Leaving them out in the cold

In its eagerness to delight foreign guests, who are expected to come to the capital during the 12-day Commonwealth Games, Delhi is leaving no stone unturned. As a part of its beautification drive for the Games, the zealous officials of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) recently demolished a temporary shelter meant for 250 homeless people in central Delhi. The shelter was removed not just to make the area look more presentable but also because it was an “illegal encroachment” that led to “unsanitary conditions and traffic problems” in the area. Thankfully, the Delhi High Court stepped in and ordered the government to rebuild the centre. The MCD did follow the order to a T: it rebuilt the shelter, but even in this biting cold, it has no blankets, bedding and carpets. The helplessness of those who used this temporary shelter, a tent actually, can be gauged from the fact that even this half-hearted arrangement is being seen as a blessing. According to a conservative estimate, there are 1.5 lakh homeless pople in Delhi and there are only 17 regular round shelters that run throughout the year. In the winter of 2009, the government and NGOs were running 47 shelters.

Chief Ministers of Indian metropolises have often talked about the pressure that our cities face from migrants and how they, in turn, put pressure on the civic amenities of cities likes Delhi and Mumbai. While much of this is correct, it is also true that migration is a reality and instead of seeing it as a constant headache, there must be some coherent policy on how to handle people who leave their homes to come to the cities and end up being homeless. The policy on these homeless people has been ad hoc and in Delhi, the number of shelters are increased only during the winter season. Life on the streets is harsh and dangerous for anyone, more so for women and children. Yet many parts of Delhi, like west Delhi, are still not covered even by this ad hoc policy.

Along with giving people the bare minimum of having a roof over their heads, the state has to make certain other interventions for these unfortunate people: healthcare services, livelihood opportunities and, more important, some sort of identification. A proper identification document will help them access government programmes. But, of course, let us not forget the suffering of these people left to the elements when we are in our warm and secure environs. Surely, they deserve a little more compassion.

Maruti Suzuki EECO Charge – Electric Version Of EECO For Commonwealth Games Displayed At Auto Expo

Maruti Suzuki unveiled it Low Cost Family Car EECO At Auto Expo on 7th Jan 2010 Auto Expo for Indian roads. Along with the announcement of EECO petrol, Maruti Also displayed its Eco-friendly Electric vehicle EECO Charge which has been specially designed for Commonwealth games of 2010.

10 such EECO Charge – The electric vehicles will be run during the Commonwealth games to express Indian automobiles commitment for a greener tomorrow. EECO charge is not being released as a production model. Its more of a concept which may be launched as a commercial model after 2010 commonwealth games.

The exterior body, platform and interiors are same as that of the EECO Petrol ( Click here for Detailed EECO Petrol Specifications) , but the heart of EECO charge is an electric motor which is run using advanced lithium-ion batteries.

The detailed specifications of EECO Charge as released by Maruti are :

* Max Power – 50 KW / 67 BHP
* Lithium Ion Batteries
* Battery Capacity – 24 KWH
* Recharge time at 220V is 7 Hours
* Sports / Economy Mode selection
* Top Speed – 100 KMPH
* Range on one charge – 100 KM
* Zero Exhaust Emission

I am impressed by the initiative of Maruti Suzuki to come up with Electric Vehicle concept. I will be more glad on the day when they will roll out an affordable production Electric Vehicle.

JD(U) alleges corruption in CWG projects, demands audit

The Janata Dal (United) today charged the Government with spending 12 times the original budget for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, large scale financial irregularities in the projects associated with it and demanded immediate audit of the expenses incurred so far by an independent agency.

JD(U) president Sharad Yadav told mediapersons here that initial budget for the Games was Rs 1,100 crore which has now been estimated to go up to Rs 13,000 crore and the amount excludes the renovations being carried out in and around Delhi from the budget of the Delhi Government.

Pointing out that even Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has expressed her ''nervousness'' over the Games preparations, Mr Yadav said taxpayers' money was being used in haste without any accountability.

''Who will take the moral responsibility for such a shoddy display of ineptness and complete lack of transparency?'' the JD(U) leader wondered.

''It is indeed shocking that in spite of being severely lambasted for the delays and financial bungling, both the Centre and the state government have failed to fix responsibility and take strict action against the erring officials.'' The CAG in its reports has come down heavily on the failure of the Games-related projects to meet deadlines and the way finances are being managed, but it has been found that the builders and contractors increased the cost of construction by three to four times, he pointed out.

''The scale of corruption in allotting projects to builders is massive and if the CAG inquires into the matter further we are sure to find a number of financial irregularities,'' he observed.

The critical observations made by the CAG and the Commonwealth Games Federation drew prompt reactions from the government by way of infusing more money for the projects, he said and added that the builders and contractors have benefited the most from these delays in venue completion.

When all rests on playing it safe

IT COULD be a study in how males and females react differently to pressure and reveal emotion. New Delhi's Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, has publicly admitted to '''flutters of nervousness'' about the city's preparedness for the Commonwealth Games in October.

A short distance away, on the ninth floor of the grey marble interior of the Games Secretariat, Dr Lalit Bhanot, the official spokesman for the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, exudes confidence.

Somehow Bhanot still manages to swagger while seated. "The Melbourne Games were excellent but we are going to raise the bar even higher. We will surpass Melbourne. All the security arrangements are in place and we are fully ready," he tells The Age.

But not everyone is convinced. The clock outside the Secretariat building shows that only 268 days remain before the Games begin, but there has been widespread criticism of the fact that some of the venues are months behind schedule.

Now, following a British newspaper report that England was considering pulling out of the Games over concerns about India's ability to provide the necessary level of security, and suggestions from some Australian commentators that Australian athletes should be flown in for events and flown out again after their particular competition is over, the focus has shifted.

But Bhanot is confident the security arrangements for the Games - which will be attended by 7000 athletes, 30 heads of state and 100,000 visitors - will be effective.

He pointed out that Australian Commonwealth Games chief Perry Crosswhite, who had earlier been apprehensive about India's preparations, had visited New Delhi in December.

"As a member of the co-ordination commission overseeing Delhi's preparations, Mr Crosswhite questioned us all and went away confident about security.''

For the Delhi Games, security will be handled by the federal Home Ministry, the Delhi Government and the Delhi police force. R. K. Das, who has handled the Prime Minister's security and is a former head of the Central Industrial Security Force, which protects airports, military installations, atomic power plants, and ports, is advising the Game's organising committee.

Security procedures have been been given several dry runs, including for the meeting of the Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly in Delhi last October. "The past three meetings we have had with federation officials and with the security advisers of the participating countries have been milestones in quashing any apprehensions about security and co-ordination," says Bhanot.

The bulk of the 77,000-strong Delhi police, bolstered by thousands of paramilitary, intelligence services personnel and reinforcements from outside Delhi, will protect the Games venues against a terrorist attack. From the moment they arrive in India, athletes and Games officials will be given armed escorts through the airport to the Games village and city hotels. Athletes will travel in dedicated lanes where their vehicles, accompanied by armed escorts, will be given right of way.

At the Games Village, on the banks of the Yamuna River in east Delhi, athletes and officials will be protected by three layers of security. The first, outside the venue, will comprise police and paramilitary. Then, people entering the village will be subjected to X-ray machines, scanners, metal detectors and vehicle checks. Anyone entering the village, including spectators, will have to use an electronic swipe card. Finally, anti-terrorist commandos will be stationed inside the village.

It is the fact that India has suffered more terrorist attacks in recent years than any other country that has aroused concerns about security in some participating nations. Most recently, more than 180 people died in the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008, an incident that exposed gaping holes in India's security procedures.

After the attack, hotels and shopping malls introduced new security checks for people and baggage. Guests at hotels have to provide proof of their identity before checking in.

Before 9/11, India routinely suffered terrorist attacks in the disputed region of Kashmir where Muslim separatists are waging a battle to take Kashmir, which has a Muslim majority, out of the Indian Union.

After 9/11, some young Muslims in the rest of country became radicalised, linking up with terror groups in Pakistan and elsewhere in South Asia. In August 2008 (the year 1113 people died in India as a result of terrorism), National Security Adviser M. K. Narayananacknowledged that 800 terrorist cells were active in India.

Major sports events are inevitable terrorist targets these days but the perceived risk of foreign sports stars being targeted in South Asia increased after gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team in the Pakistani city of Lahore last March. Six policemen and two civilians were killed and seven Sri Lankan squad members were wounded in the assault as the team travelled to a Test match.

Security experts agree that the New Delhi Games are an obvious terrorist target and that any incident will be deeply troubling for India.

"The Games are a source of pride for the host nation," says author and analyst Satish Jacob. "For the Indian middle class, which sees India as a growing power because of its economy, the Games are important for the country's reputation, particularly after China's success with the Olympics."

The looming threat of terror refuses to go away. Last month, a number of countries, including Australia, Britain and the US, issued warnings to their citizens that they could be targeted in terrorist attacks in India.

Two groups of terrorists will try to disrupt the Games - those operating in Kashmir and those with global links, who will want to target Western countries that have troops in Afghanistan.

Bhanot says India has no plans to make special arrangements for specific countries that could be at greater risk. "We are providing stringent security for everyone at the Games and so everyone will be protected. There is nothing to worry about. Some of them will be safer here than in their own countries.''

However, not everyone is confident that the Games will proceed without incident. Ajay Sahni, terrorism expert and executive director of the Institute for Conflict Management in New Delhi, is an outspoken critic of the Indian Government's ability to fight terrorism.

The Government and police, he says, are badly equipped to fight the diffused threat of terrorism the country faces every day. "India is not good at the broad, diffuse terrorism it faces. What India is very effective at is dealing with a possible terrorist attack against a specified target for a specified period of time, like the Games,'' says Sahni.

Lothian trio blaze a trial but it's heartbreak for Hanlan

THREE of Scotland's top bowlers – Willie Wood, Alex Marshall and Paul Foster – all from the Meadowmill Stadium in East Lothian, were flying high at the Potters Leisure Resort near Great Yarmouth after launching their world singles and pairs campaigns with dazzling performances.
First to wow the Norfolk audience was Wood, who, at 71, showed that he's still got what it takes to mix it with players of a younger generation and compete at the business end in a sport where age is no barrier to the quality of performance.

Yesterday,the Gifford legend, who is one of seven players in the frame for a place in Scotland's six-strong Commonwealth Games team who will head to Delhi later this year and could potentially be flying the flag for an amazing record extending eighth Games, was at his brilliant best against top South African Theuns Fraser, leading all the way to ease through 10-2, 8-4.

After victory, he smiled and said: "I didn't put a foot wrong. I found the weight of the green immediately and nailed the jack with my first bowl nearly every end.

"My first bowl was the key to the game and boosted my confidence.

"I was quietly content with my form and couldn't have played much better."

Foster and Marshall also showcased their talents, with Foster in particular maintaining the high standards that he strives for and setting the tone of the match with a procession of inch-perfect deliveries.

Foster too is keeping his fingers crossed for Commonwealth selection and is favourite to take the singles berth, while Marshall, who has won the pairs title for the last two Games with George Sneddon at Manchester and then best friend Foster in Melbourne four years ago, has already ruled himself out of the Delhi date, withdrawing from the eight-man squad just last month, sighting work commitments.

However, yesterday, they both did what they do best and played at the top of their form to end the hopes of Canadian qualifiers Fred Fong and Hirendra Bhartu 10-3, 7-4.

And while the result looked comprehensive on paper, the East Lothian duo had to call on all of their experience to seal their victory with opposition skip Bhartu playing the game of his life with a succession of telling draw shots that kept the spectators on the edge of their seats.

A delighted Foster admitted: "What a brilliant game that was. The score doesn't even begin to tell the story of the game.

"Alex and I both played well, but so did the Canadians. They really pushed us. I don't think there was a bowl more than 18 inches away from the jack in the whole match.

"I was exceptionally happy with my game and only failed on one end to leave Alex with the shot against him when he went to play. However, it wasn't long before he put his mark on the game."

Foster and Marshall will back in action later today when the quarter-finals come under the hammer. They won't line up until the last match tonight when they meet their old rivals Ian Bond and Anglo Scot Andy Thomson who won the title in 2008, and who beat the East Lothian duo 2-0 way back in their only head to head in 2004.

Midlothian 'wild card' winner Jamie Hanlan, 18, saw his singles title hopes come to a disappointing end. Making his debut on the world stage, he will no doubt be kicking himself after losing 10-1, 7-7 to 54-year-old Cardiff bowler Phil Rowlands.

He made a slow start in the first set, losing 10-1 but turned that around in the second and looked poised to take the match to a tie break decider when he held a 7-4 lead going into the last end. However, fate played it's hand and the Welshman counted the vital three shots to square the set at 7-7 that took him through to the second round by one and a half sets to a half.

Wood returns on Monday night when he takes on Jonathan Ross from Belfast who is seeded 16.

Suranjoy leads Indian boxing challenge in SAF Games

Asian champion Suranjoy Singh will spearhead a seven-strong Indian boxing challenge at the 11th South Asian Games, commencing from January 29 in Dhaka.

Suranjoy (51kg), also the first Indian to win the gold medal and the Best Boxer trophy at the inter-continental President's Cup, is currently in Patiala where he is training with the core group of boxers for the Commonwealth Games later this year.

Apart from the 22-year-old, India's medal hopes at the SAF Games will also rest on national champion and Asian Championship quarterfinalist Chhote Lal Yadav (57kg).

A few greenhorns have also been included in the team like Amandeep Singh, who will compete in the light fly weight (48kg) division.

Top boxers like Olympic and world championship bronze medallist Vijender Singh (75kg) and veteran Akhil Kumar (56kg), both of whom won gold medals in the last edition of the competition in 2006, have been rested this time as they recuperate from minor niggles and continue their preparation for the upcoming Commonwealth Championships in New Delhi.

"We have selected a mixed team and have decided to keep the top guys out so that they prepare for the Commonwealth Championships and the Commonwealth Games after that," Indian Boxing Federation Secretary General Col Pk Muralidharan Raja said.

National coach Gurbaksh Singh Sandhu will accompany the team and would be assisted by Railways coach Jagdish Singh Malik.

Indian boxers had clinched four gold, four silver and a bronze medal in the 2006 edition.

The team: Amandeep Singh (48kg), Suranjoy Singh (51kg), Chhote Lal Yadav (57kg), Dilbagh Singh (69kg), Kuldeep Singh (75kg), Manpreet Singh (91kg), Parveen Kumar (+91kg).

Aussies pull out of Commonwealth boxing contest

Australia's pull-out has taken some sheen off the sixth Commonwealth Boxing Championship in New Delhi but the March 10-18 event would still present a massive challenge for Indian pugilists as they brace up to square off against glovesmen from 13 nations.

Close to 120 boxers are expected to participate in the event at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium, which is still undergoing renovation for the Commonwealth Games in October.

"The stadium would be ready. Even if it is not ready completely, the part that we need, which is the arena and the lounge area for boxers and officials, would be ready," Indian Boxing Federation Secretary General P K Muralidharan Raja said on Thursday.

The championships were postponed last year due to the non-completion of the construction work at the venue.

India, which won a gold, two silver and six bronze medals in the fifth edition, will host boxers from England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Mauritius, kenya, Samoa and Singapore.

The IBF is still awaiting confirmation from Canada while Australia has turned down the invitation citing previous commitments.

"Australia regretted not being able to participate due to prior commitments and didn't specify anything else. We are awaiting confirmation from Canada and hopefully it will come soon," Raja said.

"All the remaining top Commonwealth nations are coming. So, we expect a tough competition," he added.

The event will be the first to feature boxers in the new weight categories announced last year. The AIBA reshuffled the divisions to abolish featherweight (57kg) and increase the bantam weight from 54kg to 56kg.

Both 2005 Commonwealth Championship and the 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Akhil Kumar, also an Olympian, said India can look forward to best-ever results in the event this time.

"The team has not yet been selected but I can tell you, the results are going to be excellent. All the boxers have trained very hard and we will get a good haul of medals," he said.

The Indian team for the event would be selected on the basis of the boxers' performance in this month's Super Cup and the trials to be held a couple of weeks ahead of the Championships.

"The Super Cup would allow us to identify upcoming names and during the trials, those who do not participate in Super Cup will get their chance to prove their worth," Raja said.