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Prem Rawat (Prem Pal Singh Rawat) whose devotees call him Maharaji (meaning Ultimate Ruler) first came to attention in the West as Guru Maharaj Ji - the self-proclaimed Perfect Master and Lord of the Universe ridiculed in the media as a fat, squeaky-voiced God boy. He had inherited his titles and position as the Satguru, The True Revealer of Light and Spiritual Master of the Divine Light Mission, India (Divya Sandesh Parishad) when his father died in 1966. His father, Hans Rawat, was a successful Indian guru, self titled HRH (His Royal Highness) Yogiraj Param Sant Satgurudev Shri Hans Ji Maharaj. As a child the youngest Rawat son was informally called Sant Ji, more formally Balyogeshwar ("Born King of the Yogis") and even more formally Param Sant Satgurudev Shri Sant Ji Maharaj. In the West Rawat dropped these more verbose titles in the early 1980's and instructed his followers to call him Maharaji. He has also changed the names of his organisations many times: Divine Light Mission (DLM), World Welfare Association (WWA), World Peace Corps (WPC) and Divine United Organisation (DUO) became Elan Vital in the early 1980's and in 2001 The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF) was created and from 2010 his major orgs are Words Of Peace Global (WOPG) registered in Holland, Words of Peace International (WOPI) in the USA, HDSK (Human Development through Self Knowledge) in Great Britain and Raj Vidya Kender (Royal Knowledge Society) in India. He no longer claims to be an Incarnation of God but an internationally famous humanitarian leader and teacher of peace. He's neither.
IMPROVEMENT OF RAILWAY TRANSPORTATION IN DARJEELING
It is planned to provide three new narrow gauge locos for introduction on the Darjeeling Hill Railway. Eighteen new coaches have already been pressed into serviced. This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Satpal Maharaj in reply to a question from Shri Hannan Mollah in the Lok Sabha today.
RESERVATION FACILITIES AT DELHI
The facility of making outward as well as return journey reservations is available at Delhi for all trains originating from the stations linked to the main reservation system at Delhi. Due to certain limitations in the telecommunication links, it has been possible at present to provide only limited connectivity at a few terminals linked with the Madras, Calcutta, Mumbai and Secunderabad Systems at Delhi. At present, one person is entitled to submit only one requisition except in a case where the same person is making reservation for going to and coming from the same destination, lying within the Northern Railway Passenger Reservation System. This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Satpal Maharaj in reply to a question from Shri Ramashray Prasad Singh in the Lok Sabha today.
LINKING OF SRINAGAR WITH RAIL
It is proposed to link Srinagar in the railway map. Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramula new line project (290 kms.) has been sanctioned in 1994-95 at an estimated cost of Rs.1900.00 crores. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had accorded its 'in principle' approval for implemtnation of this project in phases. The work of first phase between Udhampur and Katra has been taken up for which Rs.75.00 crores have been allocated during 1997-98. Final location Survey from Katra to Baramula has been taken up by the Railway. About 81 tunnels and 223 bridges will be in this line. This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Satpal Maharaj in reply to a question from Shri A.G.S.Ram Babu in the Lok Sabha today.
NO SHORTAGE OF COACHES
All the trains are running as per their normal scheduled composition. There is no shortage of coaches. However, for clearance of extra rush, additional coaches are attached as and when required. This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Satpal Maharaj in reply to a question from Shri Kodikkunnil Suresh in the Lok Sabha today.
WAGON INDUCTION PROGRAMMES
The target for freight traffic planned to be lifted in a year is decided in consultation with the various User Ministries e.g. Coal, Steel, Industries, Petroleum etc. The number of wagons proposed to be inducted in the system in a year depends upon the likely transport output and wagon utilisation. It has been planned to induct Rs.26,000 wagons (in four wheeler units) in 1997-98. Action has already been initiated in this regard. This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Satpal Maharaj in reply to a question from Shri Namdeo Diwathe in the Lok Sabha today.
CLOSING DATE OF IRFC BONDS EXTENDED
The closing date of the Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) private placement issue of 10.5 per cent tax free bonds with an upfront discount of 7.5 per cent,launched with effect from April 15, 1997 for a month,has been extended by a fortnight from today to May 31,1997 following requests to this effect from Investors and Arrangers to facilitate more investments. The size of the issue is Rs.100 crores with a right to retain oversubscription upto Rs.300 crores. The private placement issue has since been subscribed beyond the issue size of Rs.100 crores. The IRFC is a financial institution dedicated to the developmental needs of the Indian Railways and a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Railways. It enjoys 'AAA' public credit ratings.
SCHEMES FOR AGRICULTURAL WORKERS
All States and Union Territory Administrations are running old age pension schemes under which pension is granted at varying rates to old persons generally beyond the age of 65 years with relaxation for destitutes, widows, disabled and in certain cases to agricultural workers and females. Some States like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tripura, West Bengal, Gujarat are running separate schemes for agricultural workers. The Government of India also announced a National Social Assistance Scheme (NSAS) for the poor which inter-alia contemplates old age pension @ Rs. 75/- per month to destitute persons over 65 years of age. This information was given by Labour Minister Shri M. Arunachalam in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today. Labour Minister further stated that in addition to the above there are several schemes for the benefit of the poor and the old. A scheme for the life insurance of the IRDP beneficiaries came into force in 1988, Social Security Fund operated through LIC subsidises insurance premia for 23 approved occupations including farmers. The Personal Accident Insurance Scheme of GIC for poor families has been extended to all destitutes in the country since August, 1988. There are also schemes for the insurance of cattle, live-stock, agricultural pump sets, fire insurance cover for huts and belongings of landless labourers etc.
DR. RAGHUVANSH PRASAD SINGH EMPHASIS NEED FOR TRAINING OF FARMERS IN FODDER USE
The Minister for Animal Husbandary and Dairying Dr. Raghvansh Prasad Singh has emphasised the need for farmers to be properly trained in the use of fodder for their animals. This was highlighted in his speech today at the Second Meeting to discuss Integrated Fodder Resources Development. In his speech Dr. Raghvansh Prasad Singh said proper training of farmers in the use of fodder will help not only in increasing milk production but also overall foodgrain production. The Minister said he believed one of the root causes of poverty in the country was the the neglect of animal husbandry. The Minister also emphasised that research in laboratories should reach the farmers, at the lowest level. Experts at the meeting said it is expected that there will be 30 per cent shortage in dry fodder by the year 2020. They felt the objective should be to step up foodgrains productivity through the use of technology. This in turn will help in easing the fodder shortage. It was noted at the meeting that upto 20 per cent land in Punjab and Haryana is being utilised for fodder cultivation. The meeting also emphasised the need for a national policy on animal husbandry. Extension services it was felt should be given proper importance and panchayats should be made the focal point for animal husbandry development. It was also felt that there is a lot of potential for increasing fodder production using wastelands. The meeting was attended by the Secretary in the Department of Animal Husabandry and Dairying,Shri Yogesh Chandra along with senior officials from the department as well as officials from the Ministries of Environment and Rural Area and Employment, the Indian Council for Agricultural Research, the National Dairy Development Board and experts.
EXEMPTION OF POWER PLANTS FROM MINIMUM RETURN CRITERIA OF 3%
The minimum return criteria of 3% laid down by Power Finance Corporation has been relaxed for renovation and modernisation of Power Plants for extending financial assistance to the State Electricity Boards. Replying to a question in Rajya Sabha today, the Minister of State for Power Dr. S. Venugopalachari said that an overall requirement of Rs. 2500 - 3000 crores has been projected during the 9th five year plan to revamp/retrofit and to achieve life extension of power plants more than 20 years old.
SOLAR-WIND-DIESEL HYBRID SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIFICATION
The Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources is actively promoting the design, manufacture and deployment of hybrid energy systems of various kinds as such systems have considerable potential for use in our country. Giving this information while replying to a question in Rajya Sabha the Minister of State For Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Capt. Jai Narain Prasad Nishad, however said that there is no specifric proposal under the consideration of the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources for utilisastion of a solar-wind-diesel hybrid system for village electrification.
OCEAN THERMAL AND SEA WAVE POWER POTENTIALS
The estimated potential for Ocean Thermal & Sea Wave Power in the country is of the order of 70,000 MW. The Minister of State for Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Capt. Jai Narain Prasad Nishad informed Rajya sabha today that the technology for harnessing Ocean Energy is still in the development stage all over the world. On a proposal from U.S. Company for the installation of a 100 MW power plant based on Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) technology off the coast of Tamil Nadu on Build-Own-Operate (B-O-O) basis, an MOU was signed between Tamil Nadu Electricity Board and Government of Tamil Nadu with the U.S. Company in 1994. The Tamil Nadu Government has recently cancelled the above MOU. However, the Ministry is examining the development of a smaller, shore-based, OTEC power plant. Replying to a question, he said that an experimental 150 KW peak capacity oscilliating water column (OWC) Wave Power Plant has been set up in 1991 at Vizhinjam near Trivandrum on the Kerala coast by the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras under the aegis of the Department of Ocean Development. Another pilot project for harnessing a Wave Power Plant of 1 MW capacity using the principle of wave induced small hydro, is being examined for Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
SECOND UPARASHTRAPATI AWARDS PRESENTED
Shri K.R.Narayanan, Vice President of India presented the Awards of the Uparashtrapati Award Competition for Rovers and Rangers (1995-96) of the Bharat Scouts and Guides here today. The Uparashtrapati Award Competition was established on October 2nd, 1994 with the sole purpose of motivating the Rovers and Rangers of the country to play their useful role in their personal development, development of the community and service to the nation at large. The syllabus for the Competition is divided into three categories - self development, service within the movement and service outside the movement. The competitors have to take up sixty hours'service spread over the areas consisting of Adult Education, Non-formal Education, Cleanliness, Preservation of Greenary, castes, creed and religions, removal of social disparity, working for national integration, health projects, control on leprocy etc. The experience of the last two years has convincingly evinced the fact that those who have successfully completed the course have greater interest in the service of the community, betterment of the personal development and development of the movement. The three pronged attack on evils of the society has proved fruitful and it is expected that within a decade there will be devoted Rovers and Rangers all over the country serving larger areas.
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