In Brief 8212; Ahmedabad

Homage paid to Morarji Desai
Various functions were organised all over the State to pay tribute to former Prime Minister Morarji Desai on his 103rd birth anniversary on Sunday. A Prarthana Sabha was organised at Abhayghat, the samadhi of Morarji Desai. Many dignitaries including Governor K G Balkrishnan and Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel paid homage at the samadhi. On the occasion, Shree Indubhai Patel Lok Seva Trust demanded that a life-size statue of Desai should be placed in Gandhinagar.

Awards given
Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel gave away the B C Roy award to doctors for meritorious services. Those who received the awards included Dr Devendra Patel and Dr Abhay Vasavda. Speaking on the occasion, Keshubhai said that there was a need for the intellectual mass, politicians and even the bureaucrats to uplift the State8217;s culture. He said in the present world the people were losing confidence in politicians and the bureaucrats.

Move flayed
The Western India Forum for Panchayati Raj WIFPR has condemned the government8217;s decision in principal to abolish octroi. A meeting of some 25 gram panchayats have decided to launch an agitation against the decision. WIFPR convener Rajesh Bhat said that most of the representatives who attended the meeting termed octroi as an useful source of income while all others sources are charities. The representatives made it clear that they did not want to lose a source of income and live on charity.

Workshop
Centre for Social Justice organised a training workshop on environment for the students of L A Shah Law College on Sunday. Besides students, professors of the college also participated in the workshop.