Gujarati News: November 2006

Gujarati girl crowned Miss Great Britain
Wednesday, November 29, 2006 | AY

British-born NRI girl Preeti Desai has been today voted as the new Miss Great Britain. She replaces original winner Danielle Lloyd. Twenty-five-year-old Preeti from Guisborough, North Yorks will now represent Great Britain in the Miss Universe Pageant. Preeti‘s family, mother Hema, father Jitu, and sister Anjlee were ecstatic at her win.

Chappell's effigy burnt in Ahmedabad
Tuesday, November 28, 2006 | AY

Agitated over India's back-to-back losses in the one-day international series against South Africa, National Students Union of India (NSUI) activists today staged a demonstration against coach Greg Chappell at the Gujarat University. The agitators, holding anti-Chappell banners, burnt the effigy of the Australian and shouted slogans against him. They hold Greg Chappell and his policies directly responsible for the continous failure of the Indian team.

Compensation announced for Gujarat riot victims
Sunday, November 26, 2006 | AY

The Centre has decided to give the Gujarat riot victims, the same compensation as it was given to victims of Delhi's 1984 riots. All riot victims would get Rs 7 lakh in compensation. Those who have already got some amount would be given the remaining amount. Sources have revealed that on directions of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, a representative body along with Gujarat victims met the PM, after which the Home Ministry decided to fix Rs 7 lakh each for the victim families. Around 5000 families in Gujarat are living in camps post Gujarat riots, struggling to earn a living.

Vessel monitoring system for fishermen by ISRO
Saturday, November 25, 2006 | AY

Fishermen from Gujarat who till now navigated in the seas using nothing but their instinct may soon have the technology to their aid as a satellite-aided tracking system is being developed indeginiously to be fitted on their trawlers. The low-cost `vessel monitoring system' (VMS) is expected to be fitted in fishing trawlers that would be linked via satellite with the coast guard. The VMS is being develped by the ISRO to help the coast guard keep a track of fishermen's trawlers. This low cost tracking device will be useful to monitor their movement during a hurricane, Tsunami and even if they stray into international seas.

Gujarat bags two IT sector awards
Saturday, November 25, 2006 | AY

Gujarat has bagged two Computer Society of India (CSI)-Nihilent 2005-06 awards in the ''best e-governance state'' and the ''best e-governance projects'' categories. Gujarat has shared the ''best e-governance state'' award jointly with Karnataka. Computer Society of India (CSI) is the largest association of IT professionals in India with over 25,000 members on its rolls. It has instituted a series of awards for recognising the contribution made in the field of e-governance.

Snail venom could be developed into a potential drug
Tuesday, November 21, 2006 | AY

Scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISC), are working on venom derived from cone snails which can be used to develop potential medicinal drugs for treatment of ailments like neuropathic pain, epilepsy and cardiac problems. A cone snail is a marine snail having a cone-shaped shell, a fleshy foot, a head and tentacles. They inhabit the Indian and Pacific oceans, the Caribbean, the red seas and a few other places. Cone snails use their venom to immobilise prey, such as fish, molluscs and worms. They attack their prey with pointed harpoon-like structures and pump toxins into them. The diversity of toxins in cone sail venom is greater than those found in snakes. The multiplicity of toxins found in their venom helps in causing rapid paralysis of the prey. At present, scientists are studying three types of cone snails which have been differentiated according to their prey—the vermivorus (feed on worms), piscivorus (prey on fish) and molluscivorus (molluscs). The drug developed from this venom could block the nerve channels which are responsible for transmitting pain signals.

150 Turtles found in a canal in Gujarat
Monday, November 20, 2006 | AY

More than 150 dead mud turtles have been found floating in an irrigation canal in Gujarat. The turtles were discovered on Sunday near Gandhinagar, the state capital, in a canal linked to the Narmada river. Conservationists said they believe the turtles had either eaten contaminated food discarded by local people or that oxygen levels in the canal had fallen dramatically. Mud turtles usually breed between March and May and can live for 50 years. They dig themselves into the bottom of streams or ponds and can release a foul-smelling fluid to ward off predators.

CAT begins at Ahmedabad
Sunday, November 19, 2006 | AY

The Common Admission Test (CAT) for the prestigious Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIM-A) began at eleven centres this morning amid tight security. Students from different parts of the State arrived in the city to appear for this highly competitive exam, the duration of which has been extended by about 30 minutes this year. Earlier, CAT was a two-hour long exam and had about three main sections. This year, with the addition of half-an-hour, students are expecting some more sections to be added to the traditional Reasoning, Mathematics and English sections.

Gujarat has highest number of oral cancer patients
Sunday, November 19, 2006 | AY

Gujarat leads the country in number of oral cancer patients. This is mainly because of excessive use of tobacco. The Indian council for medical research has decided to set up the first tobacco research lab of the country in Gujarat. The state is also selected in the western region for trial of cervical cancer vaccine. Under this programme unmarried women between 16-21 years and married women of 21-35 years will be given vaccine. If this programme is successful then Gujarat will be the first state in the country to have cervical vaccination facilities.

Gujarat NRE keen on Australian oil hunt
Tuesday, November 14, 2006 | AY

Gujarat NRE Coke Ltd (GNCL) has set its sights on oil exploration in Australia. The group has floated a company called Gujarat NRE Mineral Resource (GNMR) to carry out exploration in Australia. The company has gained access to a virgin block of 10,640 sq km in the Canning basin of Western Australia. The new company has joined hands with Rey Resource Ltd, which has the necessary expertise in oil and gas exploration. GNMR will have a 90 per cent stake in this block with the rest being with Rey Resource. Incidentally, Gujarat NRE has a 20 per cent stake in Rey Resource as well. The group is raising Rs 40 crore through a rights issue from the existing shareholders of GNMR to invest in the new venture.

Kalam for establishment of PURA complexes
Sunday, November 12, 2006 | AY

President A P J Abdul Kalam on Saturday asked Gujarat Government to consider establishment of 300 PURA (Providing Urban Facilities in Rural Areas) complexes which will cover 18,000 villages and encourage reverse migration to rural areas. The President also dedicated Gujarat Government's 'Jyoti Gram Yojana' to the nation under which three phase power supply is given to three crore people staying in all the 18,000 villages of the state, 24 hours a day. Gujarat is the first state in the country, which has given power supply to all its villages and Kalam complimented the state government for this achievement.

Ramadoss warns on medical tourism
Saturday, November 11, 2006 | AY

Corporate hospitals’ ambitious plans of making India a medical tourism hub may hit a road block as the health minister has issued a warning on developing medical tourism at the cost of Indian patients. He advised corporate hospitals to be cautious while promoting medical tourism. The caution was issued by the minister after Gujarat’s Health Minister Ashok Bhatt and the Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals, Preetha Reddy upheld and praised the development of medical tourism in India. Bhatt attributed the opening of CBCC at Apollo Hospitals to medical tourism. The Gujarat government will draft a medical tourism policy, which will be declared soon.

Gujarat on Kuwait airline’s path
Saturday, November 11, 2006 | AY

With more and more Gujaratis making international trips, Ahmedabad is fast becoming a chosen destination for international airlines. After Singapore Airline, Kuwait Airways has formally started operations from Ahmedabad from Friday. It may be noted here that Ahmedabad is now directly connected with Kuwait, London, Muscat, New York, Paris, Sharjah and Singapore. Ahmedabad will be the sixth Indian city connected to Kuwait Airways network the others being Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi.

Herbal products that help agriculture
Wednesday, November 8, 2006 | AY

Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technologies and Institutions (SRISTI) will be launching five different herbal products for agricultural use with the help of Sristi Innovations, a non-profitable company set up to support the grassroot innovators. The five products are based purely on the knowledge and traditional practices of these people in agriculture. The products are: Sristishastra — to control sucking pests like aphid, white flies and herliothis, Sristiprayas — to control flower shedding of different crops, Sristikrushak — for control of leaf curl disease, Sristisuraksha — against termites, and Sristishakti — a strong plant growth promoter. The products would be marketed by Nirman, Ahmedabad.

Polio immunisation in trouble
Sunday, November 5, 2006 | AY

With days to go for the next round of polio immunisation, the district administration in Gujarat's Godhra district is up against a tough challenge. There has been rumour that the vaccine leads to impotency. This is not the first time that such rumours are cropping up just before a polio immunisation drive except that these misinformation campaigns were always restricted to Uttar Pradesh. Now with the propaganda moving into states like Gujarat, programme managers are worried that many children may get left out. With the success of the polio eradication programme hinged on the next two rounds, the Godhra administration can only pray that the negative campaign will have little impact on the ground.

Gujarati play enters Prithvi festival
Saturday, November 4, 2006 | AY

For the first time ever, a Gujarati play by a Gujarat-based production house, has been invited to perform at the prestigious Prithvi Festival in Mumbai. Theatreperson Saumya Joshi’s production Aathman Taranu Aakash, (The Sky of the Eighth Star) becomes the first Gujarati play from the State to be staged at the 17-day festival, this year’s theme being — Kala Desh Ki Seva Mein. The play has been scripted by Abhijat Joshi, who wrote the screenplay of this year’s biggest hit Lage Raho Munnabhai. Ahmedabad-based Darpana’s Hindi play Unsuni will also be staged at the festival. The 70-minute play focusses on the relationship between a boy and his grandfather, a heart patient.

Modi invites China, Singapore for investment
Saturday, November 4, 2006 | AY

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today sought Chinese and Singaporean investments to transform the booming western state into India's Special Economic Zone capital with world-class facilities. The primary objective of his visit to Singapore and China was to invite businesses in the two countries to attend the biannual event - 'Vibrant Gujarat: Global Investors' Summit' from January 12-13, 2007 at Ahmedabad. Gujarat has held the first and second edition of the investment summit in 2003 and 2005.

AMC awaits final opinion for the riverfront project
Thursday, November 2, 2006 | AY

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has been forced to halt their implementation of the Sabarmati riverfront development project, till a final opinion on its technical aspects comes in. This will delay the start of the second phase, scheduled for late December, by at least two months. Since a reduced carrying capacity could potentially cause flooding in the city, the AMC has decided to refer the project design and its technical aspects for a second opinion to experts at the National Institute of Hydrology, New Delhi, who will conduct a survey and produce its final opinion, in associaction with the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee. The project’s design and feasibility came under the scanner amid growing concerns about the river’s carrying capacity. The AMC has undertaken repairs on the damaged walkway, which will be finished in around two months.

IT department raids in Gujarat establishments
Wednesday, November 1, 2006 | AY

The State Income Tax Department, in a state-wide operation, raided 74 establishments in Gujarat today. More than 33 squads deployed by the department undertook the operation in Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Palanpur and Patan. Establishments to be raided by the IT department include Mahalaxmi Builders, Tirupati Builders, Bhagirath Constructions, Neptune Group and the Jagat Dana group among others.