During the third quarter of FY 2012-2013 - Ruchi Soya records 105% jump in Profit

Ruchi Soya Industries Limited (Ruchi Soya) has announced its un-audited financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 (Q3). As compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, net profit for the quarter rose by 105.45% from Rs. 24.05 crore to Rs. 49.41 crore whereas net sales rose by 17.56% from Rs. 6,954.29 crore to  Rs. 8,175.16 crore.

During the quarter, branded sales registered a healthy 22.95% growth from Rs. 1,374.23 crore to  Rs. 1,689.59 crore. Refining capacity utilization improved by 8.85% from 4,78,589 MT to 5,20,960 MT. Export of Soya Meal in value improved by 47.29% from Rs. 883.16 crore to Rs. 1,300.83 crore. Sale of Textured soya protein (TSP) stood at Rs. 28.16 crore registering an impressive rise of 43.53% from Rs. 19.62 crore during Q3 in the last fiscal.

Commenting on the performance, Managing Director, Mr. Dinesh Shahra said, “I am happy to  share the healthy growth recorded by the Company during the third quarter ended December 31, 2012. Improved branded sales, better sales realization of oilseed extraction, effective control on the costs and favourable business sentiments helped us to get profit on the track. We are making our efforts to have good performance on a sustained basis in the times to come.”

Ruchi Soya Industries Limited

Featuring among the top five FMCG players in India, Ruchi Soya is India’s number one cooking oil maker and marketer. An Integrated player from farm to fork, Ruchi Soya has secured access to oil palm plantations in India and other important parts of the world. Besides being a leading manufacturer of high quality edible oils, soya foods, vanaspati, and bakery fats, Ruchi Soya is also the highest exporter of soya meal, lecithin and other food ingredients from India. Ruchi Soya features amongst top three players based on market share in the overall Refined Oil in Consumer Packs (ROCP) in India with leadership position in important segments like palm oil. Ruchi Soya is committed to renewable energy and exploring suitable opportunities in the sector.

Source: http://planetcorporatenews.wordpress.com/

Delhi bags 27% more this Budget, infrastructure gets biggest share

Infrastructure and development in Delhi got a boost on Thursday with the Union Budget including a Rs 200 crore increase in funds from last year's Budget for Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM). In all, the Delhi government received a 27 per cent increase from the previous year — Rs 1,143 crore for the 2013-2014 compared to Rs 900.

"The increase in JnNURM funds from Rs 500 crore to Rs 700 crore will let us implement more infrastructure projects in the city," Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said.She said of the Rs 243 crore increase in allocation, Rs 200 crore was for JnNURM.

"Taxes on big companies and very wealthy people and no pressure on the common man is an excellent step. This is a women-oriented budget with the FM announcing a Nirbhaya fund and a bank exclusively for women," she said.

Under JnNURM head, allocation for Rajiv Awas Yojana increased to Rs 80 crore this year, compared to the Rs 5 crore in the revised 2012-2013 budget. "The submission on Urban Infrastructure Governance has been increased from Rs 350 crore to Rs 470 crore. Rs 5 crore has been increased under Housing for Urban Poor," she said.

In recent times, Dikshit has repeatedly requested an increase in the share of Central taxes, which since 2001 has remained stagnant at Rs 325 crore in the form of a grant from the Finance Ministry. "I believe our demand has now been sent to the Finance Commission for recommendations," she said.

The allocation under normal central assistance has also increased from Rs 281.75 crore to Rs 309.92 crore. The Union Budget also included Rs 10 crore, for the first time, under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. Also, assistance under National Social Assistance Program was increased from Rs 48.60 crore to Rs 54.60 crore.

Delhi received an allocation of Rs 68.39 crore from Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Urban Development Ministry announced Rs 1 crore for equity towards National Capital Region Transport Corporation and Rs 1 lakh as aid towards the corporation.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/delhi-bags-27--more-this-budget-infrastructure-gets-biggest-share/1081441/0

Juvenile to be charged with rape, murder

Gangrape Juvenile Justice Board to begin witness examination next week.The Juvenile Justice Board on Thursday ordered framing of charges against a 17-year-old boy, one of the six accused in the December 16 gangrape of a 23-year-old woman who later died in a Singapore hospital.

He will be tried for the offences of gangrape, murder, kidnapping, unnatural offences, attempt to murder, dacoity, destruction of evidence and conspiracy. Since he is a juvenile, separate proceedings are being carried out before the board. But he faces the same charges as the other adult accused in the case.

The board, presided by Principal Magistrate Geetanjali Goel, ordered 'framing of notice' — the form in which charges are framed against a juvenile in conflict with law. Examination of witnesses in the case will begin on March 6.

The male friend of the gangrape victim and all witnesses who have been named in the chargesheet will be examined by the board. The trial of the adult accused is currently underway in a Saket fast-track court but the media has been restrained from reporting the proceedings.

Framing of notice has also been ordered in a case of robbery against the juvenile. According to police, the six gangrape accused had robbed a carpenter before assaulting the woman on a moving bus. She died thirteen days after the assault.

Last month, the board accepted the plea of the accused that he was a minor. Citing the date of birth as mentioned in his school records, the board ruled that he was 17 years, six months and 11 days old at the time of the offence.

The records taken from his school in an Uttar Pradesh village mentioned his date of birth as June 4, 1995. Police had earlier pressed for an ossification test to establish his age. But age documents submitted by school officials were accepted by the board, thereby ruling out any age-determination test.The angry family of the victim said if the police didn't appeal against the ruling, they would approach a lawyer.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/juvenile-to-be-charged-with-rape-murder/1081435/0

List of case-based operating procedures in all PCR vans

Every PCR van will now have a set standard operating procedure (SOP) to attend to calls related to women in distress. The decision will help reduce room for error and PCR reaction time, police said.

The new system will ensure that each PCR van has notices that explain, in bullet points, the operating procedure to attend to a distress call. There is a separate SOP for every distress call, particularly those of molestation, rape, domestic violence and threat calls.

"For instance, if the call is about a rape incident, then the operator need not waste time (waiting) for a briefing from his supervisor to react. The SOP would guide the operator as to what he should do," T N Mohan, Special Commissioner of Police (Operations) told Newsline.

Meanwhile, Delhi High Court on Thursday asked government and police to ensure that there is proper publicity to its orders that all hospitals, including private ones, cannot deny treatment to victims of criminal offences.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/list-of-casebased-operating-procedures-in-all-pcr-vans/1081445/

Ankesh Shahra receives CSR Award for Community Development

Mumbai, February 20, 2013: Ruchi Soya Industries Limited (Ruchi Soya) has been felicitated with the CSR Award for Community Development during the World CSR Congress. Mr. Ankesh Shahra who manages the international businesses of Ruchi Soya and participates in the CSR activities of the Company was honoured with the felicitation at a glittering event in Mumbai. Dr. Christoph Stueckelberger, Executive Director and Founder of Globethics and Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee, Director General & CEO, Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs handed over the trophy and citation to Mr. Ankesh Shahra.

Commenting on the occasion, Mr.Ankesh Shahra stated, “I am very for honouring Ruchi Soya with the award for Community Development. Ruchi believes in sharing its growth with every stakeholder and giving back to the society in a sustainable and transparent manner. A big congratulations to the team."

An Integrated player from farm to fork, Ruchi Soya has secured access to oil palm plantations in India and other important parts of the world. Besides being a leading manufacturer of high quality edible oils, soya foods, vanaspati, and bakery fats, Ruchi Soya is also the highest exporter of soya meal, lecithin and other food ingredients from India. Ruchi Soya is committed to renewable energy and exploring suitable opportunities in the sector.

Featuring among the top five FMCG players in India, Ruchi Soya is India’s number one cooking oil maker and marketer through popular brands like Nutrela, Ruchi Gold, Mahakosh and Sunrich. Ruchi Soya is working closely with the communities around its plants in Patalganga and Nagpur in Maharashtra. Ruchi Soya believes in the concept of ‘Giving back to the Society’. The corporate social initiatives of Ruchi Group are executed through Shri Mahadeo Shahra Sukrat Trust with the focus on three core areas of Health, Education and Women Empowerment.

Source: http://planetcorporatenews.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/ankesh-shahra-of-ruchi-soya-receives-csr-award-for-community-development-at-global-csr-congress/

Man held in Arun Jaitley call details case once helped police trace Afzal Guru

One of the four men arrested by the Delhi Police for illegally accessing call detail records of the mobile phones of BJP leader Arun Jaitley, and possibly others, once helped police and intelligence agencies trace suspects in at least four terror cases, including the 2001 Parliament attack and the 2000 shootout at Red Fort. Police said his parents are former bureaucrats.

Special Cell officers still remember how Anurag Singh, a Maulana Azad Medical College graduate who was more interested in cyberspace than medicine, would sift through the mass of numbers and IP addresses to give them leads in terror probes. He would decode numbers, zero in on locations of suspects and also train agencies to shield their systems from hackers.

"At that time, we were not so sound technically. Anurag's help was sought in major cases involving mobile phones, satellite phones, computers. In the Parliament attack case, we recovered a SIM card. With the help of the IMEI number, he got us the entire phonebook, contacts, call details. For us, it was a new thing then. He helped trace Afzal Guru," an officer said.

Police turned to Anurag for leads in the attack on Red Fort attack. On the night of December 23, 2000, militants scaled the walls of Red Fort and attacked an army camp, killing two army personnel and a guard. Though a quick reaction team was scrambled, the militants escaped into the night.

From the spot, police found a paper slip with a mobile number. It finally led to the arrest of Mohammed Arif alias Ashfaq, a Pakistan national who police said was a Lashkar-e-Toiba militant. He was later sentenced to death.

An officer said police also turned to Anurag for help in two other terror cases of 2003. "He would break into email accounts, intercept phones, use surveillance equipment. He had an answer ready for every cyber query," the officer said, adding that "his intelligence got channelised in the wrong direction".

Anurag helped police between 2000 and 2003. In 2005, he floated a detective agency. A year later, he was arrested for his alleged role in the Amar Singh phone tapping case. He spent time in custody and the case is still in court. After his release on bail, Anurag invested in the stock market, and entered the business of surveillance equipment. He imported high-end gadgets from Singapore, Israel and China, police said.

Anurag is among the four men arrested who, police claim, illegally obtained call detail records of BJP leader Arun Jaitley. According to police, one of them broke into email accounts of officers and sent requests for CDRs. Anurag is currently in police custody where he is being questioned.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/man-held-in-arun-jaitley-call-details-case-once-helped-police-trace-afzal-guru/1077894/0

Cabinet clears flat in Dwarka for family of gangrape victim

The government on Thursday decided to allot a Delhi Development Authority (DDA) flat to the family of the 23-year-old woman who was gangraped and tortured on a moving bus in South Delhi last December. She died in a Singapore hospital 13 days after the assault that sparked outrage across the country.

Officials said a middle-income group flat, which costs around Rs 50 lakh, is likely to be allotted from the vacant pool with the DDA. The proposal, mooted by the Urban Development Ministry, got the Union Cabinet's approval during a meeting on Thursday evening.

"The Cabinet approved the sanction and grant of an apartment of DDA to the unfortunate victim of the Delhi gangrape case," Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari told reporters.

An official statement said the allotment will be done in relaxation of the existing policy/guidelines of DDA for allotment of houses on out of turn basis. The cost of the flat will be borne by the Delhi government.

Until Thursday evening, the family seemed unaware about the allotment. The victim's brother said no official had informed them about the allotment in Dwarka.

On February 2, when UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi visited their house, the family expressed unhappiness over the location of the accommodation the government planned to provide.

"We were told the flat was on the outskirts of the city, far from our current residence, somewhere in Bawana. My mother told Soniaji that we want to stay somewhere closer, so Soniaji told us we will be getting a flat, possibly in Dwarka," the brother said.

The family had also urged Sonia to ensure swift justice in the case. The trial has already begun in a fast-track court in Saket but the media has been restrained from reporting proceedings in the case. Five men have been charged with rape and murder of the 23-year-old. The sixth accused is a juvenile who is facing proceedings before the Juvenile Justice Board.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/cabinet-clears-flat-in-dwarka-for-family-of-gangrape-victim/1077892/0

Union leaders among 120 held in Noida, looted goods recovered

The Noida police have identified leaders of an assortment of trade unions as "motivators" of the violence that wrecked hundreds of companies in sectors 83 and 84 on the first day of the nationwide strike called by trade unions on Wednesday.

Police said 122 people had been arrested till 6 pm on Thursday and some were union leaders of organisations such as Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) and Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS).

Offering to cooperate with the investigations, representatives of these trade unions said they wanted the protest to be "a peaceful protest march".

Among those arrested are: Shyam Kishore and Ram Roop, national and state counsellors of AICCTU, Surinder Singh of BMS, and Om Prakash, secretary of CITU.

Eight other leaders have been named in a written complaint by the Noida Entrepreneurs Association, but are yet to be arrested. "We have appointed a judicial officer who is remanding the accused to judicial custody from the premises of the Noida Phase-II police station," SP (City) Yogesh Singh said.

Ranjana Nirula, all India treasurer of CITU, said: "Members of CITU were part of the protest, but the violence was caused by others who joined in. There were lots of non-unionised workers. We have been targeted because we organised the protest, but our intentions were for a peaceful protest."

ADG of UP Police O P Singh confirmed that "others" joined in the protests. "There were anti-social elements who joined in from adjoining areas, primarily seeking an opportunity to loot. A majority of those involved were youngsters, between the ages of 18 and 25."

District Magistrate M K S Sundaram said so far 184 complaints have been received and more arrests are likely. He said more than 200 companies were vandalised.

A three-member fact-finding team has been set up under the Additional Commissioner, Meerut.

Police sources said villagers from Yakupur, Nayagaon and Ilawas joined the violence and were out "only to create trouble", but there were a few who could have "intentionally egged them on".

Residents of Yakupur and Nayagaon confirmed that several from their villages had been picked up by police after the violence.

"On Tuesday night, there were some people who came and talked to the tenants here about joining the protests. Those of us who didn't go, found out about the violence when these tenants rushed back home around 3 pm," Rahim Singh, of Yakupur village, said.

SP (City) confirmed that arrests have been made from the surrounding villages. "We have made some arrests. Some stolen property has been recovered from them," he said.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/union-leaders-among-120-held-in-noida-looted-goods-recovered/1077891/0

CBI probe against Noida top brass

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a preliminary inquiry against the former CEO and present chairman of Noida. The move came after Allahabad High Court asked the CBI to investigate appointments of CEO Sanjeev Saran and chairman Rakesh Bahadur and their alleged involvement in allotment of land by the Noida authority.

While the UP government transferred Saran from the post of CEO after the High Court order, Bahadur is still the chairman of Noida authority.

After registering the preliminary inquiry, the CBI asked the Noida authority to provide files relating to land allotments made during the tenure of Bahadur and Saran. The agency also told the UP government that for a fair probe into the case, Bahadur should be transferred.

Sources said that the agency will bring the matter to the notice of the court if Bahadur continues to be the chairman. The High Court had already asked the UP government to transfer Saran and Bahadur and directed the CBI to initiate a probe. The agency plans to question the two officials on the decisions taken by them.

The officials were initially posted as CEO and chairman during the earlier stint of the Samajwadi Party in power. When the BSP came to power, the two officials were suspended. They were re-appointed to the posts when the SP was voted back to power in 2012.

The court said they must be transferred "away from Western Uttar Pradesh" as their presence in the region could "affect the enquiry against them".

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/cbi-probe-against-noida-top-brass/1077890/

Ankesh Shahra from Ruchi Group receives CSR Award

Ankesh Shahra who manages the international businesses of Ruchi Soya and participates in the CSR activities of the Company was honoured with the felicitation at a glittering event in Mumbai.

Ruchi Soya Industries Limited (Ruchi Soya) has been felicitated with the CSR Award for Community Development during the World CSR Congress.  Ankesh Shahra who manages the international businesses of Ruchi Soya and participates in the CSR activities of the Company was honoured with the felicitation at a glittering event in Mumbai.

Dr. Christoph Stueckelberger, Executive Director and Founder of Globethics and Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee, Director General & CEO, Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs handed over the trophy and citation to  Ankesh Shahra.

Commenting on the occasion,  Ankesh Shahra stated, “I am very grateful to the World CSR Congress for honouring Ruchi Soya with the award for Community Development. Ruchi believes in sharing its growth with every stakeholder and giving back to the society in a sustainable and transparent manner.

A big congratulations to the team." Featuring among the top five FMCG players in India, Ruchi Soya is India’s number one cooking oil maker and marketer through popular brands like Nutrela, Ruchi Gold, Mahakosh and Sunrich.

Ruchi Soya is working closely with the communities around its plants in Patalganga and Nagpur in Maharashtra. Ruchi Soya believes in the concept of ‘Giving back to the Society’. The corporate social initiatives of Ruchi Group are executed through Shri Mahadeo Shahra Sukrat Trust with the focus on three core areas of Health, Education and Women Empowerment.

An Integrated player from farm to fork, Ruchi Soya has secured access to oil palm plantations in India and other important parts of the world. Besides being a leading manufacturer of high quality edible oils, soya foods, vanaspati, and bakery fats, Ruchi Soya is also the highest exporter of soya meal, lecithin and other food ingredients from India. Ruchi Soya is committed to renewable energy and exploring suitable opportunities in the sector.

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Noida Mobbed: 18 injured 65 cars damaged 65 arrested

Day 1 of the two-day nationwide strike, announced by trade unions weeks ago, took Noida police by surprise on Wednesday when the protesters turned violent, damaged vehicles, vandalised and looted properties, and hurled stones at security personnel.

Eighteen people, including six policemen, were injured in the violence. Clashes broke out in sectors 83 and 84 of Noida Phase-II, where a 1,000-strong mob set fire to 15 vehicles and damaged 50 others parked within the premises of private companies. The protesters also torched a fire tender that went to the spot to douse the flames.

"A similar protest was reported from Sector-58 around the same time. Here, a mob of a few hundred people hurled stones at windowpanes of factory buildings," a senior police officer said.

In Lucknow, Arun Kumar, ADG (Law and Order), admitted that "police force deployed was inadequate". "Police had not thought that workers of private organisations would join the strike. The strike call was meant for government sectors like transport, banks and railways. It took about two hours for additional police force to reach the spot."

Factory owners in sectors 83 and 84 said they heard of a mob "on the prowl" around 8 am, but the first report of protesters turning violent came around 9.30 am.

A resident of the area, Aneesh Sharma, said: "There were at least 500 in the group, some identified themselves as workers at the factories nearby and demanded better salaries. They hurled stones and smashed the windowpanes of several cars and set fire to at least six of them. Much of this took place on the premises of International Print-o-Pac. Then the mob moved to Motherson Sumi automotive factory and damaged vehicles in the compound. They looted computers and other items and then went on to attack other company offices along the stretch."

Eyewitnesses said they called police soon after violence began, but the force arrived more than an hour later. "When the first fire tender arrived, policemen accompanying it were overpowered and the vehicle was set on fire. Additional force arrived two hours later, though the Phase-II police station is barely a kilometre away," a witness said.

Police resorted to lathicharge and fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. Sporadic incidents of violence continued till 2.30 pm. ADG Kumar said a majority of protesters were members of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS).

"The mob led by CITU and HMS office-bearers vandalised factories and torched vehicles. The rioters also looted garments from an outlet. Cases of arson, vandalism, loot and attack on police force have been registered. The factory owners have filed complaints, for which separate cases are being registered. Legal notices to the leaders of the two organisations will be served to realise money against loss of public property," Kumar said.

Senior Superintendent of Police Shalabh Mathur said a five-member committee has been appointed and a magisterial inquiry ordered. "We have arrested 65 people and detained several others. We are in the process of collecting CCTV footage and media video recordings to identify those involved," Mathur said.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/noida-mobbed-18-injured-65-cars-damaged-65-arrested/1077241/0

19-year-old sneaks guns inside court, murders undertrial in public view

A 19-year-old youth smuggled in guns after breaching the security at the Rohini court complex on Wednesday and shot dead an undertrial, who was being brought in by police. A policeman was also injured in the firing.

The youth, Mukesh, has been arrested. Police said the undertrial, Naveen Khatri (25), was arrested for the murder of Mukesh's friend Sushil in 2010. According to police, Mukesh had meticulously planned the murder. He even found a way to sneak a gun inside the high-security court premises.

"There is a tea shop right outside the court, set against its wall. Mukesh wrapped a country-made firearm and a revolver in a polythene bag. On the pretext of having tea, he discreetly placed it on the iron grill around the court complex," DCP (Outer) B S Jaiswal said.

He said Mukesh then stood in the queue of litigants at Gate No. 5 and entered the court, passing through door frame metal detectors. He underwent the mandatory physical security check as well. Once inside, he went to the spot where he had hidden his weapons, collected them and then waited for the police to bring in Khatri.

When Khatri arrived, Mukesh loaded his pistol — reportedly in full public view — and fired at least twice at him. After shooting, Mukesh ran towards the court building in a bid to escape. Constable Raj Kumar chased and nabbed him on the second floor. A revolver and a countrymade firearm were recovered from Mukesh.

"Khatri was shot in the back from close range. He was taken to BR Ambedkar Hospital where doctors declared him dead. A policeman who sustained a bullet injury in his leg was also admitted to the hospital. He is stable," Jaiswal said. Khatri and Mukesh are from Baankner in Narela. Jaiswal said they are from rival gangs. Mukesh belongs to the "Ashwini gang", whose leader was arrested last year. 

"In 2009, Ashwini and his gang had killed Khatri's uncle Dharmender. In 2010, Khatri and his aides killed Ashwini's younger brother, Sushil. Mukesh was very close to Sushil and used to work as a conductor on the buses Sushil owned. Ashwini made Mukesh kill Khatri to avenge Sushil's death. He also told Mukesh that Khatri would kill him once he was released from jail. A worried Mukesh planned to kill him," Jaiswal said.

Hours after the incident, persons claiming to be Khatri's relatives reached the police post inside the court premises. They wanted to know how weapons were brought inside the court premises.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/19yearold-sneaks-guns-inside-court-murders-undertrial-in-public-view/1077235/0

In global list of most expensive office locations, CP ranks No. 4

In its annual survey, global real estate consultant Cushman & Wakefield has named Connaught Place as world's fourth most expensive office location, up one position from last year.

The report ranks locations across 63 countries to list the most expensive office destination across the world. London's West End emerged as the world's most expensive office market, while Rio de Janerio in Brazil captured the third position ahead of India, according to C&W report — Office Space Across the World 2013.

Connaught Place registered a growth of approximately 25 per cent in rental values over the last year, to charge Rs 403 per square feet per month. It is one of the oldest established office centres in India and is in proximity to other establishments like government organisations, trading centres and retail location, demand for quality office space has been high.

Fresh supply in Connaught Place is essentially due to redevelopments and renovations of existing buildings, which have been commanding premium and thus are instrumental in pushing the average rental values in this location northward, the report says.

Executive Managing Director (South Asia), Cushman & Wakefield, Sanjay Dutt said: "The new master plan for New Delhi by the Delhi Development Authority has not provisioned for any rapid growth of office space within the city, leaving very limited choice. Majority of the demand for office space is still being serviced by Connaught Place as the location has other support socio-political infrastructure. Limited quality corporate office space in Connaught Place has fuelled the northward march of the rental values."

"The rental values of this location will remain high, but limited activities in the location on an ongoing basis is expected to keep values contained, notwithstanding the fact that location may have already reached peek pricing," Dutt said.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/in-global-list-of-most-expensive-office-locations-cp-ranks-no.-4/1077237/0

Bank services in Mumbai hit as strike enters day 2

Majority of ATMs have dried up in the financial capital of Mumbai and banking operations across the city were hit on the second day of the general strike called by central trade unions for various demands.

"A majority of ATMs have dried up while the (bank) branches are shut. Additionally, there has not been any cheque clearing as personnel from RBI too joined the strike. It will take at least 2-3 working days to clear the backlog for banks", said All India Bank Employees Association Vice President Vishwas Utagi.

The strike witnessed near cent per cent participation by employees from banking and insurance sector in the financial hub, leaving their operations completely paralysed.

"We reiterate our demands, including the one for not allowing private sector participants into the fray for which we are holding the bandh", Utagi said. Suburban railway, the city's life line, functioned normally and road traffic remained unaffected, though there were fewer passengers using public transport. Flight operations at the Mumbai airport were also normal despite a section of airport unions declaring their support to the strike, an airport spokesperson said.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/bank-services-in-mumbai-hit-as-strike-enters-day-2/1077712/

Schools heave sigh of relief, CM favours RTE extension

Delhi schools heaved a sigh of relief and welcomed the decision of the Delhi High Court, which made it clear that there was no stopping the nursery admission process currently underway.

In first comments, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said: "We are going through the order. The government is considering options." She said personally she would like the ambit of the Right to Education Act expanded to include children under the age of six.

Ameeta M Wattal, principal of Springdales School and vice-chairperson of National Progressive Schools Conference, said: "We support the court order, the autonomy of schools has to be maintained." She said had there been any delay in the order, it would have been a big issue for parents.

With the High Court ruling that the RTE Act does not apply to nursery except the provision to reserve 25 per cent seats for the economically weaker sections, Madhulika Sen, chairperson of the Forum of Public Schools, said "that is what we have been saying all this while that the RTE does not apply to nursery and KG."

Sen also raised the point of autonomy of private unaided schools and said "the other 75 per cent should be left to us". She said the forum held a meeting on Tuesday.

The petitioners, on the other hand, called the order "a partial victory". Ashok Agarwal, counsel for petitioner Social Jurist NGO, said they will move the Supreme Court in the next two weeks regarding extension of the RTE.

Source:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/schools-heave-sigh-of-relief-cm-favours-rte-extension/1076670/

Two more die of swine flu, season count rises to 11

Two patients succumbed to H1N1 virus-related complications on Tuesday, taking the swine flu toll to 11 patients since January 1. Also, the tally of diagnosed patients crossed the 500 mark.

A 45-year-old woman at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and a 36-year-old patient at Apollo Hospital in Sarita Vihar succumbed to the illness, reportedly from respiratory complications. Both patients were admitted in the ICU and were on ventilator support. An official said the respiratory problems led to compromised lung function.

"The swine flu virus is known to cause respiratory distress if diagnosed late or in patients suffering from other problems like asthma, diabetes or cardiovascular problems. Once it affects the lungs, patients are unable to breathe on their own," he said.

Another 53 patients tested positive for the H1N1 virus on Tuesday, after sporadic rainfall over the weekend. A total of 510 patients been diagnosed with the virus since January 1. Compared to this, in 2011 and 2012, 22 and 78 patients, respectively, had tested positive for the virus in the entire year.

Health department officials said the intermittent rainfall over the past two months had led to the rise in swine flu cases.

With more rainfall expected over the coming weekend, officials said the conditions are still conducive for the spread of the virus. "High humidity levels and low temperatures create an environment where the virus can grow and spread. People should wash their hands properly and frequently, and carry a handkerchief as a precautionary measure," Health minister Dr A K Walia said.

The Health department said there is no need for vaccination against the virus, barring the high-risk people.

Source:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/two-more-die-of-swine-flu-season-count-rises-to-11/1076664/0

RTE Act does not apply to nursery, rules HC

ORDER Schools can continue with admission process; HC says govt must consider extending RTE to nursery.

Ending the uncertainty over the ongoing nursery admission process in private unaided schools of the Capital, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday ruled that the Right to Education Act is not applicable to nursery schools. But the court also said "it is the right time for the government to consider" applying the Act to nursery classes as well.

Disposing PILs filed by NGO Social Jurist and Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights, a bench of Chief Justice D Murugesan and Justice V K Jain did not quash the two notifications, which the petitioners claimed had allowed private unaided schools to formulate their own admission criteria.

"We hold that the guidelines issued by the Government of India and the order issued by the Government of NCT of Delhi under Section 35 of RTE Act, 2009, do not apply to 75 per cent of the admission made to pre-elementary (pre-primary and pre-school) classes by private unaided schools, though they do apply to to the remaining 25 per cent admission made by such schools to such classes," the bench said, referring to the 25 per cent reservation for children belonging to the weaker section and disadvantaged group.

"Though we have held that the Right to Education Act is not applicable to nursery schools... there cannot be any different yardstick... for education of children up to the age of 14 years, irrespective of the fact that it applies to only elementary education. It is the right time for the government to consider the applicability of Right to Education Act to the nursery classes as well, as in many of the states admissions are made right from the nursery classes and the children so admitted are automatically allowed to continue from Class I," the bench said.

Last week, the Central government informed the High Court that the Right to Education Act applies only to "elementary education", which is defined in the Act as education from Class I to Class VIII. Provisions of the RTE Act, the government said, are available only to children in the age group 6 to 14 years and do not affect primary education.

In its order, the bench said, "The importance of education is per se applicable to every child, right from admission to nursery classes till it completes the eighth standard." While noting there is obligation on the state to provide free and compulsory education to children and the responsibility of the institution to afford it, the bench said "educational institutions cannot be allowed to run as teaching shops" since that "would be detrimental to equal opportunity to children".

Asking the state not to ignore observations made in the judgment, the bench said the state should consider making necessary amendments that will allow benefits of the Right to Education Act to a child seeking admission in a nursery class.

Source:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/rte-act-does-not-apply-to-nursery-rules-hc/1076667/0

Public transport hit in Delhi due to nationwide strike

Commuters in the city today faced hardships as a section of auto-rickshaws and taxis remained off the road in support of the two-day nationwide strike called by 11 trade unions.

School children and office goers suffered the most as most auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers either refused or overcharged. Passengers at major railway stations and bus stands remained stranded or had to shell out more to reach their destinations.

"I had to pay Rs 180 for a ride from Moti Bag to Central Secretariat to an auto driver. The fare for the stretch in a normal day is around Rs 80," said Ajeet Singh, a government official.

Five major auto-rickshaw and taxi unions have announced that they will join the strike to demand a hike in auto and taxi fares.

Although Metro services were not affected by the strike, bus services were partially hit by the strike as a number of bus unions, including a section of Delhi Transport Corporation] employees, have also extended support to the strike.

Long queues were seen at Metro stations and bus stands as they remained the only viable option for people to commute. "I had to stand in the queue at INA Metro station for around 45 minutes as most people decided to take the metro following the strike. By the time I reached office, I was late]by an hour," said Shikha Tiwari who works at an airline company at Connaught Place.

To tackle the strike, Delhi government has cancelled leave of all DTC employees and asked senior officials of the corporation to be at bus depots from early morning to ensure asmooth running of the DTC bus service.

Delhi Transport Minister Ramakant Goswami had said that around 1,000 RTV (rural transport vehicles) and tourist buses will ply on DTC routes for the next two days.

"These buses have been allowed to ply on DTC routes under special service. The buses would display DTC route numbers and charge DTC fares," he said.

Source:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/public-transport-hit-in-delhi-due-to-nationwide-strike/1076949/0

Ruchi Soya forays into health drinks

Ruchi Soya Industries Limited (RSIL) has expanded their product portfolio by launching ‘N’rich’ in the beverage segment with their flagship brand-Nutrela. RSIL is the first Indian company to export Soya meal and manufacture edible grade Soya flour and textured Soya proteins.

N’rich is a tasty protein drink available in 3 distinct flavours, rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which make it a healthy beverage. The flavours are a rich combination of exotic fruits like, Apple Kiwi, Apple Peach and Multifruit. The range of fruit juices are an assortment of traditional Indian and international flavours. The product will be offered in all leading metros.

On the occasion of the launch, Sarvesh Shahra, Head-Foods Division, RSIL said, “While all segments of the beverage market are evolving, the growth seems to be directed more towards healthy, light and low-calorie drinks, in particular organic and fruit juice varieties. We have created N’rich using an innovative technology and recipe that includes ingredients from natural sources, capitalizing on the growing consumer demand for premium and more nutritious products.”

N’rich is a packaged, 100% preservative-free fruit juice brand offering consumers the great taste and wholesome nutrition of fruit juices in a hygienic and attractive pack.

Delhi unsafe for women, step in: Sheila writes to PM

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has written to the Prime Minister asking him to intervene in the functioning of Delhi Police. Dikshit, in her letter, cited the gangrape case to draw home the point that police has failed to ensure women's safety in the capital.

According to sources, in the letter Dikshit complained about the lax security, apathetic attitude in policing and towards issues like security of women. The letter also states that no visible improvement in policing has been witnessed in the city in the past two months, despite assurances of enhanced security for women following the gangrape incident. Dikshit requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take the appropriate necessary steps.

Sources said in the letter, dated February 13, Dikshit also wrote about functioning of the security commission, which frames guidelines on maintaining law and order and suggested that its recommendations should be considered seriously. A source said Dikshit has written a similar letter to Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, asking him to take effective steps to improve policing in the city so that women feel secure.

At the Idea Exchange programme of The Indian Express last week, Dikshit had reiterated that police should be under state government's control. During the interaction, she said except VVIP security, normal law and order policing should come under state government.

"I don't think any state government can have the wherewithal to take on the security needs of the VVIPs and diplomats who live in Delhi. But where normal policing in Delhi is concerned, it should be with the state government. At the time of the gangrape, I raised certain issues like how a policeman can reach a person's house in five minutes when a window is broken but took so long to reach this victim? Everybody is scared of going to the police station. Everybody is scared of picking up persons hurt on the roadside and taking them to the hospital because they are detained for six to eight hours," Dikshit said at the Idea Exchange.

"I feel that a policeman should be perceived as a friend. Also, the equipment being used is not always appropriate. To patrol narrow lanes, they need motorcycles. There is no point having motorcycles and PCR vans in Lutyens' Delhi and not patrolling the outer areas where these incidents happen," she said.

Dikshit said her government has asked for control of traffic police and law and order — the services that concern the ordinary citizens. (With PTI)

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/delhi-unsafe-for-women-step-in-sheila-writes-to-pm/1075741/0

60 test positive for swine flu, total crosses the 400-mark

Another 60 patients tested positive for swine flu on Sunday, taking the total number of diagnosed patients this year to 420.

Health department officials said the continuing cold weather and the intermittent rainfall are responsible for the surge in cases this year. "We had a few days of relief over the past two weeks, but the rainfall on Friday and Saturday brought down the temperatures again. Humidity levels are still high," an official said.

These conditions, according to experts, are conducive to the growth and spread of the H1N1 virus, which causes swine flu. When the temperatures go up, doctors hope the H1N1 cases are come down.

With the number of diagnosed patients crossing the 400 mark, and nine confirmed deaths reported since January 1, Health Minister Dr A K Walia has held two meetings to review the swine flu management system in Delhi government hospitals. Doctors and scientists from the Central government and National Centre for Disease Control have attended these meetings.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/60-test-positive-for-swine-flu-total-crosses-the-400mark/1075747/

Light showers, cloudy sky likely today

The capital saw about 20 mm of rain in the weekend, but the worst of the storm is over and the weatherman predicted that Monday's weather will be similar to that of Sunday.

Light showers and partly cloudy sky are expected on Monday, along with light wind, Met officials said. On Sunday, 2.1 mm of rainfall was recorded in the capital. The maximum temperature was 19.5 degree Celsius, five degree below normal, but three degree above Saturday's maximum.

About 18.6 mm of rainfall was recorded between Friday night and Saturday, when the storm hit the city. The storm was caused by cool air masses from the north colliding with warm air masses from the east, the same formations that caused the record-breaking storm earlier this month, when over 50 mm rainfall was recorded in the capital.

The lowest temperature recorded on Sunday was 12 degree Celsius, a degree above normal, but two degree less than that on Saturday. On Monday, the maximum temperature is expected to be 21 degree Celsius and the minimum will be 10 degree Celsius.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/light-showers-cloudy-sky-likely-today/1075746/

Before she hanged herself, she wrote to her son: Tonight, I will sleep with Geetika

Every day since her daughter Geetika Sharma hanged herself on August 5 last year, Anuradha Sharma (51) spent hours thinking and talking about the case.

Her routine remained unchanged — every morning she would prepare lunch for her husband and son. Later, her husband, Dinesh, dropped Anuradha to her office.

At 2.30 pm, she took a Metro to Hauz Khas, where her son Ankit (22) works as a fashion designer. Here, Anuradha and Ankit would have lunch together and then go for a short walk near the lake located inside the 13th Century Hauz Khas Fort. During the walk they would discuss "the case".

At night, Anuradha went through the diary she maintained on the trial of Geetika's suicide. She noted every development — significant or minor — and would often check the meaning of legal terms on the Internet

Ankit recalls: It was "a battle she was determined to fight".

On February 15, the routine was altered. "She (Anuradha) called me at 2.30 pm on Friday saying that she was busy and asked me to have lunch without her. Something happened between 2.30 and 5.30 pm, (during this period she) returned home, went to my sister's room and hanged herself exactly the same way Geetika had. Those three hours have the missing link to my mother's death," Ankit told Newsline on Sunday.

Geetika, a former MDLR airhostess, was found hanging in a room at the family's Ashok Vihar residence in Northwest Delhi. In her suicide note, Geetika named her boss, former Haryana minister Gopal Kanda and MDLR general manager Aruna Chadha.

The two names figure in Anuradha's suicide note as well.

Ankit has reportedly asked police to inspect call records of Anuradha's office phone, which he believes can provide vital clues to what made his mother take her life.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) P Karunakaran did not respond to Newsline on this.

Ankit says his mother was very scared. She was also concerned about Ankit's career and safety.

"She would tell me that Kanda can harm me once he is out of jail. If someone had been threatening her, it was done very neatly. I checked her phone (call and text logs) and found nothing suspicious. Perhaps, someone called her on the office landline," Ankit says.

He says he wanted his mother to stay happy.

"I wanted to show her that I needed her. So, I would eat the food only when she cooked it. We had made plans that I would go to London for my post-graduation after the trial ends and mom would come along. She supported me. She was sad, terribly sad after Geetika's death, but even that grief had a fighting spirit. I was convinced she was normal now and would live for me. Her death shocked me; I feel broken, lonely," he says.

Apart from her suicide note, police found a letter that Anuradha addressed to Ankit. She asked him to "be very strong" and fight for Geetika.

"She wrote 'tonight, I will sleep with Geetika. You are now a grown-up, son'. The battle has just begun. I am going to fight this case till the end. I am the only and the biggest threat to them," Ankit says.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/before-she-hanged-herself-she-wrote-to-her-son-tonight-i-will-sleep-with-geetika/1075743/0

Ruchi Soya net sales up 18%

During the quarter, branded sales registered a healthy 22.95% growth from Rs. 1,374.23 crore to Rs. 1,689.59 crore
Ruchi Soya Industries Limited (Ruchi Soya) has announced its un-audited financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 (Q3). As compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, net profit for the quarter rose by 105.45% from Rs. 24.05 crore to Rs. 49.41 crore whereas net sales rose by 17.56% from Rs. 6,954.29 crore to Rs. 8,175.16 crore.

During the quarter, branded sales registered a healthy 22.95% growth from Rs. 1,374.23 crore to Rs. 1,689.59 crore. Refining capacity utilization improved by 8.85% from 4,78,589 MT to 5,20,960 MT. Export of Soya Meal in value improved by 47.29% from Rs. 883.16 crore to Rs. 1,300.83 crore. Sale of Textured soya protein (TSP) stood at Rs. 28.16 crore registering an impressive rise of 43.53% from Rs. 19.62 crore during Q3 in the last fiscal.

Commenting on the performance, Managing Director, Dinesh Shahra said, “I am happy to share the healthy growth recorded by the Company during the third quarter ended December 31, 2012. Improved branded sales, better sales realization of oilseed extraction, effective control on the costs and favourable business sentiments helped us to get profit on the track. We are making our efforts to have good performance on a sustained basis in the times to come.”

Source: http://planetcorporatenews.blog.com/

Juvenile accused in gangrape faces robbery charge too

The Delhi Police on Thursday filed a chargesheet in the Juvenile Board relating to a robbery case against the juvenile accused in the Delhi gangrape case.

According to police, the six men accused of the brutal gangrape of a 23-year-old paramedic student, also stand accused of robbing vegetable seller Ramadhar Singh at Hauz Khas, before assaulting the woman and her male friend aboard a moving bus on December 16.

The chargesheet against the five adult accused in the case will be filed in the Saket court in the coming days, sources said.

The gangrape case is being heard in the special fast-track court of additional sessions judge Yogesh Khanna.

Separate proceedings are being held in the Juvenile Justice Board against the juvenile accused, who was held to be 17 years and six months of age by the Board.

The chargesheet against him, known as police inquiry report (PIR), relates to the role of the juvenile in the robbery incident.

Police also filed a supplementary PIR in the gangrape case against the accused juvenile before the JJB on Thursday.

While the media is not allowed to publish the details of the proceedings in the JJB, it has been learnt that the Board, presided over by Principal Magistrate Geetanjali Goel, has taken cognisance of the chargesheets.

The Board will take up both the PIRs for arguments on framing of charges on February 28.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/juvenile-accused-in-gangrape-faces-robbery-charge-too/1074543/