Page 199 - Social Issues
UP govt to give pension of Rs 500 to destitute persons
Uttar Pradesh government has increased its monthly pension for all destitute persons by a sum of Rs 100, to a total of Rs 500, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Monday."The state government has decided that all destitute persons (including women, disabled etc) will get a pension of Rs 500 per month compared to the Rs 400 they were recieving earlier" the Chief Minister told ANI.This measure comes immediately after the Centre on Sunday directed all educational institutes and universities to implement the 10 per cent reservation for economically weak in the general category in the upcoming educational year.The Parliament recently passed the Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill, 2019 in Parliament to grant 10 reservation in education and government jobs to economically weaker individuals belonging to the general category, across religions.The reservation is meant for individuals whose annual earning is below Rs 8 lakh and who possess less than 5 acres of agriculture land.
Nothing wrong in Sadhana Singh's remarks against Mayawati: BJP MLA
BJP MLA Surendra Singh Monday came out in support of his party colleague Sadhana Singh, who raised a political storm by calling BSP chief Mayawati "worse than a transgender", saying there was nothing wrong in her remarks. "There is nothing wrong in what Sadhana Singh said...any person who has zero self-respect is called a transgender," the MLA from Bariya constituency said while talking to reporters here. "The manner in which Mayawati has joined hands with the Samajwadi Party after the state guest house case of 1995 goes on to prove that she has no self-respect," he added. On police complaint against Sadhana Singh, he said, "How will the case be filed...we will protest against it." Sadhana Singh, a legislator from Uttar Pradesh's Mughalsarai, had at a rally Saturday called the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief a "blot on womankind" and "worse than a transgender", following which the BJP MLA issued an apology, clarifying that she did not mean to hurt anyone. The BJP lawmaker made the ...
Indian diaspora dramatically changed India's perception across world: Swaraj
Lauding the contribution of the Indian community worldwide, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday said that the community dramatically changed India's perception across the world while ensuring that the country's global stature keeps on rising.She noted that while the Indian diaspora started migrating centuries ago, it is the migration of the educated, highly skilled and dynamic young Indians that has brought laurels to India."Today, many of the multi-national corporations are headed by young Indian origin CEOs. Whether it is Sundar Pichai of Google, Satya Nadella of Microsoft, Ajay Banga of Mastercard, or Geeta Gopinath of IMF - it is indisputable that Indians are leading the world today. Our diaspora has dramatically changed the world's perception of Indians, and of India as well," Swaraj said at the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas here."Today, we have people of Indian origin, as heads of the state and heads of the government, and as heads of large multi-national ...
Muslims should limit themselves to 2 children: Kataria
BJP's Leader of Opposition in Rajasthan Assembly Gulab Chand Kataria raked up a fresh controversy by advocating that Muslims should limit themselves to two children.Holding the Muslim population responsible for the plight of the nation, Kataria asserted that laws need to be changed."If we (Hindus) limit ourselves to two children then they (Muslims) should also restrict to two. All our efforts towards improving the system went in vain because of this (Muslim population) reason," said Kataria.He said that the condition of the population will worsen in the coming 50 years if not properly dealt with by amending or changing the laws. "The condition is hard to imagine in the next 50 years," Kataria said."There is an urgent need to change the law and law can only be changed if we have the two-thirds majority," said Kataria.After the BJP got defeated in the recently held Assembly polls in Rajasthan, Kataria was unanimously chosen as the LoP in the Assembly.As Home minister of the state ...
Saudi asylum case prods Thais towards reform of tough refugee policy
On a television set in a grim, overcrowded Bangkok detention centre refugees closely followed Saudi woman Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun's quest for resettlement, as the 18-year-old asylum-seeker's case spurred hopes of a major policy turn from Thailand - a country that does not recognise refugees. Qunun fled her family to Bangkok, barricaded herself in an airport hotel room and staved off deportation with her Twitter feed, ultimately gaining refuge in Canada on January 12. Thai authorities were initially caught flat-footed by the young Saudi's bold social media campaign. But in the days since they have promised to address some of the lingering issues of indefinite detention and deportation of asylum seekers. On Monday Thai authorities signed an MoU to end the detention of all child refugees and asylum seekers. It was welcomed by the UNHCR as a "positive example" of the kingdom's increasingly humane approach to the issue. Rights groups have for years condemned Thailand, which is not a ...
Ahead of interim budget, Halwa ceremony held at Finance Ministry
The traditional 'Halwa ceremony' was held in the Finance Ministry on Monday to mark the beginning of printing of documents relating to this year's interim budget. The ceremony was initiated by Ministers of State for Finance Shiv Pratap Shukla and Pon Radhakrishnan in the absence of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, and was attended by Economic Affairs Secretary Subash Chandra Garg and other officials.Finance ministry officials will now spend the next 11 days in the Budget Press office, until the Budget is presented in Parliament on February 1.The Budget Session of the Parliament will be held from January 31 to February 13, which was decided in the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA), sources further informed.Jaitley will present the Interim Budget on February 1 in Parliament.
Pope visit to CentAm highlights church ministry to migrants
When Pope Francis visits Panama this week, he arrives not only as the first Latin American pontiff to visit Central America but as perhaps the world's most prominent advocate for migrants at a time when migration has become a pressing political issue in the region and elsewhere. The Argentine-born son of Italian immigrants has long held the issue dear to his heart and has signaled that it will be a central theme during the trip, which comes as the latest caravan of Central Americans is wending its way toward the US-Mexico frontier and President Donald Trump's promised border wall has led to the longest government shutdown in the country's history. Francis' emphasis on fundamental Christian teaching about welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked and feeding the hungry has been a breath of sustenance for those involved in efforts to aid migrants in Central America and Mexico, where Catholic priests, nuns and laypeople have taken the lead on attending to migrants amid what is often a ..
World's 26 richest people own as much as poorest 50%: Oxfam
Twenty-six richest billionaires own as many assets as the 3.8 billion people who make up for the poorest half of the planets population, British charity Oxfam said in a report on Monday.
Facebook users to now petition elected officials for change
Facebook is set to launch a petitions feature called "Community Actions" that will let users request change from their local and national elected officials and government agencies.
Greece: Thousands protest against Macedonia name change, 5 police officers injured
Demanding a referendum, thousands of protestors took to the streets in Athens on Sunday to protest against an agreement that aims at renaming Macedonia to the Republic of North Macedonia.Around 2,000 law enforcement officials were deployed near the Greek Parliament building for the protests which left five police officers and a few protestors wounded, reports Anadolu Agency.Protestors demanded a referendum to be held on the issue. The agreement, which was signed in June 2018 between Greece and Macedonia, will be voted on in Parliament on January 25."We stand here united. We demand the government let our voice be heard, we want a referendum on the name deal," the protesters chanted on Sunday.For decades, Macedonia has been trying to gain membership of the North American Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the European Union (EU). However, Greece raised objections to the official usage of Macedonia's name, arguing that it implies territorial aspirations against a northern Greek region with ..
Thousands protest against abortion in Paris
Several thousand protesters have marched in Paris against abortion and medically assisted reproduction. The protesters, who claim to have received the support of Pope Francis and several French bishops, gathered in the French capital on Sunday as they joined the 13th March for Life. Organisers urged doctors across the country to use their "conscientious objection" and stop performing abortions. About 200,000 abortions are performed every year in France. Organisers were also marching against a recommendation in September by France's highest bioethics body that single women and lesbian couples should have access to medically assisted reproduction. The procedures are currently restricted to heterosexual couples. The protesters also want euthanasia to remain banned in France.
Sudan's Bashir says security forces not killing protesters
President Omar al-Bashir on Sunday rejected accusations by rights groups that Sudanese security forces have killed protesters during a month of demonstrations against his rule. Addressing supporters in a traditional white robe during a rally in Al-Kurreida village in White Nile state, Bashir said groups within the protest movement were behind the killing of demonstrators. "There are some people among the protesters who are killing the demonstrators," Bashir said, without specifying who the culprits were. He said that a doctor who died on Thursday in a district of Khartoum during clashes with police was not killed by security forces. "For example, the doctor who was killed in Burri was killed by a weapon that did not belong to the army, or NISS, or police," the veteran leader said, referring to the country's feared National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) that has cracked down on protesters and opposition groups. "He was killed by someone from among the demonstrators," said ...
PMJAY has benefited over 8.9 lakh people: NITI Aayog member
The Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), also known as Ayushman Bharat, has benefited more than 8.9 lakh people since its launch last year, NITI Aayog member V K Paul said here Sunday. Paul, who is also the Chairman of Board of Governors, Medical Council of India, was speaking at the first convocation of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhopal. Earlier, in the first week of December, Ayushman Bharat Mission CEO Indu Bhushan had put the figure of beneficiaries at over 4.6 lakh in the first ten weeks. "More than 8.9 lakh people have already availed benefits of PMJAY, the world's largest public health programme launched on September 23 last year," Paul said. He also urged the AIIMS graduates to serve in the country instead of going abroad. Faculty members and other staff at an institution bearing the AIIMS brand require dedication of going beyond "9 to 5" working hours, Paul said. "Even professors should be available late night for patient care if required," he ..
Nehru-Gandhi clan did nothing for poverty alleviation: Gadkari
Union minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari Sunday said the first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his generations have merely done a lip service to the cause of poverty. Addressing a public rallyat a ground here on the concluding day of the national convention of his party's scheduled Caste (SC) cell, Gadkari said only BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working to eradicate poverty. "Jawaharlal Nehru had talked about removing poverty. The then prime minister Indira Gandhi also talked about poverty eradication, so did late Rajiv Gandhi (a former PM) and Sonia Gandhi. Now the great grandson of Nehruji (Rahul Gandhi) is also giving the slogan of 'Garibi hatao'. (I want to ask) whose poverty has been alleviated?" Gadkari said without taking the name of Rahul, the incumbent president of Congress. Praising welfare schemes of the Modi government, the Highways and Road Transport Minister said 18 per cent of population have received electricity under the ...
Citizenship (Amendment) Bill not applicable to Nagaland: CM
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Sunday said that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 is not applicable to Nagaland as the state stands protected under the provisions of Article 371(A) and the Inner Line Permit.
Pope mourns Mediterranean shipwrecks that claimed 170 lives
Pope Francis has expressed sorrow over the lost lives of 170 migrants who drowned in recent days in the Mediterranean Sea. The UN refugee agency has said 117 migrants died or were missing after a smuggler's dinghy sank off Libya January 18, and that 53 others died in the capsizing of another migrant boat in the western Mediterranean a few days earlier. In remarks in St. Peter's Square Sunday, Francis said those who drowned had looked for better lives and were "victims, perhaps, of human traffickers." The pope said: "Let us pray for them and for those who have the responsibility for what happened." Two Mediterranean nations, Italy and Malta, have cracked down on private groups whose boats aim to rescue migrants from traffickers' unseaworthy boats.
NRIs can vote in Lok Sabha polls through proxies? Key bill awaits Rajya Sabha test
The Law Ministry is looking at a small window for the passage of a key bill to allow proxy voting rights to overseas Indians and make electoral law gender neutral for service voters. The bill assumes importance as Lok Sabha elections are due in summer. The Budget session of Parliament, the last session of the present government, will have 11 sittings between January 31 and Februray13. The bill was passed by Lok Sabha in August, 2018 and has been awaiting Rajya Sabha nod. Asked whether the government will push for its passage in the brief Budget session, a senior law ministry official said,"All pending bills are important as it is the last session. In the Winter session it was listed in the Rajya Sabha agenda every day." Rajya Sabha was repeatedly disrupted in the previous session due to Rafale and other issues. If the bill becomes a law, NRIs or Non-resident Indians eligible to vote in India will be allowed to appoint proxies who can vote on their behalf. These proxies will change for
Small number of Bangladeshis to be benefitted from Citizenship Amendment Bill: MHA
Only a small number Bangladeshi nationals are likely to be benefitted from the Citizenship Amendment Bill, as less than 200 people from the neighbouring country have so far availed the Long Term Visa (LTV) regime introduced in 2015, a senior Home Ministry official said. The majority of those who are likely to apply for Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Bill will be from Pakistan, as nearly 35,000 of such people have got LTVs so far. "The number of LTVs issued by the Union Home Ministry to Bangladeshi nationals from 2011 to January 8, 2019, is just 187, while total LTVs issued to Pakistani nationals during the same period is 34,817,"the official told PTI. Those who will apply for Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Bill must fulfil similar criteria of LTVs. "There cannot be too many Bangladeshis applying for the Indian nationality under the proposed new law. Otherwise, they would have already taken the LTVs for which criteria are the same," the official .
Indian groups in UAE miss deadline to suggest changes in new draft Immigration Act
Several Indian expatriate groups in the UAE have missed the deadline to recommend changes in India's new draft Immigration Act and demanded the extension of the last day for rasing concerns, said a media report. The new draft bill is slated to replace the Immigration Act of 1983. Indian Government had invited public feedback for the new draft law that proposes, among other things, mandatory registration of Indians going abroad for work, setting up of an Emigration Management Authority to ensure the welfare and protection of emigrants. It also proposes strict regulations and penalties to prevent illegal recruitment, exploitation and human trafficking. Indian organisations in UAE said that the Indian Government should have communicated well to its diaspora regarding the draft bill and the deadline to recommend changes till Sunday, the Khaleej Times reported. AK Beeran Kutty, president of Kerala Social Centre, said he came to know about the draft bill just three days ago. "The ...
Trump's compromise bid to end government shutdown shot down by Democrats (Third Lead)
With an eye on political moderates, President Donald Trump has offered to bargain temporary status for nearly a million illegal immigrants for the $5.7 million he wants in the budget for his border wall, but the deal to end the partial government shutdown was shot down by the Democratic Party leadership.
