Page 124 - Social Issues
All-women booth for each Assembly constituency in Ganjam dist
Odisha's Ganjam district will have at least one booth in each Assembly constituency that will be managed only by women during the ensuing elections, officials said Wednesday. Considered as "politically sensitive", Ganjam district is home to 13 Assembly constituencies and 3,063 booths - the highest among the state's 30 districts. From presiding officer to first polling officials, only women will be deployed in these booths. The all-women booths would be called 'pink booths', an official said. "We are planning to set up at least one pink booth in every Assembly constituency in the forthcoming elections in the district next month," said Ganjam District Collector Vijay Amruta Kulange. The proposed pink booths will be set up only in the urban areas with foolproof security for the convenience of the transportation of the women poll staff, said Additional District Magistrate, Revenue, Laxmikant Sethi. The booths to be designated as 'pink' are yet to be fixed, while the process .
SC pulls up Assam govt over inadequate functioning of foreigners' tribunal, seeks details by Mar 27
The Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up the Assam government over inadequacies in the functioning of the foreigners' tribunal and sought details on it by March 27. A bench of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi along with Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna was informed by the Assam government that in past 10 years over 50,000 migrants were declared as foreigners by the tribunal. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Assam government, said around 900 people were kept in six detention centres of the state. The bench said the state government would have to specify whether the foreigners tribunals functioning in the state were adequate and how they were functioning. The top court said at present it was not insisting on presence of Assam chief secretary in the court, but would like to know through an affidavit filed by the state whether foreigners tribunals functioning in the state were adequate or not.
Evan Rachel Wood self harmed during abusive relationship
Evan Rachel Wood has revealed that she used to self harm when she was involved in an "abusive relationship". The "Westworld" star opened up about the abuse on Twitter Monday, using the #IAmNotOk hashtag in an attempt to raise awareness about domestic violence. "Two years into my abusive relationship. I resorted to self harm. When my abuser would threaten or attack me, I cut my wrist as a way to disarm him. "It only made the abuse stop temporarily. At that point I was desperate to stop the abuse and I was too terrified to leave," Rachel Wood tweeted, alongside a picture of herself with scars on her arm. The 31-year-old actor also shared photographs from a shoot which she attended during her time in the relationship, adding she "fell into a pool of tears" on the job and had to go home. "The day of this photoshoot, I was so weakened by an abusive relationship. I was emaciated, severely depressed, and could barely stand. I fell into a pool of tears and was sent home for the day," she ...
US immigration agency moves to close international offices
The Homeland Security Department is moving toward closing immigration services offices outside the United States, saying it is expected to free up millions of dollars a year to better address a backlog in domestic locations. US Citizenship and Immigration Services spokeswoman Jessica Collins said Tuesday that the agency is in preliminary discussions to close offices in 20 countries outside the United States. There are about 70 employees in Great Britain, Mexico, South Africa, Italy, India, the Philippines, China and other countries. Collins says the agency will work closely with the State Department to avoid any interruptions to services overseas. Organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights First criticized the move saying that closing international offices would mean fewer services for refugees. The agency says refugee processing won't be affected.
Mexico lashes out as US extends policy of returning asylum-seekers
The United States plans to extend its policy of returning asylum-seeking migrants back over the southern border to await their court hearings, triggering backlash from Mexico over the "unilateral measure." The policy -- US President Donald Trump's latest bid to deter undocumented immigrants -- will now be applied at a second border crossing: the one between Calexico, California and its Mexican sister city, Mexicali, the Mexican foreign ministry said Tuesday, citing US officials. The measure, which has been criticized by rights groups, was first implemented in January at the crossing between Tijuana and San Ysidro, California. "The Mexican government reiterates that it does not agree with this unilateral measure implemented by the US authorities," the foreign ministry said in a statement. The policy, known as the Migrant Protection Protocols, applies only to non-Mexican migrants. Trump, who originally dubbed it the "Remain in Mexico" policy, unveiled the idea last year as a series of ..
19 migrants kidnapped from bus in Mexico: President
Nineteen passengers who were kidnapped from a bus last week in northern Mexico were migrants, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Tuesday, as investigators worked through the murky details of the case. The men were crossing the violent state of Tamaulipas, on the US-Mexican border, on Thursday when four vehicles blocked the road and forced their bus to stop, according to authorities. Armed men then boarded the coach and kidnapped 19 passengers whose names they had on a list. "I can confirm that they were migrants," Lopez Obrador said, referring to the abducted men, without specifying their nationalities. The bus was travelling from the port of Tampico to Reynosa, a border city across from McAllen, Texas. Although the bus driver told authorities that 19 passengers were kidnapped, investigation sources have indicated the real number of victims could be as high as 25. The president told a news conference that one line of investigation is the possibility the men could have staged ..
Iranian human rights lawyer Sotoudeh sentenced to 38 years in prison, says family
Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been sentenced to serve 38 years in prison and 148 lashes, according to her family.Sotoudeh was convicted of "gathering and colluding to commit crimes against national security" and for "insulting the Supreme Leader," according to IRNA.She is renowned for representing human rights defenders, dissidents and women who protested against the compulsory wearing of a headscarf in the country.Sotoudeh's husband, Reza Khandan, wrote in a Facebook post that she has been sentenced to 33 years and 148 lashes. Stating that she was awarded five years in prison in absentia, her punishment now amounts to a total of 38 years in prison.Contradicting Khandan, the state media, citing the judge in the case, Mohammad Moghiseh, stated that Sotoudeh has been sentenced to seven years in prison. However, the reason for the discrepancy in the reports was not immediately clear.Meanwhile, Amnesty International condemned the decision of incarceration of the Iranian .
Marsh raises stake in Indian JV to 49 pc
Global insurance broking firm Marsh Tuesday said it has raised shareholding in its Indian joint venture, Marsh India, from 26 per cent to 49 per cent, the maximum FDI limit in the sector. Marsh India is a joint venture between Marsh International Holdings and its India-based partners, which include Rampart Trust, the company said in a statement. Marsh India was one of the first foreign insurance brokers to be registered as composite broker with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India.
Bhim Army chief, supporters taken in custody for violating poll code
Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad and his supporters were taken in custody Tuesday for allegedly violating the model code of conduct by using more than stipulated number of motorcycles in a political rally. Chandrashekhar was taken ill soon after being detained, following which he was admitted to Anand Hospital in Meerut, said Senior Superintendent of Police Dinesh Kumar. They were taken into custody when they were planning to take out a procession to Muzaffarnagar on motorcycles and other vehicles, in violation of the model code of conduct, set in since announcement of poll schedule by the Election Commission of India, said Kumar. He added that Chandrashekhar and his supporters were detained by police at Deoband in Shaharanpur district. Chandrashekhar had told reporters in a news conference in New Delhi on Saturday that if the opposition's mahagathbandhan' fails to field strong candidates against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Smriti Irani, Bhim Army would field
Re-open all Pollachi women suicide cases: Kanimozhi
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader and Rajya Sabha member Kanimozhi on Tuesday demanded reinvestigation into all suicides by women in Pollachi town of Tamil Nadu over the past seven years following arrest of four persons in the serial sexual assault and blackmail case.
Former Bihar minister Manju Verma gets bail in Arms Act case
The Patna High Court on Tuesday granted bail to former Bihar minister Manju Verma in connection with a case related to possession of illegal ammunition, which is an offshoot of the Muzaffarpur shelter home sex scandal case. Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh granted bail to Verma after hearing both sides on her petition. She has been lodged in Begusarai jail since November 20 last year in connection with the recovery of cartridges from her in-laws' residence during a CBI raid as part of the probe into the Muzaffarpur shelter home sex scandal. The CBI had registered an FIR on August 18, 2018 against Manju Verma and her husband Chandrashekhar Verma for the recovery of 50 live cartridges from their house at Arjun Tola village in Begusarai district. Verma had resigned as social welfare minister on August 8 following allegations that her husband had links to Brajesh Thakur, who used to run the shelter home at Muzaffarpur. The sexual exploitation of children in the shelter home came to light after .
India embracing technologies to advance their digital transformation strategy , reveals F5 Networks survey
F5 Networks' latest 2019 State of Application Services report, which surveyed 1,872 people in the APAC region including 10% of respondents from India, revealed that Indian organizations are embracing emerging technologies to accelerate their digital transformation projects.The report found that more than 80 per cent of Indian organizations are employing containers, and taking advantage of agile development methodologies to deliver applications anywhere and securely with confidence. While such shifts present new opportunities for automation and agility, complexity levels also arise; leaving organizations with additional challenges such as enforcing consistent security and optimizing reliable performance standards."India is at the intersection of technology, infrastructure, competent workforce and growth, with a vision of becoming a digital economy," said Ravi Kasinadhuni, VP Product Development and India Site Lead, F5 Networks. "This year's State of Application Services report ...
China says Muslim 'training' centers will slowly disappear
China says heavily guarded internment camps for Muslims which it calls vocational training centers will "gradually disappear" if there comes a day that "society does not need" them. The camps in the far-west Xinjiang region have elicited an international outcry, with former inmates describing harsh conditions where Muslim minorities are subject to political indoctrination and psychological torture. Human rights groups, researchers and the US government estimate that around 1 million people from the predominantly Muslim Uighur and Kazakh ethnic groups are held in the vast network of compounds. Xinjiang Gov Shohrat Zakir declined at a news conference Tuesday to disclose the number of what he called "trainees." However, he said the figure is far less than 1 million. Zakir said religious activities are banned in the camps.
India extends USD 250 mn to Nepal for reconstruction of infrastructures post earthquake
India has extended a grant assistance of up to USD 250 million to Nepal for the reconstruction of infrastructures in the areas of housing, education, health and cultural heritage that was destroyed during the devastating April 2015 earthquake which saw the death of over 9,000 people. During the India-Nepal Joint Project Monitoring Committee meeting held here on Tuesday, officials from the two countries reviewed the progress of post-earthquake reconstruction projects. "The meeting also discussed sectors namely Education, Health and Cultural Heritage. During the meeting the two sides agreed to take steps to expedite progress in all sectors. India has been extending support for reconstruction in these sectors with a grant assistance equivalent to USD 250 million,"sources from the Indian Embassy here said. The meeting was chaired by Arjun Kumar Karki, Secretary, National Reconstruction Authority from the Nepal while the Indian delegation was led by Sudhakar Dalela, Joint Secretary ...
507 transgenders eligible to vote in Punjab
A total of 507 voters in Punjab have enrolled themselves as belonging to the third gender, Punjab's Chief Electoral Officer S Karuna Raju said Tuesday. "A special campaign was launched to reach out to Deras and other places where they (transgenders) reside in order to register them as voters, Raju added. The number of voters who have declared themselves as transgenders has increased considerably in the state, he said. The state has also seen a considerable rise in the number of young, first-time voters with a total of 2,55,887 youths in 18-19 age group registering themselves as voters. In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, only around 65,000 persons in 18-19 age bracket had got themselves registered as voters, he said. As per the projected census, there are 9,47,900 persons who are in age bracket of 18-19 in Punjab. CEO, Punjab said there were a total of 2,03,74,375 voters in the state as on January 31, 2019. It comprised 1,07,54,157 males, 96,19,711 females and 507 of the third gender. In the ...
UGC issues guidelines for setting up of Centre for Women Studies in varsities, colleges
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued guidelines for setting up of Centre for Women Studies in universities and colleges and has sought proposals. According to a senior UGC official, "Women studies centres will have special focus on most marginalised and disadvantaged women in the society. These include women from Schedule Caste and Tribes, women with disabilities, women living in unsafe environments, among others." "A women study centre must pursue a comprehensive, critical and balanced understanding of India's socio-economic realities and governance. Its main components include women's contribution to society and social processes and their perception of their own lives, the broader social reality and their struggles and aspirations," the official said. The focus areas of the centres will be build new knowledge on women in national and global perspectives and developing curriculum in women studies to meet the diverse needs of Indian women with focus to develop inclusive ..
Turkey slams Israeli PM Netanyahu's 'blatant racism'
Turkey on Tuesday denounced Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's "blatant racism" after he called Israel the nation-state of "the Jewish people" only, not all its citizens. Turkey and Israel often have tense relations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who regards himself as a champion of the Palestinian cause, a vocal critic of Israeli policies. "I strongly condemn this blatant racism and discrimination," presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin wrote on his official Twitter account both in Turkish and English. "1.6 million Arabs/Muslims live in Israel. Will the Western governments react or keep silent under pressure again?" he asked. In campaign mode before April 9 elections, Netanyahu said all citizens including Arabs had equal rights but referred to a deeply controversial law passed last year declaring Israel the nation-state of the Jewish people. "Israel is not a state of all its citizens," Netanyahu wrote in response to comments from an Israeli actress. "According to the ..
Edelweiss Tokio Life's Zindagi Plus, a Term Insurance Plan to Provide Extra Financial Protection to Families
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Radio facility launched for inmates at Hyderabad jail
Inmates of Chanchalguda jail can now listen to film songs and host their own programmes as authorities have launched an internal FM radio facility, the first such in the state. Telangana Director General of Prisons V K Singh said the idea is to explore the creativity of the prisoners and facilitate the rehabilitation process. The prisoners are now able to listen to film songs, entertainment programmes and preachings about good behaviour, according to officials. As part of the rehabilitation programme, the"Jail Vani" or Jail Radioservice was launched in the jail, the first such in the state, on March 10, they said. Initially the programme, which will commence at around 3 pm, will be for one hour a day, Singh said. "We will see how this will work out and accordingly will take a decision (on extending the time ). The idea behind this is entertainment, education, information, rehabilitation and skill upgradation of the prisoners," he told PTI. The programmes will be composed .
Mizoram to embark on fresh development path, Guv tells House
Mizoram Governor Jagdish Mukhi said Tuesday that the state would embark on a "fresh development path" when the government introduces its flagship programme, Socio-Economic Development Policy (SEDP), which aims to accelerate progress in key sectors. Delivering his gubernatorial address in the Assembly on the first day of the interim Budget session, Mukhi said the soon-to-be-launched policy would transform Mizoram into a welfare state. "The objective of the policy is to make Mizoram self- reliant by accelerating growth and progress in key sectors. The Mizo National Front (MNF) government strives to bring about inclusive and sustainable development through measures that are transparent and participatory," he said. An apex body would soon be constituted for the coordination of all development works in Mizoram, Mukhi said. The Zoramthanga-led government has also formed committees to look after the major projects in the socio- economic sector, he said. "The SEDP, unlike ...
