bulletproof cars, the state government has decided to purchase 19 bulletproof cars to meet the exigency.

There is acute shortage of bulletproof cars in the state some of which are overused. During the crisis situation, the police headquarters used to borrow from neighbouring states like Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Only on Monday, Union minister for steel Ramvilas Paswan had a miraculous escape as the axle of bulletproof car provided to him was broken while he was returning to the state capital after attending a public function at Masaurhi. Reliable sources said that the government has already sanctioned money for purchase of 19 bulletproof cars which cost around 20 lakh per car. All these cars would be purchased from Army factories, including the one located in Medak, Andhra Pradesh.

Sources said that all the cars would be made available to the state in the next one and half month.

Apart from the purchase of bulletproof cars, the state government has also taken several measures, including setting up of police academy, housing facilities to junior police officers, construction of police stations’ buildings in both urban and rural areas on massive scale, upgradation of communications and so on.

The government has sanctioned a sum of Rs 7 crore from the Bihar Contingency Fund to be spent on acquisition of 133.28 acres of land meant for the Bihar Police Academy. Two battalions of BMP would be raised in Bettiah (BMP-15) and Saharsa (BMP-12) for which process of land acquisition is already on.

Since the 65 panchayats of seven districts are Naxalite-infested, the government has geared up recruitment drive in the constabulary rank, besides special efforts are being made to modernise the force.

The government has further sanctioned a sum of Rs 10.98 crore for improving the infrastructure of BMP-3 (Gaya), BMP-6 (Muzaffarpur), BMP-9 (Jamalpur) and constable training school, Nathnagar (Bhagalpur). A sum of Rs 14.27 crore had earlier been spent in this connection.

Source: TOI

Jamalpur was also the premier training center of the EIR and the Indian Railways. There were basically four ways of joining the Railways. First, there were Trade Apprentices, who, after three years of training in a specific skill – machinist, welder, moulder, fitter, boilermaker and so, on became skilled factory workers.  Second, as an entry level on the running side was a cleaner, who after training, became a fireman and then a Shunter, Passenger train Driver and finally a Mail Driver. Some of this category became Officers – Assistant Mechanical Engineers (AME’s) or even a Divisional Mechanical Engineer (DME). Third were the Apprentice Mechanics. These were High School or Senior Cambridge passed lads, who were selected through a Government services commission. They spent four years in training, both theoretical and practical, at the end of which they became chargemen, then foremen and then general foremen. Towards the end of their careers many became Officers – Assistant Works Managers or even Works Managers. Most Anglo-Indians in Jamalpur joined as Apprentice Mechanics.
There was however, a fourth category of apprentices. These were called Special Class Apprentices an All India Railway Service cadre, recruited by a Public Services Commission. The British established this category of Apprentice in 1927, probably for `brown sabibs’ – young Indian gentleman who were very English in upbringing, language and thinking, usually from well known families. They trained for four years at Jamalpur, completed an Engineering degree from London (yes they were sent to London) and on completion were posted as Assistant Mechanical Engineers or Assistant Works Managers. This was a training position, as in two years, they were promoted to Works Manager or Divisional Mechanical Engineer. These gentlemen retired as Chief Mechanical Engineers or General Managers, the highest position on the Railways.

From over 10,000 applicants, through  a series of competitive examinations, only about ten special class apprentices were selected annually. Once selected the apprentices lived a life of class privilege. A beautiful hostel called Jamalpur Gymkhana housed the apprentices. Each apprentice had an individual room with a bearer  allotted to three rooms. The bearer cleaned the room, made the bed, polished the shoes and served the apprentices at meals. There was an exclusive kitchen where meals were prepared according to the apprentices’ instructions. The hostel had its own swimming pool, three tennis courts, a squash court and even its own playing field. It was laid out it on over two acres of land, and `malis’ (gardeners) kept the lawns immaculately green and the beds full of every type of exotic flowers. There were several entertainment rooms for billiards, table tennis and cards. Each apprentice received a stipend, enough to pay for his meals and club dues; all other expenditures were picked up by the Railways. Talk about royalty!.

In the course of the history of Jamalpur Gymkhana, 43 years  from 1927 through to the year 1969 (my records end there), from over 400 apprentices, there were 15 Anglo-Indian Special Class Apprentices. This is a very significant achievement and one that has somehow not been acknowledged in the pages of Anglo-Indian history.  I would like to publish their names, in the hopes that some of their descendants in the UK or Canada or Australia may recognize them and know what their fathers achieved. Most of them migrated and I knew only two – R.D.Kitson who retired as Chairman Railway Board in the 80′s (the equivalent of the Commanding General of the Indian Army) and Norbert DeSouza who retired as Chief Mechancal Engineer on the Central Railway in the 90′s. Both continue to live in India.  I migrated to the USA in 1976 when I was Joint Director of the Railway Board in Calcutta. Here is the role call of these distinguished gentlemen.

1927 – H.V.M.Stewart, C.J.Butler; 1928 – D.B.King; 1930 -H.O.Toomey, J.O.Burns; 1931- W.C.Britter, E.L.T.Jones; 1932 – J.B.Rosair; 1943 – M.A.Plunkett; 1944 – H.G.T. Woodward; 1945 – E.J.Kingham; 1949 – T.M. Fritchley; 1951 – R.D.Kitson; 1956 – B.R.Williams; 1958 – N.DeSouza

http://www.biharscoop.com/story/2006/4/19/1152/65354

On Sunday, when Nitish was in Nawada laying the foundation stone of a road project, his rival Lalu was then laying foundation for the construction of Ashokdham Railway Halt at Jamui. On Monday, Nitish will go to Kaimur to kick off some schemes while Lalu will visit Jamalpur and Bhagalpur to inaugurate a renovated station and flag off a train.

By the end of this year, the duo will have laid the foundation stones of over a dozen developmental projects. Nitish is expected to spend the last day of the year at Kusaha in Nepal and Saharsa to oversee the ongoing work on the Kosi embankment breach.

In December, Nitish laid foundation stone of a bridge connecting Arwal with Sahar. He also kicked off the Kamla Siphon project in Madhubani, weir construction on Panchane river at Giriak in Nalanda district besides various development works in Jamui, Lakhisarai, Nawada and Gaya.

Meanwhile, the RJD chief also went on a foundation laying spree of railway projects that included new rail lines on Gaya-Chatra and Gaya-Daltonganj sections, a rail bridge on Hathwa-Bhatni line, super structure of Ganga rail-cum-road bridge at Digha, passenger amenities at Daltonganj. He also flagged off Patna-Vasco da Gama Express and inaugurated a computerised reservation counter at Chhapra.

“These are all chunavi shilanyas (poll-related foundation-laying events),” said Nitish. He sought to know from Lalu what was the need to lay foundation of new projects when old ones were incomplete. “He is sitting on all projects started by me,” alleged Nitish.

Lalu too was critical of the Nitish government
accusing it of not providing land for railway projects. He alleged that the state government had adopted an “indifferent attitude” and blamed it for the delay in various ongoing railway projects.

Nitish, however, denied the charge. “On most of the projects he sat on for nearly five years and when the elections are round the corner he is running to lay foundation stones. People know the reality of these functions,” said Nitish.

Nitish claimed that the projects for which he is laying foundation stones were not meant to put only the inaugural slabs there. “I will ensure that the actual work starts immediately,” he said.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes

The railways would also hold a meeting with GRP officials to check recurrence of such incidents in future on this particular route, said ER PRO B K Sharma.

According to Sharma, though law and order is a state matter, the railways would co-operate fully with GRP and the state police in launching a joint operation against the banned Naxal outfit. The railways would ensure that each train passing through this route is properly escorted, he said.

He informed that the Maoists had also snatched walkie-talkies of both the driver and guard of the ill-fated train with an aim to disconnect any communication with the control room or the nearest station. The railways have put all security personnel on high alert following this incident, he said.

Police said at least 30 armed members of the CPI(Maoist) swooped on the train between Ghoghal and Jamalpur on the Jamalpur-Keul section of East Central Railway. They cut the vacuum pipe, bringing the Muzaffapur-bound train to a halt, and waited till the GRP jawans, on escort duty, alighted from the coach to find out what was wrong. As soon as they did, the rebels started raining bullets.

Munger superintendent of police Sunil Nayak said that though taken by surprise, the jawans retaliated. “The gunfight last for more than 30 minutes,” he said. More than 20 rounds were fired. While GRP constable Ganesh Singh was killed in the encounter, another jawan was wounded.

Though Nayak claimed that no passenger sustained injuries, an unconfirmed reports said two took bullets. A report also claimed that four GRP men were injured in the incident.

After overpowering the jawans, the Naxalites snatched away at least four assault rifles, a carbine and several rounds of ammunition.

Railway officials said the attack delayed the train for three hours. It resumed its journey at 6pm after senior GRP officers and railway officials inspected the site.

A senior railway official admitted that the CPI(Maoist) had spread its tentacles in large parts of the hilly Jamalpur sub-division in Munger district.

Villagers of Abhaypur and Dharhara said they had spotted unidentified people carrying arms on Tuesday. Naxalites often organise training camps on hillocks, they said, and blamed the police for not paying heed to the rising threat from the rebels.

Source: telegraphindia.com

Viswanathan Anand at the Chess Olympiad

Linares Chess Championship is my next target: Anand
Patna, PTI:
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said India had won seven world titles in the year 2008 and the credit should go to the chess maestro, who had popularised and revolutionised the game in the country.

World Champion Vishwanathan Anand said his next target is to win the Linares Chess Championship to be held in February next year.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion of the launch of NIIT MindChampion Academy in Bihar, Anand said after capturing the minds of urban India, the game now needs to be taken to rural areas. Reminding his association with Bihar, he said though it was his first visit, he had an old connection with the state as his father spent a brief stint of his study life here.

“My father studied at Jamalpur in Munger district and it is a great pleasure to be here in Patna,” said the Grandmaster.

Asked whether cricket has overshadowed other sporting disciplines in the country, he said the government has been fair to all sports. “The amount of media attention chess gets now-a-days is quite big compared to 10 years back,” Anand said.

On the MindChampion Academy, he said it was being launched in 400 schools which would help students learn both computer and chess as they help in improving academic performance and analytical power. “The Academy has been introduced in over 5000 schools across the country during the past six years with over 1.75 lakh students participating in it,” Anand said.

On the occasion, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said India had won seven world titles in the year 2008 and the credit should go to the chess maestro, who had popularised and revolutionised the game in the country. Modi also announced that there would be a hall in the upcoming indoor stadium at Kankerbagh in Patna only for chess activities.

http://www.biharscoop.com/story/2008/12/19/203137/79

IRIMEE JAMALPUR

IRIMEE JAMALPUR

Indian Railways Institute of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering (IRIMEE) is located at Jamalpur in the Munger district of Bihar, on the Patna-Bhagalpur rail route, about 8 kilometres from Munger town. During the era of Mahabharata, Munger was the capital of Anga Pradesh ruled by Karna. Munger was also the seat of Mir Kasim, Nawab of Bengal, who fought the East Indian Company here. The place had traditional skills of making firearms, and hence selected by the East Indian Railway for one of its earliest workshops. The location selected was at the foothills of Rajmahal range (a part of Chhota Nagpur plateau), which was high enough to survive any threat of floods from Ganga, and the hills secured it against any organised attack from an army. The location had a tomb of Baba Jamal Saheb, after whom the place was called Jamalpur. Jamalpur Workshop was established on 8th of February 1862.

The Indian Railways Institute of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Jamalpur is the Centralised Training Institute of Indian Railways, for the training of officers and supervisors of the Mechanical Engineering department.

IRIMEE had humble beginnings, when it started in 1905 as a technical school attached to the Jamalpur Workshop. It came into national prominence when it started the training of Special Class Railway Apprentices as Mechanical and Electrical engineers, starting from the year 1927. In 1974, the school was made a Centralised Training Institute (CTI), renamed as Indian Railways Institute of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, and brought under direct control of Railway Board. It is, therefore, the oldest of the CTIs.

In 1988, the training of IRSME probationers was centralised under the control of Director, IRIMEE but with HQ at Kharagpur, where there was an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) co-ordinating the training with the Director. From 1997, HQ of IRSME Probationers was shifted to Jamalpur.

Training activities at IRIMEE comprises of:

Professional courses for serving officers and supervisors of Mechanical Department such as :
Mandatory courses for serving officers viz.
Senior Professional Development Programme of 3 weeks duration for IRSME Officers with 8-12 years of service.
Refresher course of 2 weeks duration for IRSME Officers with 1-3 years of service.
Integrated course of 8 weeks duration for recently promoted group B officers.

Special courses in relevant topics, such as :
Accident management course, Breakdown cranes, New technologies, Diesel loco reliability, Diesel refresher courses etc.

Short duration Interactive workshops/Seminars such as:
Seminar on Information Technology, Incentive scheme, GM loco manufacture and ALCO loco modifications, Maintenance of Wheels and Roller bearings etc.

Training of IRSME probationers and Introductory courses of one week duration for probationers of other Departments.
Training of IRSME probationers during their 1 ½ years of probationary period is centrally controlled by IRIMEE. Their training mainly comprises of
Institutional training at RSC, IRIMEE, IRIEEN, IRICEN and IRISET for about 36 weeks.
Training at major Railway organisations like RDSO, DLW, DMW, RCF, ICF and RWF for about 14 weeks.

Training in various repair workshops for 8 weeks.

Training in various divisional units like Diesel sheds, C&W depots, Control room etc. 16 weeks.

Theoretical and practical training of Special Class Apprentices.

Technical Training of Apprentice Supervisors of all Indian Railways.

Special courses as per requirement for Non-Railway Organisations and Foreign Railways.

The Railway age in Eastern India started on August 15, 1854

The Railway age in Eastern India started on August 15, 1854, exactly ninety-three years before Independence. A locomotive, carriage and wagon workshop was set up in Howrah to put to commission imported rolling stock of EIR and also to render economic repairs to them. The railways spread very fast, perhaps faster than the anticipation of EIR. Within a short span of eight years, it became necessary to shift the site of shop, as there was hardly any scope for expansion at Howrah.

Jamalpur Workshop

The British chose Jamalpur as the new site of this workshop due to ready availability of skilled workers who were descendants of acclaimed gun makers and fabricators of weapons of steel for the Nawabs of Bengal and Orissa. Jamalpur is also geographically well located, on the western side of a hill range while the Ganges flow 7 KMs north of it.

The workshop has a number of FIRSTS to its credit, a few of which are: -

The FIRST to manufacture a steam locomotive and a locomotive boiler- 216 of which were manufactured between 1899 and 1923.

The FIRST to have set up a rolling mill not only on the railways, but probably in the country in 1870.

The FIRST to establish a railway foundry in the year 1863.

The FIRST to manufacture a rail crane in the country with indigenous know-how in 1961.

The FIRST to manufacture high capacity electrical lifting jacks and ticket printing, ticket chopping, ticket slitting and ticket counting machines.

The FIRST and the only railway workshop to manufacture electrical arc furnaces of ½ tonne in 1961 for production of steel castings.

This is the only workshop in the country manufacturing 140 T  ART cranes for Railways to-day.

The gradual eclipse of steam traction on Indian Railways, steam locomotive activities, which had peaked at 600 Standard units per month in 1962-63, started declining in the late 60’s and finally the steam activities came to a complete end in August ’92. The closure of steam activities was to some extent overcome with the switching over to the repair of Diesel Locomotives, repair of unloadable wagons and manufacture of Diesel Hydraulic B.D. Cranes and Tower Cars.

scra-jamapur

SINCE 1927
The Special Class Railway Apprentices’ (SCRA) scheme was started in 1927 to meet the demand for engineers on the EIR (East Indian Railway) and on the GIP (Great Indian Peninsular) Railway. The SCRAs are selected by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on the basis of an all- India competitive examination, which is held every year. They are imparted training in the fields of mechanical and electrical engineering at the Indian Railways Institute of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering (IRIMEE) set up at Jamalpur, and, on completion of their training, serve the Railways in various capacities.

AN EXCLUSIVE CLUB
A total of 949 SCRAs have been selected from 1927 to 1998, making an average of about 14 recruits per year. Their training module is of four years duration with two years of thorough theoretical grounding in the engineering subjects followed by another two years of hands-on practical experience on the shop floor. The training method bears resemblance to that employed at the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla, Pune, for training of officers for the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.

ACADEMICALLY BRILLIANT
The SCRAs have distinguished themselves in academics, with 39 trainees obtaining honourable mentions from the A.M.I.Mech. E(London) from 1933-39 and from 1954-66, with records for the intervening period of World War-II not being available. 56 SCRAs have also won Gold Medals in the examinations conducted by the Institution of Engineers (India).

ALL ROUND EXCELLENCE
During their stay at Jamalpur, the apprentices are encouraged to participate in extra-curricular activities like sports, music, debating and performing arts, which not only help in personal enrichment but also stand in good stead later in life. They manage their hostel entirely on their own and organize big shows like the annual re-union of the Old Boys’. This, along with the fact that they interact, from very close quarters, with a myriad of people belonging to the Railways, gives them the confidence and the ability to manage the organization in their later years.

KEEPING RAILWAYS ON THE RIGHT TRACK
The alumni of the Institute at Jamalpur have been an integral part of the
Railways’ evolution from the steam era to the age of high speed locomotives for a major part of this century by providing high quality techno-managerial inputs. Five SCRAs have risen to the ranks of Chairman, Railway Board while 16 have been Members of the Railway Board. Also, a large number of SCRAs have been General Managers and Principal Heads of Departments all over the Indian Railways and also in its sister organisations like RITES, COFMOW, CRIS etc.

TAKING THE WORLD IN THEIR STRIDE
Outside the Railways as well, the SCRAs have been highly successful:- serving in organizations such as the World Bank, being a part of the teaching faculty at universities like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology USA, working as top
executives in world class private concerns; both in India and abroad, being board members of Pakistan Railways and lots more. Over 60 alumni have been Principal heads or chief executives or CMDs of renowned organizations in India.

BASKING IN GLORY
The coveted Padmashri awards for distinguished civil services have been given to four SCRAs while two SCRAs have been honored with the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) for serving the armed forces during the 1965 and 1971 wars.