Page 200 - Social Issues
Indian expat groups in UAE miss deadline for new immigration proposals
Many Indian expatriate groups in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have missed the deadline to suggest changes to New Delhi's new draft Immigration Act which is slated to end on Sunday, the media reported.
Sikh man attacked in hate crime in US
A Sikh man has been brutally assaulted in an alleged hate crime by a white man who pulled his beard, kicked and punched him in the face at a store in the US, the latest such incident in the country. Harwinder Singh Dodd, who was working at a convenience store in the US State of Oregon, was racially targeted on Monday by a 24-year-old Andrew Ramsey. Ramsey targeted Dodd because of his perception of the employee's religion, FOX 12 TV news reported, citing a court document. Ramsey wanted rolling papers for cigarettes, but did not have an ID and the clerk would not sell them to him, Justin Brecht, a legislative policy adviser in the Oregon State Capitol and a former combat Marine, was quoted as saying by the report. When Dodd asked Ramsey to leave, he attacked him by pulling his beard, punching him in the face, pulling him to the ground and kicking him, Brecht said, adding that they held Ramsey down until officers got there, the report said. "He was bleeding, he had gotten punched quite a
Resistance: Women demand better prison conditions
Sukalo spent 45 days in jail sleeping on the bathroom floor but, she says, that was not the worst pain she endured in prison. A member of the Gond tribe, largely found in central India, she had to eat food infested with insects, drink contaminated water and share space with other women she did not know. Sukalo had to suffer the trauma daily for one and a half months because she was against an irrigation project in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh. The Kanhar irrigation project was conceived more than 30 years ago, and was taken up in 2014. It, however, soon landed in trouble. In April 2015, there were violent protests by villagers who feared displacement and contamination of their source of water. "We were targeted because we spoke against powerful people. I knew I was in jail because of this movement (against the project)," said Sukalo, now 51. Recalling her days in prison, she said, "The food was infested with insects. Our drinking water was dirty; I survived by eating an apple
Migrant caravan continues to advance towards Mexico
A migrant caravan has continued to advance towards Mexico in order to reach the country's border with the US, authorities said.
Thousands march across US to protest against Trump
Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Washington D.C. and in nearly 300 other US cities in the third annual Women's March to protest against the policies of President Donald Trump and to stand up for women's rights.
Pope heads to Panama for giant youth meeting
Pope Francis will make his first trip to Panama on Wednesday for a gathering of more than 150,000 young Catholics from across the globe at the World Youth Day festival. The 82-year-old pope will use the major event on the Catholic calendar to address the problems of poverty, corruption and migration in his native Latin America, church officials said. "Our youth, particularly in Central America, need opportunities," said Panama Archbishop Jose Domingo Ulloa. Often, their "hard reality" was a choice between emigration or "falling into the clutches of drug traffickers," said Ulloa, in Rome for a preparatory visit. It will be Francis' third World Youth Day event, having presided over the gathering in Rio de Janeiro shortly after his election as pope in 2013 and again in Krakow, Poland in 2016. In Poland, he challenged conservative governments in Central and Eastern Europe to soften their resistance to migrants seeking refuge from conflict in the Middle East. In a similar way, he is ...
Himachal govt to give compensation to sexual assault survivors
Himachal Pradesh Cabinet has decided to implement 'compensation scheme for women victims/survivors of sexual assault/other crimes-2018' to provide compensation to the women who had suffered loss, injury, as may be, as a result of the offence committed and thus required rehabilitation.The decision was announced in a meeting held on Saturday under the chairmanship of state Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. Apart from this, many other decisions were also taken in the cabinet meeting.Under this scheme, the amount of compensation would be provided to the victims under Women Victims Compensation Fund as decided by the State Legal Services Authority or District legal Authority. The compensation to the affected women to be provided ranges between Rs. two lakh to Rs. 10 lakh keeping the gravity of the crime.The Cabinet has also decided to create new Division and Sub-Division of Irrigation and Public Health Department at Chontra in Mandi district along with creation and filling up of requisite ...
Thousands join US women's marches despite discord
Thousands of women marched Saturday in the US capital and across the country to convey a now-annual message opposing Donald Trump and supporting women's rights, but internal divisions appeared to steal some energy from the rallies. In Washington, demonstrators arriving by car, bus or subway converged on the city's Freedom Plaza and marched defiantly past the nearby Trump International Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue. Many wore pink "pussy" hats to protest Trump's demeaning comments about women. "We need to stand up for women all over the world -- for races, gender, sexual orientation," said Ann Caroline, 27, herself wearing a pink hat. Some marchers carried posters portraying Trump as a Russian "puppet." Others decried his comments about women or minority groups, while many demanded his impeachment. Just blocks away, the president spoke to reporters outside the White House before traveling briefly to Dover, Delaware for a ceremony to receive the remains of four Americans killed in an ...
Citizenship bill won't hamper interests of indigenous communities: Sonowal
Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday said that disinformation is being spread over the Citizenship Amendment Bill across the state, saying the bill, if passed, will allow the six minority communities to apply for citizenship after only a year's residency.
Thousands join US women's march despite discord
Thousands of women were gathering Saturday in the US capital and across the country for their annual message opposing Donald Trump and supporting women's rights, but internal divisions appeared to steal some energy from the rallies. In Washington, demonstrators arriving by car, bus or subway converged on the city's Freedom Plaza as they prepared to march defiantly past the nearby Trump International Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue. Many wore pink "pussy" hats to protest Trump's demeaning comments about women. "We need to stand up for women all over the world -- for races, gender, sexual orientation which are often misunderstood," said Ann Caroline, 27, herself wearing a pink hat. Some marchers carried signs portraying Trump as a Russian "puppet." Other placards decried his comments about women or minority groups, while some demanded his impeachment. Just blocks away, the president spoke to reporters outside the White House before traveling briefly to Dover, Delaware to console family ...
Himachal Pradesh approves 10 pc quota for EWS in General category
The Cabinet of Himachal Pradesh on Saturday approved 10 per cent reservation in jobs and academic institutions for economically weaker sections (EWS) of the society in the general category.After the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur told media persons that Himachal Pradesh has become one among leading Indian states to implement the 10 per cent quota for the economically weaker sections of the society in the general category after the decision of the Union Government in this regard.The Chief Minister said that the modalities would be worked out later on and the people from economically weaker section will now get 10 per cent quota in the jobs and academic institutions in the state.The Cabinet also declared Sanskrit as the second official language of the state. The Cabinet also decided to implement the compensation scheme for women victim, survivors of sexual assault, who will get Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10 lakh as compensation on the basis of the intensity of the crime.
VP calls for efforts to empower differently-abled people
: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu Saturday said eliminating discriminatory tendencies should be the first step in empowering differently-abled people. Speaking at a cultural programme organised by Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) here, Naidu said nobody has any right to ill-treat or discriminate against anybody, particularly persons with disabilities. "It should be the collective responsibility of the society, people and institutions to support Divyangjan and empower them to lead a dignified life," the vice-president said according to an official release. Although the Union government and various state governments have been systematically addressing grievances faced by differently-abled people, there is a need to create greater awareness among all sections of society on the need to prevent any form of discrimination and provide necessary support to enable them lead a life of dignity and respect, he said. "As a society, we need to ensure that no stigma is
Minor boy commits suicide in Hamirpur village
In a shocking incident, a minor boy allegedly committed suicide Saturday by setting himself afire at Chowki Jamwala village in Hamirpur district, the police said. The fifteen-year-old boy was said to be upset with some of his family members, said Hamirpur Additional Superintendent of Police Balbir Singh Thakur, adding that he locked himself in a room and set himself afire. The officer said the victim's body was sent to the local hospital for postmortem. The Hamirpur police has registered a case and further investigations are on, he added.
Hazare asks youth to follow Gandhi's principles
Social activist Anna Hazare Saturday asked the youth to follow Mahatma Gandhi's principles and said he adopted his ideas and dedicated his life towards the development of society. Addressing the Telangana Jagruthi International Youth Leadership Conference here, the activist said he was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi's thoughts and took up work on village development. "Ideas and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi has gone into my life. Follow his ideas and principles," Hazare said. The activist said when he was 25 years old, he had thought of committing suicide but after reading about Mahatma Gandhi and Swami Vivekananda and imbibing their values and ideas, gave up the thought of taking his life and dedicated his life for betterment of society. He said over 11 lakh people have visited his village Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra which, he said, has become a model village and urged the youth to adopt one village each and see that the nation marches ahead. The anti-corruption crusader
Kashmiri Pandits mourn 1990 'genocide' at Raj Ghat, demand closure
Around 50-70 Kashmiri Pandits, including school children, observed a silent protest here on Saturday at Raj Ghat-- the resting place of Mahatma Gandhi -- commemorating the 29th year of their forced exodus from their homeland.
Telangana govt to waive agricultural loans: Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan
In a bid to address farmers' distress, the Telangana Government has decided to waive loans upto Rs 1 Lakh taken by them, Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan said Saturday.The Governor said that K. Chandrashekar Rao-led government has decided to fulfil its poll promise and enhance the monetary support in Rythu Bandhu Scheme (RBS) from Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 per acre. He also announced the setting up of food processing units across the state to ensure farmers receive remunerative prices for produce.Addressing the joint session of the state Assembly and Council, Narasimhan said, "Agricultural loan to an extent of Rs 1 lakh will be waived. From this year the investment support amount for agriculture under the Rythu Bandhu Scheme will be enhanced from Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 per acre. The honorarium will be paid to members of Rythu Samanvaya Samithis."The Governor stated it was a matter of pride that the RBS had become a role model for several states in the country who are gearing up to adopt the ...
Kashmiri Pandits hold silent protest, pledge return to Valley
Displaced Kashmiri Pandits on Saturday commemorated their day of exodus from the Valley almost 30 years ago by holding a silent protest here.Donning black headbands the protesters, including women and children took an oath pledging to return to their homelands, during the protest at Raj Ghat here.The event marks the anniversary of January 19, 1990, which they call 'Exodus Day' as it marked the exodus of the community from the Valley in the wake of an outbreak of terrorism.Suman Koul, a Kashmiri Pandit told ANI: "We are having a silent protest here with black bands on our head because we consider this day as black day." She requested the government to help them return to their homes in the valley.Around 5 Lakh Kashmiri Pandits were forced to leave the Valley after January 19, 1990 as they were a target of extremist attacks.Another Kashmiri Pandit Vanshika Bhatt told ANI," I haven't seen my Kashmir yet. Prominent personalities are tweeting about this but only Narendra Modi has the ...
War disabled soldiers to participate in Mumbai Marathon
With a message of converting disability into ability, 16 soldiers who were disabled in war are set to participate in the Mumbai Marathon 2019, scheduled here on January 20.Led by former Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi Four officers, two JCOs and 10 jawans who have sustained disabling injuries, including amputated limbs in various wars of 1965, 1971, Kargil and the Indian Peacekeeping Force operations will participate in the 'Dream Run category' of the Mumbai Marathon under the banner of War Wounded Foundation.Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi said, "We want to spread the message that physical limitations does not stop a soldier from being useful to society and they strive to succeed even with these challenges."War Wounded Foundation is an NGO established for the rehabilitation and alleviation of problems faced by disabled soldiers of Indian Armed Forces, has been organising this marathon for eight consecutive years.
Minister seeks NIMHANS' help to de-stress police force
Union Home Minister Rajnath SinghSaturday sought the assistance of National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) here to help de-stress the armed police forces across the country in the wake of growinginstances of suicide. "Our central armed police forces and police forces need that services which help them de-stress and manage themselves better," he said. "I urge NIMHANS to facilitate a nationwide programme to prevent suicides and to undertake a systematic intervention to help our forces handle situations successfully," Singh said. In the 23rd convocation address at NIMHANS, he said he was confident that the institute had the capacity to take up the initiative nationwide. In this context, Singh recalled an initiative of NIMHANS with the Tamil Nadu police department, wherein the institute planned to include the families in promoting wellness of the policepersonnel. Singh voiced his concern over the growing cases of suicide and asked NIMHANS to take ...
Odisha hikes social security pension for 48 lakh people
The Odisha government on Saturday announced a hike in the social security pension under Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY) for 48 lakh beneficiaries.
