Page 128 - Social Issues
44 women of excellence honoured with Nari Shakti Puraskar
It was women power all the way at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday evening when as many as 44 women were honoured by the President of India with the prestigious Nari Shakti Awards, the highest civilian honour for women in India, on the occasion of International Women's Day.
Organisation of disabled people criticises Modi's dyslexia jibe
An organisation that works for differently-abled people on Friday said it was "shocked" at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comment during a discussion on dyslexia with a student recently.
Maharashtra farmers' suicides doubled under Fadnavis government: RTI reply
Farmers suicides in Maharashtra have virtually doubled during 2015-2018, under the tenure of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, compared to the period 2011-2014, a RTI reply has revealed.
Women's day should set agenda for empowering them: Assam guv
Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi Friday said women should get fair share in the socio- economic, political and cultural development narratives of the state. Addressing a programme on the International Women's Day at the Gauhati University, Mukhi called for not just celebrating the day, but transform it into an occasion to set the agenda for empowering women. "We need to take responsibility for making our society more embracive, inclusive and sensible where women get fair share in the socio-economic, political and cultural development narratives of the state," he said. Women constitute a substantial chunk of the entire human resources, and without their empowerment, society cannot progress, he said at the programme organised by the university's Department of Women Studies. "Empowerment in the right sense of the term means providing adequate opportunities to every woman to help them achieve their aspirations. An empowered India should provide opportunities to every woman to ..
On Women's Day, UN Chief urges women to participate in Afghan peace process
United Nations on Friday urged women to participate "actively" in decision-making in Afghan peace talks, on the occasion of International Women's Day. "As we celebrate International Women's Day, let us be reminded, women cannot be left behind as Afghanistan charts its way towards sustainable peace. Having women actively and substantively participating at the peace decision-making tables is a fundamental and key step towards the shaping gender-responsive laws and policies for the benefit of all Afghans," said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan in a statement to the UNAMA.According to the UN, Afghanistan has made important advances in gender equality and the empowerment of women, but much work remains to be done. A gender-responsive social protection system is important if it is to benefit all citizens, the statement adds.International Women's Day is celebrated globally on 8th March to commemorate the pioneering role of women around the ...
Kerala Imam accused of sexually assaulting minor held
Shafeek Al Qasimi, former Imam of Tholicode Jamaath in Thiruvananthapuram who is accused of sexually assaulting a minor, was arrested on Thursday by Kerala Police.The cleric, who has been absconding for the last one month, was apprehended from Tamil Nadu'sMadurai.On February 13, Kerala Police had filed an FIR against the former Imam on charges of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old-girl.The case was registered against him under relevant sections of the Prevention of children from sexual offences (POCSO) Act based on the statement given by the president of the Jamaath committee.He was also suspended by the All India Imam's Council.
Andhra CM releases 2nd installment under Pasupu- Kumkuma on women's day
On the occasion of International Women's Day, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday released the second installment under Pasupu- Kumkuma (Turmeric-Kumkum) scheme, a monetary aid to women who are a part of Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA) for their better livelihood."We are providing monetary aid to DWCRA women under Pasupu- Kumkuma scheme. Under the scheme, the DWCRA women are being given Rs 10,000. We gave Rs 2500 in the month of February. Today on women's day, we have paid the second installment of Rs 3500. And the remaining Rs 4000 will be paid in next month. This money will help to improve women's livelihood," the Chief Minister said."In Andhra Pradesh, there are DWCRA groups comprising of 98 lakh women. Our government has developed DWCRA groups to eradicate poverty. There are 42,770 Anganwadi centres in the state. We increased their salary from Rs 4500 to Rs 10,500," he added.Speaking about women-centric schemes started by the state government, ...
BJP Mahila Morcha protests against atrocities on women in Bengal
The West Bengal BJP's Mahila Morcha (women's wing) on Friday took out a rally here on the occasion of International Women's Day protesting against the rise in atrocities against women under the Mamata Banerjee government.
Mathura woman to represent India at women's entrepreneurship conference in US
Mathura-based entrepreneur Pawani Khandelwal will be representing India at the Friedrich Naumann Foundation's conference on women entrepreneurship and economic empowerment next month.
Police lathicharge people protesting against eviction
Police on Friday lathicharged a mob protesting against eviction of illegal settlers in Assam's Karbi Anglong district, police said. A mob of about 1500 people had gathered at Lankajam area under Barjangphar police station to protest against eviction in the area going on since March two last. The mob started pelting stones at the officials and security forces engaged in removing people, who have settled illegally on government land. The police resorted to a mild lathicharge to disperse the crowd and the situation which had turned tense was soon brought under control, the police added. There was, however, no reports of any injury. The district administration has so far demolished 646 houses, with 104 done Friday.
Rahul promises free education, marriage expense aid for Odisha women
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday announced a slew of benefits for women including free education if Congress is voted to power in Odisha.
PM's dyslexia jibe: body of disabled people expresses shock
An organisation that works for differently abled people in West Bengal Friday expressed "shock" at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comment, purported to be a political jibe at Congress president Rahul Gandhi, during a discussion on dyslexia with a student on Sunday. The prime minister's comment might demoralise researchers from taking up ventures to lessen the sufferings of the disabled people of the country, General Secretary of the Paschimbanga Rajya Pratibandhi Sammilani, Kanti Ganguly, said in a statement. Ganguly, also a senior CPI(M) leader, said the differently abled people were "shocked" as the prime minister "has made fun of a serious condition which has been inducted as disability in the Rights of Persons with Disability (RPD) Act, 2016, passed unanimously". Modi's remark caused public humiliation of persons with disability, Ganguly, a former state minister, claimed and added that a complaint would be lodged at the appropriate level soon in this regard. During .
International Women's Day: Strikes, protests and holidays
Marches and protests are held Friday across the globe to mark International Women's Day under the slogan #BalanceforBetter, with calls for a more gender-balanced world. The day, sponsored by the United Nations since 1975, celebrates women's achievements and aims to further their rights. Thousands of women walked off the job in Spain, joining millions more around the world demanding equality amid a persistent salary gap, violence and widespread inequality. In Spain, where women's rights have become one of the hot topics in the run-up to a general election next month, many female employees didn't show up to work Friday. Others also halted domestic work or left to men the care of children and ill or elderly people. In neighboring Portugal, the Cabinet observed a minute of silence Thursday as part of a day of national mourning it decreed for victims of domestic violence. Portuguese police say 12 women have died this year in domestic violence incidents the highest number over the same ...
First official Women's Day holiday observed in Berlin
The city-state of Berlin observed its very first official public holiday to mark the International Women's Day 2019 on Friday.Germany has a long-drawn association with women's rights, with German women's rights activist Clara Zetkin proposing the idea of celebrating an International Women's Day in 1910 at the Conference of Socialist Women.Germany's Family and Women's Minister Franziska Giffey, meanwhile, tried to challenge gender stereotypes in male-dominated jobs on the eve of Women's Day on Thursday. Wearing bright orange overalls, she travelled through a Berlin suburb on the back of a garbage truck, carrying out duties as a sanitation worker for a day."When it comes to gender equality, a lot has been achieved in recent years," she told Deutsche Welle."We're in the 100th year of women's suffrage but we still have a lot to do," Giffey added."We need to ensure that women can not only be active in leadership positions, but in every profession. We have to make sure that social ...
UN Thailand marks International Women's Day to promote gender equality
The UN in Bangkok on Friday marked the International Women's Day (IWD) by calling for gender equality and the empowerment of women under its global theme "Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change".
More Indians feel there are more advantages in being a man: Survey
Thirty-eight per cent Indians agree that there are more advantages in being a man as against 24 per cent who feel there are more advantages in being a woman, according to a survey by market research firm Ipsos. However, 66 per cent Indians say that young women today are better off than the previous generation. Eighteen per cent feel their life is same as their parents and 11 per cent are pessimistic and believe that they are worse off, according to the Ipsos Global International Women's Day Survey 2019. As per the survey, 6 in 10 Indians (59 per cent) hold the view that India has done enough to forge equality among men and women in providing women with equal rights as men. Further, 74 per cent Indians (higher than 65 per cent globally) agree that achieving gender equality is personally important to them. Half of Indians polled (50 per cent) say that they are feminists, while over 5 in 10 Indians affirm that the man who stays at home to take care of his children is no less of a man ...
Sowparnika Launches Sowparbee, the community change driver, delivering happiness to the masses
Sowparnika projects, a leading real estate developer in South India recently launched 'Sowparbee', addressing the social challenges faced by the citizens of the country.Sowparbee is a CSR initiative taken up by Sowparnika Projects which aims to direct the basic issues of the society, through a blend of online and offline medium targeting the kids and youths. The model is based on skill and knowledge training through quizzes, competition, role plays, painting contests, blogs, classroom sessions, and outdoor games. Sowparbee was launched on Saturday, February 23rd at Park Square Mall by the Legendary Singer Dr. S. P. Balasubramanyam.''The society, today, demands a driving force to address to all the issues related to health, hygiene, safety, social issues, environment, traffic etc. The modules are targeted to the youths and children who will act as a brand ambassador to drive in these changes with an empowered mind.'', said while launching Sowparbee, Ramji Subramaniam, Managing Director
On International Women's Day, former Delhi Chief Secretary asks women to 'think big'
Men need to understand that their brains are "no way superior" to women, former Delhi chief secretary Shailja Chandra said on Friday and asserted that male politicians will give work to women irrespective of their gender. Addressing a women's conclave at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on International Women's Day, Chandra asked women to "think big and international" and advised them to overcome the zeal of getting into the domestic world at the cost of professional commitments. "As women we have a rare opportunity to excel in whatever we do. I feel that women have conditioned themselves to think that their first priority is home, husband and children. "We must find a way of overcoming this zeal of getting into the domestic world at the cost of our professional commitments," she told the gathering which comprised almost an equal number of men and women. Chandra, who is the member of the monitoring committee established by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to monitor Yamuna cleaning .
International Women's Day: more about profits, less about issues of patriarchy
Some said it with chocolates and roses, others with "fabulous" offers at restaurants, shops and the like and many, including politicians of various hues, with congratulatory platitudes and inspirational messages. On Friday, women were again centrestage as another International Women's Day came around with corporates turning the day into a business idea and many others using the occasion to reach out to one half of the population. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi listed the schemes for women launched by his government and said they played an important role in the making of a new India, Congress president Rahul Gandhi promised to strive for the passage of the women's reservation bill and adopt a policy of zero tolerance towards atrocities on women if his party comes to power. "I am confident that a time of gender equality would come. We ensured women gets the basic necessities of toilets, electricity and gas cylinders to make their lives easy," Women and Child Development Minister ...
Bengal ranks number one in women empowerment, claims Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday claimed that her state ranks number one in terms of women empowerment while promising to retain the position in the coming years.Addressing a rally here on the occasion of International Women's Day, Mamata said: "Many people talk of women's reservation only before elections. All India Trinamool Congress is the only party which has 35 per cent elected women members in the Lok Sabha."Further contending that women of West Bengal are the "backbone of the state," she added, "Our state has done exceptionally well in all regards. Bengal has 50 per cent reservation for women in panchayats and municipalities. We have increased child care leave for women to 730 days and have instituted scholarships like Kanyashree and Sikshashree for students all across the state. People in my state live in harmony."Mamata also claimed that a record 48 per cent of women have participated in the 100 Days' Work scheme under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural ...
