Recent achievements by Indian sportsmen

Some significant sports news:

1. Its the first time in history of Indian tennis that Indian have advanced to second round of a grand slam tennis tournament in both men's and women's signles. Congradulations and best wishes to sania Mirza and Somdev Ddevvarman, and to all Indians. There are also two more Indians, Mahesh Bhupati and Leander Paes, with different partners particiapting in Men's Doubles and Mixed Doubles. In Mixed Doubles they hold top two seedings.

2. Force One, the team owned by Vijay Mallya, in Formula 1 GP motoracing has one points for the first time. Its car came second.

3. Nehru Cup football tournament was recently held in Delhi where 5 countries other than India participated. India won the title. For the semi-finals and finals, the stadium stnads were full to capacity. Hope this is representative of increasing popularity of sports other than cricket. All India Football Federation has announced cash awards for each player of the winning team

Indian Human Rights Commission considering special guidelines on healthcare

National Human Right Commission in India is preparing comprehensive guidelines on healthcare with special emphasis on mental illnesses and communicable diseases. The rights body had recently expressed concern over violation of right specially of persons suffering with mental illnesses. One NHRC member has noted, "there are instances where mentally challenged persons who require long stay in medical care have been languishing in hospitals in absence of rehabilitation measures".

I find it noteworthy that healthcare is being treated as basic human right and that mental illnesses are being considered as an illnesses and which can be and need to be addressed. If India really walks on this path then I hope that emphasis will gradually shift from illness to health, both physical health and mental health

4 lakh solar energy systems installed in rural india in 3 years

The Government has said that over four lakh solar energy run systems were installed across the country in last three years.

"Around 4,10,500 solar energy run appliances including home lighting systems, lanterns, street lights, SPV pumps and cookers were installed in the last three fiscals," New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah said while replying to a Rajya Sabha query on Monday.

The research supported by the ministry has helped in improving the efficiency of solar cells from 12-13 percent to 14-16 percent, Abdullah added.

India to have third researchs station in Antartica

Next January when summer begins in Antartica, India will start constructing its third research station. It will be located at Larsemann Hills region, which scientists believe broke away from Indian penninsula 120 million years ago and drifted to Antartica after break up of Gondwanaland continent. It has received nod from Antartic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ACTM). ACTM, formed as per the provisions of Antartic Treaty 1959, is the final international authority in the matters related to the icy continent.

Himachal Pradesh achives 'two-child' target

Himachal Pradesh, a Himalayan state of India, has become the 10th Indian state to achieve the target of two children per couple and not more. This means the state has achived total fertility rate of two or less children per couple. It recently received the congradulatory letter from Union Health Ministry.

State Health Department sources attributed the distinction to better health infrastructure in the state.

More than 75 percent of villages have accessibility to health sub-centres within a distance of three kms and 94.5 percent of them have a PHC within 10 kms, they said.

Indian Banks to reemburse within 12 days for failed ATM transaction

The Reserve Bank of India asked banks to reimburse customers the amount wrongfully debited from their accounts in failed ATM transactions within 12 days of the customer complaint.


Failure to re-credit within 12 working days will require the bank to pay a compensation of Rs 100 per day and this will be credited on the same day when the bank pays back the debited amount for the failed ATM transaction, it said.

"It is mandatory for the banks to reimburse the customers, the amount wrongfully debited on account of failed ATM transactions, within a maximum period of 12 working days," the central bank said in a notification.

RBI said it has received a number of complaints regarding non-adherence of banks to the instructions and that different banks have put in place different cut-off limits for cash withdrawals for other bank customers.

The issuer bank, RBI said, is entitled to claim such compensation from the acquirer bank if delay is attributed to the latter.

Also, the ATM network operators will have to compensate the banks for any delay on their part.

The central bank instructed the banks to extend the scope of concurrent audit to cover cases of delay in reimbursing the customers for failed ATM transactions.

courtsey: www.ddinews.gov.in

Muslim Priests at Hindu temple in Kashmir

900 years old Shiva temple is situated on the banks of Lidder river in Kashmir. It has images of Ganesh, Parvati and Hanuman carved in stone. The temple also houses a natural spring. It was built by Raja JaiSuria, once it was a stop for pilgrims going on Amarnath yatra (pilgrimage). It was by a locan organisation of kashmiri pandits headed by Pandit Radha Krishen. After his migration out of the Kashmir Valley, the temple became property of the sate archeology department. While leaving Pandit gave charge of the temple to his friend Abdul Bhat and asked to keep the gates open. After his transfer away in 2004, Muhammad Abdullah and Ghulam Hassan are entrusted with the task of maintaining the temple. They claim to have kept the temple open in spite of threats from militants. They wish that pandits return to valley.