Meira Kumar celebrates Rakhi with differently abled children

July 25th, 2009 PANAJI - The Goa government has come out with a special voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) for government employees who have differently abled children. The scheme, which was unveiled by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat while presenting the additional budget for 2009-10 on the floor of the Goa legislative assembly Friday, will now allow parents of differently abled children to opt for early retirement with certain financial benefits to ensure better care and attention to their wards.

July 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - For the first time in the online gifts industry, Indiangiftsportal.com is presenting the largest ever display of Rakhi and associated gift hampers, with the collection going over 1000 in their online 'Rakhi' store. It's the first of its kind collection which has been able to succeed in maintaining such tremendous quality with such a high number.

July 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Indiangiftsportal.com has now introduced free shipping of 'rakhi' and 'rakhi gifts' to US, UK from India and vice versa on the occasion of the upcoming festival of Raksha Bandhan. Indiangiftsportal.com specializes in the delivery of 'rakhi' and 'rakhi gifts' across the globe.

July 4th, 2009 BHOPAL - Expressing concern over the decline in polling percentage, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar Saturday called upon lawmakers to introspect why people were losing interest in the poll process. Inaugurating a two-day orientation programme for Madhya Pradesh legislators, Meira Kumar said legislature was the most powerful body and the lawmakers should use their powers for the welfare of the common man.

June 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar paid floral tribute at the memorials of various prominent leaders here on Saturday. Starting with Rajghat, the memorial to the Father of India, Mahatma Gandhi, she also paid a visit to the memorials of her father, Jagjivan Ram and Indira Gandhi.

June 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Meira Kumar, the country's first woman and Dalit speaker, Saturday paid homage to national leaders including Mahatma Gandhi at their memorials here. She along with her family members visited all the 14 memorials of national leaders including Raj Ghat, Samata Sthal, Vijay Ghat, Shanti Van, Shakti Sthal, and Veer Bhumi, said Lok Sabha secretariat officials.

June 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Meira Kumar, who was elected the first woman speaker of India Wednesday, exhorted Lok Sabha MPs to put the elections behind them and address the social and economic problems facing the country. Speaking in the Lok Sabha after being elected to the coveted post, Meira Kumar, a five-time MP, said: The world is passing through its worst-ever recession and India is not separated from it.

June 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - After being unanimously chosen as Speaker of Lok Sabha, Meira Kumar reiterated on Wednesday that she would be impartial in executing her tasks as the presiding officer of the lower house of the parliament. "It would be my endeavour that I am completely impartial in my conduct and I will give opportunity to all the members to express their views.

June 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Meira Kumar, the first woman speaker of the Lok Sabha, Wednesday said she would be impartial and give equal opportunity to all members to express their views. "It will be my endeavour that I am completely impartial in my conduct and I give opportunity to all the members to express their views," Meira Kumar said, addressing her first press conference after being elected speaker of the lower house of parliament.

June 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Meira Kumar, the first woman speaker of the Lok Sabha, impressed the opposition MPs on her first day in chair, with many saying she will be a success in this role. "She was very impressive as speaker.

June 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Congress leader Meira Kumar Tuesday filed her nomination for the post of Lok Sabha speaker. Her nomination, proposed by United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi, leader of the Congress in the house Pranab Mukherjee, leader of opposition L.K.

June 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Meira Kumar, who is set to take over as India's first woman Lok Sabha speaker, Monday expertly dodged persistent queries from waiting media persons, saying with a smile: "Wait till June 3" - the day of election for the post. Meira Kumar, 64, quit as cabinet minister for water resources Sunday.

May 31st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Union Water Resource Minister and Congress leader Meira Kumar called on Congress party President Sonia Gandhi on Sunday afternoon. The meet, which was held at 10, Janpath, Sonia Gandhi's residence, gave strength to speculations about her getting a nomination of Congress Party for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker.

May 30th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Congress leader Meira Kumar, popular known as the daughter of the former Deputy Prime Minister and prominent Dalit leader, Babu Jagjivan Ram and freedom fighter, Indrani Devi, hails from Bihar. Born in Patna in 1945, Meira Kumar has been law graduate and holds a Masters in English literature.

March 10th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Mughal Gardens at the Rashtrapati Bhavan will open exclusively for differently abled people and farmers March 12-15. 'The Mughal Gardens will be opened for physically challenged persons on March 12 while visually impaired people can visit on March 13,' an official statement said Tuesday.