Poll India: 2004
Stampede: BJP explanations before the EC today
New Delhi: BJP leaders will be meeting Election Commission officials today to present their version of the story on the saree distribution function in Lucknow, that had lead to a stampede resulting in the deaths of 22 people.

The BJP has been maintaining that the party had not organised the function intended to celebrate state leader Lalji Tandon's birthday. The BJP also claims that Tandon had never been the election agent for Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Sonia, Priyanka and Rahul to kick up dust in UP
Rae Bareli: Today Congress president Sonia Gandhi addresses two joint rallies with daughter Priyanka Vadra in Rae Bareli, while her son Rahul Gandhi kicks off his roadshow in eastern UP.
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IBRD clears $500 m for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
New Delhi: The World Bank has approved a credit of $500 million to pool funds with the Indian Government and the various States, the European Commission and the UK in support of a national programme for universal elementary education, termed as 'Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan'. The programme is aimed at reducing the number of children who are out of school by at least nine million, narrow the gender and social gaps and improve the quality of education.

According to a World Bank statement here, India has made remarkable progress in education, as evidenced by the decline in the number of out-of-school children in the 6-14 age group from 39 million in 1999 to 25 million in 2003. Despite this, the country still accounts for a quarter of the world's 104 million out-of-school children. Specifically, the $500-million credit will be utilised to fund the physical construction and extension of primary and upper primary schools, provision of training in social mobilisation and educational management and payment of salaries for teachers hired under the programme.
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Renovation and Modernisation task force guidelines to be reviewed
New Delhi: The Government is willing to review the GOI Guidelines of January 2004 on renovation and modernisation(R&M) of old power plants, which was recommended by the R & M Task Force. The govt. says that the guidelines, which had given rise to certain misguided apprehensions, was not "sacroscant", and that it was open to suggestions.

Government officials were responding at a CII Round Table organised with an objective to discuss issues concerning tardy progress in finalisation of R&M contracts of the utilities and to address other issues impeding the progress on this front.

The govt. in consultations with State Electricity Boards had identified 106 thermal units of different age and sizes for R&M/LE to be completed for which Rs. 10,000 crores was available at subsidised interest cost under Accelerated Generation & Supply program.
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