Bitter ‘lauki’ juice can kill you, says panel

Do not drink your bottle gourd (‘lauki’ in Hindi) juice if it tastes bitter, it could kill you. This recommendation comes after some investigation by an experts’ committee.

The death of 59-year-old scientist, Sushil Kumar Saxena, a deputy secretary in the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in New Delhi in June 2010, spurred an investigation into the effects of the consumption of bottle gourd juice that is bitter. A spate of other deaths relating to the same were also uncovered.

This led to the formation of an experts’ committee on the ‘Safety of consumption of vegetable juices with special reference to ‘lauki.’ The committee was constituted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and held its second meeting in New Delhi on Sunday after it was formed this year in April.

The scientist, Saxena, had reportedly followed the advice of a baba who had advocated the merits of ‘lauki’ juice on his television programmes, stating that it was good for curing diabetes, among other health benefits. Saxena consumed the bottle gourd juice, as a mixture with bitter gourd (Karela in Hindi). He was hospitalised soon after but died prior to any treatment there.

His death was followed by reports of other deaths by the same cause. “Deaths from different parts of the country have been reported after some individuals consumed bottle gourd juice which was bitter. The advice would now be not to consume bottle gourd juice which is bitter,” an ICMR scientist said.

The expert committee that was formed by the ICMR will submit a report on their findings to the government next month. These results came after ICMR scientist G S Toteja called for information from clinicians who had treated lauki toxity cases, in a prescribed format. Members of the general public who had observed adverse effects after the consumption of the juice were also asked to submit their observations. Researchers with information on the benefits or toxic effects of lauki also submitted their work. After the committee submits its report, a campaign to create awareness on the harmful effects of consuming bottle gourd juice, if it is bitter, will be initiated, it is learnt.

According to an ICMR scientist, further research is also being initiated on bottle gourd. Some national laboratories and universities are being identified for the purpose of conducting further research at the insistence of the ICMR.

Several ‘gurus’ and ayurveda practitioners recommend the consumption of bottle gourd juice. This advice is followed by people who make the gourd juice at home, in a bid to control diabetes. It has however been found that gourds, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins and melon may contain the chemical compound Tetracyclic Triterpenoid Cucurbitacin, which causes bitterness. This can be toxic and could prove fatal, especially if consumed in large doses.

Provide more jobs to retired defence personnel: Antony

 Defence Minister A.K. Antony Monday asked the central and state government departments, including the paramilitary forces, to explore possibilities for recuriting armed forces personnel who hang up their boots in their mid-thirties.

With over 50,000 personnel of the 1.13 million armed forces retiring or being released every year, mainly to keep the young profile of its fighting units, Antony said they are a pool of ‘trained, disciplined and fully committed to the cause’ workforce.

Antony, who spoke to reporters on the sidelines of the Kendriya Sainik Board meeting here, said one of the suggestions that came out of the day-long meeting was to ask the paramilitary forces to recruit ex-servicemen and provide them lateral entry.

‘But this needs to be seriously discussed by the government and there are some discussions already going on on this,’ he said.

‘The meeting has decided to appeal to the central government and state government departments and the private sector to take ex-servicemen into their workforce. We are also going to request the state governments to fully recruit ex-servicemen to slots meant for them,’ he added.

Earlier, at the meeting, Antony said implementation of welfare schemes for ex-servicemen was ‘a bit slow’ and that the administrative machinery at all levels — centre, states and districts — must ‘show sensitivity and imagination’ in finding solutions to the problems faced by families of ex-servicemen and serving personnel, who stay away from their families for long periods.

Pointing out to the tourism ministry’s pilot project to enroll ex-servicemen as tourist wardens, first in Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Sikkim, Antony said: ‘Keeping in mind the security scenario prevalent today, the experience and services of ex-servicemen will go a long way in helping us to further strengthen the overall security scenario.’

He also appealed to the chief ministers of all states to ‘devise ways and means to open up more fields of economic activity where the rich and practical experience of ex-servicemen can be best utilised’.

The central government, Antony said, has enhanced its contribution for office expenditure and salaries at Rajya and Zila Sainik Boards from the existing 50 percent to 75 percent in special category states and to 60 percent in other states.

On the demand for equal pension for officers and men retiring with equal number of service and same rank, Antony said: ‘Even though ‘one rank-one pension’ is a dream, we are nearer to that. Our approach is step-by-step increase. We have substantially increased it twice in the last seven years. But it not final. Whenever we get another opportunity, we will try to help them.’

New Delhi, June 27 (IANS)

AN INDIVIDUAL HAVING INCOME NOT EXCEEDING RS. 5 LACS FROM SALARIES/OTHER SOURCES FOR A.Y. 2011-12 IS NOT REQUIRED TO FILE RETURN U/S 139(1)

NOTIFICATION NO. 36/2011 F. NO. 142/09/2011 (TPL), DATED 23-6-2011

In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1C) of section 139 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961), the Central Government hereby exempts the following class of persons, subject to the conditions specified hereinafter, from the requirement of furnishing a return of income under sub-section (1) of section 139 for the assessment year 2011-12, namely :—

Class of Persons

1. An Individual whose total income for the relevant assessment year does not exceed five lakh rupees and consists of only income chargeable to income-tax under the following head,—

 (A)  “Salaries”;

 (B)  “Income from other sources”, by way of interest from a savings account in a bank, not exceeding ten thousand rupees.

Conditions

2. The individual referred to in para 1,—

  (i)  has reported to his employer his Permanent Account Number (PAN);

 (ii)  has reported to his employer, the incomes mentioned in sub-para (B) of para 1 and the employer has deducted the tax thereon;

(iii)  has received a certificate of tax deduction in Form 16 from his employer which mentions the PAN, details of income and the tax deducted at source and deposited to the credit of the Central Government;

(iv)  has discharged his total tax liability for the assessment year through tax deduction at source and its deposit by the employer to the Central Government;

 (v)  has no claim of refund of taxes due to him for the income of the assessment year; and

(vi)  has received salary from only one employer for the assessment year.

3. The exemption from the requirement of furnishing a return of income-tax shall not be available where a notice under section 142(1) or section 148 or section 153A or section 153C of the Income-tax Act has been issued for filing a return of income for the relevant assessment year.

4. This notification shall come into force from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

Financial help for bright students.

If you have come across any bright students coming from poor financial background who have finished their 10th standard this year and scored more than 80%, please ask them to contact the NGO – Prerana (supported by Infosys foundation).

The NGO is conducting a written test and those who clear the test will be eligible for financial help for their further studies. Please ask the students to contact the people mentioned below to get the form: 580, Shubhakar, 44th cross, 1st A main road, Jayanagar, 7th block, Bangalore.

Contact numbers:

1. Ms. Saraswati – 99009 06338

2. Mr. Shivkumar – 99866 30301

3. Ms. Bindu – 99645 34667

What are the ‘big rocks’ in your life?

One day, an expert in time management was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will never forget.

As he stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers he said, “Okay, time for a quiz?”, and he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouth Mason jar and set it on the table in front of him.

He also produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, “Is this jar full?”.

Everyone in the class yelled, Yes! The time management expert replied, “Really?”. He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. He dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks.

He then asked the group once more, “Is the jar full?” By this time the class was on to him. “Probably not”, one of them answered. Good! he replied. He reached underthe table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel.

Once more he asked the question, “Is this jar full?” “No!” the class shouted. Once again he said, Good! Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim.

He looked at the class and asked, “What is the point of this illustration?” One eager student raised his hand and said, “The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it!”.

“No”, the speaker replied, that’s not the point. “The truth is, this illustration teaches us that if you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all.”

“What are the ‘big rocks’ in your life, time with your loved ones, your faith, your education, your dreams, a worthy cause, teaching or mentoring others. Remember to put these ‘big rocks’ in first or you’ll never get them in at all.”

So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself this question – What are the ‘big rocks’ in my life Then, put those in your jar first.

Thanks: gconnect.com

BSNL 3G Connection to cost less for Government Employees and Pensioners

Now, Government Employees including retired government employees can enjoy 3G mobile phone connection operated by BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited) at a lesser cost compared to other citizens.

A discount of 10% on Fixed Monthly Cost of all 3G postpaid data plan is to be offered to Government Employees.

Retired Government Employee can also get discount of 10% on Fixed Monthly Cost of all 3G postpaid data plan.

This concession is applicable for all retired and working employees of Central Government, State Government, and PSUs (Public Sector Undertakings).

Retired and presently working employees having existing 3G Connections as well as new 3G connections will be eligible for this concession after verification of their credentials.

The above 10% discount can not be clubbed with any other special discount/concession.

source: Official Tariff page of BSNL Website

Banks to return money on failed ATM transaction in 7 days

Some days you might have used the ATM and shocked that the money did not come out or received short by  a few notes.  You might have had to run from pillar to post to get the money back through the existing system.  Now, the Reserve Bank  has directed banks to reimburse customers for amounts wrongfully debited from their accounts in failed ATM transactions within seven days of an account holder’s complaint or else pay a Rs.100 per day compensation.

The RBI in its notification has stated that the time limit for resolution of customer complaints by the issuing banks shall stand reduced from 12 working days to seven working days from the date of receipt of customer complaint.  Failure to re-credit the amount within seven working days will require the issuing bank to pay a compensation of Rs 100 per day, it said.

The RBI further said that all customers are entitled to receive such compensation for delays only if a claim is lodged with the issuing bank within 30 days of the date of transaction.

The central bank instructed the issuing bank and the acquiring bank to settle failed ATM transaction disputes through the ATM system provider only.    The directive shall be come into effect from 1st July, 2011

With this we can expect the improvement in redressal of  dispute about  non receipt of amount or failed transaction and make banking experience smoother.

Sitting is killing you…

Safety near gas stove.

Received from another forum:

This is a shocking episode that happened last Friday (13th May 2011) in Pune. This may be a good, useful lesson in safety for all of us to remember.

I was talking to someone I know, a person who is normally quite lively and chirpy but who sounded rather down and depressed this morning. This is the story that I heard, the reason behind the depression… A family firend had died due to burns sustained in the kitchen.
The gas stove was on, cooking under process. The lady observed some cockroaches near the sink and grabbed a can of insect repellent and sprayed it..Near the gas stove, which was on/burning. There was an explosion and in no time the poor woman was covered in flames, sustained 65% burns. Her husband rushed in, tried to douse the flames and his clothes too caught fire. The husband is still in hospital, in the burns ward, still unaware that his wife has succumbed, dead on arrival.

I’ve been trying to gather some information on the inscet repellents such as “Hit”, “Mortein” etc. Are they inflammable? I guess they are, and the nano-particles spread extremely rapidly.
Did the poor lady realise the hazard involved? Apparently not!

Spread the word around…. who knows you may save more than a life…

Pay commission gains may not come from back date

The windfall government employees receive by way of pay commission award arrears may no longer be forthcoming. The government is examining a proposal to implement pay commission awards prospectively on the lines of finance commission awards, as large arrears throw the finances of both the Centre and states in disarray.

It is reported that the Government is considering the suggestions of 13th Finance Commission to avoid payment of arrears arising out of retrospective implementation of Pay Commission in the future . It is also reported that final call on the issue would be taken when the next pay commission is constituted. Pay commissions are usually set up at intervals of 10 years. The Sixth Pay Commission, the most recent, gave its recommendations in March 2008. It had proposed pay raises between 20% and 40% for government employees.

The finance ministry had told a parliamentary panel last week that the issue should be deliberated upon as retrospective implementation of pay commission awards has had adverse impact on the finances of the Centre as well as the states, a government official privy to the meeting said. Many state governments had expressed concerns over the issue of arrears. States set up pay commissions for their own employees after the pay commission for the central government employees submits its report.

“While many reforms can and should be contemplated to end this self-inflicted distortion, one action that could be taken immediately is that of making the pay award commence from the date on which the recommendations of future pay commissions are accepted by the government,” the 13th FinanceCommission had said in its report.

The burden of arrears on the central government from the Sixth Pay Commission award was Rs 28,160 crore on a salary base of Rs 44,360 crore. This was because the recommendations of the panel announced in 2008 were implemented retrospectively from January 1, 2006.

To save itself from a larger fiscal trouble, the Centre disbursed the arrears in two installments: 40% in 2008-09 and 60% in 2009-10. The arrears contributed significantly to the Centre overshooting its target in 2008-09, ending the year with a fiscal deficit of 6% of the gross domestic product (GDP) against the budgeted 2.5%. The fiscal deficit rose to 6.4% of GDP in 2009-10 as pay commission arrears pushed up the expenditure when the government was battling slowdown in revenues.

The Centre had to readjust its fissense but can work only if pay commission reports come well in time for implementation prospectively,” said D K Srivastava, director, Madras School of Economics. Unlike the private sector, the government does not give annual salary hikes to itsemployees . Instead, it gives out dearness allowance twice a year to compensate for the rise in prices. The periodic pay commissions help adjust government salaries to market benchmarks. Most experts find the system flawed, as the performance benchmarks are not included in the salary revisions. The Sixth PayCommission had recommended a performance related pay for government employees.

It has budgeted a fiscal deficit of 4.6% of GDP for 2011-12, which is projected to drop to 3.5% in 2013-14. The finance commission had said if the Centre implemented pay awards prospectively, it would give state governments an opportunity to time their awards in a way that the need for arrears does not arise.

“If finance commissions are able to present their inter-governmental recommendations without any need for retrospective fiscal transactions, then the same should be possible in the case of paycommission as well,” the commission had reasoned in its report.

Source: The Economic Times