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TOI : PUNE: Aiming at a progressive society and fulfilling the needs and aspirations of the youth in the state, a working draft of a state youth policy’ is being prepared. The draft will be presented to the chief minister on the occasion of National Youth Day on January 12 with a demand to declare it the policy of the state.

A team of 100 youth were working for the last seven months on the draft, being prepared by the Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan, Mumbai, and the Navmaharashtra Yuva Abhiyan, a department of the Pratisthan.

To come up with suggestions on the issue, several youth organisations held a group discussion at the Pune regional level on Friday. Mathew P L Mattam, CEO of the Centre for Youth Development and Activities said that these suggestions would be included in the final draft of the policy.

Mattam said that Maharashtra does not have a youth policy. “While the youths are nearly 42 per cent of the population in the state, they are not given priority. When we think of youth, we think only about sports. So, we have a sports policy, but not a youth policy.”

There was a need for space for youths, Mattam said. “There are only playgrounds for them. Also, there should be youth participation in local self-government and in Parliament. We want inclusive education for special needs of youths. We do not want youth welfare. What we need is youth development and empowerment.”

Nilesh Raut, a member of the Navmaharashtra Yuva Abhiyan, demanded setting up of a state youth commission’, having quasi-judicial power. “The commission will be a regulator for the youth policy. It will monitor, review and evaluate the implementation and impact of the policy. It will also issue directives to the concerned ministries and institutions for effective implementation of the youth policy and programmes.

Narendra Sopal, joint director of state sports and…More

TOI : PUNE: The Pune-Manmad-Pune Express (1025/26) and the Koyna Express (1029) will not run on November 29, following a traffic block at Karjat station. In addition to this, some long distance trains running to Pune will be diverted via the Daund-Manmad route and some trains will be terminated early on the same day.

According to the railway administration, a traffic and power block is being maintained in order to put up the foot overbridge girders at Karjat station. The work is scheduled to take place between November 28 and 29.

Trains that will be diverted include the Udyan Express (6529), the Nagarcoil Express (6339) and the Hyderabad Express (7031), all leaving from CST on November 29. They will be diverted via Igatpuri-Manmad-Daund and Solapur, and will not travel via Pune. Passengers who have to get on these trains are requested to board them at Daund. On their Up journeys, the Hyderabad-Mumbai Express (7032), Chennai-Mumbai (1042) and Coimbatore-LTT Express (1014), all leaving on November 28, will be diverted via Daund-Manmad-Igatpuri to Mumbai. Passengers who wish to come to Pune are requested to get off at Daund and can travel by the next available train to Pune.

Some long distance trains will remain rescheduled on November 29. The Chennai Express (1041) will start its journey from Mumbai at 4 pm instead of 2 pm. The Sinhagad Express will start at 5.50 pm instead of 2.30 pm, the Konark Express (1019) will leave at 4.25 pm instead of 3.10 pm and the Kanyakumari Express (6381) will start at 5.05 pm instead 3.45 pm. These trains will not come to Pune.

In addition, the Sahyadri Express will be terminated at Lonavla and will run from Lonavla to Kolhapur at 8.33 pm. The Koyna Express will be terminated at Pune and will run as a special train to Kolhapur. The railway administration has stated that a refund will be paid only…More

TOI : PUNE: Although teachers and parents think that implementation of the proposed guidelines will be a time-consuming responsibility, it is a task worth doing well.

“There should no compromise on the safety of students,” said Sambhaji Gayakhe, a teacher at Abhinav School. “As a parent, I am in favour of these changes. If safety is assured, then most parents will be ready to share in the expenses required for the changes.”

A former principal of Maharashtra School, H G Bhonsle, stated that the measures are necessary. “The presence of a woman attendant will be helpful in keeping a watch. These days so many cases of child abuse are being reported,” he said. Two doors in the bus will prove handy in case of emergencies, he added.

Parents also responded well to the idea of two exits from the bus. “The double door system is good for the movement of the children,” said Milind Bhole, member of the Balshikshan English medium school parents’ association.

He said steps should also be taken so that the buses don’t get too crowded. If the number of students travelling in a bus is more its capacity, it could prove dangerous, he said.

In a letter sent to the transport minister Prashant Inamdar, convenor of Pedestrians First has stated more steps that could be incorporated to enhance the safety of children travelling to and from school.

* Categorise school transport as a separate mode of transport

* Introduce a permit system for all types of vehicles (buses, mini-buses, vans, three-seater or six-seater rickshaws etc.) to be used for school transport

* Determine the maximum number of children allowed to be carried in each type of vehicle

* Decide a speed limit for school transport vehicles

* The RTO should maintain a separate record of all such school transport vehicles and drivers.

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TOI : PUNE: State sugar commissioner Rajendra Chavan on Friday said that sugar factories would announce the final sugarcane payment figures for the 2008-09 crushing season by December 31.

He was responding to the Shetkari Sanghatna’s (SS) demand that final payment figures for cane crushed during the 08-09 season be announced. The SS staged demonstrations at the sugar commissionerate office to protest against the delay in announcing the final payment figures by sugar factories in the state. It said that after the initial payment for cane during the last season, factories did not announce what the final payment figures would be after selling by-products.

Chavan said, “All the sugar factories will receive an order from the sugar commissionerate to submit documents about the 2008-09 crushing season and the price for sugarcane announced. The factories will be asked to submit their proposals for sugarcane price for the 2009-10 crushing season. The deadline for submitting the report is December 31.”

The protest was organised by the Sharad Joshi-led SS faction to demand Rs 2,700 per tonne as the final rate for sugarcane for the season 2008-09 which should be paid by December 31. “Last year, the average announced rate was around Rs 1,200 per tonne which was increased further to Rs 1,900 per tonne as availability of sugarcane went down,” said Sanjay Kolhe, south Maharashtra head of the sanghatna. SS workers from Sangli, Solapur, Kolhapur, Satara and Ahmednagar also participated in the demonstrations.

The SS also raised the issue of malpractice while weighing sugarcane at the factory gate. Farmers have alleged that the display of the electronic weighing machine was inside a room while the actual machine was outside hence the farmer cannot see the actual weight of his sugarcane. The SS alleged that weight figures were manipulated to reduce the actual weight.

Responding to the allegation, Chavan gave assurances that the factories would be asked to put…More

TOI : PUNE: Ten sculptors are to make a presentation of their work and inspiration at a two-day sculptors’ symposium to be held on December 2 and 3 at the Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA).

The workshop is part of the ongoing international sculptor workshop held to commemorate the International Year of Astronomy that seeks to bring about an interaction between art and science with the themes Astronomy and Galileo’.

Co-ordinated by sculptor Sharad Kapuskar, the workshop has brought together 10 acclaimed sculptors from six European countries.

Addressing a news conference on Friday Kapuskar said, “At the moment, each sculptor is working on his/her respective piece, which should be ready some time next week, but anyone who is interested in watching them at work can do so.”

Each sculptor is exploring the theme of astronomy and the great discoverer Galileo Galilei, also called the father of modern observational astronomy. with his/her respective creations in marble, specially sourced from Rajasthan, he said.

Lena Kristrom from Sweden who works on both ice and stone, explained the difference between the two mediums. “Ice is easy to work with, while working on stone takes time. However, working on stone gives me time to think,” she says.

In keeping with the current theme, the piece Kristrom is working on depicts a head looking upwards. She has created a similar sculpture in iron-ore and cement back home in Sweden. “Maybe both heads will look at each other from their respective places Pune and Sweden,” she says.

Suzel Galia from France is carving out Galileo’s name in Hindi, along with the year 1609′ to mark 400 years of the creation of the telescope, while Stefano Beccari from Sweden is chipping away at a block of stone to depict a baby on the moon’.

The presentations will take place between 5.30 pm and 7 pm on Dec 2…More

TOI : PUNE: A man and a woman were killed and another man was injured when the Indigo car they were travelling in dashed against the wall of the Khambatki ghat tunnel on the Pune-Bangalore highway late on Friday night.

The deceased were identified as Jatin Vinubhai Modi (24) and Pragati Rajesh Bobade (40), both residents of Mumbai. The injured Vinubhai Shantilal Modi (55) of Mumbai is undergoing treatment at the Joglekar hospital at Shirwal.

According to the police, the car was going towards Mumbai from Satara when Jatin, who was in the driver’s seat, lost control over the vehicle and dashed against the side wall.

The impact of the mishap was such that both of them died instantly. The Khandala police is investigating into the mishap.

Twitter Facebook Share Print Email Save Comment Text Size: | More Stories from this section Crimes against women up in state UoP budget for 2009-10 revised to Rs 339.79 cr UoP to have one more bank on campus 7 students test positive for H1N1 Investigation into Pa…More

TOI : PUNE: The Pune zone of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) received a citation for record monthly revenue collection of Rs 465 crore achieved in October 2009.

Pune zone is the only zone in the state that has regularly achieved or surpassed its revenue collection targets. A statement issued by S P Nagtilak, chief engineer, said that, every month, Pune zone surpassed its revenue target to achieve 105 to 106 per cent recovery.

In April 2009, the Pune zone’s monthly revenue collection was Rs 389 crore which went up to Rs 465 crore in October. MSEDCL managing director Ajay Mehta handed over a special citation to Nagtilak in a function held at MSEDCL’s Prakashgad office in Mumbai on Friday.

Speaking on the occasion Mehta said that when he took over charge he had asked all zones to concentrate on revenue collection. “However Pune zone is the only MSEDCL zone that has always achieved or surpassed the monthly targets given. I am confident that Pune will soon reach the Rs 500-crore mark,” he said.

Meanwhile, bill collection centres of the MSEDCL in Pune will remain open on November 28 and 29 despite the days being holidays. Bill payments will be accepted at the centres during office time. The decision to keep the centres open was taken for the convenience of consumers.

Twitter Facebook Share Print Email Save Comment Text Size: | More Stories from this section Crimes against women up in state UoP budget for 2009-10 revised to Rs 339.79 cr UoP to have one more bank on campus 7 students test positive for H1N1 Investigation into Pa…More

TOI : PUNE: Old buses will no longer be used to transport schoolchildren, drivers with less than three years’ experience will not be allowed to drive school buses and every school bus transporting girl students will have to have a woman attendant on board. These are just some of the guidelines that the state government will soon implement in order to ensure school bus safety for students.

The state government is in the process of formulating a policy for school buses, a necessity that became glaringly apparent after the Navi Mumbai incident in August when three students lost their lives and more than 15 were injured when the school bus in which they were travelling caught fire.

Speaking to TOI on Friday, state transport minister, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said, “We are concerned about the safety of children travelling in buses. There needs to be a set of guidelines which every school bus operator must follow to avoid such incidents.”

On Thursday, a meeting was held Mumbai in order to draft the policy and set the guidelines. It was attended by C S Sangitrao, principal secretary, transport and excise, and state transport commissioner Deepak Kapoor. Also present were various stakeholders including the Parent Teacher Associations (PTA), school managements and school bus operators.

A 24-point guideline has been issued. All stakeholders can issue suggestions and objections to the state before a final policy is in place.

A similar meeting with Sangitrao, Vikhe-Patil, the Pune traffic commissioner and other stakeholders will be organised in Pune in December. The proposed guidelines will be presented in front of the members present and suggestions and objections on the same will be accepted in order to draft the final policy, Vikhe-Patil said. Proposed guidelines:

* Buses older than eight years should not be used to transport students

* School-owned buses are to be painted yellow while privately owned ones will have a…More

TOI : PUNE: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Friday nominated Yogesh Behl and Hiranand Aswani for the posts of mayor deputy mayor, respectively. Behl represents the Sant Tukaramnagar ward, while Aswani is a corporator from Pimpri camp.

Yogesh Behl told reporters on Friday, “This is my fourth term as corporator and I will be completing 18 years as corporator in January next.” Behl was as an independent candidate in 1992, Congress candidate in 1997 and NCP candidate in 2002 and 2007. He said that his nomination for the post of mayor has come nine years late. “I haven’t got any post easily,” he added.

Addressing a news conference here, Azam Pansare, president, Pimpri-Chinchwad unit of the NCP, said: “party’s senior leader Ajit Pawar held discussions with other leaders before taking a decision about the candidature of Behl and Aswani.”

Pansare added, “The nominations are given to loyalists and those who worked for the official candidates of the party during the recent Lok Sabha and assembly elections. Behl and Aswani will have a tenure of one year.”

Seniority was also one of the criteria for getting nominations, Pansare said. There were eight aspirants for the post of mayor and all were considered before choosing the final candidate.

Talking about sharing of power with the Congress party in Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, Pansare said: “Discussions have also been held with local Congress leaders and they have shared their views with Ajit Pawar.”

Bhausaheb Bhoir, president, Pimpri-Chinchwad unit of the Congress, said: “We have sent proposals to Ajit Pawar. We want the chairmanship of law and sports committees.” Bhoir refused to divulge more about their expectations in the power-sharing formula.

When asked if the NCP has agreed to give the post of deputy chairman of school board to the Congress, he said, “I do not know about it.”

Meanwhile, the BJP-Shiv Sena combine nominated Mauli Jadhav…More

TOI : PUNE: The Loni-Kalbhor police on Thursday arrested a man from Phursungi for allegedly circulating counterfeit currency. Three fake notes of Rs 1,000 each were seized from him.

The police arrested the man, Barkat Ali Masjid Ali (27), following a complaint lodged by a grocery shop-owner, Shivaji Harpale.

Speaking to TOI, assistant police inspector A B Gholap said that Ali purchased goods worth Rs 85 and Rs 65 from Harpale’s shop on November 24 and 25 by proffering fake Rs 1,000 notes.

The next day, Harpale took one of the Rs 1,000 notes that Ali had given him to the MSEDCL office to pay his electricity bill. However, the clerk there told him that the note was fake. Harpale showed the note to a local chemist, but he too told him the note was not genuine.

On Thursday night, Ali again came to Harpale’s shop to purchase more goods. When Harpale’s son Sunil told him that he was offering fake notes, Ali tried to flee. However, he was caught by Sunil who handed him over to the police.

Ali was produced in the court on Friday and remanded to police custody for seven days. In another incident, a manager of a private bank on Apte road lodged a complaint with the Deccan Gymkhana police that an unidentified person had deposited fake currency worth Rs 5,500 sometime between May and October 28. Assistant inspector Manohar Kulkarni is investigating the case. Twitter Facebook Share Print Email Save Comment Text Size: | More Stories from this section Crimes against women up in state UoP budget for 2009-10 revised to Rs 339.79 cr UoP to have one more bank on campus 7 students test positive for H1N1 Investigation into Pa…More