Uttar Pradesh Elections 2107: Akhilesh Yadav Will Tap Into App to Keep an Eye on Samajwadi Party Workers

Lucknow: Technology has revamped the way elections are held in India, and Akhilesh Yadav is all set to tap into this advancement to monitor the moves of his party men.

With the 'Samajwadi Akhilesh' app, which party workers were told to install a few months ago, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister can track the location of the user, helping him keep a watch on their activities.

The app was developed to popularise the Samajwadi Party’s development and welfare schemes but never got a formal launch. The 3.2MB app is available on Android and iOS platforms.

The app requires a set of permissions to install and the user’s GPS location is one of them. In simple terms, the app administrator or developer can track the user at any time.

Speaking to ETV, software engineer Anoop Mishra says, "When you install the app, you will be asked for certain permissions, which include permission for GPS access. It means the developer or the admin can track the user of the app, without his or her knowledge.”

Chaudhary Farzan Usmani, a youth leader of the Samajwadi Party from Barabanki, says, “A few months ago, we were asked to install the 'Samajwadi Akhilesh' app on our phones. We were told that this app would update us with the latest news on Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and the Samajwadi Party."

Read the article on www.news18.com

Now Verify Your Vote With VVPAT!

Lucknow: Voters in selected constituencies can now be doubly sure and can verify the vote they have given to a respective candidate. Thanks to Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail system, which is better known as VVPAT.

VVPAT is intended as an independent verification system for Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) that allows voters to verify that their votes are cast as intended and can serve as an additional barrier to changing or destroying votes.

The VVPT will enable electors to see a printout of their ballot — displaying the name, election symbol and serial number of the chosen candidate. The voter cannot, however, take the printout home.

It means not only the EVMs but also the VVPAT machines will now be under heightened security as the slips would contain sensitive information and details about the voter and his vote.

Speaking to Network18, SDM (Sadar, Lucknow), Raj Kamal said, "This will be for the first time that VVPAT will be available in some selected constituencies. Very soon the training will be imparted to the officials regarding the operation of the VVPAT system. This system will help people be more sure of their vote."

http://www.news18.com/news/india/now-verify-your-vote-with-vvpat-1338199.html

My Airtel app launches season of savings for prepaid customers - NewsSpear.com

My Airtel app launches season of savings for prepaid customers - NewsSpear.com

Zohra Sehgal: An enigmatic soul departed - News Spear

Zohra Sehgal: An enigmatic soul departed - News Spear

New Delhi: We’ve always heard about being Naughty at 40, but Zohra Sehgal beat us to that. This enigmatic actress, famous as the most spirited and natkhat daadi of Indian cinema might have breathed her last yesterday, but her naughty nonchalance will remain timeless and how! Defying her age and taking up challenging roles while being at the wrong end of her ’90s, this outstandingly dashing daadima livened up our screens with her innocent sparkle.

With her brilliant smile and her full-of-life attitude, Zohra Sehgal has deftly portrayed the grandmother roles of Bollywood with ease and comfort. While we are normally subjected to our daadis being sweet, sublime and rather soft, Zohra Sehgal came in and changed the equations with her boisterous avatars. From television series to Hindi films, she has wowed us with everything she’s been a part of. Zohra’s convictions came alive through her characters that she had been portraying all throughout her career that spanned for over eight decades.

Fiery, fiesty and full of zest—this spunky daadima redefined the stereotypical manners which Bollywood usually uses to portray grandmoms on screen. Out went the docile, advise-giving daadi and in came the edgy grandmom who didnt think twice before riding a bike or fighting the goons, with a rather uncanny heroic resemblance. Remember, Chalo Ishq Ladaaye, anyone? She definitely has set a new standard breaking the stereotypical Bollywood norms, defying her age, with immense aplomb!

The woman of substance, who is popularly called Laadli of Bollywood, was bestowed with several honours including the prestigious Padma Shri and the Padma Vibhushan Awards. Lighting up our screens with her short cameos or appearances in films, Zohra Sehgal will definitely be missed.

Whilst most of us would respect us for her spirited and cheerful nature, her sense of humour was evident in her cheeky one-liners. While giving an interview to a leading news daily, Zohra, at 97, declared, she still wanted sex! And that speaks volumes of how she was in real life too.

Although Zohra Sehgal, might not be physically present with us anymore, the valiant warrior who battled Death with life, hopes and dreams will live on, through her films and continue to live Life Queen size even post Death!

To die at 102 is no mean achievement.  For the spirited Zohra Sehgal  time never stopped ticking until her last breath. The last time the unvanquished queen of histrionics was in the news was when she was trying to convince the Delhi government to give her a ground-floor accommodation. Her spirit always resided on the top floor.

Health Care services will be a priority area to look for in this budget - News Spear

Health Care services will be a priority area to look for in this budget - News Spear

Lucknow: India is becoming a preferred destination for medical tourism and super-specialty health care. India has tens of thousands of skilled physicians and nurse practitioners. Over the last two decades, the economic boom in India has led to the building of medical facilities & infrastructure that rival the very best that western medical care that the west has to offer. Many of the physicians that practice in these hospitals and clinics have returned (to India) from the U.S. and Europe, leaving behind successful practices. But it still has to go a long way in providing basic healthcare to its own people. Also these success stories are few.

Some sort of institutionalization and collaboration is the need of the hour. Sunil S. Kapur, Director Business of Tertiary Care Hospital, explains the problem. “That the medical tourism industry is growing leaps and bounds is a fact known to all. However, three agencies under the banner of MEA, Tourism and Health are playing a simultaneous role, which is only leading to confusion rather solutions. In order to consolidate the efforts, the government needs to put all concerned agencies under one banner and look to create a conducive environment for the flow of medical tourism to increase. Today, sadly, the cross purposes only ensure that patients are turning away, which not only results in loss of foreign exchange earnings, but also has the cascading effect on all other allied support industries.”

The Planning Commission has allocated US$ 55 billion under the 12th Five-Year Plan to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which is about three times the actual expenditure under the 11th Five-Year Plan. The 12th Plan focuses on providing universal healthcare, strengthening healthcare infrastructure, promoting research and development (R&D) and enacting strong regulations for the healthcare sector. But in absolute terms, analysis of healthcare expenditure from Union & State budgets clearly shows that country’s overall expenditure on public health is very low (around 4% of GDP). The public sector hospitals are lacking in infrastructure needs. Till date, people are forced to wait for long hours in long queues for their consultations. The time delay for getting the investigations range from 3-4 months to 6-8 months for a surgery in public hospitals.

Dr D K Baluja, Group President, QRG Medicare substantiates this. “Indian Healthcare is in dilemma and needs serious intervention from the government. The GDP spend on healthcare is amongst the lowest in the world which drastically needs to be increased if we need to see Indian healthcare systems on world map. We have no dearth of skilled manpower which is evident from the medical brain drain from our country to other countries.”

Another area of concern is penetration of health insurance. It is estimated that only 3-5% of Indians are covered under any form of health insurance. Initiation of health insurance programs at the urban level as well as rural level could be an important step towards promotion of delivery of affordable and quality health care. The Government ought to look at ways to replicate some of the successful state wise health policies which provides cashless health cover to those below the poverty line. Naresh Kapoor, Director, Finance & Strategy, BLK Hospitals seconds the need of insurance in the sector. “Government should focus on providing healthcare services to every citizen of this country irrespective of its social status by way of a universal health scheme managed by private administrators (TPAs) wherein treatment should be available in the best of hospitals. Government should channelize its resources in providing health insurance to its citizens and hospitals should be set up only for teaching, research and academics.”

However, the abysmal state of public investment and facilities has built a case for private players in Indian healthcare sector. The sector’s share in healthcare delivery is expected to increase from 66 per cent in 2005 to 81 per cent by 2015. The private sector’s share in hospitals and hospital beds is estimated at 74 per cent and 40 per cent, respectively. Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and Public-Private-Collaborations (PPC) are fast picking up to meet the growing needs for health services and fill the gap of demand and supply. The scope of networking with public health institutions that are working in the public sector needs to be expanded within the ambit of the PPP model under the National Rural Health Mission. The government proposed a new National Health Mission which would have under its jurisdiction both the National Rural Health Mission and the proposed NUHM. The NHM was allocated Rs 21,200 crore for this purpose in last year’s budget.

Not only hospitals, adequate number of human resources are also needed if vast population of the country needs to be catered to. The FM proposed an increased budget of Rs 4,721 crore for educational medical institutions last year. The recently launched AIIMS-like institutions that started their academic years in September 2012 were given an allocation of Rs 1,670 crore. With the change in government it would be interesting to see how it turns out to be this year around.

Dr. Nikita Trehan, Managing Director, Sunrise Hospital, Delhi vouches for the need for a favourable tax regime in order to ease pressure on the government hospitals. “An ailment like laparoscopy yields to a faster turnover, hence more patients can be looked after by one doctor in the same time and hence the long waiting lists and queues of government hospitals will be managed more effectively. Also since government hospitals are overburdened the taxation levied on private hospitals should be minimised so that private hospitals are in a position to associate (as their costs will be reduced for the patient), in public private partnerships with government hospitals.”

In a nut shell, the scope of networking with public health institutions that are working in the public sector needs to be expanded within the ambit of the PPP model under the National Rural Health Mission. Handing over public health sector to private hands gradually may just be the right solution.

BJP responsible for tension in Moradabad: UP Police - News Spear

BJP responsible for tension in Moradabad: UP Police - News Spear

PIL filed against Swaroopananda Saraswati in Allahabad HC - News Spear

PIL filed against Swaroopananda Saraswati in Allahabad HC - News Spear

Lucknow: The Sai Temple authority in Lucknow has filed a petition in the Allahabad High Court demanding an FIR against Shankaracharya of Dwarkapeeth Swaroopananda Saraswati for hurting religious sentiments. The spat between Sai devotees and Swaroopanada Saraswati has turned ugly in the last few days after the latter stoked a huge controversy by issuing objectionable remarks against Sai Baba of Shirdi. 

The petition alleges that the controversial remarks made by the Swaroopanada Saraswati have hurt the religious sentiments of thousands of followers of Sai Baba, hence legal action should be taken against the Shankaracharya. The court is expected to take up the case on July 04. 

The Shankaracharya recently triggered a controversy by saying that worshipping Sai Baba was a conspiracy to divide Hindus. He had also said that Sai Baba should not be worshipped as he was a human being and not a God, and his temples should not be built. His statement was severely condemned by the followers of the saint.Meanwhile, the Naga Sadhus have extended their support to Swaroopananda Saraswati and warned of protests on streets if the Dwarkapeeth seer is insulted. They have declared the spat as a ‘religious war’.

The Shankaracharya had also refused to regard Sai Baba as the epitome of Hindu-Muslim unity, saying if it were the case, the spiritual man would have been revered by Muslims with as much devotion as Hindus. In Sanatan Dharma, there are said to be 24 avataars (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu, In Kalyug, there is no mention of other avataars than Kalki and Buddha. Hence, Sai Baba can certainly not be an avataar, Shankaracharya had opined.

He further added that Sai Baba should not be considered as a guru and an ideal because he was a non-vegetarian and advocated the practice of circumcision. Shankaracharya had also claimed that a number of temples devoted to Sai Baba are built across the country to deviate attention from Ram Temple movement in Ayodhya.

Meanwhile, former chairman of Shri Sai Baba Sanstha, Jayant Sasane said that Sai devotees have been hurt with the comments of Shankaracharya, however he opined that they should not protest or fight with Swaroopananda Saraswati. Interestingly, the Shankaracharya is reportedly close to the Congress part and many of its top leaders.

In the mid of this controversy, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti has said that she has faith in Sai Baba, who never claimed he was God.  Siding with the Sai devotees, Bharti said that the latter never considered himself as God, however, if people consider him as God, out of devotion, there is no harm.

Meanwhile, the BJP has refused to be dragged into the reported exchange of words between Dwarkapeeth Shankaracharya and Uma Bharti over the alleged comments made by the seer on the Sai Baba of Shirdi.