For the second year the Pune Deepgriha Society and Santulan organised a matrimonial event for People Living with HIV (PLWH). Some 170 men and women from Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi and Nepal took part in the event.

The people who are participants are HIV positive and are largely ostracised by society. They find it difficult to find a life partner.
Some of them were widowed after the death of their spouses who died of the disease AIDs.

The purpose of the event is to allow such people to meet and befriend others who have the same predicament. Many others who are single keep their condition confidential and join the event in the hope of finding a partner who will welcome them into their lives.

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The Indian armed forces continue to lose over 500 men each year without even going to war. The main reasons are counter terrorism, road accidents and suicides. Sadly stress related deaths or suicides continue to number around 130 to 140 each year. This year there have already been over 70 suicides.

Last year 130 suicides were recorded, and 'fragging' or killing a fellow soldier or superior also continues to account for some deaths every year.

Senior officials say prolonged deployment in counter-insurgency operations in J&K and the North East does have an effect on the physical endurance and mental health of soldiers, however, the main reasons for the high suicide rate is domestic, family and financial problems.

Defence Minister A K Antony has repeatedly written to all chief ministers to make state civil administrations more responsive to grievances of serving soldiers and their families, who are mostly from rural areas.

The Ministry of Defence has taken several steps, from appointing psychological counsellors and the increase in psychiatric centres in the active areas of the country to grant liberal leave to jawans and supply them with yoga training.

A study by the Defence Institute of Psychological research holds that perceived humiliation and harassment at the hands of their superiors often serve as the final 'trigger' in stress-related cases in the armed forces.

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Speaking about the shamefully low turnout of urban voters in the country, Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi said lucidly "If you don't vote you have no business cribbing about the formation of the government".

CEC Quraishi voiced concern over the apathy of urban young people towards exercising their right to franchise, an issue that needs to be addressed urgently.

He confirmed that the Election Commission will begin a campaign for ethical voting during elections and urged voters to file complaints if they are offered a bribe by any political party to vote in its favour. The Commission has also set up district and state level monitoring committees to keep a lookout

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Noorjahan Khatoon of Gotkhari village, was asleep when her neighbour Mohammed Sajjad broke into her home and tried to molest her. She resisted his attempts and in trying to save herself, got hold of a knife and severed the attacker's penis.

Villagers clamoured to her home and called the police who rushed to the scene and took Sajjad to a hospital and into custody.
His condition is said to be critical.

A case has been filed against the man.

In a twist, Sajjad's wife Rabina claims her husband was called by Noorjahan to her home and was attacked because of a land dispute. She also named other people whom she said were involved in the incident.

Police patrols have been increased because of mounting pressure and tension in the village.

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The Indian Olympic Association was deeply saddened and concerned at Dow Chemical company's sponsorship role in the 2012 London Olympics.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) stated that it was concerned that a company that was responsible for the death of 5000 people in the devastating chemical leak in the Bhopal Gas Tragedy and against whom a case is still pending, is a part of the Games. The IOA plans to write to the organisers expressing the sentiments of the people of India.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games announced that Dow Chemical Company will fund a seven million pound artwork wrap around the stadium. Dow Chemical is the company that bought Union Carbide Corporation, whose subsidiary ran the doomed chemical plant in 2001.

Dow which is embroiled in a compensation wrangle over Bhopal said the $470 million compensation settlement reached by Union Carbide in 1989 was final, leaving the families of whose who died agonising deaths with around just 1400 pounds. Dow is adamant that it is not liable and refused to pay more compensation nor clear toxic waste from the site.

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