Vipul Shah from Jamnagar City - Second highest individual tax payer in Kenya

Cricket is the first love and football is an also-ran here.

But this Gujarati might cause the first spark of change.

Vipul Shah, 50, a Kenya-born Gujarati, who was appointed as manager to the Kenyan football team - Harambee Stars - last month is seen by

thousands of Kenyans as someone who will bring back the lost football glory that the country once celebrated.

Shah, who has his roots in Jamnagar City Gujarat India, was second highest individual tax payer in Kenya few years back.

He owns one of the biggest edible oil refinery in East Africa, which has an annual turnover of around $ 450 billion.

He is among those who have been selected by the Vishwa Gujarati Samaj for the most distinguished NRI award.

Dwarka Jamnagar News – Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi One Day Fasting

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi will take the Sadbhavana Mission forward on Sunday with a day-long fast at Lord Krishna's dwelling place, Dwarka Jamnagar District.

Phase two of the fast will be visibly different from the first one spanning over three days beginning his birthday on September 17.

On Sunday, around 8,000 people are expected to fast with Modi, unlike the Ahmedabad one where the CM went on fast alone.

As per Latest Saurabh Patel Interviews, who is the in-charge minister of Jamnagar district, told to media that, “These people who will fast with the CM are from the talukas. Besides, around 40,000 people are expected to come to greet the CM.”'

Narendra Modi will begun his fast at 10 am with prayers and end at 6 pm.

In the first half of the day, he will meet leaders of different religious and social groups, and in second half, he will meet some individuals and groups.

Around 10 ministers, mostly belonging to the Saurashtra region — Vajubhai Vala, Dilip Sanghani, Ramanlal Vora, Mohan Kundariya, Vasuben Trivedi, Saurabh Patel and others — will participate in the fast.

All the Jamnagar and Saurashtra region MLAs and many MPs will also participate in the event while the party office-bearers will also join in large numbers.

Gujarat State Road Transport Service Corporation has allotted 300 buses to ferry Modi's supporters from different talukas and villages. This, however, gas caused problems for many local commuters due to cancellation of the bus services.

Modi will conduct fasts in 26 districts and six major cities — Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot, Surat, Junagadh and Mehsana.

His three-day fast in Ahmedabad had received a lot of national attention with several senior party leaders, including L K Advani and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, and Arun Jaitley, visiting him.

Jamnagar Industries – visited by Parliamentary standing committee

Jamnagar District Refinery Industries like Reliance, and EssarVadinar Oil Terminal of IOC visited by 20 member standing committee of the Parliament.

On 18th July, the committee headed by Subbarami Reddy, comprised senior officials of Ministry of Environment and Forest, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Central Pollution Control Board, Gujarat Ecology Commission and Parliament secretariat visited these refineries.

It was to obtain the first-hand view of how the mega operations take place in the coastal area and how companies dealing with hydro-carbons and petrochemicals observe and maintain the standards of safety and environment protection.

Chairman of the committee stated in a release.

Discussion on measures to check the pollution, energy efficiency meeting took place during the meeting.

The committee emphasized and advised to all Jamnagar industries, dealing with hydrocarbons and petrochemicals, to maintain high standards and norms of safety and environment while conducting the world class operations.

Parimal Nathwani, Group President (Corporate Affairs) of Reliance Industry and P K Kapil, Director of RIL, held talks with the committee.

Gujarat BJP MLA Dr Kanu Kalsaria - invited Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi

For 11th September, BJP MLA Dr Kanu Kalsaria has invited Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi to be the chief guest at the launch of his 10-day cycle rally in Mahuva Town Bhavnagar District.

Purpose Behind this event - to spread awareness among locals on how arbitrary allotment of land in coastal areas — from Dwarka Mandir to Jamnagar City - has created salinity problem.

At end of two day Padyatra Kalsaria said that, “I will be very happy if Rahul comes and addresses the launch of the cycle rally.’

Asked as to why he has invited Rahul and not any other leader fighting for the farmers’ rights, the Mahuva MLA said the move intends to send a message to the Center that it should not give green signal to any project without conducting an in-depth study of the project’s possible impact on the local environment and population. He said that a proposed alumina project at Anjar would destroy the environment.

This is not the first time that Rahul’s support has been sought. During the protest against the proposed cement plant by Nirma, he and fellow protesters, including former state finance minister Sanat Mehta, had sought the Congress leader’s intervention.

“My only plan is to work for the welfare of people, particularly the rural population. They are suffering owing to arbitrary allotment of agricultural and government land for industrial purposes,” he said.

He has already ordered purchase of 500 cycles, with donations from locals, to be distributed among the rallyists. Another 500, he said, would join on their own cycles.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Narmada Water to Kutch Districts

At 19th May 2003, to solve Drinking Water Shortage Problem via pipeline to Gujarat C M Narendra ModiNarmada water Kutch Districts Region.

But, Still Kutch continues to be thirsty every summer.

As I do not know in detail about this matter but want to share with you whom I read online at one of the famous news paper site that,A senior official of the water works department of the Bhuj municipality said in his interview that, "We have not got a single drop of the Narmada piped water for the past four days for this district headquarter town."

“Water is supplied to the town from old tube a well which is insufficient to meet the requirements.”

Gandhinagar based General Manager of the Gujarat Water Infrastructure Limited, VJ Papaiyawala said in his interview that, “Water Supply to Kutch had been badly affected along with Rajkot and Jamnagar for the past few days.”

"Kutch and two other districts do not get full supply from the open Narmada canal which comes from Dhanki as farmers along the canal have set up hundreds of illegal pumps to draw water from it for their own use in farms. We are now using our biggest pump and with five big and small pumps in operation, the situation may improve in a day or so"

He said that a meeting had been held with the managing director of the Narmada Nigam Limited, S Jagdisan.

Patrolling along the canal is being beefed up to see that no farmer illegally draws water, he added.

"Our duty is to pump maximum quantity of Narmada water at the main Dhanki pumping centre, which is some 120 km from Malia water works, from where the piped water was distributed in three districts.”

“Despite our labour, if sufficient water does not stay in this long open canal, how can water be pumped into the pipelines which supply water to Kutch, Jamnagar and Rajkot districts? Still, let us see what happens.”

He added that they had already completely stopped supplying piped water to the industries in Kutch to augment drinking water supply.

When informed that this happens every summer, Papaiyawala said that the three districts would have to face water shortage for another summer.

"'As a permanent solution to this perennial problem, we have already put into action a Rs.700 cr plan to lay a pipeline from Dhanki to Malia water works along with the canal so that no farmer can use this 'enclosed' water. We have already invited tenders and it will take one and half year to complete this project."

Rajkot Surendranagar Districts Cotton Industries - Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited

Cotton growers along the command area of the Maliya branch canal in Rajkot and Surendranagar districts are on a confrontationist course with the canal management and state administration for the last two days.

Farmers, faced with the prospect of their cotton crops drying up due to lack of irrigation water and delayed monsoon, are openly violating the state government’s orders of not lifting water from the canal as its water is meant to meet drinking water needs of towns in Rajkot, Jamnagar and Kutch districts, and for industrial purposes.

As per Latest Dhirubhai Bhimani Interviews who is Rajkot district BKS secretary said that, “Farmers are ready to pay the water charges, but denial of water to farmers cannot be tolerated.’’

N M Soniwal who is superintending engineer at Maliya branch canal for Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL) said that, “There is not enough water available for irrigation.’’

“Also with Bt cotton giving good yield and cotton prices shooting up, farmers are going for early sowing and hence, putting up pressure on the government to lift water during May - June.’’
To prevent unauthorized water lifting from the canal, the SSNNL has deployed hundreds of armed and mounted police doing round-the-clock patrolling along the canal.

The canal sentries have been seizing water lifting equipments and destroying water pipes amounting to crores of rupees every year.

The SSNNL had been using force and last year brutally beat up dozens of farmers who tried to draw water from the canal.

The farmers, backed by Mahagujarat Janata Party and Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, have openly challenged the state government and begun drawing water “illegally’’ to irrigate their cotton fields despite the state government promulgating Section 144 of CrPC banning assembly of four or more than four persons on the canal.

The Maliya police had also detained MJP president Gordhan Zadaphia, but was released within an hour after thousands of farmers surrounded the Maliya Police Station and tension began building up in the area.

“It is not acceptable as farmers have more claim over the water than the industries and the state government must revise its policy from being solely industry-driven to a balanced growth of all sections.’’

He pointed out that the Narmada River Water Disputes Redressal Tribunal had allocated more than 85 per cent of the water for irrigation purposes.

“So, it is totally unjustified to deprive farmers of the Narmada water,’’ he claimed.

Paying no heed to the state government’s advice, local farmers began sowing at least a month before the arrival of the monsoon as it results in early maturity of the cotton crop and their fields become available for the Jeera and Saunf during the winter.

Farmers say that if they don’t go for early sowing of cotton, it will be a huge financial loss to them, running into hundreds of crores of rupees.

Jamnagar District News – About First Sewage Treatment Plant

India's first National Center of Marine Bio-diversity (NCMB) will be set up in Jamnagar to promote activities in respect of coastal and marine eco-systems of the country.

Minister of environment and forests, Jairam Ramesh also announced, here on Wednesday, that Jamnagar will be given Rs 90 crore to set up the sewage treatment plant.

For the NCMB project, Reliance has joined hands with the government, said Jairam adding that he had already talked to Mukesh Ambani who agreed to contribute to this project. In this way, it would be a public-private partnership project. The central government would grant Rs20 crore and Reliance would contribute Rs10 crore for NCMB, he informed.

"We don't take care of our coastal areas and marine assets as we should", said Ramesh, while talking on the need to take such initiatives in this direction. He confessed that the governments fell short of paying attention on the 7,500km long coastline of the country.

Activities like research, education and training would be taken up to control pollution and protect the marine life, apart from taking initiatives for the betterment in the life of the communities residing on the costal belt, he said.

Under Integrated Coastal Belt Project of Rs1, 200 crore, the central government has granted Rs300 crore for Gujarat for this purpose, from which 70% of the amount would be spent in Jamnagar District only, he said.

Without naming the state government, Jairam Ramesh said, "I was shocked when I came to know that a big city like Jamnagar does not have sewage treatment plant." He announced Rs90 crore for such a plant for Jamnagar.

Talking about the biggest region of the state Kutch, Jairam Ramesh said that an Oversight Monitoring Committee will be formed for the protection of environment of the entire Gulf of Kutch which would monitor whether any development project takes place on the ecological sustainable ground. The notification of the committee would be out within three weeks, he said.

"The ministry of Environment and Forests also is spending Rs25 crore to set up an Eco Memorial in Dandi in the name of the father of the nation", he informed.

R C Faldu Gujarat State BJP President - unveil spelt flyover's 2nd part

Gujarat State BJP president Ranchhodbhai Chhanabhai Faldu (R C Faldu) unveiled the second part of the split flyover bridge constructed on 150 feet Ring Road few days ago.

Finance Minister Vajubhai Vala and other political leaders will also grace the function.

The 1.35 km-long flyover has been constructed under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) in the city and is a part of the first phase of the 10.70 km Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) project (Blue Corridor) from Gondal Road-Ring Road junction to Jamnagar Road.

The 150-feet Ring Road is among the busiest roads in the city as it is a bypass road connecting traffic from Gondal Road to Jamnagar Road.

The flyover will ease the traffic on it which passes busy crossroads as well.

The entire BRTS project will be implemented in three corridors (Blue, Green and Red) in phased manner.

The total length of the BRTS project is 63.50 km.

Bet Dwarka Dwarkadheesh Mandir Jamnagar New Look Gujarat India 2011

Bet Dwarka which is one of the most popular tourist attractions near the Dwarkadheesh temple in Jamnagar district is all set to be developed along the lines of the stunningly beautiful beach resorts in Malaysia.

Malaysia has developed several of its islands into exotic tourist resorts to boost the country’s tourism scene. The picturesque beaches there attract thousands of visitors, both local and foreign every year.

Now, Bet Dwarka, believed to be the original abode of Lord Krishna according to the archaeological ruins excavated here, is poised to become the tourism hotspot of the state. The Bet Island is famous for its marine life as people throng here to watch the dolphins, porpoises, sea turtles and starfish.

Located nearly 30 kms away from Dwarka town, the island does not have hotels and resorts as of now. So, pilgrims and visitors who spend time at the beaches here manage their stay in the hotels in the town.

Now, the state government proposes to develop eco resorts here besides planting trees and developing mangrove plantations.

According to sources in the state tourism department, the Bet Island will have an ocean park like the one in Hong Kong, a marine attraction similar to Dolphin Cove in Jamaica and several water sporting activities.

The central and the state government plan to develop a National Coral Marine Zone (similar to the one in Australia) here.

A camping site will also be developed at Sundarvan, a nature discovery center in Bet Dwarka.

The island, also known as Bet Shankhodhar, will have a giant statue of Lord Krishna.

The Bet has 31 temples and several mosques and gurudwaras. Other important attractions in the Bet are Hanuman Dandi and the Padmeshwar Mahadev Temple, where state government is planning to develop a sunset point for visitors.

As per Latest Tourism Minister Jaynarayan Vyas Interviews, he said that, “The blueprint of Bet Dwarka development project is ready. The makeover of the island will be done in public-private partnership. Central government is also helping us develop the island. The project is expected to be completed by December next year.”

Rajkot Municipal Corporation - Mercedes-Benz bus to soon run on BRTS corridor

The Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) is all set for a trial run of the Mercedes Benz bus on the first phase of 10.70 km Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) on 150 Ring Road in the city.

Last week officials of Mercedes-Benz had come to the city and imparted training to six fire brigade personnel on how to operate the special buses.


The 60 - Seater AC bus will be run on trial and RMC has sent an agreement to the bus manufacturing company as they are providing a trial run free of cost.

The trial run will be carried out in the next week as they have already set the deadline to run buses on BRTS track before June 30.

Saurashtra Kutch Districts - Pass percentage in Gujarat State Average

The pass percentage of the Saurashtra Kutch region was slightly less than the overall state result.

While the average pass percentage of the state was 69.16, the same for the region comprising eight districts was 66.16.

District-wise, Surendranagar registered the second best pass rate in the state at 80.12 per cent while Rajkot stood fourth with 76.03 per cent.

Students from the desert district of Kutch fared well, as a result of which the district registered pass percentage of 70.32.

Amreli recorded the lowest pass percentage in the region with little over 56, followed by Porbandar (58.86 per cent), Jamnagar (60 per cent), Junagadh (61 per cent) and Bhavnagar (67 per cent). Centre wise, Mahuva in Bhavnagar recorded the highest pass rate at 88.12 per cent, followed by Dhoraji in Rajkot, which registered 83.84 per cent result.

Pass percentage in urban centers, including Rajkot City, Jamnagar City, Bhavnagar City, Surendranagar City, Junagadh City, Porbandar City and Kutch, remained between 71 and 58. Rajkot District saw the maximum number of students (35) securing A grade (91 to 100 per cent) in the region, followed by Bhavnagar (25), Surendranagar (16), Kutch (11), Junagadh (9), and Jamnagar (7).

In Amreli and Porbandar Districts, no student could get the highest grade.

Most of the students from across the eight districts got Grade C1 (51 to 60 per cent).

Jamnagar City District - સરકારી શાળાઓમાં ૨૦૦ જગ્યા ખાલી

હાલારની સરકારી માધ્યમિક અને ઉચ્ચતર માધ્યમિક શાળાઓમાં શૈક્ષણિક અને બિનશૈક્ષણિક ૫૦૦માંથી ૨૦૦ જગ્યા ખાલી છે. જે કુલ મહેકમના ૪૦ ટકા હોવાથી અભ્યાસને ખુબ જ માઠી અસર પડી રહી છે.

જિલ્લાની સરકારી માધ્યમિક અને ઉ.મા. શાળાઓમાં શૈક્ષણિક તથા બિન શૈક્ષણિક કર્મચારીઓની અંદાજે કુલ ૫૦૦ જગ્યામાંથી ૨૦૦ જેટલી જગ્યાઓ ફેબ્રુઆરી-૨૦૧૧ સુધી ખાલી હોવાની ચોંકાવનારી રજૂઆત સાંસદ વિક્રમભાઇ માડમે ગુજરાતના શિક્ષણમંત્રીને કરી છે. જેમાં જણાવ્યું છે કે, આ ખાલી જગ્યાઓની સંખ્યા કુલ મહેકમના ૪૦ ટકા જેટલી છે.

દરેક શૈક્ષણિક વર્ષની શરૂઆતમાં બાળકો શાળામાં પ્રવેશ લે તે માટે શાળા પ્રવેશોત્સવની ઉજવણી કરવામાં આવે છે. પરંતુ આ બાળકો અભ્યાસમાં મધ્યાહને પહોંચે ત્યારે તેમને શિક્ષણ આપનાર કોઇ શિક્ષક શાળામાં ન હોય તેવી સ્થિતિને કારણે ભાવિ પેઢીને અધવચ્ચે અભ્યાસ છોડવો પડે છે. જામનગર શહેર-જિલ્લામાં સરકારી શાળાઓમાં આટલી જગ્યાઓ ખાલી હોવાથી જિલ્લાનું માધ્યમિક શિક્ષણ પાંગળુ હોવાનું જણાય છે.

સરેરાશ ૪૦ ટકા જેટલી જગ્યાઓ ખાલી હોય ત્યારે સરકારી શાળાઓમાં છાત્રોને કેવું શિક્ષણ મળતું હશે ? તે સ્વાભાવિક રીતે સમજાય તેવી બાબત છે.

અત્રે નોંધનિય છે કે, સરકારી શાળાઓમાં મોટેભાગે સામાજિક તથા શૈક્ષણિક પછાત વર્ગના વિદ્યાર્થીઓ અભ્યાસ કરતાં હોય છે.

જ્યારે ૨૦૦ જેટલી જગ્યાઓ ખાલી હોય તે ગંભીર બાબત છે. માટે આ બાબતે તાકીદે પગલાં લેવા અંતમાં જણાવ્યું છે.

From :- Divyabhaskar Gujarati Newspaper

Railway Budget 2011 – Aa vakhte Jamnagar Porbandar Rajkot mate koi navi train nahi

Jamnagar ane aeni aaspass Ni biji important city jevi ke “Porbandar, Rajkot ke Junagadh” ne Hal na Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee na thi koi khas phayado nathi thayo, pan jo hu all overRailway Budget Gujarat ni Vaat karu to e sara News Kahi sakay apart from budget jemke,

Jamnagar & Porbandar Saher: - the Porbandar-Howra and Surat-Jamnagar trains have been extended to Mahuva. The budget also failed to impress people in Saurashtra and Kutch.
For Ahmedabad City: - got a new Duronto Train

For Vadodara City (Baroda) :- did not get a new train upsetting many a Barodians, the promise of setting up a new polytechnic college under an MoU with the ministry of human resources development.

Surat Town: - get benefit of three new trains started between Mumbai, Amdavad and (BhujKachchch), developing city as the world-class railway station.

As per Latest former railway consultant committee member Mr. Harikrishan Joshi, he said that,

"Rajkot-Surendranagar gauge conversion was announced last year and we will get benefit only if the work is completed. On the whole, the budget fails to meet the expectation of people in Saurashtra."

Anand: - budget promised a multi-function complex (MFC) with budget hotels at Anand Railway Station.

Moreover, the new gauge conversion work between Miyagam-Dabhoi-Samlaya proposed to be taken up next year will benefit both passenger and freight traffic as goods train that come from Mumbai side will be diverted from Karjan to Dabhoi to reach Samlaya and thereby they will bypass Vadodara.

The new express trains proposed, include Ahmedabad-Yesvantpur AC Express (weekly), Bhavnagar-Kochuvelli Express (weekly), Bhuj-Dadar Express (bi-weekly), Porbandar-Kochuvelli Express (weekly), Puri-Gandhidham.

Reliance Jamnagar Refinery - bags safety innovation award

The oil and gas division of Reliance Industries Ltd's Jamnagar Refinery conferred with the Institute of Engineers' 'Safety Innovation Award' for the year 2010.

The award presented on December 28 at the "Safety Convention 2010", organized by the Safety and Quality Forum of the Institute of Engineers. Reliance Jamnagar Refinery is also the third largest refinery in the world with the capacity to process 27 million tones of crude per annum.

As per Latest the chairman of the Safety Convention 2010, Pradeep Chaturvedi Interviews, she said that, "The award is being presented for its operational excellence, environment management, quality, safety and corporate social responsibility."

Apart from Reliance Industries, the other companies which have been selected to receive safety excellence awards include Reliance Infrastructure , Mahindra & Mahindra , ACC Ltd , NTPC , Indian Oil Corporation , BSES, GAIL , NDPL, HPCL, Bharat Petroleum , Escorts Ltd , ONGC and Hindustan Petroleum.

Jamnagar Junagadh Porbandar Bhavnagar Mahuva beaches development by TCGL

After choose and promoting Gujarat tourism by Amitabh Bachchan as the brand ambassador, the state government has now to develop beaches.

Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited (TCGL), a state government venture, will now develop 16 'eco friendly' beaches in the state instead of the 10 that were planned earlier.

Gujarat Beaches like Nargol and Tithal in Valsad, Dandi in Navsari, Suvali in Surat, Gopnath in Bhavnagar, Bhavani beach in Mahuva, Sarkeshwar in Amreli, Ahmadpur Mandavi in Junagadh, Mayani in Porbandar and Shivrajpur in Jamnagar will to be developed.

It had appointed five consultants to plan beaches development.

The six new additions to the list include Okha Madhi, Bet Dwarka in Jamnagar, Pingleshwar and Mandavi in Kachchh and Umargam and Poshitra.

The government will spend Rs160 crore that is Rs10 crore for the development of each beach.

As per Latest Anoop Shukla Interviews who is TCGL managing director, said that, "We are concentrating on developing these beaches in a unique way that could also attract private players.

Our focus is to improve the quality of tourism in the state.

We have appointed architects for landscaping and designing of other infrastructure on the beaches.

But the operations of the same will be given on contract.

On each beach, a two kilometer stretch will be developed by the corporation for promenade, walk ways, cycle track, food court and other facilities. We want to develop these beaches to set an example for other private players to come up and invest in tourism infrastructure in the state."

Jamnagar News - Mahatma Gandhi Broken Statue at Gandhi Kutir

The broken statue of Mahatma Gandhi was found lying near Gandhi Kutir in Jamnagar. Passersby put the broken pieces together and kept them outside the kutir.

The statue fell on its own as it was in a dilapidated condition.

As per local sources, the statue was made by the locals of Chandi bazaar about 60 years ago and the responsibility of its maintenance was with Jamnagar Municipal Corporation.

Gandhiji looks wounded as he seems to have collapsed on the floor with hands on his side amid the rubble of his broken legs. But if you observe the sculpture closely, the broken knee joint makes one wonder about the material used to make the statue.

Yet, it is difficult to accept such an assumption, because this particular statue did not fall for 60 years, survived the earthquake of 2001 and then suddenly fell and until date there is no valid reason, so that we can make deductions or assumptions of the sudden fall of Gandhi.

Jamnagar Rajkot City News – Online Voting from this year

The Gujarat Government and State Election Commission have decided to introduce e-voting in the next local body elections becoming the first state in the country to enable citizens to cast their franchise online.

"This will be for the first time in the country that in any official election the method of online voting via internet will be used, beginning with Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation polls scheduled in mid-October followed by Rajkot City, Vadodara City, Surat City, Bhavnagar City and Jamnagar City local body elections," SEC Secretary, P H Shah said.

"A task force has been formed to cover all the aspects of e-voting headed by Gujarat State Election Commissioner K C Kapoor," Shah said.

Also, Gujarat's urban development department has issued a draft notification asking for objections and suggestions on the issue last week, he said.

"The purpose for introduction of online voting is to make affluent class people vote, who generally avoid going to polling booths and standing in long queues to vote. Besides, youths will be attracted to vote in this manner," he added.

"We are planning to rope in top IT firms of the country to give end-to-end services as it involves finer aspects like secrecy of vote, authenticity of the voter, ensuring that no bogus voting takes place," Shah said.

Jamnagar City LIC Development Officer Manoharsinh Jadeja officer tops GPSC Exams

A development officer with Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) in Anand City has topped the Gujarat Civil Services, class 1 and class 2 exams.

The results were declared by Gujarat Public Service Commission (GPSC) on Thursday.

Manoharsinh Jadeja, 33, a native of Jambida village in Dhrol Taluka of Jamnagar district, secured 735 marks in the final exam to achieve his feat.

The son of a retired sales tax officer Natvarsinh Jadeja, Manoharsinh, was always determined to join the ranks of a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) since the day he decided to appear for the public service exams. So much so, that Jadeja had successfully cleared the police sub-inspector and chief officers' competitive exams earlier but didn't join the forces, harboring the desire to become a DSP. In the chief officers' results too he had made the top ten at the sixth position.

"I was quite confident and was determined to join as DSP. I consider this job as a challenging one and I am happy that I could do it. It was my second attempt,'' Jadeja. He went on to add, "I am a science post-graduate and it has helped me a lot in my exam. My subject was world history and geography.'' Jadeja has done his MSc with chemistry from Saurashtra University.

Besides preparing for competitive exams, he also worked as a development officer with LIC. "It was a difficult task to appear for the exam and do a job simultaneously, but I managed it by effective time management. There is no alternative to hard work,'' he said.

Meanwhile, villagers of remote Jambida cheered after the news. "Manoharsinh sincere in studies since his childhood days.

We feel very proud that he not only successfully cleared GPSC but also stood a topper,'' his proud father said from Dhrol.

Manoharsinh's inspiration is from his own family members.

"Ours is a joint family and most of my kin have been associated with social services.

One of my Uncle Arjunsinh Jadeja's works of watershed development project in the village has transformed the village's economy. There are many such cases. I hope I will be able continue this by doing my job effectively,'' Jadeja said.

Jamnagar Bhavnagar Gandhidham News - Andhra Bank will Open Shortly

Andhra Bank to open 10 branches in Mumbai zone this fiscal Eyeing a healthy growth in its business from the Mumbai zone, Andhra Bank is planning to open 10 new branches during the current fiscal, a senior bank official said.

"Presently, we have 86 branches in the Mumbai zone. We now plan to open 10 new branches here and we have already received licenses for five branches," Andhra Bank's general manager (Mumbai Zone), M Anjaneya Prasad, told PTI here.

The five new branches would be opened in Gandhidham City, Bhavnagar City, Jamnagar City, Jalgaon and Sangli.

The bank opened 125 branches across the country including 22 in the Mumbai zone during FY 10.

In the current fiscal (FY 11), Andhra Bank is targeting an overall business growth of 25% from the Mumbai Zone, Prasad said.

Andhra Bank registered a growth of 60.15% overall in its net profit at Rs1, 046 crore in FY 10 as compared to Rs653 crore in FY 09.

During the last fiscal (FY 10), the bank's business grew 29.26% at Rs1, 34,194 crore as compared to Rs1, 03,818 crore in FY 09.

Net NPAs of the bank in FY 10 stood at 0.17% while gross NPA was capped at 0.86%.

Salim Durrani Interview about Ravindra Jadeja Jamnagar News Gujarat India

In his playing days, Salim Durrani was often called poor man’s Gary Sobers. Left-handed Durrani could turn the match on its head with his batting or spin bowling.

Of late, Durrani has bemoaned the lack of all-rounders in India, but fellow Jamnagarite Ravindra Jadeja has raised his hopes. In this interview, Durrani talks about what makes Jadeja such an exciting prospect.

Do you think the current Indian team is the best ever?
It is a debatable topic. The team is playing superb cricket and full credit to Mahendra Singh Dhoni for leading the side the way he does. But I am really impressed with Sachin Tendulkar.

He has been playing for more than two decades but still bats like an 18-year-old. The team’s success is largely due to Sachin Tendulkar form and presence.

Fielding has been a big concern...
If we hope to win the World Cup, fielding has to improve. Look at Australia and South Africa. Luckily, we have some good fielders in Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja.

Just like you, Jadeja is a left-hander and bowls spin. Does he remind you of you?

Ravindra has put Jamnagar back on cricket map. Jamnagar used to be the Mecca of Indian cricket and now with Ravindra’s arrival, the spirit is back. He has a bright future and will be a great asset for the team.

What’s your advice to him?

Ravindra the batsman needs to be patient. He needs a really big innings at the highest level under his belt. As a bowler, he should bring more variation in pace.

Do you regret not getting an opportunity to play Twenty20?

Not at all. I was an attacking batsman and always played cricket in T20 fashion. No regrets.

A word on Delhi’s pitch fiasco?

It is not only unfortunate for cricket but for spectators as well. The cricket board should come up with a new pitches committee that should include only curator and former cricketers who have played at the highest level.