An urgent appeal

 Woman Needs Help to Survive

Ludhiana, 7th July, 2012 (Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria) Mrs. Sosan Daniel from Ludhiana is in a difficult situation. Sosan Daniel (Hospital Unit No. C-7171827) is a 60 years old lady.  She has been hospitalized since 2-6-2012 with a diagnosis of Diabetes mellitus type 2, Diabetic nephropathy, CKD- stage V, systemic hypertension and obstructive sleep apnoea. She requires respiratory support for her OSA and has been advised dialysis which has been deferred due to financial constraints.
The patient is poor, her outstanding bill is nearly Rs. 1 lakh and her daily expenses is approximately Rs. 5000/-per day. The cost of initiating hemodialysis is Rs. 10000/- for three consecutive sessions and maintenance hemodialysis for a period of 1 month is approximately 25000/-. She requires prolonged hospital stay and her family is desperately in need of financial support for continuation of treatment.For further details Please Contact Dr.Navjot Singh- 9815543708

 

India’s Informal Economy and Foreign Investment

In India, growth in informal sector is much higher
Amanpreet Singh Chhina                                                                            06 July 2012 

Oxford: Depreciating value of Indian rupee has raised enthusiasm among foreign investors/NRIs to invest in India; however, without seriously analysing the fact that 80 percent businesses in India are based in informal economy and huge amount of black money is involved in the real estate and private sector. Generally, the purchase of any property in India involves 60 to 70 percent of black money and therefore the seller faces many obstacles to bring that investment back to the foreign country. “Many foreign investors are facing money laundering inquires by the investigating officers in foreign countries” said Makhan Singh (NRI), Solicitor Advocate of England and Wales.
In India, growth in informal sector is much higher than formal sector and even the Prime Minister of India is not sure about the actual GDP of the country. It is estimated that illegal transactions in the property sector alone generate about Rs. 2,000 crores of black money in a year in India, assuming that there are about fifty lakh transactions in urban property every year. Necessary steps should be taken by the Government of India to match government value of the property with fair market value to clamp down black money and money laundering in the country. It must be remembered that a simple ‘Welcome Back’ slogan by the Prime Minister of India will not attract back Indian professionals and investors unless a corruption free infrastructure and business environment (single-window clearance) is provided. GOI should develop policies to combat money laundering and black money issues so that foreign investor or NRI’s can invest in India.

A S Chhina on FDI
 India’s Informal Economy and Foreign Investment

World War II African-American Marines Receive

Congressional Gold Medal

By Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 28, 2012 - A group of African-American Marines who broke the Marine Corps' color barrier during World War II received the Congressional Gold Medal at a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol yesterday.

The medal is the nation's highest civilian award given by Congress. The "Montford Point Marines" received the award for serving with valor during the war, even as they were subjected to discrimination.

In 1942, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt allowed African-Americans to join the Marine Corps, they were not sent to the traditional boot camps. Instead, this group of Marines was segregated and completed basic training at Montford Point on Camp Lejeune, N.C.

"African-Americans were not allowed to serve in any wars until World War II in 1942," said William McDowell, a former Montford Point Marine who accepted the medal on behalf of his fellow Marines and family members in Emancipation Hall at the Capitol. "Unfortunately it took a world war to make it happen, but it happened. I don't think any of us ever imagined that something like this would ever happen in our lifetime."

McDowell said it was a "privilege and an honor to stand before [the audience] and receive the Congressional Gold Medal for [them] and 18,700 other brothers who served this nation and the corps, with courage and commitment. This award belongs to them because collectively, [we] did what we thought was impossible ... [and] made history."

Several congressional leaders also addressed the audience. California Rep. Nancy Pelosi, House minority leader, spoke of the Montford Point Marines' toughness and determination.

"In the time of these Marines – in an age of inequality – breaking the color barrier in the Marine Corps took nothing less than perseverance, patriotism and courage of extraordinary proportions," she said.

Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, Senate minority leader, noted that many of the Montfort Marines seized the opportunity to defend their country in combat.

"Restricted to training for support roles, African-American Marines had to wait for their chance to prove themselves on the battlefield. But the chance finally came in the Pacific Theater, where many saw combat in some of the bloodiest battles of World War II, including Iwo Jima, Saipan and Okinawa, and carried out their duties with great courage and heroism," he said.

Nevada Sen. Harry Reid, Senate majority leader, told the audience that while the African-American Marines fought for the rights of others overseas, the injustice of discrimination still prevailed on their home fronts.

"They were trained to fight injustice overseas; meanwhile, they suffered discrimination every day," he said. "They were trained to fight tyranny abroad, while their friends and family suffered oppression here at home ... Although they were assigned support roles in the Pacific Theater, many had the chance to prove themselves in battle as well ... Some cleaned up the ash after the bomb was dropped over Nagasaki."

House Speaker Rep. John Boehner of Ohio said African-Americans gained respect as full-fledged Marines.

"Letting [African-Americans] serve in the Marine Corps was called an experiment ... which didn't last very long," Boehner said. "Toward the end of the war, the Marine Corps commandant said the experiment was over, [and] that the men who trained at Montford Point were 'Marines, period.'"
 

Defense Deptt Hosts First LGBT Pride Month Event

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr. American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, June 26, 2012 - The Defense Department held a panel discussion today in honor of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month, with the Pentagon's general counsel recalling how difficult it would have been just several years ago to believe that in 2012, gays could serve openly in the military. Jeh C. Johnson, DOD's General Counsel, addressed a standing room only audience and led a panel discussion at the LGBT pride event, which included a look into the process leading to the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law in December 2010 "As recently as three years ago, it would have been hard for many of us, including me, to believe that in the year 2012 a gay man or woman in the armed forces could be honest about their sexual orientation," Johnson said. Johnson, along with Army Gen. Carter F. Ham, currently the commander of U.S. Africa Command, played a large role in researching the effects of repealing the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law, and its impact on military effectiveness. Johnson said it was difficult to envision "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ever being repealed, or that the repeal process would proceed so smoothly. "It's a remarkable story, and it's remarkable because of the strength of the U.S. military and its leadership ... We have the mightiest military in the world. Not just because of our planes, guns, tanks and ships. But because of our people, their ability to adapt to change, and their respect for the rule of law, their commanders and their civilian leaders." Johnson recalled how he and Ham had received a mandate to conduct an assessment of the impact on military effectiveness if the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law was repealed, following Senate testimony on the matter by then-Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen. Johnson said he and Ham "were to take 10 months and we were told to systematically engage the force on this issue. In effect, 'Go have a conversation with the entire U.S. military about this issue and report back to me, the president, and the Congress what they've told you.'" "The study we undertook was the most comprehensive engagement ever of the military on any personnel-related matter," Johnson said. "Over the course of 10 months we surveyed 400,000 service members and received 115,000 responses. "[We also] surveyed 150,000 military spouses and received 44,266 responses," he continued. "[And] solicited and received 72,384 e-mails, conducted 95 information exchange forums at 51 bases around the world, and talked face-to-face to over 24,000 service members, many of them [personally]." Johnson said the working group also held 140 smaller focus groups with service members and their families, visited the military academies, and solicited the views of Congress, veterans groups, other countries as well as those for and against repeal. The research concluded with an anonymous, confidential online conversation with 2,691 self-identified gay active duty service members. "The results of the report are now well known," Johnson said. "The bottom line conclusion was this -- based on all we saw and heard, our assessment is that when coupled with the prompt implementation of our recommendations, the risk of repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" to overall military effectiveness was low." Johnson noted that while this was DOD's first LGBT pride event, civilian society and other agencies in the federal government have held such events in June for years. "The CIA, for example, hosted a gay pride event 12 years ago," he pointed out. "This is the first time in history such an event has occurred at the Pentagon." "So what should we honor today?" Johnson asked his audience noting "for those service members who are gay and lesbian, we lifted a real and personal burden from their shoulders. They no longer have to live a lie in the military." "For all of us, we should honor the professional and near-flawless manner in which our entire U.S. military implemented and adapted to this change and welcomed their brothers and sisters to an unconditional place at the table," he said.

Biographies: Jeh C. Johnson Army Gen. Carter F. Ham Related Articles: Nine Months After Repeal, Gay Troops Slowly Come Out

Meet the challenges faced by the countr

A call to strengthen the party organizations by CPI 

With a call to strengthen the party organization to meet the challenges faced by the country in the wake of neo-liberal policies, which have brought country’s economy to doll drums and also to struggle against mafias and attempts to spread fundamentalism in the state, the 21st District  Conference of the CPI Ludhiana unit held under the chairmanship of a presidium constituted by Dr Arun Mitra, Com. O P Meha, Com Amrik Singh, Com Gurnam Gill and Com Jit Kumari elected Com Kartar Singh Bowani as the district secretary unanimolusly and Dr Arun Mitra and D P Maur as Assistat Secretaries. Dr Joginder Dayal-member Central Executive Committee and Com Nirmal Singh Dhaliwal State Secretary participated as observers. 130 delegates participated in the conference. District Secretary Com Kartar Singh Bowani presented the report of activities in the past and the achievements of the party. After his report a vibrant debate was held on the present political situation in the state and the country and the state. The delegates also discussed the steps to be taken to strengthen the party and take the message to the masses. Dr Dayal gave a detailed account of present political scenario and Com Nirmal Dhaliwal stressed on the need for a strong organization. The report was passed unanimously. District conference also elected a 63 member district council Conference also elected a 15 member delegation to participate in the state conference to be held at Ludhiana from 7th to 9th July 2012. The conference decided to participate in a big number in the pre state conference rally on 7th July.
(Dr Arun Mitra)
Asstt. Secretary

Face of Defense:Game Wardens Keep Tabs on Base 'Critters' By Kristen Wong Marine Corps Base Hawaii MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, Kaneohe Bay, June 22, 2012 - Whether helping to reunite pets with their owners, or setting up a perimeter for a monk seal, the Game Warden's Office here is ready to provide support for the base's animals, large and small. Click photo for screen-resolution image Mark Takekawa, an animal enforcement technician at the Game Warden's Office on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, reaches in to retrieve a food dish in a trap meant for stray cats on June 4, 2012. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Kristen Wong (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The office is generally in charge of both animal care and environmental protection at the base, according to Mark Takekawa, an animal enforcement technician assigned to the office. Game warden operations here fall under the Provost Marshal's Office. Office staff and volunteers alert base law enforcement of animal-related issues by patrolling the installation, Takekawa said. "We're the eyes and ears of PMO," Takekawa said, noting he's worked at the Game Warden's Office here for seven years. The office has three paid staff, and 25 volunteers. Selected volunteers are trained in various skills such as catching stray dogs. Takekawa said volunteers are split into groups, with each serving a different purpose. One is dedicated to trapping animals on the base such as mongoose or feral cats. Other groups do administrative work, while others maintain the office grounds. Other volunteers patrol certain areas of the base to ensure compliance with fishing regulations. Clyde Sasaki, from Honolulu, said he's been a game warden volunteer at the base for 15 years. Sasaki described the base as very beautiful, with nice fishing grounds. He said it's very rewarding for him to help preserve its natural resources. The office staff also helps keep track of the domestic and feral animals on base. Base residents are required to register their pets. There are more than 2,000 animals currently registered on the base, officials said. Residents are also required to notify the Game Warden if they no longer own the pet they have registered.Game Wardens Keep Tabs on Base 'Critters' By Kristen Wong Marine Corps Base Hawaii MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, Kaneohe Bay, June 22, 2012 - Whether helping to reunite pets with their owners, or setting up a perimeter for a monk seal, the Game Warden's Office here is ready to provide support for the base's animals, large and small. Click photo for screen-resolution image Mark Takekawa, an animal enforcement technician at the Game Warden's Office on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, reaches in to retrieve a food dish in a trap meant for stray cats on June 4, 2012. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Kristen Wong (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The office is generally in charge of both animal care and environmental protection at the base, according to Mark Takekawa, an animal enforcement technician assigned to the office. Game warden operations here fall under the Provost Marshal's Office. Office staff and volunteers alert base law enforcement of animal-related issues by patrolling the installation, Takekawa said. "We're the eyes and ears of PMO," Takekawa said, noting he's worked at the Game Warden's Office here for seven years. The office has three paid staff, and 25 volunteers. Selected volunteers are trained in various skills such as catching stray dogs. Takekawa said volunteers are split into groups, with each serving a different purpose. One is dedicated to trapping animals on the base such as mongoose or feral cats. Other groups do administrative work, while others maintain the office grounds. Other volunteers patrol certain areas of the base to ensure compliance with fishing regulations. Clyde Sasaki, from Honolulu, said he's been a game warden volunteer at the base for 15 years. Sasaki described the base as very beautiful, with nice fishing grounds. He said it's very rewarding for him to help preserve its natural resources. The office staff also helps keep track of the domestic and feral animals on base. Base residents are required to register their pets. There are more than 2,000 animals currently registered on the base, officials said. Residents are also required to notify the Game Warden if they no longer own the pet they have registered.

Game Wardens Keep Tabs on Base 'Critters'  By Kristen Wong  Marine Corps Base Hawaii MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, Kaneohe Bay, June 22, 2012 - Whether helping to reunite pets with their owners, or setting up a perimeter for a monk seal, the Game Warden's Office here is ready to provide support for the base's animals, large and small. Mark Takekawa, an animal enforcement technician at the Game Warden's Office on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, reaches in to retrieve a food dish in a trap meant for stray cats on June 4, 2012. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Kristen Wong charge of both animal care and environmental protection at the base, according to Mark Takekawa, an animal enforcement technician assigned to the office. Game warden operations here fall under the Provost Marshal's Office. Office staff and volunteers alert base law enforcement of animal-related issues by patrolling the installation, Takekawa said. "We're the eyes and ears of PMO," Takekawa said, noting he's worked at the Game Warden's Office here for seven years. The office has three paid staff, and 25 volunteers. Selected volunteers are trained in various skills such as catching stray dogs. Takekawa said volunteers are split into groups, with each serving a different purpose. One is dedicated to trapping animals on the base such as mongoose or feral cats. Other groups do administrative work, while others maintain the office grounds. Other volunteers patrol certain areas of the base to ensure compliance with fishing regulations. Clyde Sasaki, from Honolulu, said he's been a game warden volunteer at the base for 15 years. Sasaki described the base as very beautiful, with nice fishing grounds. He said it's very rewarding for him to help preserve its natural resources. The office staff also helps keep track of the domestic and feral animals on base. Base residents are required to register their pets. There are more than 2,000 animals currently registered on the base, officials said. Residents are also required to notify the Game Warden if they no longer own the pet they have registered.

Declaration of First Rimes Ministerial Conference

        Following is the text of the Declaration of the First Ministerial Conference on Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES):

“We, the Ministers, and Representatives from the Governments, responsible for Building Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems and Senior Officials from Member States and Collaborating Countries of the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES), consisting of Afghanistan, Armenia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Comoros, India, Kenya, Lao PDR, Maldives, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Uzbekistan met in New Delhi on 21 June 2012, to resolve to build and sustain RIMES institutional and core operational  activities through voluntary country contributions and mobilize financial support for implementation of the targeted activities of the RIMES Master Plan:

Welcome the evolution and development of RIMES technical cooperation platform to appropriately address the needs and demands of the Member States and Collaborating Countries in building technical capacity development in respect of generation and application of early warning and decision support information to reduce impacts of natural disasters;

Note and Appreciate the vital contribution of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP) for establishing, institutionalizing and supporting the regional early warning arrangements at RIMES through funding support from the ESCAP Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disasters and Climate Preparedness with support from Thailand and Sweden

Also Note and Appreciate the funding support provided by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) for establishment of a high-performance computing facility at RIMES Program Unit, Pathumthani, Thailand  to support research and development efforts of member states to improve hydro-meteorological forecast products to provide improved early warning services;

Welcome and Appreciate the key role played by H.E Dr. Mohammed Waheed Hassan, the President of Republic of Maldives in his capacity as Chair of the Presidential Task Force for marshalling Maldives RIMES Secretariat through his vast experience and profound wisdom, and also transforming RIMES into an international and inter-governmental institution, and by laying a solid foundation for its sustained growth;

Recognize and Appreciate the extremely valuable role of Dr. Shailesh Nayak, Chairman, Earth Commission and Earth System Science Organization; Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, in his capacity as Chairman of RIMES Council for guiding the RIMES programs to fulfill the immediate and priority needs of the RIMES Council Members, and as Chairman of RIMES Executive Board in evolving the RIMES Master plan through an exhaustive consultative mechanism;

Recognize and Appreciate the generous support extended by the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), U. K. for signing the agreement with RIMES in respect of utilizing forecast products for building multi-hazard early warning programmes for RIMES member states with improved lead times;

Appreciate the significant contributions of the first RIMES Secretariat in Maldives for RIMES institutional development and its consolidation and expansion, and continuing to provide services for the on-going programs

Appreciate the significant contributions of the RIMES Secretariat in Mongolia for its efforts particularly to expand RIMES membership to East Asian and Central Asian countries;

Recognize and Appreciate the contributions of Government of Thailand in extending vital support to operations of RIMES Early Warning Facility and RIMES Program Unit;

Recognize and Appreciate the highly commendable efforts of the RIMES Program Unit for sustaining its core operations, despite being impacted by severe and prolonged flooding of Bangkok, by relocating the Early Warning Facility to a safe alternative location;

Greatly Appreciate the support of Government of India for providing computing resources to offset loss of RIMES’s High Performance Computing (HPC) facility due to Thailand Floods   to enable RIMES to continue to provide uninterrupted services to its Member States; and access to forecast products from NCMRWF, and readiness of India Institutions- IMD, INCOIS and NCMRWF to expand the scope of capacity development and value added Early Warning products through RIMES.

Greatly Appreciate the Government of Bangladesh effort to institutionalize an innovative program to upgrade early warning system with scientific and technical forecast tools and management practices with technical support from RIMES through the Climate Resilient Fund of Government of Bangladesh and acknowledge the contribution of Government of Bangladesh of US $ Four Million for this purpose, and,

Commend this initiative of Government of Bangladesh as an innovative institutional model to be replicated by RIMES Member States

Appreciate Government of Mozambique initiative to establish collaborative linkage between RIMES and Meteorological Association of Southern Africa (MASA)

Decide to provide sustained support and commitment as appropriate to strengthen RIMES core and prioritized programs under Master Plan;

Noted the readiness of Government of Seychelles to host the Indo-Africa Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting;

Fully Recognize the Government of India’s commitment as RIMES Council Chair and agree for India to continue to Chair RIMES Council;

Request RIMES to collaborate with Indian Ocean Commission and African Centre of Meteorological Application for Development (ACMAD) for generation and application of seasonal forecast in the region;

Decide to evolve a financial mechanism as appropriate to enable RIMES to realize its full potential. For this purpose a sub-group of Ministers could be constituted with appropriate terms of reference to recommend such financial mechanism;

Welcome Government of India’s active consideration to financially support prioritized projects of the RIMES Master Plan;

Recommend and Request financial support from international donor agencies, in particular to enable UN-ESCAP to expand scope of Regional Tsunami and Climate Trust Fund to build programs identified in the RIMES Master Plan, and RIMES Member and Collaborating States for mobilization of funds for the full and successful implementation of the RIMES Master Plan to translate the envisaged efforts for building country-specific actions;

Invite and Call for convening of First RIMES Donors’ Conference during the course of 2012 to seek global donor agencies support towards strengthening early warning arrangements for most vulnerable and least developed RIMES Member and Collaborating States;

Encourage RIMES Collaborating Countries- Afghanistan, Armenia, Bhutan, China, Kenya, Madagascar, Myanmar, Nepal, Somalia, Tanzania, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Vietnam to accelerate their respective government level approvals so as to enable them to sign RIMES Cooperation Agreement at the earliest convenience.”  (PIB) 21-June-2012 19:27 IST