New Delhi, Sept 23 : Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment Meira Kumar on Tuesday inaugurated “Shilpotsav-2008” exhibition organized by the Ministry.

“The Government has always given importance to the economic empowerment of poorest of poor among Dalits, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (ST),” said Meira Kumar, and added, “Toeing the line, the Ministry has started many programmes through the State Governments for their economic upliftment.”

Boudh (Orissa), Sept 23 : Flood situation in Orissa remained grim on Tuesday following heavy rains in the catchment area of Mahanadi River.

Large parts of the state were inundated after authorities were forced to open dozens of sluice gates of the Hirakud dam on the Mahanadi River.

The Mahanadi breached its banks at several places and floodwaters had swept away highways in some areas.

In Boudh District of Orissa, many villages like Kutasingha, Panimora, Kaleswar, Kumari, Bankapudi remained marooned today.

New Delhi, Sept 23 : Union Minister for Rural Development Dr. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh has asked the States to ensure peoples representatives active involvement in Rural Development programmes.

Addressing the 19th meeting of State Nodal Officers to review the performance of Centrally sponsored Rural Development Programmes here today, he laid emphasis on the convening of vigilance and monitoring committee meetings on a regular basis.

New Delhi - Indian equities fell by 3 per cent in trading Tuesday on weakness in global bourses and rising crude oil prices.

The benchmark 30-share sensitive Sensex index closed at 13,570.31 points, down 424.65 points, a loss of 3.03 per cent from its previous close Monday.

The broader National Stock Exchange's Nifty index also ended in the red at 4,126.90, down 96.15 or 2.28 percent from the previous close at 4,223.05.

Technology stocks were the hardest hit as Infosys, Satyam Computers and Tata Consultancies suffered the most.

New Delhi, Sept 23 : Five comprehensive diving teams with all technical support elements from the Eastern Naval Command have been pressed into action for rescue and relief operations in the flood affected areas along the Mahanadi River in Orissa.

The diving teams along with inflatable rubberized boats with out board motors, rescue equipment and medical supplies left for Bhubaneswar on Monday.

They will join two teams of INS Chilka which is already deployed in the affected areas, in assisting the special relief commissioner.

Srinagar, Kashmir - Six suspected Muslim militants and two soldiers were killed in separate clashes in India-administered Kashmir, police and news reports said Tuesday.

Two militants belonging to the Lashkar-e-Toiba (Army of the Pure), were killed in an encounter in the Bandipora district, some 25 kilometres north of state capital Srinagar.

"The gunbattle erupted on Tuesday morning after the security forces were attacked by rebels hiding in a house in the area," a local police officer said requesting anonymity.