Page 297 - Social Issues
Asthana bribery case: middleman Manoj Prasad's custody extended
Delhi's Patiala House Court on Tuesday extended the judicial custody of middleman Manoj Prasad who was arrested in connection with the bribery allegations against CBI's special director Rakesh Asthana.Prasad's judicial custody has been extended till November 27.The extension of his custody comes hours after the Delhi High Court dismissed his bail plea. While refusing his bail plea, the High Court stated that the allegations against Prasad were serious in nature.It also took cognizance of the CBI's submission that the investigation is at a crucial stage.Prasad was arrested on October 17 by the CBI for allegedly seeking Rs 5 crore from a Hyderabad businessman Sathish Sana for getting him relief from the CBI's summons.
Raj should first apologise to North Indians, say Cong, BJP
Reacting to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray's decision to attend an event organised by the Uttar Bhartiya Mahapanchayat Sangh, the BJP, Congress and the Samajwadi Party said Tuesday that he should first apologise to the North Indian community. Thackeray, known for a strident anti-migrant stand, would be attending a gathering of the Mahapanchayat Sangh, an organisation of North Indians living in Mumbai, in suburban Kandivali on December 2. City Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam said that in the past Raj Thackeray and MNS had bullied the North Indian community living in the country's financial capital. "Everyone knows...how this community was terrified by their bullying acts. If Thackeray wants to have a dialogue with the community now, there is no harm. But he should first tender an unconditional apology to each and every North Indian," Nirupam said. Mumbai BJP general secretary Amarjeet Mishra echoed Nirupam's demand. "Spitting venom against the poor and
Nutrition programmes, education help lowering anaemia in India
Improved public health and nutrition programmes for children under five years of age, and higher education and wealth among expectant mothers substantially contributed to lowering anaemia among these two groups between 2006 and 2016, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) said.
Kerala: Police official booked for murder commits suicide
Days after he was booked in a murder case, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Neyyatinkara) B Harikumar allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself near his residence in Kallambalam town here, police said on Tuesday. Last week, Harikumar was suspended and booked under section 302 (murder) of the IPC after he allegedly pushed a 32-year-old man before a moving car during a scuffle. The man, Sanal, later died at a hospital. "Our information is that the DySP has committed suicide by hanging," a senior police official said. Harikumar's house was found locked as his family was away. Police had received flak over the delay in arresting Harikumar, who had been on the run since the incident on November 5. Searches were carried out in Tamil Nadu and Kerala to nab him. The DySP's death comes amid reports that he would surrender soon. The Kerala government on Sunday appointed Crime Branch IGP S Sreejith as the investigating officer to probe Sanal's death. Sanal's wife and other family members, ..
Tinder adds 23 new gender identity options for Indian users
Dating app Tinder on Tuesday announced it has added 23 new gender options for users in India to allow them to add information about the orientation they believe represents them most authentically.
Stephany Folsom to pen script for Michelle Williams' drama 'This Is Jane'
Amazon Studios have hired "Toy Story 4" screenwriter Stephany Folsom to pen the script for "This Is Jane". Michelle Williams has been attached as the lead, Jenny, in the underground abortion network drama. The film, a true story of a Chicago woman Jenny (Williams) who founded and ran the underground abortion service Jane, will be directed by Kimberly Peirce. According to Variety, the drama is based on Laura Kaplans non-fiction book "The Story of Jane: The Legendary Underground Feminist Abortion Service". The group was run by a group of women who taught themselves to perform abortions in the years before Roe vs Wade case made it legal. From 1968-73, they helped over 11,000 women by providing safe services denied by the medical establishment. They also provided health education and counselling. Williams will co-produce with John Lesher and Peter Heller.
Tinder to roll out more gender options in India
Tinder is set to announce more gender options for its users in India. The company is reportedly going to allow users to edit their profiles to suit their preferences.Diverse gender options have been live in the US since 2016. In India, the company will also be expanding its support team and educating its staff about the issues transgender and gender non-conforming people face, TechCrunch reported.Tinder is also inviting back users who were banned from the app after being unfairly reported by other users due to their gender.
Dr. Martha Farrell receives lifetime achievement award
Late Dr. Martha Farrell has been honoured with the "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the 6th Indian Social Work Congress in New Delhi. Dr. Farrell is being recognized for her lifelong work towards gender equality, women's empowerment and prevention of sexual harassment at workplace. She was among 14 people killed in a terrorist attack on a guest house in Kabul, Afghanistan on May 13, 2015. Dr. Farrell had been leading a gender training workshop with the Aga Khan Foundation in Kabul at the time of the attack.Suheil Tandon, Martha's son along with the team of Martha Farrell Foundation received the award.Martha began her career in 1981 as a literacy worker at Ankur, an NGO working for women's literacy and empowerment in Delhi. In 1991, she co-founded Creative Learning for Change, an NGO consisting of development professionals involved in research, training and documentation of learning materials for students, teachers and facilitators in non-formal settings.Martha joined PRIA in 1996 and ..
India appeals to donors to enhance contributions to UN agency for Palestinian refugees
Amid a financial crunch at the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, India has appealed to nations to enhance contributions to the agency, saying this support will be a practical way of expressing continued solidarity with Palestine refugees. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which was established by the UN General Assembly seven decades ago, looks after the welfare of 5.4 million Palestine refugees. "However, almost all of the UNRWA's resources come from voluntarily contributions, with a limited donor base. This arrangement is fraught with uncertainties," First Secretary in India's Permanent Mission to the UN Mahesh Kumar said here Monday. Kumar, speaking at the UN General Assembly Fourth Committee meeting on the UNRWA, said even core services to the Palestinian refugees, notably in the fields of education, health, and assistance to the most vulnerable refugees are susceptible to interruption. He said provision of adequate, ...
Rohingyas' return to Myanmar only at their 'freely expressed wish': UNHCR
The return of the displaced Rohingya refugees to Myanmar should take place only at their "freely expressed wish", the UN's top refugee official said, amid concern that conditions at their places of origin are not conducive. According to the UN estimates, nearly 700,000 minority Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh to escape violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State since August 25 last year when the army launched a military crackdown. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said in a statement Sunday that repatriation of refugees "is premised upon the free and informed decision by refugees... to return". Since late August 2017, widespread and systematic violence against Myanmar's mainly-Muslim minority Rohingya community has forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes in Rakhine State and seek refuge across the country's border in Bangladesh. Prior to that, well over 200,000 Rohingya refugees were sheltering in Bangladesh due to earlier displacements. According to the ...
Rohingya crisis: Aung San Suu Kyi stripped of Amnesty's highest honour
Human Rights organisation Amnesty International withdrew its highest honour, the Ambassador of Conscience Award, from Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday.Kumi Naidoo, Amnesty's Secretary General tweeted, "Aung San Suu Kyi once stood as a symbol of hope, courage and the undying defence of human rights in #Myanmar. @amnesty recognised her with our highest honour, the Ambassador of Conscience award. Sadly, we can no longer justify this honour and today we are withdrawing the award."Naidoo also attached a letter he penned to Suu Kyi on November 11 that read, "As an Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience, our expectation was that you would continue to use your moral authority to speak out against injustice wherever you saw it, not least within Myanmar itself."He further stated that the organisation is "deeply alarmed" and "disappointed" by Suu Kyi's "clear and consistent betrayal of the very values" she promoted for decades."You have chosen to overlook and excuse .
UK drops deal that used data from doctors to find migrants
Britain's National Health Service has pulled out of a contentious agreement that gave government officials access to confidential patient data to help track down people suspected of breaking immigration laws. Some doctors and lawmakers objected to the data-sharing, saying it violated doctor-patient confidentiality and left sick people fearful of seeking medical help. After human-rights campaigners mounted a legal challenge, the government said in May that it was suspending the agreement while new terms were drawn up that narrowed the data-sharing to cases of "serious criminality." The health service's IT agency, NHS Digital, said Monday it had received a "revised narrowed request" for information-sharing and would consider whether it was in the public interest. It said that in the meantime, "we have formally closed-out our participation" in the existing agreement.
Rohingya flee camps fearing forcible return to Myanmar
Rohingya Muslims were fleeing Bangladeshi refugee camps to avoid being repatriated to Myanmar later this week, community leaders said Monday. Authorities plan to begin returning Rohingya refugees, who have fled what the UN has called ethnic cleansing, to the Buddhist majority country from Thursday. But the prospect has created panic in the camps, prompting some families who were due to be among the first to be repatriated to flee, according to community leaders. "The authorities repeatedly tried to motivate the ones on the returning refugee list to go back. But instead, they were intimidated and fled to other camps," said Nur Islam, from Jamtoli refugee camp. More than 720,000 Rohingya Muslims fled Myanmar's western Rakhine state in a military crackdown from August last year, bringing with them stories of murders, rapes and torture. Some 2,260 Rohingya Muslims had been scheduled to leave the Bangladesh border post in the southeastern Cox's Bazar district in the first repatriations ...
KCR never fulfilled assurances he made to people of Telangana: Puducherry CM
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Monday accused his Telangana counterpart K Chandrashekar Rao of betraying the state's people by not fulfilling the assurances and promises he made to them.Narayanasamy, who visited the poll-bound Telangana to campaign for the Congress candidates, told media persons, "I was closely associated with both the 2004 and 2009 elections in Andhra Pradesh. The job of a chief minister is to fulfill the assurance given to the people. However, in the last four and a half years, KCR never really interacted with the people, government officials and MLAs of his own party."Narayanasamy also slammed the TRS government in the state for not able to control farmers' suicide in the state, which records the highest number of farmers' suicides followed by Maharashtra in the country. "The second highest number of farmers' suicide takes place in Telangana," he said."At least, 4,500 farmers have ended their lives in the past four years due to the government apathy ...
Army reaches out to disabled soldiers of 6 states, holds 2-day conclave
The Army has reached out to the disabled soldiers of six northern states under northern and western commands by holding a two-day special conclave, Army officials said Monday. The two-day 'Samman Samaroh' for the disabled soldier in line of duty organised by Gurj Division under the aegis of Western Command was inaugurated by Gen Bipin Rawat, Chief of Army Staff at Mamun Military Station in Punjab. The rally planned for 500 disabled soldiers was the main event in the long list of programmes worked out during two days for the benefit of former soldiers who were rendered immobile while serving the nation, General Officer Commanding of nine corps Lt Gen Y V K Mohan said Monday. During his address to the disabled troops, Gen Rawat said the Army has dedicated this year to the welfare of disabled soldiers who have been disabled in the line of duty, while serving the nation. Gen Rawat said that most of the disabled soldiers have come from Northern Command, which he said was doing a ...
Law demanded to scrap ST status of tribal women marrying
A breakaway faction of the ruling IPFT in Tripura on Monday demanded enactment of a law to scrap ST status of tribal women who marry non-ST men. A large number of tribal women of Tripura are marrying non-tribal men and in Khowai district, the figure is over 50 percent, Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (Tipraha group) president Aghore Debbarma said. "Indigenous communities are already minority in Tripura. We demand that a law be passed in winter session of the Tripura Assembly which will strip such women of their ST status. It is required to safeguard our ethnic identity," Debbarma told a press conference. The winter session of the assembly begins from November 29. The IPFT (Tipraha), a tribal party, took the cue from the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) of Meghalaya, another state of the Northeastern region. The KHADC in July passed a bill to scrap scheduled tribe status of tribal women who marry non-ST men. The bill also mentioned that children of ...
HC for government response to PIL on rise in stray dog count
The Delhi High Court on Monday asked Centre and Delhi Government to file response on a plea seeking directions to carry out sterilization programmes for controlling stray dog population.
Guj mulling law to curb fake news on social media: Dy CM Patel
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel Monday said the state government is mulling a law to curb the spread of fake news and information on social media. He said some people with malafide intentions were misusing social media to create enmity between castes and communities, to harass people and destabilise the country. "Such misuse of social media would harm the country's unity, peace and security. Inciting conflicts between various castes and communities, spreading religious rumours or about any person is not good," Patel said Monday. "It is necessary to stop such practice (of spreading fake news and information). While some laws are being enacted (at the Centre), the Gujarat government is also mulling to enact a law in this regard," Patel said. He said the state government is taking time to bring such a law to ensure that people do not see it as "censorship" imposed by the government. "Discussions (in the government) are going on for the last three-four months on ...
Unite against those spreading venom of casteism, says Pawar
In a veiled attack on BJP, NCP chief Sharad Pawar Monday asked like-minded forces to unite for taking on "this national calamity which has indulged in the sin of spreading the venom of casteism". Addressing a conference organised by the All India Kisan Sabha, farmers' wing of the CPM, Pawar charged the BJP-led central and state governments of not having a sympathetic view towards farmers facing agrarian crisis. Pawar also accused BJP of resurrecting the Ram temple dispute to divert attention from imminent problems like the agrarian crisis and drought and asked farmers to come together against the ruling party. The working class was being destroyed, farmers were committing suicide and new employment was not being generated under the BJP's watch, Pawar said. "Hence, it is our responsibility, whoever is opposed to the BJP, whoever is against casteist ideology...There is a need to unite the (anti-BJP) forces to throw out this national calamity which has indulged in the sin ..
Police foils PHE-workers' march to civil secretariat in Jammu
The police scuttled an attempt to gherao the Jammu and Kashmir secretariat here Monday by the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department workers, whose demands include the release of pending wages and regularisation of their services, officials said. Hundreds of workers took out a rally from their headquarters at B C Road and marched towards the civil secretariat, officials said. However, the policemen deployed near Indira Chowk did not allow the protesters to move ahead, following which they staged a sit-in and blocked the main road, leading to a traffic jam. Later, a delegation of the protesters was allowed inside the secretariat to meet the officers concerned, the officials said. The provincial president of the PHE workers' association, Tanvir Hussain, threatened to intensify the agitation if the issue was not resolved at the earliest. "We will not budge and will continue with our protest till our demands are met as our families are suffering due to failure of the authorities to ...
