Page 299 - Social Issues
Women's movement has come a long way, but we haven't arrived yet: Hardeep Puri
While talking about how women empowerment and gender equality in the society has come a long way over the years, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri said Sunday the women's movement "has not arrived yet" as it was an ongoing struggle. Speaking at the 24th anniversary event of Indian Women's Press Corps (IWPC), Puri said it was not time to sit back and relax as the fightback from the essentially-patriarchal societies was very strong. "...don't underestimate it. It's not time to sit back and relax. This has to be an ongoing struggle, but it has to be a struggle where you navigate your objectives, fully aware of where the backlash is going to come from. "I am afraid much of which we are witnessing today, sometimes in greater intensity here or elsewhere, this is going to be something that will go on," the minister of state for housing and urban affairs said. Puri also released IWPC's annual souvenir and lauded women journalists' contribution to the representation of women in media. "I think
Myanmar: Bangladesh set to start repatriating Rohingya
The repatriation of ethnic Rohingya Muslims from Bangladesh, to which more than 700,000 fled since last year to escape deadly violence carried out by Myanmar's security forces, will begin this week, top Myanmar officials said Sunday. Minister of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Win Myat Aye announced at a news conference that Bangladesh had informed Myanmar authorities that repatriation, agreed upon in principle months ago, would begin on Thursday. A Myanmar government statement said an initial group of 2,251 would be sent back from mid-November at a rate of 150 per day. Noting that the actual date depended upon Bangladesh taking action, Win Myat Aye said, "Whether it will happen on the day or not, we have to be ready on our side and we try our best to do that." Abul Kalam, Bangladesh's repatriation commissioner, said he was unaware that a date had been set. "I have got no decision from our foreign ministry or any other higher authorities," he said. The Rohingya exodus began ...
Social activist appointed BJD women's wing chief
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday appointed noted social activist Minati Behera as the president of the women's wing of the BJD. This was done in order to revamp the party's women's wing with the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls due next year, party sources said. Behera's appointment was announced shortly after she resigned as commissioner of the State Commission for Persons with Disabilities. Behera replaced Pramila Mallik who was made vice-president of the BJD and adviser of the Biju Mahila Dal, the party's women's wing. State Commission for Women (SCW) chairperons Lopamudra Baxipatra, who also resigned from the post earlier in the day, was appointed as a working president of the Biju Mahila Dal. Announcing this here, BJD vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra said that Pramila Mallik has been appointed as the vice-president of the party and also as the adviser of Biju Mahila Dal, the women's wing of the ruling BJD. While Jyoti Panigrahi and Kasturi Mohapatra were .
Myanmar: Bangladesh to start repatriating Rohingya Thursday
Top Myanmar officials say the repatriation of ethnic Rohingya Muslims from Bangladesh, to which more than 700,000 fled since last year to escape deadly violence carried out by Myanmar's security forces, will begin Thursday. Minister of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Win Myat Aye said Sunday at a news conference that Bangladesh had informed Myanmar authorities that repatriation, agreed upon in principle months ago, would begin on that date. A Myanmar government handout said an initial group of 2,251 would be sent back from mid-November at a rate of 150 per day. Human rights advocates say conditions are not yet safe for the return of the Rohingya refugees, who have generally been denied citizenship and civil rights in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, where prejudice against them runs high.
Let us work together to eradicate drugs from HP: Guv
Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Devvrat said Sunday everyone should work together to wipe out drugs from the state. "Effective steps have been taken in this direction with the help of the government and police administration, but we all need to work together in this direction," Devvrat said, while addressing a gathering at the inauguration of the four-day Lavi Mela in Rampur area of Shimla district. The governor added that illegal activities, such as drug abuse and gambling, take place under the guise of festivals and fairs, and it should be stopped so that the significance and relevance of these festivals could be maintained. Devvrat said the international Lavi Mela was important from the historical point of view, which is not only known for business activities but also mythological traditions.
Two couples commit suicide in Barmer
Two couples have allegedly committed suicide in separate incidents in Barmer district, officials said Sunday. The bodies of Suja Bhil (18) and Jagdish Bhil (21) were found hanging from a tree in Pachpadra area on Sunday morning, police said. "Prima facie, they committed suicide. They were in a relationship for sometime and they eloped from their houses on Saturday evening," police said. The bodies were handed over to family members after post-mortem, police said. In Balotara area, 25-year old Sumer and 22-year old Usha jumped before a moving train on Saturday evening police said. They were missing from their houses in Mandli area since Friday. "Both cases are being investigated," an official said.
ICT can enhance life skills of persons with disabilities: Union min
Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot Sunday said information technology can enhance the life skills of persons with disabilities, besides improving their communication skills and employment opportunities. Information and computer technology (ICT) facilitates better access to products and services besides facilitating inclusive education system, he said on the concluding day of the three-day event 'Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities, 2018' held in the national capital. Gehlot urged participating nations to take steps for enhancing IT skills of youths with disabilities so that they live an independent life with dignity. Gehlot said the Indian government has enacted the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 which envisions an inclusive society primarily deriving its spirit from the UNCRPD and Sustainable Development Goals -- 'leaving no-one behind'. "Youths with disabilities need exposure to ICT usage at the early learning stage so as .
Adoption drive helps abandoned dogs find homes
In an effort to find homes for abandoned dogs, the sixth edition of 'Cause 4 the Paws' adoption drive was held here Saturday. Organised by Select Citywalk, in association with Delhi-based NGO 'People for Animals', the two-day event saw "close to 25 dogs" from Sanjay Gandhi Animal Care Centre. The adoption drive witnessed an "exclusive mix" of popular breeds such as German Shepherds, Labradors, Mastiff, Himalayan Mastiffs, Tibetan Mastiffs, and native dogs among others. Eminent rights animal activist and Cabinet Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi inaugurated the evening last evening. "I am happy to be a part of this drive to find homes for abandoned adult dogs. Over the last five years, this initiative has already helped rehabilitation and redemption of seventy dogs," the minister said. Ambika Shukla, trustee of People for Animals, also thanked people for their support towards the cause and said the drive gives abandoned dogs "a second chance at life and love". "In .
Man arrested for sexually assaulting, killing cousin
A 22-year-old man has been arrested for reportedly sexually assaulting and killing his minor cousin, police said Sunday. "The incident took place on November 8 in Garhwar police station area. The accused was arrested on Saturday," Superintendent of Police Sriparna Ganguly said. The body of the 8-year-old has been sent for postmortem, the officer said.
Adults report distress associated with difficulty controlling sexual feelings: Study
According to a recent research, Adults report distress associated with difficulty in controlling sexual feelings.About 10 percent of men and 7 percent of women report significant levels of distress and social impairment associated with difficulty controlling their sexual feelings, urges and behaviors, the study suggested.Compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD) is a persistent pattern of failure in controlling intense sexual urges that can result in distress and social impairment. Assessing how common such distress and social impairment are can help to provide the closest estimate of CSBD in the population considering a lack of previous studies and debate around specific symptom presentation and definitions with regard to hypersexuality.As part of the study, 2,325 adults between 18 and 50 were randomly sampled in November 2016. The study was published in the journal of JAMA Network Open.The results showed that distress and impairment associated with difficulty controlling sexual ...
One-third of married women in India experience spousal violence: Study
Almost one-third of all married women in India have experienced spousal violence with wife-beating accepted by many women, says a study which calls gender-based violence as one of the most serious concerns in the country. The study was conducted by Vadodara-based NGO 'SAHAJ' in collaboration with 'Equal Measures 2030', a global partnership of nine civil society and private sector organisations with its secretariat in the United Kingdom. Citing data from the National Family Health Survey (NHFS) 4, SAHAJ came out with a report which said about 27 per cent of women aged 15 to 49 years have experienced physical violence since the age of 15 years. "On one hand, India shows strong economic growth and on the other hand, it lags far behind in achieving equitable development amongst individuals facing discrimination based on caste, class or gender," said the report titled 'Fiscal Underpinnings of Gender Equity Health, Nutrition and Welfare Programs for Women'. "Almost one-third of all married .
Indigenous tribal bodies in Sikkim demand NRC, ILP to solve influx problem
Various ethnic bodies of Sikkim have demanded that a National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Inner Line Permits (ILPs) be introduced in the state to curb the menace of influx, which according to them is posing a threat to their identity. "The need of the hour is to check the ever-growing and uncontrolled influx. The National Register of Citizens exercise should be carried out in Sikkim as there are already thousands of people with dubious citizenship on record," says Tashi Lhamu Lepcha, general secretary of Sikkim Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association (SILTA). Accusing the Sikkim government of taking a casual approach that led to the "phenomenal changes in the state's demographic composition", Tseten Tashi Bhutia, convenor of Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLA), claims Sikkim has become a soft ground for illegal migrants from neighbouring countries. The tiny Himalayan state shares international borders with China in the north, Nepal in the west and Bhutan in the east. It shares
2 labourers die after inhaling toxic gas while cleaning sewage tank
Two labourers died after inhaling poisonous gas while cleaning a sewage tank in the Chowkaghat area here on Saturday, police said. Sewage tanks in the area are being linked with pumping stations of the Dinapur sewage treatment plant, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate on November 12 during his visit to Varanasi, they said. The newly-constructed sewage treatment plant was being made operational ahead of the prime minister's visit, for which more than a dozen labourers were engaged in the cleaning of sewage lines, police said. A team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was rushed to the spot and fished out the bodies of two labourers. They were identified as Vikas Paswan (18) and Dinesh Paswan(27), natives of Bhabhua in Bihar. A junior official at the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam was taken into police custody for allegedly sending the labourers inside the sewage tank without safety equipment, police said. A probe into the matter was underway, they added.
Muzaffarnagar riots accused found dead
An accused in the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots was found dead in his home in Kutba village here, police said Saturday. The body of Ram Das alias Kala (30), bearing a bullet injury, was sent for a post-mortem examination, they said, adding that the matter was being probed. Police are yet to ascertain whether Das committed suicide or was murdered. Meanwhile, security was beefed up in and around the communally sensitive village where eight people had reportedly died and several left injured during the 2013 riots. Extra police personnel were deployed as a precautionary measure to prevent any untoward incident, officials said. The communal clashes in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas in August and September 2013 had claimed more than 60 lives while over 40,000 people were displaced.
USA condemns Tanzania govt for crackdown on LGBT
The United States of America (USA) strongly condemned the crackdown on the LGBT community by Tanzania's government on Friday (local time).A press statement issued by the US Department of State read, "The United States government is deeply concerned over escalating attacks and legislative actions by the Government of Tanzania that violate civil liberties and human rights, creating an atmosphere of violence, intimidation, and discrimination.""We are troubled by the continued arrests and harassment of marginalized persons, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, and others who seek to exercise their rights to freedom of speech, association, and assembly. The legislation is being used to restrict civil liberties for all," the release noted.The US further stated that the current state of affairs in Tanzania inhibits development in the country. "The deteriorating state of human rights and rule of law in Tanzania inhibits development, economic prosperity, peace, and ...
Bulk of migrant caravan departs Mexico City
Thousands of Central American migrants were back on the move Saturday, as dedicated Mexico City metro trains whisked members of a caravan headed to the US border to the last stop on a line in the northern part of the capital. The first subway train pulled out before 5 am local time, with police, metro workers and human rights officials guiding the bulk of migrants through the city's empty stations. At the Line 2 terminus, they then got out and began making their way to a main highway to resume walking and hitchhiking through Mexico. Jose Enrique Ramirez, 40, snagged seats for himself and his 10-year-old son on the first departing train. "I'm happy," he said, about being on the road once again. He said another son had been killed in Honduras and he was receiving threats when he heard about the caravan. He now joins roughly 4,000 migrants who plan to proceed first to the city of Queretaro a state capital 124 miles (200 kilometers) to the northwest before possibly going to ...
Tej Pratap's divorce plea not matter of public interest, family capable of handling it: Tejashwi
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav Saturday said his elder brother Tej Pratap Yadav's divorce plea was not a matter of public interest and his family was capable of handling the situation. The former Bihar deputy chief minister made the remark when he was quizzed by the media whether Tej Pratap would agree to a compromise with his wife Aishwarya Rai. The divorce petition was filed recently. Tej Pratap, an MLA and a former Bihar health minister, had said Friday he would not return home till his family backed his decision to divorce his wife. He was last seen in Mathura from where he left for Delhi on Friday to celebrate Tejashwi's birthday. Rai is the daughter of RJD MLA Chandrika Rai and grandchild of former Bihar chief minister Daroga Prasad Rai. She married Tej Pratap on May 12. Tejashwi, hit out at the reporters here, saying "The thing which is not in public interest, I will not tell. It is a family matter and the family members are capable of looking into whatever is going on." He was in .
West Bengal's 94% children fully immunised: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said that 94 per cent of the children in the state have been completely immunised.
Kashmiri migrant pandit youths stage protest outside Raj Bhavan
Scores of Kashmiri migrant pandit youths Saturday staged a demonstration outside Raj Bhavan here against the "delay" in releasing the final list of candidates selected under Prime Minister's special employment package some months back. The protesters, carrying banners and placards, assembled outside Raj Bhavan and staged the sit-in, seeking intervention of the Governor Satya Pal Malik in releasing the final list of candidates selected under Prime Minister's special employment package by J&K services selection board (SSB). The protesters shouted slogans like we want justice and save our future. The delay in releasing the list is tantamount to grave injustice with over 1100 candidates who have passed the examination in April and completed all formalities by July," claimed Vijay Koul Budgami, one of the protesters. We have been running from pillar to post for the last two months to know the reason for the delay but failed, forcing us to stage the sit-in outside the governor's house ..
Guj: Man held for sexually assaulting minor in Valsad
A man was held for allegedly sexually assaulting a 6-year-old girl in a public toilet in Valsad in Gujarat, police said Saturday. A police official said the man, identified as Alok Mishra, Friday followed the minor to a toilet in Mograwadi locality here, locked it from inside and sexually assaulted the child. "The child's shouts were heard by passersby who nabbed Mishra and handed him over to the police. Mishra is a native of Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh and works at a tea stall here," the Valsad city police station official said. He said Mishra has been charged for aggravated penetrative assault under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
