The traffic police in Noida organized a rally on Sunday, the aim of which was to create awareness about traffic rules; however the response was very poor.

Though invitations were sent to around 40 schools, very few children turned up for the rally while last year the number was around 300. The rally was to start from Noida Stadium at 10.30 but due to the poor response it started 45 minutes later and returned to the stadium in 15 minutes.

SP (Traffic) Ajay Sahdev said, “It appears residents have lost interest in public awareness programs.”

Lack of interest and non-involvement of any non-government organization (NGO) were the reasons behind such a low turnout.

A ban was imposed by the Noida Authority on weekly markets and cycle rickshaws in Noida to cut down on the hardships faced by the residents.

However, the result has been completely different

Residents of Noida now face difficulties in commuting and buying fresh vegetables. Other outlets have been exploiting the situation and selling vegetables and fruits at very high prices. Furthermore, senior citizens and ladies experience inconvenience in traveling to the shops located at distant places for purchase of their daily use items.

With response from Noida Authority not forthcoming, Federation of Noida Residents Welfare Association (FONRWA) has written to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister  Mayawati, seeking her personal intervention to lift ban on weekly markets and cycle rickshaws.

The Noida Authority had banned cycle rickshaws on six main roads — Master Plan road numbers 1, 2 and 3; Udyog Marg; DSC Road; Noida-Greater Noida Expressway and Sector 18 market — from October 1. The weekly markets were banned in September.

At least 45 cases of car-lifting or car-snatching have been reported in the six police station areas of the city in the past 20 days.

According to the police, the maximum number of thefts was reported from sector 20 and sector 39 police stations. Each of these police stations has witnessed 12 such incidents. The sector 58 police station comes a close third with 10 cases of car-lifting.

“We are aware of the rising number of car-liftings. We have asked our beat patrols to be on the lookout. We also appeal to vehicle owners to install safety devices in their cars,” said a senior Noida police officer posted at the sector 58 police station.

“A total of nine luxury vehicles including Boleros, Honda Citys, Scorpios, Taveras and Safaris — have been carjacked over the last 20 days. The thefts take place all during the day too, not just at night. We will be increasing manpower and will keep a sharper lookout. We are holding meetings with the RWAs and incrporating their suggestions,” added another official.

Incidentally, all these police stations house some of Noida’s poshest areas, including sectors 19, 39, and 62. The sector 24 police station has recorded six carjackings, sector 49 station three and the phase II police station two over the last 20 days.

A 24 year old resident of Greater Noida allegedly committed suicide by ramming his bike into a truck near Ballabgarh.

According to the Greater Noida police, Anil was in a relationship with a girl from his own village Rauneja in Greater Noida. However, they belonged to the same caste and gotra because of which their families were opposed to their marriage and asked the lovers to separate. The girl’s family hastily arranged her marriage with another person.

Amit tried to meet her by entering the wedding ceremony but after being turned away, consumed alcohol and took off on his bike for Ballabgarh. Amit told his two friends that he was going to commit suicide.

“Akhan and D B Singh tried persuading Amit to give up this thought. However, as soon as the bike reached Ballabgarh, Amit allegedly speeded up over 100kmph while his friends protested,” said a senior officer from Greater Noida quoting the Haryana Police.

Amit then allegedly rammed his bike into a truck. “While Amit died on the spot, his two friends suffered serious injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital. They condition continues to be critical. In his statement to the police, Singh claimed Amit kept repeating his resolve all the way from Greater Noida.

The body of the deceased was handed over to his relatives on Saturday night.

Police in Greater Noida said they might launch an investigation into the circumstances that led to Amit’s death only after a formal complaint is received.

By: Vineet Wal

Computer Security Day is an annual event held on 30^th November and is observed worldwide. It was started in 1988 to help raise awareness of computer related security issues.

The goal of Computer Security Day is to remind people to protect their computers and information.

Computer Security Day provides an opportunity for information security professionals and their organizations to help raise the level of awareness in this regard. Almost all organizations now employ highly qualified professionals and security experts, to secure and protect their electronic data.

The importance of security of the computer and the information stored cannot be over emphasised. Each individual user is finally responsible for it. The experts and the professionals can keep reminding you and maybe provide guidelines.

Users of computers need to be informed about the various threats and about protection and remedies. Basic knowledge of the following is essential:

• Viruses
• PC security
• Firewalls
• Using strong passwords
• Social engineering
• Physical security of information resources and assets.

Many people and organisations have suffered financially and psychologically by the loss and or theft of personal / private and confidential data.

The only answer is to first make sure that the user realises the magnitude of the threat faced by each and every computer, and then to ensure to have the security in place at all times.

The computer security day is to remind you to take note and take care.

By: Pooja Narula

Now that the Noida line is fully functional, DMRC is planning a ‘green drive’ by setting up a bicycle service in select Noida stations.

This service will be available on three of the six Noida stations namely City Centre, Biotechnical Garden and Sector-15. Therefore, people can rent bicycles from the metro stations itself at a nominal rate.

In Delhi, students in large numbers hire bicycles on a daily basis from the Vishwavidyalaya Metro Station while the facility is also available in Pragati maidan and Mandi house. Here, bicycles are hired for Rs 10 for a period of four hours.

This step by DMRC aims to bring down the city’s pollution level and generate healthier lifestyles.

By: Pooja Narula
Bhakti Vaidant Trust and Iskon Mandir organized a Shlok Recitation Competition on the occasion of Geeta Jayanti on Friday. The school students recited shloks of Bhagwat Gita beautifully and won the “running trophy” for their over all performance.

While Father Agnel came first, ASN Senior Secondary School of Mayur Vihar won the second prize, and Bharti Public School won the third prize.

Father Agnel School has been a champion for 3 consecutive years. Students of Father Agnel presented the naughty childhood memories of “Lord Krishna” beautifully. According to the Chairman of the trust, the students truly deserved the running trophy.

In the junior category, Marry Gold School won the 1^st prize, Father Anglo School won the second prize and ASN Senior School won the third prize.

460 students of 28 schools participated in the programme. Apart from the Shlok Recitation Competition, students also participated in article writing and Lord Krishna painting competition.

Now one can email friends and family, check facebook and watch videos on youtube, through cable television for just Rs 150-200 p.m. How?

It’s all thanks to the gigantic initiative of Logic Eastern, a Noida-based manufacturer of cable infrastructure which has developed special set-top boxes having an integral patented hardware that makes connection to Gmail, Facebook and YouTube possible with no trouble.

The company has made possible two-way flow of data - from websites to cable operators to consumers and return by using the existing cellphone technology.

Consumers can access this service by means of a special remote control. The company is also developing a wi-fi keyboard which will be provided in conjunction with the set-top boxes.

Logic Eastern has already distributed 60,000 such set-top boxes all over South Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Nagpur, Bhubaneswar and Jammu.

A state-of-the-art cricket stadium will be constructed in Greater Noida by the Jaypee group. 2011 is said to be the deadline for the completion of the stadium.

The BCCI vice-president and UPCA secretary Rajeev Shukla said that the state association would be taking the ground on a 50-year-lease.

“The stadium will be located at the Gautam Buddha Nagar in Greater Noida. It will have a gymnasium, swimming pool and a club house. We also plan to have an academy. Once completed in 2011, we can have IPL matches and even ODIs at this venue,” Shukla added.

By: Vineet Wal

Gita Jayanti, is the day when the Bhagvad Gita was rendered by Lord Krishna to Arjuna in the Kurukshetra on the first day of the famous 18-day battle in the Mahabharata.

Gita Jayanti falls on the Ekadashi day of Shukla Paksha (the bright half) of the Margashirsha month (November-December) in traditional Hindi calendar.

The greatest quality of Bhagavad Gita is that it prompts you to think, it prompts you to take decision, and it prompts you to look at life differently and refreshingly and all this without surrendering your individuality.

Bhagavad Gita adapts to the present and discusses an issue by rooting itself in the present. Every moment a confused Arjuna opens the Gita to take the advice of Krishna. And through the immortal Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna has been discussing and debating and finding solutions to the various problems faced by the confused Arjunas for centuries and will continue to do the same forever.

The day is observed all around the world with the reading of Bhagavad Gita, which is referred outside India as the Bible of the Hindus.

Discussions and seminars are organized on the day.

All Hindu temples, especially those dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Lord Krishna, conduct special pujas on the day.

Individually, the ideal way to celebrate Gita Jayanti is by reading at least a stanza from the Bhagavad Gita, every day, for next one year.

Vineet Wal