Page 140 - Social Issues

Duterte claims Catholic church will 'disappear in 25 years'

In the wake of sexual abuse allegations against clergymen, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has claimed that the Catholic church will "disappear in almost 25 years."The Philippines President launched a homophobic rant against the church and asked, "When they get horny, the sons of b****es, they go after nuns. If they're gay, they go after young boys. Who needs a religion like that?"Duterte's spokesperson, Salvador Panelo, clarified his remarks and said that they were a "healthy criticism" which referred to "certain men in the cloth that have violated their own vows," according to Sputnik.The Philippines President's spokesperson further hoped that "it (Duterte's remarks) will help the Catholic Church cleanse itself and purge itself of those not deserving to be there."This is not the first time that Duterte has slammed the Catholic church, having previously claimed to have been sexually abused by a church priest as a child.A four-day summit on "The Protection of Minors in the ...

USA received 4,500 complaints of sexual abuse on unaccompanied minors from 2014-18

It has been revealed that the United States received more than 4,500 complaints of sexual abuse against unaccompanied minors from 2014-18, as per internal agency documents released by Representative Ted Deutch on Tuesday."I am deeply concerned with documents that have been turned over by HHS that record a high number of sexual assaults on unaccompanied children in the custody of the Office of Refugee and Resettlement," the Representative from Florida stated."Together, these documents detail an environment of systemic sexual assaults by staff on unaccompanied children," he further said at a House hearing, held on Tuesday, on the US administration's "zero tolerance" policy, which led to the separation of scores of immigrant children from their parents.The complaints have been filed with the US Department of Health and Human Services, in addition to 1,303 complaints reported with the Justice Department.Deutch outlines that the documents "demonstrate over the past three years, there have .

Rs 60,000 crore Delhi budget is for all says, CM Kejriwal

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said that the Rs 60,000 budget presented in the Vidhan Sabha by the state's finance minister Manish Sisodia is a "budget for all".Addressing the media here, Kejriwal said, "We have presented a Rs 60,000 crore budget today in which we have ensured all sects of the society are included. This budget is for all we have taken care of the rich, poor, Hindu, Muslims, women, students, farmer, industrialists and everyone."Hitting out at the leading political parties he alleged that during Aam Aadmi Party's teething years it was told that it will not be able to run a government but today it has proved all of them wrong."With today's budget, we have proved that the AAP at least knows how to run a government. BJP and Congress can take lessons on how to run a government from us if they wish to. This was our last budget for this term," he added.Kejriwal also claimed that the situation of Delhi Jal Board and electricity board is better than before even after

Khattar announces scheme for farmers, families having income less than Rs 15k per month

Harayana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday announced the "Mukhyamantri Parivar Samman Nidhi" scheme for farmers of the state cultivating up to five acres of land and families having income less than Rs 15,000 per month. Finance Minister Abhimanyu had in his budget speech Monday said the government will introduce a scheme to provide financial and social security cover to families of farmers and those of workers in the unorganised sector. Under the scheme, each beneficiary family would be eligible for a financial assistance of Rs 6,000 every year and each family will have to nominate a member to avail this benefit, Khattar said, while speaking during the ongoing budget session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha (assembly) here. Under the scheme, there will two categories -- the beneficiary under the age group of 18 to 40 years and the beneficiary under the age group of 40 to 60 years. For the first category, there will be four options to avail the financial assistance, an official .

Global health leaders adopt 'Delhi Declaration' on digital health

Global health leaders and experts on Tuesday adopted 'Delhi Declaration' on digital health for sustainable development, which called for the WHO to establish a specific mechanism to centrally coordinate digital health to assist its member states. "This Delhi Declaration on digital health firmly aligns with our Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Digital India," Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey said at the concluding session of the '4th Global Digital Health Partnership Summit', here. As part of the high-level summit, the ministers and delegation adopted the Delhi Declaration on digital health for sustainable development, which called for the WHO leadership in digital health and for it to establish a specific mechanism to centrally coordinate digital health to assist its Member States, a health ministry statement said. Ministers and government officials from over 34 countries attended the event to discuss the impact of digital technologies on health systems and health ...

Compensatory time must for PwBD candidates: UGC

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked all higher education institutions to allow a minimum one-hour "compensatory time" to a person with benchmark disability (PwBD) for a 3-hour examination, whether they use a scribe or not.

Hindu nationalism taps into people's longing for tradition: Rajan

Tracing the rise of populist nationalism worldwide to the diminution of the community at a time of heightened economic worries, former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan says that liberal "open-acess" values are under threat in India from the Hindu nationalist movement which taps into people's desire to anchor themselves to tradition in a context of rapid change.

How can you debar Divyang from entering MBBS course: Delhi HC questions MCI

The Delhi High Court has sought responses from the Centre and Medical Council of India over a plea challenging the notification issued by MCI, which debarred aspirants with a benchmark disability of more than 80 per cent to pursue MBBS courses.After hearing the submissions made by Advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, the court issued notices to MCI and Centre and questioned MCI: "How can you debar Divyangs from entering into MBBS course?"Earlier, a petition was filed by a disability rights activist Satendra Singh that stated that the notification rolled out by MCI is "highly irrational, arbitrary and discriminatory".It also stated that according to Section 3(1) it is the duty of respondents to ensure that persons with disabilities shall enjoy the right to equality and life with dignity..

Working 9 hours a day can raise depression risk in women

Working for nine plus hours a day could put women at higher risk of depression, but not men, finds a study.

Infosys arm presents social innovation awards in Bengaluru

The global software major's philanthropic arm Infosys Foundation on Tuesday presented its 'Aarohan Social Innovation Awards' in Bengaluru to 12 individuals and NGOs for their contribution to social causes and the underprivileged in the society.

PIL against bar on 80 pc disabled persons from admission to med courses: HC seeks Centre stand

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought responses of the Centre and the Medical Council of India (MCI) on a PIL seeking setting aside of a government notification which bars persons with more than 80 per cent disability from being admitted to undergraduate medical programmes, like MBBS. A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao issued notice to the MCI and the ministries of Health and Social Justice and Empowerment and sought their replies to the petition by April 4, the next date of hearing. The plea by Satendra Singh, an associate professor in the Department of Physiology at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, has contended that the February 4 notification has been issued without any application of mind and was "highly irrational, arbitrary and discriminatory" In the petition, filed through advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, Singh has contended barring persons with more 80 per cent disability from taking admission in the medical courses violated their fundamental rights of ...

Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce launches India chapter

The Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) Tuesday said it has launched its India chapter with a view to enhance economic ties between the two countries. Vikas Sharma will be the first President of ICCC India Chapter, it said in a statement. It was launched by Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu. He expressed hope that the presence of the apex business chamber in India will further enhance ties between India and Canada. The bilateral trade between the countries has increased to USD 7.23 billion in 2017-18 from USD 6.13 billion in 2016-17.

India 47th in 'Inclusive' Internet list: Facebook

India ranked 47th in the overall "Inclusive Internet Index 2019" score while Sweden topped the chart, followed by Singapore and the US, a Facebook-led study has revealed.

Delhi Budget 2019-20: Rs 500 crore allocated for Metro Phase IV

Delhi Metro's Phase IV, which has become a bone of contention between the city government and the Centre, was allocated Rs 500 crore in the budget presented on Tuesday. Presenting the Delhi government's budget for the fiscal year 2019-20 in the Assembly, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, proposed fund for the long-awaited Metro project. The 104-km-long Metro Phase-IV project was estimated to be completed by 2021 after Delhi government's in-principle approval to it in February 2016. It has yet to start despite approval of the Delhi cabinet. "Our government has approved the proposal of Phase-IV of Delhi Metro project comprising six corridors with the length of 103.93 km. With the completion of the phase-IV project, total length of the Delhi Metro will become 453.93 km. I propose Rs 500 crore in the budget 2019-20 for Metro Phase-IV project," Sisodia, who is also Delhi's Finance Minister, said in his budget speech. Union Housing and Urban Affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri in ...

Expressing non-visible stigmas make one happier

Sharing your sexual orientation or health problems with co-workers can make you a happier person and would not affect your productivity at work, researchers suggest.

Maha initiates inquiry into police action on disabled students

The Maharashtra government Tuesday expressed regret over the police baton-charge on disabled students in Pune. Several thousand deaf youth were protesting in front of the Social Welfare Commissionerate in Pune on Monday afternoon when the police action took place, resulting in injuries to 35 students. Replying to a demand by Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde to suspend the errant policemen, state Revenue Minister Chandarakant Patil said an inquiry had been instituted into the incident. The Shiv Sena, a constituent of the Devendra Fadnavis-led government, demanded a judicial probe. Patil, who is the leader of the Upper House, said Dilip Kamble, minister of state for social justice, would meet the students. "The demands of the students are being discussed. We are positive about fulfilling them. Arrangements are being made to bring the students here. Action would be taken against those responsible (for the lathicharge)," Patil told .

Delhi govt to provide monetary help to disabled parents for their daughter's marriage

The Delhi government Tuesday announced financial help to differently abled parents for their daughter's marriage and a fixed deposit scheme for physically challenged students, among a slew of initiatives for the social security and welfare sector. Presenting the 2019-20 budget in the Delhi Assembly, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio, said he has proposed Rs 3,429 crore for implementation of various social security and welfare programmes, schemes and projects. He said the government proposes to launch a fixed deposit scheme for physically challenged students at each stage of their educational attainment on the pattern of the Ladli scheme. Sisodia also announced a new scheme for providing financial assistance and scholarship to schedule caste students for pursuing higher studies, and proposed Rs 5 crore in budget. Remedial coaching will be given to scheduled caste (SC), scheduled tribe (ST) and other backward classes students in Class 6 to 10 of

Nagaland Assembly passes resolution against citizenship bill

The Nagaland Assembly has passed a resolution, rejecting outright the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, amid a walkout by 26 opposition MLAs. The resolution, passed on Monday, denounced the bill, stating it cannot be implemented in Nagaland as the proposed legislation will impact the "unique history and status of the Nagas under the Constitution". It was moved by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Saturday. The resolution also expressed solidarity with the states and communities of the Northeast in opposing the bill, as it has the potential of "changing the demographic profile, which will be against the interest of indigenous tribes and can divest them of their constitutionally guaranteed political, cultural and economic rights". The opposition MLAs, however, walked out of the assembly, saying they would not support the resolution in its present form. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, passed in Lok Sabha on January 8, seeks to provide citizenship to non-Muslims from .

Delhi govt allocates Rs 100 cr for MSP to farmers as recommended by Swaminathan Commission

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia Tuesday announced an allocation of Rs 100 crore for providing Minimum Support Price (MSP) to farmers as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission. Presenting Delhi government's annual budget for 2019-20 in the Delhi Assembly, Sisodia said Delhi is the first state in the country to implement the Swaminathan Commission report on farming sector. "I propose Rs 100 crore in budget 2019-20 for this scheme," he said. Sisodia said the Congress government at the Centre in 2004 was compelled under prevailing circumstances to constitute the Swaminathan Commission which gave its report in 2006. The Commission recommended that there is only one way to stop farmers' suicides and problems - that is by deciding the MSP of crops, one and half times more than the cost of production, the Deputy chief minister said. "To provide 1.5 times of MSP to farmers of Delhi, as per Swaminathan Commission report, the 2019-20 budget allocates Rs 100 crore," he said. The deputy ...

Rahul Gandhi meets victims of Arunachal violence in Guwahati

Congress president Rahul Gandhi Tuesday visited a hospital here to meet two persons, who were injured in the violence that broke out in Itanagar recently, over granting Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC) to non-natives in Arunachal. The doctors informed Gandhi that both the patients were undergoing treatment for compound fractures. The Congress chief, who was here to address a public rally, travelled to the hospital soon after landing at the LGB International Airport here. He also spoke to the attendants of the patients. "We will look into it," he told them while speaking about the violence in Itanagar. "The doctors here are looking after them properly... Don't worry," the Congress president told them. Assam Congress president Ripun Bora and his Arunachal Pradesh counterpart Takbam Sanjoy accompanied Gandhi to the hospital. Arunachal Pradesh witnessed massive violence since Friday in protest against a recommendation of the Joint High Power Committee granting permanent .