The Hindu : New Delhi News : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 24, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Briefly

Computers for MCD students

NEW DELHI JULY 23. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi today started a computer-aided learning programme for 1,000 primary schools. This programme will reach out to 4. 25-lakh children studying in Class III, IV and V.

According to a MCD press release, the Delhi Mayor, A.R. Verma, launched the programme at the Municipal Primary School in Sriniwaspuri. The Deputy Mayor, Ramesh Dutta, the Chairman of the Standing Committee, Mukesh Goel, the Municipal Commissioner, Rakesh Mehta, and the Chairman of Education Committtee, Thakur Dass, also participated in the programme.

Mr. Verma expressed hope that the computer-aided learning programme will make learning in school joyful and effective, increase enrolment, enhance level of academic achievement and make education interactive and participatory.

Rashtriya Mahila Kosh meeting

NEW DELHI JULY 23. The Union Minister of State for Women & Child Development, Kanti Singh, chaired the 33rd governing body meeting of Rashtriya Mahila Kosh on Thursday.

Rashtriya Mahila Kosh was set up in 1993 for financial help to poor women to enable them to start income-generating activities through NGOs. At present, about 5 lakh poor women benefit through 1,106 NGO partners functioning in different states of the country, including 20 in Delhi.

Dr. Sudarshan Synghal, Executive Director of the organisation, announced that the Kosh had upscaled sanction of credit limit from Rs.743.71 lakhs in 2001-02 to Rs.2505.60 lakhs in 2003-2004.

Resource directory released

NEW DELHI JULY 23. A resource directory with a listing of organisations in Delhi that provide Human Immuno Virus/Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) related services named `A Resource Directory of HIV/AIDS Services in Delhi'' was released here in the Capital on Friday.

The India Mission Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Walter North, and the President of the Family Health International Institute (FHI), Peter Lamptey, released the publication, which has been published by the Naz Foundation (India) Trust with funding from the USAID and the FHI.

The Naz Foundation also released five other booklets which provide practical information on health, support, nutrition, services and the legal rights of a person living with HIV/AIDS.

Focus on depression

NEW DELHI JULY 23. Depression and suicides are high among medical professionals especially medical students, said a panel of experts at a discussion organised by the Board of Medical Education, Moolchand Hospital, on Friday.

The Deputy Dean of Board of Medical Education, K.K. Agarwal, said the symposium was organised in view of the recent case of suicide by a senior medical resident at All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

Depression is among the top 10 causes of suicide both among doctors as well as nursing professionals. The lifetime prevalence of depression among physicians is the same as in the general population of around 13 per cent. Male physicians are three times and female physicians are five times more likely to commit suicide than the general population. Physicians have higher rates of successful suicides compared to the general population.

Houses checked for mosquitoes

NEW DELHI JULY 23 . To prevent mosquito breeding, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi have checked 4,592, 645 houses so far. Of these, about 3, 709 houses were found to be ideal ground for mosquito breeding.

The drive by the MCD -- to keep malaria and dengue at bay -- found that breeding was mainly in the areas of Saket Club, Vikaspuri, Chittaranjan Park, Metro Vihar, Mandi Village, Lajpat Nagar, Kalyanvas and Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar.

According to a MCD release, the fine of repeated offenders has been enhanced to Rs. 5000. So far, about 6, 241 notices have been issued and 1,069 prosecutions launched.

Relief for flood victims

NEW DELHI JULY 23. The National Headquarters of the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) released relief supplies valuing Rs. 2.5 crores to support the flood victim families of Assam and Bihar. The Chairman of the Indian Red Cross Society and Minister for Health and Family Affairs, Anbumani Ramadoss, flagged off a fleet of trucks from the headquarters of the IRCS carrying kitchen utensils, clothing, assorted medicines and other items on Thursday. He congratulated the Red Cross on the humanitarian gesture and said it was committed to help the victims of natural or manmade calamities. Speaking on the occasion, IRCS secretary general, Vimala Ramalingam, said their local branches at the district and State level have used their emergency stocks and were collecting relief items and cash donations locally.

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