MUMBAI, December 24: Mumbai Congress chief Murli Deora has demanded that the state government introduce the new Rent Act Bill in the current Assembly session at Nagpur. His demand comes in the wake of the latest move by city landlords who moved Supreme Court for striking down of the interim Rent Act. Deora criticised the state government for its `lethargy and incompetence' in handling the Rent Act issue. ``Even though the interim Act was introduced a year back after a directive by the Supreme Court, it has slept all along and made no move to introduce a legislation,'' he said in a press communique.The Mumbai Regional Congress Committee president added, ``The Sena-BJP government is clearly anti-tenant and pro-government. This is clear from its inept handling of the rent issue and its apathy in pursuing the Tenants' Ownership Act in the Supreme Court.''

MHADA call to ex-employees

As part of its golden jubilee celebration programmes, Maharashtra Housing andArea Development Authority (MHADA) will felicitate its former employees. It has appealed to employees who were recruited in the erstwhile Bombay Housing Board in 1949 and those who subsequently retired to contact Mahadeo Dalvi, Public Relations Officer, MHADA, Griha Nirman Bhavan, Bandra on working days between 10 am and 5.45 pm, or call on 6404911.

Prithvi festival for children

The Prithvi Children's Festival 1998 will be held on December 26, 27 and 28 at the Horniman Circle garden. The three day festival is open to the public and includes a theatre workshop, platform performances, carol singing and a play. The festival has been organised under the aegis of the Max Touch Cultural Heritage Series.

Chattrashakti yatras by ABVP

As part of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad's (ABVP) National Conference, four Chattrashakti yatras that were kicked off from four centres in the country will reach the city on Friday. The students will be welcomed at the conference venue at Somaiya AyurviharGround off Eastern Express Highway, Sion, by deputy chief minister Gopinath Munde at 10.30 am. The conference is being held between December 25 and 27.

`Ghalib Revival' concert at Taj

Save the Children, a voluntary organsation involved in the upliftment of children in rural and urban India, is organising `The Ghalib Revival', an evening of ghazal renditions by Jagjit Singh to commemorate the 200th birth anniversary of poet Mirza Ghalib. The programme will be held on December 27 at the Crystal Room, Taj Mahal Hotel. at 7 pm. For details, contact Vipula I Kadri, general secretary of Save the Children, at 3630523 or fax on 3680037.

MIDC CEO takes over

Jayant Kawale, IAS, has taken over as Chief Executive Officer, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation. Before joining MIDC, he was Development Commissioner (Industries), Government of Maharashtra.

Cultural programme

The Saphalaya Seva Sangha inaugurated a cultural programme on December 20 at Karnataka Hall. The chief guestof the function, K T Kunder, received a bouquet from the sangha's vice-president P D Salian.