Page 130 - Social Issues
Russia bans fake news, criminalises 'disrespect' of state
Russian senators on Thursday passed two bills that impose a ban on spreading fake news and criminalises disrespect of the state.According to Al Jazeera, the lower house, the State Duma, approved the bills, which are also expected to pass in the upper house soon before President Vladimir Putin signs them into law.The bill banning fake news imposes restriction on the spreading of "unreliable socially-important information" that could "endanger lives and public health, raise the threat of massive violation of public security and order or impede the functioning of transport and social infrastructure, energy and communication facilities and banks." The bill also prescribed fines for publishing materials that portray disrespect to the state, its symbols and government authorities. Repeat offenders could face a 15-day jail sentence, reported Al Jazeera..
US military asked to house 5,000 child migrants: Pentagon
The administration of US President Donald Trump has asked the Department of Defense to prepare to house up to 5,000 unaccompanied migrant children amid what it calls a mounting "crisis" at the US-Mexico border, the Pentagon said Thursday. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), "requested DoD support to identify space to house up to 5,000 unaccompanied alien children on DoD installations, if needed, through September 30, 2019," said Pentagon spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jamie Davis. "DoD will work with the military services to identify potential locations for such support, and will work with HHS to assess any DoD facilities or suitable DoD land for potential use to provide temporary shelter for unaccompanied alien children," he said. The request for beds is preventative -- they will not definitely be used. But it comes amid a surge in the number of families and unaccompanied children crossing the US border from Mexico illegally, most of them fleeing poverty and violence .
Cong MLA Thakor to decide his next course of action Friday
Amid rumours of him heading to the ruling BJP in Gujarat, OBC leader and Congress MLA Alpesh Thakor Thursday said he will take a call on his next political move Friday. The Congress MLA from Radhanpur called a meeting of his Thakor Sena here Thursday to take a final decision on his next course of action amid speculation that he may join the saffron outfit. "All the rumours that are being spread about me are aimed at damaging my image. I will hold a press conference tomorrow afternoon and clear my stand," Thakor told newsmen after reports emerged he will be soon joining the BJP. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, when asked about Thakor's induction in the BJP, said, "You should ask this to Alpesh Thakor." However, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said doors of the BJP are open for anybody who wants to join the party. "We welcome everybody who wants to join us and follow the BJP ideology," he said. Congress treasurer Ahmed Patel, however, said in Vadodara that no Congress MLA ..
Over 40 Pakistani nationals granted Indian citizenship in Pune
Pune district administration Thursday granted Indian citizenship to over 40 Pakistani nationals. "Total 45 applicants were granted Indian citizenship on Thursday. Most of these applications were from Pakistan nationals, while one or two applications were from Afghanistan and Bangladesh nationals, who all have been given the Indian citizenship," Pune District Collector Naval Kishore Ram told PTI. Pune district officials said these applicants had migrated to India long back and they had been staying in Pune for the past many years. "Some of these applicants came to India 40 years ago, but they did not have the Indian citizenship. After the amendment in the Citizenship Act 1955, the district collector has been empowered to give citizenship to applicants from the minorities. As per that amendment, I have given the citizenship to these persons," Ram said. According to the district administration officials, these applications were pending with the administration for quite a .
Dehradun: IT raids at Tourism Department
Income Tax officials conducted raids at the office of the Tourism department on Thursday.The Income Tax officials are quizzing Jaipal Singh Tomar, the financial director of the Tourism Department for alleged irregularities in the tax filing. The accounts of the department are also being scanned.Tomar is accused of his alleged role in irregularities and tax evasions of about Rs. 12 crore.Further details awaited.
Cabinet nod to committee for Delhi's unauthorised colonies
The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a proposal to form a committee to settle ownership rights of those living in hundreds of unauthorised colonies of the national capital.
Man ends life after posting video alleging police harassment
A 28-year old man, booked in a chain-snatching case, allegedly committed suicide after posting a video message on social media accusing the police of attempting to foist cases on him. Police Thursday said Rajesh ended his life by hanging himself at Pala near here Wednesday after being released on bail a day earlier. His relatives alleged that the police had assaulted him in custody and threatened to slap other cases on him. Before taking the extreme step, the man had posted a video on social media accusing the police of trying to foist several other cases on him. Police rejected the allegations. Leader of the opposition in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala of Congress demanded a high-level probe into the death of Rajesh. Local leaders of BJP-led NDA and Kerala Congress (M) also sought a probe and stringent action against 'erring' police personnel. The body of Rajesh was handed over to his relatives after post-mortem, police said.
AAP MLA Mohinder Goyal booked on rape charges
An Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator has been booked for raping a woman who approached him seeking help in connection with a pension-related matter, a police officer said on Thursday.
Over 30 pc funds for agri-schemes targeted towards woman farmers: Govt
The government has allocated more than 30 per cent funds under various schemes in order to bring women in the agriculture mainstream, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said Thursday. A special emphasis has been given on the role and contribution of women in doubling the income of farmers by 2022, he said on the eve of the International Women's Day. Besides, women-based activities have been started to reach the benefits of different beneficiary-oriented programmes and missions to women, he said in a statement. Singh said the participation of women in the decision-making bodies at the state, district and block levels under the ATMA scheme has ensured their involvement in the planning process. Along with this, changes in reporting proformas have been made to maintain the statistics of benefits reaching women, he said adding that a book showing the norm of fixed aid for woman farmers is also being published. That apart, a National Gender Resource Centre in Agriculture has developed a
Union Cabinet okays continuation of National AIDS Control Programme-IV for 3 yrs
The Union Cabinet Thursday approved continuation of the National AIDS Control Programme-IV (NACP-IV) beyond the 12th five-year plan for a period of three years from April 2017 to March 2020. According to an official release, the total outlay for this would be Rs 6434.76 crore. More than 70 lakh of key population are covered annually through a comprehensive HIV prevention programme and around 15 crore of vulnerable population (including five crore pregnant women) will be tested for HIV in the three years of the project, it said. As many as 2.32 crore units of blood will be collected at National AIDS Control Organisation's supported blood banks during the three year of the project, the release said. It also said 2.82 crore episodes of sexually transmitted infections will be managed during the three years of the project and 17 lakh people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) will be put on free anti-retroviral treatment by the end of the project period.
Health authorities must embrace their role in promoting gender equality: WHO
WHO on Thursday said that women continue to face barriers in accessing health services, be it for reasons of gender disparity, poverty, education or other factors, and called upon health authorities across its southeast Asia region to embrace their role in promoting gender equality and women empowerment. On the eve of International Women's Day, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia Poonam Khetrapal Singh said though achieving gender equality and empowerment of women requires a "whole-of-society approach", the health sector has a crucial role to play in it. "Health authorities across the WHO South-East Asia Region must recognise and embrace it," she said. Recent progress demonstrates the impact health sector initiatives can have on women's well-being, a key dimension of their empowerment, Singh said while highlighting how maternal mortality reduced by 69 per cent in the region between 1990 and 2015, and use of contraceptives increased from 46 pc to 60 pc between 2001 and ...
Maharashtra govt launches scheme for construction workers
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Maharashtra government Thursday launched a special scheme for construction workers in the state. The scheme, "Atal Aahar Yojna," will provide good quality and hygienic food to construction workers at a highly subsidised rate. The yojana will be implemented in some areas of the state on a pilot basis and later its scope will be expanded, a government official said. In the first phase, the target is to cover 20,000 workers and provide them with good quality food at a nominal cost of Rs five, he said. Launching the scheme in Nagpur, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, "Nearly 10 lakh labourers have been registered with the Labour Board in the state so far. However, we will not stop at just registering their names, we will also try to provide benefits of every welfare scheme to them." Under the yojana, construction workers will be provided nutritious food at their work place for just Rs five. The scheme will transform the lives of ...
Cabinet nod for grant of ECHS facilities to WW2 veterans, others
The Union Cabinet Thursday approved the grant of ex-servicemen contributory health scheme (ECHS) facilities to World War II veterans, emergency commissioned officers, short service commissioned officers and pre-mature retirees, the government said. "As a result, over 43,000 individuals not covered so far under the ECHS will be able to avail the benefits of cashless medical treatment through a network of over 425 ECHS polyclinics, over 2,500 empanelled private hospitals and all government hospitals throughout the country, subject to certain conditions," it said in a statement. The Cabinet approved the grant for WWII veterans, emergency commissioned officers, short service commissioned officers and pre-mature retirees during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "As a special dispensation, war widows will be exempted from one-time contribution to join ECHS," it said. Launched by the NDA government in April 2003, the ECHS provides quality medicare to 54 lakh ex-servicemen ...
Rahul Gandhi's claim on farm loan waiver in Pb attempt to deceive people: SAD leader
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Thursday alleged that Congress president Rahul Gandhi's claim that farm loans have been waived by his party's government in Punjab was an attempt to deceive the people of the state. During a public meeting in Moga on Thursday, Gandhi spoke about farm debt loan waiver schemes implemented by Congress governments in Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. He also launched a scathing attack on Narendra Modi over the Rafale deal and alleged that the prime minister was benefiting certain industrialists while refraining from helping out the country's debt-ridden farmers. In a statement here, former Punjab minister and senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia said it was shocking that Gandhi "lied" and "tried to deceive" the people of Punjab and the country by stating that farm loans had been waived by the Congress government in the state. "This is furthest from truth. The Congress government in Punjab has failed to implement its promised Rs 90,000 .
Confident of country's progress towards greater women's empowerment: President
Keeping pace with the changing times, women have proved themselves in every sphere of life, President Ram Nath Kovind said Thursday in his wishes on the eve of International Women's Day. In his message, the President said he was confident that Indian society will continue progressing towards greater women's empowerment and the continuous emphasis on gender equity will usher in new opportunities for women and for society. "On International Women's Day, I extend my warm greetings to all fellow citizens and particularly to the daughters of India who, through their success, have brought glory to the nation. We are proud of them," he said.
Minority groups voice concerns at BJP event
Muslims are worried and they need someone to address their concerns, All India Imam Association president Maulana Mohd Sajid Rashidi said, reflecting the sentiments of the minority groups present at a BJP pre-poll programme on Thursday. Several representatives of minority communities voiced their concerns over incidents affecting certain sections of the society like lynching, saffronisation of education, distortion of historical facts and media trial of Muslim youths arrested in suspected terror cases at the event, 'Bharat Ke Mann Ki Baat, Modi Ke Saath', an exercise launched by the party to prepare its manifesto in view of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. "The Muslim community is worried. They have been exploited and now they want somebody to listen to them and address their issues. BJP should pay attention to this. "Muslim youths who are being caught in connection with suspected terror activities undergo media trial even before being proved guilty. This should stop as it destroys ..
Providing reservation to women undermines their capabilities: Justice Indira Banerjee
Providing reservation to women undermines their capabilities, Supreme Court judge, Justice Indira Banerjee said Thursday while speaking at an event here on the eve of International Women's Day. Women should be capable in every respect and they have proven time and again to be so, Justice Banerjee said, at a seminar-cum workshop organised by the Citizen's Rights Trust. "If you ask me, providing reservation to women undermines their capabilities. Women should be capable in every respect and they have proved to be so," Justice Banerjee said, adding that she herself has been subjected to comments because of these existing reservations which she has found "awfully insulting". "When I was elevated as a judge in the Calcutta High Court, for four and a half years I was the only woman judge there. Male colleagues on the bench would say it on my face that I got a benefit because I was a woman. I wanted income figures matched, sufficient number of judgements, I have fulfilled those criteria, ...
DCW to frame manifesto on gender issues for political parties
Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has decided to frame a manifesto highlighting the issues faced by women by next week and send it to all the political parties for its inclusion in their agenda.
HC to hear plea challenging MCI notification on March 12
The Delhi High Court on Thursday said it will hear on March 12 a plea challenging a Medical Council of India (MCI) notification which barred over 80 per cent of disabled persons from taking admission in medical education programmes.
President to present Nari Shakti awards on Women's Day
President Ram Nath Kovind will present the Nari Shakti Puraskar, the highest civilian honour for women in India, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday. The awards for 2018 will be presented by the president at a special ceremony on the occasion of International Women's Day. The Ministry of Women and Child Development confers the Nari Shakti Puraskar on women and institutions to recognise their relentless service towards the cause of women empowerment and social welfare. This year, around 1,000 nominations were received by the ministry and 44 were selected for the award, according to an official statement. Scientists, entrepreneurs, environmentalists, social workers, farmers, artists, masons, a woman marine pilot, a woman commando trainer, journalists and film-makers are among the recipients of the award, it said. "No field has been left untouched, where women have not left their indelible mark, making women the leading force of our development trajectory. "I thank all concerned for ...
