 |
NRI doctors challenge new rules in UK |
Doctors of Indian origin have initiated legal action against Britain’s health authorities for the recent changes in employment rules that has threatened the future of thousands of non-European doctors. The legal action was initiated following advice to the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO) that it had a “good case”. The changes, the associations believe, are unfair and have been implemented without proper consultation.
“The letters of intent of legal action were sent to the Department of Health and the Home Office. After a two-week deadline, the case will be filed in the High Court,” Ramesh Mehta, BAPIO president, said. He added: “The department has been unwilling to respond to the many protests and has shown no signs of reviewing the ruling. Time is running out for thousands of doctors whose visas will run out in August and will have to leave the country as they do not have another job.”
The association has launched a drive to raise funds to mount legal action against the changes. The changes abolish permit-free training under which thousands of Indian doctors worked in Britain’s National Health Service. Under the changes announced earlier this year, doctors from outside Britain and the EU would be employed on a work permit only if there were no suitable candidates from these regions. They would no longer be offered employment under the permit-free training scheme.
|
|
|
|
Congress Raj
|
Raj Peter Bhakta who made his name on Donald Trump’s reality TV show “The Apprentice” is now on a determined bid to enter the US Congress. The bow-tied Bhakta, a first-generation American whose parents are Indian and Irish, has launched his campaign as a Republican candidate. Bhakta, 30, hasn’t been given much of a chance against Democrat Allyson Schwartz in a district that went for Democrats Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry 2004, and at a time when President George W. Bush’s ratings are in the netherworld.
The seat is Pennsylvania’s 13th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. Bhakta also has less funds at $79,000 compared with about $1.3 million available for his rival.
|
|
|
|
Female NRI teacher charged with rape of student
|
An Indian-origin female teacher and director at an exclusive Manhattan private school, already charged with the statutory rape and sodomy of a male pupil, has been indicted on similar charges involving a second boy, a prosecutor has said.
Lina Sinha, 40, began having sex with the second pupil at the private Montessori International School of New York, which encourages pupils to learn and develop their creativity at their own pace, when he was 12. Sinha began sexual liaisons with the first boy, now a New York City police officer, when he was 13 and she was 29, the prosecutor said, adding that the liaisons lasted years. Chapin disclosed the case of the second boy during a hearing in Manhattan’s state; she told Justice Carol Berkman that Sinha is now charged with 81 crimes. Chapin asked the judge to set the teacher’s bail at $1,00,000. Besides rape and sodomy, Sinha is charged with criminal impersonation, bribing a witness, tampering with physical evidence, endangering the welfare of a child and falsely reporting an incident. If convicted on the rape or sodomy charges, she would face up to 25 years in prison.
|
|
 |
Citibank launches home loans for Canadian NRIs
|
Citibank India, a part of Citigroup, the world’s leading provider of financial services, has announced the launch of a new product targeted at the NRI (Non-Resident India) and PIO (Persons of Indian Origin) community of Canada. This new offering will enable the large and growing population of Indo-Canadians to avail of a home loan of up to Rs 5 crore (approximately C$1.13 million) for purchase of residential property, both ready or under construction.
The NRI Home Loan is available through Citibank’s NRI network (1-800-CITI-NRI) in Toronto and Vancouver in Canada. Since, the decision-making and purchase finalization is often done during a visit to India, customers can also avail the home loan through Citibank’s 39-branch network in India. Announcing the launch, Anil Kumar, business manager, said: “The NRI Home Loan has received a very enthusiastic response from customers in the Middle East and Singapore. I am confident that NRIs in Canada too will fully leverage the value of this product.” |
|
 |
Parveen Chopra bags community service award
|
Dr. Parveen Chopra (extreme left) a longtime Asian leader who is currently President and Founder of Asian American Coalition since 1980 was honored by the strongest South Asian Coalition of Unions representing more than a million South Asian workers in New York City from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan and Indo—Caribbeans from Guyana, Trinidad, Jamaica and Suriname.
Chopra was honoured with the distinguished Community Service award on June 16, 2006 at the Astoria World Manor in New York City.
Hon. Elliot Spitzer the current Attorney General of the State of New York and leading candidate for the Governor of New York in 2006 while giving the distinguished Award said immigrants who are forty percent of the New York City population of 8 million are hard working, family-oriented, emphasize education for their children, are very progressive and continuously take the State of New York forward. Chopra is one such fine example of what gives the city of New York its tremendous global appeal. |
|
 |
Seema Singh appointed to NJIT Board of Visitors |
New Jersey Ratepayer Advocate Seema M. Singh (sitting second from left), Esq., has been appointed to the Board of Visitors at the New Jersey Institute of Technology's (NJIT) College of Computing Sciences. She was appointed by the Provost, Priscilla Nelson, on the recommendation of the college's Acting Dean Daljit Singh Ahluwalia.
The Board of Visitors was established to help students prepare themselves for leadership roles as productive citizens and professionals. In addition, the Board works to provide educational opportunities for a diverse group of students; responds to the needs of large and small businesses, state and local government agencies and civic organizations; and advance the uses of technology as a means of improving the quality of life.
|
|
