Page 384 - Social Issues
UNHRC Special Rapporteur's report links inflammatory remarks by BJP leaders to rise in vigilantism in India
New Delhi [India], Sept 12 (ANI): E. Tendayi Achiume, the Special Rapporteur appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council, in her report on 'Contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia', has said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India has been linked to incidents of violence against members of the Scheduled Castes (SC), Muslim, tribals and Christian communities. She has mentioned that reports have documented the use of inflammatory remarks by BJP leaders against minority groups, and the rise of vigilantism targeting Muslims and SCs.Her report also mentioned a letter sent in May 2018 by the Special Rapporteur to the Government of India concerning the updating of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in which attention was drawn towards heightened concerns of the Bengali Muslim minority.The Special Rapporteur mentioned several examples in her report that were drawn from different sources, including submissions received by her in response to the call
U.S. incomes rise as poverty rate declines in 2017
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The median U.S. household income rose for a third straight year in 2017 and the poverty rate declined further, government data showed on Wednesday.
Where were they in the past 5 years? Pilot on Shah's Jaipur visit, Raje's 'gaurav yatra'
Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot hit out at Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Wednesday, saying her government had failed to fulfil the promises made to the public. He said in the election year, Raje was taking out a "gaurav" yatra and BJP chief Amit Shah was visiting the state. But where were they for nearly five years? Pilot wondered. Addressing a 'sankalp' rally in Parbatsar town of Nagaur district, Pilot alleged that people were suffering and farmers' funeral processions were being taken out, but the chief minister was busy with her yatra. "They should go and meet the families of the farmers who have committed suicide in the state then they will get to know the ground reality." He suggested that the chief minster should abort the yatra and redress people's grievances. "She never gave a priority to the public and never met them. People are anguished with the anti-people policies of the BJP government." "BJP came to power by promising that inflation will be controlled, but the .
U.S. incomes rises as poverty rate declines in 2017
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The median U.S. household income rose for a third straight year in 2017 and the poverty rate declined further, government data showed on Wednesday.
Irish man commits suicide in HP
A 54-year-old Irish man allegedly committed suicide by jumping off the third floor of a hotel here on Wednesday, police said. The incident took place in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. The deceased was identified as Brandon Liam, said Shalini Agnihotri, the Kullu Superintendent of Police. The reason behind the suicide is not yet clear, she said, adding that the Embassy of Ireland has been informed about the incident.
Italy prevented 'many' migrant deaths
Rome, Sep 12 (IANS/AKI) Italy averted "many" deaths when its Diciotti coastguard vessel rescued 190 migrants from an overcrowded boat off Lampedusa in mid-August, Premier Giuseppe Conte told lawmakers on Wednesday.
Capacity Development Scheme to continue till 2020
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved continuation of the Capacity Development Scheme till 2019-20 with an outlay of Rs 2,250 crore.
J&K govt employees to get additional 2% DA
The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Wednesday announced an additional two per cent dearness allowance (DA) for its state government employees and pensioners. The state administrative council (SAC), which met here under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik, sanctioned the release of an additional installment of 2 per cent DA, with effect from July 1 this year over the existing rate of 7 per cent of the basic pay/pension, an official spokesperson said. The impact on the exchequer would be Rs 118 crore for the current financial year and approximately Rs 177 crore annually, the official said. The enhancement would benefit around 4.50 lakh state government employees and 1.60 lakh pensioners, the official added.
'Civilised' to recognise prostitution as a profession: Italy
Rome, Sep 12 (IANS/AKI) Recognising prostitution as a legal profession will be "an act of civility", Italy's far-right Interior Minister and Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini said on Wednesday.
Centre approves Rs 2.2K cr scheme to build capacity to bring out important sets of data
The Centre today approved continuation of the Capacity Development Scheme until 2019-20 to help build capacity to bring important sets of macro economic and other data by the Statistics and Programme Implementation Ministry (MoSPI). The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by rime Minister Narendra Modi has approved continuation of the Capacity Development Scheme for the period 2017-18 to 2019-20 with an outlay of Rs 2,250 crore, an official statement said. The Capacity Development Scheme is an Ongoing Central Sector Scheme of MoSPI. The overall objective of the scheme is to augment infrastructural, technical as well as manpower resources for making available credible and timely Official Statistics for policy makers and public at large. The major ongoing activities under the Capacity Development Scheme, include augmenting resources for bringing out important statistical products, such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Consumer Price Index (CPI), Index of Industrial Production
European Parliament votes for disciplinary actions against Hungary
The European Parliament on Wednesday voted in favour of kick-starting disciplinary action against Hungary that could see some of the central European nation's voting rights restricted for failing to abide by the EU core values.
TN bans e-cigarettes, prohibits online sale too
Clamping down on use of e-cigarettes, the Tamil Nadu government has issued a government order banning its manufacture, sale and possession with immediate effect in the state. "The government...prohibits the manufacture, sale (including online sale), of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), knows as E-Cigarettes or by any other name or component with immediate effect in Tamil Nadu," the order said. Listing the ill-effects of using e-cigarettes, the GO said it is a myth that it is less harmful than beedis and cigarettes. The government order (GO) comes after Health Minister C Vijayabaskar's announcement on June 14 this year in the state Assembly that e-cigarettes would be banned. The ban covers distribution, trade, display, marketing, advertisement, use, import and possession of e-cigarettes as well, the GO dated September 3 said. The Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine has been instructed to strictly implement the order, the order said. Listing the ..
HC seeks response from Centre on plea seeking official recognition of Indian Sign Language
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the Centre's response to a plea seeking official recognition for 'Indian Sign Language' at par with 22 other languages under the Constitution. A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao issued notices to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Social Justice and Empowerment as well as the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre, and asked for their stand on the plea. The plea has also asked for guidelines on introducing sign language into Schedule VIII of the Constitution. "Pass a writ, order or direction in the nature of Mandamus requiring respondents to recognise sign language as a deemed official language and thereafter to accord the same rights of protection, preservation and representation as are conferred on other official languages found in schedule VIII of the Indian constitution," the plea said. The next hearing of the case is on December 10. The petitioner Nipun Malhotra, who is also a locomotor disabled person, ...
Centre approves continuation of Capacity Development scheme
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the continuation of the Capacity Development Scheme for the period 2017-18 to 2019-20 with an outlay of Rs 2,250 crore.The Capacity Development Scheme is an Ongoing Central Sector Scheme of Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). The overall objective of the scheme is to augment infrastructural, technical as well as manpower resources for making available credible and timely Official Statistics for policymakers and public at large.The major ongoing activities under the Capacity Development Scheme, include augmenting resources for bringing out important statistical products, such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Consumer Price Index (CPI), Index of Industrial Production (IIP), Statistical classifications, etc.; conducting various Socio-Economic surveys, capacity building and strengthening statistical coordination, and improving IT infrastructure.Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), a ..
Govt starts amending rules to allow mothers to drop ex-husband's name in child's pan card: Maneka
The Finance Ministry has started the process of amending rules for issue of PAN card so that single women can obtain it for their children without mentioning the name of their ex-husbands, Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi said Wednesday. In July, Gandhi had written to then interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal suggesting that kids of separated or divorced women or those adopted by single mothers must be given the option of dropping the name of their father. "I am happy to know that the Finance Ministry has started the process of amending PAN Card Regulation so that single women can obtain PAN Card for their children without mentioning name of ex husband," she said in a tweet. Permanent Account Number (PAN) is a unique 10-digit alphanumeric identity that the Income Tax department allots to each tax payer. Currently, it is compulsory for an applicant to mention the name of his/her father while applying for the card, which also serves as an identity proof. In her July 6
Group mediclaim policy extended to accredited journalists of J-K
The Jammu and Kashmir administration Wednesday announced the extension of group mediclaim health insurance scheme to accredited journalists of the state. Under the scheme, an accredited journalist along with five members of his or her family will be covered under a health insurance cover of Rs 6 lakh per annum at the yearly premium as admissible to the state government employees, an official spokesman said. The family will include newborn babies and aged parents within the age group of zero to 100 years. In a significant decision, the Governor's administration extended the Group Mediclaim Health Insurance Scheme to accredited journalists in the state, an official spokesman said. He said the journalists, who opt for the insurance cover, can avail cashless out-patient and in-patient health facilities at around 4,700 recognised hospitals within and outside the state. The government has designated the state's information department as the nodal agency for the implementation of the scheme .
Social media gave me more love than hate: student activist Gurmehar Kaur
After having been at the receiving end of online abuse, and her posts being reduced to memes, student activist Gurmehar Kaur on Wednesday said the "hate" would never match to the level of "love" and support she received from people through social media. Last year, Kaur was trolled online for her stand against campus violence and for appearing in an earlier recorded video in which she was seen holding a placard that read, "Pakistan did not kill my father but war did". "Everyone wants to know about the gossipy bit 'How did you feel', 'Were you scared when that happened'. But nobody asked me how many friends I made, how many women stood up, how many messages of solidarity I got. "Hate comes in a very orchestrated way, it is a 9 to 5 thing with the hate. But the love I got is impossible (to explain). I don't think I would have survived if it wasn't for the love of the people that I received throughout," said Kaur, while speaking here at the 6th edition of the annual SHEROES Summit - ...
India's August retail inflation eases to 3.69 percent
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's annual retail inflation eased to 3.69 percent in August from 4.17 percent in July, the statistics ministry said on Wednesday, helped by smaller increases in food prices.
India accounted for 37 pc of global suicide deaths among women, 24 pc among men in 2016
India accounted for 37 per cent of global suicide deaths among women and 24 per cent among men in 2016, according to a study published Wednesday. The Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2016 published in the Lancet Public Health journal said 63 per cent of all suicide deaths reported in India were in the 15-39 age group. Suicide ranked first in India as the cause of death compared to its third rank globally in this age group, it said. There was an increase of 40 per cent in the number of suicide deaths between 1990 and 2016, with an estimated 2,30,314 deaths in 2016 indicating that "disproportionately high suicide deaths in India are a public health crisis", according to the lead author of the study, Professor Rakhi Dandona from Public Health Foundation of India. "Having said that, the suicide death rate (SDR) has reduced by 15 per cent from 1990 to 2016," she said. The study found wide variations in suicide death rate across states in India. Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, ...
IIT-Guwahati student found hanging in hostel room
A first-year student of IIT-Guwahati has allegedly committed suicide by hanging from the ceiling fan of her hostel room, a police officer said. Nagashree SC, an 18-year-old student from Karnataka, left behind a suicide note, he said. After a preliminary enquiry by a magistrate, the body was sent for postmortem, the officer added. A spokesman of IIT-Guwahati told PTI that the first-year B.Tech (Mechanical) student was found hanging by other inmates of the hostel Wednesday morning. Her parents have been informed about the incident and they were on their way to Guwahati, he said.
