New Delhi Book Fair to promote sporting culture

Over 1,000 publishers and exhibitors from the country and abroad will take part in the 19th edition of the New Delhi World Book Fair that opens at Pragati Maidan here this Saturday.

Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal will inaugurate the eight-day fair at Hamsadhwani Theatre on the sprawling exhibition ground. In view of the upcoming Commonwealth Games in the city, the Minister will also release a special “International Rights Catalogue” with bibliographic and copyright details of over 550 titles of books.

The catalogue that connects with the term Commonwealth and the games associated with it seeks to facilitate an exchange of copyrights about books on sports among publishers. The idea behind the whole exercise is to have a wider understanding of sporting culture.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, National Book Trust chairman Prof. Bipan Chandra said this book fair is the largest in the Afro-Asian region and the second largest in the world. “This was brought home to me when I visited the Moscow Book Fair last year. Of course, the Kolkata Book Fair is also important and the Mumbai Book Fair too is coming up. As our fair is a biennial one, we have requested the HRD Ministry to have it every year. I am hopeful that Kapil Sibal, who is an intellectual, will agree to have this fair every year. Even the book fairs in Frankfurt, Beijing and Tokyo are held annually.”

Pointing out that NBT can organise the fair annually only if the Government provides a grant of Rs.80 crore, Prof. Chandra said: “We require support from the media for two causes. First, the Union Finance Ministry has imposed sale tax on books which is completely unnecessary. One can understand if this tax is imposed on automobiles. We hope that Pranab Mukherjee, who is heading this Ministry, will acquiesce to our request to withdraw this tax. Second, the India Trade Promotion Organisation has increased rental to alarming proportions. As a result, many publishers have decided not to participate this year.” Stating that the book fair will try to find a connection between the world of books and that of sports, NBT director Nuzhat Hassan said the theme of the fair is “Reading our Commonwealth: An International Rights Exhibition of Books on Sports”. Keeping in mind the Commonwealth Games, the NDWBF will have 700 titles published by 75 publishers across the country on different categories of sports, he said. Like the India International Trade Fair which after a few hiccups was successful in hosting the “green fair”, the book fair also seeks to be environmental-friendly.

Stating that the NBT respects all laws promulgated by the Government, its director has requested all publishers to adhere to the new guidelines. “At the last book fair we registered a 70 per cent increase in business in books published by us. Recession hasn’t made a big impact on books.

The NBT has taken a large punch of recession as we are giving stalls and stands on subsidised rates.”Though the National Book Foundation of Pakistan has refused to participate this year, Royal Book Company, Iqbal Academy and Sheikh Mubarakh Ali from the neighbouring country have confirmed their participation.

Protest against takeover of college land for Games

Ramjas College faculty members and students held a demonstration on the campus on Thursday in protest against the alleged manner of takeover of college land for the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

The college had consented in November last to surrendering 865 square metres of land from its premises for widening of roads. Later according to a revised plan, instead of 865 sq. m. the college was asked in January to surrender 112 sq. m. at the Principal’s bungalow premises near Kranti Chowk and 745 sq. m. at Kranti Chowk (which included the parking lot in the college premises) along Sudhir Bose Marg and at Maurice Nagar Chowk.

Work related to road-widening and beautification by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi or the Delhi Engineers Ltd will take place in the area. The college authorities received a letter to this effect on January 20. However, before the college authorities received the letter seeking consent, labourers allegedly arrived to carry out work on the Principal’s bungalow premises last December. The bungalow premises are part of the Ramjas College Trust land.

“The Ramjas College Trust has to be consulted before any kind of work can begin on college land. Though a letter seeking consent was received, approval was yet to be granted,” a faculty member said.

The Ramjas College Principal, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, said: “The proposal to surrender 112 sq. m. from the Principal’s residence will mean that the distance between the house windows and the main road would be 14 to 16 feet. Not only this, a number of trees and fauna in the lawn would be destroyed.”

“Also the area that is being asked from the college includes a good portion of the car park,” Dr. Prasad added.

The college has reportedly asked for Rs.13.3 crore as compensation to build underground parking, stilt parking on the ground floor and other structures. Dr. Prasad said: “We have willingly cooperated with preparations for the Commonwealth Games. Not only have we given our sports ground for Games-related construction, rooms in the college hostel too will be available for CWG delegates to stay. Our students are also participating as volunteers for the Games.”

“We have gladly cooperated in the past and wish to continue in the future, but this had to be protested against,” he added.

The road widening work which will reportedly be carried out in the area too has invited disapproval. “What is the point of widening the road? Is it not serviceable enough? There are already enough roads leading to the university grounds where the main event will take place,” associate professor Debraj Mookerjee said.

Political Science Department teacher Tanvir Aeijaz added: “By broadening the road, it will become a thoroughfare and be open to all kinds of vehicular traffic while the idea has always been to maintain a compact university.”

QBR’s India schedule finalised

The Organising Committee Commonwealth Games (OCCG) on Thursday urged all States to honour sporting legends of their area during the Queen’s Baton Relay countrywide tour.

“Please ensure that all international sportspersons — past and present — residing in your state are involved in the relay.

“It will ensure a high visibility for Olympic sport ,” said OCCG Chairman Suresh Kalmadi while announcing the schedule of the QBR following his meeting with the nodal officers from different States and union territories.

The baton will enter India from Pakistan through the Wagah border on June 25 before travelling 20,000 km across the country and reaching Delhi on September 30 — three days prior to the Games.

The Secretary of Union Sports Ministry, Sindhushree Khullar, said the QBR would provide an opportunity to create sports consciousness among common people.

Baton’s 100-day sojourn: OC wants to make it memorable

With the Commonwealth Games Queen's Baton set to enter the host nation in June, a meeting of the nodal officers from all the states and Union Territories was held on Thursday at the Organising Committee (OC) headquarters. The Relay will enter the country through the Wagah Border on June 25 after finishing its journey across Pakistan.

“During its 100-day programme, the Baton will pass through all the states and UTs before arriving in Delhi on Sept. 30, two days before the start of the Games,” OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi said.

The meeting was held to ensure that all the creases are ironed out when the Baton passes through the states. Kalmadi said that all stakeholders— state administrative officers, state sporting associations, local defence forces, police and the OC — must coordinate to ensure smooth running .

International athletes have to be in the foreground of the Relay and should be the Baton bearers in cities, said Kalmadi. “All international sportspersons must be sent invitations to receive the Baton.”

Sports secretary, Sindhushree Khullar, called upon the nodal officers to ensure that their states used the Relay as a platform to convey a larger message: “Sport is for all and the Relay will test the reach of the directorates of sport and the state Olympic associations,” she said.

To ensure adequate security cover, four teams have been set up for reconnaissance of the domestic sector covering all states, starting February 8.

Delhi digs into its pockets for Games

The Delhi government on Thursday revised its budget estimates for the year 2009-10.

The budget was enhanced by Rs 2,723 crore to Rs 25,760 crore.

The earlier estimated budget was Rs 23,043 crore.

Delhi Finance Minister A.K. Walia said the additional funds would help speed up Commonwealth Games 2010 related projects that had hit roadblocks because of fund shortage.

This will mean additional allocations for the public works department for its road projects, the Delhi Jal Board and the Delhi Transport Corporation that have been reeling under poor financial health and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit.

"All these departments needed funds and had placed their demands. There is a lot of work happening in the city," said Walia.

The finance minister said the PWD would get Rs 504 crore over the amount allocated earlier, while DJB will get another Rs 275 crore extra.

The DTC will get another 280 crore and the MCD will also get an additional amount of Rs 290 crore.

The government that had been demanding additional funds for funding Games projects said the cash flow was because of receipt of various dues.

"In March 2009, we had a small savings loan surplus of Rs 5775 crore. We spent Rs 3,250 crore this year — some will be left for next year — about Rs 2,513 crore. Plus we also got our allocation under small savings loan for this year for Rs 1156 crore," said Walia.

“We also got refunds for Central Sales Tax and VAT for Rs 1450 crore. This was accruing with the GOI since we implemented VAT.”

The plan outlay has been increased from Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 11,300 crore in revised estimates for 2009-2010.

An increase of Rs 1408 crore in non-plan outlay and an increase of Rs 9 crore in centrally-sponsored projects was also approved.

Walia said that an amount Rs 800 crore was increased for roads and bridges, which includes construction of flyovers, bridges and widening and improvement of roads particularly relating to the Commonwealth Games.

Delhi's budgetary prov to go up for Games-related projects

With the aim to ensure timely completion of all Commonwealth Games-related projects and overcome any paucity of funds, the Delhi Government has decided to enhance its plan outlay from Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 11,300 crore in revised estimates for the current financial year -- 2009-2010.

The total budgetary provision for the current year will go up from Rs 23,043 crore to Rs 25,760 crore. There will be an increase of Rs 1408 crore in non-plan outlay, an increase of Rs 9 crore in centrally-sponsored projects. This was decided in a meeting presided over by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, which was attended by Finance Minister A K Walia, Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta, Principal Secretary (Finance) J P Singh and other senior officers of the Finance and Planning Departments.

Briefing mediapersons after the meeting, the state Finance Minister said an amount of Rs 800 crore alone has been increased under the Head of Roads and Bridges, which includes construction of flyovers, bridges and widening and improvement of roads, particularly those relating to the Commonwealth Games. The Plan outlay for the Public Works Department (PWD) has been increased from Rs 1471 cr to Rs 1975 cr and for the the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) from Rs 345 cr to Rs 635 cr. The allocation for the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has been increased from Rs 340 cr to Rs 619 cr to enable it to purchase more new buses. The outlay of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has also gone up by Rs 227 cr ie from Rs 1365 crore to Rs 1592 crore.

Eye on Commonwealth, Delhi govt enhances budgetary allocation

Racing against time to complete Commonwealth Games-related works, Delhi government today enhanced its budgetary allocations by Rs2,723 crore to Rs25,760 crore to meet funds shortage for projects such as roads, infrastructure and buses in the city.

A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting chaired by chief minister Sheila Dikshit here.

"The government has decided to enhance its plan outlay from Rs10,000 crore to Rs11,300 crore in revised estimates for the fiscal year 2009-2010 whereas total budgetary provision for the current year will go up from Rs23,043 crore to Rs25,760 crore.

"There will be an increase of Rs1,408 crore in non-plan outlay and an increase of Rs9 crore in centrally-sponsored projects," finance minister AK Walia told reporters.

He said that an amount of Rs 800 crore alone has been increased under the head of roads and bridges, which includes construction of flyovers, bridges and widening and improvement of roads particularly relating to the Commonwealth Games.

As per the decision, plan outlay for the PWD has been increased from Rs1471 crore to Rs1975 crore and for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

"The allocation for the DTC has been increased from Rs340 crore to Rs619 crore to enable it to purchase more new buses. Similarly, the outlay of the DJB has also gone up by Rs227 crore — from Rs1,365 crore to Rs1,592 crore," Walia said.

All venues being built for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi are supposed to be completed by March 31, but so far
only Dhyanchand Hockey Statdium has been completed.

Moreover, there are many other infrastructural projects such as roads, bridges as well transport services which are yet to be readied even though merely eight months are left for the mega multiple-sport event in the capital.

Wanted: Masseurs for the Commonwealth Games

Facing a major shortage of professional masseurs to cater to sportspersons during the Commonwealth Games scheduled here this October, authorities are now looking for foreign experts and also trying to bring in masseurs from other states.

"I don't have the exact number, but around 400 masseurs are needed for the Games. We are trying to arrange them from other states like Kerala," Delhi's Health Secretary J.P Singh told IANS while admitting the shortage of masseurs for the Games.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games (CWG), the 19th edition of these games, will be held from Oct 3 to 14. Thousands of athletes are expected to take part in the event.

"We need properly trained and well qualified masseurs to provide support to sportspersons taking part in the Games. But there is a serious shortage of them," said an official of the Delhi government's health department.

"We are in the process of identifying and shortlisting masseurs. Once that is done, further training would be imparted to them by experts," the official added.

"It is a little difficult to find well-trained masseurs as a lot of them are employed with private massage parlours. A number of them may be busy serving tourists during that period and this has led to increase in their demand," he added.

Commonwealth Games Organising Committee spokesperson Lalit Bhanot also said: "Yes, there is a shortage of masseurs. We are trying to arrange masseurs from treatment centres in West Bengal and Kerala."

"We are also trying to bring in foreign experts. They will be in the city during the games and would train the selected masseurs here," Bhanot told IANS.

Officials said: "The health department is considering training the masseurs in foot massage, Ayurvedic massage, Panchakarma, oil massage and other types of massages. The health department along with the Games organising committee is likely to jointly bear the expenditure of their training."

The health department official refused to say by when the masseurs would be trained or ready or how they would be recruited.

Experts believe massage also helps in stress management.

Explaining the importance of masseurs in any sports event, Alakananda Banerjee, head of the physiotherapy department at Max Hospital in Saket, told IANS: "They are a very important aspect of the training of sportspersons and are required in all sports like hockey, football and others. Masseurs are required before, during and after any sporting event.

"When sportspersons play, their muscles get tightened which can lower their performance. The massage helps in blood circulation, ultimately helping the sportspersons. The Commonwealth Games will definitely require the services of lots of masseurs."

Banerjee said she had been approached by the Games authorities to help in identifying well-trained masseurs and had recommended some names.

Besides the professionally trained masseurs, the city and the nearby areas have a number of traditional masseurs, who are generally untrained, but quite popular among tourists.

But experts have warned against employing any untrained masseurs.

"No traditional masseur can be taken just like this. Masseurs need to be very technically sound and they need to understand human anatomy well. They need to be professionally trained as wrong massage can even lead to injuries," Banerjee added.

Registration mandatory for Delhi travel and tour agents

With barely eight months left for the Commonwealth Games, Delhi government has made registration mandatory for travel and tour agents in the city to ensure safety of tourists.

"Lakhs of foreign travellers are expected to visit the capital during the mega event, and registration will streamline the travel operators," a senior Delhi government official said.

With the extravaganza drawing near, several agents have launched new deals to attract domestic and foreign travellers for sightseeing tours in Delhi and nearby states.

The government's move is aimed at cracking down on fly-by-night operators who bring a bad name to the tourism industry by cheating travellers and tourists.

"We want to encourage serious players as well as instill confidence among tourists. Hence, we will allow only license holders to carry out their business. Non-license holders will be strictly dealt with," he said.

This will also help the government access a vast database, creating an avenue for revenue and curbing malpractices.

According to the recent studies and surveys by business chamber, ASSOCHAM, around 10 million international tourists are planning to visit India during theCommonwealth Games.