New Delhi

Focus on people living on the Capital’s streets

To mark the first International Day of Democracy that was observed this past Monday, the United Nations Information Centre in New Delhi in collaboration with the Centre for the Study of Law and Governance at Jawaharlal Nehru University organised a discussion with lawyers, academics and activists. A panel discussion was held on “People on the Street: What does Democracy mean to them?” and a report was released on the lot of people living on the Capital’s streets.

The report, “Access to social justice and equity for people on the street: A study of sufferings of citizens with mental disorder and associated disadvantages and vulnerabilities”, has been prepared by an NGO with assistance from JNU. It was released by Justice Gita Mittal of the Delhi High Court.

UN Information Centre director Shalini Dewan read out the message of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. Amita Singh, chairperson of the Centre at JNU, said the budgets offered for providing shelter to the homeless were minuscule. “In a globalising city, land that belongs to the poor is going to the rich for projects,” she noted.

Lawyer Amitabha Sen, Guild of Service chairperson Mohini Giri and Delhi Government Standing Counsel Mukta Gupta also spoke at the event.

Prof. K.K. Aggarwal, eminent IT expert and Vice-Chancellor of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, recently took over as president of the South East Asia Regional Computer Confederation (SEARCC) for 2009-10.

Established in 1978, SEARCC is a confederation of non-political and non-profit making computer/IT professional societies in South East Asia. Its member-countries include India, Pakistan, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, T aiwan and Thailand.

Prof. Aggarwal is widely recognised for his extensive work in the field of electronics and computer engineering.

JK Business School, Gurgaon, has invited applications for admission to two-year post-graduate diploma in management.

Application forms can be obtained from the institute’s admission office in Sector 14 of Gurgaon. Forms can also be downloaded from www.jkbschool.org . The last date for submission of forms is September 30.

In an effort to promote and strengthen human rights awareness among students, the Indian Social Institute has been conducting workshops for various educational institutions. It organised the latest workshop at Jesus and Mary College of Delhi University earlier this week.

The programme was conducted by Pradyumna Bora of the Indian Social Institute and Ashok Chakravarti, former senior director with the National Human Rights Commission.

Such sessions will also be held at Lady Shri Ram College and Springdales School next week.

The Outreach Programme at Jamia Millia Islamia has invited entries for an all-India essay competition in English language from all individuals up to the age of 25 years. Entries can be sent on the following subject(s): The Role of Early Leaders of the National Freedom Movement vis-a-vis: (a) Hakim Ajmal Khan, (b) Maulana Mahmud Hasan, or (c) Dr M.A. Ansari.

There will be three cash prizes and as many consolation prizes. All entries must reach the office of Jamia’s media coordinator by November 1. The entries will be screened by members of the editorial board of the Jamia journal “Third Frame” and judged by an eminent writer. The first prize winning essay will be published in the journal.

S. Moied Ahmed, a reader at the Department of Anaesthesiology at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in Aligarh Muslim University, has been appointed an editorial consultant of the Physicians Information Education and Resource of the American College of Physicians.

Parul Sharma

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu