2100 HRS
6th February, 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Government committed to ensure better educational opportunities for students from weaker sections says Prime Minister.

• Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram launched; Programme aims at comprehensive health care for children upto 18 years of age.

• Supreme Court issues notice to Sahara Group on SEBI's contempt plea for not refunding 24,000 crore rupees to investors.

• India expresses serious concern over Islamabad's decision to hand-over strategic Gwadar port to China.

• Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta unearths disproportionate assets worth 50 crore rupees from the residence of a Chief Conservator of Forests.

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Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today said the UPA government is committed to ensure that students from the weaker sections of the society and the less developed regions get adequate access to educational opportunities. Addressing the golden jubilee celebrations of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, KVS, in New Delhi, Dr. Singh said, the government has always recognised that India can emerge as a modern country only when the citizens have access to good quality education.

"Our government has always recognized that India can emerge as a modern, progressive and prosperous country only when all our citizens have access to good quality education. We know that our country is a young country and we can reap the demographic dividend only if we have an educated and skilled workforce that would help our economy to expand and become more productive."

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The UPA Chairperson, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi launched Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram scheme in Thane district of Maharashtra today. The initiative is part of the National Rural Health Mission of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The scheme aims to provide comprehensive health care for all children upto 18 years of age.

The newborns will also be screened for birth defects in health facilities where deliveries take place and during the home visit by ASHA workers. Mrs Gandhi hoped that the objective of the National Rural Health Mission initiative to benefit 27 crore children would be achieved through effective implementation and monitoring of the scheme. She said that the scheme will be extended to all districts across the country in a phased manner. The UPA Chairperson said infant mortality rate continues to be a cause of concern despite best efforts by the Government.

Forty per cent children in the country are victims of malnutrition, which is a matter of great concern. Now, our UPA Government is bringing in a very important legislation on Food Security. And I think, with this historical step, we will be successful in providing proper nutrition to the children.

The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad was also present at the launch of the scheme.

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In fresh trouble for Sahara group, the Supreme Court today said that SEBI is free to freeze accounts and seize properties of its two companies for defying court's orders by not refunding 24,000 crore rupees to investors.

The apex court also pulled up SEBI for not taking action against the companies--Sahara India Real Estate Corporation and Sahara Housing Investment Corporation as per its August 31, 2012 order which had asked it to attach properties and freeze bank accounts of the companies. It issued notice to the group to respond within four weeks why contempt action should not be initiated against the companies for not complying with its order.

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In Assam, the second phase of panchayat poll in eight districts has concluded peacefully.

Moderate to heavy polling has been reported in all the eight districts. Since morning, people were queuing up in polling stations to exercise their voting rights which indicate the people’s participation in panchayat system. Heavy percentage of polling also reflects the voter’s awareness to exercise their franchise. Official sources said that re-polling will be conducted in four polling stations in Sonitpur and two in Nalbari district because of minor discrepancies in ballot papers and other technical problems. A total of 26 thousand 724 candidates are in fray in this phase. 50 percent of total seats have been reserved for women candidates. Counting for all the three phases will be held on 14th and 15th of this month."MANAS PRATIM SARMA, air news,GUWAHATI.

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The Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi says, India needs development politics. He added that the vote-bank politics has ruined the country. Narendra Modi called for rebranding India globally. Addressing a gathering of students in New Delhi today Modi said 21st century is looking towards India. Describing the youth as new age power Mr Modi said the youth should not be perceived as a vote bank . Earlier Gujarat Chief Minister had a meeting with the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh at his residence in Delhi. After meeting Dr. Singh,Modi told reporters that he gave the prime minister a memorandum on issues related to the Sardar Sarovar dam.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari has alleged that Mr. Modi's speech in New Delhi was aimed at generally trying to mislead the people. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function, Mr Tewari said Gujarat chief minister in his entire speech made no reference of Gujarat riots which continues to be a blot and stain on the fair name of the state.

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Serial killer Chandrakant Jha was today sentenced to death by a Delhi court in another case of murder, saying the case fell in the rarest of rare category. The serial killer had dumped the body near Tihar Jail after beheading and chopping off body parts of the victim.

Earlier, the same court had sentenced 46-year-old Jha, a native of Madhepura in Bihar , to death and life imprisonment till his death in two other cases of murder, in which he also had chopped off the head and limbs of the victims and had dumped the bodies outside Tihar Jail in New Delhi.

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Defence Minister A K Antony has said Pakistan's decision to hand over strategic Gwadar port to China is a matter of serious concern for India .The Minister was responding to a media query of the issue on the sidelines of an aero show in Bangalore.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry had defended Beijing's decision to take over the Gwadar port operations as it is part of the continued cooperation between the two countries.

Later addressing a press conference Mr Antony asked the IAF to speed up its inquiry into an incident in Chhattisgarh where its security guards had allegedly abandoned an injured policeman and an armed chopper.

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The President Pranab Mukherjee today urged all the state governments and central ministries to have greater delivery mechanism for differently abled people. Speaking after giving away national awards for the empowerment of persons with disabilities-2012, Mr Mukherjee said there is an urgent need to provide education to children with disabilities.

The President said disabled people should be provided barrier free access everywhere. The President gave away awards to 48 persons and institutions for their outstanding work in different fields braving all odds.

Speaking at another function at Rashtrapati Bhawan, the President said that Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's role in India's freedom struggle is unique and he continues to inspire countrymen by his single-minded devotion to the cause.

During the function, the President was presented a copy of book titled - Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Germany, by Netaji's daughter Prof Anita Bose Pfaff. Mr Mukherjee said the book was a tribute to Netaji who was one of the greatest leaders of the national movement.

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In Madhya Pradesh Lokayukt police have unearthed disproportionate assets worth 50 crores Rupees from the residences of Chief Conservator of Forest in Bhopal and Ujjain today. Our correspondent reports that during the raid, eight lakh rupees have been recovered in cash from the houses of the officer at Ujjain and Bhopal. Beside that one kilogram of gold and jewellery also recovered during the raid. Documents relating to fixed deposit worth Rs 40 lakh, share investment worth 27 lakh rupees and other documents have also been seized.

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THE BUSINESS WORLD

Falling for the fifth straight session, the Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange closed with a small loss of 20 points, or 0.1 percent, at 19,640, today. But the Nifty managed to gain 2 points, to 5,959. Stock markets in Japan, China, Hong Kong, and Singapore climbed between 0.1 percent and 3.8 percent. The rupee closed 3 paise weaker, at 53.16 against the dollar. Gold fell 100 rupees, to 30,850 rupees per ten grams in Delhi. Silver lost 200 rupees, to 58,400 rupees per kilo. And Brent crude oil futures dropped toward 116 dollars a barrel, while US crude fell 53 cents, to 96.11 dollars a barrel. Pradeep Kumar, AIR News

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In Himachal Pradesh, the normal life is out of gear following incessant snow fall in upper reaches and intermittent rain in other parts of the state during the past three days. Kinnaur has been affected most due to heavy snow fall and in view of this, State Government has declared this district as the natural disaster affected area. 

In Kinnaur district all the seven persons who were trapped in an avalanche which hit the Kafnu village this morning have been taken out safely after more than six hours of relentless efforts of rescue team and the local people. These people were staying at their homes when incident took place. Meanwhile in most parts of the tribal districts of Kinnaur and Lahaul Spiti and other higher areas of the state, the people are facing diffculties without basic amenities as the road connectivity, electricity supply and communication system have been badly affected there.

The capital Shimla also received the third snowfall of this season. The movement of vehicular traffic on the National Highway 22 beyond Shimla remainedistrupted for the third day today due to snowfall at Kuri and Narkanda. NIRAJ RANA, AIR NEWS,SHIMLA.

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India will clash with Pakistan for the seventh place play-off match of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup at Cuttack tomorrow. The match will begin at 9 am