Daily News Notes

· AICC General Secretary and Member of Parliament, Rahul Gandhi today called for a stronger Lokpal by making it a Constitutional body like the Election Commission. (bhai tum sirf JAN LOKPAL hi dedo).
· In the Lok Sabha, three Congress MPs Anu Tondon, Jagdambika Pal and Sanjay Nirupam have given notices to the speaker to allow a discussion of the on Jan Lokpal bill and other documents in the house. Confirming this Congress party sources said that they have proposed discussion to be taken up under a rule which does not entail voting. Meanwhile, Anna Hazare's fast entered the 11th day today. His health condition is stable.
· The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the government is taking all possible steps to streamline the shortage of doctors in the country. the doctor and patient ratio in the country is one doctor to 1667 patients which is a matter of concern. It is for the first time that in 2 years time, the new 35 medical colleges have come up. This is again for the first time that an additional 8000 M.B.B.S. seats have been increased and about 8000 M.D. seats have been increased
· The government has stressed that corporal punishment in schools is prohibited. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights had also received complaints. Under Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, no child between 6 to 14 years of age shall be subjected to physical punishment or mental harassment.
· A special investigation cell in the banking supervision department of RBI has been set up to deal with complaints of corruption in the public sector banks. The nature of complaints against Board level appointees include allegations of writing of loans, taking over of accounts, other banks and irregularities in grant of advances.
· Gujarat Governor has appointed former Justice of Gujarat High Court Justice R.A. Mehta as Lokayukta in the State. The Governor has the power to appoint Lokayukt in the State on the recommendation of Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court.
· The Sikkim Legislative Assembly today unanimously passed the Sikkim Panchayat (Amendment) Bill increasing women’s participation in the Panchayat bodies from the existing forty percent to fifty percent.
· Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan has announced his resignation, clearing the way for the country's sixth leader in five years. Mr Kan has been criticized for failing to show leadership after the devastating March 11th earthquake and tsunami, and ensuing nuclear crisis.
· Government has appointed Ombudsman for regulating financial sector. Three ombudsman have been appointed in banking, insurance and Income Tax sectors. Reserve Bank of India has formulated to banking ombudsman scheme as an alternate to grievance redressal system. Ombudsman have been restricted to insurance contracts of not exceeding 20 lakh rupees.
· A bill to regulate the removal, storage and transplantation of human organs and check their illegal trade was introduced in the Rajya Sabha today. The amendment facilitates transplantation of tissues which was prohibited earlier.
· Today is the 101 birth anniversary of Mother Teresa. Her home and Ashram in Kolkata where the sick, poor and the downtrodden were cared for. Mother Teresa had died 14 year ago.
· The Arab League has said that it considers Libya's rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people and time has come for Libya to return to its permanent seat on the League's council.
· Australian astronomers today said they have spotted an exotic planet that is believed to be made of diamond in our galactic backyard.