab to get it tested for swine flu, the CM added.

Chavan asked people to restrict movement at public places. He, however, announced that it would be up to school managements to decide on closing the school in view of the swine flu.

Meanwhile, a meeting of all Ganesh mandals and Dahihandi mandals would be convened on Monday to discuss ways of minimising spread of swine flu. It is because hundreds of thousands of people throng the streets during Ganeshotsav and Dahihandi celebrations. (ANI)

Big B, Richard Gere Together In Teen Patti

Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan will be seen sharing screen with Hollywood actor Richard Gere.

Gere, favourite lover boy of the late 80′s and early 90′s, will make his Bollywood debut with Bib B in Ambika Hinduja’s long awaited Teen Patti, which is all set to be a star-studded affair.

A unit member said, The makers wanted an international name for the cameo. Though other names were also in consideration, they decided on the Pretty Woman actor who is well known to the Indian audience not only as a Hollywood star but also as an AIDS activist who frequently travels to India.

Before signing up Richard, the film makers assigned Pierce Brosnan to do the cameo role but he refused to do so.

While confirming the news, a source said, The makers wanted an international name for the cameo. Though other names were also in consideration, they decided on the Pretty Woman actor who is well known to the Indian audience not only as a Hollywood star but also as an AIDS activist who frequently travels to India.

In 2007, Gere made headlines when he kissed Shilpa Shetty, winner of the British reality television show “Celebrity Big Brother,” several times on the cheek at an anti-AIDS show in New Delhi.

Gere has been a regular Indian visitor, and he has good link with Parmeshwar Godrej with regard to AIDS awareness causes.

In Teen Patti, Mr. Bachchan plays the character of a professor who tutors five of his most brilliant students to accomplish the mission of high-stake gambling, but with a cause.

Directed by Leena Yadavh, the star cast of the film includes Madhavan and novices, Siddharth Kher, Dhruv Ganesh, Vaibhav Talwar and Shraddha Kapoor (daughter of Shakti Kapoor).

And rumors are spreading that the movie is inspired by English movie 21.

Madhya Pradesh chief minister’s chopper makes emergency landing (Lead)

Bhopal, April 11 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had a narrow escape Saturday as the helicopter he was travelling in had to make an emergency landing after developing a technical snag, an official said.

The chief minister was on his way to Rampur village in the state’s Satna district to address an election meeting for Ganesh Singh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Satna constituency, when the chopper developed a snag, Satna district collector Sukhbeer Singh told IANS over telephone.

Nominations close in Mumbai, Thane for the last phase

Mumbai, April 9 (IANS) Nominations for the last 10 of Maharashtra’s 48 Lok Sabha constituencies – six in Mumbai and four in neighbouring Thane that go to the polls April 30 in the third phase of elections – ended here Thursday.

Top political heavyweights who have filed nominations in the past few days include Ram Naik, Gurudas Kamat, Abu Asim Azmi and young leaders like Milind Deora, Sanjay Nirupam and Priya Dutt, besides several newcomers from different parties.

The 10 constituencies are: Mumbai North, Mumbai North-East, Mumbai North-West, Mumbai North-Central, Mumbai South-Central and Mumbai South; Thane, Bhiwandi, Kalyan and Palghar.

The main contest in the region will be between the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) combine and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Shiv Sena alliance.

However, this time, other parties like Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party and Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have also put up candidates in many constituencies, spelling trouble for the main contenders.

Among the 10 constituencies, the Congress will clash against Shiv Sena in Mumbai South, Mumbai South-Central and Mumbai North-West and against the BJP in Mumbai North and Mumbai North-Central, Bhiwandi and Palghar.

This time, the NCP will be pitted against the BJP in Mumbai North-East, and the Sena in Thane and Kalyan.

The contestants include seven sitting MPs, four legislators and members of legislative council.

In a rare occurrence, two sitting MPs will be in direct contest in Mumbai South, thanks to the delimitation exercise which has changed the face of most constituencies. The Congress’s Deora will fight Sena’s Mohan Rawale.

The MNS’s Bala Nandgaonkar will contest from Mumbai South, giving a tough time to Rawale, while two Muslim candidates – BSP’s Mohammed Ali Shaikh and Samajwadi Party’s cleric-turned-politician Maulana Syed Athar Ali, indicate rough days for Deora.

At the other end of the city, Mumbai North, former central minister Ram Naik will lock horns with former Sena MP and former journalist, Congress candidate Sanjay Nirupam. The MNS has also put up Shirish Parker, a close confidant of Raj Thackeray.

In the neighbouring Mumbai North-West seat, the Congress’ strongman Gurudas Kamat is pitted against Sena heavyweight Gajanand Kirtikar and Samajwadi Party state chief Abu Asim Azmi and the MNS’s Shalini Thackeray, the first-ever Thackeray ‘bahu’ (daughter-in-law) to contest an election.

Priya Dutt will be in a direct contest against the BJP’s Mahesh Jethmalani, ace criminal lawyer and son of former minister Ram Jethmalani. However, the Samajwadi Party has not put up a candidate here though the BSP’s Haji Ibrahim Shaikh is in the fray.

Mumbai South-Central will see the Congress’s Eknath Gaikwad lock horns with Sena MLA Suresh Gambhir, while Mumbai North-East will witness a contest between the BJP’s Kirit Somaiya and the NCP’s Sanjay Patil.

In the neighbouring district of Thane, state Excise Minister Ganesh Naik’s son Sajeev Naik will contest against Vijay Chougule of the Sena, deputy chairman of Maharashtra Legislative Council (the sole MLC in the fray), and the NCP’s Vasant Davkhare will fight against the Sena’s Anand Paranjpe in Kalyan.

Bhiwandi will see a contest between the Congress’ Suresh Taware and the BJP’s Jagannath Patil, and in Palghar the Congress’s Damu Shingda will fight against the BJP’s Chintaman Wanga.

Besides these seasoned politicians, non-politicians are also in the fray for the first time. They include a banker, ABN-Amro’s country chief Meera Sanyal (Mumbai South), Professionals Party of India (PPI)’s Mona Shah (Mumbai South) and Rajendra Thacker of PPI in Mumbai North.

There is nothing Dharavi about Dharavi

IT’S LUNCHTIME at a Tamil wedding in a local Ganesh temple and you expect to hear strains of the nadaswaram. Instead, you hear Shakira insisting that her “hips don’t lie”, followed by Sean Paul claiming he’s “got the right temperature to shelter you from the storm”.

This is Dharavi. “And please don’t call it Asia’s largest slum,” says 24-year-old Sudarshan Sukumar, a stocky leather goods trader who grew up here.

Home to more than 7 lakh people, including Tamils, Maharashtrians, migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Muslims, Dharavi is on the brink of a transformation. A multi-crore project hopes to erase the thousands of 8 foot by 10 foot shanties spread over 550 acres and replace them with towering luxury commercial and residential spaces.

In one corner, buildings constructed by the government will house the original residents, who will each get a small, 225-square-foot flat as compensation for the loss of their shanties. “But this is not just a slum,” says Vishwanath Nikam, a local activist.

“Dharavi is a way of life. Each group of shanties is home to a little community and those communities will be destroyed if they are transferred to vertical matchboxes of living space.

” Where will the Kumbhars make their earthen pots, Nikam asks. Where will the women dry the chillies and dal for their famous pickles and papads? For the 11 lakh voters registered here, the acknowledgment that Dharavi has grown beyond a den of counterfeit goods and small-time thugs is a key demand ahead of the general election.

After all, it could mean the difference between unemployment and a good job. “Today, if we say we are from Dharavi, our job applications get turned down.

We don’t get loans,” says Palraj Balasingh a 25-year-old Tamilian who has grown up here and now works at an education trust. “What people outside don’t realise is that things have changed,” Balasingh adds, in fluent if accented English.

Dharavi has its own local economy, disorganised but thriving. And there’s more to the tiny units now than the knockoff Prada and Gucci tags that look astonishingly like the originals.

Efficient units produce bags, clothes and shoes that are exported around the world, netting a total of $650 million a year. Walk through the narrow, sunshine-deprived bylanes and you’ll see tannery workers washing animal skins.

Further down is the kumbharwada, where potters are readying earthen pots in time to meet the summer demand. Next are garment manufacturers, beyond that a plastic recycling unit.

The outer periphery is more presentable. Small, glass-fronted shops sell the city’s most popular – and most economical – leather goods.

The slum is the supply chain, the brand and the marketing strategy. The families who have move into the government-built apartments already cannot afford to pay the monthly maintenance dues.

Many are selling the flats and moving to the outer reaches of the city, where space is easier to find and living is more affordable. In Dharavi, they are hoping their leaders who will ensure that the benefits of development reach them.

And, for now, they are focussing on shedding the tag of Asia’s biggest slum. “The only thing that is not manufactured here is currency,” grins 49-year-old K. Thangapandi, a resident of 30 years.

Nasscom names Genpact’s Pramod Bhasin as chairman

Pramod Bhasin, chief executive officer of Genpact Ltd, has been appointed chairman of the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) for 2009/10, the IT trade body said on Thursday.

Bhasin, who is also a president of Genpact, takes over from Ganesh Natarajan as chairman of NASSCOM’s executive council.

Harsh Manglik, who is the chairman and geography managing director for Accenture in India, has been appointed the vice chairman of the council, NASSCOM added.

One killed, 15 feared injured in Assam blast

Guwahati, Mar 31 (ANI): At least one person was killed and 15 others were feared to be injured in a bomb blast that occurred at about 6.00 to 6.15 p.m. at Jyoti Kuchi area in western Guwahati.

The incident occurred during the External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s visit in Assam.

Mukherjee was addressing media at a city hotel in Pan Bazar, about three kilometres from the blast site in Lal Ganesh area, when the bomb blast occurred.

According to the police, the bomb was planted on a parked motor cycle and went off in the area which was packed with evening shoppers and vendors.

Mukherjee during his interaction with media said that terrorists might strike during the election time.

“We fear terrorist attacks. But having said that, we are ready to counter such threats,” Pranab Mukherjee said. (ANI)

One killed, 15 feared injured in Assam blast

Guwahati, Mar 31 (ANI): At least one person was killed and 15 others were feared to be injured in a bomb blast that occurred at about 6.00 to 6.15 p.m. at Jyoti Kuchi area in western Guwahati.

The incident occurred during the External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s visit in Assam.

Mukherjee was addressing media at a city hotel in Pan Bazar, about three kilometres from the blast site in Lal Ganesh area, when the bomb blast occurred.

According to the police, the bomb was planted on a parked motor cycle and went off in the area which was packed with evening shoppers and vendors.

Mukherjee during his interaction with media said that terrorists might strike during the election time.

“We fear terrorist attacks. But having said that, we are ready to counter such threats,” Pranab Mukherjee said. (ANI)

SP, RLD, BJP leaders join BSP in UP

Lucknow, Mar. 4 (ANI): Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, some sitting MLAs and MLCs of Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Lok Dal and BJP have resigned from the state assembly and council to join the Bahujan Samaj Party.

SP MLAs Gauri Shanker from Malihabad and Dhani Ram Verma from Auraiya, RLD MLA Kadir Rana from Morana and BJP MLA Rajiv Trehan alias Rajiv Channa from Moradabad (west) resigned from the house and their parties.

On Wednesday, the MLAs submitted their resignation to Assembly Speaker Sukhdeo Rajbhar, which was accepted.

After joining the BSP, the SP members accused that the party had joined hands with communal forces.

However, the resigning BJP leaders alleged the party of singing Ayodhya issue only at the time of elections.

Members of Legislative Council who resigned from the House included BJP MLC Ghanshyam, Ganesh Shanker Pandey of SP and Surendra Singh Nagar of RLD. (ANI)