How many Ex Servicemen have been employed for safety of tourists in India?

Domestic Tourism registers an impressive growth during 2009
Sunday, June 27, 2010 15:58 IST
Market Research Division of Ministry of Tourism compiles data on “domestic and foreign tourist visits to States/ UTs” received from Ministries/ Departments of Tourism of various State Governments and UT Administrations.
Following are the important highlights of data for 2009:
(a) Domestic Tourist Visits to Sates/ UTs

During 2009, the number of domestic tourist visits to the States/ UTs was 650 million as compared to 563 million in 2008 and 527 millions in 2007.

During 2009, the number of domestic tourist visits to States/UTs registered an increase of 15.5% over 2008 as compared to increase of 6.9% in 2008 over 2007.

The top ten States in terms of number of domestic tourist visits (in millions) during 2009 were Andhra Pradesh (157.5), Uttar Pradesh (134.8), Tamil Nadu (115.8), Karnataka (32.7), Rajasthan (25.6), Maharashtra (23.7), Madhya Pradesh (23.1), Uttarakhand (21.9), West Bengal (20.5) and Gujarat (15.9).

The contribution of top 10 States was about 88% to the total number of domestic tourist visits during 2009. The percentage shares of top 5 States were Andhra Pradesh (24.2%), Uttar Pradesh (20.7%), Tamil Nadu (17.8%), Karnataka (5.0%) and Rajasthan (3.9%).
(b) Foreign Tourist visits to States/ UTs

During 2009, the number of foreign tourist visits (FTVs) to the States/ UTs was 13.7 million as compared to 14.1 million in 2008 and 13.3 million in 2007.

During 2009, the number of FTVs to States/UTs registered a decline of 2.8% over 2008 as compared to an increase of 6.4% in 2008 over 2007. This decline in FTVs is similar to the trend of the decline of 3.3% in the foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) during 2009.

The top ten States in terms of number of FTVs (in millions) during 2009 were Tamil Nadu (2.37), Maharashtra (2.0), Delhi (1.96), Uttar Pradesh (1.53), West Bengal (1.18), Rajasthan (1.07), Andhra Pradesh (0.80), Kerala (0.55), Bihar (0.42) and Himachal Pradesh (0.40).

The contribution of top 10 States was about 90% to the total number of FTVs in the country during 2009. The percentage shares of top 5 States were Tamil Nadu (17.3%), Maharashtra (14.6%), Delhi (14.3%), Uttar Pradesh (11.25) and West Bengal (8.6%).

Data show that domestic tourism registered an impressive growth of 15.5% in 2009 inspite of economic recession and other adverse factors for tourism. On the contrary, FTAs and FTVs registered a decline of 3.3% and 2.8% respectively during the same period. This brings out the importance of domestic tourism in the overall tourism development in the country. AD
Domestic Tourism registers an impressive growth during 2009
Two Dutch women raped, robbed in New Delhi

Question: Is India a safe destination?
How many Domestic and Foreign Nationals have been cheated, looted, raped and killed? Do we have the statistics compiled on all- India basis? The Tourism Ministry which had promised to employ ESM for safe guarding tourists is still on paper without any tangible outcome! Tourism Ministry will do well to warn and give out the statistics of tourist victims and issue an advisory accordingly for citizens safety.

Bhopal mass gas murder: Warren Anderson should stand trial in India- Frank Pallone

Press Trust of India, Updated: June 11, 2010 07:07 IST, Washington
Influential New Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone has said former Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson deserves to be extradited from the US and stand trial in India in connection with the Bhopal gas tragedy case.

"All those responsible for this disaster, including the former chairman of Union Carbide Warren Anderson, should stand trial in India and receive punishment that reflects the devastation and pain they have caused for thousands of people," Pallone said in a statement.

"Warren Anderson absolutely deserves to be extradited from the US and punished for the full extent of his crimes. As chairman of Union Carbide at the time of the Bhopal gas disaster, Anderson was ultimately responsible for his company's actions," said Pallone, who is a powerful member of the India Caucus in the Congress.

Noting that this court ruling is long overdue, Pallone said the executives of Union Carbide and its Indian subsidiary deserve to be criminally prosecuted.

"The court's sentence of merely two years for those responsible for the world's worst chemical disaster is outrageous," he said.

Pallone commended the Indian government on swift action to reconstitute the Group of Ministers (GoM) to review the circumstances surrounding the Bhopal disaster and pursue rehabilitation efforts.

"As the GoM recommended in 2008, I encourage the Indian government to establish an Empowered Commission on Bhopal which will have adequate authority and funds to ensure that rehabilitation efforts are pursued and care is offered for survivors of the disaster," he added.

The State Department, however, has remained silent on the issue. State Department spokesman P J Crowley had earlier said the US does not comment on extradition related issue. But, he said the United States has an extradition treaty with India.
Warren Anderson should stand trial in India: Frank Pallone
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Comment: If Warren Anderson has a conscience- as he is being construed and portrayed as a gentleman- he should volunteer to surrender to honest Indian Officials at Bhopal and offer an apology to the Gas Victims. This act will not only shame and expose the Indian corrupt Bureaucracy, deceitful Politicians and obliging Judiciary who have taken the victims through a two decade Judicial ride, but will also put the cog wheels of Indian Democracy on the right track. He is bound ultimately to be extradited if India so desires. However India may not find it convenient to face the truth of who bribed whom! The citizens and media should fight till the truth is out and culprits punished. This will placate the 20 year suffering of Victims in a small measure.

Murder: Macchil killings point to malaise in military

The Hindu: Praveen Swami: SRINAGAR, June 6, 2010
Forensic investigators found no evidence to support the proposition that a fire-fight had taken place: the three victims had all been shot through the head at point blank range.

Shah, a former jihadist who was recruited to the 161 Territorial Army Battalion, is believed to have told the police that Major Singh paid each of the conspirators Rs. 50,000 for helping to kidnap the victims.

Police sources told The Hindu that Colonel Pathania kept Rs. 2,00,000 of the source-payment funds authorised by XV corps. Major Singh is thought to have kept Rs.1,50,000.

The 4 Rajput claimed to have recovered Kalashnikov assault rifles, three other assault rifles, 230 rounds of ammunition and grenades from the killed men. The police believe that they were likely part of a cache recovered by troops along the Line of Control in 2009.

Military sources say the killings were likely driven by intense pressure to secure operational success — a prerequisite for promotions in the Army's intensely competitive hierarchy. The 4 Rajput had registered little counter-infiltration success, compared with other units in the 53 Brigade and adjoining 104 Brigade's areas of operations. The police are now investigating the possibility that the 4 Rajput might have staged an earlier shootout that took place in August 2009 in the Sonapindi pass.

Key to the malaise, the Jammu and Kashmir government believes, is the Army's failure to act against rogue elements.
Read full acount of military misadventure: The Hindu: Macchil killings point to malaise in military

Gen Jaiswal said, “It (inquiry) will be totally transparent and the truth will be there.... The inquiry is on. Our genuine concern is to be transparent. This is the first step. And this should be the indicator that subsequently we will be coming out with the truth.”

This is the second time that the Army has removed a serving officer from a command. Earlier, Colonel Gloria of 33 Rashtriya Rifles was removed for allegedly killing three boys who were playing cricket in a playground in Dudipora-Handwara in February 2006, three months after he had taken over the reins of the counter-insurgency unit.
Read more: Colonel removed, Major suspended in J&K fake encounter case: click here