Arun Blog

With a view to checking human trafficking, the Government plans to introduce biometric passport system that will include finger-printing, by 2010, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said today. “We have decided to introduce biometric passport system.

We intend to complete the entire process by 2010,” he said replying to supplementaries during the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha. Stating that there was a nexus of recruiting agencies and employers in human trafficking, Mukherjee added that Indian workers fall for the lure of more money and resort to illegal migration and end up being harassed and exploited.

“Our policy is whenever the nationality (of the worker detained by a foreign country for illegal migration) is identified, we bring them back,” he said. Many illegal migrants destroy their passport and other identity proof on landing on the foreign soil, making it difficult to ascertain their nationality and stay on using liberal immigration rules.

He, however, categorically stated that India was not sending any “terrorist” to foreign countries using the human trafficking network. “These (people going illegally from India to foreign land) are civilians, job seekers.

We are not sending any terrorist or infiltrators into any country.” Government, he said, adopts a multi-pronged approach to combat trafficking, which encompasses prevention through stronger law enforcement, rescue and rehabilitation of victims including through repatriation of those confirmed to be Indian nationals.

HERE IS MY HOROSCOPE FOR TODAY

You and your people are feeling pretty good about life right now and you might be inspired to throw a party. It’s the perfect time to host, though you may need to plan things out for later instead.

Guwahati (PTI): Culling operations were on in birdflu-hit Assam even as the administration launched a massive campaign to make people aware about the disease.

“Culling operations are on at large scale in all the six affected districts even as a massive publicity campaign including announcement by loudspeakers have been launched to make people aware of the do’s and dont’s of the disease,” Shyam Mewara, Commissioner Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, told PTI here on Sunday.

He said compensation has been paid to the affected poultry breeders and so far Rs 97 lakh has been given by the state government.

Confirming there was no report of birdflu among humans, the commissioner said precautionary measures were on and care was being taken to prevent the spread of the disease to new areas.

The government ban on sale and movement of poultry products was on.

Official sources said that nearly 100 persons from Hajo, Rampur and Azara blocks who were suffering from upper respiratory tract infection were being kept under surveillance.

Two districts of Kamrup, rural and metro, of which the capital city of Guwahati is a part, Nalbari, Barpeta, Chirang and Dibrugarh districts have been affected by the virus.

Communications and IT Minister A. Raja, who was also present on the occasion, made a video call, demonstrating the capabilities of 3G services.

Launching the services, the prime minister said: “I congratulate MTNL and the communications minister for launching the 3G service.”

“Competition has to be the major propeller of the Indian economy and it has to be a sustainable one,” he said while demonstrating the mobile TV facility available with 3G services.

“However, effective objective and impartial regulations have to be an integral part of all these processes for investors to invest further,” he added.

Added Raja: “BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd) and MTNL have already been allotted 3G and broadband wireless access spectrum with a view to ensuring early rollout of 3G and Wi-max services in the country.”

While MTNL has rolled out its 3G services only in Delhi Thursday, BSNL will launch its services in Chennai next month.

Talking about the revenues generated through licensing fees and sale of spectrum, Raja said: “After migrating to revenue sharing regime, this sector has contributed Rs.500 billion (Rs.50,000 crore) through licence fee, entry fee and spectrum charges till the end of last financial year.”

“During this financial year alone, it is expected that about Rs.160 billion (Rs.16,000 crore) will be collected from the licence fee and the spectrum charges,” he added.

The minister also said mobile number portability (MNP) would be implemented in metros and category A circle by the middle of 2009 and the entire country by end of next year.

MNP will enable mobile users to retain their telephone numbers when changing from one network to another.

HERE IS MY HOROSCOPE FOR TODAY

You and your people are feeling pretty good about life right now and you might be inspired to throw a party. It’s the perfect time to host, though you may need to plan things out for later instead.

Cyclone ”Nisha” which crossed coastal Tamilnadu near Karaikal early this morning. It is expected to move further in a north -westerly direction before weakening according to the weather department.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast in parts of Tamilnadu and Puducherry in the next 24 hours.

State capital Chennai recorded 14 cm of rainfall in the last 24 hours accompanied by strong wind with speeds of 45 to 55 kilometers per hour. Similarly Vedaranyam received rainfall of 33 cm.

The cyclone has caused the death of at least 40 people.

Official sources said that the torrential rains in Delta districts, for the past five days has thrown normal life out of gear and submerged samba paddy crop. Several trees were uprooted and power cables snapped in Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur and Cuddalore districts of the state.

Many small rivers are flowing well above the danger mark and number of breaches has been reported in these areas. People in low lying areas have been evacuated in Chennai, while a similar exercise was carried out in Cuddalore, Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur districts.

With the sea remaining violent for the past one week fishermen have been advised not to venture out in the ocean for any marine activities.