Munda talks progress,his team wants action

Munda had roped in former Bihar DGP D N Gautam as his governments adviser (security) and appointed a three-member panel headed by economist Bibek Deveroi to draft a development plan.

Chief Minister Arjun Munda recently engaged in a brainstorming session with government officials to chalk out department-wise plans for development,an area where his government has been frequently accused of failure. Munda had roped in former Bihar DGP D N Gautam as his governments adviser (security) and appointed a three-member panel headed by economist Bibek Deveroi to draft a development plan. Gautam stressed the need to make the police people-friendly; Deveroi suggested a number of initiatives for key sectors. With any action on these recommendations yet to be seen,many have wondered what the latest meeting will amount to. Gautam said: It is possible the system was busy with other important work,which is why my suggestion was not followed.

MP plays benefactor once again

For a person who is known to be comfortable with public attention,an act of charity presented yet another chance to reinvent himself. The Independent MP from Jharkhand,Parimal Nathwani,who had set up a hospital for the poor in Ranchi with funds he mobilised from his own contacts,has now gone on to set up a library for tribal students. Sponsored by the MP,the Rs-25-lakh library has books dealing with preparation for civil services,engineering,medical and other competitive examinations. It is housed in a tribal students hostel run by the state government in Ranchi. There is a plan to equip it with ten computers.

Happy that Mamata is gone

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A section of businessmen have toasted Mamata Banerjee’s landslide victory,though not because of any interest in West Bengal politics. Their businesses had been struggling for a year following a Railway decision banning night travel on the Kharagpur-Tata Nagar,Kharagpur-Mednipur-Adra and Rourkela-Chakradharpur-Tata Nagar routes. The ban had been imposed by South Eastern Railway after the Jananeshwari train disaster masterminded by Maoists. Now with Mamata surrendering the Railway Ministry to head the Bengal government,the businessmen are hoping her successor will restore night services,even if he belongs to Mamata’s party. We hope our long-pending demand would be met soon, U K Singh,Chotanagpur Passengers’ Association Secretary,said in a statement.

1 jumbo calf,3 foster mothers

A group of elephants at Dalma Sanctuary in East Singhbhum presented an example in foster parenting recently. Paagli,Champa and Basanti,all female and elderly (ages between 40 and 60),have adopted a motherless calf. Two-year-old Rajni had been with a herd six months ago,wandering in Saraikela forest. When the herd destroyed crops,villagers attacked the elephants and they fled,with Rajni straying in the confusion. Injured in the hip,Rajni was caught,brought to Dalma sanctuary and nursed back to health. Initially,the fear was that the three elderly females,who had been brought from Sahebgunj,would not make Rajni welcome. But an experiment saw the three warming up to the calf,said sanctuary-in-charge A Mishra.

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Indian Express

EAM Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Rubio hold bilateral discussions in New York

India33 min ago

Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar and US Senator Rubio met in New York to discuss the 25% tariff on Indian oil imposed by Trump. This was their first in-person meeting since the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting. India and the US also began talks for a trade agreement, with positive discussions during a recent visit by US trade officials to India.

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