Airports Authority of India Unions have resolved to oppose the privatisation of the Indian airports. At a day long convention held at Terminal IA of the Domestic Airport organised by the Airports Authority Privatisation Virodhi Manch, where over 200 employees affiliated all unions of the AAI participated, it was decided to oppose the privatisation.

The day long programme was addressed by leaders of employees unions of organisations like Air India, Pawan Hans Ltd, Railways and the Docks with A S Dev General Secretary of the Western Zone LIC Employees Association as chief guest. The agenda of the convesntion included a presentation and discussion of the Civil Aviation Ministry's document ``Airport Infrastructure Policy-December 1997'' and a presentation by Professor Swapna Bannerjee on how privatisation will affect employees.

In a press release issued by the Manch, the resolution to oppose the privatisation of airports was passed since the airports were built byusing public money as a result of which they belong to the Indian people and the Government has no right to sell the airports.

Guard of goods train rewarded

A guard of a goods train, Chandrakant Laxman Ingawale, has been given a cash award of Rs 1,000 for sincerity and dedication to duty by the divisional railway manager, Central Railway.

Ingawale was injured when he fell victim to stone-throwing at Asangaon railway station while he was on duty on June 30. Even after injury, he continued to perform his duty and brought the train up to Kalyan. Later, he was admitted to the Kalyan Railway Hospital, a release said.

`Four awards rare for CFSI'

Chairperson of the Children's Film Society of India (CSFI) Sai Paranjpye has described the four national awards for children's films this year as a ``rare occasion'' for the CFSI. Lauding the film-makers, Paranjpye said it was the first time the CFSI was being conferred with four major national awards. ``Four awards is an achievement for CFSI. I amgrateful to the CFSI staff and the dynamics that have gone into the making of the films,'' she remarked. Paranjpye said film-makers have brought their uniqueness to children's films. Virendra Saini's Kabhi Pass Kabhi Fail was adjudged the best children's film, Santosh Sivan's Malli the best environmental film, A K Bir's Nandan the best Oriya film and Shweta from Malli got the best child actor award.

Smuggling of currency: 1 held

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Usha Iyer has remanded to judicial custody one Ramesh Shah Rikauchand for allegedly smuggling out Indian currency worth Rs 13.65 lakh and foreign currency worth Rs 3.96 lakh. He has been remanded to judicial custody till July 28.