Page 42 - Social Issues
Amnesty loses five bosses after report on 'toxic' workplace
Five of the seven members of the senior leadership team of Amnesty International are leaving the leading human rights organisation after an independent review said it had a "toxic" workplace, the British media reported on Tuesday. London-based Amnesty's Secretary-General Kumi Naidoo ordered an independent review after two employees killed themselves last year, according to The Times newspaper and the BBC. Five of the seven members of the senior leadership team at Amnesty's international secretariat are leaving the organisation after a review by Naidoo, a South Africa-born human rights activist of Indian descent. An independent review of the conditions at Amnesty offices found that it had a "toxic work culture" and was in "a state of emergency", the Times reported. An Amnesty International spokeswoman told the BBC: "The former Senior Leadership Team, which comprised of seven directors, has been dissolved and a new transitional team is in place until all of the positions in the new ...
India now third most likely forced marriage destination for UK
India has become the third most likely country where a British national is forced into marriage, the latest UK government data revealed, according to which Pakistan continued to record the largest number of such cases. The Forced Marriage Unit (FMU), a joint UK Home Office and Foreign Office government body, recorded as many as 110 cases of British nationals being subjected to forced marriage linked to the "focus country" of India in 2018. Pakistan continued to record the largest number of forced marriage cases at 769, followed by Bangladesh at 157 and Somalia slipping down to fourth place with 46 cases last year. "Forced marriage is not a problem specific to one country or culture. Since 2011, the FMU has handled cases relating to over 110 countries across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and North America, the FMU said in its 2018 analysis released last week. The figure related to India marks a rise from 82 in 2017 and 79 in 2016 and the breakdown found that almost 30 per cent .
TCS among America's top 50 companies for diversity
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has been recognised among the top 50 companies in the US for diversity and inclusion management by excelling in areas as hiring, retaining and promoting women, minorities and people with disabilities. TCS was selected as one of DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies out of more than 1,800 assessed organisations for its sustained investments and efforts in diversity and inclusion, the company said in a statement. TCS was ranked specifically for senior leadership accountability, talent programmes, workplace practices, philanthropy, and supplier diversity, it said. The Top 50 analysis also addressed the intersectionality of race by analysing the representation of women and men in each race/ethnicity separately, rather than combined. According to DiversityInc, TCS was at 49th place in the list. TCS' progressive and inclusive policies are helping us attract, nurture and retain diverse talent...Equally important is our work to expand access to opportunities for ...
Desperate Rohingya caught on cross-border narcotics runs: police
Growing numbers of outcast Rohingya refugees are risking their lives by crossing the closed Myanmar-Bangladesh border with narcotics pills packed into their stomachs, police said Tuesday. Scores of Rohingya Muslims, including many women, who fled to camps in Bangladesh after a Myanmar military clampdown in 2017, have been detained in recent months after returning to seek drugs and transport them, according to police. Narcotics control official Soman Mondol said an anti-drug squad had arrested 18 Rohingya near the border town of Teknaf on one day this month and 13 had 'yaba' methamphetamine pills in their stomach. Myanmar has become a major producer of yaba -- a Thai word meaning "crazy medicine" -- which has become wildly popular in Bangladesh, as well as other southeast Asian nations. Refugees earn up to 20,000 taka (USD 237) for each narcotics trip, Mondol said, adding "for a Rohingya, it's a lot of money." The drug is carried in the stomach where it is difficult to detect without ..
Maharashtra doctor suicide case: NCW says its "deeply disturbed" by the incident, seeks probe
The National Commission for Women (NCW) Tuesday sought a probe into the alleged suicide of a doctor after she was reportedly harassed by her seniors with casteist remarks at a civic-run hospital in Mumbai and said it is "deeply disturbed" by the incident. Payal Tadvi (26) killed herself on May 22. Her family has alleged that her doctor colleagues had taunted her for belonging to the scheduled tribe (ST). Three of her colleagues have been charged with driving her to suicide. Noting that it is "deeply disturbed" by the incident, the NCW said it has issued a notice to Topiwala Medical College and BYL Nair Hospital in Mumbai. "It is a matter of serious concern. Considering the gravity of the matter, it is requested that the matter be investigated and Commission be apprised, about action taken in the matter at an early date," it said. The Maharashtra State Commission for Women has also taken cognisance of the matter and issued a notice to the hospital authorities demanding a reply within ..
2 forcibly sterilized Japanese women denied damages by court
A Japanese court on Tuesday rejected demands for damages from two women who were forcibly sterilized four decades ago under a now-defunct eugenics law designed to prevent the birth of "inferior" children.
Health Ministry requests MCI to extend last date for PG medical admissions
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has requested Medical Council of India (MCI) to consider extending the last date for PG medical admissions in states from May 18 to May 31 to fill up the remaining vacant seats in the academic session 2019-20.As per the time schedule notified by the MCI, the last date for filling up Post Graduate Medical seats by the states is May 18."The Ministry is in receipt of representations from Institutions / State Governments for extending the last date for filling up of vacant PG medical seats beyond May 18 and upto May 31," read a statement issued by the Health Ministry."The Health Ministry has thus requested the Board of Governors (BoG), MCI to examine the matter and make suitable recommendations," the release added.The BoG is meeting today to consider the matter.
Doctor accused of abetting junior colleague's suicide arrested
A doctor at a state-run hospital in Mumbai, accused of abetting suicide of a junior colleague by tormenting her with castiest slurs, was arrested Tuesday, police said. Agripada police arrested Bhakti Mehere after initial interrogation, a police official said. Mehere was one of the three senior doctors against whom an offence was registered after 26-year-old Payal Tadvi committed suicide on May 22, police said. The two other accused doctors - Ankita Khandelwal and Hema Ahuja - have moved an anticipatory bail application before the session court here, the official said. Meanwhile, Payal's parents protested at the state-run hospital in Mumbai where she worked. Other protesters also joined Tadvis mother Abeda and husband Salman, demanding stringent action against the three seniors who allegedly drove her to end her life by "torturing her by ragging and hurling casteist abuses at her." Protesters belonging to the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi and other Dalit and tribal organisations .
Tribal doctor's suicide: Rallies held in Thane, Palghar
Two separate rallies were held in Thane and Palghar in Maharashtra Tuesday for action against those responsible for allegedly driving a tribal medical student to suicide in a Mumbai hospital by harassing her over her caste. Dr Payal Tadvi, who belongs to a Scheduled Tribe (ST) community, had hanged herself in the hostel of a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)-run medical college on May 22. Her family has alleged that she took the extreme step because of harassment over her caste by three doctors. The rallies were held under the aegis of the Shramajivi Sanghatana. The protesters met district collectors at Thane and Palghar and handed them memorandums seeking stringent action against those responsible for Dr Tadvi's suicide. Police have booked Dr Ankita Khandelwal, Dr Hema Ahuja and Dr Bhakti Mehare under the Atrocities Act, the Anti-Ragging Act and the IT Act and section 306 (abetment to suicide) of the IPC. The FIR filed after the second year PG student ended her ..
Haryana: Gangsters fire at police to free undertrial criminal
A group of three gangsters managed to free an undertrial criminal Sunil alias Kheera from custody after opening fire at escorting police party in Karnal on Tuesday."A police team was escorting notorious criminal Sunil for hearing in a local court. The team was chased by some criminals who started firing at cops and freed Sunil from their custody," an official statement read.Karnal Superintendent of Police and other officers reached the spot soon after receiving information of the shootout. The injured police officials were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical aid.Haryana Police has announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for providing any information leading to the arrest of Sunil and three other assailants."Rs 1 lakh reward to any person sharing information leading to the arrest of these four persons. The name and identity of the person who gives this crucial information will be kept as a secret," police said.Director General of Police (DGP) Manoj Yadava instructed the police .
Japan court rejects payout for sterilised 'eugenics' victims
Men and women who were forcibly sterilised under a now-defunct eugenics law had their bid for compensation rejected on Tuesday by a Japanese court, which said the statute of limitations had passed. The court ruled that the law, which remained in force until 1996, "was unconstitutional", local media said. But it "rejected all claims made by the plaintiffs," a spokeswoman for the Sendai District Court in northern Japan told AFP. Local media said the ruling, which was not immediately available, found the government was not obliged to pay compensation because the 20-year statute of limitations had now passed. Some 16,500 people were sterilised without their consent under the law, which targeted those with disabilities. In April, the government passed legislation offering the victims 3.2 million yen (USD 29,000) each, an amount derided by campaigners as "failing to meet the seriousness" of the issue. The legislation, and an apology from the prime minister, only emerged after plaintiffs ...
Administrative reshuffle in MP after LS elections
As soon as the model code of conduct was lifted after the Lok Sabha elections ended, an administrative reshuffle has begun in Madhya Pradesh. The state government has deployed those officers who were removed by the Election Commission.
HC agrees to hear PIL for population control in India
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a PIL seeking directions to the Centre to implement measures to control the country's rising population on the ground that it was the root cause behind rise in crimes, pollution and dearth of resources and jobs. The petition was mentioned before a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice Brijesh Sethi which allowed it to be listed for hearing on Wednesday. The plea by BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, who is also a lawyer, has sought implementation of the recommendations for population control made by the National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC) headed by Justice Venkatchaliah. "The NCRWC, after making immense efforts for two years and elaborate discussion, had suggested addition of Article 47A in the Constitution and formulation of Population Control Law. "Till now the Constitution has been amended 125 times, hundreds of new laws have been enacted, but population control law, utterly required for ...
Plea filed in Delhi HC seeking implementation of two-child norm
A petition was filed before the Delhi High Court on Tuesday seeking direction to the Centre for considering implementation of the two-child norm in a bid to control population growth.The petitioner, advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, sought direction to the government to ascertain the feasibility of implementing the 24th recommendation of the National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC) regarding population control.Upadhyay contended that the government should set two-child norm as a criterion for government jobs, aids, and subsidies, and should withdraw statutory rights such as the right to vote, right to contest, right to property, right to free shelter, and right to free legal aid if a person fails to comply with the norm.The petitioner said the government should be asked to declare the first Sunday of every month as Health Day instead of Polio Day to spread awareness on population growth. It should provide contraceptive pills, condoms and vaccines to economically .
Two-child norm for subsidies, government jobs urged
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday was moved for implementation of the national commission to review the working of the Constitution (NCRWC) proposal on population control and 'two-child norm' as a criteria for government jobs, aid and subsidies.
Health Ministry asks MCI to extend last date for PG medical admissions
The Union Health Ministry has asked the Medical Council of India (MCI) to extend the last date for PG medical admission in states to May 31 in order to fill up the remaining vacant seats for the academic session 2019-20. According to the time schedule notified by MCI, the last date for filling up of Post Graduate Medical seats by the states is May 18. The Ministry has received representations from various institutions and state governments seeking extension of the the last date for filling up of vacant PG medical seats beyond May 18, an official statement said. "The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has requested MCI to consider extension of the last date for PG medical admission in States from May 18 to May 31, 2019 to fill up the remaining vacant seats in the academic session 2019-20," the statement said. It added,"The Health Ministry has thus requested the Board of Governors (BoG), MCI to examine the matter and make suitable recommendations. The BoG is meeting today to consider
Parents of doc who committed suicide protest outside hospital
Parents of 26-year-old doctor Payal Tadvi who ended her life, allegedly after casteist slurs by her senior colleagues, Tuesday protested at the state-run hospital in Mumbai where she worked. Other protesters also joined Tadvis mother Abida and husband Salman who demanded "strictest action" against the three seniors who allegedly drove her to end her life by "torturing her by ragging and hurling casteist abuses at her. Protesters belonging to the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi and other Dalit and tribal organisations are holding protests outside the BYL Nair Hospital here over Tadvi's death. "We want the government to intervene. The police are not taking any action. It is possible that Payal was murdered by the three women doctors," Salman said. Expressing solidarity with the protesters and with Tadvis family, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad said he would visit Maharashtra if needed to "fight for justice for our younger sister. The Maharashtra State Commission for Women has ...
Giriraj Singh backs Ramdev on population control statement
Union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Giriraj Singh on Tuesday backed Yoga guru Baba Ramdev over his population control statement saying, "these laws are necessary for the development of the country."Speaking to ANI here, Singh said, "Baba Ramdev's statement on population control should be seen in a positive light. Population control laws are necessary for the development of the country. You look at China, they had implemented one-child policy in the past and today you can see how much developed they are. Experts have also said that in the near future there will be a crisis of food and water. Laws should be made in this regard in India".On Sunday, the yoga guru, who also runs a chain of consumer goods store- Patanjali, had stated that "the third child should not be allowed to contest polls or enjoy government privileges.""India's population should not be more than 150 crores in the next 50 years as we are not prepared or ready to bear more than that. This is only ...
Reservation rules amendment to benefit migrant Kashmiri Pandits
In a major relief to thousands of migrant Kashmiri Pandits, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday announced an amendment in the rules governing the issuance of reservation certificates to various categories of the state's residents.
Brazil: Violent clashes in prisons leave 55 inmates dead
At least 55 people were found dead after violent clashes broke out among rival drug factions in several prisons in northern Brazilian state of Amazonas, correction officials said on Monday.The clashes began on Sunday during visiting hours at the Anisio Jobin prison in Manaus city. Of the 15 inmates who died, some were reported to have been asphyxiated, while others were stabbed with sharpened toothbrushes, reports The New York Times.The outbreak of violence at the Anisio prison expanded on Monday to at least three other prisons in the state, leading to 40 more deaths.Colonel Marcos Vinicius Almeida, head of jails in Amazonas, told reporters here that the violence was sparked by "infighting among inmates." No prison guard has been harmed or taken hostage.Following the clashes, Brazil's Justice Ministry has dispatched a task force to the state to assist the local officials in controlling the situation.Speaking on the same, state governor Wilson Lima said in a statement that he hoped ...
