1
ST
 JAN, 2013     EVENING NEWS   1920 HRS
THE HEADLINES
• Celebrations and fireworks mark the arrival of New Year across Asia, India
witnesses a subdued celebration in the wake of tragic death of a 23-year-old girl.
• President Pranab Mukherjee asks the youth to follow the book of humanity
rather than using education to secure a good job or income.
• Direct cash transfer of subsidy to bank accounts of beneficiaries in 20
districts rolled out on New Year’s Day.
• The Government says the demand for a special session of Parliament
could be considered only after Justice Verma Committee submits its
recommendations.
Celebrations and fireworks marked the arrival of 2013 in New Zealand and
Australia while India witnessed a muted celebration in the wake of tragic death
of a 23-year-old girl. Sydney's skyline erupted with tons of exploding fireworks
as revelers cheered in the New Year from the city's harbor. The enthusiastic
welcome to 2013 was marked on a grand scale across Asia. In Hong Kong, this
year's 12.5 million Hong Kong dollar fireworks display is said to be the biggest
ever in the southern Chinese city. Democratic Myanmar is having a public
countdown for the first time. But in India, the celebrations of the New Year’s Eve
remained subdued across the country’s cities. All the three wings of Indian
armed forces asked its formations not to organize New Year parties this time.
President Pranab Mukherjee and Congress President Sonia Gandhi have
decided not to celebrate New Year's Day in view of the death of the Delhi gangrape victim. Opposition BJP organised a candle light vigil last night at Jantar
Mantar, the epicentre of protests. The celebration at Kohima was also a low key
affair since last night. Except the bursting of crackers at certain residential
colonies at mid-night, most people preferred to remain indoors with their
families and friends. The night temperature also hovers around five degree
Celsius for past couple of days at Kohima. However, the people in the town
today attended Church services and children with their parents were out on the
streets.
  President Pranab Mukherjee asked the country's youth to follow the book of
humanity rather than using education to secure a good job or income. He said
the purpose of education is not a good job or income but using the acquired
knowledge in the service of the nation and humankind. Quoting Mahatma
Gandhi, Mukherjee said that the Father of the nation had said real education
consists of drawing the best out of yourself. He said no better book can there
than the book of humanity. Attending the convocation of Mumbai University,
Mukherjee said in present times when the youth, caught between traditional
values and western culture, face a moral dilemma. But Gandhi's exhortation can
set many doubts at rest. Once the youth imbibe the book of humanity, many of
the divisions and conflicts in the society will meet their end, the President
observed. As part of his tour of South and West India, the President yesterday
arrived at Hyderabad to deliver P V Narasimha Rao memorial lecture. Mukherjee
said history will remember Former Prime Minister Rao as a leader who provided
leadership to the country at a crucial juncture. The country is presently getting
benefits of the economic and foreign policies introduced by late Rao. Recalling
his long time personal association with the former prime minister, the President
said that Rao was the father of economic reforms, architect of India's Look East
foreign policy and the leader who brought peace to  terror-ravaged Punjab.
Mukherjee said Rao embarked on the path of economic reforms with boldness
and selection of Manmohan Singh as Finance Minister was marvelous.
In Jammu and Kashmir, as a part of the campaign against female foeticide and
to promote the girl child, the State Health Department will dedicate year 2013 to
daughters and observe the New Year with the slogan Save the Girl Child. The
state government is also contemplating review of laws against sexual offences
and to make them more effective and stringent in tune with public sentiments.
Minister for Law and Justice, Ali Mohammad Sagar held a meeting of higher
officials of the law department to review laws relating to sexual offences. The
Law Department will also consult some experts on the subject to make it
comprehensive and effective. Necessary initiatives will be taken to provide for
fast-track investigation as well as fast track trial within the shortest period. In
Tamil Nadu, the Chief Minister Jayalaithaa announced today that women’s fasttrack courts will be set up in all districts of the state for the speedy trial of cases
including rape and sexual offences against women. She said that women
advocates will be appointed as public prosecutors in these courts. She said that
sexual offences against women will be brought under the Goondas Act.
Moreover those arrested for committing sexual offences against women will be
denied anticipatory bail and the police custody period will be increased.
  The government started direct cash transfer of subsidy to bank accounts of
beneficiaries in 20 districts from today. Finance minister P Chidambaram said
that the Direct Benefit Transfer system was being implemented in seven
schemes such as scholarships and old age pensions from January one. The
system will be rolled out in various schemes according to the due date of
payment. Announcing this at a news conference in New Delhi, Chidambaram
said the government has identified 43 districts in which the scheme will be rolled
out by the beginning of March. Chidambaram said the scheme would be
implemented in all the districts of the country by the end of 2013. The Minister
said the government has no intention to provide cash subsidy for food, fertiliser
and petroleum products at this stage as these are very complex issues and the
government needs more time to study the matter. So, the existing system will
continue for time being, he clarified.
 
Amid demands by the Opposition for convening of a special session of
Parliament to pass stringent laws on crime against women, Finance Minister P
Chidambaram has said such a decision could be taken only after Justice Verma
Committee, set up for the purpose, submits its recommendations. He said that a
special session will make sense after the government receives the report of the
three-member committee, headed by Justice J S Verma, former Chief Justice of
India. The government has appointed the Justice Verma Committee to
recommend to the centre what changes should be made in the existing laws.
Therefore, a special session of Parliament makes sense only when the report is
received by the government, Chidambaram clarified.  The committee has to
submit its report in 30 days. Meanwhile, the people across various societies are
paying homage to Delhi gang-rape victim. Traffic restrictions imposed near India
Gate and Raisina Hill to contain protests was eased on Monday.
 
North India continues to remain in the grip of a cold wave. The national capital
ushered in the New Year with bone chilling and dense fog today as the mercury
dipped to the season's lowest of four degree Celsius, affecting road, rail and air
traffic. 21 flights and 12 trains were cancelled while as 39 trains were running
late by several hours. In Uttar Pradesh, the death toll due to the cold wave has
mounted to 97. In Jammu and Kashmir, Air Force today airlift 370 passengers
stranded between Jammu and Leh belt of Ladakh.