Vice-Chancellor Dr Snehalata Deshmukh’s proposal to grant a two-year extension to M S Kambli as professor-cum-director of Institute of Distance Education was not fully accepted by the Mumbai University Management Council on Thursday. Instead, MC members decided to appoint Kambli as an Officer on Special Duty at IDE for one year till a suitable candidate is selected for the post. Thursday’s meeting had mentioned the V-C’s proposal to grant an extension-in-service to Kambli as IDE’s professor-cum-director for a period of two years. However, Kambli has already crossed the age of superannuation ie 60 years, on April 5, 1998. The proposal was amended and MC members were requested to consider the proposal for allowing Kambli as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) for a year from May 1. The V-C said the varsity will advertise and select a proper candidate for the post. Senate member Amarjit Singh Manhas had earlier written to Chancellor Dr P C Alexanderpointing out several instances of flouting rules in connection with Kambli’s proposed extension. Deshmukh did not wish to talk about the matter as the Management Council meetings are confidential. But sources admit that Kambli had been appointed as an OSD. Manhas said: “I am happy with the MC’s decision as it has ensured that deserving academicians have a chance to try for the director’s post whenever advertises for .”

Mumbai, June 25: While the Prime Minister’s scheduled visit this week has given Vidarbha’s debt-ridden farmers some hope, there’s been no ebb in suicides.

Ten farmers have killed themselves in the past three days, largely because they couldn’t repay loans.

The announcement of Manmohan Singh’s June 30-July 2 visit comes amid clear signs that the state’s special package for the farmers has failed.

The Prime Minister is expected to travel extensively through the villages of the worst-affected Amravati and Yavatmal districts.

As a prelude to Singh’s visit, Maharashtra governor S.M. Krishna toured Yavatmal and Wardha on Thursday and Friday. But while he was consoling farmer families chosen by the collectorate, four farmers in Yavatmal and one in Amravati ended their lives, and five more followed suit yesterday.

According to official figures, the spate of farmer suicides began in 2001 during chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh’s first stint in power.

A Tata Institute of Social Sciences survey (Tiss), carried out under Bombay High Court orders in response to a public interest litigation, counted 644 suicides between March 2001 and December 2004. Of this, 448 took place in Amravati.

The state’s Congress-Nationalist Congress Party government asked the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development and Research to conduct an independent study and, based on its findings, announced a special package of Rs 1,065 crore in December.

But the suicide rate, after a brief lull, rose sharply with 579 farmers killing themselves in the past 18 months.

The surveys identified several reasons for the suicides, such as inability to repay debts or to meet the rising costs of cultivation, repeated crop failures and lack of alternative or side jobs.

“The primary reason is the lack of proper agricultural policies. Unless the mismatch between the cost of production and cotton prices is resolved, the crisis will continue,” said Ajay Dandekar, who had led the TISS survey before quitting his job to float a pressure group that is fighting to resolve the problem.

Dandekar said the low import duty on cotton had impacted the price of cotton and needed to be increased.

“The Swaminath Commission had recommended that import duty be raised immediately, but the Centre didn’t implement it for two years. Even World Trade Organisation norms suggest that import duty on cotton should be hiked by 150 per cent.”

He alleged that 90 per cent of the bereaved farmer families haven’t received the Rs 1-lakh compensation.

The Prime Minister is likely to meet farmers’ representatives and personally hear the grievances of affected families, but experts like Dandekar are likely to stay away.

“We haven’t solicited an appointment with the Prime Minister. I think the Centre and the state are well aware of the problem. What is needed is political will to tackle it,” he said.

Mumbai: Maharashtra, the government is considering a settlement near the dissolution of the current confidence of the business management of the famous Saibaba temple in Shirdi and replace it with a new one.

The Shri Saibaba Than Without trust would be set to offer what the government calls a “better management”.

If this is done, the Siddhivinayak temple to the ranks of temples in Mumbai, Mahalaxmi Devsthan Kolhapur and Vithal Pandharpur in the temple, which is now a separate law trusts and laws.

The movement to safeguard the law Govindrao Adik TNN minister said Saturday, “There were many complaints of Shirdi temple management. We have therefore decided, by a separate decree to this important place of worship of the venerated by Millions of believers. ”

The regulation would be replaced by legislation the next meeting of national legislators, “said Adik. Indeed, a draft regulation was developed by the former government of Vilasrao Deshmukh, but before the regulation can be issued, Mr. Deshmukh was replaced by Sushilkumar Shinde minister.Now the first officer, the ministry also Shinde agreement.

The decision to dissolve the existing came to trust a government investigation of foreign confidence.

The probe has been accusations of mismanagement, “said Adik.

Regarding the move, chairman of the trust and former Chief Secretary DM Sukhthankar said: “The way the government itself will not inspire confidence.”

Internal squabbles and allegations of bad economy requires confidence for the past four years, but an agent who did not want to be named, claimed the main reason for the proposed acquisition by the government, wash the coffers of the temple.

“We now have more than Rs 150 crore to guard against RS 18 crore, when we are over a period of seven years. This collection is a prey for politicians concerned about the appropriation for its own projects” , “He said. The annual turnover of the Temple of RS 75 crore.

The representative also requested, under pressure had been placed temporarily to finance educational institutions, politicians, even if the funding for these agencies would not be part of the system of management of the temple by a court in Mumbai.

Mr. Sukhthankar added: “Saibaba has a very high patronage and it is not surprising that the government wants direct control.”

Regarding differences within the trust, Mr Sukhthankar said: “What people do not understand is that everyone has confidence in her womb goals and objectives. For example, we do can not in irrigation systems in areas threatened by drought, if it is not our mission management regime. ”

The management system was adopted by the city of Mumbai civil court in the early eighties, according disputes to court, receiving his appointment to the temple.

One recent disputes are spoken around the Saibaba Advanced Institute of Information Technology project, the project to establish an institute of information technology in collaboration with Dr. Vijay Bhatkar glory of the CDAC, and an “e-Temple, would offer Puja and other agencies online. Two years later, the project has run out of steam and was criticized in some quarters as inappropriate.

The Saibaba temple attracts each day 30000 trailers. The participation rate up to one lakh holidays and during festivals such as Guru Purnima, Ram Navami and Dassera.

MUMBAIL: J Jamshed Bhabha, a former chairman of the Management Board of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), died today at the Breach Candy Hospital after a long illness, TIFR officials said.

He was 94
Jamshed was the younger brother of Homi Bhabha, scientists renowned nuclear India and nuclear father. He was a member of the TIFR Council meeting management.
He was a trustee of Sir Dorabji Tata Trust philanthrophic and its institutions, including the Tata Institute of Social Sciences and the National Centre of Performing Arts.
Bhabha has been closely linked with the doyen of Indian Industry JRD Tata, and was also a director of Tata Sons.
Although a Parsee, he was cremated at Chandanwadi crematorium electrical South Mumbai.
Those present in the crematorium includeed industrial Ratan Tata, a former bureaucrat BG Deshmukh, media personality Dolly Thakur additional secretary general of the Department of Atomic Energy, VP Raja, filmmaker Vijay Mehta and director TIFR Shobo Bhattacharya.

MUMBAI, Feb. 23: The Department of State has banned higher education, female students visit their homes male teachers. The mission follows a request unprecedented report, a teacher found guilty, sexually harassing a girl on the watch personnel Mumbai Kalina campus of the University.

City university, the reaction to the new order was mixed. “This is a ridiculous attitude by the state, as you can not run a global ban on the whole community of learning, because of a handful of teachers are bad. Take action against guilty , but not such generalizations unworkable, “said Amarjit Manhas, Member of the Senate Mumbai University.Professor Jeetendra Shah of VJTI common Manhas’. “Although I have yet to see the newsletter in our college is a tragedy, now that those rules should be made. Is the first sign of decline of religious master-pupil relationship, and the police is not a solution for the social problem, “said Shah.

But Principal Kadam ofBhavan DB’s College (Andheri), and supports the new rules. “The main guiding principles in the aforementioned circular - as the most important should be immediately after receiving a written request for a harassment complaint - that the increase in cases of molestations and colleges. That’s why I I sense it is correct to go a step More girls and the prohibition of visits by their teachers at home, “he said.

Main RT Sane by Ramnarain Ruia College agreed. “Although the circular is still to reach our school, I agree that students should be discouraged houses of their professors. Admit I do not mind my daughter, a teacher at home to study,” he said.

The vice-chancellor of the University of Mumbai, Dr Snehalata Deshmukh, also felt that students should be courageous enough to ask questions in class. “The power of the majority of teachers in the staff room, in order to dispel any doubts,” remarked.

Students, on the other hand, are rather amused. “Normally, it is chamcha only species that occur in institutions theirprofessors think they still exist in private and more brands and teachers are sometimes the benefits of these students, especially in the civil engineering and medical universities . in this bulletin is in the right direction “Says a girl student of Somaiya Medical College.An Sydenham FYBCom student at the University of Economy and Trade, Namrata Bhawnani, said that the ban on young people want their teacher, “places. “Normally, if such a regulation does On paper,” she says sceptical.

Talk to Express Line News, on Monday, Deputy Secretary (Higher Education) SB Chindarkar, said: “We had a discussion in this bulletin to all educational institutions in the state as we went to several complaints sexual harassment of various schools in the region. ”

On the question of how such a ban can be misuse of authority, Chindarkar (the newsletter focuses its signature), said the decision was made after extensive interviews with officials of education, vice-chancellor and vice-chancellor.

Some theother guidelines in the circular are more important than the need to take urgent measures, including on the smallest hint of more that the character of a teacher, and that the report should be sent, the joint director of higher education.

MUMBAI: Maharashtra, the government and the City Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco), to ensure that the second project at the airport in Navi Mumbai is a minimum socio-economic impacts on residents.

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh in a recent Cidco take direction, as already node Mumbai Agency for the development of the second international airport near Panvel, in the implementation of the project, so that the number of people affected draft could be limited.

In a presentation to the CM, Cidco team, under the guidance of GS Gill said, the government that the project could result in about 16000 people. It seems frightened by a wave of protest on industrial projects, in and around Navi Mumbai, including two SEZs, CM has Cidco officials, to ensure that the proposed airport receive the persons concerned best in the rehabilitation package. Cidco informed the team that government Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), the implementation of a socio-economic impact survey in the region. The study would report the Government of a compensation package mutually agreed, the officials said.

The central government has already announced the distribution of Rs 4600 crore-second airport project and its location. The airport is proposed for more than 1600 hectares of land, of which Cidco is already in possession of 1150 acres, officials said. Process for the acquisition of 450 hectares remaining are at an advanced stage, with no major problem, said Cidco government officials.

With the site falls in the coastal region, Cidco has already submitted an application for the game, at the Coastal Zone Regulatory Authority. A Pune-based organisation central government Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) has been invited to a hydrological study. Cidco believes that the second international airport would be operational in 2012.

March 30 - MUMBAI, India - Shahani industry, the major-HR College of Commerce and Economics, was signed by the Senate of the University of Mumbai last week, is confirmed. Vice-Chancellor Vijay Khole has a newsletter, that the curriculum for vocational training BCom entitled “Principles and Practices of Insurance had been by him in accordance with the relevant provisions of theMaharashtra Universities Act, 1994.

Shahani was dismissed on the grounds that she had introduced the subject of HRCollege without registering in the curriculum approved. The circular said that the curriculum was approved by the VC “on the recommendation of the Board of Directors and studies in commerce.”

With Maharashtra Governor SM Krishna, the Chancellor of all the universities and institutions of higher education in the state, the step, and to ensure that Shahani would be a fair hearing in the case, had Khole seem d the other choice but to withdraw the dismissal. It provides at the end of the bulletin, on Tuesday evening, with a copy to the dean of the Faculty of Economics and the Chair of Studies in trade.

It has been demonstrated that the University Grants Commission had approved the study plans, which allows university, college, at the beginning of the course. The University has also been the subject of membership in the amount of Rs 10000 from the university. But if the college from the list of 27 students at the University, including the controller of the examination of Vikas Deshmukh emphasized that the subject has not yet been approved, an application very hotly disputed by the college.

Some members of the Senate on Wednesday TOI called to complain that they are up to now still in the dark of Khole. Ms. Shahani said the university needs him an excuse to cope with the humiliation.

Mumbai, April 7: WHILE members of the governance for Public Trust (PCGT) Gearbox until their first workshop, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai on Monday News Line talked with Dr. RK Anand, a founding member And the confidence is also known for his crusade At the promotion of breastfeeding. Their mission statement for PCGT seems pretty straight-forward in the fight against corruption and the importance of transparency and accountability in governance. Sounds like a lot ACtion for good governance and networking of India (AGNI)?

Not really”,”, said Dr. Anand, with a laugh. During AGNI”ist a brilliant organisation, the fact of the excellent work done during the elections and promoting various causes remarkable, they have a little too much on the flat. What we want is to fully concentrate on corruption in all its forms and measures to combat it. For example, you need a number of rule changes to deal with corruption in the medical field or in the perspective of poor transfers in the police. How many times has a success AGNI PIL against the government and the results? Our focus in these areas,’’said Dr. Anand confident.

The organization also seems to be very serious about the criticism of AGNI it is rather an elitist organization. True,”there’s nothing wrong with the elite, who are in the public domain, any initiative that seems to be elitist AGNI of effort. What we want is the grassroot organisations, NGOs, which are directly related to people who are suffering, they are the obstacles of corruption. So we thought it would be a great institution TISS, with the work, since it has already reached with the majority of social initiatives and coordinate the efforts of NGOs in the city’’said Dr. Anand.

The Organization has already AGNI of heavyweights such as former police commissioners and municipal Julio Rebeiro Satish Sawhney, former secretary-general of BG Deshmukh daCunha Gerson and activist in its fold. ”I will be even more to work intensively with AGNI, I am more than willing to lend my support and services for the trust. All the organizations concerned with the fight against corruption and to be taken seriously,’’said da Cunha.

Mumbai, April 7: WHILE members of the Public Concern for Governance Trust (PCGT) gear up for their first workshop at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences on Monday, Mumbai Newsline spoke to Dr R K Anand, one of the founding members of the trust, who is also well known for his crusade to promote breast-feeding. Their mission statement for PCGT seems straight-forward enough: to fight corruption and stress the importance of transparence and accountability in governance. Sounds quite a lot like ACtion for Good Governance and Networking in India (AGNI)?

‘‘Not really,’’ says Dr Anand, laughing. ‘‘While AGNI is a brilliant organisation that is doing great work during the elections and promoting various notable causes, they have a little too much on their plate. What we want to do is to focus entirely on corruption in all its forms and take proper action against it. For example, you need a modified set of rules for dealing with corruption in the medical field or with regard to spurious transfers in the police force. How many times has AGNI successfully launched a PIL against the government and got results? We would be concentrating in these areas,’’ says Dr Anand confidently.

The organisation seems also to be taking very seriously the criticism against AGNI of it being a rather elitist organisation. ‘‘Though there is nothing wrong with the elite getting involved in the public domain, any initiative taken by AGNI seems to be viewed as an elitist effort. What we want to do is involve grassroot organisations, NGOs working directly with the people who are suffering the impediments of corruption. So we thought that TISS would be a great institution to work with, since they already coordinate with most social initiatives and NGO efforts in the city,’’ says Dr Anand.

The organisation has already attracted AGNI heavyweights like former city police commissioners Julio Rebeiro and Satish Sawhney, former chief Secretary B G Deshmukh and activist Gerson daCunha into its fold. ‘‘Though I will still be working more intensively with AGNI, I am more than willing to extend my support and services to the trust. Any and all organisations dealing with fighting corruption have to be supported and taken seriously,’’ says da Cunha.