RIGHT TO INFORMATION

1. Now, file RTI applications and pay fees online (1)

NEW DELHI: In a step towards greater transparency, the government has started a unique facility of submitting RTI applications and fees online. The portal–www.rtionline.gov.in– has been created with an aim to help people exercise their right to seek information through online medium, said officials in Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), which acts as nodal department for the implementation of transparency law in the country. An information seeker can submit a fee of Rs 10 via Internet banking through SBI and its associated banks. One can also use credit or debit cards for payment of the fee, they said. “At present, people can file online applications and appeals for information related to the DoPT only. They can also make payment of RTI fee using this platform,” a DoPT official said. The website was launched earlier this week. Through it, RTI applications or first appeals can be filed by Indian citizens only for the main ministries or departments of central government, located at New Delhi. “The government will extend this facility to all its ministries and offices in the national capital by this month end,” the official said. The website will give an individual greater and easier access to government information, the officials said. The Centre’s flagship Right to Information Act, which was enacted in 2005, mandates timely response to citizen requests for government information. One has to pay a fee of Rs 10 for seeking information. (Times of India 12/4/13)

 

2. Undertrials languishing in AP prisons likely to get RTI help (1)

HYDERABAD: In a move that may provide relief to thousands of undertrials in state jails, the state information commission is planning to direct the government to make public the list of those who are languishing in prisons without trial for a long time, officials said. “We will order the prisons department to immediately make the information on undertrials public under the Right to Information act,” said Jannat Hussain, chief information commissioner. Activists said that this would help thousands of such cases reach fast-track courts and speed up the judicial process. Hussain took the cue from his Maharashtra counterpart who directed the state prisons department to declare the list of undertrials under section 4 (1) (b) of the RTI Act and set a deadline of May 12. According to the section, every government department must give out complete information about itself, including details of its employees and their duties, and update it regularly. In its order, the information commission asked the prisons department to make public the list of undertrials who have completed 50% of the sentence they would get if convicted of their crime. This is in accordance with section 463A of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which says that the maximum period for which an undertrial can be detained without being released is half of the maximum jail time they would get for the crime for which they are booked. RTI activists in the state said they are hoping that the AP prisons department will also reveal details about undertrials, which has so far been termed as classified information. “There may be many undertrials who are in jail even after finishing 50% of their probable sentence. But there is hardly any information on them,” said activist C J Karira. “Undertrials being denied timely justice is a rampant problem across India,” he added. (Times of India 15/4/13)

 

3. Court stays part of its order on appointments in information panels (1)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed its direction that only sitting or retired chief justices of High Courts or an apex court judge can head the Central and State Information Commissions. A bench of justices A. K. Patnaik and A.K. Sikri also directed “that wherever a Chief Information Commissioner is of the opinion that intricate questions of law have to be decided in a matter…, he will ensure the matter is heard by a Bench of which at least one member has knowledge and experience in the field of law.” The Bench however, made it clear that during pendency of the pleas challenging its judgment, authorities could continue to fill up the vacant positions in the Information Commissions in accordance with the Right to Information (RTI) Act and its verdict, except the portion which had been stayed. The apex court passed the interim order, saying it would be subject to the outcome of the petitions filed by the Centre and others seeking review of its verdict on appointment of information commissioners. “We make it clear that subject to orders that may be finally passed after hearing the review petitions, the competent authority will continue to fill up the vacant posts of information commissioners in accordance with the Act and in accordance with the judgement … except sub-paras which we have stayed.” “This is to ensure that functioning of the Information Commissioners in accordance with the Act and the judgment is not affected during the pendency of the review petitions,” it said. The stayed sub-paras of the apex court’s September 13, 2012 ruling stipulated that the Information Commissions should work in Benches of two members and each Bench should comprise a legally trained member, who is to be appointed in consultation with the Chief Justice of India and Chief Justices of the High Courts of States concerned. The Bench also clarified in its order that “the Chief Commissioners already functioning will continue to function until the disposal of the review petitions.” — PTI (The Hindu 17/4/13)

 

4. RTI spells justice for job seekers (1)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A right to information (RTI) application from a woman has forced all government institutions to strictly follow section 4 of the landmark legislation, which stipulates them to maintain proper records. It was on July 11, 2011 that Kulathoor native M J Rekha filed an RTI application with the KSRTC, seeking to know the number of vacant typist posts in the corporation and if they have been reported to the PSC or not. The battle for information has resulted in job opportunities for 44 youngsters in the corporation till date. Rekha had appeared for a PSC test for typist post in 2010, the result of which was published in March 2011. However, she could join anywhere as a majority of the 101 government institutions were not publishing the vacancies of typists in their offices. “The reply from KSRTC was unsatisfactory. It said the number of vacancies has not been counted after 2006. I then approached state information commissioner M N Gunavardhanan,” she said. At a hearing on February 7, 2013, the information commissioner observed that the KSRTC has failed to follow Section 4 of the RTI Act, that every public authority shall maintain its records duly catalogued and indexed in a manner and form that facilitates the RTI and ensure that all records that are appropriate to be computerised are, within a reasonable time and subject to availability of resources, computerised and connected through a network all over the country on different systems. The commissioner also ordered KSRTC to publish its details that come under RTI Act on its website within 30 days. The corporation has updating these details on its website for the past one month. Commission sources said a similar order had been given to all departments. “Now, one can get details of vacancies with just a click. The non-declaration or non-publishing of vacancies could have affected the job opportunities of hundreds,” Rekha said. (Times of India 18/4/13)

 

5. Information on court proceedings available at a price (1)

CHENNAI: Highlighting the judiciary’s independence in framing its own rules and orders to regulate civil case proceedings, the Madras high court said the state information commission was not correct in asking the court to furnish information under the RTI Act without a fee. A division bench comprising Justice Elipe Dharma Rao and Justice M Venugopal, passing orders on a petition filed by the registrar-general of the court, said: “In the constitutional scheme of things, the judiciary is free from the executive and legislature.” The matter relates to an RTI application filed by K U Rajasekar who wanted details of his matrimonial case. After the court’s designated public information officer (PIO) refused the information, he approached the Tamil Nadu Information Commission. In July 2012, the commission directed the registrar-general to furnish the necessary information with all diary notings to Rajasekar free of cost and also file a compliance report to the commission. Assailing the directions, the registar-general filed the present petition. The judges, pointing out that the appellate side rules had provisions for furnishing copies on payment of necessary fees, directed the registrar-general to give the information within two weeks. They also ruled that the information commission’s direction to give records free of cost was not correct. “The court’s Appellate Side Rules permitted any party to obtain certified copies. Therefore, it was of the considered view that the applicant was entitled to receive copies of the diary notings and other records only under those rules. The applicant can also avail himself of the benefits under Rule 4 of the Madras High Court, Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules by which information under RTI Act could be provided to him on payment of necessary charges,” the bench added. (Times of India 19/4/13)

 

POLICE/CUSTODIAL DEATH/ ARMY/AFSPA

6. NHRC asks Chhattisgarh govt to pay compensation (1)

Raipur, Apr 12 : Taking exception to several cases of alleged fake police-Naxal encounters and custodial deaths in Chhattisgarh, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today asked the state government to pay a compensation of Rs 20 lakh to victims in different cases of human rights violations. The Commission also sought detailed reports in three other important cases of human rights violation, including the January 8, 2009 Singaram encounter in Dantewada in which 17 suspected tribal Maoists, including four women, were gunned down by a state police team. “The Commission is not satisfied with the reports submitted by the Superintendent of Police (SIB), Raipur, on the alleged encounter. There were several serious shortcomings in the police investigation, coupled with the evidence of autopsies, that raises serious doubts about the encounter,” NHRC Chairman Justice KG Balakrishnan told reporters after concluding the Commission’s two-day camp sitting here. While directing the State Police Chief Ram Niwas to seek an explanation from the officer, who conducted investigation in the case, the Commission had asked the DGP to get the matter investigated thoroughly and submit a detailed report, he said. Referring to 7,000 hysterectomies — uterus removal surgeries — which were allegedly carried out by unscrupulous doctors in 169 hospitals in Chhattisgarh to claim money under the ‘Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana’, the Commission asked the government to submit a detailed report in four weeks. The state Chief Secretary assured the Commission that random checking would be made in other districts of the state and stringent action would be taken against the offenders. Similarly, in the case of gangrape of 11 minor tribal girls by a teacher and a guard of a government tribal hostel in Kanker district, the Commission sought a detailed report about the steps taken by the government for rehabilitation of the victims even as it was informed about the preventive measures taken. A compensation of Rs two lakh each was paid to the victims from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. (New Kerala 12/4/13)

 

7. NGO urges President for repeal of AFSPA (1)

IMPHAL, April 13 – The United NGOs Mission – Manipur (UNM-M), a network of NGOs working on the issues of human rights, peace building and violence against women and children, today submitted a 15-point charter of demand to the President of India Pranab Mukherjee. It may be noted that the President is scheduled to visit Manipur to attend the diamond jubilee celebration of Adimjati Shiksha Ashram in Imphal on April 15. This was disclosed by UNM-M’s secretary U Nobokishore at a press conference here today. The charter of demands include repeal of controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), establishment of 20 Special Investigation Team to investigate all the 1,528 cases of extra-judicial killings and rape under cover of AFSPA/counter insurgency operations and legal measures to ensure justice to the victim families by awarding appropriate punishment to the perpetrators within a period of one year. The memorandum also demanded the vehicles without registration number being used by the paramilitary and Indian Army should be registered. The other demands include setting up a commission to investigate how the illegal arms got into the hands of individuals or gangs and punish those who are violating the law of the land and holding of political dialogue with armed political organisations by constituting an Independent Commission for Conflict Resolution in Manipur. It also demanded to prohibit the implementation of REDD, REDD+ and CDM project in the North East under climate change negotiation. The memorandum also pleaded for punishment to those who are committing crimes such as carrying drugs, raising illegal taxes, extortions, kidnapping, carrying arms without licence and human trafficking. The UNM-M also urged the President to stop construction of mini or micro dams besides stopping exploration of oil and natural gas, minerals in the State without free, prior and informed consent from the indigenous peoples of Manipur. It also demanded revival of Manipur Human Rights Commission, which is non-functioning since May 9, 2010 after its term expired. (Assam Tribune 13/4/13)

 

8. Bulandshahr rape: minor cannot be detained, says SC (1)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court directed the Uttar Pradesh government on Monday to file response within a week on detention of a 10-year-old rape victim by police in Bulandshahr, when she approached them to lodge a complaint. “A minor cannot be put in lock up,” a bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir said while expressing its displeasure over the incident. The bench also asked advocate Anita Shenoy to assist it in deciding the matter in which it took suo motu cognisance of media reports about detention of the girl. The incident allegedly took place on April 7 when the girl had gone to a general store close to her house to buy some essentials. She was reportedly taken away by the accused, who raped her and fled. When the victim and her parents went to the police station for filing a complaint, the girl was kept in the lock up of the Mahila Thana for several hours. After the incident came to light, two women constables on duty at that time were suspended while the Mahila Thana in-charge Gayashree Chauhan and sub-inspector Sarita Dwivedi, who were first sent to the Reserve Police Lines, were later removed. Bulandshahr police claimed on Sundat to have arrested the accused who had allegedly raped the minor. (Hindustan Times 15/4/13)

 

9. Man stripped before his children at police station (1)

Jaipur: In an another instance of police high-handedness, a man was allegedly forced to strip before his children in a police station in Sri Ganganagar and his minor daughter was put in a lock-up after he was detained in a land dispute case, prompting police to order a probe. Nandram from Sri Ganganagar district alleged that he was called at Sameja police station on Monday in connection with a complaint against him where the station house officer (SHO) Kuldeep forced him to confess and strip before his minor son and daughter. He also alleged that the SHO had put his daughter in the lock up. Following the complaint, SP C Santosh instructed a DSP to probe into the allegation against the SHO. Nandram was called at the police station after a complaint was filed against him by a woman, alleging that he had grabbed her land-related documents. Recently in Uttar Pradesh, a 10-year-old rape victim was put in a lock-up in a Mahila Thana in Bulandshahr when she had approached them to file a complaint along with her mother. The incident drew the Supreme Court’s ire which had directed the UP government to file a response on the detention of the rape victim. (Hindustan Times 17/4/13)

 

10. Rights group slams West Bengal government, police (1)

New Delhi, April 18 : The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) Thursday slammed the West Bengal government and police for the recent cases involving the death of a student activist in police custody and the chaining of another to his hospital bed. “Such barbaric acts are extremely reprehensible and PUCL condemns this action of the state police and hospital authorities,” PUCL said in a statement. Santosh Sahani, a first year BA student arrested April 10 for participating in a students’ rally that turned violent, was kept chained to his hospital bed for two days by police. Attacking the state police for false prosecutions, arrests and intimidation, PUCL stressed that the police also needed to conduct fair, unbiased and independent investigation into the custodial death of Sudipta Gupta, a Students’ Federation of India (SFI) leader who died in police custody in Kolkata April 2. “Anything less will be in violation of the Constitution. No political party, especially if it is also the ruling party, can be allowed to violate the Constitution with impunity,” it said. The rights group further said that it was “extremely concerned” about the repeated incidents of police high-handedness and state apathy in West Bengal. It also criticized the government for not ensuring fair and independent investigation into the vandalism at the city’s prestigious Presidency University, allegedly by the ruling Trinamool Congress party’s students wing activists. PUCL demanded the setting up of an independent Special Investigations Team under the direct monitoring of the judiciary to investigate all cases and also demanded the release of all the SFI activists and advocated action against all officials responsible for the chaining of Sahani. (New Kerala 19/4/13)

 

DALITS/ SCHEDULED CASTES

11. A love affair and economic boycott of Dalits (2)

KRISHNAGIRI: Over 300 Dalit families of Deveerahalli Village, of Kudimenahalli Panchayat, in Krishnagiri district allege that they are being denied work by intermediate castes of the village and of six other nearby villages. The reason behind this, they say, is that a Dalit youth in their area had fallen in love with a girl of an intermediate caste from Sathinayakkanpatti under Damodarahalli Panchayat. The girl is back with her parents after the youth’s parents wanted her to go back, as they feared the type of mob fury which was unleashed on three colonies in nearby Dharmapuri district, over a similar issue in November last year. But, the boycott of the Dalits of the Krishnagiri village continues though the affair had come to light in December and the girl had gone back to her home. Intermediate castes have banned Dalits from working on their agriculture fields, brick kilns and other income-earning activities since then. The decision to bar them from such forms of employment was allegedly taken by a ‘khap panchayat’ — a council of older persons who issue decrees to their community members on matters such as marriage — consisting of the leaders of seven villages, in and around Sathinayakkanpatti and Deevarahalli, on December 24 last year, alleged A. Manikandan, district convener of Naam Tamizhar Katchi. Many Dalits, who have also taken up the lands of intermediate caste on lease, for cultivation of crops, lost lakhs of rupees due to the economic boycott. They were not allowed to step into the farm lands. M. Kumar (37), who is District president of HIV Positive Network, said, “After the incident in December, the neighbouring landowner refused to give water for irrigating my ragi crop, cultivated on half an acre. I was forced to buy water from another village and bring it by tractors to save my crop’’. S. Salamma (45) of Deveerapalli village says she has two young sons to take care of. As her husband, a daily wage earner, has been rendered jobless because of the boycott, the family is totally dependent on the earnings from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) works and the free rice distributed through the public distribution system. M. Chitra (30), mother of two male children, said, “There is no discrimination at the MGNREGS worksite, but the intermediate castes stopped speaking to us after the order of the khap panchayat”. The decision taken at the khap panchayat allegedly ordered that Dalits should not be employed under the MGNREGS also. But, it was rejected by the village panchayat president K. Murugesan. Himself a member of an intermediate caste, he told the village leaders that he could not indulge in discrimination as the head of a local body. The parents of the youth and the girl could not be contacted for their comments. X. Irudayaraj, District Secretary, Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF), and G. Sekar, District Secretary, Communist Party of India (Marxist), added the police and revenue authorities should take proper action against those indulging in the boycott of Dalits, which denied them livelihood. Stating that his inquiry found a boycott of the Dalits, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Bargur, G. Gajendran said, on Saturday, that he would conduct a meeting between the Dalits and caste-Hindus in a day or two to resolve the issue. As for the love affair, Mr. Gajendran said that even before a formal complaint was lodged by the girl’s family, a police team visited the village and took all possible measures to prevent any untoward incident, and the girl returned to her parents. Collector T.P. Rajesh said that he would verify the factual position in the Dalit village and take appropriate action as per the law. (The Hindu 14/4/13)

 

12.  ‘Governments have failed to show commitment to work for Dalits’ (2)

BANGALORE: The governments formed after Independence, both at the Centre and the State, have not shown political will or commitment to work for the welfare of Dalits, said Yashodha P., president, Karnataka Dalit Women Forum. She was speaking at the launch of a national-level claim petition campaign here on Sunday that coincided with the birth anniversary of B.R. Ambedkar. Ms. Yashodha pointed out that despite the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, atrocities continued to be committed against Dalits. Manohar Elavarthi, core committee member of the Praja Rajakiya Vedike, pointed out that none of the political parties were committed to work for the cause of the Dalits. Pointing out that the issue of land played a pivotal role in the emancipation of Dalits, she said, “Various laws such as the land ceiling Act to reduce disparities by redistribution of land were not implemented properly leaving a large number of Dalits landless, displaced and marginalised.” To help Dalits reclaim such land, the National Alliance for Dalit Land Rights (NADLR) launched the campaign, which will be go on till December 6 in 18 States. The campaign, which will be spearheaded by the Karnataka Dalit Women Forum and other Dalit organisations, will be conducted in 20 districts in the State. The Dalit organisations have demanded 3 acres of irrigated land and 5 acres of dry land for Dalits. Besides, they have sought title deeds for Dalit households. They said they will urge the government to set up a tribunal to fast-track land disputes. (The Hindu 15/4/13)

 

13. Dalits flee Haryana village after upper caste attacks (2)

KAITHAL: As politicians and administrators in many northern Indian states were preparing to celebrate Dalit icon B R Ambedkar’s 122nd birth anniversary this weekend, more than 100 Dalits were fleeing a small Haryana village after being chased by upper caste goons, angry that a Dalit man had dared to marry one of their girls. Meena and Surya Kant of Pabnama village in Kaithal were in a relationship for the past two years and they tied the knot on April 10. But their happiest moment in life turned tragic for the entire village. The marriage – with Meena, from a community called the Rods and Surya, a Dalit – led to a bloody clash on Saturday that forced Dalit men and women to flee, fearing violent reprisals. Members of the Rod community attacked Dalits, injuring 10 people, including seven cops. The couple has been living in a Kaithal town under police protection following instructions from the Punjab and Haryana high court last week. Even two days after the violence, Dalits are still in a state of shock and not ready to return to the village. Except a few youths and elders, no women and children were present in the village. Several have gone to their relatives’ places and a few are living in dharamshalas in Kurukshetra. Ram Swaroop, a Dalit, said, “We agree that the marriage was against social norms. But why is the family of the groom and the entire community being targeted as we have no role in their marriage?” He said it had become difficult for their families to return to the village under the circumstances as they could be assaulted again. However, peace brokers were trying to calm things down. The two communities have formed separate committees to hold talks to sort out the differences and to restore peace in the village. Realizing that the couple could not be separated, the villagers on Monday started compromise talks. Sarpanch Husan Singh told TOI, “As the couple remained firm on their decision to stay together, the villagers, including their family members, have left them to their fate. Members of both the communities held peace talks and I am hopeful that both would reach a compromise soon,” he said. A villager, who had talked to the couple, said both of them ruled out any possibility of parting ways even though the Rods had been pressuring them to break off. During a meeting of village elders, 20-year-old Meena, a student of BCom final year in Kaithal College, made it clear that “she would prefer to die rather than separating from her husband.” The sarpanch said it was impossible for the couple to enter the village as they did not abide by the sentiments of the villagers. Recalling the violence on Saturday, he said, “Some youngsters have attacked Dalit houses in a fit of rage but the village elders have sorted out the issue now.” However, a Dalit youth, Lakhmi Chand, alleged that there was pressure on the Dalits to strike a compromise and not to press for arrest of the attackers. “Both the communities have formed peace committees which met today to discuss the issue. The Rods are persuading us to withdraw the cases and assured that our security would be ensured in the village. But we are still unsure and our women and children are still away,” he said. Kaithal SP Kuldeep Singh said the situation was under control on Monday and police personnel were deployed in the village. “The villagers from both the communities are making efforts to sort out the issue. The administration is cooperating with them in this initiative,” he said. (Times of India 16/4/13)

 

14. Dalit woman thrashed: Ladhar records statements (2)

Jalandhar: Jalandhar divisional commissioner SR Ladhar, conducting an  re-inquiry into the Tarn Taran incident, in which a 22-year-old dalit woman was beaten up by the cops, visited the district on Thursday. “I visited the spot and recorded the statements of three police men, two taxi drivers and other eyewitnesses,” said Ladhar. The statements were recorded in the presence of the SSP and the deputy commissioner. In their statement, the cops alleged that the cousin of the victim, Jagdish Singh, who recorded the incident on his camera deleted the portion in which the victim and her relatives were seen misbehaving with them, Ladhar said. “Expert opinion will be solicited to judge the veracity of this claim,” Ladhar added. The two taxi drivers, who have been booked under the SC/ST Act, denied making any derogatory or casteist remarks against the victim or her family. Ladhar added that the then SSP, DC and SHO, would be called to his office on Monday for their version on the incident. (Hindustan Times 18/4/13)

 

15. ‘Dalit youth was killed protecting sister’ (2)

BHIWANI: The 18-year-old dalit youth, whose body was recovered in a Bhiwani village on Wednesday, was killed for resisting advances towards her sister made by an upper-caste youth. Bhiwani police revealed on Thursday that accused Praveen Singh, an upper-caste Rajput, and his accomplice Kuldeep Kumar, a dalit man, had tied the victim, Jaimal Kumar, to a tree and hit him with a vehicle till he died. This had happened on the outskirts of Devsar village in Bhiwani district on Tuesday evening, and the accused were arrested on Thursday. The victim’s family had, however, complained to police on Wednesday that Jaimal was killed over the “ghurchari” row which took place in the village around two years ago. But cops investigating the killing said that Praveen Singh had made several advances towards Jaimal’s sister. The victim opposed this and told the accused to stay away from the girl. According to sources, Praveen Singh had been in touch with Jaimal’s sister over phone. Police officers said that the accused and his accomplice took the victim to the village outskirts on Tuesday and they consumed liquor together. Soon, Jaimal lashed out at Praveen and an argument began. Cops said that the accused put a rope around Jaimal’s neck and tied him to a tree and hit him with a vehicle. They then dragged him to some distance and crushed him under the wheels of the vehicle. The body was left inside the car which was abandoned along the roadside, a police officer said. (Times of India 19/4/13)

 

HEALTH/ EPIDEMICS/NRHM

16. Infant mortality rate marginally declines in Chhattisgarh (3)

Raipur: The infant mortality rate has marginally come down in Chhattisgarh in the last three years, according to the official statistics. “The state government’s joint initiative with UNICEF to control infant mortality rate have started showing results and continuously the infant mortality rate is declining here,” an official said on Wednesday. “According to recent figures, the infant mortality rate has come down to 48 from 51 per 1,000 in 2010,” the official said. The official further said that the state government has been continuously working with UNICEF to tackle child malnutrition, child and maternal mortality rate and it is gradually showing positive results. Under Nawa Jatan scheme to combat malnutrition, UNICEF has provided technical help through its consultants by conducting base line survey in around 340 village panchayats where malnutrition rate was reported to be high, the official said. “UNICEF will also help the government in 2013-14,” he added. According to government statistics, as many as 40 nutrition rehabilitation centres were being run across the state last year which have now increased to 75. (Zee News 10/4/13)

 

17. Maternal mortality rate dips, still higher than national average (3)

RANCHI: Maternal mortality rate (MMR) in Jharkhand is 261 deaths per one lakh live births, which is much higher than the national average of 212 deaths, according to a report prepared by a central agency. The Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2010 prepared by the Central Statistical Organization says the MMR in Jharkhand has been steadily declining in the past few years but still it is much higher than the national average. In 1997-98, the MMR was 531 per lakh live births which reduced to 372 in 2001-03, 312 in 2004-06 and 261 in 2008-10. On the other hand, if we see the data of Annual Health Survey 2011, we can see that the MMR has increased to 278 per one lakh live birth About 8.3 lakh women give birth every year In Jharkhand, of them 2,200 women die during delivery. Experts say that maternal deaths can be prevented by increasing institutional delivery and reducing anemia among women but the situation of the state is not good in either of the cases. The percentage of institutional delivery in Jharkhand, according to National Family Health Survey (NHFS) III, was 19.2 compared to national average of 40.7. The rate of anemia in women of Jharkhand is highest with 70.6% compared to all states in the country. In Jharkhand, 29.1% deliveries are attended by skilled health personnel, which is much less compared to national average of 48.2%, according to the NFHS III report. Also, the report says 17.5% mothers receive postanatal care from skill health personnel within two days of delivery as compared to national average of 36.4%.Unicef state head Job Zachariah said, “Major causes of maternal deaths in South Asia, according to WHO (2010), are postpartum haemorrhage, eclampsia and obstructive labour. If institutional deliveries are conducted, death because of these can be prevented by 40% to 60%.” Zachariah cited child marriage as another reason behind high MMR. “Jharkhand has the highest rate of child marriage after Rajasthan and Bihar with 51.8%. Girls who become pregnant as adolescents have an increased risk of death and their babies also have risk of infection, malnutrition and death,” he said. Director in chief, health, P Chandra said the state government had taken some steps to reduce the MMR. “We are planning to start 700 health subcentres for institutional deliveries. There will be around four health subcentres in each block. To curb anemia, we have recently given funds to State Rural Health Mission to distribute iron tablets to adolescent girls.” (Times of India 11/4/13)

 

18. Medical negligence: court raises compensation (3)

KOCHI: A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Thursday observed that doctors and pathologists who possess sufficient skill and knowledge in the medical field should show minimum degree of care in conducting tests and diagnosing the diseases. The Bench comprising Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice B. Kemal Pasha made the observation while dismissing an appeal filed by a pathologist and a doctor from a Kasaragod hospital against a sub court order directing them to pay compensation in a medical negligence case. The sub court had ordered them to pay compensation to the husband of a woman who died on account of their wrong diagnosis and treatment. The High Court Bench observed that when a person who had sufficient qualifications in the medical field was willing to give medical advice and treatment, “he impliedly undertakes that he possesses all sufficient skill and knowledge for such medical advice or treatment”. He should show a reasonable degree of skill and knowledge and must exercise a reasonable degree of care. According to the husband, the pathologist had diagnosed the illness of his wife as tuberculosis after biopsy. She began undergoing treatment and took medicines for tuberculosis. Later her condition worsened and had to be taken to another hospital. The doctors there diagnosed the illness as synovial sarcoma, malignant cancerous tumour. She died in 1990. The High Court said the woman had to meet with her untimely death on account of the erroneous diagnosis. The court also enhanced the compensation amount from Rs.75,000 to Rs.1,50,000 after allowing the petition filed by the husband. The Kerala High Court on Thursday directed the Special Police Team probing the illegal stay of a Malaysian national to conduct a serious investigation into his frequent visits and the business he was doing in the country. Justice S.S. Satheeshachandran issued the directive while dismissing the bail petition of Malaysian national Latif Bin Abdul Jamil, who was arrested by the Koyilandy police on March 13, on charges of illegally staying in the country. A case had also been registered against A.V. Abdurahiman Musliyar, secretary of Nandi Darussalam Arabic College under the Jamia Darussalam al-Islamiya, Koyilandy, for not informing the police about the stay of the foreigner at the college. Jamil had been charged under Section 5 of the Registration of Foreigners Act and Section 140 of the Foreigners Act. The court observed that the petitioner claimed that he arrived in the country to explore business opportunities. The police should take a serious look at “what is his business and what is his association with a college committee, especially when security of the country faces serious threat from anti-national elements,” the court said. The Director General of Prosecution, while opposing the bail plea of the accused, submitted that a probe was essential into various aspects such as his visit to the country at different points of time. The petitioner did not report the details regarding his stay to the authorities, even after his visa period had expired. (The Hindu 12/4/13)

 

19. Gorakhpur, adjoining regions in grip of Japanese Encephalitis (3)

VARANASI: Gorakhpur and adjoining regions of eastern Uttar Pradhesh are not only badly affected by Japanese Encephalitis/Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (JE/AES) but also under the grip of other dreaded diseases with high rate of crude death, infant mortality, neonatal mortality, and under-five mortality. However, it seems that the miseries of people and pathetic condition of the region failed to draw policy makers’ attention. “It is beyond our understanding why the government is delaying the upgrading of BRD Medical College hospital of Gorakhpur that serves a large population of the region,” said Prof Rahey Mohan Misra, former vice chancellor of DDU Gorakhpur University and convener of Gorakhpur Health Forum. The Forum forwarded a letter to the chief minister demanding an institution like All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Gorakhpur under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PMSSY). Though, the BRD Medical College hospital of Gorakhpur is the only prominent health care centre of the region, it has been included in the third phase planning of PMSSY for upgrading. “It is unfortunate that the region which deserves to have an AIIMS-like institution is facing delay in upgrading of the existing medical college,” said Mishra, who also wrote letter to UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi demanding the same. According to him, the BRD Medical College hospital serves the population of a vast area of the region comprising many districts of eastern UP and bordering Bihar. The area consists of three divisions of UP – Devipatan, Basti, Gorakhpur, and adjacent five districts of Bihar- geographically known as ‘Saryupar Plain’, and Azamgarh division of eastern UP. The region is infamous for low-lying marshy land, water logging, endemic floods, humidity, extreme poverty, favourable for harbouring various diseases like malaria, thyroid, tuberculosis, cancer, kidney and gall bladder stones and especially Japanese Encephalitis/Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (JE/AES) devouring mostly children. Eastern UP, the most populous, has largest area (85845 sq.km) and highest population density but very poor economic and health facilities. The region, including Saryupar Plain and Azamgarh division, has a population of over 60 million with more than 90% rural population. The health infrastructure is almost next to nothing. The PHCs, CHCs and district hospitals are understaffed. Records show that the region has higher death rate, infant mortality rate, neonatal mortality rate and under-five mortality rate in comparison to other regions of the state. (Times of India 17/4/13)

 

20. Malnutrition deaths dent Kerala’s HDI claims (3)

PALAKKAD: Kerala’s claims to world fame for its high human development indices appear to be tottering with children in the tribal heartland of Attappady in Palakkad district dying of malnutrition. In the last 15 months, as many as 29 children died of malnutrition, 13 of them this year. Two more deaths were reported from the area over the past two days. The number might be higher, for not all deaths from the Kurumba tribal hamlets in the remote forest areas of Anavai, Edavani, etc., are getting reported. A report sent to the State government by the Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) officers last week stated that ‘malnutrition and low blood count are found to be the reasons for the death.’ ‘A large number of tribal children are born underweight and are affected by malnutrition,’ the report said, attributing the situation to poor healthcare facilities and inefficient functioning of the health and social welfare departments. Health indicators of Attappady remain lower than those of the State and the nation. The maternal mortality rate is seven per 1,000, compared with the State figure of 1.3 and the infant mortality rate is 66 per 1,000, against the State figure of 14.1. Fewer institutional deliveries mean poor maternal and neonatal outcomes. High incidence of severe maternal anaemia, obstetric complications and deliveries by untrained persons have all contributed to the present dismal situation, medical practitioners at Attappady said. Anaemia, malnutrition, deficiency disorders, tuberculosis, typhoid and diarrhoea are rampant in Attappady. Many people have sickle cell anaemia, a genetic disorder, which has a devastating effect on their health and quality of life. The government had ordered a health survey of all the 192 tribal hamlets. The survey, which is only halfway through, has identified 500 cases of anaemia. It has also brought to light the fact that those with sickle cell anaemia do not get proper treatment to manage the disease, which is incurable. For the last two years, the anganwadis under the social welfare department have not been distributing nutritious food to children, pregnant women and teenaged girls. The health centres have also not been distributing health kits for the past one year. “It is most shameful and shocking for the district administration and the State as a whole that malnutrition deaths are taking place in a socially forward State like Kerala,” District Collector P.M. Ali Asgar Pasha told The Hindu on Wednesday. He said he had called an urgent meeting of top officials of the departments of health, social welfare and tribal welfare to find a solution for the death of many children.” He had ordered an inquiry into the lapses on the part of various departments responsible for providing healthcare and other facilities to the 29,000-strong tribal population of Attappady, Mr. Pasha said. (The Hindu 18/4/13)

 

LAND ACQUISITION/ SEZ

21. Dharna against Odisha land acquisition (4)

PANAJI: The Goa unit of the Communist Party of India (CPI) will hold a protest dharna in Panaji on Friday in solidarity with the farmers of Jagatsinghpur district in Odisha who are agitating to save their land from acquisition for a Posco project. Christopher Fonseca, CPI national secretary, said, “the dharna would be in support of Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti of Odisha,” and had been called by the national council of the CPI. He said that CPI supports the people of Odisha who are struggling to save their fertile agricultural land and fiercely resisting eviction from their ancestral land for the past seven years. In the course of the struggle, over six farmers have lost their lives, several hundreds have been injured and thousands have been lathi-charged in the villages of Jagatsinghpur district. The villagers including men, women and school going-children have participated in this people’s agitation. The central government and the Odisha government are acquiring over 4,004 acres of fertile agricultural land at Jagatsinghpur district near the Paradeep port which will deprive the people of their land which is the sole source of their livelihood for over a century, he added. The governments were acquiring this fertile agricultural land to hand it over to the South Korean transnational corporation which is known as Posco to set-up a steel plant and also to establish their own private port at Paradeep. (Times of India 12/5/13)

 

22. Land acquisition bill to be brought in this session: Ramesh (4)

Anand (Guj): Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh on Saturday said Centre will bring in revised Land Acquisition Bill in the forthcoming session of Parliament as there was a political consensus on it. “We will bring the revised bill in this session. All political parties want to get it passed,” Ramesh said here. “States have given their suggestions and I have also met opposition leaders like Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj and had discussion with them,” Ramesh said, adding, all the political parties wanted the 1984 act to be changed. “Land acquisition was done forcibly till now and farmers were not given adequate compensation, but this bill will address these concerns,” he said. “There have been cases where land (acquired for public purposes) has been utilised for building shopping malls or private housing societies,” Ramesh added. The Parliament session will start on April 22. An all-party meeting was held in New Delhi on April 9 to iron out differences on the bill. (Zee News 13/4/13)

 

23. Chhattisgarh land acquisition in Human Rights Panel’s lens (4)

Raipur: Land acquisition for the industries in the mineral-rich state of Chhattisgarh has come under the lens of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). The NHRC held a two days camp sitting headed by its Chairman Justice K G Balakrishnan in Raipur that concluded on Thursday. The Commission took up 27 cases for hearing in the Full Commission and Division Bench Sittings. Six cases were closed after satisfactory replies from the State Government. The Commission recommended about Rs 20 lakh as monetary relief in different cases of human rights violations. Besides the issues related to alleged rights violation in the sittings figured prominently, the social activists also drew the attention of commission towards the industry-related issues in the state that had been emerging as dream destination for investors. The activists pointed the issue of displacement of tribals for the industrial projects. The activists said the public hearing for required clearances for the industrial projects was conducted under the shadow of police protection. They told commission that those opposing the industry had to face police action. Even the activists were not allowed to speak at the public hearing. The commission recorded the views of the social activists and asked them to report specific case. The activists had presented a general picture of the situation that the commission wanted in specific and asked the complainant to brief the particular case of police atrocities on people opposing industrial projects. The NHRC has asked the Chhattisgarh government to submit a detailed report within four weeks on the reports of more than 7000 unwanted hysterectomies conducted by doctors in the state to claim money under the health insurance scheme. On the issue of alleged fake encounter of 17 tribals including four women on January 8, 2009 near village Singaram in Dantewada district, the commission said it was unsatisfied with the report submitted by the police and asked Director General of Police (DGP) to seek an explanation of the officer who conducted investigation. (Business standard 14/4/13)

 

24. With 1,700 acre, Posco hopes to begin Odisha project (4)

With the pace of land acquisition picking up and the Government announcing  handing over of around 1,700 acre for the proposed Posco project, the Korean steel major has expressed hope that it would be able to commission the Odisha project by 2018. The company expects to be provided with all of the 2,700 acre that it has sought for the establishment of 8 million tonne per annum (mtpa) capacity plant in the first phase soon as  the Government is poised to resume land acquisition.  The steelmaker has stated that around 548 acre land has been handed over while the process of handing over of the recently acquired 1,700 acre is underway. “Work would commence immediately, once the physical possession of the land is obtained. The first two years will be for rehabilitation and land preparation works. Construction would commence thereafter and completed within three years,” Chairman and Managing Director Posco India Yong Won Yoon said. Despite the persistent resistance and problems in land acquisition setting back the country’s largest FDI by over eight years, Yong asserted Posco’s commitment to the Odisha project.  The company had signed the MoU for the 12 mtpa project with an investment of `51,000 crore in June 2005. However, due to the opposition and delay, the project has been downscaled to 8 mtpa spanning 2,700 acre in the first phase. The first phase would comprise setting up of two 4 mtpa capacity units. The second phase of 4 mtpa would be carried forward after the remaining land of the total required 4004 acre for the originally planned 12 mtpa integrated steel plant (ISP) is obtained. Allaying fears that Posco may backtrack from its Odisha ISP if it is not granted with mining licence with respect to the Khandadhar mines, which is under adjudication in the Supreme Court, Yong said Posco India will act as per the law and rules of the country. “We expect the verdict to be in our favour. If it doesn’t we will discuss the issue with the State Government and will explore buying iron ore to meet our needs,” he said. On the issue of renewal of the MoU, which lapsed in 2010, Yong stated that it has submitted a revised document agreeing to the new clauses that include dropping of the export or swapping of iron ore. “We have accepted all the new proposals presented by the State Government and submitted the revised MoU in 2011. We do not understand why the Government is not making moves for signing of the agreement,” he said. On the question of going slow on the proposal of the State Government for investing `200 crore in peripheral development in the project site in Jagatsinghpur district, which included infrastructure like roads and bridges, health, agriculture, education etc., the CMD stressed that its should go on simultaneously with the project development works. “Once we get the land it will be easy to manage peripheral development issues. However, we have started work on infrastructure development like roads,” he added. (Indian Express 16/4/13)

 

25. Parties reach consensus on Land Acquisition Bill (4)

NEW DELHI: A broad consensus was reached among political parties on Thursday over the much-awaited Land Acquisition Bill after the government gave in to a key demand of BJP for 50 per cent compensation to farmers and sorted out certain other sticky issues. The consensus paves way for consideration and passage of the significant but contentious bill in the second part of the budget session of Parliament beginning Monday. “We have reached a broad consensus on the Land Acquisition Bill,” parliamentary affairs minister Kamal Nath told reporters after a 90-minute meeting convened by him. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj stated the same with a promise of not opposing the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2011, in Parliament. The Bill proposes the payment of compensation that is up to four times the market value in rural areas and two times the market value in urban areas. BJP wanted 50 per cent compensation to the original farmers whose land has been purchased after the introduction of the bill in Lok Sabha in September 5, 2011. Raising the issue in the meeting, Swaraj said the “land mafia” was in land buying spree in many parts of the country after the introduction of the bill anticipating that the measure will be passed soon and they can reap benefits. If it happens, the farmers who have sold land at a lesser price will not be benefitted from the Land Acquisition Act, she said and asked the Government to have a provision specifying that there will be sharing of 50 per cent benefit with the original farmers. Government also agreed to another demand of the BJP, which had suggested that instead of acquisition, land could be leased to developers so that its ownership will remain with the farmers and would provide them with regular annual income. The government agreed to amend the bill to provide for an enabling provision for states to enact laws in this regard as leasing of land is a state subject. The first all-party meet on the Land Acquisition Bill, which was held here on April 9, had failed to iron out the differences between the government and major parties like the BJP, SP and the Left Front…..   (Times of India 19/4/13)

 

TRIBALS

26. Meghalaya industrial policy to protect tribal land (6)

Shillong, April 12 : Chief Minister Mukul Sangma Friday said the Meghalaya Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy 2012 has taken necessary precautions to protect the alienation of tribal land by not allowing outright transfer by way of sale to non-tribal entities. “The state government is strictly monitoring the transfer/lease of land on need-based and actual requirement to avoid land alienation of tribal land,” Sangma said, while replying to a call attention notice tabled by opposition United Democratic Party legislator Paul Lyngdoh in the assembly. With Meghalaya having a unique land tenure system, where the land belongs to the people, Sangma said the government proposes to acquire land and thereafter lease out such land to industrialists on actual requirement basis. “Through experience, the government has learned that in the earlier Industrial Policy 1997, where land was allowed to be transferred by outright sale to the industrialist, more than the required land was allowed to be transferred,” Sangma said. The chief minister, who also holds the industries portfolio, said that the new industrial and investment policy has done away with the outright sale to non-tribal entities as was available under the 1997 policy. “The new policy seeks to transfer land to non-tribal owned units including limited companies, partnership firms, and non-tribal proprietary firms by way of lease only,” he added. Such land, if not available within the industrial areas/parks, will be provided on 30 years lease basis on payment of appropriate premium, he said. Emphasizing that “prospective and good investors” are not driven away from investing in the state, Sangma promised that his government will take extra caution to preserve land and to ensure 60 per cent of jobs in all industries would be filled up by local tribesmen of the state. The chief minister added that the new industrial policy gives more importance to micro and small scale enterprises industries, which would be promoted and managed by women entrepreneurs and the physically challenged. He added: “Such enterprises will get an additional 10 percent on the state capital investment subject to a ceiling of Rs.5.lakh, while physically challenged persons will pay only 50 percent of the applicable lease rent.” (New Kerala 12/4/13)

 

27. Free lawyer service helps tribals branded Maoists (6)

RANCHI: A group of young lawyers in Ranchi has decided to take up, gratis, cases of thousands of tribals branded as Maoists and shoved into jails across Jharkhand every year. The lawyers, who have named their organization Jharkhand Organization for Human Rights (JOHAR), have initiated a survey to pick out such cases and offer them free legal consultation. And just so that the tribals are aware that they need not pay for seeking judicial assistance, the lawyers have named their endeavour “muft mein wakil”. Despite options of free legal aid offered by the government and agencies like district legal services authority, tribals often don’t get these facilities because they are afraid to approach them. Also, they are not much aware of the law,” says Gopi Nath Ghosh, who is associated with the endeavour. Human rights violation is a mounting problem in Jharkhand’s tribal areas which sees many innocent people being labelled as Maoists and subsequently prosecuted. NGOs working in the area say that the number of such cases increases whenever there is a security operation in the region. For instance, 13 people were framed as Maoists in the 2001 Topchanchi massacre in which 13 Jharkhand armed police officers were killed. After they had spent many years in jail, they were finally acquitted by the Dhanbad district court in May last year. Curiously, nobody is really sure about the exact number of such cases where tribals are unfairly branded as rebels. A Christian missionary, Father Stain Swami, who works for the rights of tribals, had filed an RTI application with the state government in 2011 to seek accurate figures. He says that the total number of such cases could be around 6000 or even more. With most tribals not even fully literate — let alone being aware of complex legal formalities — help from the lawyers is being hailed as a welcome step for them. Although till now, the lawyers have identified only about a dozen cases, the momentum, says advocate Anup Agarwal, convener of JOHAR, would pick up once their survey is complete. Incidentally, one of the cases in which the lawyer group has already started providing free assistance is the high-profile Jeetan Marandi case. Jeetan Marandi was accused of masterminding the Chilkhari massacre in 2007 in which former chief minister Babu Lal Marandi’s son Anup was killed. The subordinate court had pronounced capital punishment but the Jharkhand high court not only reversed the judgment but also acquitted him of the charges. However, his wife Aparna Marandi is now in Dumka Jail on allegations of being a Maoist. No lawyer was ready to assist her until JOHAR lawyers Ahmed Raja and Anup Agarwal stepped in to take up her case. (Times of India 15/4/13)

 

28. CPI accuses Gadchiroli police of illegal arrest of tribals (6)

Gadchiroli: The Communist Party of India (CPI) on Sunday alleged that local police illegally arrested four tribals, including three women, from the district in a bid to project them as surrendered naxals, a charge denied by police. “Police picked up Sunita Dhondu Kumoti (20) from Kurkheda village last night, besides Jaywanta Dhaniram Kerami (25), Sukaro Hagru Tulavi (18) and Zituram Dinu Madavi (21)–all residents of Lavhari village, in violation of rules”, said Mahesh Kopulwar, District Secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) in a press conference here on Sunday. He alleged that police kept the family members of all the four tribals in the dark about their arrest and also made them run from one police station to another when they approached them for information on their whereabouts. “Police action was illegal. How can any citizen be arrested without assigning any reason?…The district police want to project these tribals as surrendered naxalites to embellish their record”, Kopulwar said while demanding immediate release of the tribals. Denying the allegations, SP Mohammed Suez Haq said that all the arrested persons are accused wanted in connection with a naxal-related case. “They were among the others already booked in naxal-related offences and a chargesheet was also filed against them in a court. We arrested them as they are accused”, he told PTI. Haq denied allegations that police did not inform the family members of the arrested tribals. “We followed the procedure. We took women constables along with us to arrest them as per the law”, he added. (Zee News 15/4/13)

 

29. MP to raise malnutrition deaths in Lok Sabha (6)

PALAKKAD: M.B. Rajesh, MP, has sought the urgent intervention of the State government to stop the death of tribal children from malnutrition in Attappady. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy should direct the Ministers to visit the tribal hamlets and take stock of the situation, he said in a statement here on Monday. “This matter of serious concern will be raised in Parliament because the failure to implement Union and State government programmes to provide nutritious food to children, teenaged girls and pregnant mothers had caused the tragedy,” Mr. Rajesh said. “Twenty-four tribal children below the age of five, including newborn babies, died in Attappady during the past 15 months. This is due to the total failure of government programmes for maternal and child care in the area.” He said the child deaths from malnutrition were not an isolated incident. A Comptroller and Auditor General report tabled in the Assembly said 110 children had died from malnutrition during 2012 in Palakkad and two other districts. The deaths indicated a dangerous trend of reversal of Kerala’s high human development indices, the hallmark of which was a low child mortality rate. He said poor implementation of the Integrated Child Development Services scheme had affected the functioning of anganwadis in the tribal hamlets. They had not been distributing milk, egg and banana for the past one year. (The Hindu 16/4/13)

 

30. Govt’s bid to water down tribal rights takes a hit (6)

NEW DELHI: The government’s plan to detach tribal rights from clearances to projects requiring forestlands partially boomeranged after the Supreme Court on Thursday ordered that the gram sabha should decide if their customary and religious rights would be impacted by Vedanta’s proposed bauxite mining in Niyamgiri hills in Odisha. The decision will dampen the pressure within the UPA to further dilute the norms that empower tribal gram sabhas under the Forest Rights Act to give consent to projects requiring forestlands. A report prepared by the PMO in December 2012 had recommended that the rights of gram sabhas under the Forest Rights Act to give prior consent to projects should be watered down to operate only in cases of exception. The tribal affairs ministry gave in to the pressure and agreed to the report and the environment ministry followed up by agreeing to do away with the need for consent from gram sabhas for linear projects. But the pressure building up within the government to stand down on tribal rights made it carefully avoid referring to the regulations requiring gram sabha consent in the Vedanta case. While government remained steadfast on its position against Vedanta mining, there was great unease about a generic ruling on Forest Rights Act in the case impacting other clearances. But the apex court order on Thursday has reverted the case back to the gram sabha, permitting the tribals and not the ministry or any other authority to decide whether their religious rights exist in the contentious hill and would they be harmed by the project. The court said, “Gram sabha has an obligation to safeguard and preserve the traditions and customs of STs and other forest dwellers, their cultural identity , community resources etc, which they have to discharge following the guidelines issued by the ministry of tribal affairs.” (Times of India 19/4/13)

 

31. SC leaves Vedanta’s fate in tribal deity’s hands (6)

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday linked survival of Vedanta’s alumina refinery and bauxite mining project in Rayagada and Kalahandi districts of Odisha with protection of Dongria and Kutia Kondh tribes’ culture and right to worship the ‘Niyam Raja’ deity, a hilltop just 10 km from the mining area. “If the bauxite mining project, in any way, affects their right to worship their deity, known as Niyam Raja, in the hilltop of the Niyamgiri range of hills, that right has to be protected,” the court said, creating fresh uncertainties for the multi-crore project. Adding fresh trouble, the court allowed filing of fresh community as well as cultural and religious claims by tribals before the gram sabha within six weeks. “The gram sabha is also free to consider all the community, individual as well as cultural and religious claims, over and above the claims which have already been received from Rayagada and Kalahandi districts,” a bench of Justices Aftab Alam, K S Radhakrishnan and Ranjan Gogoi said. The bench asked the gram sabha to decide the issues relating to religious and community rights and Niyam Raja within three months and submit it to the ministry of environment and forests. “The MoEF shall take a final decision on the grant of Stage-II clearance for the bauxite mining project in the light of the decisions of the gram sabha within two months thereafter,” it said. To protect the purity of the decision making process in gram sabha, the court asked the Orissa High Court chief justice to nominate a district judge who would attend the meetings of the village body as an observer and certify that “proceedings of gram sabha took place independently and completely uninfluenced either by project proponents or central government or state government”.”The alumina refinery oroject is well advised to take steps to correct and rectify the alleged violations by it on the terms of the environmental clearance granted by MoEF,” the court said, adding these corrective steps would be taken into account by the ministry while taking a final decision. The stage-II environment clearance to the project would depend on the findings of the gram sabha, which was tasked by the court to determine in three months “whether the proposed mining area, 10 km away from the peak, would in any way affect the abode of Niyam Raja”.By giving this ruling, the apex court made sure that tribal rights – both religious and cultural – cannot be overlooked by project proponents as well as governments, who think that their obligations are discharged by just providing compensatory alternative land to the forest-dwelling community. The environment and related clearances to Vedanta’s alumina project had been a bone of contention between the Congress-led UPA government and the Naveen Patnaik government in Odisha. While the environment ministry had done flip-flops over grant of stage-I clearances and subsequent rejection of stage-II clearance, the Odisha government had maintained that it had taken all environment and tribal aspects into consideration before seeking the central government’s nod. Justice Radhakrishnan, who authored the judgment for the bench, took note of the fact that the gram sabha had received a large number of individual and community claims from Rayagada and Kalahandi districts on allocation of alternative land and had settled most of them. However, the bench noted that an important aspect of the issue – the tribals’ religious right to worship and protect Niyam Raja – had been overlooked by the gram sabha which was duty bound to safeguard the customary and religious rights of the Scheduled Tribes. “We are, therefore, of the view that the question whether STs and other tribal forest dwellers like Dongria Kondh, Kutia Kondh and others have got any religious rights, that is rights of worship over the Niyamgiri hills, known as Nimagiri, near Hundaljali, which is the hilltop known as Niyam Raja, have to be considered by the gram sabha,” the court said. “Gram sabha can also examine whether the proposed mining area Niyama Danger, 10 km away from the peak, would in any way affect the abode of Niyam Raja,” it said. “We find that this aspect of the matter has not been placed before gram sabha for their active consideration,” it said but extended the fresh scrutiny by the village conference body to all other community and religious claims. (Times of India 19/4/13)

 

WOMEN

32. Women to join police force, DAP to be reorganized (8)

Patna: The state government on Thursday took a policy decision to realise chief minister Nitish Kumar’s promise of filling 35% of posts in the state police with women in constable and sub-inspector ranks. The recruitment process to fill up the vacancies will start soon. In another important decision, it also gave the go ahead to reorganise the district armed police force in companies. Officials said the force personnel would be grouped in 242 armed fighting units. The decisions were taken at a high-level meeting on policerelated issues chaired by the chief minister at his official residence and attended by chief secretary A K Sinha, principal home secretary Amir Subhani and DGP Abhayanand. Referring to the constitution of the 242 new companies, the DGP said 44 specific anti-riot companies would be constituted while the rest of the proposed companies would be responsible for carrying out anti-extremist operations and organised crime. Posts of middle tier police personnel like sub-inspector, inspector and DSP would be sanctioned to man the companies. The anti-riot force would be equipped with the latest antiriot weapons. In yet another important decision, the meeting discussed the modalities for recruitment of women personnel in the uniformed force as per a policy decision to provide 35% of the posts to the fair sex against 47,000 vacancies existing with the police force at present. The appointments to be made, to improve the publicpolice ratio in the state, would be completed in a phasewise manner over the next five years. “It was decided to appoint women personnel in the uniformed force against the sanctioned posts in two phases. The provision for 35% posts for women is in addition to the existing 3% of reserved posts for women belonging to extremely backward classes,” said Abhayanand. He also said the proposal for recruitment of women constables and subinspectors would be sent to the cabinet for its approval soon. Besides, it was also decided that aged police personnel would be assigned the task of civil policing to tackle petty fights and cases of enmity among people. The chief minister also gave his nod for creation of a post of director-in-chief in the forensic science laboratory. The incumbent to the post will be a person having expertise in forensic science. “A directorate will be formed by clubbing the forensic science laboratory, finger prints bureau and photo bureau, which will be headed by the director- in-chief,” said the DGP. “The decisions will go a long way in strengthening the forensic science unit mandated the job of carrying investigations of criminal cases in a scientific manner,” he added. The meeting also discussed the need for better financial management of police department so that rising costs of establishment and other expenses could be managed properly. Those present in the meeting included director general Sunit Kumar, ADG (headquarters) Rabindra Kumar, ADG (special branch) Rajesh Chandra, ADG (CID) A K Upadhyay, IG Anupama Nilekar and IG (operations) Amit Kumar. (Hindustan Times 12/4/13)

 

33. 2 crore men may soon be without brides: NCW chief (8)

NAGPUR: Marriageable men in India would soon face difficulty finding brides. Female infanticide in the country has led to skewed gender ratio, National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Mamta Sharma said here on Wednesday. “What is more alarming is that gender discrimination is more in urban centres that are supposed to have higher literacy rate than in less literate rural areas,” said Sharma. “The situation is worse in north Indian States like Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. In South India, the ratio is better but in those states the incidence of domestic violence is high,” NCW chief said. “In near future, NCW is apprehensive that the country will have around two crore bachelors who will face difficulty in finding a suitable match if the trend of female infanticide continued,” Sharma said quoting data with NCW. The male-female ratio would drop to such a level that it would be difficult to bridge the gap, Sharma said. NCW was intensifying its awareness campaign to stop female infanticide and killing of female fetuses which was rampant in some parts, particularly north. “The practice continues in most state across the country. Even in Maharashtra, it was rampant in district like Beed,” she added. Asked if recent stringent law against rape would make any difference, Sharma voiced her reservations saying: “A new set of laws would hardly make a difference. Strong laws were already there. What matters more is implementation. There is need for sensitizing the police force as well as judiciary for faster trials and better conviction rates. Victims, mostly from economically poor background, suffer as the police fail to press correct charges and a weak case does not stand in courts,” Sharma remarked. The NCW chief noted that after the recent awareness campaigns by social organizations have been effective. “But there is a long way to go and there is need for change of mindset to give women the respect they deserve,” Sharma noted. NCW would soon sign an MoU with Western Railway for creating awareness among railway staff on suburban trains in Mumbai on how to treat female passengers and commuters while travelling and also how to protect and help them in distress. Sharma, who was here for the inaugural function of “Padharo Rajasthan” festival, said NCW was also initiating steps to curb trafficking from Pakistan, Nepal, China and Bangladesh borders. She said NCW would hold meeting with heads of security forces manning borders to discuss measures to check trafficking. (Times of India 18/4/13)

 

34. Pregnant woman serious after assault by husband (8)

Gurgaon: A 25-year-old pregnant woman was admitted to Paras Hospital after she was allegedly assaulted by her husband and in-laws on Tuesday. The victim, Suman, is from village Dera in Fatehpur. She is married to Nagendra, a resident of Bandhwadi. The couple has two children. She was later referred to Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi. According to the police, Suman’s brother had filed a police complaint against her husband and in-laws. The incident took place late Tuesday night while the victim was sleeping with her children. Nagendra entered the room and started beating her up. When Suman complained to her in-laws the next morning, she was brutally beaten up by them too. The police have filed a FIR against Nagendra and his family who are absconding. (Hindustan Times 19/4/13)

 

35. GSRTC set to appoint 181 women conductors (8)

Ahmedabad: In a move to empower women, the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) has created posts for 284 women bus conductors in a first-of-its-kind initiative. Out of these, 181 women were shortlisted recently and will be handed over the appointment letters at an event in Gandhinagar on April 23. “The decision has been taken in accordance with the state policy of 30 per cent reservation for women across sectors. We received 1335 applications and selected 181 after tests,” said the GSRTC secretary P D Patel. At present, the transport corporation has 12,000 conductors and nearly 14,000 drivers. Out of these, only thirteen female conductors have been appointed so far. After they get their appointment letters, these women will undergo a three-day training in Gandhinagar. Talking about the postings of women conductors, Patel added, “For their convenience, they will be posted in their native places only. As the vacancies are across the state, it will not be difficult to place them as per their convenience. Though no relaxation will be given in working hours.” In order to fill the remaining 103 seats of women conductors, the state transport department will advertise for the vacancies soon. Also, for the safety of women passengers, the department plans to launch a helpline sometime next month. The “heat action plan” for city residents, revealed on Tuesday, spells good news for people commuting by bus. One of the plan’s proposals is that when mercury will shoot up beyond alert levels, people travelling in buses should not be made to pay for tickets during the peak time. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is about to put its seal of approval on the plan in its standing committee and general board meeting. (Indian Express 19/4/13)

 

REFUGEES/ MIGRANTS

36. 19 Lankan Tamil refugees reprieved, will not be sent back to Sri Lanka (13)

CHENNAI: About 19 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees who feared deportation after they being stranded in Dubai can breathe easy with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Thursday refuting reports that they would be sent back home. “UNHCR is looking for a solution to resettle the 19 refugees in other countries. We have full cooperation from the UAE government and there is no threat of the refugees being sent back to Sri Lanka,” said Babar Baloch, spokesperson for UNHCR in Geneva. There were reports earlier that the refugees who reached Dubai illegally would be deported on April 11.Last October, 45 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees set out in a boat from Tuticorin and were stranded in mid-sea. They were picked up by a Singapore-registered cargo ship and taken to Dubai where they sought asylum through the International Red Cross. They were dropped off in Dubai and entrusted to UNHCR. UNHCR denied refugee status to seven and six were deported to Sri Lanka. “We have been working sincerely to settle them in other countries. Fifteen of the 39 recognized refugees left UAE and 12 are in the process of departing. Resettlement for others may take time. The UAE government has been supporting UNHCR in sheltering the refugees,” Babar said. He was unable to answer how long the UAE government would keep them. “We do not want to speculate,” he said. The refugees had appealed to Tamil leaders for help. MDMK leader Vaiko had requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to ensure that the 19 Tamils were not deported. VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan and others issued statements in support of their resettlement. The family of LTTE spokesperson Ilanthiraiyan, who disappeared during the civil war, are among the 45 refugees. TV presenter Lohini Rathimohan who worked for an LTTE-owned internet channel is among those waiting for resettlement. “She is depressed. She knows what happened to Isaipriya, another TV presenter with the LTTE channel, who was brutally killed by the Sri Lankan Army,” Ramanan, one of the 19, said. Another refugee Niranjani travelled while she was eight months pregnant and delivered a girl in Dubai on December 25, 2012. “She is likely to be sent to the US. Her baby Abinaya is also in need of better living conditions. We stay in a small place near the seashore. We were told that the six deported Tamils are facing problems in Sri Lanka. Though they have no issues with the government, they are facing trouble. If we are forced to go back to Sri Lanka, there is no assurance that our lives will be spared,” Ramanan said. (Times of India 12/4/13)

 

37. UAE-funded camp offers refuge to fleeing Syrians (13)

Abu Dhabi, April 14 : A refugee camp funded by the UAE will offer safety and stability to people fleeing the violence in Syria, a daily said. By September, up to 2,000 pupils will be able to attend lessons at the camp in Mrajeeb Al Fhood, 37 km from the Syrian border. The UAE Red Crescent Authority’s (RCA) newly opened camp will have two schools and hospitals and gives refugees caravans to live in instead of tents, the Abu Dhabi-based The National daily reported. “There will be two schools, one for boys and one for girls. It will have first grade to high school. They can take in 2,000 students. If there is a need, they will open two shifts and it will be open to 4,000 students. We can open more schools, if needed,” said RCA chairman Ahmed Al Mazrouei. “There is landscaping, football fields, there are caravans, not tents. There are kitchens and as a refugee you don’t cook. You can get your meals delivered to your door.” Phase one of the camp opened at an initial cost of 26 million dirhams. Once finished, it will house up to 25,000 refugees. The camp was proof of the commitment the UAE made to Syrian refugees at a donors conference for Syria held in Kuwait in January, where the UAE pledged 1.1 billion dirhams in aid, the daily said. The RCA has so far spent more than 50 million dirhams. It is estimated that 70,000 Syrians have been killed and more than one million forced to flee to Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan as result of the conflict. (New Kerala 14/4/13)

 

38. Police thwart bid by 4 refugees to return (13)

RAMANATHAPURAM: Police have thwarted an attempt by four Sri Lankan refugees who tried to return home through illegal means and arrested a refugee who acted as an agent for them. Ramar (35) and his wife Rajeswari (25) from Sivagiripettai camp in Dindigul district, Jesuraja (31) from Kangeyam camp in Tirupur district and Yazhini (28) from Palani camp assembled under the Pamban road bridge on Friday night, when police, acting on a tip-off, intercepted them. Interrogation revealed that Rajasekar, a refugee from Mandapam camp, had promised them to arrange for their return to Mannar through illegal ferrying after collecting Rs 6,000 from each. It was yet to be ascertained whether he had tied up with any fisherman for a boat, police said. Police arrested Rajasekar under Sections 13 and 14 of Foreigners Act. He was produced before the Judicial Magistrate court in Rameswaram and is being taken to Chennai for lodging in judicial custody in Puzhal central prison, police said. Superintendent of Police N.M. Mylvahanan said the four refugees opted for illegal means to return to their homeland as they could not go through legal means. Yazhini, who came to the State as a four-year-old child, did not have a birth certificate and could not obtain exit permit, the SP said. In case of Rajeswari, she was said to have married Ramar after deserting her husband and she could not obtain exit permit without the consent of her first husband, the SP said, adding that she was planning to go to a Gulf country after reaching Sri Lanka. Jesuraja also could not get exit permit immediately as he has been cited as a witness in a murder case in Kangeyam and he has to remain here till the case was disposed of, the SP said, adding that the refugees would be sent back to their respective camps after interrogation. (The Hindu 15/4/13)

 

39. PoK refugees stage protest in Jammu (13)

Jammu: An organisation representating Pakistan occupied Kashmir refugees staged a protest on Sunday demanding permanent rehabilitation package of Rs. 1,700 crore from the government. Led by General Secretary of PoK Refugees Front (POKRF), Rachhpal Singh Chib, over 300 refugees, including women, assembled near Press Club here and attempted to march towards Civil Secretariat, but were stopped by police, leading to a clash. The refugees were demanding rehabilitation package of Rs. 1,700 crore, which was submitted by state government to central government, on the patten of one-time settlement package for refugees declared by the Centre. The state government had submitted a proposal to the Centre in August last year but it has not been approved by the Union government till date, Chib said. “There is no visible action by the state government. Even the team of 22 Central secretaries led by Cabinet secretary Ajit Seth did not bother to take assessment of the submitted package and discuss the refugee issues,” he said. Singh said the Front appealed to all refugees to boycott the ruling political alliance of National Conference and Congress in state and national polls. (Hindustan Times 16/4/13)

 

JUDICIARY/ LAW

40. PIL challenges Aadhar card compulsion, govt on notice (19)

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the Delhi government to reply to a plea seeking quashing of its executive orders to make Aadhar cards compulsory for the public to avail of various benefits and services. Justice Rajiv Shakdher issued a notice to the Delhi government, seeking its view on a public interest litigation that termed the executive orders issued by the government of making the cards mandatory “illegal”. Petitioner Ashutosh Chadola contended that the planning commission has said the cards were only optional and no one can be forced to get the card. The petition sought a direction to the government to accept other identity and address proofs such as voter ID card, passport and other documents, prescribed by the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, for availing public services in Delhi. “The entire (Aadhaar) project (of Planning Commission) is meant to be voluntary in nature and this is reflected in the Aadhar enrolment form that clearly mentions that the Aadhar enrolment is free and voluntary,” it said. The petition contended that the project was launched to empower the poor, who lack ID proofs, in accessing various welfare and other services. The government, however, issued executive orders and made Aadhar mandatory for obtaining various certificates relating to “caste, domicile, income, death and birth.” Aadhar has also been made necessary for registration of various documents relating to property, will and marriages, the petition said. It said the constitutional validity of UIDAI has been challenged in the Supreme Court and till the case is decided, “the burden of obtaining an Aadhar should not be made mandatory on the public for availing public services.” (Hindustan Times 12/4/13)

 

41. Bombay high court to hear PIL on custodial deaths (19)

MUMBAI: Bombay High Court is slated to hear on Monday a public interest regarding custodial deaths at Thane Central Prison in 1996. HC in 1997 converted into a petition a letter written by social activist N R Soni following news reports of three custodial deaths. In 2008, the HC converted it into a PIL and appointed advocate Madhav Jamdar as amicus curie (friend of court). The court had thereafter directed a magisterial inquiry. an inquiry into the death in September 1996 of an undertrial Robert Almeida. Almeida, who was arrested by Vikhroli police for assaulting his father under the influence of alcohol, was found dead i n his prison cell on September 1, 1996 with injury marks on his body. Post mortem report said that he had died of brain haemorrhage. Fourteen years later, a sub-divisional magistrate’s inquiry revealed that he died due to police torture in prison. The report was submitted to the HC. The PIL will come up for hearing before a division bench of Justice P V Hardas and Justice Mridula Bhatkar. (Times of India 15/4/13)

 

42. Chief justice laments lack of suitable candidates for judges (19)

Thane: Bombay high court chief justice Mohit Shah has expressed concern over lack of suitable candidates for post of judges for various courts in the state. Addressing the state conference of the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa in Thane on Sunday, justice Shah urged the Bar Council to conduct certain courses for training of candidates for the posts of judges. If there are no sufficient judges, the system and judgement will be affected and there will be pendency, he said. As compared to other states where there were 13-15 judges per 10 lakhs, the figure was 18 in Maharashtra. He said they were facing the problem of filling existing vacancies of judges as there were no competent lawyers for the post. He said that in 2010 when they advertised for 100 judges, they were able to get as many. In 2011, when they advertised for 100 judges, they got just 41 and in 2012 when they advertised for 159 judges they were able to recruit 55 judges. The Bar Council should conduct a drive to facilitate proper candidates and some training classes for them, he said. The situation was not good for recruitment of district judges also, he said. Against 29 vacancies, we could get only two district judges, he said. The chief justice also said that proceedings in the High Court will remain in English only and asked the judges at the district level to write 50% of the judgements in Marathi and the balance in English. (Hindustan Times 16/4/13)

 

43. Govt lawyer, seven others to take charge as HC judges (19)

New Delhi: Advocate Najmi Waziri, who has been serving as the standing counsel for Delhi government (civil cases) for the past seven years, is among the five lawyers to be sworn in as additional judges of the Delhi high court on Wednesday. Waziri had successfully defended the government when many of its policies such as regularisation of unauthorised colonies, phase-out of bluelines, hiking of court fees were challenged. He had also assisted the court that had issued a slew of directions in view of public interest litigations seeking night shelters, removal of polluting industries, probe against ghost employees in the MCD, welfare measures for labourers involved in construction of commonwealth games-related projects, various environmental issues, free seats for poor children in schools and free beds for poor patients in hospitals. Four other lawyers to become judges are VK Rao, Sanjeev Sachdeva, Jayant Nath and Vibhu Bakhru. Chief Justice D Murugesan will administer the oath of office to all the eight new judges on Wednesday morning. (Hindustan Times 17/4/13)

 

44. New proposal for appointment of judges not taken up by cabinet (19)

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet today did not take up for consideration the much-anticipated proposal to establish a new mechanism giving a say to the government in appointment of judges to the higher judiciary. The Cabinet was expected to take up the proposal that envisages replacing the present collegium system, under which judges alone decide the appointments to the higher judiciary, in its meeting today but decided to postpone it. Another proposal to make amendments to the Prevention of Corruption Act was also not taken up by the Cabinet, ostensibly due to paucity of time. The government proposes to set up a six-member Judicial Appointments Commission headed by the Chief Justice of India with the Law Minister as a representative of the government. The JAC will also have two judges of the Supreme Court, two eminent jurists nominated by the President as members. The government is open to include the Leader of Opposition in the Commission. The proposal, which replaces the present system of Collegium appointing judges, will require a Constitutional amendment. The Collegium is a five-member body headed by the Chief Justice of India and includes four other seniormost judges. The proposal has been hanging fire for several years because of strong resistance by the judiciary. “One view has been that the Leader of the Opposition should be made a member of JAC. This suggestion could be considered,” the Cabinet note of the Law Ministry reads. Secretary, Department of Justice, will be the Convener of the panel. The move would entail amendments to Articles 124, 217, 222 and 231 of the Constitution and insertion of Article 124 A. The views of the Governors, Chief Ministers and respective Chief Justices of the 24 High Courts will be elicited in writing for appointment of judges as per the procedure which could be determined by the JAC. (Indian Express 18/4/13)

 

HUMAN RIGHTS/ RIGHTS GROUP/ NHRC

1. US to keep pressure on Sri Lanka over human rights violations (1)

Colombo: The US will keep the pressure on Sri Lanka to allow an independent investigation of accusations of human rights violations in the final stages of the civil war and speed up reconciliation, its ambassador said. Michele Sison said concerns over human rights and deteriorating democratic values had prompted her country to sponsor a second resolution condemning the Indian Ocean nation at the U.N. Human Rights Council last month. “As we examine next steps, we will renew our consideration of all mechanisms available, both in the Human Rights Council and beyond,” Sison told foreign correspondents late on Monday. Since the end of the war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in May 2009, Sri Lanka has repeatedly rejected calls for an independent, international probe into accusation of rights abuses. Tens of thousands of civilians, mostly Tamils, were killed in the final months, according to a U.N. panel. Last month, the United Nations adopted the second U.S.-sponsored resolution calling on majority-Sinhalese Sri Lanka to carry out credible investigations into killings and disappearances during the war, especially in the brutal final stages. It also voiced concern at reports of continuing violations including killings, torture, curbs on freedom of expression and reprisals against activists and journalists. The resolution, as in the first one adopted last year, called on Sri Lanka to implement recommendations to address rights abuses recommended by its own local inquiry panel, the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. “Some form of credible investigation is in the interest of the government concerned,” Sison said. “For when there are serious allegations of human rights violations, whether a government likes it or not, those allegations will persist until they are credibly addressed.” (Editing by Nick Macfie) (Indian Express 9/4/13)

 

2. US names 18 people as alleged human rights abusers in Russia (1)

WASHINGTON: The Obama administration on Friday designated 18 people under a US law requiring a list of alleged human rights abusers in Russia, in a move that could cause more friction in the US relationship with Moscow. The list includes 16 people directly related to the case of Russian whistleblower Sergei Magnitsky, who died in his jail cell in 2009, as well as two others, a senior state department official said on condition of anonymity. Those named on the list will be subject to visa bans and asset freezes in the United States under a law passed by Congress last year. One US lawmaker said the list was “timid” with “significant omissions,” while a senior Russian lawmaker said he thought President Barack Obama had done the minimum possible under the law so as not to worsen ties with Moscow. US-Russia relations are strained by what critics say is a crackdown on dissent in Russia under President Vladimir Putin, and disputes over security issues such as the war in Syria, which is a Russian ally. “The appearance of any lists will doubtless have a very negative effect on bilateral Russian-American relations,” Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said in Siberia earlier on Friday. Peskov could not be reached for comment once the names on the list were known. But Alexei Pushkov, the head of the State Duma’s international affairs committee, said the United States drew up a “minimal” list. “The US presidential administration decided not to take the path of aggravating a political crisis with Moscow,” Pushkov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency after the list was released. The list was published three days before Obama’s national security adviser, Tom Donilon, is due in Moscow for talks that Russia said would include US missile defense plans. The names released by the US treasury’s office of foreign assets control included those of several officials who worked in the Russian interior ministry, and others who worked in courts, prosecutors’ or tax offices. Also listed was Kazbek Dukuzov, one of two natives of the Chechnya region who were tried for the 2004 killing in Moscow of American journalist Paul Klebnikov. Both were acquitted in 2006. Congress passed the Magnitsky Act in December as part of a broader bill to expand US trade with Russia. The Obama administration was never keen on the Magnitsky provisions, but the president signed the bill into law in December. The law requires the administration to draw up an initial list by Saturday of people linked to the Magnitsky case or to other alleged “gross violations of internationally-recognized human rights” in Russia. (Times of India  13/4/13)

 

 

3. Civil rights groups worried over executions in India (1)

New Delhi: By rejecting Bhullar’s plea the apex court has lost a “wonderful chance” to bring back peace and sanity on execution, Human Rights Law Network founder and senior Supreme Court lawyer Colin Gonsalves said. India was among the three countries that resumed executions in 2012 after many years of having none, according to Amnesty International’s latest report “Death Sentences and Executions 2012.” And now with the Supreme Court rejecting Khalistani terrorist Devinderpal Singh Bhullar’s plea for commutation of the death sentence, civil rights groups fear the country could see more executions this year. Parliament attack case convict Afzal Guru was hanged and the secrecy with which the execution was carried out in Delhi’s Tihar Jail without informing even his family about it triggered a controversy. The hanging came within six months of execution of Mumbai attack case convict Ajmal Kasab. There has been a lull in executions in India as the last person to go to the gallows was Dhananjoy Chatterjee in Kolkata in 2004. But now Bhullar could be the first to go to the gallows while 18 other death-row convicts, whose mercy pleas have been rejected by the President, could follow suit. Of these 18 convicts, at least 11 are those whose death sentences were confirmed by the Supreme Court a decade ago. However, with voices supporting the death sentence growing in India, human rights groups fear executions could rise. Another worrying factor is the growing number of death sentences being awarded every year. And now with more stringent anti-rape laws coming into force, the number could go up. “During 2001-2011, lower courts granted the death sentence to at least 5,776 convicts … of these, death sentences of 4,321 convicts were commuted to life sentence. If India were to execute these death-row convicts per year, it would become one of the top executioners in the world. India’s return to dark ages where justice is described as synonymous of hanging will be too expensive for society,” says Asian Centre for Human Rights Director Suhas Chakma. By rejecting Bhullar’s plea the apex court has lost a “wonderful chance” to bring back peace and sanity on execution, Human Rights Law Network founder and senior Supreme Court lawyer Colin Gonsalves said. “They would now plead before the three-judge bench in the Supreme Court to hear the case of death-row convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case … we will try and convince them to grant mercy.” Mr. Gonsalves said hanging in India would lead to severe social and political consequences. “The execution of Afzal Guru has created a lot of unrest in the Kashmir Valley … Hanging Bhullar will have a similar effect in Punjab. Keeping a death-row convict in prison for the rest of his life is enough instead of hanging him,” he asserted. Stating that the death sentences were also creating political problems, Mr. Chakma said: “Executions only create alienation in society … the moment you hang someone, it would lead to certain sections trying to either fan passions or take political mileage out of it.” Noting that the death sentence as a punishment had not worked as a deterrent as every day society was facing more and more ghastly crimes, Mr. Chakma said: “In such a scenario, rarest of rare is no longer remains rare … death penalty becomes a rule. India should join increasing members of the United Nations which are abolishing the death penalty and put a moratorium on the death penalty with the aim to ultimately abolish it.” According to Amnesty International: “Only 21 of the world’s countries were recorded as having carried out executions in 2012 — the same number as in 2011, but down from 28 countries a decade earlier in 2003.  (The Hindu 15/4/13)

 

4. Sikhs to approach human rights bodies over Bhullar (1)

AMRITSAR: The foreign-based Sikh organizations have decided to approach international human rights organizations to mount pressure on Indian government for commuting the death sentence of Devinderpal Singh Bhullar into life imprisonment. Washington-based Sikh leader and Khalistan ideologue Ganga Singh Dhillon told TOI on Monday that a delegation of Sikh leaders would call upon US Senators and members of Congress to urge them to pass a resolution and ask the Indian government to commute Bhullar’s death sentence. Gurdeep Singh, from Switzerland, said they would take up the issue with all the international right bodies. Sikh For Justice’s legal adviser Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said, “The decision of the highest court of the nation is ‘judicial murder and not a verdict’ as the conviction of Bhullar is solely based on his confession obtained through torture, and without any corroborating evidence.” He said that the judicial system was biased against Sikhs as those who perpetrated the 1984 anti-Sikh riots enjoy immunity but innocent Sikhs are being executed. New York-based Sikh leader Baldev Singh Grewal said they would hold a demonstration in front of UN office in protest against the rejection of Bhullar’s appeal by the Supreme Court of India. Claiming that he had begun a movement in US, urging Sikhs to forget 1984 and move on, he added, “But if Bhullar is hanged, it will be a big setback to our movement and will refresh memories of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.” (Times of India 16/4/13)

 

TRAFFICKING

5. Two arrested for trafficking 28 child labourers from UP  (1)

INDORE: Twenty child labourers working on hand driven carts were rescued and two people bringing children from Uttar Pradesh to work on daily wages were arrested from criminal Munna Pahalwan’s den in Vinoba Nagar here yesterday, the police said today. All children hailing from different parts of Uttar Pradesh below the age of 14 were sent to the Bal Surksha Awas, investigating officer R L Katiza said. The accused who hailed from Bahraich district in UP were booked under Sections 23 and 26 of the Kishore Nyay Adhiniyam and Sections 370 and 371 of the Indian Penal Code, he said. The police also organised an educational class for rescued children before sending them to a relief centre, he said. (Times of India 5/4/13)

 

6. Google mines human-trafficking hotlines (1)

SEX workers are more likely to call in to a hotline for victims of human trafficking on a Wednesday, and a Google-backed initiative could help to explain why. The internet search giant is giving a total of $US3 million ($A2.87 million) to three groups in Europe, Asia and the United States combating modern-day slavery to help them share and analyse the mountains of data that grows out of their frontline work. “There are a lot of different hotlines that exist around the world, but they’re completely disconnected,” Jared Cohen, the head of Google’s in-house think tank Google Ideas, told AFP on Tuesday. “The data is not integrated across all of them,” he said. “If you call one hotline, it doesn’t necessarily feed into an integrated system that meshes with all the others.” Sharing the Google funding will be La Strada International, based in Amsterdam but focused on central and eastern Europe; Hong Kong-based Liberty Asia; and the Polaris Project that covers the United States. The initiative was unveiled at Google’s offices in Washington, where a few hours earlier the White House published what it called a Federal Strategic Action Plan on Services for Victims of Human Trafficking. Open for public comment until May 24, the 61-page document comes three years after the Department of Homeland Security launched a so-called “Blue Campaign” to cut across bureaucratic lines in a bid to address human trafficking. In a statement online, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said that in 2012 alone, the US authorities “investigated a historic amount of cases and rescued more victims of human trafficking”.Worldwide, human trafficking is responsible for enslaving nearly 21 million people, from sex workers to manual labourers to street beggars, in an illicit trade that generates an estimated $US32 billion a year, Cohen said. “Bringing all the data together illuminates certain patterns and questions that one might not otherwise see without looking at holistically,” Cohen said. “There are, in the United States, nearly double the number of reports from women who are controlled by their pimps on a Wednesday than any other day in the week,” he said by way of example. “We don’t know why that’s the case – but because of the integration of this data, we are able to see this as a question.” (The Telegraph 10/4/13)

 

7. Rising human trafficking worries social activists (1)

Dehradun: She had been sold four times earlier and it was the fifth time when a 22-year-old woman from Punjab was going to be sold to someone   recently in Haldwani. Surprisingly, this was happening when the Government has made stringent laws to check crime against women in the society. However, whether it was her destiny or otherwise, she this time managed to escape the bid of human trafficking with the help of some social activists here. Now presently she has been staying at an orphanage here. A native of Punjab, the woman, was first sold by her own mother to a woman in Punjab when the victim was only 14-year-old for some rupees. Then, after buying her, the woman wanted to marry this victim to her handicap son. But then the marriage could not take place following the interference of the local Punjab police. Later, a resident of Swar (Rampur) UP, brought the victim to his native place Swar and sold her  to a 45-year-old widower Rakesh, a resident of  village Dhanaura, Swar(Rampur). Then she was merely 17-year-old. She and Rakesh had two children. But the widower, Rakesh, was very cruel to her, as the social activists here said. Meanwhile, then a resident of Haldwani brought this 22-year-old woman here after purchasing her. He wanted again to sell this woman to someone here. But a Haldwani-based  RTI and social activist Gurvinder Singh Chaddha along with a social activist Priya Malik managed to save this girls from being sold for the fifth time here. “It seems woman has become a commodity in the society. Now we have already written to the officials concerned to investigate this matter and take necessary action against the culprits who put this girl in such situation,” said Chaddha. “It is a matter of concern. All should come forward to prevent such acts and help the needy in the society,” he said. Taking note of this incident, the Lalkuwan police is investigating this matter. When contacted Raj Kishor Singh, SHO, Lalkuwan, talking to The Pioneer, said that the police was investigated the matter. “We have also interrogated the girl to know what she has actually been facing for so many years. Subsequently, a report has already been submitted to the higher authorities concerned in this regard. Therefore, action will definitely be taken against those who are responsible in this case,” he said. As the social activists here believe, it is a matter of concern now that despite the Government’s continuous stress on woman empowerment and to check crimes against women, cases of atrocities against woman go unabated in the society. The aforesaid case of human trafficking has only made confirmed this believe. (Pioneer 10/4/13)

 

8. 3 held for trafficking (1)

NEW DELHI: With the arrest of three men at Amroha in Uttar Pradesh, the North-East Police claims to have busted a gang allegedly involved in trafficking of children to forcibly employ them as agricultural labourers. Two teenaged children were rescued during the operation. “Acting on a tip off that a teenaged child had gone missing from Khajuri Khas and had been forced into bonded labour at a village in Amroha, a raiding team was formed,” said Additional Commissioner of Police (North East district) V.V. Chaudhary. Mr. Chaudhary added that a raid was subsequently conducted at Amroha where one Ravinder was arrested and a kidnapped child rescued from his house. During interrogation, Ravinder purportedly disclosed that he had purchased the kidnapped children from two men, Rajeev and Ankit, and had plans to further sell them to the farmers in nearby villages for use as labourers to work in his own fields. “At Ravinder’s instance Ankit was arrested and another child who was made to work in the field rescued. Another accused Rajeev was also arrested,” Mr. Chaudhary said. Investigations revealed that Rajiv and Ankit kidnapped the children from Delhi by giving them sedatives and sold them to Ravinder. They would charge an amount of Rs.15,000 per child. The children would then be sold to other farmers. They would be forced to work in tough conditions, said the police. (The Hindu 11/4/13)

 

9. HC seeks government reply on human trafficking (1)

PATNA: The Patna high court on Thursday directed the state government to reply in eight weeks to a PIL seeking a check on trafficking of children and women from the border districts in Bihar. A division bench comprising Justice Navin Sinha and Justice Shivaji Pandey issued the directive while hearing a PIL of ‘Apne Aap Women Worldside Trust’. Petitioner’s counsel, Anjana Mishra, submitted that the state machinery had failed to check the trafficking of women and children from the border districts. Encroachment issue: The court on Thursday directed the state urban development and housing department and the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) to give their replies to a PIL seeking direction to them to remove encroachments from roads, lanes and drains in Gardanibagh and Jakkanpur localities of the state capital. A division bench presided by Justice Navin Sinha and Justice Shivaji Pandey directed them to file counter- affidavit to the PIL of a lawyer, Raj Kishore Srivastava, in a week. Srivastava submitted that he had given a representation signed by a good number of people of Gardanibagh and Jakkanpur localities to the PMC seeking removal of the encroachments on roads, lanes and drains. But the PMC did not make any inquiry in this regard nor any encroachment was removed (Times of India 12/4/3)

 

MINORITIES: MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS & COMMUNAL RIOTS

10. Church of north India to focus on tribal Christians’ development (7)

SURAT: Pipalwada, a nondescript tribal village in Vyarataluka bordering the Dang district, was the centre of attraction on Sunday when tens of thousands of Christian community members from across the state and neighbouring Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh converged at ‘EktaMohatsav’ organized jointly by the Church of North India’s (CNI) Gujarat Diocese and the Friends Missionary Prayer Band (FMPB). This was the first village in south Gujarat that had witnessed communal tension in 1996, two years before attacks on Christians in 1998. It was a big day for the Protestant Christians in Gujarat. Around 210 churches constructed by the FMPB in south Gujarat since 2004, including Dediapada, Ahwa, Dang, Netrang, Uchhal, Dharampur, Vyara etc. were merged into CNI’s Gujarat Diocese in the presence of the community leaders. The tribal-dominated areas in south Gujarat, including Dang, Tapi and Surat, have come a long way after the communal unrest against Christians in 1998. More than two decades after the attacks, Christians are now feeling safe and secure with not a single incident of attack reported from the tribal-dominated areas. A sea of people gathered at Pipalwada village and they arrived by all means, including transport buses, luxury buses and private vehicles. Even the tribal villagers from the neighbouring Ahwa and Dang, too, had arrived to witness the historic event. Bishop of Gujarat Diocese,Reverend Silvans S Christian, while addressing the gathering, said, “We want to give a whole new identity to the tribal region in south Gujarat. Now since our strength has increased with the merger of 210 churches in the region, we want to focus on the holistic development of the region and its people.” Christian added, “There is an air of change blowing in these areas after what they witnessed in 1998. Ours is a big platform and we are committed to give all sort of assistance to Christian community members in tribal areas. We are also setting up youth development centres to empower youths, taking up health care activities and also developing animal husbandary.” Union minister of state for highway Dr Tushar Chaudhary, who was chief guest at the function, said, “The missionaries of FMPB have really worked hard to protect the rights of the tribal Christians. It is due to their efforts that the Christians have got a new identity in these areas after the heinous attacks in 1998.” (Times of India 9/4/13)

 

11. Barack Obama asked to protect Hindus in Bangladesh (7)

Washington: Protesting against the rise in violence against minorities in Bangladesh, Hindus of Bangladeshi-origin have gathered outside the White House here, asking US President Barack Obama to protect them and enlist radical Jamat-e-Islami as a foreign terrorist group. Raising slogans like “We do not want Talibanisation of Bangladesh” and “Save Hindus”, Bangladeshi American Hindus in a memorandum asked Obama to save the religious minorities of Bangladesh and enlist “Jamat-e-Islami, Bangladesh” as a foreign terrorist organisation. “We are urging everyone to be united in outrage and by humanity and do all you can to save the endangered minorities of Bangladesh,” the memorandum said as the protestors demanded enactment of hate crime laws by the Bangladeshi Government. They also demanded establishment of a monitoring cell with prosecutorial authority to monitor, prevent, and prosecute all communal incidents; and creation of a minority welfare ministry with authority to create a special police force drawn from the minority populace. The peaceful protest rally was organized by the supported Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, with support from various other organizations like Hind American Foundation and the Indian American Intellectual Forum. “Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, USA is calling upon the civilized world to come to the protection of these innocent and peaceful people who have committed no other wrongs than belonging to faiths other than what the terrorists would choose for them.They can count on no one and go nowhere,” the statement said. Meanwhile, another organization – American United for Human Rights – announced to hold a mass rally of American Muslims in New York on Saturday to demand establishment of independent war crimes tribunal that meets the standards of international law. (Indian Express 11/4/13)

 

12. Unscruplous politicians exploited Christians for vote bank politics’ (7)

Gurdaspur: Kanwal Bakshi, a former member of Punjab subordinate services selection board and a senior Christian leader, on Thursday claimed that unscruplous state politicians had always exploited Christians for vote bank politics and done nothing for their welfare. Addressing the well attended meetings, Kanwal Bakshi pointed out that the Christians were economically and socially suppressed in Punjab and most belonged to downtrodden classes. Even though a minority, Christians with a population of 17-20 lakh had a strong presence throughout the state but the successive governments and political parties had always been trying to cut them to size. The Christian leader said that the existing Punjab state commission for minorities was “toothless” since it had no executive and judicial powers. Bakshi dared chief minister Parkash Singh Badal to issue a White Paper to show what the commission had done so far for the minorities in the state and what recommendations it had made to the Punjab government for their welfare. He also demanded enumeration of steps the state government had taken regarding those recommendations, if at all made by the commission. Bakshi further asserted that the need of the hour was that the Christians of Punjab recognised politicians using the community to further their own vested interests. He asserted that the Christians of Punjab needed to rally behind a strong leadership to fulfillment of their demands. He also criticised the present government for not giving money under the ‘shagun’ scheme to Christian girls in time as well as not ensuring free education to girls from the community up to graduation as promised in the poll manifesto. Bakshi said that he along with his supporters would visit areas inhabited by Christians in the state to make them aware of their political importance. (Hindustan Times 12/4/13)

 

13. B S Yeddyurappa promises Rs 2,000-cr budget allocation for Muslims (7)

Former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa’s Karnataka Janata Party today promised to waive farmers’ loans and allocate Rs 2,000 crore for Muslims in the budget in its poll manifesto. Farmers above the age of 65 would be given monthly pension of Rs 500 and loans of up to Rs 1 lakh by cooperatives to farmers, weavers and fishermen would be waived, the KJP manifesto, released by Yeddyurappa who quit the BJP late last year, said. The party said Rs 2,000 crore would be reserved in the budget for the development of Muslims and creation of basic amenities and self-employment for them. Christians would get a budget allocation of Rs 250 crore in the budget for their development. A stringent law will be passed for protection of women, with non-bailable cases being booked against the culprits, it said. “Potable drinking water will be supplied and toilets built in all villages of the state,” Yeddyurappa said. “All pending irrigation projects will be completed within five years. 5,000 MW will be generated to completely remove power shortage and help agriculture and industrial sector.” The ‘Bhagyalakshmi’ (insurance for a girl child) and ‘Sandhya Suraksha’ (pension) schemes, pet projects of Yeddyurappa during his 38-month-tenure targetted at families in the below poverty line, would be extended to the middle-class. A capital investment of Rs 1 lakh each would be given to the 1.75 lakh self help women groups besides providing them necessary training and work sheds to produce different varieties of useful products. The government will also take responsibility of marketing materials produced by them. A women cooperative bank would be established involving all these self-help groups and women engaged in self-employment. The government will release Rs 2,000 crore to this bank and loan at the rate of one per cent interest would be advanced to women. (Indian Express 13/4/13)

 

14. Riot-hit Rohingya Muslims take refuge in Hyderabad (7)

HYDERABAD: Looking at least 10 years older than his age, 27-year-old Mohammed Shaker can pass off as a north Indian settled in Hyderabad but for his broken Hindi. Shaker is actually a Rohingya Muslim who fled Myanmar for safety and sought refuge in Hyderabad four months ago to escape the sectarian violence and bloodshed that is rocking the Southeast Asian nation. Ask him how he landed in Hyderabad, and Shaker recalls his three-day long arduous journey on foot through a rough mountain terrain in the dead of the night to reach the Myanmar border from where he was made to board a boat run by smugglers to reach the Bangladesh border. Hours later, he reached the shore and was stowed in a truck to be finally dropped near the West Bengal border. And it took him 9 days to finally land in Hyderabad. There are many refugees like Shaker in Hyderabad. They have chilling stories to narrate about the ongoing sectarian violence in Myanmar. “Muslims are forbidden by Buddhists to step out of their houses during daytime. Those who refuse to comply with this order are killed. My uncle who stepped out of the house got killed this way,” said Mohammed Shamshu, 25, while his companion Mohammed Shoeb, 19, showed on his mobile phone gory pictures of Muslim men being stabbed and bludgeoned to death. Healthcare, education and other services are a distant dream for us, Shoeb added. “Shopkeepers would not sell ration to us. As a result, we stealthily buy food items in the dark and sustain by eating once in a day or two,” said Mohammed Sadiq, another refugee highlighting the terrible toll of hunger. Many Muslim women who lost their husbands in the riots ended up starving as even their cattle was taken away from them, rued Sadiq, who was fortunate enough to escape along with his wife. Both Muslim men and women willing to marry have to separately cough up a hefty tax, and pay even more if the married couple has children, but the same did not apply to Buddhists, he lamented. Fleeing from their native country, the Rohingya Muslims have settled down in many cities in India, including Hyderabad. From about 150 such settlers in early 2012, the number of Rohingya Muslims in the city has shot up to 1,200 now. These asylum seekers, mostly in the young age group, are settled in Hafizbabanagar, Balapur and Kishanbagh areas of Old City, work as daily wagers and live crammed into cheap quarters. “After the riots in Myanmar in June last year, there was a fresh wave of exodus late last year. Besides India, these refugees are fleeing to Bangladesh, Thailand, Singapore and other countries,” said Mazher Hussain, executive director, Confederation of Voluntary Associations (Cova), the implementation partner of UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Hyderabad. The latest round of violence between Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar’s Rakhine region erupted in June 2012 after the alleged rape and murder of a Buddhist girl by Muslim men. Experts said that this violence is the latest in a long history of state-sponsored repression against Rohingya Muslims. The minority was targeted in pogroms in 1978, stripped of their citizenship in 1982 and exposed to rampant human rights abuse, including slave labour and torture that led to a second exodus into Bangladesh in 1991-1992. Islam is practiced by 4% of Myanmar’s population. According to the United Nations, clashes between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims have left 115,000 people displaced and several dead. The Rohingyas have been described by the UN as one of the world’s most persecuted minorities…  (Times of India 16/4/13)

 

15. Communal tension forces over 200 Dalit families to migrate from Kaithal village (7)

Pabnawa (Kaithal): Over 200 Dalit families have migrated from Pabnawa village in Haryana’s Kaithal district after a mob comprising of upper caste Ror community, which dominates the village population, attacked their houses after a Dalit eloped with a girl belonging to the Ror community. Suryakant had eloped with Meena on April 9. Students of final-year BCom at a Kaithal college, the couple had entered into a relationship and decided to get married. They approached the Punjab and Haryana High court seeking police protection and finally got married on April 10. While the couple is currently lodged in a shelter home under police protection in Kaithal, their communities are bearing the brunt. The village has become a fortress with over 500 policemen deployed on round-the-clock duty for maintaining law and order. A cluster of around 350 houses belonging to Dalits is located at the centre of the village and is surrounded by houses of Rors. Meena’s relatives came to know about her elopement last Thursday, following which, tension escalated in the village. On the night intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, around 400 to 500 members of the Ror community allegedly attacked Dalits’ houses with sticks, rods and swords. There are allegations that Dalit women and girls were harassed and allegedly molested by the mob. Their houses, shops and vehicles were allegedly damaged and cash and jewellery stolen. The entire village now bears a deserted look. While the police standing guard and keeping both the communities away from each other, the Dalits have sent their cattle, women and children out of the village. The only few Dalits left comprise a few aged women, a few youngsters and a bunch of elderly. “Around a 1000 people have left the village. Those who could afford locking their houses did so, the remaining just wanted to save their lives and left. We have sent our women and children to our relatives in other villages outside Kaithal district,” said Premdas, a Dalit, who sustained severe injuries in the attack. (Indian Express 16/4/13)

 

EDUCATION/ RIGHT TO EDUCATION

16. Minority community girls denied admission to government school (11)

NEW DELHI: Three girls aged between six and seven belonging to a minority community have been allegedly denied admission by a government school in Patparganj here. In a letter to Delhi Education Minister Prof. Kiran Walia, advocate Ashok Agarwal, president of the All India Parents’ Association, said the children came to his office on Friday morning saying they wanted to study but the school denied them admission. In his letter, Mr. Agarwal said the children told him that the school “does not have seats for them”. Mr. Agarwal said in his letter: “It is shocking that despite Constitutional guarantee to these children, a State-run school has denied them admission. It appears that the Government is least interested in the education of the children belonging to the minority community, otherwise it would not have happened.” The three children, residents of Nehru Camp at I.P. Extension, were allegedly denied admission by Sarvodya Kanya Vidyalaya, Patparganj. “It is a very serious matter. Even after 65 years after Independence and three years of Right to Education Act, government schools are still not sensitive and child-friendly. You are requested to kindly look into the matter and do the needful on an urgent basis,” Mr. Agarwal told Prof. Walia. (The Hindu 6/4/13)

 

17. Survey to identify school drop-outs conducted in Salem (11)

SALEM: With net enrolment rate of children in elementary education has been on focus under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), a door to door survey would be conducted in the district to identify out of school children and differently abled children in the age group of 6 to 14 years. The survey would be conducted between April 10 and 27 that would also help in updating the Elementary Education Register (EER) that contains details of the school-age children. “The districts literacy rate is 73.23 per cent and the survey will help in identifying the reasons for drop outs, monitor child labours and migrations so that they could be roped in the bridge course and make them continue their formal education”, said an official. The survey gains significance with the Right to Education Act or the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 emphasising on the need to provide formal school education to children. Various departments including, child helpline, ICDS, labour department, Social Welfare and Health department would be roped in to carry out the massive exercise. Recently, District Collector K. Maharabushanam chaired a meeting that charted out plans to conduct the survey successfully so help in improving the literacy rate. Additional Chief Educational Officer (SSA) K. Maniyammal, Assistant Project Officer T. Vasantha Kumar and officials from various departments participated. (The Hindu 9/4/13)

 

18. Show-cause notice to school for flouting Right to Education (11)

PUNE: The Pune Zilla Parishad has served a show cause notice to St Xavier’s Pre-Primary School, Camp, attached to St Vincent’s School, for collecting fees from students admitted under the 25% reservation scheme of the Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009. The education board of the Pune Zilla Parishad had conducted an inquiry following complaints from parents and found that the school had collected Rs 18,500 per student, defeating the very purpose of the scheme. As per the provisions of the RTE, unaided private schools have to reserve 25% of their seats at entry level to provide free education to students from economically backward sections of the society whose annual family income is less than Rs 1 lakh. A government notification in December 2012 had brought pre-schools linked with a parent primary school under the purview of the Right to Education Act, making it mandatory for them to implement the 25% quota for children from weaker and disadvantaged sections for their 2013-14 admissions. However, standalone pre-schools that have classes only up to senior kindergarten (KG) were exempt from this notification. Extension officer of the Pune Zilla Parishad, K D Bhujbal, said he conducted an inquiry into the matter after parents complained about the school. He collected some challans from parents who had paid the fee amount and sent the school a show cause notice. Bhujbal said, “The school had conducted a lottery system for admitting students under the 25% reservation quota as the applications were more than the number of seats available. I was present for the lottery on April 2, and a list of 30 students was announced. It appears from the challans that the following day, the school asked the parents whose children were selected, to pay the fees.” “The school had apparently told the students that fees will be returned to parents whenever the government reimburses the amount to the school,” said Bhujbal. The school received a total of 101 applications, of which only 38 were found to be eligible for admission. “We are yet to find out how many of the 30 selected students have paid this fee. However, we have procured some challans and the cheques have been issued by parents in the name of Catholic Syrian Bank Limited,” said Bhujbal. The fees was collected under various heads: Rs 2,000 as admission fee, Rs 10,800 as education cess, Rs 1800 as term fee, Rs 1,000 as maintenance fee and Rs 2,900 as miscellaneous charges. The school’s principal, Father Andrew Fernandes, could not be contacted despite repeated attempts. (Times of India 10/4/13)

 

19. RTE has put 11 million more children in school: Unicef (11)

New Delhi, April 11 : The Right to Education Act has ensured that the education budget in most states has doubled – 11 million more children are now enrolled in schools, Louis-George Arsenault, Unicef India representative, said Thursday. Arsenault said 99 percent of India’s rural population now has a primary school within a one-km radius. The Unicef India representative, however, also noted the challenges that still lie ahead: despite the landmark law, eight million Indian children remain out of school. Getting the children who have fallen out of the school system within it, and into age-appropriate classes remains a significant challenge, he said. High enrollment rates alone do not mean much, if drop-out rates also remain high, the Unicef representative pointed out, speaking of the 80 million children who still drop out of school before completing the full cycle of elementary education. Arsenault was speaking at a media round-table discussion to take stock of three years of the Right to Education Act. March 31, 2013, was the agreed deadline for meeting most of the targets set by the RTE. The Unicef representative expressed concern that even when students were going to school, their learning levels may be alarmingly poor. Many students who attend school do not learn the basics of literacy and numeracy, and do not achieve the necessary knowledge and skills for all-round development, as specified under the Act. Arsenault also pointed out that some one-time investments like putting in place a well-stocked library or a functional toilet in every school made significant differences, a pedagogic transformation, as envisaged by the RTE, would only be brought about by substantive institutional reform. The Right to Education Act guarantees every child the fundamental right to eight years of quality education, so that he or she acquires basic literacy and numeracy, and enjoys learning without fear. (New Kerala 11/4/13)

 

20.   “Now they have food, but no books” (11)

Tiruvallur: Asish Mehra sits in the front row of his class, flipping through his notebook. There is hardly any space between the Oriya letters, as if he is desperately trying to save paper. It is his only notebook, and it turns out Asish is indeed trying to make the paper last. He is one of the many children of workers in the brick kilns of Tiruvallur lucky enough to step foot into a real classroom. Since the Right to Education Act came into force, Asish and his friends have moved from temporary bridge courses into regular campuses. Last year they all went to school in uniforms, carrying school bags bursting with notebooks, and pencils, and were fed noon meals there. But that was last year. “That was in the first flush of starting the project. This year, things have changed,” explains Saroj Kumar Sunani, an education volunteer from Odisha. These kids come in from the eastern State in February and leave after May, the prime season for brick kilns. The volunteers say that in the second year since the system was adopted, the benefits that the government provides the children have all been tardy in reaching the beneficiaries, or in some cases, have not come at all. “The noon meal was sanctioned for these children only on April 1,” Mr. Sunani explains. His colleague Hemant Sahu says parents preferred not to send the children to school until the meal was given. “Some owners, like KCK Chaudhry of RVK brick kiln in Villiyur, came forward to provide money for food for the children in their kilns, but not all.” Lochan Sahu, another education volunteer from Odisha, says “Now they have food, but no books. What is the point? They come, listen and go back.” The NGO, Aide et Action, has managed to procure some text books so that they can be shared among the children. There are at least 600 school going children in 15 chambers, but only a few books; certainly not enough to go around. “It is a great scheme to mainstream child labourers,” says Bosco of Aide et Action. “If these children get all the facilities that other kids get, then it facilitates learning. The school also provides transfer certificates to children when they go back home, so that they can join a regular school there. Periodic evaluation of the students is being done to see if they are benefitting from the scheme. Mohammed Aslam, State Project Director, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan programme, says, “We have given clear instructions to the district SSA co-ordinators that whatever is given to a regular student should be given to these children too.” R. Dhanasekar, Tiruvallur District Co-ordinator for SSA, explains, “The problem is that they come when the school year is in full swing. The term starts in June and we distribute books and uniforms then. These children come in February, and they learn only in Oriya. These are two reasons for the delay.” However, he has promised that books would soon be procured for all the children. Susai Raj of Jeeva Jyothi, an NGO that works in the same area, says, “The problem is that no State authority is paying attention to them. They think that mainstreaming means giving them entry into a school. But how can we provide them an education if we just give them a class room and nothing else?” (The Hindu 12/4/13)

 

TERRORISM

21. Pakistan may use LeT for proxy war in Kashmir: US report (12)

WASHINGTON: Raising the spectre of a renewed conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, a US study has warned that Islamabad may well turn to trusted Pakistani militant groups, such as LeT, to do its bidding. For the past two decades LeT, the group behind the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that killed 166 people, has steadily emerged as one of Pakistan’s most lethal and capable militant proxy groups, according to the study. Titled “The Fighters of Lashkar-e-Taiba: Recruitment, Training, Deployment and Death,” the 61-page report by the Combating Terrorism Centre at the US Military Academy in West Point, New York is primarily focused on LeT and its integration into Pakistani society. Once the primary battleground for jihad in South Asia, “over the last decade the fight in Kashmir just hasn’t been as relevant for jihadist actors” with US and international troops in Afghanistan providing “a visible and seductive target” for militant groups, it said. It was difficult to predict the directional priorities of Pakistan-based militant groups after the US reduces its role in Afghanistan, especially in light of the internal security challenges faced by Pakistan and the state’s own shifting threat priorities, the report said. But “historical precedent suggests that some of these militant groups will reorient to and invest more broadly in the conflict in Kashmir,” said the study. “The series of skirmishes between Pakistani and Indian forces along the Line of Control in Kashmir in January have brought the potential for renewed conflict in Kashmir into sharp relief,” said the report wondering “whether this incident was isolated or a harbinger of more violence to come” between the two neighbours. “Should elements of Pakistan’s security establishment view it in their interest to spoil peace or reignite conflict in the region… they will likely turn to trusted Pakistani militant groups, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), to do their bidding,” the report warned. This could be due “potentially to serve as a release valve for domestic challenges or to redirect the actions of militants actively waging war against Islamabad,” it said. “While the group has historically been used by Islamabad as an agent of regional foreign policy … a steady array of incidents tied to the group over the last decade strongly suggest that LeT’s interests are evolving and that its operations in the future might be less constrained,” the report said. The Mumbai terrorist attacks left “some to question whether Mumbai was an outlier or a sign of a broader strategic or ideological shift taking place within the group, with more, similar international attacks to come,” the report said. Western counterterrorism investigators have been particularly troubled by LeT’s recent attack history, its links to several international terror plots, the group’s transnational footprint, the accessibility of its infrastructure in Pakistan and the two-decade-long spillover associated with its training camps, it said. (Times of India 6/4/13)

 

22. Bihar govt all set to constitute anti-terror squad (12)

Patna: Bihar is geared to launch a specialised anti-terrorist squad (ATS), only the fifth in the country to attempt it. Coming on the heels of the announcement and cabinet clearance on Tuesday to set up an anti-terrorism thana, the ATS will be constituted with highly trained commandos, ready to deal with any situation. The ATS has been necessitated more due to geographical proximity of the state with Nepal and Bangladesh, which have turned out to be safe havens for anti-Indian groups, pushing men, money (via fake notes) and destructive material across porous international borders. Bihar is known to harbour antinational sleeper cells, which also facilitate conduits that link terrorist groups all over India. Senior officials told HT that the ATS would be headed by an inspector general (IG)-rank officer and have two deputy inspector general (DIGs), four superintendents of police (SPs), additional SPs and deputy SPs, besides other support staff strength of 300. The ATS will be different from the already existing special task force (STF). (Hindustan Times 11/4/13)

 

23. Kashmir detainees deny Pak terror link (12)

One of the 12 people of Jammu and Kashmir detained on Wednesday while crossing the Nepal border in Harlakhi denied any involvement with any terrorist outfit. During interrogation on Thursday, they told the police that they had decided to return to their home state after coming to know about Jammu and Kashmir’s new rehabilitation policy for the people who had migrated long back. “Several people staying in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) already returned to Jammu and Kashmir and rehabilitated,” said Mohammed Firdaus Ahmed, one of the detainees. A Jammu and Kashmir police team arrived in Madhubani on Thursday to interrogate seven persons, who had been detained by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel near Harlakhi on the Nepal border on Wednesday. The residents — four men, three women and their five children — of Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district were produced before the visiting police team, which is led by the CID’s additional superintendent of police. Ahmed told the police that they had decided to reach Baramulla through Bihar as another group that earlier tried to enter India through Uttar Pradesh’s Sunauli border was arrested and its members were branded “terrorists”. “After we came to know about it, we decided to avoid the route,” said Ahmed, denying any involvement in militant activities. He added that they used to work in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as labourers. Madhubani superintendent of police Ranjeet Kumar Mishra said: “No incriminating document was seized from their possession although one of them was carrying a passport issued in Pakistan.” (The Telegraph 12/4/13)

 

NAXALS/ MAOISTS

24. Vigil stepped up following arrest of suspected Maoist (12)

COIMBATORE; Intelligence wings of the police have stepped up vigil following the arrest of suspected Maoist Shyam Charan Tudu here on Saturday. They have also commenced inquiries to prevent influx of Maoists and criminal elements into Coimbatore region under the garb of migrant workers. Tudu was allegedly involved in murders and attack on the Eastern Frontier Rifles base at Silda in West Bengal which claimed 24 lives. He was taken to West Bengal by train on Monday. Top police officials, however, said that the personnel had been instructed not to resort to any ethnic profiling of discrimination of migrant workers. The objective was only to ensure that no criminal or Naxal element infiltrated into the region posing as a migrant worker. The police clarified that Tudu had no cases or complaints pending against him in the city. The police are also questioning the three co-workers who had shared the place of stay with Tudu. (Hindustan Times 5/4/13)

 

25. Naxal prisoners on hunger strike (12)

NAGPUR: Around 49 Naxals, lodged in Nagpur Central Jail, would observe a day’s hunger strike on Saturday. The prisoners have decided to participate in the hunger strike to protest thrashing of another Naxal inmate Anil Gawande by jail officials. Gawande was manhandled by the officials for refusing a body search. Gawade and two others, after returning from Gadchiroli following their hearing, were told by the jail authorities to go for a body search before entering the jail premises. While two others allowed, Gawade disagreed to disrobe before the jail officials who wanted to conduct a thorough search. Sources informed that the enraged jail officials badly thrashed Gawade who was later admitted in the prison hospital with injuries. (Times of India 6/4/13)

 

26. Maoists blow up railway tracks in Bihar (12)

Patna: Maoists blew up a railway track between Hajipur and Sarai stations on Saturday, hitting trains services in Bihar. The blast was part of their two-day bandh. Several trains were delayed for a few hours early in the morning. The track was restored around 9.30 a.m., Amitabh Prabhakar, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of the East Central Railway, told The Hindu. “The supposed blast occurred about five km from Hajipur. The damage was not much as the track had a 10 mm gap. One sleeper and 10 Pandrol clips were damaged. In view of the bandh, all drivers and guards were asked to be alert and move at a speed not more than 65 kmph. In a show of exemplary foresight, the driver of the Luchnow-Barauni Express stopped the train before the suspected bomb blast and informed all concerned,” the CPRO said. (The Hindu 7/4/13)

 

27. IAF flies double sorties and commandos to Naxalite areas (12)

RAIPUR: The Indian Air Force (IAF), which faced flak after its personnel abandoned an injured policeman in a chopper crippled in Naxalite firing, has now begun flying double sorties to many areas and more commandos for its air support missions in anti-naxalism operations to prevent such incidents. The sortie routes of the IAF helicopters are being sanitized by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in advance and it has doubled the strength of on-board ‘Garuda’ commandos to four every time its Mi-17 choppers fly in remote and forested areas of Naxalite violence affected states, official sources said. A senior official in the anti-Naxalite operations grid noted that the helicopters are under an increased threat from extremists. The new operational procedures are being undertaken after the January 18 incident in Chhattisgarh’s Dantedwada district where Maoist gunfire had forced an IAF Mi-17 helicopter to make an emergency landing and the conduct of the on-board IAF men being probed. A court of inquiry is already underway to ascertain the role of the IAF men involved in this operation. In many cases two helicopters fly the same path, with one flying alongside the other in a secure formation, the sources said. While two commandos man the light machine gun (LMG) mounted on-board the chopper, two others armed with sophisticated rifles secure the machine after landing. “The anti-naxalite operations are a dynamic state of affairs. There are regular intelligence inputs suggesting Naxalite tactics and the helicopter sorties are surely under an increased threat,” the official said. The CRPF, which is the lead operations force against Maoists, is also deploying more men to secure the helipads during ascent and descent of helicopters that aid the operations by way of bringing in men and material besides evacuating casualties from conflict areas. The Union home ministry had sometime back asked the defence ministry to take action against the IAF men who had abandoned the injured policeman and the helicopter in Chhattisgarh, saying the incident was extremely disturbing. The IAF and BSF ‘Dhruv’ helicopters fly from bases in Raipur, Jagdalpur and Ranchi for air support missions to forces undertaking anti-Naxal operations. They have a stipulated flying time of 80-hours a month thereby making their flying a precious and meticulously calculated decision by the hard pressed commanders of the forces who rationalise the limited sorties for more than 80,000 troops in Left Wing Extremism hit states. Agencies (Times of India 8/4/13)

 

28. Vigil stepped up following arrest of suspected Maoist (12)

COIMBATORE: Intelligence wings of the police have stepped up vigil following the arrest of suspected Maoist Shyam Charan Tudu here on Saturday. They have also commenced inquiries to prevent influx of Maoists and criminal elements into Coimbatore region under the garb of migrant workers. Tudu was allegedly involved in murders and attack on the Eastern Frontier Rifles base at Silda in West Bengal which claimed 24 lives. He was taken to West Bengal by train on Monday. Top police officials, however, said that the personnel had been instructed not to resort to any ethnic profiling of discrimination of migrant workers. The objective was only to ensure that no criminal or Naxal element infiltrated into the region posing as a migrant worker. The police clarified that Tudu had no cases or complaints pending against him in the city. The police are also questioning the three co-workers who had shared the place of stay with Tudu. (The Hindu 10/4/13)

 

29. Youth meet at Naxal hit Bishunpur (12)

BISHUNPUR(GUMLA): Over 2000 youths from all blocks of Gumla, Lohardaga and Latehar districts took part in a two-day residential youth convention at Naxal hit Bishunpur block – 50 km off the district town of Gumla on Monday. The meet was organized to spread the message of Swami Vivekananda among the youths to mark his 150th birth anniversary by Ramkrishna Mission in collaboration with Vikas Bharti – Bishunpur. Under the sustained value education project, assisted by the Union government, it focused on youth power. Orators including Swami Bhaktirupanand and Swami Tatsewanand stressed on what Swami Vivekanand taught for a new India by utilizing youth energy. Swamiji envisaged women empowerment also broadly which was spelt out by Ranjana Chowdhary, a member of Jharkhand Woman and child Rights Protection Commission. “In order to give a direction to the youth putting forth the ideals of Swamiji, this youth convention has been organized. Youth energy could be a model for development and the only solution to all problems of the day could be sought in the life style of the great spiritual leader of the country.” Ramkrishna Mission Jharkhand head Swami Shashankanand said while differentiating between selfishness and altruism. He also said “It is a sin to neglect gram samaj as the vast majority of the country men reside in villages and without their development we cannot expect the progress of the nation.” Youths Sukru Khadia of Olmunda village in Sisai block and Sudeshwar Oraon of Palto village in Lohardaga district said “We learnt a lot from the youth convention and we will carry froward the message to other villagers.” (Times of India 16/4/13)

 

LABOUR/ MGNREGA

30. State spending on MNREGA goes up (14)

GULBARGA: Karnataka is among the five States that spent more amount than the total funds available under the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) in 2012-13. The State achieved an expenditure percentage of 112.76. Andhra Pradesh topped the list by achieving a percentage of 115.24. Other |States which achieved more than cent per cent expenditure are Haryana (102.74 per cent), Puducherry (106.69) and West Bengal (100.27). Karnataka lagged behind in utilising funds and providing employment in the second and third quarters, but improved its performance in the last quarter. The State spent Rs. 1677.75 crore against the available Rs. 1487.93 crore. The State provided 100 days of employment to 53,994 families and Davangere topped the list in districts. A total of 14.26 lakh plus families were provided employment against 14.31 lakh plus families who sought it. The participation of women in the works was estimated at 46.33 per cent . While 63.03 per cent of the spent amount was used for the payment of wages, the expenditure on materials purchase was 36.07 per cent and administrative expenditure was 3.19 per cent. Bangalore Rural, Bidar, Hassan, Kodagu, Koppal and Mandya spent less than 60 per cent on wages and 40 per cent on the purchase of materials. (The Hindu 8/4/13)

 

31. Labour laws mean nothing to Namma Metro contractors (14)

BANGALORE: For hundreds of contract workers employed by establishments as part of the construction of the multi-crore Namma Metro project, every workday is a challenge. Barring payment of their minimum wages, a majority of employers offer nothing in the way of basic workplace facilities — be it drinking water, toilets, accommodation, canteens, first aid or medical help — said a detailed inspection report by labour officials. The inspection, carried out by officials of the Labour Department, found that none of the 24 contractor establishments, carrying out various construction activities for Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL), has complied with labour laws. With the exception of three contractors who have provided make-shift accommodation, almost all are found violating two key labour legislations: the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act and the Building and other Construction Workers Act. Most significantly, no establishment holds a licence under the Inter-State Migrant Workers (Regulation of Employment) Act (ISMW), a mandatory requirement for those employing migrant workers. The report submits that barring around six worksites, migrant labour was employed by all contractors. However, not one of them had a licence or fulfilled any of the mandated requirements, such as providing accommodation, canteens, crèches and paying displacement/journey allowances routinely. The inspection found that the total number of contract hires on this project is around 3,745 men and 18 women. Only contractors employing over 200 workers have provided a basic on-site toilet and drinking water facilities; none of them has maintained work registers or wage books as mandated under multiple labour laws that cover such employment, the report said. On-site facilities, in the few cases where they existed, were ‘not maintained’ or ‘poorly maintained’. In all cases, minimum wage norms were followed, though one contractor was found not paying overtime charges, the report said. One company, which deploys signalling and communication systems, was found operating with an expired Contract Labour licence, while another was found operating without the mandatory registration certificates. The report, a copy of which is with The Hindu, details the findings of inspections conducted during March 18 to 23 following a High Court directive in a PIL petition filed by Samuel Sathyaseelan, a social worker, highlighting the lack of basic amenities and poor living conditions of contract hires working on the city’s most prestigious infrastructure project. It was submitted to the court on April 2.When contacted, an official working for a major contractor, conceded that migrant labourers were employed in large numbers. However, he said many “migrants had come here on their own”, and therefore were not the job contractor’s liability. A State labour official told The Hindu that this was a “frequently-used loophole”. “Under the ISMW, the contractor is only liable if it can be proved that the recruitment happened outside the State. Most contractors will claim that their employees had come here in search of work, and were hired independently. The truth is that they are hired in bulk, but they use the loophole to dodge liability.” The report made it clear that almost all contractors have failed to provide welfare measures mandated by the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act 1970. But, section 20 of the Act also lays down the liability of the principal employer when contractors fail to provide these facilities. It adds that the principal employer, the BMRCL in this case, should then provide the amenities mandated and recover the costs from the contractors. (The Hindu 9/4/13)

 

32. Odisha fails to guarantee 100 days’ employment to more than 90% rural poor (14)

Despite exhausting almost all funds, Odisha has not been able to provide 100 days employment as guaranteed by Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to more than 90% of the state’s rural poor who demanded jobs under the scheme in the last five years, an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India has revealed. This speaks poorly on the implementation of scheme meant to alleviate poverty in a state that finds itself at the bottom of major states of the country on all development indices. The CAG report, which was tabled on the last day of the budget session of Odisha Assembly on Saturday, said the state, which had a total fund availability of Rs. 5160.26 crore between 2007-08 and 2011-12, spent Rs. 4864.36 crore, or 94% of it. In the same period, an average of 54.54 lakh persons registered for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), out of which 14.62 lakh or just 27% demanded work and a meagre 82,929 persons or 5.2 % were provided with 100 days of employment. The CAG report said it clearly indicated poor response by registered workers in seeking employment under the scheme. “However, the reason for the poor response was not analysed by (the state panchayati raj) department,” it said. The CAG said the state government could not ensure effective, efficient and economical utilization of funds under the scheme that resulted in gross financial irregularities of diversion of scheme fund, misappropriation and tampering of muster rolls. “There were gross irregularities in the execution of works with poor maintenance of work records, use of machines in the execution of works, which made the scheme skeptical in providing the intended benefits,” the report said. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act enacted in September 2005 and renamed Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in October 2009 ensures livelihood security to the rural poor by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every registered household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. MGNREGA was launched in the state on February 2 2006 initially in 19 districts of the state. It was extended to five more districts on April 1, 2007 and to all 30 districts exactly a year later. (Hindustan Times 9/4/13)

 

33.  ‘Increase minimum wage to Rs. 20,640 a month’ (14)

Bangalore: The Karnataka Shramika Shakti Sangha has demanded that the government increase the minimum wage for 77 scheduled employments that will benefit over three crore workers, in both the organised and the unorganised sectors, in the State. Addressing reporters here on Tuesday, labour advocate S. Balan demanded that the minimum wage must be increased to Rs. 20,640 a month. He said that despite inflation and increase in the price of essential commodities, the minimum wage notified by the government ranged between Rs. 173 and Rs. 246 a day. “With elections round the corner, the political parties are promising rice at Rs. 2 a kg, mangalsutra for couples to be married at mass marriages and even mini laptops. However, not a single party has spoken for the workers and how unjust the notified minimum wage are,” he said. Mr. Balan said that Article 43 of the Constitution stipulates that “the State shall endeavour to secure, by suitable legislation or economic organisation or any other work, to all workers, agricultural, industrial or otherwise, work, a living wage, conditions of work ensuring a decent standard of life”. He said that the minimum wage includes food, clothing, housing, etc. H.V. Vasu from Karnataka Jana Shakti stated that the minimum wage sought by the sangha was calculated as per the expenditure incurred to buy food recommended by the Indian Council of Medical Research and not randomly. (The Hindu 10/4/13)

 

34. Haryana to spend 100 crore on shelters for workers (14)

GURGAON: The Haryana Government has proposed to spend Rs.100 crore on construction of night shelters and labour sheds for workers engaged in building and other construction activities. Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the night shelters will be constructed by the Building and Other Construction Workers’ Board in collaboration with the Urban Local Bodies Department. The shelters will be built at all district headquarters on the land provided by local authorities. The size of the shelters will depend on the area of the plot made available for the purpose, Mr. Hooda said. The Haryana Government has already allocated Rs.100 crore for the purpose in the budget for the current financial year. Mr. Hooda said the Board had also approved a Health Department proposal for providing medical facilities to workers at construction sites as well as in their residential colonies with an outlay of Rs. 44.50 crore. The Chief Minister said mobile vans equipped with all medical facilities and ambulances for emergency cases will be provided under the scheme. Further, Urban Health Centres in workers-dominated areas will be set up by sharing the cost in 2:1 ratio between the Board and the Health Department. Free diagnostic and surgery facilities will be provided in all government hospitals including tertiary health care facilities in referral hospitals like AIIMS, he added. The Board has enhanced financial assistance given on the occasion of a daughter’s wedding from Rs. 21,000 to Rs. 31,000. Similarly, financial assistance for purchase of a cycle not exceeding Rs.3,000 will be given to the workers once in every three years on production of original bill. The ex-gratia in case of natural death of a worker has been enhanced from Rs. 75,000 to Rs.1 lakh and in case of accidental death during course of employment Rs. 1.25 lakh to Rs. 1.50 lakh. (The Hindu 13/4/13)

 

35. Villagers from Mokhada flock to Nashik for jobs (14)

NASHIK: About 200 villagers, most of whom are farmers from Mokhanda taluka in Thane district, have come to Nashik to earn a livelihood during the summer. They will go back to farming in their village once monsoon sets in. The villagers have settled in the open space outside the Civil Hospital. “All of us are from the same village. We have some land at home, but since there is no employment, we are here to find some work,” said Mohan Kanoja. The villagers mainly take up work as construction labourers. The men earn Rs 300 per day, while the women labourers get Rs 200 for the same work. Asked whether they were happy with the employment guarantee scheme (EGS) back home, the villagers said payments under the scheme were paltry and often delayed. “We get around Rs 150 per day for labour under the EGS, and even that comes in very late. Out here in the city, the accounts are cleared in the evening. That is why we are here,” Manoj Gawli, another labourer said. The labourers are getting hired at Nashik Road, Panchavati, Ambad or Satpur. “We offer our services to people who make transport arrangements for us. Since we do not know the place, it is difficult for us to estimate the cost of travelling. So let that part be handled by those who want to hire us,” Manoj said. There is a slowdown in the construction industry due to the scarcity of water and sand. But even with fewer jobs, the villagers said the situation was better than that at home. “The only crop we are able to grow is that of rice, our fields lie idle after that. There is no irrigation facility. That is why, we are out in search of work during the summer season and will be back home by the rainy season,” said Kedabai Gawli. “We have farms, but we are able to take only crop – rice, after which our agriculture lays idle. There is no irrigation facility. Hence we are out in search of work during the summer season and shall be back home by the rainy season,” she added. On whether there was consistency in the work, given the slowdown in construction industry especially because of no water and also no sand available for the industry, Kedabai Gawli said there were fewer jobs, but that was still better than the condition back home. “We have come here to get some work so we can earn some money before going back to our village for farming during the monsoon,” said Raju Gawle, a resident of Brahmanwada pada, in Ase. About 200 villagers – most of them farmers- from village Ase in Mokhada taluka of neighbouring Thane district have flocked to Nashik for earning a livelihood during the Summer. A group of nearly 200 people have come to Nashik city and made their homes in front of the open space outside the campus of the Civil Hospital. “We have come here to get some work so that we earn some money before going back to our village to carry out agriculture works during the monsoon,” said Raju Gawle, resident of Brahmanwada pada, in Ase village of taluka Mokhada. (Times of India 15/4/13)

 

POVERTY/ HUNGER

36. UN voices concern over challenges of food insecurity (21)

New York, Apr 4 : While there has been significant progress in recent years in combating global hunger, food insecurity is still a major challenge and eliminating it will require strong leadership and concerted action, a top United Nations official stressed Thursday. “The only effective answer to food insecurity is political commitment at the national level, and reinforced at the regional and global levels by the international community of donors and international organizations,” the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Jose Graziano da Silva, told a high-level meeting in Madrid on the UN vision for a post-2015 strategy against world hunger. One of the eight anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) seeks to halve the proportion of people who suffer from hunger. Among the other Goals, to be achieved by 2015, are improving education, gender equality, child and maternal health and environmental stability. “The Millennium Development Goals have pushed us forward. But with 870 million people still suffering from hunger, the war against food insecurity is far from over,” Graziano da Silva said. Since the world produces enough food to feed everyone, emphasis needs to be placed on access to food and to adequate nutrition at the local level, he underlined. Such progress will require significant public and private investment in rural areas, where over 70 per cent of the hungry live, and where millions of people depend on agriculture for food and employment. However, he warned that despite the primary responsibility of national governments to ensure their citizens are fed, Thursday’s globalized economy means that no country acts alone. “Actions taken by one country or company may affect the food security of others [while] conflicts can lead to instability in neighboring countries and regions,” Graziano da Silva said. “Impacts on environmental and natural resources are not purely national and it is virtually impossible to regulate markets and activities at the national level alone.” Multilateral efforts are needed to reduce hunger and make development more sustainable, he said, citing the Committee on World Food Security and the Zero Hunger Challenge launched by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as successful examples of international cooperation. Public policies should also create opportunities for the most disadvantaged, including subsistence and small-scale producers, women, youth and indigenous people, he added. (New Kerala 6/4/13)

 

37. 6,732 influential families got listed as BPL in Himachal (21)

SHIMLA: Around 6,732 families of panchayati raj institution members have found their names included in the BPL list in Himachal Pradesh. After the issue of ineligible names being entered in the list, the government has now decided to revise the list by holding gram sabha meetings in all 3,243 panchayats of the state. BJP legislator Mahinder Singh had sought details of families of panchayat members, vice-presidents and presidents of panchayats and block development committee (BDC) members selected under below poverty line (BPL). He had also asked whether their selection was done in the general house of panchayats and whether there is provision for this under the Panchayati Raj Act. In response, panchayati raj and rural development minister Anil Sharma had informed the state assembly in a written reply on Friday that at present 6,732 families of panchayat members, vice-presidents and presidents of panchayats and BDC members find mention in the BPL list. He said families included in the BPL list were recommended through gram sabhas. He also said that there is no provision to select or not to select families of panchayat members in the BPL list under the Panchayati Raj Act. Wrong selection of people in the BPL list has remained a major issue in Himachal Pradesh with legislators raising the issue during the current budget session. On March 15, Himachal Lokhit Party legislator Maheshwar Singh had pointed out shortcomings in the BPL list in the house and demanded measures to rectify these. Congress legislator Jagjivan Pal had also said in the house that ineligible persons were included in the BPL list during the previous BJP regime with the intervention of influential people. Replying to Maheshwar Singh, Sharma said it will be ensured that names of ineligible families wrongly included in the list are deleted and those meeting the criteria included and given benefits of government schemes for poor. He had also said that gram sabhas would be asked to adopt a more transparent mechanism. (Times of India 7/4/13)

 

38. Give report on packed food for midday meal: House panel (21)

NEW DELHI: Nearly five years after the HRD ministry under the late Arjun Singh took a policy decision that packaged food would not be served to children under the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme, now the standing committee of Parliament has asked the ministry its views on the matter. The parliamentary panel has also asked if there is any research on serving readymade food to children under the scheme. In its reply, the HRD ministry has reiterated its earlier position and added that the proposed National Food Security Act (NFSA) has also endorsed serving hot cooked meal. The ministry said there is no research on providing readymade food to children under the programme. It said that during Singh’s tenure Biscuit Manufacturers’ Welfare Association (BMA) had requested the ministry to become a partner in the scheme. This request was endorsed by 28 MPs. The HRD ministry said BMA’s request was examined after consulting National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad, and Food & Nutrition Board (FNB) of the ministry of women and child development. Both the institutions advised that biscuits cannot fulfill the dietary requirements because the snack — whether sweet or salty — are empty calories. “At best they are made of refined maida, sugar and hydrogenated fats, which cannot replace hot cooked meal. Moreover, 100 gram of biscuit provides only 6.5 grams of protein, which does not fulfill the nutrition norms fixed under the MDM scheme,” the ministry told the standing committee. It was also pointed out that a human body needs at least 20 known vitamins, minerals and other protective substances that can be derived only from vegetables and fruits and not from few minerals added in biscuits. The ministry said during the state education secretaries’ conference in 2007 the overwhelming view was there is no protein in biscuit because it consists only of maida (flour) and sugar and nutritionally biscuit will be unnecessary sugar in the body and could lead to obesity. Also, the possibility of pilferage and diversion of biscuits is much higher. Giving biscuits would also not serve the larger philosophy of bringing social equity. Giving biscuits as mid-day meal, the ministry said, would also be violation of Supreme Court’s ruling that only hot cooked mid-day meal be served. (Times of India 12/4/13)

 

39. World Bank to lend India upto $20 bn to fight poverty (21)

Washington: The World Bank has come out with a multi-billion ($12-20 billion) four-year plan aimed at bringing down poverty levels in seven low-income Indian states, where majority of India’s poor live, to just 5.5% in 2030 against 29.8% in 2010. The seven low-income states are Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. The World Bank’s Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for India (2013-2017) proposing a lending programme of $3 billion to $5 billion each year over the next four years was discussed by its board of executive directors. Under the proposal, 60% of the financing will go to state government-backed projects and half of this, or 30% of total lending, will go to low-income or special category states (where public services face high delivery costs). Under the previous strategy, 18% of lending went to these states. The proposal was announced for the first time by the World Bank president last week. In a statement, the Bank said its proposal would increase the share of people living above the threshold where they are at risk of falling back into poverty to 41.3% from 19.1%. If India were to grow as it did from 2005 to 2010 without making growth more inclusive, poverty would fall to only 12.3% while 33.6% would remain above the vulnerability threshold by 2030, the Bank said. “India’s seven low-income states, with 60% of India’s poor, are now growing faster than the average, and so investments there have the potential for greater impact,” said Onno Ruhl, World Bank country director in India. (Hindustan Times 13/4/13)

 

40. Millions in Asia face starvation by 2050 due to global warming (21)

London: Millions of people in Asia and Africa may face the threat of starvation by 2050 as a result of extreme temperature globally, scientists warn. Many could become destitute in the two continents as staple foods more than double in price by 2050 as a result of extreme temperatures, floods and droughts. Experts said that rising temperatures will also have a drastic effect on access to basic foodstuffs, with potentially dire consequences for the poor, ‘The Observer’ reported. A US government-funded study of the fertile Lower Mekong basin in Asia, which includes Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos, states that temperatures there could rise twice as much as previously expected, devastating food supplies for the 100 million people expected to live there by 2050. “We’ve found that this region is going to experience climate extremes in temperature and rainfall beyond anything that we expected”, said Jeremy Carew-Reid, author of the Climate Change Adaptation and Impact Study for the Lower Mekong. “Food production will have to rise 60 per cent by 2050 just to keep pace with expected global population increase and changing demand. Climate change comes on top of that,” Frank Rijsberman, head of the world’s 15 international CGIAR crop research centres, which study food insecurity, said. The impending threat of global warming was discussed at two major food security summits being held in Ireland, organised by UN World Food Programme, the CGIAR Research Programme on Climate Change and the Mary Robinson Climate Justice foundation. “We are entering an uncertain and risky period. Climate change is the game changer that increases exposure to high and volatile food prices, and increases the vulnerability of the hungry poor, especially those living in conflict zones or areas of marginal agricultural productivity. “We must act quickly to protect the world’s poorest people,” Ertharin Cousin, the UN’s World Food Programme director, said. (Indian Express 14/4/13)

 

41. Food security bill designed for the economically weak: Pawar (21)

PUNE: Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar on Sunday said that the proposed food security bill will change the face of the nation. He was speaking as the chief guest at the fourth convocation ceremony of D Y Patil Vidyapeeth in Pimpri. “The food security bill is designed for the economically weaker section of society. The government has decided to keep the rates of foodgrains minimal so that it would be affordable to them. For instance, the government proposes to sell wheat at Rs 1 per kg, jowar at Rs 2 per kg and rice at Rs 3 per kg. The government is willing to bear the financial burden,” Pawar said. Champion of green revolution in India, prof M S Swaminathan, said that the proposed food security bill will cover at least 70% of the country’s population. “Most of these people do not have a regular source of income but they would benefit from it,” he said. Planning commission member K Kasturirangan, historian Babasaheb Purandare, P D Patil, president of the university, K B Powar, chancellor of the university and P N Razdan, its vice-chancellor were also present on the occasion. Swaminathan and Kasturirangan were honoured with doctor of science by the university. (Times of India 15/4/13)

 

HINDUTVA

42. Ashok Singhal for forming Hindu Swabhiman Sarkar (26)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) international patron Ashok Singhal has called for forming a Hindu Swabhiman Sarkar in New Delhi to end the insult to the 100-crore strong Hindu society. Inaugurating the public meeting organised as part of the 10th state conference of the Hindu Aikya Vedi here on Saturday, he said that the Hindus were being neglected in the country and at the current rate, Hindus would become a minority in 50 years. Coming down heavily on the governments that had been objecting the construction of the Ram Temple at the Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya, he reminded the  Hindus to think about the fact that Lord Sri Ram’s idol was installed in a makeshift temple with only a piece of cloth to roof it. He asked whether it was not an insult to the Hindus. Singhal called for putting pressure on the Central Government to enact a piece of legislation to expedite the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. He also said that Hindus would never ever allow the construction of a mosque or a Muslim cultural centre within the 70-acre Ram Janmabhoomi site.  Singhal asked the Muslim community in the country to honour the sentiments of the Hindus on the Ram temple issue. He said that Ram Janmabhoomi was not a court issue but an issue which the people’s court had to decide. Criticising Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s controversial statement that Muslims had the first claim on the  country’s resources,  he said that it was the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and backward communities in the country which had the legitimate right for the first claim on the country’s resources as they had been suffering for hundreds of centuries. He was also critical on the demand for  reservation for converted Christians.  Singhal said that the 220-crore strong Christians in the world were funding hundreds of crores for  religious conversion in the country and they had no right to claim a share of the reservation set apart for the Dalits and Vanavasi people. “It is also against the constitutional principles of the country,” he said. Singhal criticised the government and the Devaswom Boards for taking away the devotees’ offerings from the temples in Sabarimala and Guruvayur. “Instead the Hindus should be allowed to  manage the temples on their own,” he said. Singhal presented the First Hindu Ratna Award to ISRO former chairman G Madhavan Nair, who was also the president of the reception committee of the conference. Presiding over the public meeting, Madhavan Nair said that there should be an action programme for the  uplift of the Hindu communities. He said that Hindu Philosophy and Hindu way of life led to the first-ever conglomeration of human kind.Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma, head of the Travancore royal family, also attended the meeting. BJP leader M S Kumar welcomed the gathering. Brahmachari Bhargava Ram introduced the dignitaries who were honoured at the meeting. Swami Prakashananda of the Sivagiri Mutt,   Poet P Narayana Kurup, Kallen Pokkudan,  Sports coach Ashokan Kunninkal, Neurologist  Dr Marthanda Pillai,  N K Bhasi,  P K Bhaskaran, socialist leader P Viswambharan were honoured. Hindu Aikya Vedi leaders Kummanam Rajasekharan and K P Sasikala Teacher spoke. Various Hindu community leaders and spiritual leaders also attended the meet. Kilimanoor Suresh proposed a vote of thanks. (New Indian Express 8/4/13)

 

43. VHP activists’ presence creates mild tension near Charminar (26)

HYDERABAD: Tension prevailed briefly near the historic Charminar on Friday when a group of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) activists thronged the Bhagyalakshmi temple abutting the monument to perform puja. Cops posted near Mecca Masjid noticed the presence of the activists around 11.30 am. The activists, led by VHP joint secretary Yaman Singh, began performing arthi that lasted around half-an-hour. In the meantime, alerts were sent to police forces in the area, including the armed picket that was posted near the temple in view of the communal trouble hat broke out over reported attempts to expand the structure in November last year. “We waited till they finished their puja and then asked them to leave,” Charminar inspector Mohan Kumar, said. Police sources said that VHP, which has not performed any puja here from November 2012, might be trying to whip up religious passions ahead of Sri Ram Navmi on April 19. Yaman Singh, who was earlier associated with Bajrang Dal, is an accused in the communal trouble case that was reported on the eve of Sri Ram Navmi in 2010. (Times of India 13/4/13)

 

44. Rajasthan govt forces sportspersons to sign affidavit stating ‘no links with RSS’ (26)

Jaipur: Controversy has erupted over sportspersons seeking cash incentives from the Rajasthan State Sports Council being made to sign an affidavit stating that they have no association with ‘communal’ organisations like RSS and Jamait-e Islamic. Members of ABVP, youth wing of BJP, yesterday protested at an awards function organised by the RSSC against the sports persons being made to give the affidavits. The protestors shouted slogans and had a scuffle with police who tried to stop from entering the stadium. “RSS is not a terrorist organisation, but is devoted to the service of the nation. Had the affidavit been restricted to communal organisation, it would have been ok, but associating it with RSS is a wrong move which will not be digested. We demand immediate withdrawal of it,” Kailash Nath Bhatt, BJP spokesman for state, said. The RSSC and the sports department are blaming each other over the issue. The RSSC claims that it has followed long standing orders from the sports department since 1986, while sports department maintains that it is the RSSC which decides the norms. “The norms are continuing since 1986 and we are towing with it. We have not introduced it,” state sports minister Mangilal Garasia said. Countering this, former sports minister Younis Khan said the order was withdrawn by the BJP government during his tenure. PCC chief Chandrabhan said, “Players should be judged on sports merit alone”. Another leader of BJP, Satish Poonia, said it was wrong to create a divide among sportsmen on the basis of religion. “We would not tolerate it. It is against the constitutional rights. The government is trying to divide the sportsmen which is not fair,” he said. The RSSC distributed more than Rs 2 crore to sports persons who had achieved success in various sports at national as well as international level. Athlete Ghamanda Ram was the recipient of the biggest amount of Rs 3.5 lakh. (Indian Express 14/4/13)

 

RIGHT TO INFORMATION

1. Man penalised for filing 100 RTI applications (1)

HYDERABAD: At a time when the central government is formulating ways to ‘strengthen’ the not-so-adequately used Right to Information Act 2005 (RTI) in the country, here is a man from AP who has been penalised by the state information commission for using the RTI a little too frequently. Turns out that E Sivaramanjaneyulu, a resident of Navapala village in Anantapur district, dashed off over 100 RTI applications, all directed to the agriculture department, over the past few years seeking extensive information about its operations, schemes and benefits extended to poor farmers. But while the applicant had hoped that his incessant efforts would help unearth a wealth of ‘facts and figures’ about the government office, what has instead come his way is a strongly-worded order passed by information commissioner P Vijaya Babu who has even gone to the extent of branding Sivaramanjaneyulu as a ‘nuisance’ to the state department. Taking shelter under an old court order and Section 8 (1) (j) of the RTI Act (the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest), Babu has exempted the concerned officers from providing further information to the applicant. His argument was that the information sought is of no public interest and voluminous. If that’s not all, the order has also questioned the motive of the applicant behind floating the RTIs. The startling ‘verdict’ was issued at a hearing on April 1, held after the aggrieved applicant approached the commission over six unsatisfactory responses to his queries filed with the agriculture department last year. “How can a state information commissioner decide what I should ask,” questioned Sivaramanjananeyulu ruing the judgment. “I am very hurt by the attitude of the commissioner who seems to be siding with the concerned government officials and even directing me to stop ‘harassing’ them. Ideally, he should be ensuring that the information sought is furnished without any hassle and opposition from the concerned department,” he added. Ramanjaneyulu, who runs a quarterly magazine on agriculture, said that his only intention behind filing so many applications was to ascertain if the schemes and initiatives of the government were benefitting farmers. The recent order has been met with severe criticism from RTI activists from across the state, who are now preparing to appeal for a review petition and also lodge a formal complaint against the commissioner, with the governor. “The Act does not say anything about rejecting applications based on motives,” said RTI activist Rakesh Reddy, adding, “All through the order, there is no mention of the queries asked that could have decided if they were personal or of public interest. Instead, the order analyses the applicant’s intentions. This only shows that the commissioner is behaving like a lawmaker.” Another RTI activist and former IFS officer Padmanabha Reddy pointed out that the order was not in the right format as it was not a ‘speaking order’, much against the spirit of the Act. “The order went into the antecedents of the applicant, which is not correct. Also, how can a single order be passed for six applications,” he questioned. When contacted, information commissioner Vijaya Babu maintained that the order was passed after much deliberation and in keeping with the Act. He claimed that the applicant had been flooding the department with an unreasonable number of applications. (Times of India 5/4/13)

 

2. RTI hearing on Merger Agreement on April 15 (1)

Imphal, April 07 2013 : Along with admitting the application filed under Right to Information (RTI) for seeking information on the number of Manipuris employed as per the Merger Agreement Article VIII (3) dated 21/9/1949 through India’s President, Prime Minister and Home Minister since May, 2012, Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) has finally directed the applicant, Dr Th Suresh Singh, MD, WHO Fellow (Holland and UK) to attend a hearing of the same through video conference at NIC, Imphal West DC office on April 15, 2013 .However, as the applicant would be leaving Imphal for the all important hearing of the case in Supreme Court on removal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, he would be attending the same in person at New Delhi. It may be noted here that Dr Suresh has been trying to get information under RTI with regard to the number of Manipuris employed as per Merger Agreement Article VIII (3) dated 21/9/1949 through President of India, Prime Minister and Union Home Minister since May 2012.The Prime Minister’s Office subsequently referred the matter to Union Home Ministry as they are the custodian of the said matter. From May to August 2012, various sections of the Home Ministry had been referring the matter among themselves and thus not providing the required information. Consequently, under relevant provisions of the RTI Act, the Ist appeal was made to the First Appellate Authority, the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi on 10th August 2012.In spite of that the information being sought was not supplied within the stipulated 30 days period. Hence, the 2nd and the last appealed was made to the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) on 10th September 2012 and the later has fixed a hearing on 15/04/2013 at 12.15PM.In connection with the hearing of the case, Dr Suresh has informed that he would not only urge the CIC to direct the concerned authority to supply the information being sought but also to punish those concerned for not supplying of the information under the provision of RTI Act. (EpPao 8/4/13)

 

3. A year on, RTI applicant still awaits education department response (1)

On January 12 last year, RTI applicant Dinesh Suryavanshi had sought information related to class XI admissions under Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005. Even after two appeals and a showcause notice issued to education department officials, he is still waiting for a response from them. “I wanted to know about the total number of seats reserved for SC, ST candidates, the stipulated seats in management courses and the seats filled in these categories. I also sought details of total number of admissions done in August and September in colleges across Pune,” said Suryavanshi. He said till date he has not received any information from the department. “There are a lot of discrepancies in class XI admissions and the authorities are trying to cover up. This is the reason why they are not providing me information,” said Suryavanshi, a teacher at a Mumbai college. When he did not get any information under RTI, Suryavanshi filed an appeal. His first appeal was taken up for hearing on February 13, where he was given March 5 as the next date of hearing, which was later postponed to April 4. As the first appellate authority was not present on the date of hearing, it was further postponed to May 3 where it was ruled that the applicant should be provided all the information without any fee. Failing to receive any information despite the ruling, Suryavanshi again filed an appeal on August 21. On the date of hearing, the public information officer was not present and the assistant public information officer declared that he was yet to receive information from the deputy director of education. A decision to provide information in eight days was taken in the second appeal. (Indian Express 9/4/13)

 

4. Plea in SC for stay of verdict on appointments in CIC (1)

NEW DELHI: RTI activists Aruna Roy and Shailesh Gandhi have sought a stay from the Supreme Court on its decision directing information commissions to appoint a legally trained member. The two activists in the writ petition have argued that work has come to a standstill in five of the 28 commissions in the country and was impacting the implementation of the act adversely. In September, 2012, the SC had directed all information commissions to work in benches of two members and ordered that each bench should comprise of a legally trained member. “Presently the judgment has created a lot of uncertainty and some commissions have stopped working in the absence of clarity of how they can function in view of the judgment. Commissions which have stopped functioning are Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Manipur, Madhya Pradesh and Goa,” the activists said. They also argued that there were no commissioners in Madhya Pradesh and Goa and governments were not sure about the fresh appointments they could make. “Even in other states, the process of appointing information commissioners has almost come to a halt. An example is the information commission of Uttar Pradesh. UP has posts of 11 ICs sanctioned, however, presently there are only three ICs working,” they said. (Times of India 11/4/13)

 

MEDIA/ FREEDOM OF PRESS

5. Media demonising Muslim community: Katju (1)

Hyderabad: “Discrimination” against Muslims is giving rise to a feeling of injustice among them, Press Council Chairman Markanedya Katju on Sunday claimed and rebuked the media for what he described as “demonising” Muslim community through “irresponsible” journalism. Press Council of India Chairman Markandey Katju along with criminal lawyer Majid Memon at Mumbai University function. HT photo/Kunal Patil “Whenever a bomb blast occurs or such incident takes place, within an hour or so many TV channels start showing that an email or sms has come from the Indian Mujahideen, JeM or Harkatuljihad-e-Islam, or some Muslim name, claiming responsibility. “An email or sms can be sent by any mischievous person. But when your start screening this on TV and next day in print. The certain message you (media) are sending is that all Muslims are terrorists and they having nothing to do except to throw bombs….You are demonising the entire Muslim community and promoting communalism”, Katju said. He was addressing a symposium on “Reporting Terror: How Sensitive is the media?”, organised by English daily ‘The Hindu’. “Is this the responsible behaviour of the media? I think it is totally irresponsible behaviour which is promoting communalism in the country. This is very bad. I have raised voice against this, but they said I am suppressing the media”, Katju said. Observing that media should stick to ethics and be mindful of its national responsibility, Katju said, “Do you have the freedom to spread communalism? You will be stopped from doing devilish thing. I am a strong fighter for media’s freedom but I will not allow you to do such devilish things. You will have to have responsibility in the national interest”.Katju claimed the feeling of injustice was on the rise among Muslims owing to “discrimination” against them in various spheres. “Unfortunately, Muslims are discriminated in getting jobs, banks loans and there is a sense of great injustice”, he alleged. “The cause of terrorism is injustice. Abolishment of poverty and discrimination will help in checking terrorism”, the former Supreme Court judge said. Stressing that every freedom is subjected to reasonable restriction in public interest, Katju said he had earlier requested the Prime Minister on the need for amending the Press Council Act. “The amendments were sought with regard to bringing the electronic media under purview of media council and for providing some powers to take action”, Katju said, pointing out that he was only in favour of regulation and not to control the media. “But, in exceptional circumstances definite action needs to be taken”, he added. (Hindustan Times 8/4/13)

 

6. Congress logs into social media to target youths (1)

BANGALORE: The state Congress is trying to woo the urban youth through social media. On Monday, KPCC president G Parameshwara interacted with netizens on Google+ Hangout. He also launched the party’s Twitter, Facebook and YouTube accounts and released its audio-video publicity material. The party will update netizens through these media on a daily basis. As senior party leaders will be touring and campaigning, second-rung leaders have been assigned to keep the party presence alive on social media. Rahasya Gowda, who chatted online with Parameshwara, asked: “What made you to take to social media?”Parameshwara replied: “We’re changing to keep pace with the modern world. There are many educated and ambitious youth on social media – it’s their platform. We’re here to develop the link with them and address their aspirations.” He said the target audience was youth and women as they can correct the system. If youths are the target, why then is representation to Youth Congress members so little? “The definition of youth needs to be defined. In politics, 45 years and sometimes up to 50 years is considered youth. We have several units and Youth Congress is one of them. Of the 177 candidates announced, 67 are below 45 years. There is a transition as educated and young people are coming forward to be part of politics and usher in change,” he said. Parameshwara and Siddaramaiah worked hard to dispel reports about differences between them and put on a show of camaraderie. “We have good prospects. Our rivals are spreading this rumour to create confusion,” Parameshwara said. “Forget about bitterness or differences, we haven’t even had a heated conversation. It’s baseless,” said Siddaramaiah. (Times of India 9/4/13)

 

7. Delhi HC against self-regulation by electronic media industry (1)

New Delhi: Amid raging controversy over regulation of electronic media in India, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday recommended to the government to establish a statutory body to regulate the broadcast media, saying state intervention was necessary. “Absence of state intervention on its own is no guarantee of a rich media environment. On the contrary: to promote a media environment characterized by pluralism and diversity, State intervention is necessary,” a bench headed by justice Pradeep Nandrajog said. Recommending that a statutory regulatory body “consisting of men and women of eminence” be constituted, the bench said, security of tenure should be provided for its members so that they were free from government interference. “Till this happens…as a stop gap mechanism the self-regulatory body formed by the Indian Broadcasting Foundation named ‘Broadcasting Consumers Complaint Committee’…recognized by the Union of India as a body competent to take cognizance of and decide complaints pertaining to violation of the law by broadcasters…its (BCCC’s) decisions shall be treated by the Union of India as the foundation to take appropriate action and pass necessary directions as also orders against the offender,” the HC said. The bench was deciding a PIL against ‘Emotional Atyachar’ telecast on UTV Bindass in 2010. It asked the BCCC, an industry body meant for self regulation,  to decide the complaints of “vulgarity” and “obscenity” against reality show and the Centre would enforce the decision. “This is a landmark verdict which would ensure that TV content is regulated through a body eminent people and not left to self-regulation, which is an oxymoron,” advocate Rahul Mehra, who represented the petitioners, told HT. Press Council of India chairman Justice Markandey Katju has been demanding that electronic media should be brought under PCI’s jurisdiction. But the government maintained that it favoured self-regulation by the industry. The court pointed out there was no regulatory body constituted under the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act 1995, The Cable Television Network Rules 1994, Programme Code and Advertising Code and in case of violation of these Acts and Rules it was left to the executive to ensure that the mandate of the legislation was complied with. But such a situation would be an anathema in a democratic set up inasmuch as it would put broadcast industry under the direct control of the state, it noted. “To guarantee pluralism and diversity of opinion requires provisions for public broadcasting, commercial broadcast and print media and community-based broadcast. To ensure media pluralism may require the application of competition law by the State to prevent monopoly of forms of communications, airwaves etc.,” the bench said. Noting that freedom of expression was not an absolute right, the bench, however, said, any reasonable restrictions could be imposed only by legislation. Commenting on the current electronic media scene, the HC said, there was desperate rush to grab eyeballs which had led the broadcast media to sully itself with sensationalization by adding colour and spice to events and transgressing individual privacy. (Hindustan Times 10/4/13)

 

DALITS/ SCHEDULED CASTES

8. Verka demands report on allegations of discrimination against Dalits (2)

Bathinda: National SC/ST Commission vice-chairman Raj Kumar Verka has demanded the action-taken report from the district administration on the alleged discrimination against Dalits at a gurdwara at Lehrakhana village in the district. Verka was here to discuss the status of the SC/ST welfare schemes and programmes running in the district with the administration. “This issue was not discussed at the meeting. The district authorities did not inform me of the case,” Verka said at a press conference after the meeting held with deputy commissioner KK Yadav, SSP Ravcharan Singh Brar and other district officials. “I have come to know about this case from the media. I will serve a seven-day notice on the Bathinda DC and SSP to submit the action-taken report on the issue,” said Verka. Tension had mounted at Lehrakhana village after Dalits were allegedly discriminated against. Sitting Congress MLA from Tarn Taran, Verka was also not happy with the district administration for presenting a “half-hearted” report on the status of cases registered under the SC/ST Act. “They provided an incomplete report on the status of cases registered under the SC/ST Act. I have told them to provide me details of the conviction rate in these cases.” Verka said, “The cases of exploitation of Dalits have been increasing in the state. The Punjab government has not been running any schemes for Dalits. They are also sending back the money sent by the Centre for constructing hostels for Dalit students.” On the status of reservation in the state, Verka said, “Punjab has the highest Dalit population in India. But the state government is not providing jobs in that ratio. Only 13% posts under reservation have been filled in the state whereas at least 33% such posts should be filled.” (Hindustan Times 5/4/13)

 

9. Dalit minor girl raped in Bhiwani (2)

ROHTAK: Police arrested an upper-caste man on Sunday for allegedly raping a minor dalit girl in Haryana’s Bhiwani district. The 13-year-old girl was allegedly raped on the night of April 3 but she kept quiet about it till April 6. The police registered a case against Zile Singh (32) who owns a shop in the village on Saturday night and arrested him on Sunday. The victim had gone out of her house on April 3 when Singh took her to a nearby abandoned house and allegedly raped her. He kept the girl with him overnight and released her in the morning, according to the police FIR. She returned home before other family members woke up and did not tell anyone. But her family suspected that something wrong had happened with her after they noticed change in her behaviour. She finally told them about the rape on Saturday evening. A police officer said that the victim with her family filed a complaint on Saturday after which they registered a case against Singh. Singh will be produced in the court on Monday, the officer said. (Times of India 8/4/13)

 

10. CITU to fight for dalits and tribals (2)

KANNUR: The CITU has vowed to take up the issues of the dalits, tribals and the oppressed, A K Padmanabhan, the newly elected national president of the CITU has said. “Dalits and tribals are the worst oppressed and are driven away from their land and habitats by multinational companies. “In many states, tribal people are on the warpath for survival. “The union will take up their cause and will form a wider platform of trade unions in their defence. Whole workers will fight  for the tribals and it will be a mass struggle,” Padmanabhan added. Delegates from Tamil Nadu have reported that 84 types of untouchability are being practised in the state even now. And various organisations, under a common platform, are fighting against this. The Centre for Indian Trade Union will take a leading role in the struggle against untouchability and social oppression, Padmanabhan said. The neo-liberal policies of the government will render job reservation redundant, the conference observed. “What is the use of job reservations when employment generation itself is in peril,” wondered A K Padmanabhan, explaining the union’s stand on the issue. As the government is backing off from its role as a major employer, reservation would serve none in the future. So, reservation should be implemented in all sectors, wherever jobs are created, the conference demanded. (Indian Express 9/4/13)

 

11. In Modi’s Gujarat, no Narmada water for dalits (2)

CHITALIYA (RAJKOT): In the villages of Jasdan taluka in drought-hit Saurashtra, dalit women prefer to remain silent. That’s for the fear of the upper castes in a state whose chief minister Narendra Modi is busy trying to conjure up an eclectic image to subserve his perceived prime ministerial ambitions for 2014 polls. “Those people (upper castes) will abuse us again if we speak,” mumbled one of the women, only to be given a warning look by the others. The water scarcity in Saurashtra is due to deficient rainfall, but the calamity is man-made for the dalits. Members of the community claim they are not allowed access to Narmada water, the only source of drinking water, by upper caste members. Ironically, upper caste farmers have their own borewells and don’t need Narmada water as much. The dalits in ten villages of the taluka allege they are not even allowed to draw water from the main sump. “We have to listen to casteist remarks and are even threatened if we get close to the sump,” said Jaya Makwana, who fetches water under scorching sun from a source 3km farther. The worst affected are villages of Chitaliya, Khadvavadi, Kanesara, Parevala, Jivapar, Nani Lakhavad, Kothi, Barvala and Devdhari. There are around 100 dalit families in each village dominated by Kolis. Unable to bear both injustice and thirst, women from these villages recently approached the deputy collector with their tale of woes. But the women were allegedly threatened on their return for taking up the issue with the authorities. “Should we remain thirsty because we are untouchables?” Makwana fumed. Narmada water in Chitaliya is so erratic that villagers would not even get supply once a week. After the trip to the deputy collector’s office, water is being released once in five days. But the dalits say the main sump is still off-limits for them while the small one doesn’t get a drop. The sump in the dailt area of Kothi village was never connected with the Narmada pipeline. “Our only source was a hand-pump which went dry last month,” said Maniben Makwana, 65, a dalit. “We are looking into complaints of discrimination. We have also directed the water resources department to connect hand-pumps to the pipeline,” deputy collector R H Gadhavi said. (Times of India 10/4/13)

 

12. Dalit woman killed in Andhra Pradesh , incident assumes political overtones (2)

Guntur: The incident in which a Dalit woman was killed after she was allegedly roughed up and pushed under the wheels of a speeding truck at Tenali town by drunk miscreants, has now assumed political and caste overtones. B Susheela, a 45-year-old housewife paid with her life on Monday night when she tried to rescue her teenaged daughter, who is a B Tech student, after seven drunken motor mechanics aged below 20 years attempted to molest her. Susheela’s husband, a municipal school teacher B Babu Rao has alleged that the police control room which is about 300 metres from the scene of the tragedy, did not respond to the commotion and that the police inspector with whom a complaint was lodged, played a partisan role. All the seven persons have been arrested. The incident occurred when Susheela and her daughter were returning home after shopping at around 10 pm, when the seven men who had just come out of a liquor bar owned by an affluent and upper caste Congress leader, began heckling them. The housewife shouted at them, which infuriated the seven men who allegedly roughed her up and pushed her under the wheels of a speeding truck, police said. Due to the public outcry after television news channels reported the incident, Guntur’s Superintendent of Police, initiated damage control measures by transferring the case to the Deputy Superintendent of Police and arresting the liquor bar owner’s son Nagaraju. When the incident took place, neighbours and passersby reportedly remained passive spectators and did not even bother to extricate the injured woman from under the wheels of the truck until her husband arrived, though observers have attributed it to the fear of hoodlooms of the notorious liquor bar owner, who is also a Congress leader. (Indian Express 11/4/13)

 

HIV/AIDS

13. Guntur HIV positive girl baffles doctors (3)

HYDERABAD: Questions on how the 18-month-old girl from Guntur got HIV virus still remain unanswered. While the tests carried out by a Chennai-based lab have confirmed that the baby has the deadly virus, they have ruled out that the source of the disease is either her parents or a donor. Doctors in both the states now say that only a paternity test will reveal if the father of the baby is her biological parent. “We got an oral report from the Chennai-based lab that the DNA PCR test revealed that the girl is HIV positive, while both parents are negative. We are yet to receive the report copy,” said the doctor at the hospital. “Maybe the parents are wrongly claiming that she is their child. A paternity test will perhaps reveal the truth,” said a doctor at the Guntur Medical College, who cannot be named as he is not authorised to speak to the media. Her father and a donor had once donated blood to her. But district health authorities informed that the donor was traced and he tested negative for HIV. Now, the flummoxed medical team suspects the donor could have been in the window period (time between the onset of HIV infection and the appearance of detectable antibodies of the virus) when the blood was transfused to the child. Any antibody-based blood tests, such as ELISA and rapid test, conducted during the window period may give negative results. During this window period the individual is already infected and may unknowingly infect other people. Doctors say a thorough probe can also reveal if the child was adopted or a healthy baby was swapped after birth. “There are endless possibilities, but the case has become so complicated,” a hospital source said. Doctors at the Guntur hospital are now preparing the girl for Anti Retroviral Therapy to suppress the HIV virus and stop its progression. But taking her condition into consideration, it is unlikely that the therapy will start immediately, they said. The baby was given blood transfusion on March 8 after she was found to be suffering from anaemia. As her condition did not improve doctors conducted tests and found that she was HIV positive. The girl was tested HIV positive at a private hospital at Kothapet about four days after she was admitted with pneumonia. As they were not sure, they wanted to carry out fresh tests. (Times of India 5/4/13)

 

14. Centre shock to HIV patients (3)

GAUTAM SARKAR IN BHAGALPUR: HIV positive patients Bishnu Bhagat and wife Mira Devi (names changed) from Araria are in a quandary following the closure of Holy Family Community Care Centre closed down. The couple used to undergo treatment here. Not only these patients, people from more than a 200-km radius (covering Kosi region, Seemanchal, entire eastern Bihar and even Santhal Pargana of Jharkhand) afflicted with HIV/AIDS would now face difficulties after the centre closed on March 31. The unit closed down after the expiry of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India’s globally-funded project christened CBCI GFATM PACT Project, a scheme under NACP-III of the National AIDS Control Organisation (Naco). Budhani Devi, another AIDS patient from Madhepura, recounted how she was sent back from Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College and Hospital (JLNMCH) in November, 2012 after the authorities came to know about her condition. A senior doctor at JLNMCH said: “We used to refer HIV patients to the centre because it was the best in the region.” Sister Shancy, the project co-ordinator of the centre, said: “We had been assigned the project from 2008 to March 2013. During the period, we registered 3,023 patients.” She added that even after expiry of the project, more than 14 patients had been referred from JLNMCH’s anti-retroviral therapy unit. Shancy said the centre used to provide a five-day intensive anti-retroviral therapy drug adherence course and also used to arrange for their stay during the course of treatment. Sister Ancy, the president of the centre, said the unit used to receive nearly Rs 1.5 lakh every month. On the issue of AIDS patients not receiving proper treatment, Binod Kumar, the JLNMCH superintendent, declined comment. However, health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey said: “I don’t know about the problem of the Holy Family Community Care Centre but I would take proper steps so that AIDS patients do not suffer at JLNMCH.” Sunil Kumar, the Bhagalpur sub-divisional officer, also assured to help the members of the centre. “We would request the secretary of food and civil supplies department to provide free foodgrain to AIDS patients. We would arrange alternative livelihood opportunities for them.” Officials of the State AIDS Control Society, said they had no role in continuation of the project. “The centre got an A grade from Naco in November 2012, but everything has been directly done by the AIDS Alliance, which was engaged by Naco,” an official said. (The Telegraph 8/4/13)

 

15. Cops beat up HIV positive activists (3)

BARASAT: Two HIV positive activists were beaten up by the bodyguards of the North 24-Parganas district magistrate for putting up awareness posters near his bungalow in Barasat in North 24-Parganas district on Monday afternoon. The victims say DM Sanjay Bansal was sitting in his car a few metres away when the assault happened but he denies this. The two had to be hospitalized for their injuries but the police seemed to be going slow in the case. Till late Monday, officers refused to answer on what charges the accused policemen had been booked, if at all. Sources say two accused cops have been taken off guard duty on the initiative of the DM. The victims are members of the Peoples Network for HIV-Positive, which is holding its statewide convention at Kolkata’s Esplanade on April 20. They were pasting posters for the rally on a lamppost outside the DM’s bungalow when Bansal’s car rolled in around 1.30pm. “Two of the bodyguards got out of the car and started threatening us. They shoved us around and tried to tear off the posters. When we protested, they started kicking and punching us. They beat us with lathis. We were bleeding profusely,” one of the victims told TOI from his hospital bed. The organization’s district president, Samir Biswas, said: “The two sustained multiple injuries and our members admitted them to hospital. We filed a complaint at the Barasat police station, but we don’t know the names of the security guards. We hope the police can identify them and arrest them.” Bansal claimed that he was “not aware” of the incident and came to know of it after the complaint was lodged. He promised a fair probe but added that there was a restriction on putting up posters or defacing government property around the DM’s bungalow. According to sources, a departmental enquiry has been started against the two security guards and they have been withdrawn from the DM’s protection detail. (Times of India 9.4.13)

 

16. HIV cases come down in Belgaum district (3)

BELGAUM: Here is some cheering news. The number of HIV positive cases has come down drastically in the district due to awareness among people. Prevention of Parent to Children Transmission Programme has yielded good results. The government introduced free bus travel for HIV positive patients three months ago. Once in a month, the dependents of those below 18 and above 60 can also travel free in buses to ART centres to buy medicines. In the past three years, the HIV positive cases have come down in both pregnant women and the public. Among 75,424 tested pregnant women, 457 tested positive in the period April 2009 to March 2010 while in April 2010 to March 2011, among 73,118 women tested, 312 cases were found positive. In the period April 2011 to March 2012, 1,23,857 women underwent HIV test, and 262 were found positive while during April 2012 to February 2013, 82,613 were tested and 167 found positive. Among general public, from April 2011 to March 2012, among 1,02,493 people, 4,453 tested positive while from April 2012 to February 2013, of the 91,154 people who underwent test, 3,135 were found positive. Dr Balakrishna N Tukkar of District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit, Belgaum district, said: “Thanks to awareness, pregnant women come voluntarily for the test now, which was not the case six to seven years back. With the help of central and state governments and with the support from NGOs, we conducted various awareness programmes like street plays, counselling of sex workers and competitions in schools and colleges. Once the patients are tested HIV positive, we conduct pre- and post- counselling. There are five ART centres in Belgaum district, each in Belgaum, Savadatti, Chikkodi, Athani and Gokak taluk. Patiensts are given free tablets at these centres.”He added: “After the government launched the Parent to Children Transmission Programme in 2006, the number of children succumbing to HIV positive due to mother has come down drastically. Under this programme, anti-retroviral tablets are given to pregnant women who are tested HIV positive from their fourth month of pregnancy. Through this, even if a mother is HIV positive, the baby will not get it.”The NGOs also play a pivotal role. They keep track of the patients. If they discontinue tablets, they counsel them and get them to ART Centre and give the tablets. (Times of India 11/4/13)

 

CORRUPTION

17. HC relief to Alagiri’s son in granite scam (5)

Madurai: Relaxing the bail conditions of former Union minister MK Alagiri’s son MK Durai Dayanidhi, an accused in the multi-crore granite scam, the Madras high court bench in Madurai directed a lower court to return his passport on Friday. Allowing a petition by Dayanidhi who sought return of the passport to enable him undertake foreign trips in connection with his business, justice KBK Vasuki directed the Melur judicial magistrate court to return the passport on furnishing a bond of Rs. 2 lakh. Dayanidhi should produce the passport as and when required by the judicial magistrate court and also inform it about his trips abroad ten days in advance, the judge ordered. He was granted anticipatory bail by the court on December 10, 2012 which had then ordered for impounding his passport and directed him to appear before police whenever required. Dayanidhi had moved the high court to modify the bail conditions and return of passport. Cases had been registered against him for alleged offences under mines and minerals act and explosive substances act in connection with multi-crore illegal granite quarrying at Melur near Madurai. (Hindustan Times 5/4/13)

 

18. Abohar land scam: locals file PIL in HC (5)

Ferozepur: Residents of Abohar in Fazilka district have filed a PIL in the Punjab and Haryana high court in connection with a land scam worth Rs. 80 crore in the town, demanding restoration of the land to the government. Uttam Chand Suneja and others have alleged that the prime government land was grabbed by the land mafia owing allegiance to the ruling SAD-BJP, and the authorities were turning a blind eye to it. They said the PWD had acquired land for providing a water storage and sedimentation tank vide a notification dated March 6, 1961. They alleged that entries were made in the revenue record showing gairmumkin diggi (water storage and sedimentation tank), but from 1995-96, there was a manipulation in the record and in place of the gairmumkin diggi, there was the entry for a gairmumkin plot. They alleged that the accused in connivance with officials of the department concerned started forging the revenue entries. However, the entries in the girdawari remained the same throughout. They alleged that because of the connivance of the revenue officials, all entries pertaining to the notification were not incorporated properly in the record, so the land mafia encroached upon the land belonging to the municipal council, especially the place acquired for the water storage tank for supplying water to locals. They alleged that the accused in connivance with the officials had stolen/removed all record pertaining to the notification; so no record of the land acquisition was found either in the office of the municipal council or the land acquisition collector. The accused, who is influential, bought the land measuring 2 kanals and 16 marlas vide a registered sale deed, and with the help of the revenue authorities got the demarcation report passed, they alleged. The next date of hearing on the PIL is April 23. Meanwhile, Abohar MLA Sunil Jakhar said he had taken up the matter with deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal in the assembly, but to no avail. Jakhar said that during the Congress rule, they had tried to get the ownership of the land and had filed an appeal in the court, but later, the SAD-BJP government avoided pursuing the case. Meanwhile, deputy commissioner Basant Garg, in a letter to the Abohar MC officials, has asked them not to pass any map for construction on the land in question till the case was decided in the high court. (Hindustan Times 6/4/13)

 

19. The concrete jungle obeys no rule (5)

Building laws are supposed to be strictest in the cities, but this is where the greatest corruption gnaws at the heart of the nation The callousness with which the basic principles of putting up a building have been ignored is a pointer to the scant regard Indians seem to have for their laws. The builders’ mafia has always lived by its own rules, which means it flouts every known regulation to serve the huge demand for dwellings in urban India, now expanding like never before as waves of migrants move from the villages to towns and cities in search of livelihood. The Thane building collapse is yet another tolling of a giant warning bell on how little we care for safety in the sardines-in-a-can experience of the mega cities. What happened in a Mumbai suburb could happen just about anywhere as the urban crush grows. At what cost this unfettered urban growth is being undertaken is a measure of the scant value we put on lives. The poorest are the ones hit most by the terrible need to live in any condition, however dehumanising, just to exist as millions of others in the shanty mini-towns and massive slums of our metros, suffering as much from fires that sweep through them in summer as from building collapses. Building laws are supposed to be strictest in the cities, but this is where the greatest corruption gnaws at the heart of the nation. The payout is measured scientifically, by the square foot, as pockets of bureaucrats and their political bosses get lined. And those who rail at the rampant corruption make it such a political battle as to always ask for the head of a chief minister without realising that the problem is not to do with the head as with the whole body of corruption regardless of who is in power. The brazen manner in which all regulations were flouted — forest, agricultural and city planning — to make such townships of shoddy buildings possible betrays the fact that the only master in the building trade is money. Governments cannot solve the problem by taking up construction of dwellings for the less-well-off because the construction industry, which thrives on the contract system, would simply deliver substandard buildings that would fall even quicker. The horrific toll — 72 and counting — taken by the Thane building collapse should serve to wake the conscience of builders as otherwise we would be fighting a losing battle against the politician-civic-authority-builder nexus. The urban jungle has to be mapped and studied in detail to enumerate the dilapidated and dangerous buildings. City regulators are the ones who should wake up soonest because they preside over the concrete jungle. (Asian Age 8/4/13)

 

20. Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti protest against corruption in govt depts. (5)

JORHAT: Over 2000 activists of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) staged a protest here on Monday seeking an end to corruption in civil supply, revenue, panchayat and rural development departments. The organization held a public meeting in front of the DC office here and blocked the busy AT Road for more than three hours raising slogans against the government. They sought a written assurance from the district administration to address their demands. Jorhat sub divisional officer (civil) Gurdip Singh Paneswar, Jorhat additional deputy commissioner (Revenue) Ruhiteswar Deuri and Jorhat superintendent of supply Ashok Borkotoky spoke to the agitators and gave them a written assurance to fulfill their demands at the earliest. The agitators also submitted a memorandum addressed to the chief minister, seeking early fulfillment of their 13-point charter of demands. Addressing the gathering, KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi said, “In spite of having adequate natural resources, people of Assam are fighting for their basic needs since India become independent. Without an agitation, we have got nothing either from the Centre or the state. We warned the Tarun Gogoi-led government to pay heed to us, otherwise we have no alternative other than to take up agitation.” Akhil said due to the corrupt practices of ministers and officers, people have not got good at fair prices, 100 days work and land pattas by tea garden workers in Jorhat and others districts. (Times of India 9/4/13)

 

WOMEN

21. One-third of domestic plaints against men are false: Madurai DSWO (8)

MADURAI: About one-third of complaints received from women in Madurai accusing men of dowry harassment, domestic violence and other such malice are found to be false in enquiries conducted by the social welfare department, said R. Ananda Valli, District Social Welfare Officer. Addressing the inaugural of a five-day training programme on counselling skills for ‘street educators,’ a term that refers to people providing support and care to street children, here on Friday, she said that even petty quarrels and domestic squabbles between married couples led to registration of criminal cases. “Human values are plummeting as the value of money and immovable property is rising up. I think we should inscribe the words ‘forgive and forget’ in every wall of our house in order to constantly remind us of the need to lead a peaceful life especially in the wake of reducing life expectancy rate,” she said. Stating that gender discrimination, child marriage, child labour, sexual abuse and sexual harassment at work place were some of the ills faced by the society, she said that about 300 women had complained of harassment at work place in a special camp organised by Collector Anshul Mishra on Women’s Day. The training programme for street educators was organised by Madurai Institute of Social Sciences, an autonomous college affiliated to Madurai Kamaraj University, in collaboration with the National Institute of Social Defence under the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It was inaugurated by Prema Cariappa, chairperson, Central Social Welfare Board (CWSB) in a function presided over by C. R. Saraswathi, chairperson, Tamil Nadu State Social Welfare Board. In her address, Ms. Cariappa said that sexual violence was one of the most despicable issue faced by women in the country. Disapproving the tendency to treat women as commercial objects, she said, that by doing so, such men were only exhibiting lack of values. She also recalled the contributions made by CWSB in putting an end to other social evils like bride burning. “Every one says God is great. I think human beings can be equally great if they work towards creating a better world for everyone,” she added. Ms. Saraswathi said that domestic disputes could be solved better through counselling rather than expecting them to be solved in courts and police stations. K. Sekar, Head, Department of Psychiatric Social Work, NIMHANS, Bangalore; programme coordinator D. Janet Vasantha Kumari; MISS chairman Dharma Venkata Perumal Raja; college’s governing board secretary D.V. Dharmasingh and Principal M. Kannan spoke. (The Hindu 6/4/13)

 

22. Domestic workers seek ESI, maternity benefits (8)

VIJAYAWADA: Members of the A.P. State Domestic Workers Union urged the government to extend Employees State Insurance (ESI) and maternity benefits for domestic helps in the State. Thousands of domestic workers attended the meeting organised by the union, in connection with National Domestic Workers’ Day, at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram, in the city on Saturday. The union leaders said that National Domestic Workers’ Movement was started in the State in 1998. Due to change in lifestyles, the demand for domestic helps has increased abnormally, and the workers who migrated from rural areas are facing untold hardships in urban areas. About 90 per cent of the women are working in houses and are suffering with low wages, insecurity, irregular working hours, sexual harassment and other problems. Domestic workers can register their names with the Labour Department in their respective districts, and can get Rs.4,786 salary per month under Minimum Wages Act 1948, they said. Domestic Workers Movement AP State coordinator Sr. Lissy Joseph demanded that the government provide ESI and maternity benefits to all the domestic helps in the State. She appealed to the government to take measures for strict implementation of the Act. The union distributed sewing machines and utensils to 90 poor domestic helps on the occasion. Rev. Sister Maris, Rev. Fr. Chinnappa, Dr. G.V. Mohan Prasad, Sister Nirmala and others participated. (The Hindu 7/4/13)

 

23. Women get a fair shot at job opportunities (8)

MUMBAI: The calm and deserted look that Matunga’s R A Podar College bears during examinations was taken over by the hustle-bustle of thousands of women, who had come looking for job opportunities, over the weekend. A two-day job fair, organized by Times of India’s Mumbai For Women campaign, saw nearly 3,000 women line up with their resumes for jobs in marketing, retail, sales, journalism, etc. “The best thing about this fair was that several firms offered either flexible or work-from-home options, which makes it easier for women having children and families to look after. I am very confident of getting a job that I’ll be comfortable with,” said Sheetal Jobanputra, a 33-year-old mother of two. Jobanputra used to work in an MNC till she decided to quit and take care of her kids. “Its time to get back,” she said. The TOI initiative, especially for women who intend to come back to work post a break, was attended by nearly 3,000, with close to 2,700 (2,694 to be precise) undergoing the screening. The firms will take forward the interactions with selected candidates on one-to-one basis. Bhagayshree Rao, a freelance voiceover artist, said, “I took a break after getting married and have been freelancing since. But now, I need a full-time job.” Mulund’s Rajlaxmi Chawla, who was on a four-year break, was looking at job options offering flexi-timings. “There are several options which I will consider from the stalls avaialbel at the fair,” said Chawla. She was earlier working with a stockholding company. (Times of India 8/4/13)

 

24. Two bills, two punishments for sexual harassment (8)

New Delhi: Two bills recently passed by Parliament provide for different punishments for sexually harassing women. The Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act, or anti-rape law, approved by the President on April 3 says the offence is punishable with three years’ imprisonment and provides for a fine. But the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill passed by Parliament in February only provides for a penalty and departmental action. The law ministry has said in an internal government note that the women and child development and home ministries should review this second bill before it is sent to the President for his assent. It has advised changes to make the punishment similar to the one under the first bill. “There cannot be two deterrents for an offence that has the same definition in both bills. Since sexual harassment is now a criminal offence mentioned in the IPC, it would not be advisable to retain it as a civil offence as well,” the law ministry has stated. The Justice JS Verma panel, whose report formed the basis for changes in criminal laws following the December 16  Delhi gang rape, had also questioned some of the bill’s key provisions, including one which provides for conciliation between the complainant and the accused. “This is in violation of the mandate prescribed by the Supreme Court in the Vishakha verdict, which stated that in matters of harassment and humiliation, any attempt to compromise is another way of undermining the dignity of women,” the panel had stated in its report. (Hindustan Times 9/4/13)

 

25. Now, ‘Nirbhaya Cops’ to check crime against women (8)

PATNA: As the incidents of sexual harassment and assaults on girls are reported everyday all over the country with the state capital being no exception, a Patna-based NGO, with the Patna police support, has come up with a novel idea of constituting an exclusive team of trained girls, to be called ‘Nirbhaya Cops’, after the Delhi gang-rape victim. A brain child of Prayas Bharti, the NGO, this women community police will start operating in five selected colleges in Patna district. Patna SSP Manu Maharaj said Suman Lal of the NGO submitted the project of ‘Nirbhaya Cops’ to him. “Women are generally shy of sharing their problems with the police, be it sexist remarks or sexual assaults against them. ‘Nirbhaya Cops’ would be the voice of their colleagues and act as eyes and ears of the police on their respective college campus,” the SSP said, adding that any crime should be reported fast so that police could act accordingly. “What generally happens is that women victims don’t report any crime against them directly to the police. They either consult their parents or family members first. The trained girls would be informers and work in coordination with the local police station and quick mobiles,” he said. Suman said ‘Nirbhaya Cops’ would be a tribute to the Delhi gang-rape victim. “Women generally look up to male members of their families to protect themselves. But, ‘Nirbhaya Cops’ would get training to overcome psychological barriers and react fast. For the initial three months, we would take the district police help to familiarize the students with police administration.” The SSP said, “We would provide women constables to the girls for their training in self-defence and also counsel them to speak out about their problems. In Rohtas, ‘Gram Raksha Dal’ was constituted as women community policing to stop crimes like theft and consumption of hooch. Surprisingly, the village women turned out to be brave enough to raise their voice against social evils and the group is working in five villages there. Police provide them torch, lathi and other necessary instruments.” Tarbiya, a student of Patna Women’s College, said, “If the college administration permits us, we will definitely participate in the project. It is a very good concept to train the girls.” * 100 girls from each of the five colleges in Patna district to be selected for the pilot project * The girls will be trained (physically, mentally and legally) by Patna police and Prayas Bharti for three months * Each Nirbhaya Cop would get identity card from the Patna police and their identity would be kept secret (Times of India 11/4/13)

 

ENVIRONMENT/ CLIMATE CHANGE

26. Deforestation cost govt Rs. 2000 cr (9)

New Delhi: The destruction of forests for economic growth has resulted in loss of around Rs. 2,000 crore to India in three years, a new government report, released by PM Manmohan Singh on Friday, said. The report, for the first time, attempts to analyse impact of economic growth on nature — forests, eco-systems, agriculture — and human health and provide a number for policy-makers for proper “economic evaluation”. Despite the limitations of the data, the report said loss to the economy was around Rs. 1900 crore on just two accounts — carbon sequestration and non-timber forest produce. Indian forests absorb about 10% of total global warming causing carbon emissions and forest produce is a livelihood source for a large and marginalised tribal population. During 2009 and 2011, India lost around 5,339 sq kms of forestland owing to the diversion of forestland for economic activities even though 4,972 sq km of green cover was added as compensation. “It shows that we (India) are not growing in an economically-sustainable manner,” said Dr Haripriya of IIT (Bombay), who analysed the limited environmental data on forest and ecology. This number is small, considering India’s huge public money inflow. But it is because the report anchored by Professor Partha Dasgupta of Cambridge University did not take into account adverse health impact due to the loss of forests and its impact on local ecology and agriculture, which contributed about 14% to India’s Gross Domestic Product. Dr Haripriya of IIT (Bombay) said India was not growing in an environmentally-sustainable manner on basis of her analysis of limited environmental data. Air pollution in India is rising in most cities and its health impacts are well documented. Just two of around 250 cities monitored by the Central Pollution Control Board as air pollution levels below the national ambient standards. A recent Health Effects Institute study had described air pollution as fifth biggest cause of deaths in India. But what the Dasgupta committee failed to tabulate on the cost of rising air pollution to economy in absence adequate data. Also, the committee was not able to give a definite number to contribution of forests to people’s good health. The report also said just in three years — 2009 to 2011 — India lost around 5,339 sq kms of forestland because of its diversion for economic activities. (Hindustan Times 6/4/13)

 

27. Pachauri warns of ecological consequences on Sethusamundram (9)

Kolkata: With the Centre ignoring the Pachauri Committee report advising against implementation of the controversial Sethusamundram project, eminent scientist R K Pachauri has said that he stands by the report and warned of serious ecological ramifications. “We stand by what we said in our report that the project will not be economically and ecologically viable,” Pachauri, chairperson of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), said. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of IIM Calcutta convocation here last night, he said the committee headed by him came to the aforesaid conclusion after a comprehensive reading of all factors like ocean current and wind patterns. “Our conclusion is very robust. Now it is for the government to decide what it wants to do,” said Pachauri, also the director-general of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). Centre, in an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, had said it intended to go ahead with the Rs 25,000 crore Sethusamudram shipping channel project on the ground that it has economic, navigational and strategic advantages and moreover an expenditure of Rs 829.32 crore has already been incurred on it as on June 30, 2012. The project is aimed at constructing a shorter navigational route around India’s southern tip by breaching the Ram Sethu, said to have been built by Lord Rama’s army of monkeys and bears to Ravana’s kingdom Lanka. The Prime Minister had appointed the RK Pachauri Committee after the apex court had asked the government to explore an alternative alignment for the shipping channel to prevent any damage to the mythological bridge. (Zee News 7/4/13)

 

28. Pakistan to be hardest hit by climate change: Daily (9)

Islamabad, April 9 : Pakistan will be amongst the countries hardest hit by climate change, said a leading daily, warning that a disaster of enormous proportions is silently evolving in the mountains up north. An editorial in the Dawn Tuesday said that away from the din of politics and the immediacy of militant strife, a disaster of enormous proportions is silently evolving in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan mountains up north, one that could in time impact the length and breadth of Pakistan. “The peaks are home to some 15,000 glaciers which, as a result of rising temperatures, are retreating at an alarming rate of almost 40 to 60 metres a decade, leaving behind glacial lakes in their wake,” it said. The daily warned that 52 such lakes, an inherently unstable phenomenon that can trigger devastating flash floods, have been classified as dangerous to human settlements. Parts of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral have already suffered floods on this count in 2010. “The melting of the glaciers will also ultimately lead to a rise in sea levels, threatening coastal areas and cities such as Karachi,” it said, while referring to a meeting to review the progress of a four-year project between the government and international organisations to deal with the fallout of climate change in Pakistan. It stressed that by most estimates, “Pakistan will be one of the countries hardest hit by climate change”.”It is therefore encouraging that the government is taking steps such as setting up meteorological observatories at sites vulnerable to glacial lake outburst floods and the planned establishment of automated weather stations in the area which should lead to improved data collection, an essential requirement for a well-calibrated response.” (New Kerala 9/4/13)

 

29. Train to highlight biodiversity of India (9)

New Delhi: With a view to creating awareness amongs masses about exceptional biodiversity of the country, a “Science Express Biodiversity Special (SEBS) Train” started its journey from Safdarjung Railway Station here today. Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, Environnment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit flagged off the train–a collaborative initiative of the Environment Ministry, Department of Science and Technology, the Indian Railways, the Vikram Sarabhai Community Science Centre and the Centre for Environment Education. Speaking on the occasion, Natarajan said the train is a “magnificent example of synergy of efforts among different ministries”. She also announced the commitment of her Ministry to running the train in 2014 also. She said this will coincide with the final year of India’s Presidency of the Conference of Parties on climate change and perform an important function of bringing biodiversity knowledge to the doorsteps of millions of people. “We look forward to SEBS contributing significantly in our commitment to “Prakriti Rakshati Rakshtam”– Nature protects if she is protected,” the Minister said. Under the second phase of programme, the SEBS will cover 62 stations over next 6 months. Of the 16 coaches of Science Express- Biodiversity Special, 8 are solely dedicated to showcasing the myriad biodiversity spread across all the bio-geographical zones of India. Bansal said the train has been quite popular in its earlier editions. The Railway Minister said railway is gradually introducing bio-toilets is panels coaches. Dikshit said the train not only give people ideas of biodiversity of India but also bring the country together. She said Delhi government has started an awareness campaign highlighting the importance of flora and fauna. “We have also declared sparrow as Delhi bird”, she added. (Zee News 10/4/13)

 

CHILDREN/ CHILD LABOUR

30. No future for children of labourers (14)

NEW DELHI: There is no respite for children of construction workers who are deprived of an education as they have to frequently move from one part of the city to another. The proposal for chalta-firta (mobile) schools for children of construction workers is still in a limbo despite Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board releasing Rs 7.50 crore to the Universal Elementary Education Mission for the project. The board has not even mapped all the construction workers in Delhi. It had registered only 87,273 construction workers till March 31, 2012 as against the 2001 Census figure of 3.52 lakh. There are discrepancies in its utilization of funds, too. A 1% cess is levied on the cost of construction for the benefit of labourers. But the board doesn’t have a mechanism in place to monitor the collection of cess from local bodies like MCD, DDA and others. In two cases MCD did not credit Rs 2.66 crore and Rs 1.46 crore to it. The board released Rs 13.20 crore in June 2009 to the Department of Education (DoE) for providing financial incentive to approximately 1 lakh children of construction workers. CAG says the grant was released without considering the modalities of payment to children and the mode of transfer. (Times of India 3/4/13)

 

31. Eight rescued children return to Nagaland (14)

JAIPUR: Eight children from Nagaland, who were among the 51 kids rescued from an unregistered care home in the city, returned to their state on Wednesday with along with a few government officials who came from Nagaland. These children were brought to Jaipur on the promise of giving them quality education. District child protection officer of Peren, Nagaland, Samuel Kapu said, “There are five girls and three boys from Nagaland. These children would be handed over to their parents in our state.” He said that since the parents belonged to rural areas and most of them are underprivileged, they thought that it was a good opportunity as their children would study in a city like Jaipur. “After hearing the story of the children, we feel sorry for them. They were not sent to schools and also they were found confined in a house with poor ventilation in Jaipur and also they did not get proper nutritious food,” he said. He said that though the Right to Education (RTE) has already been implemented in their state, the parents of these children failed to get them admitted to good schools. So they decided to send their children to Jaipur for formal education. Kapu said that the government is keen to take care of the children and will make sure that they go to school. Meanwhile, the Rajasthan government has made proper arrangements for best possible conveyance to these children. “The government has provided transportation through Volvo bus from Jaipur to Delhi and then the air fare from Delhi to Nagaland,” said Lata Singh, programme coordinator for an NGO, FXB Suraksha, who brought the issue to the limelight. On March 12, the Rajasthan State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, FXB Suraksha, district administration and other NGOs rescued 51 children from two unregistered care homes in Jawahar Nagar and Mansarovar. Later on March 24, the police and the NGO officials found two more girls kept “illegally” at the residence of pastor Jacob John, who was running these centres in Malviya Nagar area. FIRs were registered in three police stations after these children were rescued. (Times of India 4/4/13)

 

32. Child rights body to probe Kurla abuse case (14)

Mumbai: The Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has, suo motu, taken up the case of alleged sexual assault on a six-year-old boy at a Kurla school. It will hear the parents, school authorities and police on April 8. A team of five doctors examined the boy at Nair Hospital on Wednesday. Sources at the hospital said a psychiatric evaluation of the child is also being performed after a police request. “A thorough examination is being carried out. We cannot divulge more,” said a senior doctor. Police are yet to conclude if the boy was sexually assaulted. “We are waiting for the detailed medical report and have not come to any conclusion yet,” said Dhananjay Kulkarni, deputy commissioner of police, Zone V. The first medical examination of the child at Nagpada police hospital on April 1 concluded that the child had a two or three-day old bruise near his anus. This could mean that the injury was caused between March 23 and 24 – after the date on which the alleged incident of sexual abuse took place. The lone accused arrested in the case, the woman attendant of the school bus, has been remanded in police custody up to April 16. Her interrogation so far has not yielded any clues on what actually happened. The school has maintained that the lack of evidence so far points to the possibility that the allegations by the parents are exaggerated or false. “We are waiting for the medical reports and once they are out, we will take necessary action against the parents,” the school’s principal said. (Hindustan Times 5/4/13)

 

33. Govt must regulate pre-schools: child rights (14)

Mumbai: The Maharashtra state commission for protection of child rights (MSCPCR) said on Monday that it would suggest stricter laws to regulate the pre-school sector. The commission was hearing the alleged sexual assault case of the six-year-old boy from a Kurla school. While the commission has asked the school to submit an affidavit on the incident within a week, the police have been asked to submit a detailed report within four days. The parents have also been asked to submit a report of the incident. “As pre-schools are not regulated, the government has no control over them. It is the duty of the government to come up with regulations under section 11 of the Right to Education Act,” said AN Tripathi, secretary of the commission. He added that children travelling in school bus are the responsibility of the school. During the hearing, the maternal uncle of the Kurla student said the kindergarten class teacher, who was pursuing her SYBA through distance education, did not take his sister’s complaints seriously. “My sister had told the teacher last year that the child repeatedly complained about two classmates ‘kissing and hugging’ him. But the teacher took no action,” he said. The school principal said the parents complained only on March 19. “If the parents knew about the incidents in December itself, why did they wait so long to complain?’’ she told the commission. The principal said most of the city’s preschools hire teachers who are educated only till Class 12. “If people can pursue a diploma in education after Class 12 and teach up to Class 7, what is wrong in hiring a Class 12-passed woman as a pre-school teacher? She was also trained in early childhood and care education programme” the principal said. (Hindustan Times 9/4/13)

 

34. 40000 kids to be brought to school (14)

BARIPADA: In a massive enrollment drive, the Mayurbhanj district administration has identified nearly 40,000 children for admission in schools this academic session. The children include those who attained six years of age, dropouts, child labourers and regular absentees. The campaign ‘Mu bi padhibi’ (I will also study) is aimed to ensure 100% success of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA). “Every year parents bring their children to school. This year, we decided to reach out to the children by visiting almost all households in the district. Not a single child should be left out,” said district project coordinator of SSA Diganta Routray. The week-long drive started on April 1 and covered households located around 4,300 primary schools in the district. Under this drive, the teachers, anganwadi workers, siksha sathis of basic and upper primary schools went for a door-to-door survey. They had to convince parents in villages and different localities to send their wards to schools. “During the campaign, special emphasis would be given to the children who have left studies midway and bring them to school. Every child in the age group of 6 to 14 should be given free and compulsory education. We have also urged dhaba, hotel and garage-owners to enroll children below 14 years of age working under them in nearby schools by April 15 or a special squad will rescue such children,” added Routray. The district administration has also announced award for teachers and school management committee in which all children between 6 and 14 years will be enrolled and attendance will be more than 90%.According to official sources, the retention rate of students in the district is 68.38% which is third lowest in the state. There are no primary schools in 309 habitations in the district while around 111 habitations do not have upper primary schools, SSA sources said. (Times of India 10/4/13)

 

AGRICULTURE/ FARMERS SUICIDES

35. “PR 118′ boon for paddy farmers where water quality is poor” (20)

Ludhiana: The paddy variety, ‘PR118′, developed by the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), has carved a special niche for itself in the areas where the quality of ground water is poor. The variety has proved a boon for the farmers of Sangrur, Mansa and Bathinda districts. Highlighting the characteristics of the variety, head, department of plant breeding and genetics, RK Ghumber, said that paddy area under the variety ‘PR118′ had almost doubled during the last one year. In Bathinda and Mansa districts, this variety occupied around 60% of the total area sown under paddy, he said. He said that variety is resistant to most of the pathotypes of bacterial blight disease. Farmers from across the state are buying this variety at kisan melas organised by PAU, he added. Senior rice-breeder, PAU, GS Mangat, said that in PAU, the research efforts were initiated to improve the Pusa 44 rice variety (sensitive to salinity and bacterial blight) in the year 1993. “In the short span of five years, several improved rice genotypes were developed and were tested in multilocation yield trials at PAU and its research stations at Kapurthala, Patiala and Gurdaspur,” he said. “As a result of these trials, the variety “PR118″ was identified as promising and was approved for release by the state varietal approval committee in the year 2003,” he said. He highlighted that in the research and adaptive trials conducted at the farmers’ fields, PR118 gave 3% higher yield than Pusa 44. PAU experts disclosed that the said variety of paddy is being cultivated over 28 lakh hectare area in Punjab, with an expected production of nearly 10 lakh tonnes. (Hindustan Times 3/4/13)

 

36. Distressed over poor crop yield, 65-year-old farmer commit suicide in Mahoba (20)

KANPUR: Distressed over poor crop yield, a 65-year-old farmer allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in Mahoba district on Thursday. Bhalu Yadav, a resident of Tikariya village ended his life by hanging himself from a ‘babul’ tree at his farm on Thursday evening. “Villagers found his body hanging from a tree. After bringing his body down, they rushed to district hospital. However, he was declared brought dead,” informed a police official. “Bhalu Yadav’s wife Kesar has said in her statement that they had borrowed a loan from Allahabad Gramin bank, but due to poor crop yield this season, they were not in position to refund loan. Following which, her husband was reeling under severe depression these days,” said a police official at Mahobkanth police station of the district on Thursday. A district officer, who visited the family told TOI that the family was in financial crunch since crops had failed. “Villagers told us that though he had obtained a bank loan but could not produce good crop yield due to unfavourable weather condition in the region,” he said. Bhalu Yadav was father of four sons. He along with his wife used to do farming on his 1.75 acres of land. All the four sons had migrated to other cities in search of work. The police have registered a case and started probe in this connection. (Times of India 4/4/13)

 

37. Swaminathan hails Punjab farmers for making country food-surplus (20)

Ajnala (Amritsar): As his watchful eyes scanned the ripening green-to-golden crop before him, a gentle smile passed his lips as he wondered why the farmers, many of whom had even fallen into the debt trap, could not get assured prices for other crops in the same manner as they get for “this beautiful crop”. Stepping on to a stage, he said, “I enjoy coming to Punjab in April as it gives me the chance to see this beautiful crop in full bloom. It also gives me an opportunity to see the happy-looking farmers who know they will get the price fixed by the government for this crop.” He then turned to the peasantry seated before him. showered praises on them and reminded them that 2013 was the golden jubilee year of the green revolution. The “beautiful crop” that he referred to was wheat, which is all set to be harvested. This was Dr MS Swaminathan, one of the architects of the green revolution, which turned India into a foodgrain-surplus nation. The occasion was a kisan mela organised on Wednesday by the state agriculture department at Firvaria village in Ajnala sub-division in the memory of Dr MS Randhawa who, along with Swaminathan and Prof Norman Borlaug, had brought about this revolution. The reminder of the golden jubilee year took everyone by surprise, including Dr GS Kalkat, chairman of the Punjab Farmers Commission, who himself had been associated with the green revolution. Neither state agriculture director Dr MS Sandhu and his officers nor the three top scientists of the Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) present seemed to be aware of it. Going down memory lane to the year 1963 when the seeds of the green revolution were sown, Swaminathan said, “We no longer have to go around with a begging bowl or wait for a ship filled with foodgrains to dock at our ports. I often refer to the green revolution as the yield revolution as the production of wheat and paddy increased manifold.” Swaminathan however cautioned the farmers that this was not the time to celebrate as with the increase in yields, the problems too had multiplied. He cited the storage problem in Punjab, falling groundwater table, blatant use of chemicals and burning of paddy or wheat stubble. “Agriculture is facing demographic, ecological and economic problems and the government must pay attention to all these problem areas which are interlinked. A system for marketing farm produce must be set in place,” he said. Swaminathan said that to check the falling groundwater table and prevent overdose of chemicals, the Punjab and Haryana governments would have to reduce the area under paddy. A viable alternative in the two states is basmati as it consumes less water, he said. Swaminathan said that to encourage diversification, the government would have to ensure assured prices to farmers for crops like oilseeds, sugarcane, maize, bajra, soyabean and pulses. “Farmers stick to the wheat-paddy cycle due to the minimum support price in place for these crops,” he pointed out. “We in the National Farmers Commission have identified 25 crops for the government, for which assured prices should be announced ahead of the sowing season. While the government has agreed with us to continue with the MSP for wheat and paddy, it must give a thought to the other crops to improve the economic condition of farmers and check environmental degradation,” he added….  (Hindustan Times  5/4/13)

 

38. Bank recovery of loans from farmers leading to suicides (20)

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan high court on Monday issued a notice to the state government on a public interest litigation that accuses banks and financial institutions of recovering loans from farmers in violation of the tenancy law. The PIL claims that the banks and financial institutions’ alleged arbitrary actions were responsible for farmers’ suicide. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Amitava Roy and Justice Meena V Gomber granted two weeks time to the state government to file its reply. The PIL moved by an advocate Dhiraj Kumar pointed out that the nationalized banks and government financial institutions were providing loans to farmers against “usufructuary mortgaged” properties rather than the “simple mortgaged” ones. Kumar’s counsel Arvind Chawla argued before the court that under Section 43 of the Rajasthan Tenancy Act, 1955, the loan of an ‘usufructuary mortgaged’ property automatically expires after five years. “Whatever loan recovery the bank or financial institute is to make from the farmer against the usufructuary property, has to be done in five years,” Chawla said. As per section 58 (d) of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882, under a usufructuary mortgage, the farmer delivers the possession, expressly or by implication, of his mortgaged property to the mortgagee (banks/ financial institutes), authorizing them to retain profits accruing from that property until the payment of the mortgaged money. The bench was told that any bank/financial institute recovering loan of usufructuary mortgaged property beyond five years was violating Rajasthan Tenancy Act. … (Times of India 9/4/13)

 

39. Farmer suicides: Aid fails to reach kin (20)

MAHBUBNAGAR: As many as 108 farmers committed suicide in the parched Mahbubnagar district during 2012, but only one victim’s family received compensation from the state government. Bijinapally mandal was the worst hit with 14 farmers committing suicide last year. The Human Rights Forum (HRF), which sent a fact-finding team to the troubled spots in the district, demanded that the state government take immediate steps to ensure that the kin of farmers who committed suicide are compensated and rehabilitated as per provisions of GO No. 421. “Our inquiries revealed that 14 farmers committed suicide in 2012 in just one mandal (Bijinapally). Not a single family of these 14 farmers has been compensated as per GO No. 421. In fact, of the total 108 suicides reported in the entire district last year, just one family, that of D Anandam in Jangamaipally village in Ghanpur mandal, received aid. This is appalling,” said VS Krishna, state general secretary, and Madhu Kagula, Mahbubnagar district convener of HRF. A six-member HRF team visited several villages in Bijinapally and Jadcherla mandals on Saturday to look into instances of farmer suicides and government response. The team spoke to family members of the deceased as well as their friends and relatives. Most of the farmers with who the HRF team interacted belonged to small and marginal category. They were driven to desperation as they had run up debts of not less than Rs 2 lakh each following successive failure of crops, particularly cotton. Since formal credit had all but dried up over the years, their borrowings were mostly at a high interest rate from private money lenders. “In all these cases, there was correlation between farm-related operations, economic distress and social humiliation leading to suicide,” they said. The GO No 421 issued in 2004 provides for financial assistance as interim relief package to support families of suicide victims. This assistance comprises ex gratia of Rs 1 lakh besides loan payment up to Rs 50, 000 as one-time settlement to creditors. (Times of India 10/4/13)

 

RESERVATION

40. Congress puts BJD in a fix over Odisha Reservation Bill (25)

BHUBANESWAR: The Opposition Congress on Wednesday put the ruling BJD in a fix in the Assembly by demanding division of vote at the introduction stage of a Bill seeking amendment to the Odisha Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services for the scheduled categories in Government jobs. The Congress raised objection to the ORV Amendment Bill, 2013, claiming that it lacked provisions of reservation for contractual appointment and in case suitable candidates were not found. “Contractual appointment is the order of the day even in Government services. The present Bill has no provision for reservation for contractual jobs. Besides, the Bill is silent on three critical stipulations made by the Supreme Court on reservations for Scheduled Castes and Tribes,” Congress MLA Chakradhar Paik said and demanded that the Bill be referred to the select committee. As Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat asked Minister for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Caste Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare L B Himirika to proceed with the Bill, the Opposition, all of a sudden, demanded division of votes at the introduction stage of the amendment Bill. The Opposition, however, lost in the vote division by securing only 23 votes against 77 votes supporting introduction of the Bill, which was later sent to the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Assembly for fixation of time and date for consideration. The Congress sat on a dharna in front of  Mahatma Gandhi’s statue inside the Assembly premises demanding the withdrawal of the  Bill. Paik claimed that though the Congress lost in the division of votes, the ST and SC MLAs of BJD had been exposed. The ruling BJD has 21 SC and 19 ST legislators. The Congress lawmaker said said the SC and ST employees who have got promotions were later reverted under catch-up principle. He  demanded that the catch-up policy should be abolished. In 2006, the Supreme Court had directed the States to fix three criteria __  backwardness, adequacy of representation and efficiency in the ORV Act but it had not yet been done. He demanded that the Government should withdraw the current Bill and reintroduce the Bill after incorporating all these points. Senior BJD member and former minister Padmanav Behera told the House that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will be requested to include more provisions to protect the interests of the Dalits and tribals. “We will prefer the Bill to be sent to Select Committee before being tabled in the House for passing,” he said. (New Indian Express 4/4/13)

 

41. Din again in House over SC-ST Amendment Bill (25)

BHUBANESWAR: The Assembly on Thursday witnessed noisy  scenes for the third consecutive day forcing Speaker Pradip Amat to adjourn the House during the question hour as Opposition Congress members demonstrated in the well protesting the Odisha Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services (For SC and ST)Amendment Bill, 2013. The Congress MLAs rushed to well as it assembled for the day shouting slogans terming the BJD government as ‘anti-tribal’ and demanded immediate withdrawal of the Bill. They carried banners and displayed them alleging that there is no provision of reservation  facilities for ST and SC candidates in contractual jobs in the government sector. The ST/SC MLAs wanted  that there should not be provision for dereservation of posts even if it was not filled up. The Opposition members also tried to occupy the Speaker’s podium and had a scuffle with marshals. As the din continued, the Speaker adjourned the House till 11.30 am. “We will continue agitation inside the House till the government withdraws the amendment bill or incorporates certain provisions to protect the interest of the SCs and STs,” Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh told mediapersons. The treasury bench members said they too did not fully support the Bill. “We will request the government to make changes in the Bill. However, there is no point in disrupting the proceedings over this matter,” senior BJD member Padmanav Behera said. Normalcy returned when the House reassembled and the Speaker allowed a six-hour marathon debate on the state’s demand of special category status. The Bill, which was introduced yesterday in the House, was referred to Business Advisory Committee (BAC) for fixing the time and date for taking it up. In the statement of objects and reasons of the Bill, SC/ST Welfare Minister Lalbihari Himirika said that the Bill has been brought basing on the landmark judgement in the Supreme Court on reservation policy. As judgement of the Supreme Court is regarded as the law of the land, it is necessary to amend different sections for which the existing provisions of the ORV Act have been examined, reviewed and scrutinised for removal of the inadequacies to make the Act progressive for the society and to ensure proper representation in favour of the ST and SC community. (Indian Express 5/4/13)

 

42. Xavier University bill passed in Odisha assembly (25)

BHUBANESWAR: The much awaited Xavier University Bill-2013 with provision of reserving 50 per cent seats for the students of Odisha, was passed in the State Assembly after a marathon debate in the house. While getting nod of the house yesterday, higher education minister Badri Narayan Patra said the proposed private university would start functioning near Pipili in Puri over 35 acre land in two years. This is for the first time that a private university is having provision of reservation for Odisha students, he said. Minister said that the university aims at providing a core campus comprising academic and non-academic infrastructure to cater needs of over 5000 students, over 400 teaching faculty members and 500 non-teaching staff to be recruited in phased manner. The university will offer academic programs like Engineering & Technology, Banking & Financial Services and Humanities, Patra said. So far the Odisha Assembly has cleared five private university. Earlier Sri Sri Ravi Shankar University, Vedanta University, ICFAI University and Centurion University of Technology & Management have got the nod of the assembly. Minister said as the university aims at providing quality education merit for admission in the university will be determined on the basis of marks or grades obtained in the qualifying examination and achievements in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and entrance test. He said ST, SC and girls students will get preferences in admission to various courses of the university. The university will implement a scheme for providing concession in fees for the students of SC, ST, Socially and Educationally Backward Class( SEBC) and Economically Weaker (EW) sections. (Times of India 7/4/13)

 

43. Haryana Jats threaten to take their stir to Delhi (25)

Rothak: Akhil Bhartiya Jat Aarakshan Samiti, which is spearheading the Jat quota movement in Haryana, today threatened to lay siege to Delhi in July if their demand of reservation for their community in government jobs under the OBC category is not met. The outfit claimed that they were promised the reservation under OBC category by the Centre last year, however, nothing has happened on that front. The decision was taken at a meeting of Executive Committee of the Samiti, presided by Jat leader Charan Singh, at Chhotu Ram Dharamshala here today. The meeting also decided to ‘gherao’ residences of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other leaders if the demand is not met. The Samiti representatives at the meeting claimed that no action had so far been taken regarding their demand despite “assurance” made by the Centre a long time ago. “The Union government seems not to be taking any interest to meet our demand…,” said Hawa Singh Sangwan, state president of the Samiti. (Zee News 8/4/13)

 

44. Government clarifies norms for promotion to quota staff (25)

BHUBANESWAR: After noticing deviation in grant of promotion to scheduled category employees against unreserved vacancies, the State Government has clarified the principle applicable at the time of recruitment. Issuing a clarification to all departments, heads of departments and district collectors, the Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes Development Department stated that the principle of reservation against unreserved vacancies or posts will be applicable at the time of initial recruitment and in the event of promotion made on selection. After careful examination of the provisions contained under Sections 10 and 12 of the Odisha Reservation of Vacancies (in posts and service) Act, 1975, it is clarified that the circulars issued on July 23, 1997 and March 15, 1999 will be applicable to initial recruitment. The clarification came following protests by general category Government employees to the State Government’s approval for giving promotion to a Scheduled Caste employee against unreserved vacancy with retrospective effect. This paper had reported the erroneous order passed by the Government. The State Government directed the Home Department in December last year to hold departmental promotion committee meeting to find out the suitability of a section officer belonging to Scheduled Caste of the Finance Department for promotion with retrospective effect from 1993. Interestingly, the section officer made the representation to the Government after 17 years of his promotion from junior to senior assistant in 1995. (Indian Express 10/4/13)

 

HUMAN RIGHTS/ RIGHTS GROUP/ NHRC

1. Rights body urges China to release anti-graft activists (1)

Beijing: China should release the anti-corruption activists arrested earlier this week in Beijing, an international human rights body said on Thursday. Four persons, Hou Xin, Yuan Dong, Zhang Baocheng and Ma Xinli, were picked up by the police on Sunday while staging a demonstration against rampant

corruption among government officials. The country’s new dispensation, led by Communist party chief and President, Xi Jinping, have repeatedly talked about tackling corruption in government and within the party. Soon over taking over as Party general secretary, Xi had warned that corruption, if left unchecked, will lead to the “the collapse of the party and the downfall of the state.” He had promised to target both “tigers and flies” – powerful leaders as well as those lower down in the hierarchy – in the anti-corruption drive.  But clearly as found out by the four activists, the government doesn’t want any public protests on the issue. Public opinion, especially among those active on China’s social media platform, is also growing stronger for a law that would compulsorily require officials to divulge the worth of their assets. (Hindustan Times 4/4/13)

 

2. Rights body directs police to probe SFI leader’s death (1)

KOLKATA: Taking a serious view of the death of Students’ Federation of India leader Sudipta Gupta in police custody, the West Bengal Human Rights Commission (WBHRC) directed the City Police Commissioner on Wednesday to probe the matter and submit a report within seven days. “The Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of the matter and directed the Commissioner of City Police to probe the matter by an officer not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police,” WBHRC joint secretary Sujay Kumar Halder told The Hindu, adding that the Commissioner had been asked to include his own remarks on the incident. The Commission has also formed its own investigating team to examine witnesses and other evidence to find out the cause of the death of Gupta, who died on Tuesday evening hours after sustaining serious injuries while being taken to a correctional home in the city. “The investigation team comprises the Commission’s Additional Director General, police, and its Registrar.” Mr. Haldar said. While the SFI leadership alleged that Gupta was beaten up by the police and pushed out of the vehicle carrying its supporters arrested at a law violation programme earlier in the day, the police maintained that he died after hitting a lamppost. The Opposition, including the Left Front, has demanded a thorough probe into the incident. Demanding a judicial inquiry, Left Front Committee chairperson Biman Bose said there was hardly any scope left for investigating agencies to probe the matter after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tried to pass off the death as an accident. “We are sure that the department inquiry will not reveal much.” Commenting on Ms. Banerjee’s remarks Pradesh Congress president Pradip Bhattacharya said she had come to a conclusion even before an inquiry into the matter had even started. (The Hindu 4/4/13)

 

3. India votes against Lanka in Geneva (1)

New Delhi: India Thursday voted in favour of a UN Human Rights Council resolution on human rights violations in Sri Lanka but failed to convince the US and other sponsors to accept amendments that aimed to make it harsher. India was among the 25 countries that voted in favour of the controversial resolution at the 47-nation body, after making efforts until late Wednesday night to push seven amendments to the draft. However, with the US conveying that it was too late to amend the resolution and changes could hurt the chances of a strong vote, India decided to go through with the vote without moving any amendments. Pakistan voted against the resolution. Making an intervention on the issue, India’s permanent representative to the UNHRC in Geneva, Dilip Sinha, said a credible investigation that would satisfy the international community is needed to probe allegations of human rights abuse during the war with LTTE. “We reiterate our call for an independent and credible investigation into allegations of human rights violations and loss of civilian lives. We urge Sri Lanka to take forward measures to ensure accountability. We expect these measures to be to the satisfaction of the international community,” Sinha said. It is learnt that Sinha, who was in the capital for consultations before the vote, proposed seven amendments to the draft resolution to the US special representative Wednesday evening. The main point, which was reflected in the intervention during the vote, was for the institution of a credible and independent investigation into alleged war crimes and human rights abuses. Sources said that India was trying to push for the institution of some kind of an investigation agency to probe the charges. Establishment of a credible and independent investigation commission was one of the demands of former UPA ally DMK that walked away from the government on the Sri Lankan issue. The other six amendments related to making some words in the resolution stronger. However, sources said that the US representative got back late in the night and conveyed that the amendments had been discussed with other sponsors but putting them up in the draft at this stage could erode support for the resolution among other members. Faced with the chances of diminished support for the resolution if more amendments were brought through, India decided not to formally move them on the floor. Sources said that moving amendments on the floor would have been seen as disruptive, contradicting the constructive role India has traditionally played at the body. Also, moving amendments on the floor would have opened up the matter for debate and could have delayed the resolution or hurt the support for it, sources said. In his intervention, Sinha said that “as a neighbour with thousands of years of relations with Sri Lanka, we cannot remain untouched by developments in that country and will continue to remain engaged in this matter.” India also noted with concern, the “inadequate progress by Sri Lanka in fulfilling its commitment” to the UN council, and called upon the nation to fully implement the 13th amendment. “India has always been of the view that the end of the conflict in Sri Lanka provided a unique opportunity to pursue a lasting political settlement, acceptable to all communities in Sri Lanka, including the Tamils,” Sinha said. India also called for “effective and timely implementation” of all the recommendations in the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission report, relating “to missing persons, detainees, disappearances and abductions, reduction of ‘high security zones’, return of private lands by the military and withdrawal of security forces from the civilian domain in the Northern Province”. Sinha also said that India hoped that the people of the Northern Province “can exercise their democratic rights freely and without delay as guaranteed to them by the Sri Lankan Constitution” in the upcoming election in September. (Indian Express 5/4/13)

 

4. Rights body condemns Prez rejection of mercy pleas (1)

New Delhi: As President Pranab Mukherjee rejects five more mercy pleas of death-row convicts, a human rights body has criticised the Rashtrapati Bhawan for allegedly using clemency power in an arbitrary manner at the behest of the home ministry. As advised by the home ministry, the President had on April 4 rejected mercy pleas of five convicts on death row while commuting death sentence of two others. Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) alleged that the Rashtrapati Bhawan has been reduced to a rubber stamp of the home ministry. “A case of life and death must not be decided without objective criteria… the criteria for considering mercy pleas (under Article 72 of the Constitution i.e. President’s clemency power) must be evolved to avoid arbitrariness in such cases,” ACHR director Suhas Chakma said. He called upon the Government of India to abolish death penalty in India. According to an RTI response received by ACHR from the home ministry, since 1981 when the Supreme Court laid down the ‘rarest of rare’ doctrine in the Bachan Singh Vs State of Punjab case, various presidents considered 112 mercy pleas, out of which 83 mercy petitions (74%) have been rejected. The death penalty of 31 death row-convicts got commuted to life imprisonment. (Hindustan Times 7/4/13)

 

POLICE/CUSTODIAL DEATH/ ARMY

5. Protests in Tripura over SFI activist’s death (1)

Agartala: The Students Federation of India (SFI) staged protests here on Wednesday against the West Bengal government over the death of its activist Sudipto Gupta during a law disobedience stir in Kolkata on Tuesday. The CPI(M) government in Tripura has strongly condemned the ‘custodial death’ of the 22-year-old activist. It said the situation was ‘very negative’ in the Trinamool Congress-ruled West Bengal. CPI(M) State secretary Bijan Dhar said, “We sternly condemn the death of the young student leader. Democracy is not prevailing in West Bengal.” Hundreds of slogan-shouting SFI supporters marched though the streets of Agartala and held a rally at Battala. Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) leaders and workers also joined the protests. “Protests are taking place across Tripura today [Wednesday]. We appeal to youths and students to come to the streets to raise their voice against the heinous attack on Sudipto,” DYFI leader Tapas Dutta said. SFI’s Tripura unit secretary Nabarun Deb said more protests would be held. (The Hindu 3/4/13)

 

6. MPHRC for provisions to curb suicide in jail, lock up (1)

BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission (MPHRC) on Wednesday had recommended arrangements to state government wherein accused could not commit suicide by hanging self in jails and police station lockups. The recommendations have been made following an application given by a woman, Meena Shakya whose husband Hukumchand had allegedly hanged himself in a police lockup in Sehore district. The woman had apprised the commission that there were multiple injury marks on her husband’s body suggesting that he was severely beaten up while the police claimed that he hanged self. The commission had also sought a report from the superintendent of police of the district on the issue which confirmed that the man died by hanging self from a window rod using a blanket inside the lockup. (Times of India 4/4/13)

 

7. 463 complaints of rights abuse in J&K during 2011-12 (1)

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has received 463 complaints of rights abuse including 154 cases of disappearances, custodial deaths and harassments during 2011-12 in the state. According to annual report of SHRC, which was tabled in Legislative Council today, 354 cases were disposed of by the Commission during the same period. As per statistics, the highest number of 90 complaints of harassment of various types have been received by the Commission during the period, followed by 59 cases of disappearances, 56 cases of deaths, 50 cases of ex-gratia relief, six cases of rape, five cases of custodial deaths, four cases of murder and eight cases of releases from jail. The highest number of 94 cases were received by the Commission from Kupwara district, followed by 67 from Srinagar and 53 each from Baramulla and Jammu districts, 30 from Anantnag district, 24 from Doda district, 21 from Ramban district, 16 each from Poonch and Budgam districts, 13 each from Pulwama and Rajouri districts, 12 from Bandipora district and eleven from Samba district. (Zee News 4/4/13)

 

8. Manipur encounters fake, says SC probe panel (1)

NEW DELHI: A probe commissioned by the Supreme Court has held security forces guilty of killing seven persons, including a 12-year-old boy, in six fake encounters in Manipur during 2009-10 in what trains the spotlight once again on the misuse of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Besides the minor, Mohd Azad Khan, a three-person investigation panel blamed security forces for the death of Khumbongmayum Orsonjit Singh, Nameirakpam Gobind Metei and Nameirakpam Nobo Meitei, Elangbam Kiranjit Singh, Chongthan Umakanta and Akoijam Priyobrata. Shocked by the report, a bench of Justices Aftab Alam and Ranajana Desai said a major portion of the blame lay at the door of the Centre. “This is not the best way to integrate (north-eastern) people. It is the best way to alienate them,” the judges added. Court seeks response on fake encounters They termed as distressing the contents of the report, compiled by retired Justice Santosh Hegde of the apex court, former CEC J M Lyngdoh and ex-Karnataka DGP Ajay Kumar Singh, and said security forces and police threw caution to the wind while following guidelines in conducting such “operations”. They said the security forces have conducted raids and resorted to firing merely on the basis of source information without bothering to cross-check even once the authenticity of the ‘source’. It sought responses from the Centre, Manipur government and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to the Hegde panel’s report within five days. Though allegations of excesses by troops in militancy-hit Manipur have been rampant, this is the first instance that a court-appointed probe has endorsed the charge of “gross violation of human rights” by the security forces operating under the much-disliked shield of AFSPA. The court lauded the effort of the three-member inquiry committee for meticulously collecting evidence from complainant, witnesses, security forces and police before concluding that “none of these six incidents qualified as a genuine one”.It said, “What we find distressing is that the elaborate guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court, series of guidelines issued by Army headquarters, NHRC and the Manipur government have been confined to the papers. Nothing is followed in practice (by armed forces and police while carrying out the operations).” The bench said, “The Army authorities have issued a series of dos and don’ts. But, unfortunately none of the guidelines or the dos and don’ts is followed in actual operations. One of the issues before the court is how to ensure the state police and security forces follow the guidelines”.Given the detailed scrutiny done by the apex court in fake encounter killings of Sohrabuddin and Tulsiram Prajapati in Gujarat, both the Union and Manipur government would have lot to answer for the six fake encounters involving the death of seven innocent persons in Manipur. Last October, the court had entertained two PILs — one on fake encounter killings and another for the withdrawal of AFSPA from Manipur. In January, 2013, the court had appointed the three-member panel headed by Justice Hegde to inquire into the encounter deaths. The PIL by NGOs — Extra-judicial Execution Victims Families’ Association of Manipur through Neena N and Human Rights Alert through Babloo Loitongbam — alleged apathy on the Centre and Manipur government’s part to bring to book the guilty among armed forces and state police, which allegedly were responsible for 1,528 extra-judicial killings in last 30 years. The petition gave details of each of the 1,528 people killed in fake encounters since 1979. It said though the apex court upheld the constitutional validity of AFSPA 15 years ago, it had issued certain dos and don’ts to the security forces. But, these guidelines were seldom followed, it alleged. On October 19, 2012, the apex court had also issued notices to the Centre and Ibobi Singh government on another PIL by former director of Manipur Health Services, Th. Suresh Singh, seeking withdrawal of AFSPA from the state. (Times of India 5/5/13)

 

9. Statement of National Seminar on Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) (1)

Imphal: The Indian Parliament enacted the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in 1958 as an interim measure with the hope of suppressing the Naga Nationalist Struggle, the only such movement in the North East at that time. It was gradually extended to other North Eastern States and then in 1990 to Jammu and Kashmir. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act is to-date the single most direct instrument violating the democratic rights of the people of the North East and of Jammu and Kashmir. The Act is implemented when an area is declared ‘disturbed’ by either the central or the state government. The Act is under much debate today on several grounds, not only in Jammu and Kashmir and the North East, but also in the rest of India. One, it enables the security forces to “fire upon or otherwise use force even to the causing of death”. Two, according to Section 6, no criminal prosecution can be initiated against the security personnel who take action under this Act. Three, till now, but for a few exceptional cases of public fury or when the security forces were caught in the act by the public, no paramilitary officer or soldier has been prosecuted for destruction of property or murder or rape. Four, five official commissions and committees have recommended either repeal or drastic review of the Act. Such acts are a gross abuse of the Constitution and have led to atrocities in the North East and Kashmir. Currently, a case concerning 1,528 deaths in alleged fake-encounters in Manipur alone is before the Supreme Court. Over and above these, one can mention the Manorama Devi case in Manipur in July 2004. She was arrested by the security forces and was allegedly raped and killed. Amongst other cases is the attempted molestation near Kokrajhar in Assam, on 23rd December, 2005, of some university students who entered by mistake a compartment carrying Haryana Armed Police personnel. Four students died when the police opened fire on other students who blocked the train after hearing the screams of the students. No action has been taken till today against the perpetrators of these and other crimes. Also many other cases of massacres, mass rapes and torture like the destruction of Oinam village in Manipur in 1987, the killing of some innocent persons in the Pathribal case, the Sophian sexual violence case and the discovery of mass graves in different places of Jammu and Kashmir raise similar concerns. Many commissions and committees, such as the Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee (2005), the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (2007), the Prime Minister’s Working Group on Confidence Building Measures in Jammu and Kashmir (2007) headed by Shri Hamid Ansari, the Interlocutors’ Report on Jammu and Kashmir (2012) and Justice J S Verma Committee (2013) have recommended that the Act be repealed or made more humane. Even the Planning Commission in the 12th Five-year Plan document passed by the National Development Council has for the first time ever asked for not only a gendered review of the Act, but also of gendered violence in the ‘Disturbed Areas’, as women and children are the most vulnerable in conflict regions. These voices should be heard because AFSPA is symptomatic of a larger militarization and the negative impacts on human development such as health and education have been extensive. At the international level, India have been repeatedly flagged in UN Human Rights bodies, including the Universal Periodic Review of the Council, almost all the major human rights treaty bodies and Special Procedures, on the issue of AFSPA. It is clear that the Act has not served its purpose. But the Government of India has not even amended the Act for more than 50 years. A reason given by Finance Minister P. Chidambaram in a speech in New Delhi on February 6, 2013 is that there is no consensus because both the retired and present army generals oppose even the idea of making it more humaneWhy does the army oppose the repeal or even amendment of this inhuman Act? Is it because they want to protect their personnel who abuse power? Surely, as the Verma Committee (2013) has remarked, the armed forces cannot expect immunity for actions, such as rape, which are not in the line of duty. Can a democratic country tolerate such an anti-democratic Act? The situation in Jammu & Kashmir and the North East is complex and can be solved only through a political process. Those decisions cannot be taken by the army. The elected representatives have to take decisions that should include Confidence Building Measures (CBM). That is impossible when such abuses under a draconian Act continue. The rights of the people must be protected by judicial and official / administrative processes such as grievance cells that protect the right to information of relatives of detainees. The security situation in most areas where the Act is in place has improved enormously in the last decade because of ongoing peace processes and civil society initiatives. So the stated purpose of the Act no longer exists. The security forces cannot presume that they have an unfettered right to continue using the Act in perpetuity. That would be undemocratic and violative of human rights. As a result of such violations a trust deficit has developed between the people of the North East and Jammu and Kashmir on the one hand and the rest of India on the other. In addition, major state legislation exists in Jammu and Kashmir and Nagaland such as the Jammu and Kashmir Public Security Act and the Nagaland Security Regulations Act which are no less arbitrary. They provide the police with impunity. Such laws no longer have a place in our democratic polity, especially after the extensive peace processes in these states. We, therefore, call on States like Jammu and Kashmir and Nagaland that have been demanding the repeal of AFSPA to take a lead in changing the undemocratic tenor of the legal regime. We call upon all political parties and political candidates, including the major regional parties, to take a position on the repeal of AFSPA in the run-up to the general elections. It is critical that a civil society alliance takes up a robust programme of advocacy and dissemination especially through the media. As a step towards it, we the 90 participants of the Seminar on AFSPA held at Indian Social Institute, New Delhi on 6th April 2013, and sponsored by ICSSR (NCR) demand the immediate repeal of AFSPA, its replacement by a more humane Act and that the armed forces be brought under the purview of the civilian government with no immunity. (E-Pao 7/4/13)

 

10. Crime branch probes ‘suicide’ in Samta Nagar police lock-up (1)

A day after a 37-year-old housemaid accused of theft allegedly committed suicide in lock-up, a team of Mumbai Police Crime Branch unit 12 visited Samta Nagar police station Sunday and recorded statements of the investigating officer, a few constables and the duty officer at the time of the incident. Radha Hiwle, who was arrested Saturday morning for allegedly stealing gold jewellery worth Rs 44,000 from her employer in Kandivali, allegedly consumed poison in lock-up. She started vomiting shortly after and was rushed to Bhagwati Hospital, where she died while under treatment. “We have also recorded statements of the Hiwle family. Her daughter told us when she visited Radha in lock-up, her mother said the matter had been resolved and she would soon go back to work. Radha then told her to fetch some food and a bottle of disinfectant she had to take to work. She later consumed the disinfectant,” said a crime branch officer. Post-mortem was conducted Sunday, but its result was withheld pending forensic tests on the viscera of Radha. There were no signs of custodial torture, police claimed. “After questioning all concerned, we will submit a report with forensic evidence to the police commissioner,” said the officer. In March, Naushad Khan, who was picked up for questioning in connection with a chain-snatching, had died in the Chembur police station lock-up. While police claimed he committed suicide by banging his head against handcuffs, an eyewitness said Khan was tortured to death. The crime branch is still investigating. (Indian Express 8/4/13)

 

HEALTH/ EPIDEMICS/NRHM

11. Indian Medical Association welcomes SC verdict on Novartis (3)

COIMBATORE: The state branch of Indian Medical Association has welcomed the landmark judgment by the Supreme Court dismissing the plea of Novartis, which sought patent for its cancer-fighting drug Glivec. State president of IMA Dr. L P Thangavelu said that the verdict would enable patients to buy life saving medicines at affordable prices. Hailing the verdict, he said that this would prevent multinational pharmaceutical companies from raking up the prices in the name of research and development. “Such companies make life saving drugs unaffordable and creates a mismatch between demand and supply,” he said. According to him, the landmark verdict will enable promotion of cheaper generic life-saving medicines. The Supreme Court on Monday held that the well known cancer-fighting drug is not an invention and hence it is not patentable. “The drug Glivec that is used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia costs Rs.1.2 lakh for a month’s dose whereas the same drug manufactured indigenously costs between Rs. 8,000 and Rs. 12,000,” Dr Thangavelu said. He said the affordable generic drug is also covered under Chief Minister’s insurance scheme. He also stressed the need for doctors to endorse generic drugs. “Even though the chemical composition of drugs remain the same for branded and generic drugs, there is a huge price difference between the generic and branded drug,” he said. Pointing out that India is capable of producing high quality medicines at affordable rates without the assistance of multinational pharmaceutical companies, the state president said that it is important for physicians to prescribe generic drugs to enable production of inexpensive life-saving drugs. “The drug Glivec is extremely expensive, making it unaffordable for most chronic myeloid leukemia patients as they have to take it for life,” he added. Oncologists in the city also hail the verdict and opine that now the drug will be available at a much lower price. (Times of India 4/4/13)

 

12. H7N9 bird flu strain has fearful traits: experts (3)

A mutated bird flu virus that has killed five people in China displays worrying traits that warrant high vigilance, experts say, though the true extent of the threat is unclear. Most concerning is the virus’ wide geographical spread, and the fact that it seems to be spreading unseen among its host animals, possibly chickens or ducks. “I am cautiously worried,” virologist John Oxford of the Queen Mary University of London said. “If there were four cases in Shanghai, I would be much less concerned, but because it is so geographically widespread I think it is trying to tell us something. “It is not a deadly virus for chickens so it could spread in chickens without anyone knowing it. I suspect it’s probably wider than we think. Having made its jump from animals to humans, which required a series of genetic mutations, the influenza A(H7N9) strain has now been diagnosed in four Chinese provinces: Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui and the business capital Shanghai. Of 11 people confirmed infected, five have died since February. Patients suffer from severe pneumonia with a fever, cough and shortness of breath. The better-known H5N1 bird flu, which has infected 622 people since 2003 of whom 371 died, is highly fatal in birds, making it easier to identify than the new strain. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the animal source of the new infection and its mode of transmission was not yet clear. “We do not yet know enough about these infections to determine whether there is a significant risk of community spread,” the UN’s health agency stated in an online H7N9 update. No cases of human-to-human transmission have yet been found, and no infections beyond China. “Any influenza that jumps from an animal species to a human has pandemic potential,” Alan Hampson, chairman of the Australian Influenza Specialist Group, said in a statement issued by the Science Media Centre. (Indian Express 5/4/13)

 

13. India tops dubious list on World Health Day (3)

NEW DELHI: Health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said this week that India has reported significant improvement in health indicators like maternal mortality and infant mortality. That might be true, but real progress is a long way off. India is still the world leader in maternal and child mortality. That’s not all. India also leads in the number of deaths of pre-term babies, malnourished and stunted children, anaemic married women, children with birth defects, TB infections and MDR-TB cases, rabies deaths, new leprosy cases, oral cancer among other dubious distinctions. It might even win the race to become the diabetes and dementia capital of the world soon. It’s easy to blame overpopulation for the hot water we are in. But Prof Mohan Rao of the Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health in JNU, Delhi, disagrees, saying the key issue is that “India has one of the lowest public expenditures in the world (around 4.1% of GDP). That and the lack of governance, political will and the lack of focus on building a good public health system” are the main problems. It partly explains why Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal have been able to significantly improve their health indices in a short time, while India struggles to even feed more than half its children. They don’t get even a decent start to life, because their mothers are also weak and hungry. About half the married women in India are anaemic. And the UN has estimated that there is a maternal death in India every 10 minutes, most of them poor and powerless. Dr Sarman Singh, professor and head, clinical microbiology division, AIIMS, says, “Many women have their meals last, after their families eat, and sometimes it’s not sufficient. Nutritional standards of women are very low in India.” About 50% of the female TB patients in India are less than 34 years old and their recovery rate is much less, says Singh. Women tend to put family duties first, despite being sick. “Many don’t get any care and may not complete the six-month treatment. Consequently, MDR-TB is more likely to be in women,” adds Singh. Women may also hide serious illnesses from their families, to prevent stigma. “One study shows that one lakh women either leave their homes or are thrown out of their houses because of their TB infection,” says Dr Jayant Banavaliker, vice-chairman of the TB Association of India, and chairman of TB Alert. Yes, government schemes are assisting millions with some form of medical insurance. But still, “83% of healthcare expenses is paid out of pocket; only 17% is by the government,” points out Prof Rao of JNU. Sadly, other critical interventions like proper sanitation and access to clean drinking water are also missing. The World Bank estimates that India has 59% of the people in the world who practice open defecation — with 626 million, it has more than twice the number of the next 18 countries combined. Open defecation and its contamination of water have been linked to the stunted growth. Indian children are shorter on average than children in Sub-Saharan Africa, even though Indians have better income on average. The India paradox? A rich country with poor health. (Times of India 8/4/13)

 

LAND ACQUISITION/ SEZ

14. Eviction for National Highway 47 work to be completed by May 31, HC told (4)

KOCHI: The Special Land Acquisition Officer of the NH 47 widening project on Tuesday submitted before the Kerala High Court that more than 291 occupants residing along the Mannuthi-Vaniyampara stretch will be evicted by May 31. The Special officer appeared before the court in person and informed the court that out of the 39 hectares of land required for widening the road, 35 hectares have already been handed over to National Highways Authority of India. The remaining four hectares are occupied by more than 291 private parties. The authorities have taken steps to evict the persons. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice K Vinod Chandran considered the case and directed the land acquisition officer to see to it that the remaining acquired land is handed over to the NHAI by May 31. The project director of the NHAI was also present before the court.In an affidavit, Thrissur District Collector P M Francis had stated that the Collector’s presence is needed only when forced eviction is needed. Land acquisition is exercised by an authority authorised by the Central Government, the Collector said.The  National Highways Authority of India meanwhile submitted that the repair works will be taken up immediately. The project director  submitted that by April 10 a statement will be submitted regarding the steps taken to repair the road. The officials made the submissions on a petition filed by George Kutty Mathew of Panniyankara against the negligence in undertaking the widening work of Mannuthy-Vadakkanchery stretch. (Indian Express 3/4/13)

 

15. Govt gives extra time to 14 SEZ developers to execute projects (4)

The government has given more time to as many as 14 special economic zone (SEZ) developers, including Cognizant Technology Solutions and Parsvnath SEZ Ltd, to execute their projects. At a recent meeting, the Board of Approval (BoA) headed by Commerce Secretary S R Rao, also allowed three SEZ developers to surrender their project. The BoA is a 19-member inter-ministerial body that deals with SEZs and the issues related to them. The minutes of the meeting held on March 15 said that the developers surrendering their projects have to obtain a certificate from the respective Development Commissioners that “the developer has not availed or has refunded all the tax/duty benefits under the SEZ Act/Rules…”. The government has denotified the zone of Welspun Anjar, which had planned a textiles SEZ in Gujarat. The other two which have surrendered their projects are Best on Health Ltd and Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, the minutes said. It added that the denotification proposal of L&T Chennai Projects “has been withdrawn by the developer”.Further, the other developers, which have sought more time to implement their projects, include Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation, Cochin Port Trust and Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority. The board has given one more year to Parsvnath SEZ for setting up of sector specific SEZ for Biotech in Andhra Pradesh. “The Board after deliberations extended the validity of the formal approval for one  year up to 21st August, 2013, subject to condition that the developer should start construction within this period,” it said. Parsvnath’s project was notified on December 20, 2011. The developer had been granted two extensions, the validity of which was up to August 2012. Besides, the BoA has given formal approval to UP Electronics Corporation Ltd to set up IT SEZ in Lucknow, which would come up over an area of 40 hectares. SEZs have emerged as major route for attracting investments and increasing exports. So far, 166 zones are operational. SEZs contributed about 30 per cent to the country’s overall exports. Exports from these tax-free enclaves increased by over 35 per cent year-on-year to Rs 3.53 lakh crore during April-December 2012 period. SEZ units are eligible for 100 per cent tax exemption for first five years and 50 per cent for the next five. The developers of the zones also avail 100 per cent income tax exemption for 10 years. (Business Standard 4/4/13)

 

16. Call to speed up land acquisition for airport (4)

The World Malayalee Council (WMC) has appealed to the State government to speed up measures for the acquisition of 162 more acres of land near the Karipur International Airport for its speedy development. Leaders of the Council, who submitted a memorandum on the issue to the Chief Minister, said around Rs.320 crore allotted by the Airports Authority of India in 2006 would lapse if the acquisition was delayed further. All the other airports in Kerala had utilised the amount allotted by the airport authority in time for the expansion works, they claimed. The WMC leaders also called upon the government to think of a suitable rehabilitation package for the expatriates who returned to their homeland. The amount collected by the Union government in the name of emigration clearance should be utilised for the purpose, they added. According to WMC leaders C.E. Chakkunni and K. Mohan Kumar, it was high time the government took the initiative for assuring employment for the gulf-returnees in government and semi-government firms in Kerala. The State was quite unprepared to face the aftermath of the new Nitaqat laws which had an impact on gulf Malayalees, they said. (The Hindu 6/4/13)

 

17. TDP to support agitation of SEZ-displaced farmers (4)

TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu has said that the party will support the agitation taken up by farmers displaced by the Kakinada Special Economic Zone and see that they get back their land legitimately. Addressing a public meeting on Saturday night here in Tondangi mandal, he said that former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy had converted almost all SEZs into real estate ventures and Vanpic was the best example. He alleged that Rs.841 crore mobilised through sale of SEZ lands were pumped into YSRC president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy’s account in a shady deal with Vanpic. He said his party would spare no effort to bring national status for the Polavaram project. Earlier, Mr. Naidu interacted with students, priests, and farmers of SEZ at Gopalapuram village. Senior leaders Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, Yanamala Krishnudu and others participated in ‘Vastunna Meekosam’. (The Hindu 7/4/13)

 

TRIBALS

18. Tribal people seek action against caste Hindus (6)

The Tamil Nadu Tribals Association (TNTA) has urged the district police to take action against caste Hindus for allegedly attacking the Irular families (Scheduled Tribes) living at the foothills of Sanarappan hills at Senrayanayakkanur in Bargur panchayat union last week. In a petition submitted to the Deputy Superintendent of Police on Tuesday, TNTA State secretary S. Palanisamy demanded action against the attackers under the SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Mr. Palanisamy alleged that the caste Hindus had abused Irulars and also prevented them from drawing water from the common water facility. The Irular families have been living in 17 group houses allotted by the government for the past 25 years. It was alleged that last week, K. Madhappan, one of the residents, went to a nearby granite quarry owned by a Chennai-based company to request the supervisor not to carry out mining works after 8 p.m. as a few children including his daughter were studying for public examinations. After he returned home, a group of people assaulted him and his family. Madhappan said he along with a few other residents went to the Pochampalli police station to lodge a complaint. But the police did not register it. Before they returned the village, one more Irular couple was allegedly attacked by the supporters of the quarry. When contacted, G. Gajendran, Deputy Superintendent of Police, denied the allegations and said an FIR had been filed and the officials were instructed to take action against the attackers. Madhappan added that because of the explosives used in the quarry, the ceilings of the most of houses were damaged. (The Hindu 3/4/13)

 

19. Lakhs of ‘ignored’ Adivasis unite for state assembly polls (6)

MYSORE: The Adivasi population that has been betrayed by all prominent political parties in the run-up to the Assembly elections, started chanting a unity mantra, to show their strength in the elections. The tribals, who were ditched to appease the dominant non-forest tribes, sought tickets from Heggadeva Kote (ST) constituency as they have a population of more than 25,000 here. Though the tribals with more than four lakh population spread in 32 constituencies of nine districts falling in the Western Ghats, are decisive in constituencies like HD Kote, Mudigere, Chamarajanagar and also pockets of Kollegal as well as Hanur, they have no representation in local bodies as the scheduled tribe  reservation is enjoyed by the dominant Nayaka community that also comes under the ST category. Upset with the treatment by the major political parties, 23 tribal organisations have decided to meet in HD Kote on April 10, to decide on contesting independently, supporting a candidate, or taking the extreme step of boycotting the polls. There are also plans to bring in Zilla Panchayat member Bethamma from Kollegal, post graduate holder Puspha, or encourage tribal leaders Somanna, Ramu, Cauvera or Vijaykumar to contest and exhibit their unity. Former zilla panchayat vice-president Jaji, who had met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi along with other tribal leaders, pleaded for tickets to Adivasis. They had met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and walked out with confidence. When the party accommodated a candidate from a dominant caste, Jaji had no other option but to contest the Assembly elections under the Sarvodaya Karnataka party banner, and got more than 5,000 votes last time. “The Congress leaders should keep their promise by fielding a tribal and giving them a chance to enter the Assembly this time,” said Nanjundaiah who has worked with the tribals for more than three decades. Nanjundaiah said that social justice had turned out to be a slogan to misguide the innocent population than to encourage them in electoral politics. The tribal leaders have also knocked on the doors of JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda and KJP state chief  Yeddyurappa for tickets. (Indian Express 4/4/13)

 

20. Tribals target graduation, brush up reading and writing (6)

VADODARA: In the tribal heartland of central Gujarat, where it is difficult even to find persons who are literate, a group has started an initiative to ensure that residents become graduates. The tribal residents, who have enrolled for the programme, are now busy reading newspapers to learn to read and write fluently so that they can take a preparatory test that makes them eligible for taking up graduation. A group of likeminded persons that include retired government officials and businessmen have come together after city-based Anil Satapathy working on tribal development took the lead. So far the group has encouraged 39 persons to enroll for the bachelor’s preparatory programme (BPP) of Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University. The group that calls itself Rural Institution for Stimulating Tribal Area (RISTA) works in villages of Pavijetpura taluka in Vadodara district and Ghoghamba taluka in Panchmahal district. As many as 15 persons enrolled for BPP are from the Mudhiyari village of Pavijetpur taluka while 26 are from the Gajapura-Kantu and Ambakut villages of Ghoghamba taluka. “The candidates are school dropouts who have lost touch with reading and writing. We want them to do so fluently in the coming months and take up the test. The first set of students will appear in the exam this June. All may not be successful in the first attempt, but we will try again in November,” Satapathy, who quit a banking job recently to take up work in the tribal area, said. Satapathy added that he targeted seniors in the villages, including decision makers, so that others were encouraged to take up studies. The end result being that the likes of Sabur Nayak and Pukhon Nayak, who are nearing 70 years of age, were encouraged to take up studies. A labour contractor and Mudhiyari deputy sarpanch Parbat Nayak not only joined the programme himself, but ensured three labourers under him did so. Most of the candidates are either marginal farmers or labourers. Satapathy has found support in the likes of former conservator of forests Deepak Tipre, former district education officer M M Javia, former head of the department of English at M S University O P Juneja, former city police commissioner D D Tuteja as well as businessmen from the area. Tipre said, “We have made trips to the villages to encourage and convince people to take up the work. The idea is to give the best we can for the population in the area. We had rounds of discussion with the tribals and have charted out a plan for their education.” Javia said the idea was to first make the candidates brush up their language with newspapers, then introduce them to books and eventually make them take the test. “They are well-qualified in terms of experience. What they need is formal education,” he said. (Times of India 5/4/13)

 

21. Forest Rights Act extended to non-tribal areas (6)

Ahmedabad: The state’s Tribal Development Department (TDD) has extended the Forest Rights Act to non-tribal regions of Gujarat, paving the way for forest dwellers such as maldharis (pastoralists) to legally lay claim over areas they inhabit. Some officials predict that it would force other departments to act especially in terms of halting talked-about maldhari evictions in Gir, Saurashtra and revenue settlements in the Banni Grasslands, Kutch. The Forest Rights Act has been in force in the state for more than five years now, although it has been restricted to 12 districts covering 43 talukas in the eastern tribal belt. The government resolution issued by the TDD as Assembly elections approached last year but which was apparently kept under wraps due to the model code of conduct, says district collectors would be chairpersons of district-level committees formed under the Act, with three members of each district panchayats to be nominated members. However, posts of member-secretaries would be held by officials of the TDD – the department’s planning officer at Talala would be member-secretary of committees in Junagadh, Porbandar, Amreli and Jamnagar. The department’s vigilance officer of Rajkot will hold the post for Rajkot, Surendranagar and Bhavnagar, while his counterparts in Ahmedabad would be member-secretary for Ahmedabad, Anand, Kheda and Gandhinagar and the one in Palanpur for Patan and Mehsana. The Kutch social welfare officer would be member-secretary for Kutch region. As for expected changes in the Gir forest, senior forest officials said the “worrisome” increase in domestic animal populations would now have to be tackled through means other than eviction, which has anyway come in for criticism lately due to evidence that most of those shifted out in the early 1980s eventually shifted back inside and either sold land allotted to them or converted it for other purposes other than traditional means of livelihood. (Indian Express 6/4/13)

 

22. More tribals desert Chasi Muliya Adivasi Sangh (6)

KORAPUT: Claiming to have severed ties with the Maoist-backed ChasiMuliyaAdivasiSangh (CMAS), as many as 134 tribals, including at least 18 wanted rebels, reached Narayanpatna police station in the district on Saturday. Incidentally, the tribals belong to Dumsil village, which considered an epicenter of the Sangh activities. “The tribals vowed to lead a normal life. They have realized that being in the CMAS got them nothing. We are exploring legal possibilities to help the tribals, who are in our wanted list,” said SP (Koraput) Awinash Kumar. Police are now hopeful of arresting the CMAS president Nachika Linga, who has been on the run for the last four years. “We have information that more tribals of Dumsil are planning to desert the Sangh. It will leave Linga will just one option to surrender before the police or else he will arrested,” a senior police officer said. So far, 944 tribals from different villages have deserted the outfit. (Times of India 8/4/13)

 

MINORITIES: MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS & COMMUNAL RIOTS

23. Left Front delegation submits memorandum on minorities welfare (7)

KOLKATA: A delegation of the West Bengal Left Front Legislature Party led by former minister Anisur Rahman submitted a memorandum to minister of state for minority affairs and madrasa education, Giyasuddin Mollah at Writers’ Buildings, placing a seven-point demand for the welfare of minorities. Rahman said though the Madrasa Commission examination was held about nine months ago, its results are yet to be published. The government should immediately publish the results, the delegation demanded. “The chief minister says 10,000 madrasas will be recognized. But not a single of the government-aided madrasas have been affiliated in the last two years. The government should immediately evaluate this and take necessary steps,” Rahman said. There should be at least 200 new junior high madrasas and 50 senior madrasas in the state, he added. The memorandum also mentions that the new law has been made in such a way that the minorities will be very much deprived. “We are requesting the government to see that the minorities do not get deprived in any way,” Rahman said. The teachers of the madrasa siksha kendras get very low salaries and do not even get money for setting up their houses. These kendras should be upgraded into junior high madrasas. The government should also spread higher education in areas where the minority communities are dominant. “We are asking the government to look into these issues and are ready to help the government,” Rahman said. (Times of India 3/4/13)

 

24. People’s tribunal on police torture against Muslims in Uttar Pradesh (7)

VARANASI: The People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) in collaboration with Human Rights Law network, New Delhi held a two-day independent people’s tribunal on police torture against Muslims in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday and Friday. The specific objective of the event was to highlight and present a systematic account and assessment of the incidences of gross human rights violations. The people’s tribunal consisted of a six-member panel to hear the victims’ testimonies. About 40 cases of victims were selected for the hearing. In some cases, FIR was lodged but no action had been taken by police, while in some other cases it was found that police avoided registering the cases. Besides, it was also found in some cases that when victims tried to take help of police to seek justice they were harassed. The jury members will submit their documented report after the hearing to the National Human Rights Commission, National Minorities Commission, National Women’s Commission, director general of police, Prime Minister, chief minister of UP, Chief Justice of India, and different political parties. (Times of India 4/4/13)

 

25. 45 hurt in violent protest in Makrana (7)

AJMER: An angry mob set fire to a police vehicle in the Makrana block of Nagaur district on Wednesday. To control the situation, the police fired tear gas and lathi-charged in which 45 people including 12 cops were injured. Several were referred to the government hospital even as the situation remained tense in the marble town. Extra force was deployed while community leaders in the area requested residents to maintain peace. By evening, shops were opened. The protests erupted over use of derogatory words, hurting religious sentiments, on a social networking website. Agitated people gathered at Godabagh area of the town and took out a procession demanding death penalty for the offenders. As the numbers swelled, police and administrative officials reached the spot. Shops were closed down. Protesters raised slogans against the administration for not taking enough steps to censor unwarranted posts stoking communal fire. The protest turned violent when the procession marched towards the police station and a few protesters torched a police vehicle. At this, cops used force on them and fired tear gas shells, while the mob pelted stones at them. Later, protesters burnt a tyre and blocked the road causing traffic jam. Extra force was called to the spot and administrators assured the protesters of action against the accused and appealed for peace. According to sources about 12 policemen were hurt in which six were seriously injured. SP Nagaur Om Parkesh Sharma ordered the concerned SHO to register a case against the miscreants for posting derogatory comments against a religion on a social networking site. “We have arrested the accused,” said Sharma. Checking to turn the agitation into communal difference, leaders came out in evening and consol local people. President of Anjuman Santhan Nawab Ali Rader made appeal for peace in the town. Sarpanch Himat Singh, chairman of Makrana Municipality Salam Bhati. Former MLA Rupa Ram, marble industrialist Deepak Bansal and many other went into market and appeal to open shops to make peace in the town. Meanwhile police force was deputed in the town to control any mischief by miscreant, administrative officials and senior police officers reached the town and discussed the situation (Times of India 4/4/13)

 

26. Curfew clamped as communal violence rocks Sanganer near Jaipur (7)

JAIPUR: Authorities were forced to impose curfew in Sanganer near Jaipur on Friday as arson attacks continued for the second day after two dozen people, including police officers, were injured in communal clashes a day earlier. Police said at least 10 paper factories were set afire on Friday and that they have lodged 14 FIRs against identified and unidentified rioters. Over two dozen people have been detained so far. Chief minister Ashok Gehlot, who met senior police and administration officers to review the situation, described the violence as unfortunate while appealing for peace. A minor fight between two people from different communities over parking triggered the clashes on Thursday as mobs started setting fire to paper factories in Sanganer. An officer said they had a tough time controlling the fires as the factories were set ablaze one by one. A tractor parked nearby was also brunt down. The rioters also targeted raw materials outside these factories. Acting police commissioner Biju George Joseph, who was among those injured in stoning, said, “Section 144 of CrPC banning gathering of five or more people had been imposed in the morning. But we decided to clamp curfew following incidents of arson.”Rumours of some madrassas being set ablaze kept senior police officers on their toes. “Armed police forces have been deployed through the area to maintain law and order. Relaxation in curfew will happen only after a through assessment of the situation,” said the officer. Police patrolling was increased throughout the city to prevent clashes from spreading to other areas. The communal violence in Jaipur comes a day after similar clashes in Nagaur district’s Makrana area following an alleged derogatory comment on a social networking site. Rajasthan witnessed 42 communal clashes in 2011 leading to death of 16 people, while six people were killed in 30 such incidents a year later. (Times of India 6/4/13)

 

27. Communal clashes in state alienating Muslims: report (7)

Mumbai: Low access to loans, higher unemployment rates, poor access to food security: Muslims in the state lag behind others on several socio-economic indices, says a new report commissioned by the government’s state minority commission. The report has blamed communal clashes in the state for the alienation and resultant deprivation of Muslims. Commissioned by the SNDT University’s Economics department, the report was submitted to the commission last week with a slew of recommendations. Highlighting several problem areas, the report has built a picture of deep deprivation and alienation of the community through detailed statistical analyses of data and anecdotal case studies. Muslims comprise 10.6% of the 96.8 million people in the state. “The major reason for the socio-economic deprivation of Muslims is the high incidence of communal riots,” said the report’s overview. “Absence of civic ties due to ghettoisation creates an insular feeling. Mumbai, which has 15% to 18% of the Muslim population, according to various estimates, is the worst hit.” Maharashtra has had 1,192 communal clashes between 1998 and 2008, the highest in the country. Mumbai leads in the number of flare-ups (1908 to 2009), with 83 communal riots, followed by Aurangabad (12), Pune, Nagpur and Malegaon (11 each). “Massive development intervention among poor Muslims with special focus on inclusive growth is a need of the hour,” the report said. The report has made several recommendations to address the situation including regular social audits of various schemes, urban housing for Muslims, maintenance of Urdu-medium schools, action against discriminatory housing societies, and skilling and employment opportunities. “There are government schemes, but they are not reaching the grass-root level because of prejudice among individuals,” said Munaf Hakim, chairperson, state minority commission. (Hindustan Times 6/4/13)

 

28. Shiromani Akali Dal to oppose Communal Violence Bill (7)

CHANDIGARH: The ShiromaniAkaliDal is set to oppose the Communal Violence Bill, which is expected to be introduced in the Parliament when it will meet again after a four week break on April 22. The Bill is being seen as highly objectionable by the ruling party in Punjab, as it empowers the Centre to declare an area in a state as communally disturbed on its own and send Central forces without the state’s request. While the opposition Congress in the state is backing the Bill, terming it as a “positive step” towards maintaining harmony, the SAD leadership is seeing it as “usurping the rights of the state”. The Bill provides for transfer of cases outside the state concerned for trial and take steps to protect witnesses. Prepared by the home ministry, it is awaiting nod from the Union cabinet before being tabled in the Parliament. Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, who is also SAD patron, has hit out at the proposed Bill calling it another example of the UPA’s “policy of excessive centralization of powers”. “The successive Congress governments at the Centre have turned the federal structure into a unitary form of government,” said Badal at a rally in Moga a few days ago. The draft bill imposes duties on the Central and the state governments and their officers to exercise their powers in an impartial and non-discriminatory manner to prevent and control targeted violence, including mass violence, against religious or linguistic minorities, SCs and STs. SAD’s alliance partner in the government, BJP, too is opposing the Bill, accusing it to be against the federal spirit of the Constitution. Daljit Singh Cheema, secretary, SAD, speaking to TOI from Goa, on Sunday said, “The state governments are more concerned about the security of people and harmony in the state. This bill would encroach upon the state government’s rights and is against the federal structure. We will not support it.” The top brass of SAD, which began its three day brainstorming session in Goa, on Sunday, will also deliberate upon the Bill and its repercussion. “We will debate it among ourselves and work out a strategy for it so that it can be effectively opposed,” said Cheema. (Times of India 8/4/13)

 

REFUGEES/ MIGRANTS

29. Walkout over shelter to migrants in Kashmir (13)

Jammu: Uproarious scenes and sloganeering were witnessed in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly as opposition on Monday staged a walkout from the House over the alleged failure of rehabilitation of border migrants at safer places in the state. Replying to the question of Jammu State Morcha member Ashwani Sharma, minister of state for home Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo said there is no policy or proposal to provide shelter at safer places to the people living in Pakistan shelling range on permanent basis along Indo-Pak border. However, Sharma who posed supplementary queries to the minister sought his reply by saying the government has given plots of land at safer places in various areas as a matter of policy to rehabilitate border migrants dislocated due to shelling and Pakistan firing along the border line. He was supported by members of BJP and JKNPP, who demanded that government should rehabilitate border dwellers at safer places away from the Pakistan firing ranges. They held protests and resorted to sloganeering in the House seeking reply from the government. On this, Kitchloo said as and when such incidents take place people living in Pakistan shelling range are temporary shifted to the nearest safer places and provided shelter in available government buildings and private houses till restoration of normalcy and return to their native places. Unsatisfied by the reply, members of the opposition raised slogans and staged walkout from the House. The government has failed to fulfil its commitment to the border people living close to international border that they will be rehabilitated by providing plots of five marlas of land at safer places, Sharma told reporters. “They should be rehabilitated permanently in safer places so that they will have not to face migration on account of Pakistan shelling and firing in their border hamlets,” he said. “Pakistan has been creating terror by resorting to ceasefire violation and border villagers always live under the fear of psychosis — people have been killed, injured and got handicapped due to firing and shelling from across the border — no compensation has been given to them,” JSM member said. “No compensation has been given to them for their lands which came under the border fencing,” he said, adding the opposition demanded their full rehabilitation and compensation but government failed to give a satisfactory reply. (Deccan Herald 2/4/13)

 

30. 31,619 displaced families of partition on records: J&K govt (13)

Jammu: A total of 31,619 families displaced in the 1947 partition are registered on its records, the Jammu and Kashmir government today told the Legislative Council. Minister of State for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Ajaz Ahmed Khan, however, said the district-wise data of the families settled is not available with the government. He said while 80 families displaced from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) are settled in village Kilshay Payeen and Gulshanpora of district Bandipora, 31 families displaced form PoK are residing in Shangus tehsil of district Anantnag. The Number of families has risen to 101 due to the division of families, he added. The minister informed the House that the government has taken several measures for relief and rehabilitation of the displaced persons of the 1947 partition. A cash assistance to the tune of Rs 3,500 per family was given to the urban displaced in addition to residential arrangements for them, he said. The minister further said the pending demands of displaced persons from PoK during the 1965 and 1971 wars are being examined. (Zee News 3/4/13)

 

31. Australia returns 963 boat people to Sri Lanka (13)

Colombo: Twenty Sri Lankans have been returned after attempting to illegally migrate to Australia by boat, the Australian High Commission said in a statement here on Thursday, bringing the total number of returnees to 963. Australian Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Brendan O’ Connor had announced that another group of Sri Lankan boat people were flown home from Christmas Island to Colombo, according to the statement. “The group of 20 was advised of its status and that all of its members were subject to removal from Australia as none of them raised issues that engaged Australia’s international obligations. Without a valid visa they had no legal right to remain in Australia,” it added. Since August 13 last year, 963 Sri Lankans have been returned 756 of them involuntarily. “When people arrived in Australia unauthorized, any claims they make for their reasons to travel to Australia are assessed by the Department of Immigration. If these claims are not covered by the refugee convention, they will be returned to their homeland wherever possible,” O’Connor was quoted as saying. “People who pay smugglers are risking their lives and throwing their money away.” Last year, Australia began a policy of returning illegal migrants within 72 hours. Over 1,500 people have also been arrested by Sri Lankan navy while attempting to illegally migrate by boat. The main reason given for the high number of illegal migrants by experts is worsening economic conditions in Sri Lanka, mainly pushed by high cost of living. (Zee News 4/4/13)

 

32. Attack on Tamil paper office in Sri Lanka (13)

COLOMBO: A group of unidentified men attacked the office of a Tamil newspaper in Sri Lanka’s former war zone on Wednesday, injuring several staffers and damaging equipment at the publication known for its government criticism. The attack is the latest in a series of assaults and threats on the staff of the Uthayan newspaper in recent years. The newspaper is published in the Tamil language spoken by the ethnic minority Tamils and is widely circulated in the island’s northern region, which was the stronghold of the Tamil Tiger rebels who fought the government during the nation’s 25-year civil war. Publisher E Saravanapavan said the masked attackers entered the office in Kilinochchi around 4:30 am. Using poles, they assaulted the manager and staff. Three workers were hospitalized and two had minor injuries, he said. (Times of India 5/4/13)

 

33. Refugee families abandoned in mid-sea rescued (13)

NAGAPATTINAM/ CHENNAI: Lured by the promise of safe haven in Australia, but abandoned in the mid-sea, 120 Tamil refugees from across various Sri Lankan refugee camps in the State were rescued from a stranded fishing boat off the Velankanni coast on Saturday. The mechanised fishing trawler was abandoned by the boat’s master some 15 km east of Nagapattinam, defence sources said in Chennai. The refugees, including 20 women and 22 children, from camps in Coimbatore, Tiruchi, Vellore, Chennai and Tirunelveli had converged in Velankanni for the journey that commenced just after midnight on Saturday. They had paid between Rs. 1.20 lakh and Rs. 2.30 lakh each to make the journey after an agent promised them settlement and employment in Australia. The boat, with spare food and water supplies and unhygienic conditions, failed due to a snag some four hours into the journey. The boat driver jumped into the waters and boarded a faster craft straddling the main boat, an official told The Hindu. Following this, one of the refugees contacted his brother in Tenkasi in the wee hours of Saturday, who alerted the ‘Q’ Branch. The Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centre received information around 6.45 a.m. According to Com. Udhal Singh, Commanding Officer, Indian Coast Guard Station, Karaikal, ICGS Rajshree was deputed for search and rescue, and a Dornier aircraft was dispatched for assistance. The boat was towed to the Karaikal port late evening. “The ship reached the boat in an hour. They were given food and first aid. There was a pregnant woman among the refugees,” a senior CG official said. “The boat neither had a name nor a registration number. It was too small to transport 120 people. We are investigating who arranged the dangerous voyage,” he said. Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Munusamy said they would be allowed to rest before they are handed over to the Coastal Security Group. They were taken to the Nagapattinam Collectorate later in the evening. Last September, 65 Sri Lankan nationals set off from Point Pedro in Sri Lanka and were stranded and rescued off the Velankanni coast. There were a few instances of boats sinking off Christmas Islands near Australia resulting in the death of asylum-seekers. In a bid to discourage people from taking the risk, Australian Consul-General for South India David Holly recently said those travelling by boats to Australia would be transferred to Nauru for processing of their claims and there was no guarantee that they would ever enter Australia. (The Hindu 7/4/13)

 

JUDICIARY/ LAW

34. IPL auctions violate human rights, says PIL (19)

MUMBAI: A public interest litigation has urged the Bombay High Court to stop the public auction of players for Indian Premier League matches saying it violates their constitutional and human rights. The PIL filed by Aam Aadmi Lok Manch has said Board of Control for Cricket in India has allowed public auction of players from the first to the sixth edition of IPL matches and has expressed apprehension that such auctions will continue. It added that auction of human beings is an infringement of human rights under United Nations charter on human rights. The petition said at the auction held on February 2, 2013 in Chennai licenses were issued to eight teams. “The players were sold virtually i.e in their absence,” the petition said. The PIL has urged the court to terminate the licenses and direct BCCI to refrain from any public auction of human beings in future. Manchs advocate P P Goyal mentioned the matter before a division bench of Justice A M Khanwilkar and Justice A P Bhangale who posted the hearing on April 25, 2013. (Times of India 3/4/13)

 

35. Push to set up 1,800 fast track courts (19)

NEW DELHI: Immediately after the passage of a stringent anti-rape law, the government is looking at setting up of 1,800 fast track courts across the country, hundreds of them in each metro, for speedier trial of cases of heinous crimes and sexual harassment. The government has asked state governments to set up court infrastructures, while the Supreme Court and the High Courts are working on appointment of at least 2,000 judges for these legal facilities. The government has allocated Rs 80 crore for appointment of judges. A senior law ministry official said the government has set aside Rs 2,800 crore for setting up of court infrastructures that can be used to open fast tract courts. The fund has been diverted from the allocation earmarked for morning and evening courts. Besides the fast track courts, the government would run other special courts. The revival of government funding for fast track courts has been the result of widespread condemnation for long-pending cases and delay in delivering justice even in cases of heinous crimes. The Centre had discontinued the fast track courts scheme in March 2011 after running it for over 11 years. During the central funding of fast track courts — between 2000 and 2011 — the government had in two tranches allocated over Rs 1,000 crore for running of these courts. This helped in faster disposal of cases with more than 1,500 such courts made operational in states. The move also gave a boost to faster disposal of cases. According to the law ministry, of the 39 lakh cases transferred to these courts, verdict was given to 32 lakh cases. During this period Bihar ran the maximum number of fast track courts while some north-eastern states like Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh decided to convert them into regular ones and some like West Bengal and Maharashtra continued to run more than 100 such courts with their own funding. The matter will also be discussed at the meeting of chief justices of the High Courts and Supreme Court judges, beginning on Friday. At least 24 chief justices of High Courts and 28 judges of the Supreme Court, including the Chief Justice of India, will deliberate for two days on various issues, including setting up of fast track courts and appointment of judges to clear pendency of cases. The top judiciary will meet with the PM and the law minister on Sunday where all chief ministers and state law secretaries have also been invited. The judges will also contemplate strengthening the juvenile justice system and discuss undertaking judicial reforms through the setting up of all-India Judicial Service and the National Judicial data grid under the e-courts mission mode project. (Times of India 4/4/13)

 

36. HC seeks govt response on PIL seeking more time (19)

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday directed the state government counsel to seek instructions in connection with an PIL demanding extension of the March 31 deadline for installing set top boxes (STBs) to watch television in various cities of Uttar Pradesh. The court has fixed April 8 as the next date of hearing. A division bench of Justices Sushil Harkauli and Manoj Misra asked the state government counsel to seek instructions on the PIL filed by D K Joshi, a resident of Agra. The PIL demanded extension of the March 31 deadline for installation of STBs till such time that adequate number of such devices are available in all cities concerned. Lakhs of television sets in cities like Allahabad, Lucknow, Ghaziabad, Agra, Kanpur, Meerut and Varanasi went blank after analogue signals were stopped. (Indian Express 5/4/13)

 

37. 8 convicts denied mercy by President get SC stay on hanging (19)

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Saturday late evening stayed for four weeks the execution of 8 persons, including condemned woman prisoner Sonia, whose mercy pleas had been rejected by President Pranab Mukherjee. A bench of Justices P Sathasivam and M Y Eqbal stayed the execution of the eight – Sonia and her husband Sanjeev, Gurmeet Singh, Praveen Kumar, Sunder Singh, Jafar Ali, Suresh and Ramji – on a petition filed by “People’s Union for Democratic Rights”, civil rights group. In the late evening hearing at Justice Sathasivam’s residence, senior advocate Colin Gonsalves gave the instance the stay of execution of four aides of sandalwood smuggler Veerappan granted by a bench of Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir on February 18.He cited the delay in carrying out the death sentence after the Supreme Court had confirmed them, as the main ground for staying the executions. Gonsalves said the delay in all these cases ranged from 3 to 12 years. The apex court has already reserved judgment in the case of Devender Pal Singh Bhullar, who had cited a delay of 11 years in adjudicating his mercy plea by President as a ground for seeking commutation of death penalty to life imprisonment. ‘Shouldn’t repeat mistakes that happened in Afzal case’During the hearing, the bench of Justices Sathasivam and Eqbal said it was also entertaining the petition on the additional ground to ascertain whether proper communication had been sent to the relatives of these condemned prisoners whose mercy pleas have been rejected. “It should not happen as it happened in the Jammu and Kashmir case (Afzal’s hanging). The intimation of the execution reached the relatives of the person (Afzal) after his hanging. That is bad. The relatives lost an opportunity to meet the condemned prisoner for one last time before his execution,” the bench said. Ordering the month-long stay, the bench directed the Registry to intimate the concerned Inspectors General of Prisons about the order through fax immediately. Praveen Kumar is lodged at Belgaum in Karnataka, Gurmeet Singh, Jafar Ali, Suresh and Ramji (all in UP), Sonia and Sanjeev (Haryana) and Sunder Singh (Uttarakhand). Gonsalves conceded that these were handed down capital punishment for heinous offences but said there had been no guideline for intimating the relatives about the death warrants nor there a set procedure for dealing with the mercy petitions of condemned prisoners. Sonia, daughter of former Haryana MLA Relu Ram Punia, and her husband Sanjiv were awarded death penalty for killing eight members of her family in 2001 over a property dispute. Gurmeet was convicted of killing 13 of his family members in 1986, Jafar Ali had murdered his wife and five daughters and brothers Suresh and Ramji had killed five of their brothers. The other condemned prisoner Dharampal has approached Punjab and Haryana high court challenging the President’s decision to reject his mercy plea. (Times of India 8/4/13)

 

HINDUTVA

38. VHP will declare Gujarat a Hindu state by 2015: Pravin Togadia (26)

Ahmedabad: VHP will declare Gujarat a “Hindu state” by 2015 besides having its presence in all 18,000 villages of the state in the next two years, the outfit’s leader Pravin Togadia claimed today. “In two years, the VHP will have a presence in all 18,000 villages of Gujarat and by 2015, we will declare Gujarat a Hindu state,” VHP’s international working president Pravin Togadia told VHP followers who gathered here for a ‘Hindu Sangam’ event. The event was organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad to launch a new movement called ‘Hindu Ahead, for Hindu Security and Prosperity’, which aims to reach out to Hindus in villages, towns, cities and tribal areas. Invoking the issue of the “insecure Hindu”, Togadia said, “To protect and prosper, Hindus themselves have to gear up, by becoming true practicing Hindus, aware Hindus and active Hindus”. The absence of Narendra Modi at the function was conspicuous though the VHP organised the event in the area which falls in the Gujarat Chief Minister’s constituency. In the past, the Gujarat VHP has been at loggerheads with Modi over a range of issues including demolition of illegal temples in Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad. The VHP, through its ‘Hindu Sangam’ announced plans for the resurrection of the organisation, which would celebrate 50 years of its inception in 2014. Raising the issue of Ram Mandir, Togadia said, “Unless and until we will become Hindus, not only by our behaviour, but with our practice and awareness, only then will our dream of building Ram Mandir at Ayodhya be fulfilled.” VHP’s joint organisational secretary Vinayakrao Deshpande talked about dwindling support for the outfit in Gujarat. He mentioned that 10 years ago there were more than 10,000 committees in the state which has come down to 6,000 at present. (Indian Express 1/4/13)

 

39. VHP launches ‘Hindu Ahead’ campaign, with RSS blessings (26)

Ahmedabad:  THE Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Sunday launched its nationwide “Hindu Ahead” campaign here with the slogan “prosperity and security of Hindus”, ahead of the outfit’s golden jubilee celebrations scheduled for August 2014. When asked if the movement has a political angle given its launch a year ahead of the 2014 general elections, VHP working president Pravin Togadia said, “The VHP has no apprehensions about supporting a leader who publicly takes a pledge to work for Hindus. Those who are leaders of Hindus will be our leaders. By mobilising people, we will pressure politicians and political parties to work for Hindus.” The gathering at a football ground in the city’s Kankaria neighborhood saw an estimated 5000-odd in attendance, including those who came from various parts of the state. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and other Hindu outfit leaders and dozens of sadhus were also present. Interestingly, Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who is not in good terms with Togadia and has an uneasy relationship with RSS, was not present at the meeting. Launching the campaign, Togadia said in his speech, “I am not talking about parties or leaders. I am talking about a constitutional arrangement by mobilising people and pressuring parties so that leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav have to bow down before Hindus.” To a question about speculation surrounding Narendra Modi as a future NDA prime ministerial candidate, Togadia said, “Anyone can dream of becoming a Prime Minister.” He refused to comment on Modi’s induction into the BJP central parliamentary board, terming it “too small a thing for us to comment upon”. (Indian Express 1/4/13)

 

40. Sangh Parivar raises Hindutva pitch as Modi rises in Delhi (26)

AHMEDABAD: On the day when Gujarat’s chief minister Narendra Modi was appointed as a member in the BJP’s national parliamentary board, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday refrained from making controversial statements in his brief address at the Hindu Sangam, organised by the VHP at the Kankaria football ground on Sunday. He, however, did call for construction of a “glorious Ram mandir”. “Soon we shall take up mass recitation of ‘Vijay Mantra’ for Ram temple. We will have to build good, honest and true Hindus in Bharat, because, now the whole world will be following Hindus,” Bhagwat said at the Hindu Sangam. The RSS chief was the chief guest at the function. Bhagwat announced that from April 11 to May 13 VHP members will carry out chanting of Vijay Mantra all over India to pray for the construction of the temple. Bhagwat also expressed the need “to imbibe true Hindu values and adopt the Hindu way of living by adopting Hindu language and appearance”. The function started an hour late at 12 noon. Later, many supporters from all over the state gathered at the venue to attend the function which lasted till 4pm. Bhagwat focused on talking about the lifestyles that Hindus should follow. “Our Hindu ideology should guide all community members in their way of living and talking.” VHP’s international working president Pravin Togadia took indirect digs at Narendra Modi but refrained from making any allegation. In a veiled reference to Modi’s recent attempts to build bridges with minority communities in Gujarat, Togadia, without naming anybody, said: “Any one who embraces minority communities for vote bank politics do not deserve to form a government or represent the public.” VHP’s Gujarat chief Dilip Trivedi added: “There are some leaders who grabbed power using the name and cause of Ram temple but are now busy propagating their own image and dreaming big for themselves.” Togadia added that in the next few months the VHP planned to enroll 51 lakh members in Gujarat and 25 crore in India. “We have to work for prosperity and security of Hindu community at large. Globally this community is at the receiving end. In foreign countries often youth of this community who go there for further education are targeted and murdered owing to lack of unity among Hindus. These days everybody gets away with abusing this community.” He also spoke about plans to launch a new movement called “Hindu Ahead for Hindu Security and Prosperity” which aims to reach out to the majority community. In 2015, the VHP will complete 50 years of existence. As the VHP held a mega meet here, those accused in post-Godhra riots were not happy with the organization’s attitude towards them and their family members. A group held a public meet near Civil Hospital on Sunday and vented their anger at the leaders who “did not care to see how we live”.Dr Atul Vaidya, former city president of Bajarang Dal, told reporters that police had picked up many youth from areas around Gulbarg Society and Naroda Patia who were accused in these cases of rioting by the Special Investigating Team formed by the Supreme Court to probe the riots. (Times of India 2/4/13)

 

41. Hinduism does not favour conversions, says RSS Chief (26)

KOCHI: “Hinduism doesn’t accept conversions. Hindus try to reverse conversions,” Bhagwat said, inaugurating a Rs 18 crore convention centre of the RSS here, the first of its kind in Kerala. “Conversions are not necessary. If you have the basic human values, what you wear, what you eat and what you pray all these are immaterial,” he said, adding, Hindu society needs to spread this message world over. All round progress of Hindu society is not for its own sake, but for the betterment of the whole world, he noted. Former ISRO Chairman, G Madhavan Nair said changes in the education sector was needed as it had become highly commercialised. Those coming out of colleges are not employable, which needs to be changed, he said, adding, there is need for imparting value-based education. Nair also stressed the need for promoting entrepreneurship rather than going for jobs in government or multi-national companies. The air-conditioned convention centre, built in 75,000 square feet area with state-of-the-art auditorium to accommodate 1500 persons, has been dedicated to the memory of K Bhaskar Rao, who spent his entire life for Kerala’s Hindu renaissance. VHP leader Ashok Singhal was among those present. (New Indian Express 7/4/13)

 

42. Procession on Vivekananda’s 150th birth anniversary (26)

ALLAHABAD: As part of the ongoing 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda across the country, a march was taken out by the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh(RSS) volunteers on Sunday from Anglo Bengali Inter College which after passing through different parts of the city culminated at the starting point. Spokesperson Hemant Dubey informed that it is an annual event organised by RSS in memory of Swami Vivekanand and hundreds of persons including RSS workers took part in the march. RSS cadres in their traditional attire holding staff and carrying sword led the pack followed by seniors and children accompanied by the RSS band walked in unison. A chariot carrying the portrait of Swami Vivekanand was also part of the procession.Led by regional in charge Manoj the procession terminated at the originating point where a prayer meeting was held. Addressing the gathering, Manoj said Hindus are secure due to the presence of RSS which is a formidable power holding the Hindu society together and working towards their safety and security. He added that it is unfortunate some political leaders were trying to divide Hindu power in the country. “Perhaps, they are oblivious of the fact that 90 crores Hindus of the country can seat and unseat any political party from government in the country,” he said. Those who accompanied the procession included Mohanji Tandon, Vimal Prakash, Dr K B Pandey, Shiv Kumar, Ramesh and others. (Times of India 8/4/13)

RIGHT TO INFORMATION

1. Online RTI application still a distant dream in TN (1)

CHENNAI: At a time when the world is going online, the Tamil Nadu government is yet to set up a system for online filing of applications under the Right to Information Act. Though the state chief information commissioner said the project was in the pipeline, no deadline has been set for its introduction. “The state government has to take a decision on this. But we need a foolproof mechanism before its launch. It will take some more time to introduce the online system,” state chief information commissioner K S Sripathi said. In the absence of an online facility, people living abroad find it difficult to use the RTI Act effectively. Getting a postal order of 10 for filing an RTI application too has become a challenge. An NRI, who recently filed an RTI application, said: “I had to depend on my friend to file an application to know the status of my ration card. Postal orders are not available outside India. I could have easily filed and remitted the fees if it could be done online.” Many RTI applicants said the online filing of applications will reduce the cost of getting information from the government. “It’s more convenient for them and it also prevents unnecessary hurdles for the applicants. We hope the online application will draw more people to filing RTI applications,” said RTI activist M Thuyamurthy. Experts say the online system will save time and reduce paperwork. “If they introduce the online facility, people could save money from postage fees and papers,” says an expert. The Central government is planning to launch a portal (www.rtionline.gov.in) where an applicant can file RTI application, paying 10 using credit or debit cards. The department of personnel and training, the nodal agency for the RTI Act’s implementation, will launch the portal in a couple of weeks. The department of posts will introduce an electronic version of postal orders, giving NRIs an option to pay for the information using postal orders. The Bihar government recently launched an online portal for RTI application and it has received good response from people. (Times of India 1/4/13)

 

2. Empower RTI in state, say activists (1)

LUCKNOW: The Right to Information (RTI) activists protested against the pitiable condition of the RTI Act and its implementation in the state on Monday. The activists also submitted a nine-point charter of demands to the chief minister to improve the condition of the Right to Information (RTI) Act in Uttar Pradesh. The activists demanded appointing information commissioners on vacant posts at the Uttar Pradesh State Information Commission (UPSIC). Speedy disposal of about 50,000 pending RTI cases in the commission, listing new cases for hearing within three days of being filed at the commission, uploading judgments on the website, recovery of fine imposed on erring government departments for not following the RTI Act and stopping harassment of citizens and activists seeking information under RTI were the some of the demands raised by the activists. “We have requested the chief minister to take an early action on our demands,” said activist Urvashi Shrama. Several other RTI activists including Akhilesh Saxena, Salim Baig and Nutan Thakur joined the protest. (Times of India 2/4/13)

 

3. Nearly 2,700 RTI cases cleared in 2011-12 (1)

AHMEDABAD: The Right to Information commissioner recovered Rs 2.44 lakh in penalties during the year 2011-12. The penalties were imposed in 25 cases. The commission also disposed of 2,699 cases during the period. The RTI report has been submitted in the assembly. “In order to ensure the efficacy of the commission and the interest of the effective implementation of the RTI act in the state, it is suggested that the government should ensure the compliance of the penalty orders of the commission by the officer concerned within a reasonable period of time, say three months from the date of the order,” the commission has observed. “It was observed that the officers paid small amounts quickly but larger amounts were found to be pending. A suitable mechanism is required to be set up for timely recovery of penalty.” The report further states that the majority of applications received by the commission related to the functioning of local self-governments including corporations, villages, talukas, and district panchayats. The commission stated that disputes were arising due to such problems as lack of transparency in working; vested interests; denial of legitimate services; and delay in attending to requests. The commission also noted that a massive capacity-building exercise needs to be undertaken. (Times of India 3/4/13)

 

4. ‘Soon, access civic records without filing RTI request’ (1)

MUMBAI: Soon, citizens and activists won’t need to file a right to information (RTI) request to access civic data. The civic body plans to upload most of its 80 crore documents on its website to counter charges of lack of transparency levelled against it by campaigners that citizens and civic activists complain about. According to BMC officials, the digitization of documents will be useful for people to have free and quick access to them. “All data will be uploaded on to a server. A link will be made available on the website to view all uploaded documents. Hence, there will be no need to file an RTI request for any records,” said deputy municipal commissioner Vasant Prabhu. The Stock Holding Corporation of India Ltd (SCHIL), which has a hi-tech data centre at Mahape in Navi Mumbai, has been tasked with digitizing and preserving the records. The civic body has provided the task of digitising and preserving these documents to the Stock Holding Corporation of India Ltd (SCHIL), which has its state of the art data centre at Mahape, Navi Mumbai. The data of all the BMC documents will be stored here amidst tight security arrangements. SCHIL Projects Limited (SPL), a subsidiary of SCHIL, will carry out the document management and digitization of BMC records. SCHIL’s Mahape data centre is missile proof and fireproof with various layers of security along with electronic identification for every employee. “We have three data centres at Mahape, Airoli and Bengaluru. Original documents will be preserved at Mahape, a backup of the information will be stored in the Airoli and Bengaluru centres,” said Sanjeev Vivrekar, managing director and CEO of SPL. (Times of India 4/4/13)

 

TRAFFICKING

5. NGO concerned over trafficking of girls from drought-hit Maharashtra (1)

Panaji: As people in drought-hit parts of Maharashtra face livelihood challenges, concerns have been raised over the possibility of girls from these areas being allegedly trafficked to Goa for flesh trade, according to a prominent NGO here. Past experiences have shown how girls and women were trafficked and pushed into sex trade, when calamities like natural disaster or conflicts happen, leaving people helpless, NGO ARZ (Anyay Rahit Zindagi) director Arun Pandey said. “We are concerned as the past experience are bad. The girls rescued from Goa, originally from areas of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, had narrated how they were drawn into this trade after they became victims of natural disaster,” Pandey told PTI. However, a senior police officer said that they have not come across any such specific trend. “But we have not come across any such specific trend (of girls being trafficked from drought-hit areas of Maharashtra),” he said, adding that they have been cracking down on the organised nexus in prostitution. Pandey claimed that there have been reports of girls being pushed into brothels in Mumbai, from the drought-affected areas. It would take time to establish whether the girls from these areas are being pushed in Goa too, he said. “Goa is not a direct destination for trafficking. First the girls are usually taken to places like Mumbai and Pune and from there, they are trafficked to Goa,” he said. It is difficult for the NGOs working in those areas to ascertain whether the women, who are being taken away from drought-hit zones, are migrating or being trafficked, he said. Trafficking happens when government help does not reach there in time, he alleged. “Similar situation will arise in Maharashtra, if the local government fails to reach them,” he warned. “We won’t come to know unless a girl is rescued (here),” he said. (Hindustan Times 1/4/13)

 

6. Human trafficking: Police under VACB scanner (1)

KOCHI: After the Crime Branch investigation into the case of human trafficking from the Cochin International Airport Limited, Nedumbassery, the Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau (VACB) has now come out with another report recommending detailed investigation about wealth amassed by 19 police officials who served at airport during various periods. According to the report, the VACB on the basis of preliminary inquiry has found that police officials including many who have held the posts of Superintendent of Police, Deputy Superintendent of Police and Circle Inspector have accepted bribes from travel agents.The Vigilance Department has collected details of financial assets of two DySPs and three Circle Inspectors and has found major irregularities in them. The department has also found that these officers have made money unaccountable for by investing it in real estate in other people’s names. According to VACB officials in Nedumbassery airport, the report was submitted to the SP, VACB Ernakulam unit who forwarded it to Director of VACB. The report will be handed over to ADGP (Crime) who will decide whether to carry out a vigilance inquiry into the matter. “From the inquiry, we received information that as many as 19 police officials involved in human trafficking case received commission from travel agents for sending people abroad without completing immigration formalities properly. The Crime Branch has been interrogating two SPs, four DySPs, six CIs, seven SIs and three civil police officers to get details of their role in this case,”VACB officials said. The incident first came to light after Somarajan, Assistant Commandant with the Immigration Wing of Nedumbasserry airport conducted an inquiry and filed a report against Ajeeb, civil police officer for having links with travel agents. Later, the case was handed over to the CB officials who arrested Ajeeb a few months ago. On the basis of the statement from Ajeeb, the Crime Branch received information that several high level police officers are involved with human trafficking agents. Somarajan was later transferred to Malappuram. Till now, the CB has interrogated about 23 police officers. (Indian Express 3/4/13)

 

7. Delhi trio takes on trafficking, feted (1)

NEW DELHI: When they rescued a girl from a brothel on GB Road 11 years ago, brothers Rishi, Nishi and Ravi Kant had no idea they were starting on a journey that would win them worldwide recognition. On Tuesday, they were among the six conferred the Vital Voices Global Leadership Award by US Vice President Joe Biden in Washington. The list included Pakistani child rights activist Malala Yousafzai. Other recipients of the award, given to those working to strengthen democracy, increase job opportunity and protect human rights, were Dr Hawa Abdi from Somalia, Sandra Gomes Melo from Brazil, Manal Yaish Zraiq from Palestine and Tep Vanny of Cambodia. “We first got involved in rights activism during our college days. We would engage in awareness campaigns for HIV-AIDS. We visited brothels. The common thread running through the women’s lives was exploitation,” Rishi said. It was the 2002 rescue and the young victim’s account of abuse that strengthened the brothers’ resolve to take on the human trafficking ring, which forces thousands of women and minors into prostitution, begging and child labour. “The GB Road incident gave us some insight into how girls are coaxed into prostitution with the promise of marriage or pushed into flesh trade by unscrupulous relatives,” Rishi added. Their NGO Shakti Vahini has rescued 2,000 victims. Seventy percent of them are below 18. Each brother specializes in a different field. Ravi has a law background and provides legal aid to victims. Nishi is the executive director and runs the NGO administration while Rishi reports from ground zero conducting rescue operations and also communicates with the media. The Kant brothers said it’s not the rescue operations that were a challenge; it was the mindsets of those involved: women activists, law enforcers or policy makers. They had difficulty explaining that men, too, can fight for gender equity. “In the end this is more than just policy and legislation” said Biden about violence against women in a statement released by Vital Voices Global Partnerhips. (Times of India 4/4/13)

 

MEDIA/ FREEDOM OF PRESS

8. Maoists say sorry for killing Bastar journalist (1)

Raipur: Forty-five days after their cadres murdered journalist Nemichand Jain in Sukma on February 12, Maoists have apologised for the act and said their topmost leaders are handling the case. They have also requested Bastar journalists to end their boycott. In an unprecedented step, the entire media fraternity in Bastar had passed a resolution announcing the boycott of Maoists and their press releases until they apologised for the murder and punished the guilty. The rebels called a few journalists to interior forests of Bijapur and apologised for Jain’s death. West Bastar divisional committee, CPI (Maoists), members Kamlu Kunjam and Jyoti met the journalists and said: “We have received information about the murder of Jain by some Sangham members of Kanger Ghati area. Since we are yet to identify the accused, senior leaders are facing problems in taking a decision. But very soon, the central committee will probe the matter and inform media about it. Some of our cadres have committed this wrong. We apologise and request you not to boycott us.” Kunjam added: “Lower-level cadres committed the act without informing the senior ones. The committee will announce punishment for them.” Jagdalpur-based journalist Harjit Singh Pappu was among those who met the rebels. “We had gone for our cause. We are happy that they have apologised. I hope they punish the culprits soon and inform us,” he told The Indian Express. (Indian Express 1/4/13)

 

9. Scribe killed, two hurt in avalanche near Manali (1)

Manali: A Kullu-based ANI reporter was buried alive and two others were injured in an avalanche at Rahla fall, 30 km from here, on the Manali-Rohtang border road on Wednesday. The deceased has been identified as Prem Thakur, 28, son of   Sonu Ram of Gharakar village opposite Kullu town. Mukesh Kumar, machine operator of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), and Karan, cameraman with ANI reporter, were seriously injured in the mishap. According to the BRO spokesperson, the incident took place when the ANI reporter and his cameraman started taking shots of the snow clearance operation launched by a JCB of BRO around 3.30pm. Suddenly, a major avalanche came down, following which the three fell into a deep gorge. (Hindustan Times 3/4/13)

 

10. S-I supended for misbehaving with woman scribe (1)

NEW DELHI: A police sub-inspector posted at the Mandir Marg police station has been suspended and an inquiry initiated against him for allegedly misbehaving with a 23-year-old woman journalist this past week. The victim, who works for a national English daily, had called the accused Dharmendra Meena to seek some information regarding a case which he shared. A little later, he called her back on her mobile phone and said something inappropriate and suggestive, said a senior journalist working with the same newspaper. “She was in trauma for the next few days and reluctant to talk to police officers but did not share her ordeal. However, she broke down on Tuesday and narrated what had happened,” said the journalist, adding that senior officers were informed about the alleged misbehaviour. A senior police officer from the New Delhi District said that Meena has been suspended after the complaint was received and would remain suspended till a report of the inquiry initiated against him is submitted. (The Hindu 4/4/13)

 

DALITS/ SCHEDULED CASTES

11. Killed dalits laid at Hooda’s doorstep (2)

ROHTAK: Family members of two dalits including a 10-year-old boy in who were shot dead allegedly by upper-caste men in Madina village in Haryana’s Rohtak district staged a demonstration outside Haryana chief minister’s house in Rohtak on Sunday. They left the bodies of the victims on the road in protest and demanded all the accused be arrested. The two victims – Sudhir Kumar (10), son of Sansar Kumar, and his cousin Vikram Kumar (22) — were shot dead by three Jat youths of the same village when they were returning from the fields on Sunday. A third victim — Sandeep — is in hospital. The victim’s family alleged that the assailants, two of them identified as Bhumi and Mandeep, harbored enmity towards them for last eight months. The protesters walked to the CM’s house after receiving the bodies from the hospital. The protesters forced their way to the house and put the bodies on the road next to it. Officials assured them that the accused would be arrested at the earliest and adequate compensation to the victim’s family after which the protesters moved away. The police have arrested eight of 18 persons accused of murder and conspiracy in this case. The three accused who fired at the men are missing. Rohtak DSP (HQ) Sumit Kumar said that the police had registered a case against the accused on the statement of Sansar. A police officer conducting the probe said that on July 15 last year, Mandeep allegedly barged into Sansar’s house with “wrong intentions.” Mandeep was caught and allegedly beaten up resulting in a rift between the members of the two communities. The police at that time had registered a case against both parties, the officer said. The dalits had demanded security due to threats from the Jat community and the police had set up temporary police check-post near the dalit locality at that time. They lifted the police post recently. Additional police force has been deployed in the village in view of the tension still prevailing there. (Times of India 1/4/13)

 

12. Jakhar to CM: Explain why Rs3,047 cr for SC welfare not utilized (2)

Chandigarh: Congress Legislature Party leader Sunil Kumar Jakhar on Monday sought an explanation from Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for not utilizing the Rs3,047 crore that was earmarked for the welfare of Scheduled Castes (SC) for 2012-13 in sub-plan schemes. Jakhar said that Chief Minister owes an explanation to dalit communities in particular as to why Rs3,047 crore earmarked for their welfare could not be utilized. “Chief Minister should also explain to which schemes or plans these precious funds have been diverted,” he added. Jakhar alleged that the State Government has also failed in releasing the post matric scholarships worth crore of rupees sanctioned by the Central Government for welfare of SC-ST students. “The whopping funds are also diverted to meet miscellaneous expenses which the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had pointed out in its report,” added Congress leader Jakhar. Already, the Chamar Maha Sabha president Paramjit Kainth has lodged a complaint against the State Government in this connection with the National Commission for SCs and STs. “If Chief Minister Badal means what he says, he should release such grants to the eligible persons of dalit communities without further delay,” Jakhar added. At the same time, Jakhar welcomed Chief Minister’s move to develop Valmiki Ashram (Ram Tirath) near Amritsar, for which Rs115 crore has already been allocated. “This would be a befitting tribute to the great saint who is worshipped globally and his teachings are followed by millions of people including dalit communities,” said Sunil Kumar Jakhar. (Pioneer 2/4/13)

 

13. Dalit double murder: Kins given R 5 lakh each (2)

Rohtak: A day after the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) visited the Madina7 village in the wake of tension owing to the murder of two dalits, the district administration has given ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakh each to the kins of the deceased. Meham sub-divisional magistrate Rajiv Ahlawat told HT: “The compensation cheque has been handed over to the family members of Sudhir and Vikram who were killed on March 30 (Saturday).” Notably, tension gripped Madina village, 18 km from here on the Hisar-Delhi road, after two members of the Dalit community were shot dead, while injuring a third one, identified as Sandeep, by three motorcycle-borne youths. One Amit Kumar (in twenties) was arrested by the police from a village in Jind on Monday. (Hindustan Times 3/4/13)

 

HIV/AIDS

14. New vaccine design developed against HIV (3)

LOS ANGELES: American scientists have developed a new approach to vaccine design that could be useful against HIV and other viruses which change their structure quickly, says a new study. The study, which appeared March 28 in Science Express, the early online edition of the journal Science, offers a step toward solving what has been one of the central problems of modern vaccine design: how to stimulate the immune system to produce the right kind of antibody response to protect against a wide range of viral strains, reports Science Daily. The new technique for vaccine design has been developed by a team of scientists from the Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI). Using the technique, the researchers engineered an immunogen (substance that induces immunity) that promises to reliably initiate an otherwise rare response effective against many types of Human Immunodeficiency Virus. “We’re hoping to test this immunogen soon in mice engineered to produce human antibodies, and eventually in humans,” said team leader William R Schief, an associate professor of immunology and member of the IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Centre at TSRI. (Times of India 1/4/13)

 

15. Delhi’s HIV death rate higher than official figures (3)

New Delhi: Over 2,300 HIV infected people registered with various Delhi hospitals have died in the past eight years but authorities suspect the numbers could be much higher as another 3,000 who signed up with them are now untraceable and their status not known. According to statistics compiled by Delhi State AIDS Control Society (DSACS), 2,319 HIV-infected people registered with Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) centres in Delhi hospitals have died during these years while 2,936 patients have failed to turn up for treatment. Since there is no trace of 2,936 patients, health authorities are uncertain as to how many of them are still alive. “A total of 41,065 HIV-patients in Delhi have been registered with ART centres in the past eight years and 2,319 such patients have died due to the infection so far. “Similarly, there are around 2,936 patients, whose treatment was initiated but they failed to continue with the treatment and are now untraceable,” Dr AK Gupta, assistant project director of DSACS, told PTI. The patients died while they were undergoing treatment for HIV infection in ART centres in the capital, he said, adding these facilities provide free of cost monthly drug dose to patients to improve their quality of life. Whether to put patient on ART or not is decided in accordance with the severity of infection. As per the parameters laid down by Delhi health authorities, nearly half of the total HIV positive patients are currently undergoing treatment at the ART centres. However, more than one-third of the total patients put on treatment are not getting medical care today. “Compared to 21,254 patients, who have been put on treatment for HIV/AIDS, number of patients getting anti- retro-viral treatment is 12,479. Besides those who have either died or failed to turn up, there are 2,700 such patients who have been shifted to other states,” said Gupta. He said there were another 607 patients, who have missed their last monthly visit to the ART centre and these patients are also treated as those who are not getting treatment. ART regimen mandates for each patient undergoing treatment to monthly visit the centre to undergo routine check up and gets monthly drugs’ stock. Besides providing drugs free of cost, rationale behind the mandatory visit is to keep patients in rapport with the centre, which assures patient’s psychological care as well. Patients, who miss three monthly visit to their respective ART centres in a row, are kept under “Lost to Follow-Up” category. (Hindustan Times 1/4/13)

 

16. Fewer Mumbaikars test +ve for HIV-TB infections (3)

MUMBAI: The dreaded combo of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and tuberculosis, one of the leading killers in patients, finally seems to be coming under control in Mumbai. The city has recorded a remarkable dip in the number of cross-infections and the success has been attributed to early detection and awareness. HIV, per se, does not kill but rather makes the body vulnerable to opportunistic infections by lowering immunity. Tuberculosis takes the top spot as the biggest opportunistic infection and killer among HIV patients. Statistics compiled by the Mumbai District Aids Control Society (MDACS) has revealed how in the last six years the incidence of tuberculosis in HIV suspects has halved. If 15% of patients who walked in for HIV testing in 2007 were found to be suffering from TB, it came down to 7% till last year. The same trend has been witnessed in those suffering from tuberculosis. TB patients remain highly vulnerable to HIV as global numbers suggest that around 13-14% end up contracting the bacterial infection. Here too, the MDACS records show that significant improvement has been made. From an incidence of 10% TB patients contracting HIV, the percentage has come down to 3% and remained there in the last two years. Additional project director of MDACS Dr Balkrishna Adsul said increased awareness among both set of patients could be one of the main reasons. According to Dr Minni Khetarpal, BMC’s special tuberculosis officer, a smooth synchronization of the National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) and the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) has contributed to almost 100% of the patients suffering from the co-infection getting the right drugs. “We have made it mandatory for the TB officers to send the patients for HIV testing within a month of enrolling in RNTCP,” she said. (Times of India 2/4/13)

 

CORRUPTION

17. Chargesheet soon in re-evaluation scam (5)

A five-month-long probe by the police into the alleged re-evaluation malpractices in the University of Pune has concluded recently and a chargesheet is to be filed shortly. Police are, however, saying the scope of their investigation never went beyond the list of 21 students that they had received, as the university administration, on its own, never launched a probe into the 60,000-odd answersheets that had undergone re-evaluation per semester. The 21 students included 18 foreigners and three Indians. In October 2012, investigation by the Cantonment police into a racket of dummy candidates at some private colleges had revealed that the suspects arrested were also involved in another racket of fraudulently passing students who failed in exams, by facilitating an increase in their marks during re-evaluation of answersheets of the previous semester. After the case was handed over to the Chatushrungi police, 10 persons, including seven university staffers and the three Indian students, were arrested. The arrested staffers included a member of the fact-finding committee appointed by the university to inquire into the allegations, the head and another employee of the revaluation section and a senior clerk. Police have till now not been able to trace the 18 foreign students. A complaint in this regard was registered after a fact-finding committee headed by retired ACP Sharad Awasthi submitted its report. Assistant police inspector Mahesh Bolkotgi, who is investigating the case, said, “Our probe was limited to the 21 students, as the university authorities had approached us only with those exam seat numbers. We have finished gathering evidence and recording statements in connection with the case. We will soon file the chargesheet in the case.” (Indian Express 1/4/13)

 

18. 2G scam: Yashwant to write to PM against functioning of JPC (5)

NEW DELHI: Hitting out at JPC chairman PC Chacko for not inviting former telecom minister A Raja to depose before it, BJP leader Yashwant Sinha on Monday alleged that the panel could be used to “conceal the truth” in the 2G scam rather than expose it. He dubbed the decision of not calling Raja as a “serious omission.” Sinha, who is also a member of the JPC, said he would write to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar that the intentions with which the panel was formed will not be fulfilled if Raja is not called as a witness. Sinha, along with Left members of the Committee, has been backing Raja’s plea to depose before the panel. “…I saw in my mail a letter from A Raja to Chacko which casts serious doubts about the JPC’s intention and in that letter Raja says he has written three or four letters to Chacko and in his replies, the JPC chairman just acknowledges his letters and said nothing about his coming before the panel as a witness,” he said. Raja had made a written submission before the JPC in March and his response was recently circulated to committee members. “I think it’s a very serious omission that the chairman of JPC is trying to make by not inviting Raja to depose before the JPC. Raja is right in casting aspersions on the intentions of JPC,” he told reporters here. The opposition leader said he himself has “serious doubts” about the intentions of the government and some of the members who represent it in the panel on “whether the JPC is meant to arrive at the truth, uncover the truth or conceal the truth.” “I think we are proceeding in a direction where JPC will be used to conceal the truth rather than expose the truth. And it is a very serious matter. Unfortunately, the Chairman of JPC, despite our requests, he is not calling a meeting of the panel so that (the) matter could be thrashed out in such a meeting,” Sinha said. The BJP leader said he proposes to write to the Prime Minister and the Speaker bringing all these issues to their notice “and telling them very clearly that the intentions with which JPC was formed is not going to be fulfilled if we do not call the witnesses who are willing to appear and ready to appear before the JPC.” (Times of India 3/4/13)

 

19. Govindacharya targets BJP’s MP govt over corruption (5)

BHOPAL: Former BJP ideologue KNGovindacharya has mounted a strong attack on the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh, saying it is “a corrupt institution where all work done is based on commission”.Asked about his allegations that the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government was “more corrupt” than the previous Congress government of Digvijaya Singh, Govindacharya told TOI: “There are a large number of cases pending in the Lokayukta against ministers and officers of the Madhya Pradesh government. One must conduct an inquiry into what these people were before coming to power and what they have become after being in power for a decade.” He said ministers and BJP leaders had amassed huge assets and also had flourishing businesses of their own. “Their assets, businesses, growth in income [and] investment in real estate show the colossal change in their standards of living,” Govindacharya said. “What they travelled in when they were not in power and the fleet of vehicles each one of them has now, only bares the ugly face of corruption in government functioning. In which part of the country has the income-tax department recovered Rs 356 crore from the residence of officers? People say that the money recovered by the income-tax department may not entirely belong to the IAS couple. Some of it could even be the booty of ministers.” Govindacharya compared the corruption in Chouhan’s government to the alleged election rigging during the communist regime in West Bengal. “Like in Bengal there was a concept of silent rigging — brazen rigging occurred during elections and no one would complain or oppose,” he said. “It is the same situation in BJP-ruled MP, where there is silent corruption. No one is complaining and the common man cannot get even a single work done without paying commission.” Does this mean there will be a change in government in Madhya Pradesh after the November 2013 elections? No, said Govindacharya. “Election is a holistic phenomenon where the challenger’s strength is also tested,” he said. “If the rival party is weak, the voter is left with no choice but to re-elect the same government, no matter how corrupt.” (Times of India 4/4/13)

 

WOMEN

20. Women constitute only 5.33% of police forces in India (8)

New Delhi: According to home ministry statistics, out of 15,85,117 personnel working in state police forces, only 84,479 or just 5.33% are women. Besides, there are just 499 all-women police stations in the country out of a total 15,000 stations. The demand for more women in police forces has been growing since the gangrape of a 23-year-old girl in Delhi on December 16. There were also 2,28,650 incidents of crimes against women reported in 2011, of which 24,206 were of rape. Uttar Pradesh has 2,586 women police personnel which is just 1.49% of the total 1,73,341 personnel while Andhra Pradesh has 2,031 policewomen, just 2.27% of its total 89,325 police personnel. There are 1,485 policewomen (2.18%) in Bihar out of the total 67,964 police personnel. Madhya Pradesh, where the highest number of rapes took place in 2011, there are 3,010 policewomen (3.93%) out of the 76,506 personnel. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Union Territory of Chandigarh have relatively better representation of women in their police forces. Out of the 1,34,696 police personnel in Maharashtra, 20,062 or 14.89% are women while in Tamil Nadu out of the 95,745 police personnel, 10,118 (10.57%) are women and in Chandigarh, 13.48% or 985 are policewomen out of the 7,308 police personnel. There are 5,356 policewomen (7.13%) in Delhi out of 75,169 police personnel.  (Hindustan Times 1/4/13)

 

21. Women reservation in Bihar cooperatives to empower them: Nitish (8)

Patna: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said the state government’s decision to provide 50 per cent reservation to women in the cooperative bodies will go a long way towards empowering the fair gender in Bihar. Intervening during the Cooperative Minister Ramadhar Singh’s reply to debate on the Bihar Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2013, he said, the decision to provide 50 per cent reservation to the women in the cooperative bodies will be a positive move in the direction of their empowerment. The other states should take a leaf from Bihar and empower women by providing for 50 per cent reservation in the cooperative bodies, Kumar added. Stating that the representation of women in the cooperative bodies have been negligible for all these years, the CM said, he was glad that the state assembly passed the bill merely ten days after a cabinet decision was taken in this regard. Kumar said that the state government would like the cooperative institutions, including the Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACSes), to function independently by the representatives elected in democratic elections and cater to aspiration of socio-economic aspiration of the rural people, including the women. With the women set to become an equal partner in the cooperative bodies in future, there will be equity and socio-economic empowerment of all sections of the society he said. (Zee News 2/4/13)

 

22. Maharashtra may allot 1,000 cab permits for women (8)

MUMBAI: The transport department plans to reserve at least 1,000 new cab permits for women. TOI was the first to report on the proposed 10% quota for women in the new permit distribution system. According to sources, nearly 14,000 taxi permits will be revived and allotted in the coming weeks. Fleet taxi operators will be eligible for 4,000 permits and the remaining will be issued to cabbies and others through a “quota system”, sources said. “We are demanding at least 100 new permits from the government to expand our service, which is exclusively for women passengers,” said Susieben Shah from Priyadarshini Cabs. Recently, Shah acquired another cab operator Forshe, which will also cater to women passengers. It will also start a training academy to train women drivers. “If the government gives us more permits, we will certainly ensure that more women are trained to become drivers and there are more cabs that run only for women commuters,” said Shah. Preeti Sharma Menon from Viira Cabs, another taxi service exclusively for women, said demarcating permits not only helped in encouraging more women to join the trade, but also ensured safety for them. “We have been constantly demanding more permits from the government. We welcome the quota system, which will ensure that we get 10% of the total permits being distributed,” added Menon. (Times of India 3/4/13)

 

23. Indian brothers get US award for combating anti-women violence (8)

Washington: Three Indian brothers have been felicitated by US Vice President Joe Biden in recognition of their work to end violence against women through an NGO. At an awards ceremony held at the prestigious Kennedy Center here yesterday, Biden presented Kant brothers – Ravi, Rishi and Nishi – from New Delhi “Solidarity Award” of the Vital Voices, which was started by Hillary Clinton in 1997. Pakistani teenage girl Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by Taliban militants for advocating girls’ education, was presented with the Global Trailblazer Award. “For more than a decade it has been a leading voice in the debate about violence against women in India. For much of that time, the Kant brothers have fought hard to get the country to notice the plight of women who have been abused, trafficked, attacked, and enslaved,” Vital Voices said. “The organization has been a leading voice on policy and legal changes to combat violence against women and children in India,” Vital Voices said about NGO Shakti Vahini which was established by the three brothers in 2001. The organization is headed by Ravi, its president, and has been strongly supported by Nishi, its executive director, and Rishi, who is a social activist. “Shakti is the mother goddess, the goddess who has fought injustice,” says Ravi, explaining the name. “Vahini is a brigade. There are many of us, and we’re fighting together.” For over a decade they have been proposing legislation, demanding that laws be enforced, improving access to services and empowering victims to take action, Vital Voices said, adding they have taken on violence against women, honor killings, human trafficking, child labor, slavery – a cluster of connected problems that are deeply entrenched. Cindy Dyer, vice president of human rights at Vital Voices, told The Washington Post that men’s silence is one of the greatest obstacles that women’s advocates must overcome. “The fact is, it ain’t girls and women who are perpetrating violence against women. Men and boys think that being nonviolent themselves is sufficient. It’s not enough,” Dyer was quoted as saying. But the presence of the Kants and Biden, who decided to present the award is an indicative of a broader call for men to speak up. (Indian Express 4/4/13)

 

24. Petition alleges sexual harassment of AIR radio jockeys, HC notice to govt (8)

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Centre and the CEO of Prasar Bharati on a PIL alleging sexual harassment of women radio presenters working at the All India Radio FM Gold and FM Rainbow channels. The PIL, filed by social worker Meera Mishra through advocate Sugriva Dubey, pointed to media reports that despite being a government body, the AIR and Prasar Bharati did not have a proper mechanism to deal with complaints of sexual harassment and had not even publicised the Vishaka guidelines against sexual harassment at workplace. In the petition, Mishra said she had learnt that radio presenters had repeatedly complained about sexual harassment to the department, Information and Broadcasting Ministry and the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW). The petitioner called for “strong measures” by the Central government and Prasar Bharati to “stop sexual discrimination, exploitation and harassment taking place at their workplace in the offices of AIR throughout the country”.The petitioner also sought court directions to the Centre and Prasar Bharati to formulate concrete policies and guidelines regarding service conditions and other protection measures for female workers. According to the petition, female RJs, most of whom are contract workers and not permanent workers, were facing various forms of sexual harassment ranging from non-availability of night cabs for the ride home to direct harassment through demand of sexual favours by senior executives. “Five days after Parliament passed the sexual harassment at workplace Bill, the I&B Ministry has been caught in an embarrassing position with over 25 RJs complaining against the senior management in AIR,” the petition stated. The PIL also stated that the All India Radio Broadcasting Professionals Association (AIRBPA) had sent several representations to the Ministry and the Prasar Bharati CEO but no action was taken. (Indian Express 4/4/13)

 

ENVIRONMENT/ CLIMATE CHANGE

25. Environment Ministry amends rules regarding mining project expansion (9)

NEW DELHI: The Environment Ministry has amended rules exempting expansion of mining projects from public hearing, sources said. The rules have been amended in line with the decision taken by the Cabinet Committee on Investment (CCI) to end the prolonged delays in various projects including mining. For one-time capacity expansion of 25 per cent or less, coal mining projects have now been exempted from public hearing provided it had taken place at the time of obtaining the existing Environment Clearance and the mining is confined to the existing lease area, official sources said. It has been decided that “no fresh Environment Clearance (EC) shall be required for a mining project at the time of renewal of mining lease if EC was obtained under the EIA Notification of 2006,” says a fresh Ministry notification. (Times of India 1/4/13)

 

26. Farmers mull legal action on Aranmula airport project (9)

KOZHIKODE: The National Green Tribunal order granting interim stay on the Aranmula airport construction has come as a morale booster for hundreds of farmers fighting to protect the largest remaining paddy cluster in Wayanad, which has been selected as the site for the proposed feeder airport project at Panamaram. Emboldened by the court order, the farmers’ collective is mulling similar legal action and has already served notices to the state chief secretary and the industries department as a precursor to taking legal recourse if the state government went ahead with the project. Lending credence to their conservation stand, the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB)has written to chief minister Oommen Chandy expressing concerns about the project. The letter says that the site proposed for the feeder airport is ecologically fragile and pointed out that there were standing paddy crops in 169.28 acres of the 337.64 acres needed for the project. KSBB had conducted a preliminary study at the proposed project site following the opposition raised by farmer groups and environmentalists. KSBB member secretary K P Lalad said, told TOI that the board was not in favour of setting up an airport at the proposed site. “The proposed site is not suitable for an airport as the area is ecologically fragile. We are not against a feeder airport in Wayanad. The state should consider other areas which do not have wetlands or a fragile ecosystem,” he added. “The wetlands around Panamaram are unique and a breeding ground for a large number of birds. Further, a large number of tribals reside in the area and the agricultural and ecological diversity of the site should be protected. Since the area is ecologically fragile, no land modification can be permitted,” the letter adds. The Cheekkalloor-Eranelloor-Mechery Agricultural Land Protection Forum, which is spearheading the agitation, said the forum was preparing for a legal battle to save the farm lands. “The order by the Green Tribunal is a big morale booster for us. We have already served notices to the government stating that the allocation of Rs 1 crore to conduct feasibility study for the airport project is a criminal waste of public funds as it is already well known that the Panamaram wetlands and paddy cluster have much ecological significance. We will be approaching the court if the government moves ahead with the project,” E N Gopalakrishnan, president of the forum, said. (Times of India 3/4/13)

 

27. Plastic waste time bomb ticking for India, SC says (9)

NEW DELHI: “We are sitting on a plastic time bomb,” the Supreme Court said on Wednesday after the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) informed it that India generates 56 lakhtonnes of plastic waste annually, with Delhi accounting for a staggering 689.5 tonnes a day. “Total plastic waste which is collected and recycled in the country is estimated to be 9,205 tonnes per day (approximately 60% of total plastic waste) and 6,137 tonnes remain uncollected and littered,” the CPCB said. The four metros are major culprits in generating such waste, with Delhi producing 689.5 tonnes a day, followed by Chennai (429.4 tonnes), Kolkata (425.7 tonnes) and Mumbai (408.3 tonnes). The figures only serve to confirm the common sight of mounds of plastic in industrial, residential and slum areas of Indian cities and towns. A shocked court asked civic authorities of five cities — Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Faridabad and Bangalore — to submit reports on the steps taken to contain dumping of plastic waste and implementing the ban on gutka. As 40% of plastic waste is not recycled, the daily addition to untreated plastic in Delhi is estimated at 275.6 tonnes, followed by Chennai (171.6 tonnes), Kolkata (170 tonnes) and Mumbai (163.2 tonnes). This waste is a source of continuing pollution as plastic is not bio-degradable and poisons the environment for decades. The CPCB said a survey conducted in 60 major cities found that 15,342.46 tonnes of plastic waste was generated every day, amounting to 56 lakh tonnes a year. While additional solicitor general Mohan Jain presented a worrying report on plastic waste management, another additional solicitor general, Indira Jaising, painted an equally grim health scenario by informing that the ban on ‘gutka’ and ‘pan masala’ laced with tobacco had not been effective due to manufacturers playing truant with the law while a lethargic state machinery compounded matters. Responding to the situation, the bench of Justices G S Singhvi and Kurian Joseph felt non-implementation of law due to abject “failure of governance at the grass-root level” could be countered by adopting a two-pronged strategy for effective implementation of plastic waste management and ban on gutka and pan masala mixed with chewing tobacco and nicotine. Taking a cue from CPCB’s survey, it chose Delhi, Bangalore, Agra, Faridabad and Jaipur and asked the commissioners of civic bodies to file affidavits within four weeks detailing steps taken under the Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000 and the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 to dispose of the waste responsibly. “We have a habit of collecting garbage from cities and dumping them in villages. Representatives of villagers have stopped being abreast with the problems arising from such dumping,” the bench said. It also asked state pollution control boards and the CPCB to furnish the reports they have been mandated under law to prepare as supervisors of plastic waste disposal by municipal bodies. On the implementation of the ban on gutka and pan masala in 23 states and five Union Territories, the bench asked the health secretaries concerned to file their response in four weeks to Jaising’s allegation that the manufacturers had stepped around the ban on their sale. The court also asked the other states and UTs why such a legislative initiative had not been taken by them and whether they were contemplating it. (Economic Times 4.4.13)

 

EDUCATION/ RIGHT TO EDUCATION

28. RTE: Lacking minimum area, private schools face closure (11)

New Delhi: The fate of many private schools in the capital hangs in the balance. The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) had set a three-year deadline for schools, asking them to meet the infrastructural requirements specified under the Right To Education Act, expired on Sunday. The bone of contention is the area requirement under the RTE Act, which is 800 sqm for primary schools and 1,000 sqm for middle schools. Last week, the Delhi government significantly reduced the minimum area criterion to 200 sqm for primary schools and 700 sqm for middle schools. The government relaxed norms after a protest by school managements outside Vidhan Sabha on March 25. Despite this move, the Delhi State Private Schools Association (DSPSA) claims that at least 700 schools in the city are on the brink of closure due to this criterion. DSPSA is a conglomerate of budget private schools in the city. These schools say they are “not in a position to expand facilities” because they charge a nominal fee. NGO Right To Education Forum, which conducts an annual survey of the progress of the RTE movement in the country, says: “Although the government has made efforts to meet RTE norms, significant shortcomings remain. There are concerns, specifically, with regard to access, infrastructure, quality and lack of effective community participation.” Speaking to Newsline, Director Education Amit Singla said: “By order of the Education Minister Kiran Walia, nearly 1,000 schools were exempted from this deadline as all pre-primary schools have now been kept out of the ambit of the Right To Education Act. In the past week, nearly 1,200 schools have applied for provisional recognition and will be recognised by the DoE till Tuesday.” (Indian Express 1/4/13)

 

29. Only 15% UP schools meet pupil-teacher ratio: Survey (11)

LUCKNOW: Contrary to the Central government’s figures on the status of Right To Education (RTE) implementation, the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) findings published by an NGO, Pratham, show that only 15.6% schools in Uttar Pradesh have the pupil-teacher ratio in compliance with the RTE norms. The data given by HRD ministry puts this figure at 38.57%.While the government has been silent on “out of school” children, the ASER findings state that the drop out rate is maximum in UP, with 6.4% children having no access to schools. In 2012, 81.3% of all schools visited had drinking water which is above the all India average of 73%. Nearly 52.5% schools were found having useable toilets while about 83% of schools visited had separate provision for girls’ toilets. The mid-day meal was being served in 85.6% schools. Besides, the appointment process of 72,825 teachers is stuck after the alleged Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) scam. Training of teachers is far from reality. Experts say though RTE has boosted enrolment in schools, but the learning outcomes are still very low. “The focus is on infrastructure issues like building, enrolment, teacher-student ratio, mid-day meals but focus on education, a child’s ability to read, write and learn is not visible,” said a primary school teacher. On the completion of three years of RTE Act, Voice of People, an organisation working on RTE conducted a survey on 255 schools (215 primary and 37 upper primary) in 40 blocks covering 18 districts. Key findings are: 1. Only 68% schools have separate classrooms for each teacher. 4% schools have single classroom. 2. 9% upper primary schools have proper furniture. 3. 50% schools do not have useable toilets. 9% schools have no toilet facility. 4. No drinking water facility in 13% schools. 5. 38% schools have no boundary or fencing, 9% schools have damaged boundary walls. 6. 42% schools have no play ground, 64% lack staff rooms. 7. Merely 8% schools have separate room for library. 8. Only 40% have first aid kit. 9. Pupil-teacher ratio was 1:46 in primary schools and 1:59 in upper primary schools. The ideal ratio is 1:30 and 1:35 for primary and upper primary respectively. 10: There are only 68% and 89% permanent teachers in primary schools and upper primary schools respectively. (Times of India 3/4/13)

 

30. Learning levels in schools still a challenge in MP? (11)

Bhopal, Apr 3 : As Madhya Pradesh marks three years of Right to Education, the education indicators in the government schools show that the state needs to make investment in quality of education, according to a latest survey. Madhya Pradesh has made progress in enrollment there has been has improvement in access and investment on infrastructure of education has increased. Quality of education in terms of learning levels in classroom is a challenge in Madhya Pradesh. ‘The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER)’ done by Pratham, an NGO survey among children of class three, five and eight students in rural schools of Madhya Pradesh, shows that level of students who can do subtraction and division is low. “Though as we go higher the data show improvement but this is an area which needs focus,” said the NGO. ASER survey done by Pratham nationally generates estimates of children’s schooling status and basic learning levels at district, state, and national levels; and to measure changes in these parameters over time. The survey report shows that only 12% children studying in class III can read text of standard II and do subtraction and only 3% can do division. Similarly 33% students studying in class fifth can read standard II text, 34% can do subtraction and 12% can do division. Looking at the data for class VIII, 68% children can read Standard II text, 65% can do subtraction and 35% can do division. Tania Goldner, Chief of UNICEF field office in Madhya Pradesh, said: “Efforts and steps have been taken by the state to improve enrollment in the state, which is the basis for Right to Education. There are concerns on low learning outcome of students in the class, which is an area for further improvement.” (New Kerala 3/4/13)

 

31. Rajasthan fails to utilize funds for improving education levels (11)

JAIPUR: After Rajasthan’s dismal record in meeting RTE (Right to Education) standards in government schools, a national survey has now found that the state has performed poorly in terms of utilization of Central education grants. The state education department has failed to spend Rs 16.23 crore of the Rs 20 crore grant received under the centrally sponsored information and communication and technology (ICT) in schools in 2009. It also failed to utilize funds of Rs 5 crore sanctioned for ‘inclusive’ education for disabled at the secondary stage (IEDSS) in the state. The dismal standard of fund utilization in the state was pointed out in a recent nationwide school education survey (8th) conducted by the National Council of Educational and Research Training (NCERT). The status report was released by the Union ministry of human resources and development in January 2013. The centrally sponsored ICT scheme in schools was launched in December 2004 and revised in 2010 for Rajasthan. It’s aim is to promote computer-enabled learning and use of technology in teaching at government and government-aided secondary and higher secondary schools. The scheme’s focus areas are the educationally backward blocks (EBB) which have a high concentration of SCs, STs and weaker sections. Under the scheme, state gets financial assistance to procure computers and other ICT-related infrastructure. The grant of Rs. 6.4 lakh (non-recurring) and Rs. 2.7 lakh (recurring) per school is given which is shared between the Centre and state in a ratio of 3:1. Of the Rs 20 crore released by the Centre for the state, only Rs 4.77 crore has been utilized till date. Piling on more embarrassment, the state has also failed in issuing 25% of its share for the project. Similarly, Central government released Rs 5 crore during the 11th Five Year Plan for IEDSS. But here too, the amount remained unutilized. To cover up its inability, the state has not submitted the audit report to the Centre. The report further indicates that no proposal under the scheme has been received from the state for year 2012-13. The apathy of the government shows large on the decline in enrolment of girls with disabilities in schools in the state. “If funds are allocated but utilized, it represents the worst form of planning. These are real concerns and need to addressed to improve the overall education scenario in the state,” said KB Kothari, managing trustee, Pratham The poor fund management in education sector was also evident from the figures released by a recent national sample survey for education and literacy where state was clubbed with Uttar Pradesh and Bihar at the bottom. Rajasthan recorded the second lowest literacy rates in rural areas at 54%, just a per cent better than Bihar. Literacy levels among the urban population is 73%, tad better than Uttar Pradesh which ranked lowest with 70%. (Times of India 4/4/13)

 

TERRORISM

32. Al Qaeda leader, three others executed in Iraq (12)

 

Baghdad, April 1 : The Iraqi justice ministry Monday said it has executed an Al Qaeda leader and three others convicted of terrorist and criminal activities. The four included Munaf Abdul Raheem al-Rawi, the top leader of the militant group in Baghdad province. He was arrested in March 2010 over masterminding massive attacks in the capital, including against ministries, hotels, foreign embassies, mosques and churches, Xinhua reported. “The executions for the four terrorists were carried out by hanging, for their role in leading terrorist groups which planned and carried out a large number of criminal acts against the people in a number of provinces, including bombings in Baghdad and (the western province of) Anbar,” the ministry said in a statement. However, the increase in the number of executions in Iraq has sparked calls from the UN mission in Iraq, the European Union and international human rights groups to stop Baghdad’s use of capital punishment. The death penalty in Iraq was suspended for over a year after the US-led invasion. Paul Bremer, then US administrator for Iraq, suspended its use in June 2003. However, the Iraqi government reinstated the capital punishment in August 2004, saying that it would curb the widespread violence in the country. Since then, scores of people have been executed, including toppled president Saddam Hussein. (New Kerala 1/4/13)

 

33. Judiciary to decide cases faced by militants involved in talks: Assam govt (12)

Guwahati: The Assam government on Tuesday said it will not interfere in judicial matters of cases involving leaders and cadres of militant groups engaged in peace talks. Minister for Panchayat and Rural Development Rockybul Hussain told the Assembly that while the state government gave full support to talks between the Centre and militant groups, it was up to the judiciary to decide bail pleas and related issues of arrested militants. On the peace talks between the Ranjan Daimary faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland and the Centre, Hussain said that the central government’s interlocutor P C Haldar had held several rounds of talks with Daimary, who is lodged in Guwahati Central Jail. “NDRF(R) had in August 2011 declared unilateral ceasefire and so the Centre entrusted Haldar to play the role of interlocutor. We have given our support to the talks,” he said. Hussain said that the CBI was investigating the October 2008 serial blasts in various parts of Assam, in which Daimary is an accused. Earlier during zero hour, All India United Democratic Front member Sherman Ali Ahmed said that militant leaders who were holding peace talks should not be treated like VIPs. “We welcome the peace talks but we believe that negotiations can take place even while they (militant leaders) are in custody. The government should review its policy,” Ahmed said. He said while Daimary was the prime accused in the October 2008 serial blasts in which over 100 people were killed, ULFA leaders were accused in the Independence Day blast in Dhemaji in 2004 when scores of school children were killed. “Today the government is negotiating with militants who committed such crimes. Tomorrow they will be treated as VIPs … What will the kin of the serial blasts victims or the parents of the innocent children who died in Dhemaji feel when they see the perpetrators being treated like VIPs?” he asked. “Do we want to create more people like Ranjan Daimary and (ULFA leader) Paresh Baruah?” Ahmed questioned. The AIUDF leader said the Forum for Terrorists Victim Family, Assam, floated by family members of victims of terrorists attacks in the state, had objected to grant of bail to Daimary. (Zee News 2/4/13)

 

34. Blast rips through security forces vehicle in Pak, three killed (12)

Karachi: Three security personnel were killed and eight persons injured when a powerful explosion ripped through a security forces vehicle in this southern Pakistani port city on Wednesday. The explosion occurred near an office of the Pakistan Rangers at Korangi area of Karachi at about 7.30 pm. Three Pakistan Rangers personnel died in the attack, security officials told the media. Five security personnel and three passers-by were injured, officials and witnesses said. A security forces van was destroyed by the blast. Deputy Inspector General of Police Tahir Naveed told reporters that the blast had targeted the security forces vehicle. He said the attack could have been carried out in retaliation to an operation launched by security forces against criminals and militants in Karachi. Footage on television showed the body of one paramilitary personnel, covered with a white sheet, lying on a stretcher outside the state-run Jinnah Hospital. Officials at the hospital said two of the wounded were in a serious condition. No group claimed responsibility for the attack. Over the past few days, the Pakistan Rangers and police have targeted members of the Taliban and other banned groups in several parts of Karachi, the country’s largest city. Security personnel arrested several militants and seized sophisticated weapons and explosives during the crackdown. (Zee News 3/4/13)

 

NAXALS/ MAOISTS

35. AIIMS doctors to treat villagers in Naxal-hit Bastar (12)

NEW DELHI: In a first for the country’s conflict zones, security forces have roped in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur, for providing treatment to villagers living in seven districts of Chhattisgarh’s Maoist-hit Bastar region using telemedicine. The community outreach facility, to be launched by CRPF director general Pranay Sahay on Tuesday, will also be used by CRPF personnel stationed at remote camps in Bastar. “Twice a week, a panel of doctors at AIIMS Raipur will connect with villagers and paramilitary personnel at more than 100 CRPF camps across Bastar region through Skype (where net connectivity is available) or mobile phones,” said Zulfiquar Hasan, IG CRPF in Chhattisgarh. At remote CRPF camps where neither net nor mobile connectivity is available, doctors can be reached through the digital satellite phone terminal (DSPT). “Villagers can come to the CRPF camps on appointed days and speak to our doctors for diagnosis and treatment,” said Nitin M Nagarkar, director at AIIMS Raipur. The AIIMS medical college is already functional while the 960-bed hospital will start in phases from next month. Each CRPF camp has about 15-20 villages around, most in remote areas with poor road connectivity. Caught between the Maoists and the security forces, villagers in the region live in the shadow of the gun, grappling with acute poverty, poor infrastructure and diseases. At many places, people walk about 30km to reach a medical facility. Many depend on quacks or die untreated as there is a huge shortage of doctors in the region. Besides battling Maoists in Chhattisgarh, the CRPF men stationed at remote camps have to fight off killer diseases such as malaria and typhoid, and cope with immense stress. Yet, many of their camps lack trained doctors. The AIIMS doctors, it is hoped, will guide paramedics and medical attendants at these camps. Chhattisgarh’s infant and maternal mortality rates are higher than the national average, according to the annual health survey, 2010-2011. In December, state women and child development minister Lata Usendi admitted that more than 1 lakh children suffer from malnutrition in the Bastar division alone. Besides, malaria and diarrhoea claim many lives each year in the region. The CRPF already runs medical camps for villagers each month in Chhattisgarh and maintains stocks of medicines at its units spread across 100 locations. “We will provide villagers with medicines prescribed by the doctors at the teleconsultation. If required, we will arrange to shift a patient for treatment to city hospitals,” said Hasan. A trial run was conducted at 10 CRPF camps on Saturday. Nagarkar will also lead a team of doctors to visit remote areas to assess the medical needs of villagers. “We will identify areas and plan to set up satellite centres,” he said. (Times of India 1/4/13)

 

36. Army nixes govt plan to hit naxals from air (12)

The home ministry wanted to deploy helicopter gunships to carry out surgical air strikes at Maoist camps in the hard-to-reach jungles of Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Jharkhand but has been told to shove the controversial plan back into the deep freezer. CRPF personnel pay their last respects near the coffins of policemen who died in a Maoist attack in Raipur. The home ministry plan was part of the ambitious proposal for the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to deploy all available resources of the central government to scale up the battle against Maoists in their core areas. The note – which also proposed deployment of 30,000 personnel of the army’s anti-insurgency force, Rashtriya Rifles – was sent to the CCS in early August last year. As reported by HT in January, the home ministry couldn’t muster support for induction of Rashtriya Rifles at the meeting of the committee of secretaries that scrutinised the proposals for the CCS. The panel of secretaries, however, cleared other non-controversial aspects of the home ministry plan. At these meetings, Army chief General Bikram Singh strongly advised against “quick fix solutions” to the battles that would need to be fought in the heart of India for many years. Defence secretary Shashi Kant Sharma pointed to a host of negative implications of air strikes including “considerable collateral damage”. Former home minister, P Chidambaram was the first to go public with the demand for aerial attacks after Maoists massacred 76 security personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district in April 2010. But he backed out after strident opposition to the plan, settling for choppers to provide logistics support and carry out rescue missions. Behind the scenes, the home ministry not only worked to pump in funds for development in the Maoist heartland but also to raise the level of manpower, weaponry and logistics support to reclaim the over 70,000 sq km of territory where Maoists often have the last word. The deployment of RR battalions and attack helicopters – the latter were extensively used by the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka in the late eighties – quietly resurfaced in the home ministry’s wish-list drawn last year. At the heart of this plan was the argument that the government stop dealing with Maoists with kid gloves. Home secretary RK Singh was clear that the Centre should deploy its full might and commit every available resource to the anti-Maoist theatre. The view gained strength after Maoists shot an Indian Air Force chopper on a rescue mission this January in Sukma district close to the spot where 76 personnel were ambushed two years earlier. The Maoists had already shown their brutal face a week earlier when they placed a 1.5 kg explosive inside a CRPF jawan killed in an ambush in Jharkhand’s Latehar district. Government sources said the home ministry had agreed to withdraw the twin proposal from the CCS note “at this stage” in view of the reservations. But there is a strong view at the home ministry – articulated by home secretary Singh last year – that the State needs to use its “coercive power” as and when required and deployments should not only cater to the present situation but also futuristic situations”. (Hindustan Times 2/4/13)

 

37. Maoists blow up Jharkhand panchayat office (12)

Ranchi: A two-storey building used as a panchayat office was blown up by Maoists on Tuesday night at Seeram village in Lohardagga district of Jharkhand. Police said three improvised explosive devices were used for the blast. “CPI (Maoists) may have done this as a reaction to the killing of Maoists by the Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC) in Chatra last week. Or they may have targeted this building because a janta durbar [public meeting] was held by my office and the Collector’s office in this building a few days ago to respond to people’s concerns regarding public schemes and Maoists are opposed to this,” said Lohardagga Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar Singh. Ten members of the CPI (Maoist), including four leaders of the Maoists Madhya zone — the area south of the Grand Trunk Road, including Aurangabad in Bihar and Chatra and Palamu in Jharkhand — were killed in a clash with TPC, a splinter group of Maoists, in Chatra district 100 km north of Ranchi on March 27. In a statement released on March 31, CPI (Maoists) Bihar Jharkhand North Chhattisgarh special area committee spokesperson Gopal had declared April 1 to 7 as “pratirodh saptaah” (protest week) in which they would avenge the TPC’s killings, and called for a Bihar-Jharkhand bandh on April 6 and 7. (The Hindu 4/4/13)

 

38. Sarpanch shot dead by Maoists (12)

BERHAMPUR: Alleging that he was a police informer, Maoists murdered a tribal sarpanch Bhagaban Kirsani (38) in Malkangiri district of south Odisha on Tuesday night. His bullet ridden body was located on the outskirts of Kurmanur village under Kalimela police station limits on Wednesday morning. Kirsani happened to be the sarpanch of Kurmanur panchayat of Kalimela block. According to sources, the killers had left a handwritten poster near the body. Through the poster, Paplur Dalam of the Andhra-Orissa Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) of outlawed CPI (Maoist) organisation claimed responsibility for the murder. Maoists claimed that Kirsani was killed as he was a police informer. When contacted, Malkangiri district police denied of any link between the murdered elected village leader. According to police sources, a group of around 25 armed Maoists had reached the house of Kirsani at Kurmanur village on Tuesday night. They forced the sarpanch to come with them. It was alleged that after taking him to a deserted spot, he was shot at from a close range. Kirsani died on the spot, police sources said. Kirsani had received threats from Maoists in the past, sources said. Due to threats of Maoists, he had preferred to leave his village and stay at Chitrakonda for some time. He had returned to his village Kurmanur about a month ago. It was suspected that Maoists may have targeted the man after recent arrest of key Maoist leader Srinivas Sriramulu in adjoining Andhra Pradesh. Sriramulu was a leading man in the AOBSZC and was looking after activities of the ultras in Malkangiri district. Kurmanur village is near Odisha-Andhra border. It was suspected that the Maoists had felt some persons in Malkangiri district may have leaked information about the movement of Sriramulu to security forces. They may have also killed the sarpanch to keep alive their reign of terror in remote areas of Malkangiri district after arrest of Sriramulu. Combing operation and patrolling by security forces was intensified in the area following the incident. (The Hindu 4/4/13)

 

LABOUR/ MGNREGA

39.  ‘Involve Gram Panchayats in MGNREGA’ (14)

TIRUPATI: Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh has asked the functionaries involved in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to focus on involving the local Gram Panchayats in the selection and execution of works. While appreciating Andhra Pradesh for standing ahead of others in providing employment as well as in creating durable community assets in the countryside, Mr. Ramesh, however, expressed his displeasure in not taking governance to the grassroots by involving the Panchayats. “The massive success is driven by functionaries and not by involving the local people,” he said during a State-level interaction with MGNREGA functionaries here on Friday. After giving a patient hearing to all stakeholders, right from the Commissioner to the field assistants, Mr. Ramesh noted that Andhra Pradesh had showed the way to the rest of the country in integrating the differently-abled into MGNREGA, building toilets in rural households to end open defecation and also putting in place an effective social audit system to ensure accountability and transparency. “Let us now think of including a skill component in MGNREGA, which in its current form, is meant for the unskilled. We can select rural youth, one per family, and impart training in modern skills to them so that they can aim for better jobs,” he suggested. Looking beyond bringing fallow land under cultivation, the department should also look at providing sustained irrigation, so that the crop frequency can be increased. Another challenge he identified was the need to ensure forward linkage in the form of adequate marketing to plantation crops like mango, cashew, rubber and coffee grown in the State. Referring to the sleepless nights spent by the field assistants, Member of Parliament Chinta Mohan urged the Minister to enhance the element of job security. In the same vein, he asked the technical staff to work honestly to make the scheme accessible to the poor. MLC Y. Srinivasulu Reddy, Rural Development taskforce member P.C. Rayulu, Principal Secretary R. Subrahmanyam, Commissioner Sasibhushan Kumar and Collector Solomon Arokiaraj also participated. (The Hindu 1/4/13)

 

40. 551 households get 100 days job in Dakshina Kannada (14)

Mangalore: The UPA government’s flagship  programme Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which aims at 100 days work for an individual, still holds a promise for rural people despite allegations of misuse of funds in the scheme. In fact, 551 households have completed 100 days work in the Dakshina Kannada district in the last one year as on March 30, 2013. According to the information available on the website, 13 households in Puttur, 218 in Bantwal, 91 in Belthangady, 178 in Mangalore and 51 households in Sullia taluk have completed 100 days work. Last year, 906 households were given 100 days employment in the district.  Though the authorities have issued job cards to 76,851 households in the last one year, employment has been provided to 16,208 households with 40,816 individuals. In the last one year, work worth Rs 11.93 crore have been taken up under the scheme. A sum of Rs 3.62 crore has been utilised in Bantwal taluk, Rs 2.67 crore in Belthangady taluk, Rs 2.53 crore in Mangalore, Rs 1.16 crore in Puttur and Rs 1.57 crore in Sullia taluk. The total availability of fund was Rs 12.96 crore. According to officials, “the payment due is Rs 2.02 crore. We have already written to the government to release additional Rs two crore to make the pending payment.”  Maximum work has been provided to 455 households with 1,153 persons in Nidle gram panchayat in Belthangady followed by Kolnadu wherein employment has been provided to 1073 individuals. Padupanambur gram panchayat in Mangalore taluk has provided employment to only two families with six members. Employment has been provided to seven individuals from two families in Naringana gram panchayat. Speaking to Deccan Herald, ombudsman Sheena Shetty said “unlike previous years, there was no miracle wherein work worth several crores taken up in March during this year. There were no major complaints of misappropriations of funds during the year. However, owing to the lack of technical officers, there have been a few procedural lapses in implementation of the scheme. There are a few instances wherein the work was undertaken without preparing the estimate. This delays payment of wages for the labourers. Even the job card holders cannot complain as no estimate was prepared for the work. If the authorities try to provide one work in a year for the job holders, then a lot of development work can be undertaken in the district.” Gram Panchayat PDOs said “there was no demand for work from the job card holders. We can give them employment only if they demand. Once they submit applications seeking work, we will have to give them work within 15 days.”  (Deccan Herald 2/4/13)

 

41. India hopes to stall Saudi Arabia labour law (14)

NEW DELHI: The gold rush for Indian workers threatens to come to an end with Saudi Arabia bringing in a new labour law that requires companies to hire one Saudi national for every 10 expatriate workers. The Nitaqat programme that came into force recently will hit an estimated 1.5 million Indians working in the West Asian nation the hardest. Faced by the prospect of lakhs of unemployed workers returning to India, the Centre has decided to send a ministerial delegation headed by overseas Indian affairs minister Vayalar Ravi to hold talks with the Saudi government. The bulk of the workers come from Kerala and Andhra Pradesh and the state governments are under immense pressure. Indians in Saudi Arabia have been remitting around $3.5 billion annually. This is the largest amount of inward flow of foreign exchange from any single country. Around 1.5 million Indians are working in Saudi Arabia, of whom around 85% are in the blue-collar category. Sources in the MOIA said that efforts will be made by India to get Saudi Arabia to stagger the implementation of the programme. “We hope to convince the Saudi authorities to give some time for the workers who are being laid off under the new law to find employment in a neighbouring country or at least make arrangements for their return,” a source said. After the Arab Spring, which resulted in the overthrowing of regimes in Egypt and other countries in West Asia and North Africa, the Saudi monarchy is making a renewed push to reduce unemployment. A study — conducted by the Saudi Central Department of Statistics and Information — fixed the unemployment rate in the country last year at 12.2%. That meant that more than 588,000 people were without jobs. The Nitaqat system is a process designed to boost employment of locals. The deadline for implementing the system ended on March 27. FICCI secretary general A Didar Singh said that since the interest of Indians working in Saudi and their dependents would be impacted the matter required immediate attention. “As reported, currently, there are 3, 40,000 firms, which do not have any Saudi employee. If we take an average of 2 to 3 Saudi nationals to be employed by each firm following the Nitaqat Law, this may have the possibility of displacing some half to one million expatriates, if more jobs are not simultaneously created. A large numbers of Indian workers are employed in Saudi Arabia and according to data of 2011, this includes around 570,000 Keralites who account for a total remittance of Rs 55,000 crore. This shows the important role the NRI community plays in the state and the possible impact this change in law could have,” Singh said. Kerala CM Oommen Chandy has announced that a rehabilitation package will be introduced but that has done little to bring down the panic within the worker community. There are fears that the system could also impact small-scale investments. (Times of India 3/4/13)

 

42. Thiruvananthapuram district tops in MNREGS fund utilization (14)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Thiruvananthapuram district has once again topped in the state for having spent the maximum amount of money allotted for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS). In the financial year 2012-13, the district authorities have spent Rs 223.88 crore through the scheme giving employment to 2,03,005 households. Addressing a press conference, district collector K N Satheesh said a total of 17,686 works were taken up in the last year of which over 60% of the works were carried out in private lands under the land development provision. “Thiruvananthapuram has topped in allotting maximum number of employment cards (2,73,260), maximum number of employment days (1,30,13,391) and total expenditure. Thiruvananthapuram also tops in providing employment for 100 days to maximum households (70,344 families) and average employment days for a family (64.1 days). Vellarada panchayat topped in the list of panchayats that spent maximum allotted fund – Rs 8.96 crore followed by Chenkal panchayat authorities who spent Rs 6 crore through MNREGS,” collector said. According to authorities, by carrying out works in private lands, they could promote maximum cultivation in the district. “We have been successfully able to promote vegetable cultivation in barren land in about 10 panchayats including Kallikkad, Azhoor and Madavoor. The vegetable cultivation scheme will be expanded to other panchayats in the current financial year, utilizing panchat plan fund. MNREGS has created better living status for needy by utilizing the resources within the villages,” Satheesh said. At the same time Anchuthengu panchayat authorities received the dubious record for spending lowest amount in the scheme. The panchayat could only spend Rs 74.5 lakh in the last financial year. Vakkom is the only other panchayat in the district that has spent less than Rs 1 crore through the scheme. Times of India 4/4/13)

POVERTY/ HUNGER

43. Poverty drives woman to end life with 2 kids (21)

MYSORE: Roopashree, who allegedly committed suicide after killing two of her children here on Sunday night, took the extreme step because of poverty, police said. She was found hanging at her rented house in Kuvempunagar. Police are searching for absconding husband Shankar, a native of Shravanabelagola in Hassan. Shankar has been booked for abetment of suicide. Krishnaraja sub-division ACP A N Prakashgowda said poverty drove her to commit suicide. She first hanged her 5-year-old daughter and then the son before hanging herself. Another son was with his father. Preliminary investigation has revealed that the couple was not in good terms. Shankar, a cook at a hotel in Kuvempunagar, often stayed at his parents’ house, leaving wife and children at the rented house. Recently, Roopashree drew her landlord’s ire for non-payment of rent for two months. According to police, Shankar borrowed money and paid the rent. But he continued to stay in Hassan along with his son. Unable to bear this, Roopashree took the extreme step. The incident came to light when Roopashree’s parents came to their daughter’s house, after the latter did not respond to their repeated phone calls. The funeral was held here on Monday. (Times of India 1/4/13)

 

44. Malnutrition high among urban poor children in Coimbatore (21)

COIMBATORE: A door-to-door survey by World Vision, a global development and advocacy organisation, in 26 urban slums of Coimbatore has revealed that nearly half the children in these localities suffer from some form of malnutrition. The findings ( see box ) were presented during a nutrition training programme organised on Thursday (March 28) by Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), a Central Government-sponsored social welfare scheme, and World Vision for the Coimbatore Corporation Health Officials. The data is used by the organisation for its project to tackle child malnutrition, underway in Coimbatore since January. The survey also found that only one out of five pregnant women in these urban slums consumed the 100 Iron Folic Acid (IFA) tablets during labour, which was necessary to tackle anaemia. This is a cause for concern as anaemia among pregnant women could lead to low birth weight and even possible stillbirth, says D. Manimekalai, Project Officer of ICDS, which was working with World Vision to combat child malnutrition. This cycle become self-perpetuating and difficult to break. “Besides economic factors, other reasons for high malnutrition among children in urban slums are unhygienic preparation of food, which could cause diarrhoea, and low levels of awareness on safe health practices,” she told The Hindu here on Saturday. The ICDS workers were weighing children below three years and all those found to be underweight were given nutritional supplements. K. Vetriselvan John, Programme Manager (Coimbatore), World Vision, around 900 families with children below five years and pregnant women were covered. The survey was conducted within the city limits in places such as Ukkadam, Venkidapuram, Balasubramanian Nagar, VH Road and Chairmanraj Nagar. It found that a huge majority of pregnant women preferred to approach Government health centres. Of the total women surveyed, 85 per cent had registered with primary health centres and rest with private clinics. Institutional delivery was found to be 100 per cent in these slums. Grana Pu Selvi from Integrated Programming – Child Health Division, World Vision India, who conducted the training programme, said that in India, nearly 75 per cent of children were anaemic, a figure that rises to 87 per cent in the case of pregnant women. Around 55 medical officers, public health nurses and urban health nurses took part in the training programme. The organisation, which has consultative status with UNESCO and partnerships with UN agencies such as United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organisation (WHO), was implementing the Kangayam Area Development Programme, for the rural communities in Avinashi and Annur blocks of Coimbatore district for more than a decade. (The Hindu 1/4/13)

 

45. Food Security Bill will eradicate hunger: Thomas (21)

New Delhi, Apr 3 : Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister K.V. Thomas on Wednesday said Food Security Bill will eradicate hunger and malnutrition. “By providing food security to 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban population with focus on nutritional needs of children, pregnant and lactating women, the National Food Security Bill will revolutionize Food Distribution System,” said Thomas. “It will lead to massive PDS reforms including doorstep delivery of food grains, end-to-end computerisation, leveraging ‘aadhaar’, etc. PDS will become more transparent and subject to grievance redressal at appropriate levels with provisions for penalties and compensation,” he said. Thomas was addressing a special session on “India’s food security and the second green revolution” at CII’s annual general Meeting & National Conference here on Wednesday. Expressing hope that the National Food Security Bill will be passed by Parliament in the coming second part of the Budget Session, Thomas said that the day is not far off, when India will be known the world over for this important step towards eradication of hunger, malnutrition and resultant poverty. (New Kerala 3/4/13)

 

HUMAN RIGHTS/ RIGHTS GROUP/ NHRC

1. BJP opposes NIA chief’s appointment as NHRC member (1)

Job Vacancies.  Quikr.com/JobsFind 1000′s of Jobs in your City.  Connect with Employers. Apply Now! New Delhi: BJP has opposed the government’s reported move to appoint NIA chief S C Sinha as a member of NHRC, saying the party disfavours any retired bureaucrat or senior police official in any post of the national human rights body. Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and her Rajya Sabha counterpart Arun Jaitley told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday that they are opposed to Sinha’s appointment, sources said. While BJP maintains that the government wants to appoint to these key posts those bureaucrats and senior police officials who were close to the administration, sources said the main Opposition’s reservation about Sinha are due to the fact that he had allegedly held RSS responsible for “Hindu terror”.BJP had earlier opposed retired CBI Chief A P Singh’s appointment to NHRC despite several requests and informal meetings of UPA ministers with Swaraj and Jaitley. Singh was later appointed as a member of UPSC. Other members of NHRC selection panel, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha P J Kurien were also present in the meeting held yesterday evening. BJP has reservations against giving NHRC posts to retired bureaucrats and police personnel. This has become a contentious issue between the government and the Opposition with the former trying to push through the candidature of some retired top officials, including those from CBI and Intelligence Bureau. BJP has maintained that government is using NHRC posts as after-retirement sops for pliant bureaucrats. Moreover, the party has reportedly conveyed to the government that IAS and IPS officers are often violators of human rights and should not be made members of NHRC. (Indian Express 30/3/13)

 

2.  ‘People yet to get their rights’ (1)

Bangalore; Even after 66 years of independence, the rights guaranteed by the Constitution have not reached the people of this country due to executive inaction and failure of governance, Supreme Court Judge V Gopala Gowda said. Speaking on ‘Human Rights and Constitution’ at a seminar organised by All India Lawyers Union here on Thursday, he said, “Despite taking all the benefits and tax exemptions from the government, the educational institutions are not willing to educate poor children under the Right to Education Act.” “The government enacts Land Reforms Act to reduce the inequalities on one side and on the other side, it is busy acquiring and granting hundreds of acres of agricultural land for companies and business houses. Acquiring lands for industrial houses is not acquiring for public purposes. Social justice is one of the main purposes of the Constitution and that cannot be achieved unless we achieve equality of all sorts. Though we have been speaking about equality and human rights from the time of Vedas, we have failed to achieve it due to lack of commitment.” (Indian Express 31/3/13)

 

3. NHRC summons Bihar DGP in abduction case (1)

PATNA: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has summoned BiharDGPAbhayanand to appear before it following non-submission of a report in a case related to a minor girl missing since September 18 last year. The NHRC has asked the DGP to appear before it personally in New Delhi on May 3. “Despite giving sufficient time and opportunity, the requisite report has not been received. In these circumstances, let director general of police, Bihar, personally appear before the commission on May 3 along with the requisite report,” the commission said. DGP Abhayanand on Sunday said, “I am not aware of any such summon issued by the NHRC to the Bihar police. As far as my information goes, we had sent the requisite report regarding the case to the commission.” The 13-year-old girl was reportedly abducted from her house in Muzaffarpur district on September 18. However, the state police have failed to make any breakthrough in the case till date. In October last year, Abhisek Ranjan, a Delhi University law student, had filed a complaint with the NHRC in this regard, and the commission had directed Bihar Police to submit a report on the case by December 6. Atulya Chakravorty, father of the girl, has alleged that his daughter was abducted by land mafia as he refused to give up a piece of prime land in Muzaffarpur. A skeleton was found from a drain near Chakravorty’s house. But despite a court order, Chakravorty and his wife refused to give their blood samples for a DNA test, saying the skeleton was not that of their daughter. (Times of India 1/4/13)

 

4. Fear shadows Nepal homosexuals: Human Rights Watch (1)

NEW YORK: Nepal should allow lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) groups to operate freely and end arbitrary arrests of LGBT people, Human Rights Watch said on Monday. The government should investigate threats and attacks against LGBT people, the rights body said. Widespread harassment, including by the government, has contributed to a climate of fear among LGBT people and activists in Nepal, and has interrupted vital activities, including HIV prevention work, it said. “The LGBT rights movement in Nepal is a regional and international leader but is under serious threat,” said Graeme Reid, director of the LGBT Rights Program at Human Rights Watch. “While Nepal has made immense progress on LGBT rights in the past decade, the government cannot afford to ignore the many problems facing LGBT people inside its borders.” Attacks on Nepal’s LGBT activists have escalated in recent months from threats against individuals, to physical violence and abduction, Human Rights Watch said. Over the past six months, LGBT rights activists have reported being harassed by threatening text messages and being followed by people wearing masks who attempted to extort money or sex. Some have been forced by these masked figures to make negative on-camera statements against Blue Diamond Society, the national LGBT umbrella organization. In December, the Blue Diamond Society asked the inspector-general of Nepal Police to investigate threats against staff members, including threatening phone calls and being followed after dark. However, these and other threats and intimidation have neither been investigated nor punished and have contributed to a climate of fear among LGBT people. Many have been unable to congregate in public, conduct HIV prevention outreach activities, or express their views without fear of threats or reprisal. Government harassment of the Blue Diamond Society has seriously threatened the group’s activities, Human Rights Watch said. Government officials have been delaying the renewal of the group’s operating licence. A series of television news stories alleging corruption and incompetence by the Blue Diamond Society led to a government probe which halted the annual NGO licence renewal process and froze its bank accounts. Nepal’s government has made significant strides toward ensuring equality for LGBT people in recent years, including recognizing a third gender category on official documents. The government has also completed a proposal to amend all laws that discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, in line with a landmark 2007 supreme court decision. (Times of India 2/4/13)

 

POLICE/CUSTODIAL DEATH/ ARMY

5. Women Home Guards move SHRC against police excesses (1)

Bhubaneswar: The women Home Guards on Saturday moved to the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) protesting police excesses against them during demonstration in front of the State Assembly here on Friday. They alleged the police officers misbehaved them during the protest. The women home guards complained against Bhubaneswar DCP Nitinjit Singh, Capital IIC Aseem Panda, Chandrasekharpur IIC Rabi Satpathy and Reserve Inspector Bibhuti Parida for directing the force to attack on them. Meanwhile, the DCP informed that they are reviewing the CCTV footage and videos of the protest to know the violators of law. They would take disciplinary action against 50 persons arrested during the demonstration, he added. On the other hand, Home Guard ADG Binaya Behera said that the Home Guards should not choose the violent way to press their demands. It is their right to demand to get better facility from the State, but they should follow the discipline, he added. (Pioneer 24/3/13)

 

6. Omar lashes out at Centre over alleged militant’s arrest, AFSPA (1)

JAMMU: With the arrest of alleged Hizbul militant Liyaqat Ali Shah by the Delhi Police straining his ties with the UPA government, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday slammed the central leaders while renewing his demand for revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). “Those who repeatedly cram that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India (Atoot Ang) forget that the accession was only on three subjects of communication-currency, defence and foreign affairs, which was gradually eroded,” Omar said in the assembly. Whenever I talk about revoking AFSPA, you do not want to take the risk. If you can hang Afzal Guru taking security risk, why do not you dare to revoke AFSPA,” he said while demanding release of Liyaqat. The CM cited Maoist violence in Chhattisgarh while accusing the Centre of adopting double standards vis-a-vis J&K. “Naxals blew up a helicopter in Chhattisgarh earlier this year. Did you impose AFSPA there?” he said. “…no helicopters have been shot down in Kashmir, but the Centre has always adopted a different yardstick for J&K.”He questioned Shah’s arrest while describing it as a setback to his government’s rehabilitation policy for ex-militants. “Shah was not going to carry out terror attacks in New Delhi, as he was not holding a gun in his hand…instead; he was holding the hands of his wife and his daughter.” Omar said he had taken up the issue with the Centre, but the arrest would dissuade many like Shah from joining the mainstream. (Times of India 26/3/13)

 

7. Massive protests in Anantnag, people alleged custodial death (1)

Srinagar, Mar 26 : Massive protests erupted in south Kashmir district of Anantnag after a youth, allegedly arrested by police was found dead in the paddy fields today. However, police denied to have arrested the youth yesterday. People, including youths and women, took to the streets after Bilal Ahmad Dar was found dead in paddy fields at village Mohghal. The demonstrators alleged that Bilal was arrested by police yesterday. They said there were several torture marks over the body of Bilal. Senior civil and police officials have rushed to village, they said adding the body was taken to hospital for a post-mortem, where a large number of people had gathered, raising anti-police slogans. Shops and business establishments were shut and traffic also went off the road in the town and adjoining areas after the news spread about the alleged custodial death of Bilal. (New Kerala 27/3/13)

 

8. Directive against arresting inspectors (1)

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed the Crime Branch not to arrest Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inspectors K.K. Rajan and S. Unnikrishnan Nair, accused in a case relating to the suicide of P.G. Haridath, CBI Assistant Superintendent of Police and an investigation officer in the Sampath custodial death case. The court adjourned the case to April 3 with the directive not to arrest the accused till then. The investigating agency had approached the apex court against the High Court verdict quashing the proceedings against the CBI Inspectors. The court passed the directive noting that the apex court had not issued any stay on the operation of the High Court order (The Hindu 28/3/13)

 

9. Maharashtra CID to give HC custodial deaths probe update (1)

MUMBAI: State Crime Investigation Department will give the Bombay High Court an update on its probe pertaining to two custodial deaths in the Central Police Station at Ulhasnagar in Thane district in 2011. A bench of Justice A M Khanwilkar and Justice A P Bhangale will hear a public interest litigation by social activist Hardas Tharwani regarding the death of 34 year old Sunil Shelke. During the hearing the court was informed that in same police station another man died in custody a month earlier. According to Tharwani’s petition, Shelke was a tailor. On his wife’s complaint, he and his brother Yogesh were summoned to the police station on April 11, 2011. Shelke was asked to give a written undertaking that he will not trouble his wife. When he refused, the brothers were arrested and mercilessly beaten. Around 10.45 pm, Shelke began vomiting blood. He was taken to a hospital and brought back within an hour. Around 2 am on April 12, 2011 he complained of uneasiness and died. On March 2, 2011 Narayan Rathod (38), an alleged murder suspect , was illegallydetained without any competent court’sorder. There were 25 injuries on his body. Following the PIL, six policemen were book for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and causing grievous hurt to extort confession. Additional public prosecutor Aruna Pai had told the court that out of six officers, three are suspended and departmental inquiry is on against the other three. The State CID, which took over the case in April 2012, is expected to give the court a status update on its investigations. (Times of India 1/4/13)

 

10. SC makes strong observations against police brutality (1)

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday made strong observations against Bihar and Punjab governments over their response to police brutality. According to TV reports, the court also made strong observations on the process of police recruitment. The apex court was hearing the case of Punjab Police’s attack on a woman in Tarn Tarn and the lathicharge by Bihar Police on protesting school teachers. The court had taken up the cases on its own initiative and had issued notices to the two states seeking an explanation. (Times of India 2/4/13)

 

HEALTH/ EPIDEMICS/NRHM

11. UNDP, Norway to improve India’s healthcare services (3)

New Delhi, March 22 : UNDP and the Norwegian government have signed an agreement to continue an initiative to reduce maternal and infant mortality in 13 districts in four Indian states. Selected interventions under the five-year Norway India Partnership Agreement Initiative (NIPI) will also be made in several other states, including Assam, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Jharkhand, a Norwegian embassy statement said Friday. “The first phase of NIPI focused on demonstrating innovative service delivery models at state and district levels. This is now being scaled up as part of the National Rural Health Mission of the ministry of health and family welfare,” a Norwegian embassy statement said Friday. A key focus of the second phase of the initiative is to improve the quality and delivery of National Rural Health Mission units at state and district levels and establishing state newborn care resource centres. The partnership will use a mix of advisory services, technical assistance and project management services from UNDP, the statement added. According to Norwegian ambassador Eivind Homme, “NIPI is a result of commitments by the prime ministers of Norway and India to reduce child mortality and achieve Millennium Development Goal 4. Partnering with UNDP will strengthen the component of institutional capacity building of NIPI”.”This will facilitate uptake of innovations and technologies for quality and equitably delivered health services for children in India. Norway is excited about the collaboration with the Government of India and the UNDP on this important initiative,” he added. Lise Grande, United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative noted that while India has made significant improvements in child survival rates in the under-five age-group, MDGs related to maternal and child mortality rates “are unlikely to be met”.The UNDP-Norwegian partnership “represents an important initiative to support the government in improving administrative efficiency and state capacities aimed at delivering better healthcare services to mothers and children across the country”, Grande added. (New Kerala 22/3/13)

 

12. Rs 2066 crore NRHM plan for Madhya Pradesh (3)

BHOPAL: Rs 2066 crore action plan of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) for year 2013-14 was approved and it was decided to send it to the Union Government for approval by review meeting of State Health Committee, here on Tuesday. The meeting was chaired by Chief Secretary R Parasuram here on Tuesday. He sought information regarding major health scheme and committee discussed bringing health services under the purview of public service delivery guarantee act. Free medicine distribution and pathology tests schemes were also discussed. After discussions on audit reports for years 2010-11 and 2011-12, it was audit objection reports and clauses will be suitably disposed of. Principal secretary health Praveer Krishna informed that efforts will be made to achieve better results by paying close attention to implementation of health schemes and programmes during next financial year. Role of ambulance services via single call centre along with progress of hospitals’ strengthening, blood bank facilities, vaccination programme, pulse polio campaign and construction of hospital buildings were also reviewed. (Times of India 26/3/13)

 

13. Cross-border transmission of diseases in limelight (3)

COIMBATORE: The Health Department officials of Coimbatore and Palakkad districts will be exchanging information on prevalence of communicable diseases in their districts on a daily basis to tackle cross-border transmission of diseases, especially chikungunya and dengue. A common e-mail ID has been created for Medical Officers of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in Coimbatore and Palakkad (phcscbe@gmail.com,phcspalakkad@gmail.com) to share information expeditiously, Deputy Director of Health Services R. Damodharan, told The Hindu here on Tuesday. These decisions were taking at a recent inter-State meeting of Kerala and Tamil Nadu health officials held on vector-borne and other communicable diseases. It was also decided to take up joint vector and agent control activities. The Medical Officers of PHCs adjoining both sides of the border would meet every month to assess the preparations and review their strategy. Further, the district — level health officials of the two districts would meet twice a year, in the third week of April in Palakkad and third week of September in Coimbatore. “This meeting has been scheduled just before the months when both States experience a spurt in vector-borne and water borne diseases. The cases increase in Kerala between May and June and in Tamil Nadu, from October to December,” he said. Other issues discussed include periodical videoconferences under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) between State-level and district-level health officials and screening of the pilgrims crossing the borders during Sabarimala and Velankanni seasons. The vector density along the border areas would also be monitored and the data would be exchanged to initiate source reduction and larvae control measures, Dr. Damodharan said. Even as nine deaths due to dengue were recorded in Tamil Nadu during 2011, no deaths were reported from the areas adjoining the Kerala border. In 2012, 66 dengue-related deaths were reported across the State, of which 15 were from the border areas. The meeting, which earlier scheduled for March 21, was hosted by the Kerala Department of Health Services in Palakkad district on March 23. P.K. Jameela, Director of Health Services, Government of Kerala, presided over the meeting. (The Hindu 28/3/13)

 

14. NRHM to construct model hospitals in remote areas (3)

GUWAHATI: In a bid to provide better healthcare facilities to the people living in the remote areas of the state, the state unit of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) is planning to construct 55 model hospitals in Assam. These new model hospitals will be in addition to the 61 other such hospitals, which are already under construction. An NRHM official said construction of 35 model hospitals has been completed and they will be operational very soon. These hospitals will be equipped with all the modern amenities as per the Indian Public Health Standard (IPS) such as a high-tech laboratory, out patient department (OPD), indoor patient department (IPD), emergency, operation theatres with advanced machines and technologies. These model hospitals will have 30 beds. The NRHM official said, “The basic objective of constructing model hospitals in the state is to provide quality healthcare facilities to the people residing in the remote areas of the state. There are very few health clinics in the remote areas as a result of which people cannot avail good healthcare facilities. The people residing in the remote areas are basically poor people, who cannot afford to come to the city or go elsewhere for better treatment.” “Besides this, a total of 50 riverine primary health centres, also known as char hospitals, are on the verge of completion. Out of these 50 char hospitals, the construction of eight is complete and they are now functional,” he said. The official added, “The motive behind constructing riverine PHCs is to provide healthcare services to the people residing in the char or riverine areas. It becomes very difficult for the people in these areas to venture out of their homes during monsoons due to floods. These hospitals have been constructed in such a way that even the flood waters cannot submerge them. The structure of the hospital is elevated and they will have 10 beds,” the official added. (Times of India 1/4/13))

 

15. Right to affordable drugs upheld: activists (3)

NEW DELHI: It was celebration time for health activists and civil society groups after the Supreme Court delivered its judgment dismissing Swiss multinational company Novartis’ appeal for patent for its anti-cancer medicine imatinib mesylate or Gleevec. “We are happy that the apex court has recognised the right of patients to access affordable medicines over profits for big pharmaceutical companies through patents. Our access to affordable treatment will not be possible if the medicines are patented. It is a huge victory for human rights,” said Y.K. Sapru of Cancer Patients Aid Association, which opposed Novartis’ application. Novartis was seeking patent for the beta-crystalline form of imatinib mesylate, a drug used to treat chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), a type of blood cancer. The Swiss company’s price for its version of the drug, sold under the brand name Gleevec or Glivec, is Rs 1,20,000 or US $ 2,400 per month per patient, while generic versions are available at a cost of Rs. 8,000 (US $ 160) to Rs 12,000 (US $ 240) per month. If Novartis has to stay in business it will have to make the price of the drug more competitive. The case is pertinent as it involved the interpretation of Section 3 (d) of the Patents Act, 1970, a public heath safeguard introduced by Parliament in 2005 to prevent evergreening or patenting of new forms of already known molecules. Putting an end to the controversy over the provision, the Supreme Court recognised the impact of patents on access to medicines and called for a strict interpretation of this section. Among others, Section 3 (d) disallows patenting of new forms of already known molecules, unless the patent applicant shows significant enhancement in efficacy of its product. The Supreme Court held that the section was a key public health safeguard introduced in India’s patent law to ensure that patents were not extended on spurious grounds. Welcoming the ruling, Anand Grover, senior counsel and Director of Lawyer’s Collective Hiv/AIDS unit, who represented CPAA in this matter, said the Supreme Court’s interpretation of Section 3 (d) kept it intact. “It is alive and kicking. It gives life to Parliament’s intent of facilitating access to medicines and incentivising only genuine research. By refusing patent monopolies on minor changes to known molecules, this judgment will facilitate early entry of generic medicines into the market for other medicines and diseases too. The impact will be felt not only in India, but also across the developing world.” In the past, Section 3 (d) was used to disallow patents for minor modifications of several antiretroviral medicines used to treat HIV patients. “We are extremely pleased and relieved that the Supreme Court has recognised the public health importance of Section 3 (d). This is a crucial victory for people living with HIV and other diseases who can continue to rely on India for access to affordable treatment,’’ said Loon Gangte of the Delhi Network of Positive People. An HIV patient, Mr. Gangte has been taking generic medicines for the past 15 years. (The Hindu 2/4/13)

 

LAND ACQUISITION/ SEZ

16. Narmada Bachalo Andolan activists want Maheshwar dam project scrapped (4)

BHOPAL: The acquisition of houses belonging to 6,500 families affected by the Maheshwar dam project lapsed on March 11, 2013 owing to failure of MaheshwarHydel Power Corporation Limited in depositing required funds for award of compensation to affected villagers. Activists of Narmada Bachalo Andolan (NBA) on Sunday demanded that Maheshwar project should be scrapped in public interest, and the status existing before the construction of the dam be restored. Alok Agarwal of NBA said, “As per norms of the Madhya Pradesh Land Acquisition Act, under which the company signed an agreement with government, the land acquisition should start only after the entire amount which is to be paid as compensation to project affected people is deposited by the company but it was not done”. Illegal acquisition was done for two years, he alleged. “As per the agreement the entire acquisition process was to be completed within two years failing which it was to lapse and government has also sent a show cause notice in this regards,” Agarwal told TOI. In the meantime, M P Power management company has also issued show cause notice to the Shree Maheshwar Hydel Power Corporation Limited for cancellation of resettlement and rehabilitation agreement to the government due to non-payment of funds. (Times of India 26/3/13)

 

17. ‘Cases of 1,015 displaced persons in dam project processed’ (4)

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir government has processed cases of 1,015 displaced persons in the Thein Dam project and has provided appointments to 242 candidates. Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Lal Sharma on Saturday informed the Assembly that Deputy Commissioner, Kathua has stated that the Collector Land Acquisition (Thein Dam Project) Basohli has processed cases of 1,015 displaced persons for appointment, till date. The Minister was replying to a Calling Attention notice by Jagdish Raj Sapolia in the House. As per information received from Ranjit Sagar Dam authorities, only 242 candidates have been appointed, he said. According to the MoU signed between the government of Jammu and Kashmir and the Punjab government, 15 percent of the entire personnel required for construction and operation of the Thein Dam Project in all categories, shall be taken from Jammu and Kashmir cadres, subject to actual availability, Sharma said. It has also been mentioned in the MoU to provide immediate employment opportunities to the displaced persons from the Thein Dam Project and preference shall be given to them in the Dam’s construction, he added. (Zee News 30/3/13)

 

18. Empowered committee gives approval for land acquisition (4)

KOZHIKODE: The empowered committee led by chief secretary has given approval for the report submitted by the purchase committee for acquiring land for the development of the Francis Road-Mankavu Road stretch in the city, Minister for Social Welfare Dr M K Muneer informed. The project is included in the City Road Improvement programme. The purchase committee headed by District Collector has suggested sanctioning of Rs 33.86 crore for the project. Revenue department has issued an order sanctioning Rs 16.42 crore as the first instalment. Steps will be taken for the release of remaining fund, the Minister said. With the approval from the Empowered Committee, land acquisition for all the six roads under the project will be completed. Tender for the project is likely to be floated in June. The City Roads Improvement Project aims to develop six major roads in the city. The project got delayed after it was entangled in issues related to land acquisition. (Times of India 31/3/13)

 

19. Plea against land acquisition sent to bench headed by chief justice (4)

Ahmedabad,: A division bench of Gujarat High Court on Monday referred a civil matter related to land acquisition in Bharuch district for Torrent Energy Limited (TEL) to another division bench headed by Chief Justice while calling it a matter of public interest. The petition, filed by 10 farmers of Ambhel village in Vagra taluka of Bharuch district, challenged the acquisition of their land for the TEL without following mandatory rules. According to Balram Jain, the lawyer for the petitioners, a power line of TEL passed through the region and a parcel of land was earmarked for acquisition, which was cleared by authorities. However, after land owners raised objection to this proposed acquisition, the plan was changed without following mandatory rules like getting approval of the Union Ministry of Power. Subsequently, the power company started digging work on the land of the petitioners. According to Jain, the aggrieved farmers approached the Gujarat High Court, which ordered a stay on the digging work on their land. However, TEL challenged the stay order before a single-judge bench, which vacated the stay. The villagers then approached a division bench of the HC. Jain said the division bench of HC comprising Justices V M Sahai and S G Shah considered the matter and observed it was in the nature of public interest. It referred it to the bench headed by the Chief Justice, which hears public interest litigations. Jain said TEL was represented by Advocate General Kamal Trivedi in his capacity as a senior counsel. However, under the constitutional provisions, the advocate general could not appear for a private firm. “While referring the entire matter to the bench headed by the Chief Justice, the bench headed by Justice Sahai also left us at liberty to raise the issue of the advocate general appearing for a private party,” he said. (Indian Express 2/4/13)

 

TRIBALS

20. Tribals to rally for inclusion of Sarna religion in census (6)

JAMSHEDPUR: To step up the pressure on the Union government for the inclusion of a separate Sarna religion code in the census format and to effectively implement the Fifth Schedule provisions of the Constitution, an umbrella outfit of 50-odd tribal organizations has decided to take out a rally in the Dumka district on April 1. The Akhil Bharatiya Sarna Dharam (ABSD) has convened a rally of the Sarna sect tribals to put forth their demands. The rally will be held at the Birsa Munda Outdoor Stadium, said the organizers. “Earlier, we had given the Union government a deadline of March 31 for the inclusion of a separate Sarna religion code in the census format but there’s been no progress thus far, therefore, we have called a rally to decide our future course of action,” said Sanjay Pahan, senior functionary of the organizing committee. “How much time does the Central government require for including a separate code for the followers of Sarna religion in the census format?” he asked. Our experience says that the Union and state governments, including Jharkhand, do not heed our demands, added Pahan. The Rashtriya Sarna Dharam Parishad (RSDP), an important constituent of the umbrella outfit, said with much expectations and hope they had mobilized the support of the tribal lawmakers for the incumbent President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, in the run up to the presidential elections last year, but after assuming the chair, Pranab Mukherjee, too turned indifferent to the separate Sarna code demand. “He is the custodian of our Constitution. We still have hopes in the president. Let’s see what he does to help us fulfill our demand (of a separate Sarna code),” said a RSDP functionary on conditions of anonymity. (Times of India 30/3/13)

 

21. Airports Authority of India to train tribals for skill development (6)

RANCHI: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will build and fund skill development centres in Ranchi and Deoghar as part of its corporate social responsibility. The AAI has made a communication to this effect to the state civil aviation department here. The roadmap for the work is set to be developed soon. The civil aviation department has confirmed the development. Tribal boys of the state will be imparted training at these institutes. Sajal Chakravarty, secretary of the civil aviation department, said, “The idea was mooted by AAI chairman when he was in Ranchi to inaugurate the new terminal building last Sunday.” The aspirants will be provided industrial training, taught house-keeping, aviation security, apart from other trades. It will cater to a huge population of the youth who remain unemployed despite getting formal education. “The institutes will focus on training youths from the downtrodden sections of society, especially tribals,” said Chakravarty. Sources in the AAI said the state officials jumped at the idea when AAI chairman V P Agrawal told them that the authority wants to do something for Jharkhand youth under its CSR initiatives. State officials have convinced the AAI to start training programmes for young boys and girls who can be trained for civil aviation security. “In the days to come, flights will start operations in smaller towns where aerodromes are situated. In such a situation, we will need a large number of people trained in aviation security. The CISF, currently entrusted with the job to handle airports security, will perhaps not be able to handle the rush because of lack of sufficient manpower,” said an AAI official. The Bureau of Aviation Security (BAS) will examine the candidates according to its own standards after which they will be issued certificates. (Times of India 31/3/13)

 

22. 2 tribal women to contest polls for first time in Pak (6)

Islamabad: Two women from Pakistan’s restive northwest have made history by becoming the first tribal women to file nomination papers for the May 11 parliamentary polls. Forty-year-old Badam Zari filed nomination papers for a National Assembly constituency in the restive Bajaur tribal region on Sunday while Nusrat Begum plans to contest elections from Lower Dir, a tribal district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. While an increasing number of women are taking part in politics in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, it is almost unheard of for women to be part of electioneering in the conservative tribal belt, where several militant groups are active. In the past, several tribes have even barred their women from voting in polls in the tribal belt. Asad Sarwar, the Returning Officer for Bajaur Agency, told the media that Badam Zari had filed nomination papers for National Assembly seat number 44. Bajaur Agency has two seats in the lower house of parliament. Zari said she was contesting the polls in order to work for the welfare of tribal women. “I want to work for the betterment of women in the tribal area, especially Bajaur Agency, which has suffered immensely in the tribal system,” she told the Dawn newspaper. No lawmaker from the tribal areas had ever raised the issues of women in the National Assembly, she said. Zari said she was not scared of anything or anyone and was determined to contest the polls because this was her “constitutional and religious right”.She said she would launch her campaign soon. Nusrat Begum, a district vice-president of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, told reporters she would contest the polls as an independent candidate because her party had allotted a ticket to another candidate. “All the people who won from the constituency in the past did nothing for people’s betterment,” she said. If she is elected, she would work to provide basic amenities to people, especially women, children and minorities, she said. Pakistan will go to the polls on May 11 to choose a new 342-member National Assembly and four Provincial Assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. (Hindustan Times 1/4/13)

 

23. SCCL told to provide jobs to displaced tribal people (6)

KOTHAGUDEM (Khammam Dist.): Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar has directed the management of the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) to provide employment to one member of each tribal project displaced family within three months. Mr. Manohar conducted a high level review meeting on a wide spectrum of issues concerning opencast mining with the SCCL’s Chairman and Managing Director Sutirtha Bhattacharya and other senior officials at the Yellendu guest house in Kothagudem on Monday. The meeting was attended by Union Minister of State for Social Justice P Balram Naik, Deputy Speaker Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Minister for Horticulture R Venkat Reddy, Chairman of the A P Legislative Committee on Welfare of STs P Rajanna Dora, MLC P Sudhakar Reddy, Collector Siddharth Jain, and members of the Legislative Committees on Wild Life and Environment Protection, and Welfare of STs, among others. A section of the members of the Legislative Committees reportedly expressed their concern over the ineffective implementation of various statutory provisions governing the welfare of displaced tribal families, development of the tribal habitations surrounding the opencast projects in the scheduled areas of the agency. Some of them reportedly pointed out that the stipulated norms envisaged by the Supreme Court’s Samatha judgment and various tribal legislations were not being complied with in the letter and spirit by the company’s management. Speaking to mediapersons in Kothagudem later in the day, Mr Manohar said appropriate steps would be initiated to ensure provision of employment to one member of each displaced tribal family in the SCCL within three months. Compliance to the spending of 20 percent net profit from mining projects in scheduled areas on tribal welfare activities, forestation and pollution control measures will be strictly monitored, he said asserting that the members of the Legislative Committees will strive to ensure improved relief and rehabilitation package for the displaced families of the opencast projects. The company has to take up afforestation drive in a big way in the scheduled areas of the district in lieu of acquisition of forest land to an extent of 460 hectares in Palvancha division. He mooted a proposal to upgrade the Kothagudem area hospital and asked the SCCL management to forward a proposal to the Central government for establishment of a medical college in the coal town. Mr Manohar visited an opencast project in Manuguru and interacted with the tribals at Ravigudem village in the same mandal late in the evening. (The Hindu 2/4/13)

 

MINORITIES: MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS & COMMUNAL RIOTS (26)

24. Mulayam has cheated minorities: Beni Prasad (7)

Lucknow: Showing no signs of relenting in his tirade against ruling Samajwad Party, Union Minister Beni Prasad Verma today alleged the party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav has “cheated minorities” and had a tacit understanding with the BJP. The Gonda MP alleged that there was an understanding between Mulayam and BJP leader LK Advani in 1998 due to which the SP supremo was able to form government in UP in 2003 in spite of having only 135 MLAs. “In 1998, when Atal Behari Vajpayee’s government fell by one vote, he (Mulayam) had promised to support Sonia Gandhi. “Later in the night, he had a talk with Advani at Jaya Jaitly’s residence…There Mulayam asked Advani that he will not make effort to form the government, and in return the BJP leader asked him not to support Sonia and it was decided.” Beni claimed that Advani in his book has written that he would thank Mulayam that he followed his advice and later got a five-year term. “As a reward, he (Mulayam) became the chief minister again in 2003. He had only 135 MLAs, Vajpayee was the Prime Minister and Vishnu Kant Shastri was the Governor…Can a person having 135 MLAs could form a government in UP without the support of the ruling party,” he alleged. He alleged that Anti Defection Law existed even at that time, but MLAs were brought and the then Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kesari Nath Tripathi validated all. “It was always Mulayam’s objective that Congress should not revive in UP,” he alleged. (Indian Express 30/3/13)

 

25. Pope Francis leads first Easter celebrations (7)

Vatican City: Pope Francis led his first Easter Sunday celebrations in front of tens of thousands of people in St Peter’s Square at a mass marking one of the holiest day in the Christian calendar. The pope will then deliver a special blessing for Rome and the world from the same balcony where he made his first public appearance after being elected this month. The “Urbi et Orbi” message is expected to be read out in around 60 languages and could include appeals over various crises around the world. At an Easter Vigil in St Peter’s Basilica, the first pontiff from outside Europe in nearly 1,300 years of Church history reached out to non-believers and lapsed Catholics, urging them to “step forward” towards God. “He will receive you with open arms,” said the 76-year-old Argentine pope, formerly the archbishop of Buenos Aires Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who has called for the Roman Catholic Church to be closer to ordinary people and the needy. “Let us not close our hearts,” he appealed to the congregation in a mass in which he also baptised four converts. He added: “Let us not lose confidence, let us never give up: there are no situations which God cannot change.” The Church is struggling with rising rates of secularisation, particularly in Europe where mass attendances are falling sharply. Easter Sunday celebrates the Christian belief in Jesus’s death and resurrection. It is preceded by a series of ceremonies during Holy Week, which evokes the last days of Christ’s life. On Holy Thursday, Francis celebrated an unprecedented mass in a youth prison in Rome in which he washed the feet of 12 inmates including two girls and two Muslims – a gesture of humility towards the 12 apostles attributed to Jesus. Previous popes had only ever performed the ritual with priests or Catholic laymen. On Good Friday, Francis presided over a torch-lit ceremony at the Colosseum in Rome, where Christians are believed to have been martyred. There, he prayed for peace in the Middle East and urged dialogue with “our Muslim brothers”.The new pope has said he wants a “poor Church for poor people” and has adopted a less formal style than that of his predecessor Benedict XVI, already breaking with several Vatican traditions in his first few weeks in office. Bergoglio, a moderate conservative on Catholic doctrine, was known in Argentina for his humble lifestyle, his outreach in poor neighbourhoods and his strong social advocacy during his homeland’s devastating economic crisis. Vatican experts say he is yet to begin tackling key problems for the Church, however, including reform of the scandal-ridden Vatican bureaucracy. Analysts will keep a particularly close eye on his appointments to top Vatican positions after Easter amid calls for a radical overhaul. The status of the powerful Vatican bank, which is under investigation in Italy for money laundering but has made efforts in recent years to reform itself, is also a pressing issue. His predecessor Benedict XVI’s troubled eight-year regin was often overshadowed by the scandals, including an embarrassing leak of hundreds of confidential Vatican papers last week that revealed cloak-and-dagger intrigue. Benedict stunned the world by announcing his resignation last month – the first pope to do so in more than 700 years. The 85-year-old admitted he no longer had the physical or mental strength to carry out his papal duties. (Hindustan Times 31/3/13)

 

26. VHP will declare Gujarat Hindu state by 2015: Togadia (7)

Ahmedabad: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) will declare Gujarat a “Hindu state” by 2015, besides having its presence in all 18,000 villages of the state in the next two years, the outfit’s leader Pravin Togadia has claimed. “In two years, the VHP will have a presence in all 18,000 villages of Gujarat and by 2015, we will declare Gujarat a Hindu state,” VHP’s international working president Pravin Togadia told VHP followers, who had gathered in Ahmedabad for a ‘Hindu Sangam’ event. The event was organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad to launch a new movement called ‘Hindu Ahead, for Hindu Security and Prosperity’, which aims to reach out to Hindus in villages, towns, cities and tribal areas. Invoking the issue of the “insecure Hindu”, Togadia said, “To protect and prosper, Hindus have to gear up, by becoming true practicing Hindus, aware Hindus and active Hindus”. The absence of Narendra Modi at the function was conspicuous though the VHP organised the event in the area which falls in the Gujarat chief minister’s constituency. In the past, the Gujarat VHP has been at loggerheads with Modi over a range of issues, including demolition of illegal temples in Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad. The VHP, through its ‘Hindu Sangam’ announced plans for the resurrection of the organisation, which would celebrate 50 years of its inception in 2014. Raising the issue of Ram Mandir, Togadia said, “Unless and until we will become Hindus, not only by our behaviour, but with our practice and awareness, only then will our dream of building Ram Mandir at Ayodhya be fulfilled.” VHP’s joint organisational secretary Vinayakrao Deshpande talked about dwindling support for the outfit in Gujarat. He mentioned that 10 years ago there were more than 10,000 committees in the state which has come down to 6,000. “We will have to bring that to 10,000 by this year-end,” Deshpande said. Jagruti Pandya, wife of former Gujarat minister of state for home Haren Pandya, was also present at the gathering along with some Gujarat Parivarta Party (GPP) members. (Hindustan Times 1/4/13)

 

27. Christians’ team submits memo to CM Nitish (7)

PATNA: A delegation of Christian Welfare Association, led by S K Lawrence, Ambrose Patrick and Victor Anthony, called on the CM on Sunday and extended him their good wishes on the occasion of Easter. They also thanked the CM for restoring the holiday on Good Friday, which had earlier been cancelled. The delegation also submitted a memorandum to him, demanding solution to the problems facing the community and nomination of one Christian in the legislative council, subsidy for visiting Jerusalem and appointment of a Christian in the State Minority Commission as vice-chairman. The CM accepted their invitation to visit Kurji Church and Padri ki Haveli on December 24, 2013 night. The CM greeted the people, particularly the Christians, on Easter. He said Christ’s message was for service to humanity without any discrimination and everybody should take inspiration from it. (Times of India 1/4/13)

 

28. Myanmar’s communal riot flashpoint returns to normal (7)

Meikhtila, a city in central Myanmar, was imposed a state of emergency on March 22 after a series of riots were sparked by a brawl between buyers and sellers over a bit of gold clip at a gold shop in Meikhtila on March 20. The riots spread to 15 other townships, including Yemethin, Tatkon, Gyopingauk, Minhla, Okpho, Nattalin, Zigon, Patigon, Moenyo, Pyay and Thegon, forcing the imposition of curfew there. As a result, 43 people were killed, 86 others were injured, more than 11,000 people were left homeless with 1,355 houses, shops and buildings being destroyed as well as 39 various vehicles being burnt. Thanks to the round-the-clock security measures taken by the security forces, army and local authorities, the cloud of fear over Meikhtila’s sky has dispersed with locals back to normal life again. Meikhtila’s central market reopened in the weekend with stores, shops, teashops and bazaars reoperating. Transportation services have also resumed for travelers. Cash and kind are being donated to the relief camps by well- wishers, private companies, political parties and local and international organizations. Of the 7,421 victims from 1,987 households accommodated at five relief camps – some of which were set up at monasteries, more than 3,000 have been repatriated to their homes though over 1,200 victims are still under care at the camps, according to official reports. A total of 68 culprits linked with the riots have been arrested, according to the Home Ministry. Despite the restoration of peace and stability, Meikhtila is still being placed under tight security measures to ensure non- recurrence of riot and unrest there. In his TV address to the nation on March 28, Myanmar President U Thein Sein warned of using force in last resort to suppress the current riots in the country and protect the lives of the people. A 10-member Central Management Committee for Emergency Period aiming to control and handle the current riots was formed on March 30, led by Home Minister Lieutenant-General Ko Ko. President U Thein Sein urged the country’s people including monks and nuns to assist the government in promoting peace and stability, the rule of law and democracy on Monday. He said if the country cannot solve the problems internally, they could become regional or international problems, and “this could seriously hurt the country’s reputation and cost many development opportunities.” (Global Times 1/4/13)

 

29. Assamese Muslims demand agency for economic development (7)

GUWAHATI: The KhilanjiaAsomiyaMusalmanUnnayanParishadAsom (‘Kamupa), an organisation representing indigenous Assamese Muslims in the state, on Monday demanded an exclusive economic development agency for the development of the community. Kamupa general secretary Md Nur Mahammad Ali at a press conference here aid that though the community forms an integral part of the society here, Assamese Muslims continued to lag behind politically, economically and socially. “Assamese Muslims are integrally linked to the history, language and culture of the Assamese society from ancient times. But, unfortunately, our community is still lagging behind on the political, economic and social fronts. We are also entitled to equal development under the Constitution,” Ali said. Kamupa said that an exclusive development agency has become the need of the hour to help Assamese Muslims overcome their economic and social underdevelopment. “We also want more educated unemployed Assamese Muslims to be recruited in different government departments,” Ali said. He said that Assamese Muslims were also one of the worst sufferers of the annual floods and many of them have lost their cultivable plots to erosion by the river. “There are many landless Assamese Muslims in villages. The government should help them by providing them land,” Ali said. The organization also asked the government to set up a museum dedicated to 17th century Sufi saint Azan Pir and other Assamese Muslim historical figures like Bagh Hazarika (Ismail Siddique), who fought against the Mughals under Ahom army commander Lachit Borphukan in the Battle of Saraighat 1671. (Times of India 2/4/13)

 

CHILDREN/ CHILD LABOUR

30. 22,741 out-of-school children to be rehabilitated (14)

Bangalore: The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) has identified as many as 22,741 out-of-school children in the State and has planned to bring them to the mainstream by implementing several programmes. The out-of-school children are identified as those who have dropped out of school or as those who have never enrolled into schools. The SSA plans to rehabilitate 11,995 children under the three-month Chinnara Angala Summer Course programme in the year 2013-14. The remaining children will be rehabilitated under the National Child Labour Programme. The SSA will spend Rs. 1,500 on every child enrolled for non-residential courses, and Rs. 5,000 each on those enrolled for residential courses besides bearing expenses on the children’s food, stationery, uniforms, field trips and medical treatment. (The Hindu 22/3/13)

 

31. NGO, labour officials rescue 10 child labourers (14)

NASHIK: Ten child labourers were rescued from SarafBazar and surrounding areas on Monday. The children were employed by goldsmiths and a bakery and were working in hazardous conditions. A first information report (FIR) has been registered against the owners and the children have been handed over to the government observation home. Out of the ten children rescued, one is from Nashik, one from Uttar Pradesh, and the remaining are from West Bengal, all between the age group of 14 years to 17 years. Acting on a tip off, the volunteers of Childline, a non-governmental organization, with the help of officials of the deputy labour commissioner’s office and the Sarkarwada police, raided the places and rescued the children. “The children working under individual goldsmiths made jewellery which required the use of a chemical that emitted yellow fumes, and the boys employed at the bakery worked dangerously close to the fire. They worked for long hours in congested areas and even longer hours during the peak season of business,” said the volunteers of Childline. “We conducted the raid under the guidance of deputy commissioner of labour R S Jadhav and assistant labour commissioner B M Andhale, and have registered an FIR under the Juvenile Justice Act and section 374 of the Indian Penal Code,” said government labour officer, D L Nandan. Nandan added that the FIR was registered with senior police inspector Suresh Sapkale against Shaikh Amjad Mansoor Ali (27), Shaikh Ashraf Ali Mansoor Ali (35), Shaikh Ansar Ali Mansoor Ali (35), Mussalim Shaikh (25), Habul Quddur Shaikh (27) and Pavan Shashikant Vohra (26). The volunteers of the NGO said that most of the employers were operating from small rooms and some of them did not even have a shop license. Shop inspector Vishal Jogi, however, said that they had not yet raided the illegal shops but will do so soon. “Some shop owners had the license, some did not. We will see what to do about it,” he said. Three boys worked at the bakery while the others worked under individual goldsmiths. The boys said that they worked from 9 am or 10 am to 8 pm everyday. They had been asked to come to Nashik to earn a living by relatives or villagers who had already migrated here. All the boys are school dropouts. Besides the team of Childline, government labour officers Sharvari Pote, Sarika Raut, C N Birar, district coordinator of Childline Poornima Sandane, probation officer of district women and child development office S B Wagh, and police sub inspector A C Kamble and his staff conducted the operation. (Times of India 26/3/13)

 

32. 279 children freed since February: DC (14)

Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, Mar 27 : As many as 279 children, who were found working as labourers, at various places in Guntur district, had been identified and freed since February and all steps had been taken to contain child labour, District Collector S Suresh Kumar said. Addressing a review meeting here today, he said steps had been taken to rehabilitate the freed children. He asked officials concerned to keep a strict vigil on child labour and take stern action against those who engage children in work. He asked the general public to bring to the notice of officials concerned, if they observed children working as labourers. District uperintendents of police A Ravi, J Satyanarayana M.P J D Seelam and a host of officials attended the meeting. (New Kerala 28/3/13)

 

33. CCWD focuses on child rights (14)

Bhubaneswar: On the occasion of a district-level interface on child rights focusing on exclusion programme, secretary of Centre for Child and Women Development (CCWD) Sadasiv Swain claimed that due to the BPL card problem the private schools are not allowing children from excluded families to take admission. Speaking at the programme organised by the CCWD with the help of Save the Children, an international child rights organisation, at the Red Cross Bhawan here on Tuesday, journalist Surendra Patra and corporator Madan Majhi stressed the role of media towards development of child rights and the need of Government flaghip programmes for children. Besides, different city based and city outskirts child clubs members demanded safe drinking water, child-friendly environment and separate toilet facilities for both boys and girls in schools. (Pioneer 31/3/13)

 

34. Child rights panel received only 51 abuse cases in 5 years (14)

NEW DELHI: This flies in the face of the spate of growing abuses against children. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) — mandated to monitor child rights’ violations and armed with quasi-judicial powers — has received only 51 complaints of sexual and physical abuse of children from across the country in the last five years. Even more shocking is that it has filed FIRs in only eight cases, according to data accessed by RTI. In most cases, the Commission just referred the matter to the local administration for further investigation or the issue has been taken up by courts. The measly number of cases with NCPCR looks all the more startling considering that a government study in 2007 estimated that 42% children in India face some form of sexual abuse or other. Among these 48% of boys and 39% girls admitted to facing sexual abuse. The study also revealed that in most cases the child was abused by a person known to h/him. Activists said that the huge gap between the number of abuses and the low reportage to NCPCR could be because of lack of awareness, but refused to spare the Commission of its responsibility. NCPCR’s mandate includes spreading awareness of children’s rights and protection mechanism for them. Most of the cases with the NCPCR related to the abuse in homes, shelters and orphanages run by government or NGOs. The ministry’s reply admitted that cases were closed when they did not get a reply, but was silent on why the Commission did not pursue the matter. For instance in 2009, NCPCR received a case of alleged discrimination of a HIV positive child from SOS Children’s Village in Bhopal. Serious as it was the Commission did precious little. Government’s action taken report says that the case was closed because it did not get “exact information”. In another case in 2012 the Commission did not take action against a shelter based in Faridabad because the complaint was “anonymous”. The data was provided by the ministry of women and child development (WCD) in response to an RTI filed by Yogesh Kumar from child rights NGO, Pratidhi. Speaking on the issue, Pratidhi’s Raj Mangal Prasad faulted the body of inaction and apathy. “The NCPCR’s mandate was to initiate action against violations of child rights and take remedial action but the data shows otherwise,” he said. FIRs were lodged in 2010 in cases related to torture of children in Anand Aashram home, Murshidabad in West Bengal, against Karnataka-based Karunaya community development trust for the alleged death of a 14-year-old boy and SOS Village Faridabad in Haryana for the alleged torture of children. In 2011, a FIR was lodged against AGAPE residential home in Hyderabad for abuse of children. Last year, the Commission has filed FIRs and taken action against three NGOs — Gurgaon-based Drone Foundation and Suparna Ka Aangan and Karnal-based Bharath Vikas Sangh. There are other instances of neglect. In 2009, a case related to exploitation at a Delhi-based Balika Ashram was referred to the state commission and a report is still awaited nearly four years later. A report has also not been submitted by authorities to the child rights panel against complaint of torture on children by Odisha- based Orphanage Global Village. The complaint was filed in 2011. In 2011, an eight-year old died in a children’s home in Jabalpur. NCPCR took up the matter with the area collector and medical treatment was given to the child. However, the child died in transit. Inexplicably, the Commission’s records do not show any action on the issue. (Times of India 1/4/13)

 

35. High Court initiates PIL on out-of-school children (14)

Bangalore: The Karnataka High Court on Monday ordered issue of notice to the State government while suo motu treating as a public interest litigation petition a report, “The glitches that dog RTE implementation”, in The Hindu on March 31 based on a State-level meet on the RTE Act held in the city recently. The report said that during the meet, organised by the People’s Alliance for Right to Education (PAFRE), a facilitator of the organisation, quoting government’s figures, had stated that “54,000 children are still out of school…” “If the news item is correct, then it is a serious violation on a massive scale. About 54,000 children are not going to schools means that they may be engaged as child labourers and in other activities… their future is dark,” a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D.H. Waghela and Justice B.V. Nagarathna orally observed during the hearing. It has been pointed out in the petition that a large number of students being out of school would mean that provisions of the RTE Act are not being properly implemented. The Bench directed the government to file its affidavit and also to ascertain details about the PAFRE so that it could be treated as intervener in the present proceedings to assist the court. The court has appointed advocate Aditya Sondhi as amicus curiae in the matter. (The Hindu 2/4/13)

 

JUDICIARY/ LAW

36. Chief Justice opens high courts in Meghalaya and Manipur (19)

IMPHAL: The two new high courts in Meghalaya and Manipur were inaugurated by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir on Monday. Union minister for law and justice Ashwani Kumar was also present on the occasion. This has marked the separation of Manipur and Meghalaya from the Gauhati High Court, which, till recently, was the only high court for all seven northeastern states. The Tripura HC will be formally inaugurated on Tuesday. On Monday, Justice Kabir inaugurated the Meghalaya HC and then travelled to Imphal to inaugurate Manipur HC in the afternoon. Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh and Meghalaya CM Mukul Sangma were present at the functions in Imphal and Shillong. “The swearing-in of T Meena Kumari as chief justice of Meghalaya HC and inauguration of the HC is a fulfillment of that pledge in the Constitution that each state should have its own high court,” Kabir said. The CJI said that his visits to the region made him realize that the people here wanted to know what the legal system in the mainland was and why things could not be integrated in such a way so that “everybody becomes part of this great country”.Acknowledging that the people of the northeast have special laws and customs, the CJI said all these need to be integrated. In Imphal, the CJI congratulated the people of Manipur for having a high court of their own which would deliver legal remedy at their doorsteps. “I’m certain that the new high court will deliver justice to the people like what the Gauhati high court did before. Now, the new high court will focus on the state’s problems and local difficulties,” he said. The new HC will also strengthen the legal organs like the state and district legal services authorities, he said. Stating that Manipur chief justice Abhay Manohar Sapre is very sensitive and an experienced judge and justice Kotishwar Singh being from the state, the CJI said their combination will deliver good justice and resolve the local problems easily. The formation of the high court was delayed due to a strike by lawyers who demanded seven judges. The Centre, later, sanctioned four judges. The two remaining judges of Manipur HC will be appointed soon. In Shillong, the Union law minister said the operationalization of the high court will bring justice to the doorsteps of people according to local customs and realities. “It is historic because since 1972, when Meghalaya (and Manipur besides Tripura) was created, there was a persistent demand of the people to have their own high courts… I have no doubt that the Meghalaya high court will become a shining example of the independence of judiciary as well as the quality of justice that will be rendered in the years ahead,” he added. Meghalaya CM Mukul Sangma said the inauguration of Meghalaya high court was a fructification of the dreams of the people of the state and thanked the CJI for having kept his promise without losing much time. (Times of India 26/3/13)

 

37. Courts may not accept India’s word to Italy on marines, Khurshid says (19)

NEW DELHI: India’s “assurance” to the Italian government that the Italian marines standing trial for killing two Indian fishermen may not be upheld by courts. In an interview to a private TV channel, foreign minister SalmanKhurshid acknowledged it was possible Indian courts might disagree with the written clarification he gave to the Italian government that the death penalty would not apply in the Italian marines’ case. In that event, as he put it, his clarification would be “wrong”. The statement is significant because government had earlier said that the alleged crime of the marines did not fall in the “rarest of rare” category that attracts death penalty. Italian government has claimed that they decided to send the marines back only after Indian government assured them that the marines would not be awarded death penalty if they were found guilty of killing two Indian fishermen. But the minister indicated that the decision of whether India had jurisdiction over the case would be decided by the Special Court to be constituted by the government. If the Special Court rejects Indian jurisdiction the government might appeal to the Supreme Court but, ultimately, would accept the decision. Khurshid refused to answer whether the crisis in relations with Italy would blow up a second time if the marines are found guilty by the Special Court and sentenced to jail or a higher punishment. Government’s assurance to Italy that her marines don’t have to fear death penalty has intrigued many. Besides the debatable issue of whether executive can give commitments on behalf of judiciary, many were puzzled also because courts in India have followed the “rarest-of-rare” principle for awarding death sentences in diverse ways, leading many to argue that the issue of who deserve capital punishment boils down to discretion of individual judges. Khurshid also said that the claim made by Staffan de Mistura, deputy foreign minister of Italy, that the Italian ship, Enrica Lexie, had been lured into Indian waters by deception was something he had heard for the first time. He said the Italian government had neither said this to the Supreme Court nor to the Indian government. On Thursday, Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti had said Italy risked isolation if the marines were not sent back. The issue saw Italy’s foreign minister Guilio Terzi resign in a huff. (Times of India 30/3/13)

 

38. PIL on sexual offences: SC asks Centre, states to respond (19)

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday sought responses from the Centre, states and Union Territories on a PIL seeking effective “preventive and protective” measures, including sentencing guidelines, in respect of sexual offence cases against women. “Issue notice to respondents. Returnable within three weeks,” a bench of justices K S Radhakrishnan and Dipak Misra said while issuing notices to the ministries of law and justice, women and child Development and home Affairs and also the states and Union Territories. Senior advocate Indu Malhotra and others filed the PIL in the wake of the gruesome December 16 gang rape and assault of a 23-year-old girl in a moving bus, resulting in her death. “At present, in India, there are no sentencing principles laid down for the offence of rape, as a consequence of which, as an academic notes, there is ‘rampant disparity’ across the country in the sentences which are awarded for offences involving similar aggravating and mitigating factors, the PIL said and sought framing of sentencing guidelines. Section 376 (rape) of the IPC provides that a convict shall be “punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than seven years, but which may be for life, or for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine…” it said. “Issue an appropriate writ, order or direction … for directions to state government/UTs to ensure that police authorities maintain a register of sexual offenders…,” the petition said, adding that it would help in devising effective protective measures against sexual offences against women. It also sought that the “two-finger test” to ascertain the offence of rape be declared as “illegal, unconstitutional and violative of the right to life and privacy guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution of India”.The petition also said the state governments be asked to “devise and implement a uniform proforma for examining adult victims of sexual assault.” (Times of India 1/4/13)

 

39. SC raps govt against police excesses in states (19)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today came down heavily on states which have not filed their responses to separate petitions seeking implementation of police reforms and recent police excesses in Bihar and Punjab. “We normally do not summon officers. The governments think that they can play with the court’s orders. They must respond to what courts have asked them to respond,” a bench of justices GS Singvi and Kurian Joseph said. “Sorry for the inconvenience. We will take up the matter for hearing on day-after-tomorrow,” Justice Singhvi said and asked the states, which have so far not responded, to file their affidavits by tomorrow evening after supplying advance copies to Attorney General (AG) G E Vahanvati, senior advocate Harish Salve and others. “Those states/officers, who have not filed the affidavits, should understand that they have to file them by tomorrow evening or the court may have to summon senior officers to assist the court,” the bench said after the AG said only eight states have so far filed their replies. The court had earlier taken suo-motu cognisance of news reports on separate incidents in which a woman was beaten up in Punjab and some ladies teachers were assaulted in Patna during an agitation. It had issued notices to the Centre and states saying the beating up of innocent and unarmed people was “animal behaviour”.During the hearing, the Attorney General, who along with Salve and others, is assisting the court, said the affidavit filed by the Bihar DGP is “conspicuously” silent over the assault on women teachers who were sitting inside a tent. “It is just merciless. One can understand the use of force if there is unlawful assembly. But here teachers have been beaten up mercilessly when they were sitting in a tent,” the court said. There is no explanation why women were beaten up, the court said and criticised the practise of justifying such incidents to the media by the officers concerned. “The moment such wrong is committed, some police officers go on TV and try to justify the police action,” it said adding that even after 66 years of independence, “the helpless and ladies” are being beaten up. “The ailment starts at the grassroot level. At the recruitment level, there is extraneous considerations,” the court said. The court fixed the matter for hearing on April 3. Earlier, the court had slammed Bihar and Punjab governments for recent incidents of police excesses and issued notices to the chief secretaries, the home secretaries and the DGPs of all states and police commissioners of UTs on implementation of its earlier directions in the Prakash Singh case on police reforms. It had also asked the DGPs of Bihar and Punjab to file personal affidavits giving explanations for the incidents. The SP of Patna and the SSP of Tarn Taran (Punjab) districts were also directed to file the affidavit. “How can police act in such a manner? How can a woman be treated in this way? There must be some norms for police to handle such situations,” the bench had said, adding “time has come to undertake some exercise to stop such incidents and some concrete action must be taken by the state. On March 4, the girl was thrashed by police constables when she had approached them along with her father for lodging a complaint against harassment by a truck driver and his accomplices in Tarn Taran district. In the other incident, Bihar Police personnel had on March 5 resorted to baton charge and fired tear gas shells during a protest by contractual teachers outside the assembly in Patna demanding regularisation of their jobs and pay parity with regular teachers. (Hindustan Times 2/4/13)

 

AGRICULTURE/ FARMERS SUICIDES

40. 800 suicide-hit families of farmers get Rs 1 lakh each (20)

SANGRUR: Shiromani Akali Dal secretary general Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa on Sunday distributed cheques worth Rs 8 crore to 800 suicide-hit families, with every family getting Rs 1 lakh as first installment of the total Rs 2 lakh announced by the state government. Punjab government has identified 4,688 suicide-hit farm and farm labourer families to be compensated. Punjab Agriculture University in a study conducted in 2009 had identified 2,990 suicides by farmers and farm labourers from year 2000 to 2008 in two districts of Sangrur and Bathinda. Surprisingly, Ballran and Chottian villages, which have been identified as the two worst hit villages in the state on suicide count, were not given preference. “Only one family, out of 60, from Chottian has been called for giving assistance and Ballran got invites for 14 families,” said sources. (Times of India 25/3/13)

 

41. Land acquisition stir turns bitter after farmer’s death (20)

LUCKNOW: The tension between agitating farmers and officials of Ansal API escalated further on Thursday following the death of a farmer Naumilal, who died on Holi, after sustaining serious burn injuries in a self-immolation attempt in protest against the land acquisition by the builder for its hi-tech township. Agitating farmers, under the aegis of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) sat on an indefinite protest at the office of Ansal API at Rana Pratap Marg on Thursday seeking return of his land back to the family. Naumilal had set himself on fire on March 23 in protest against Ansal API’s land acquisition of his 21 Bigha of land. He was admitted to a hospital in Sultanpur road where he succumbed to burn injuries on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. This agitated the farmers who had earlier threatened to stage a demonstration at the Ansal API office on April 8. On Thursday, the resentment boiled to its peak even as farmers marched off to the office of the builder and sat on an indefinaite protest. Bharatiya Kisan Union district president, Harinam Singh Verma said that the land acquisition was being stayed by the high court and hence the builder had no right to acquire it further. “It was the pressure that forced Naumilal to commit suicide,” Verma said, while speaking to TOI. He said the district administration was fully aware of the problem but it appears to be hand in glove with the builder. Verma said that none of the official from Ansal API came down to meet the farmers. The BKU in a statement said that case should be registered under Section 302 of IPC and the accused be arrested. The union also said that they would be holding its state executive meeting on April 8 when the futher course of action would be decided. The union also threatened to resort to forced closure of Ansal API project. Verma said that it was not only the case with Naumilal but scores of farmers who have been struggling to get their due share. “There are farmers who have either not been given any compensation at all or it is bare minimum,” he said. Executive director, Ansal API, Ramesh Yadava, could not be contacted for comments on Thursday. He, however, had shrugged off all such charges, two days ago when BKU had threatened of launching an agitation from April 8 onwards. “There was no question of any such anomaly with the farmers. We have been paying twice the prevailing DM circle rate to the farmers,” Yadava had said. He had even termed the protest “politically motivated” and aimed to dent the ambitious project. The Hi-tech town ship has been one of the most prestigious housing project carried out a private company since 2005 when Mulayam Singh Yadav government was in power. In fact, the hi-tech policy was framed during the regime of SP government in Uttar Pradesh. (Times of India 29/3/13)

 

42. 5 more farmers end lives in Vidharbha (20)

Mumbai: The toll of suicides in Vidarbha continues unabated with delayed reports trickling from interiors stating that five farmers trapped in the vortex of debts took their lives in the past 72 hours. Farm land activist Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) said that suicides were reported from Yavatmal, Akola and Bhandara districts. The names of the farmers who took their lives are: Thasu Rathode (Bhansala village: Yavatmal), Arun Chiche (Gangadevi village; Yavatmal), Kamalsingh Suryavanshi (Mankari village; Akola), Rameshwar Asalmot (Khadaka village; Akola) and Dhudharam Turane (Somnala village; Bhandara). “The toll has gone up to112. A statistics for the government which is refusing to recognise the agrarian-crisis enveloping the region. In Vidarbha for Kharif season, the area under cultivation of Bt cotton was over 32 lakh and the change in monsoon climate damaged the standing crop, said Tiwari. “As it is Bt cotton has only led to a rise in the inputs and with farmers being forced to sell below minimum support proce (MSP), the losses were heavy. Adding to this, there is no drinking water in more than 2,000 villages. The water level is receding both in dams as well in the under-ground streams. The government is just not bothered about the three million farmers,” he said. (Deccan Herald 1/4/13)

 

43. Bihar assigns Rs. 300 cr for power lines for farmers (20)

Patna: In welcome news for millions of farms in power-starved Bihar, the state government has sanctioned Rs. 300 crore for a dedicated feeder line for agriculture, officials said on Monday. The state cabinet approved the amount late on Sunday, an official in the chief minister’s office said. “This is a first-of-its-kind dedicated feeder line to provide  electricity to farmers in Bihar,” he said. According to officials, the state government plans to install 968 new feeders of 11KV each with 55,925km of distribution lines and 1.46 lakh transformers to primarily supply power to 19 lakh pumping sets in the next decade. The government has projected year-wise requirement of estimated funds for the feeder segregation. The total estimated amount for the 12th and 13th five-year plan is around Rs. 8,370.44 crore. The government has already projected its year-wise power requirements for agriculture sector for the next 10 years. By 2016-17, the state would require 1,478MW power exclusively for the agriculture sector. The government’s move will go a long way in increasing agricultural productivity, said an official of the state agriculture department. Agriculture is the backbone of Bihar’s economy, employing 81% of the workforce and generating nearly 42% of the state’s domestic product, according to the state government. At present only 5.83% of the total power supply to the state is used in the agriculture sector in Bihar, compared to 38 percent in Haryana, the highest in India. Last year, President Pranab Mukherjee launched the much-awaited agricuture roadmap of Bihar. Its main objective is to help to bring a “rainbow revolution” in the state in the next five years, boosting the production and processing of agricultural and farm goods and pushing up growth rate in the sector. The five-year agriculture roadmap covers the period 2012-17, with an investment of Rs.1.52 lakh crore. It aims at raising agri-growth to a minimum of 7% per year. The Bihar agriculture roadmap is the first of its kind in the country and focuses on the development of food processing, food preservation, fisheries and animal husbandry. (Hindustan Times 2/4/13)

 

RESERVATION

44. Uttarakhand panel invites views on promotions quota (25)

DEHRADUN: The one-man Justice Irshad Hussain commission has invited state government employees to file their views regarding the issue of reservation in promotion by April 10. The Uttarakhand government had constituted the panel six months ago to ascertain the exact number of serving SC and ST employees, and to gauge their administrative capability and socio-economic status to explore the possibility of according them reservation in promotion. A source said since the commission would complete its six-month tenure on Sunday, it wanted to look into suggestions against and in favor of reservation in promotion for SC and ST employees on the basis of these criteria before finalizing its recommendations. A senior officer said the government had constituted the commission to review these factors on a Supreme Court directive that although there would not be reservation in promotion for SC and ST employees, the state government could constitute a commission to look into these factors if it wanted. The state government constituted the commission under pressure from SC and ST employees who had held state-wide strikes against the apex court order turning down their plea for reservation in promotion. (Times of India 30/3/13)

 

45. Christian schools in MP reject RTE quota (25)

Bhopal: Christian schools are on a collision course with BJP government in Madhya Pradesh over the implementation of the Right to Education Act. Last week, the Education department issued a circular, saying the legislation applies to all private schools, including those run by minorities, and exempts only those providing religious education. The missionary schools say the circular, dated March 18, has wrongly interpreted an SC ruling, and hence, they won’t implement it and instead, use discretion to admit economically disadvantaged students. Principals of several Catholic schools have sought an audience with the Governor and Chief Minister. The government, on its part, said it would strictly enforce the circular. Joint Director of Directorate of Public Instructions P R Tiwari said the circular was issued after a scrutiny of the SC order by the state’s legal department. “No matter what they say and do they will have to fall in line.”Fr Johney P J and Fr Soloman S of MP Inter-Diocesan Catholic Schools, on the other hand, said the government’s interpretation of the SC order was flawed. “Subject to” was taken to mean as “despite provisions” or “notwithstanding the provisions”, they claimed. The RTE makes it compulsory for private schools to reserve 25 per cent seats for children from poor families. The SC had ruled last year that non-aided minority schools were exempt from the Act’s purview. Out of 423 missionary schools in MP, 37 take aid from the state government. The March 18 circular said institutions like madarsas or Vedic pathshalas, where only religious education is imparted, are exempted from the Act’s purview. Explaining the catch in the circular, an official of the Education department said no Christian school would seek exemption on the ground that it imparts only religious education, because it would cost the institution its CBSE affiliation. (Indian Express 31/3/13)

 

46. Top Jat leaders demand quota for community (25)

New Delhi: An array of key political leaders of the Jat caste in Punjab, Haryana, west UP and Rajasthan came together in New Delhi on Saturday to demand the inclusion of the Jats in the central Other Backward Classes (OBC) list. Former Lok Sabha speaker Balram Jakhar, former external affairs minister Natwar Singh and Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda were present at the meet, among others. Former journalist Ajay Singh was elected the president of the Akhil Bharatiya Jat Sammelan, with speakers asking him to lead the community in getting its “rights”, including reservation. “We’ll keep meeting leaders demanding reservation –- not through vandalism but peacefully. We have fed the country as farmers and sacrificed our lives too, and are not asking for favours,” Jakhar said amid cheers. Speakers laid stress on the need for better education for Jat children, emphasising that the coming times would benefit those who were educated. Ajay Singh recounted his days at St Stephens and rued that the community hadn’t given due importance to education. Patting himself on the back for extending quotas to Jats in Haryana, Hooda said the community had led the country in sacrificing lives during the Kargil war. He said Jats were a “secular” community. Natwar Singh said there had never been a Jat CM in Rajasthan and emphasised the value of education for the community. (Hindustan Times 1/4/13)

 

47. Women demand quota under MNREGA (25)

VARANASI: Demanding 50 per cent reservation and 100-day compulsory work under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), hundreds of rural women took out a procession under the banner of MahilaBhaktiSangathan and Human Welfare Association in Sarnath on Sunday. The participants also demanded 50 per cent reservation in all the government schemes and programmes and measures to ensure equal wages, social security and health facilities. A member of HWA said that 68 per cent women in India dwell in villages where even the basic health, education, safe drinking water and sanitation facilities are not available. Out of 100 days of work as ensured under MNREGA, only 10 to 15 days is being given to them, those depending on agriculture are the worst sufferers. Hiramani, a native of Bisunpura, said: “We are not getting proper work as claimed under MNREGA. Due to lack of opportunities in villages, male members of the families have to migrate from the villages to earn a living for the family.”As many as 2,500 women are associated with Mahila Bhakti Sangathan which raises voice for full implementation of government schemes in villages. (Times of India 2/4/13)

 

48.  ‘Bring private sector too under reservation policy’ (25)

BANGALORE: Samata Sainik Dal president M. Venkataswamy on Monday demanded that the reservation policy should be extended to the private sector. He was speaking at the Constitution Day celebrations organised by the Federation of Postgraduate and Research Students Associations of Bangalore University here. Mr. Venkataswamy said that the concept of social justice enunciated in the Constitution could not be realised if the private sector is kept out of the reservation policy.The former chairperson of Karnataka State Permanent Backward Classes Commission C.S. Dwarakanath said that there should be equality in reservation among Dalits. Journalist Dinesh Ameen Mattu inaugurated the celebrations. Critique Nataraj Huliyar, Bangalore University Registrar K.K. Seetamma and Professor B.C. Mylarappa were present. (The Hindu 2/4/13)