Devla (Orissa), Apr 8 : A large number of women in Devla village of Orissa, are becoming self-reliant with the help of a self-help group, founded by an illiterate tribal woman.

Padma Bhotra, a tribal woman, won several awards and recognition, including the best volunteer award from the United Nations.

She has founded a self-help group in Devla village of Nabrangpur district, in a bid to improve their living conditions in the years to come.

Lucknow, Apr 8 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Wednesday criticised the Election Commission for its decision to transfer UP Principal Secretary of Home Kunwar Fateh Bahadur.

Accusing the commission of demoralizing officers of the state ahead of the first phase of elections, Mayawati said the decision may lead to problems in the law and order situation in the state.

Talking to reporters here, Mayawati said, "Removing of the officer just due to political reasons on basis of their baseless allegation will demoralize officers of the state due to which law and order problem could erupt in the state."

Chandigarh/Ludhiana/ Mumbai/New Delhi, Apr 8 : Several Sikh organisations, protesting against CBI''s clean chit to Jagdish Tytler in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, blocked rail traffic in Punjab today.

According to official sources, activists of the Sant Samaj, which includes organisations like the Damdami Taksal and the Dal Khalsa, squatted on railway lines at Gyaspura village near Ludhiana, Beas and Dakoya in Jalandhar.

Mumbai, Apr 8 : Congress candidate Priya Dutt today filed her nomination papers from th

Badaun (UP), Apr 8 : BJP MP Maneka Gandhi on Wednesday lodged a complaint with the police here against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad for making derogatory remarks against her son Varun Gandhi.

In a letter to the Senior Superintendent of Police (Badaun), Maneka said: "The RJD chief Lalu Yadav has threatened to kill Varun Gandhi by crushing him with a road roller in front of crowd of thousands of people and used derogatory words."

Chandigarh, Apr 8 : Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Wednesday held two separate meeting with officials of Haryana and Union Territory of Chandigarh to review the internal security situation ahead of Lok Sabha elections. According to police sources, Chidambaram, who reached Chandigarh this morning, held an hour-long review meeting with Punjab Governor and UT administrator, S F Rodrigues, Adviser Pradip Mehra, Home Secretary Ram Niwas and other senior officials.