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TOI : PUNE: The dip in the child sex ratio (CSR) even in urban areas of the country has become a cause for worry and Maharashtra, which boasts of a comparatively higher level of education than many other states, is no exception. Shockingly, the richer districts of the state -Kolhapur, Satara and Sangli - have the lowest sex ratio from among 35 districts, according to the 2001 census.

The ratio in Kolhapur is an abysmal 839, down from 931 in the 1991 census. It is followed by Sangli 851, Satara 878 and Jalgaon 880. Pune district has the tenth worst sex ratio of 902.

Not only have the CSR figures dropped drastically since 1991, but the Sample Registration System (SRS) figures of sex ratio at birth have also steadily fallen from 2001 to 2005.

CSR in India is defined as the number of female children per 1,000 male children in the age group of 0-6 years.

An analysis of CSR based on the 2001 census data was conducted by the population research centre of Pune’s premier institute - Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics. The analysis reveals that barring Akola, the remaining 34 districts of Maharashtra have shown a decline in CSR. Akola just about managed to keep its head above water, with the sex ratio going up very minimally from 929 in 1991 to 933 in 2001.

In 1991, the CSR in rural areas was 953 which came down to 916 in 2001 - a decline of 37 points. In the urban areas, the figure came down to 908 from 934 - a 26-point fall. Similarly, the sex ratio at birth in Maharashtra was 915 in 2001 which has come down to 872 in 2005.

Speaking to TOI , R, Nagarajan, who conducted the study, said one of the reasons for the fall in…More

TOI : PUNE: The city, which has been witnessing cold wave conditions for the last few days, recorded an increase in the minimum temperature on Thursday. It was recorded at 10.9 degree Celsius. The Met department had recorded a minimum temperature of 8.3 degree C in the city on Wednesday.

The lowest in the city this season was 5.7 degree Celsius, recorded on January 27. Since then, an increase has been recorded in the minimum temperature. The city’s lowest minimum temperature for the season last year was 9.1 recorded on December 18. In 2005, minimum temperature was recorded at 4.7 degree Celsius on January 27.

Meanwhile, decreased maximum temperatures in most of the districts are making the state shiver during daytime. The mercury is likely to dip further for at least the next two days in the state. Cold wave conditions will be remaining present during this period, the Met department said.

“The reduction in maximum temperature in the last couple days has resulted into keeping days cooler. These conditions will remain for the next 48 hours,” director (Weather Central) Medha Khole told TOI. “The minimum temperature is expected to go up during this period, but low maximum temperatures will keep the state chilling during the daytime.”

The cold wave conditions are prevailing over many parts of Gujarat and some parts of south-west Rajasthan, Madhya Maharashtra and Marathawada. They are likely to continue for the next two to three days.

“A fairly widespread snowfall with isolated heavy falls have occurred over the Western Himalayan region. The snowfall activity is likely to continue during next 48 hours and decrease significantly thereafter,” a Met department official said…More

TOI : PUNE: The civic administration’s tax hike proposals are likely to receive a blow with the party leaders in Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) unanimously deciding to propose Rs 550 as minimum property tax for old properties as against civic chief Pravinsinh Pardeshi’s proposal of Rs 750.

Leaders also decided during a meeting on Thursday to oppose the proposal of 30 per cent hike in water tax.

A special standing committee meeting has been scheduled for Friday to discuss the tax proposals tabled by civic administration.

In order to reduce the disparity in the general taxes collected from old and new properties, the civic administration had tabled a proposal to collect a flat rate of Rs 750 from old properties having annual rateable value of Rs 1 to 2,000.

Similarly, a massive hike in water tax has been proposed on the grounds that there has been no hike in water taxes since the year 2000 and to make up for the expenditure on water projects.

Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, leader of the house Anil Bhosale said that all the leaders have unanimously decided to oppose the proposals during Friday’s meeting.

Leader of Congress party Aba Bagul said that the hikes are being opposed as it would be unfair on citizens.

“The water distribution network is haywire and citizens are suffering on water front, then how can we raise the taxes. Regarding property tax, we have decided that the minimum rate should be Rs 550,” Bagul said.

Leader of the opposition Vikas Mathkari, leader of Shiv Sena party Sham Deshpande and standing committee chairman Bapu Pathare were also present at the meeting…More

TOI : PUNE: The idea of citizens’ participatory budget is beginning to take roots as has been reflected in the draft civic budget for 2008-09 presented by municipal commissioner Pravinsinh Pardeshi early this week. Ward level works costing over Rs 27.27 crore have been proposed in the budget following suggestions made by hundreds of citizens from all the 144 wards in the city.

While, an amount of Rs 27 crore would look very small in comparison to the total budget outlay of Rs 2,025 crore, it is still significant say civic activists because they are works which have been suggested by citizens for their neighbourhood areas.

Nearly three months before the draft budget was presented, the municipal corporation had made an appeal to citizens to propose works that need to be completed in their wards. Citizens had been asked to contact the nearest ward office and submit their suggestions in the prescribed format. The format was also published in local newspapers. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had also provided the facility whereby citizens could submit their suggestions online. City-based NGO, Janwani, had taken an initiative in creating public awareness about the idea of citizens participatory budget.

The practice of including citizens’ suggestions in the budget had been started two years ago by then municipal commissioner Nitin Kareer.

The format for accepting suggestions from citizens had been simplified this year with the corporation creating a category of 15 works. Each work had been coded with letters from A to O. The maximum budgetary limit for each work was Rs 5 lakh. On an average, nearly 50 suggestions came in from each ward office area.

Incidentally, of the 14 ward offices in the city, Sangamwadi and Bhavani Peth have maximum outlay of Rs 2.4 crore each.

The minimum outlay (Rs 1.07 crore) is for the centrally located…More

TOI : PUNE: The beautification project undertaken by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) along the Mula river in Kalyaninagar has remained uncared for.

It’s been nearly two years since the PMC decided to spruce up the place. But, let alone beautification, the area that was fenced for the purpose, is fast becoming a garbage dumping ground. Polythene bags, empty bottles and even household garbage can be seen lying all over the place that was to be taken up for beautification.

Ironically, a small garden adjacent to the PMC’s beautification project was developed by a builder in less than six months. Though, the garden is not open for public.

Nikhil Thakurdas, a resident of Kalyaninagar, said, “The board put up here says ‘Riverside beautification work in progress’. I pass by this place everyday, but I don’t see any progress taking place. In fact, the dumping of garbage has been increasing by the day. We stay close to this place and the way the work on the project is progressing, it’s very disappointing.”

“The place has been stinking and it becomes really bad during monsoon. The area gets flooded and the garbage gets strewn all over the place. We have been staying here like this for the last six years,” he said.

Lavina Chadha, another resident who stays opposite the river bank, said, “This is the sight we have to see everyday as it is right opposite my residence. The road here is so beautifully done, but it is sad to see the garbage dump. It is such a beautiful water front, but it’s ridiculous the way it is being treated and left in this condition for years.”

Sayali Bhagat, who passes by the area during her morning walks, said, “The river bears the brunt of pollution and encroachments, while its banks remain devoid of beautification. Lots…More