MUMBAI, November 11: The tripartite discussion between the Maharashtra General Kamgar Union, state labour minister Shabir Sheikh and the National Rayon Company management has thrown up a suggestion of gifting all eligible employees a wrist watch each along with Rs 9,000 declared already as bonus and ex-gratia. 3,500 workers have already collected their bonus and gifts.

Contest

Cine Blitz will be the official sponsor for the Miss Photogenic 1997 contest which will be a part of the Miss World pageant to be held at Seychelles on November 15. The winner of Miss Photogenic will get a cash prize of 3,000 dollars and a trophy.

Conference

Bal Thackeray will inaugurate a one-day conference organised by the Maharashtra Adhisweekriti Patrikadharak Sangh at Shivaji Park on November 16. The Press Council of India will also observe the day as National Journalist Day.

44 lakh seized

Three women were arrested on Monday by the airport customs for attempting to take assorted currency valued at Rs 44 lakh out of India. The AIU arrested Fatima Kaniza Sayyed, and Shaheen Sayyed with their mother Naseem Banu Sayyed when they were about to board a Cathay Pacific flight for Hong Kong. Later, Sayyed Ali Sayyed, their father was also arrested for allegedly conniving with them. All four have been remanded to judicial custody till November 21.

Actor dead

Marathi film and drama artiste Yashwant Dutt died of a heart attack at his residence today. Dutt (52) is a recipient of state and national awards for his performance in the acclaimed film Shapit. Starting his career as a mimicry artiste, he acted in several films and plays, earning plaudits for his role in the drama Natasamrat.

ONGC meet

The ONGC is holding a `ONGC Institute-Industry Meet' on November 14 at the Institute of Oil and Gas Technology at Panvel. The meet is meant to inform the industry about the `capabilities of ONGC institutes in the oil sector'.

Conmen arrested

One of the prime accused in the Mahalaxmi BEST Chain racket -- an illegal money circulation scheme -- was arrested on Monday. Gurunath R Harpale (43) has been running the scheme along with one Sanjay Kini. Scheme members were promised double money within a period of 32 days. Meanwhile, Srirang R Kadam (30) involved in the Vaibhavlaxmi double-money scheme has been arrested by the crime branch sleuths, on Monday. A motor mechanic at BEST, he had collected Rs 55,62,000 from members and earned Rs 8,34,000 from this illegal scheme.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.