Page 2 - Social Issues
Geospatial should be recognised as a sector: Surveyor general
Survey of India, the country's principal mapping agency, has asked the Ministry of Skill Development to recognise geospatial as a sector or a sub-sector. Speaking at an ASSOCHAM event, Surveyor General of India Lt Gen. Girish Kumar said geospatial is not recognised as a sector like power, mining and telecom. Geospatial is the mother of all these sectors because without geospatial information, not even a single sector can come up but it has been ignored, he said. "Now we have taken up the case with the Ministry of Skill Development and we are trying to push forward so that geospatial is recognised as a sector. We are trying to make a case whereby geospatial is recognised either as a sector or a sub-sector," he added. The Survey of India, he said, is also trying to recognise the job roles. He further said that the Survey of India is also working on a surveyor licence bill.
'Disability pension taxable if personnel retired under normal circumstances'
Disability pension will be taxable to military personnel who superannuated under normal circumstances, defence sources said Tuesday. The pension will be non-taxable only to those personnel who have retired due to any kind of disability, they added. Citing a Finance Ministry circular, dated June 24, sources said, "Tax exemption will be available to armed forces personnel who have been invalided from the service on the account of bodily disability attributable to or aggravated by such service and not to personnel who have been retired or superannuated or otherwise." Armed forces personnel who suffer any kind of disability due to their service receive separate disability pension. The amount depends on their rank and the kind of disability.
Migrant workers stranded in Dubai return to India
Nine of the ten migrant labourers from Odisha held captive by their employees in Dubai returned to India on Tuesday, while the last worker will reach tomorrow, Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi said.In a tweet addressed to Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the Embassy informed that the air tickets for the workers were arranged by the Consulate General and Odisha community members."Sir @dpradhanbjp, we are happy to update that, after Consulate's intervention, 9 of the 10 Odisha workers have returned to India today while 1 will be travelling tomorrow. Air tickets for 8 workers were arranged by the Consulate and 2 air tickets were provided by Odisha community members," the tweet read.[{76732756-cec5-4e80-bc86-9989bccd86a5:intradmin/tweet_1_CUJxBbK.JPG}]Earlier this month, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister had written to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar requesting his personal intervention in the release and repatriation of 10 people from Odisha held captive by ..
Greenland seeks to break silence around child sexual abuse
In Greenland, the scourge of child sexual abuse has emerged as a pressing concern with nearly one in three having suffered abuse in their childhood, and efforts to combat it hampered by a persistent conspiracy of silence. The sparsely populated autonomous Danish territory is confronted with major social problems, including high levels of suicide and alcoholism. The government highlights alcohol and hash abuse as the number one health concern. But the recent airing of a documentary on sexual abuse on Danish public television has put the spotlight on the issue, renewing the Arctic island's commitment to tackling abuse of children. "I was about six years old... I was woken up in the middle of the night because someone was touching me. My hands were tied, my knees were tied and he abused me," said Anna-Sofie Jonathansen in the documentary. She is a resident of Tasiilaq, a remote village in the south-east where the documentary said nearly half of adults under 60 years of age have been ...
Watching pornography in office increases unethical behaviour. Study
Viewing pornography at work is linked with a number of negative organizational outcomes -- like fraud and collusion of employees, according to a new study.The study was published in the journal, ' Journal of Business Ethics.'Melissa Lewis-Western, co-author of the study said, "Pornography is often framed as an issue affecting only individuals and relationships outside of a business context.""But businesses are made up of people, and people make decisions, and businesses function off the decisions people make. If you have a societal phenomenon that a lot of people are participating in and it negatively impacts individuals' decisions, that has the potential to impact organizational-level outcomes," she said.Researchers conducted the study with 200 participants and a nationally-representative survey of 1,000 other individuals. In the experiment, one group was tasked with recalling their last experience of watching pornography. The researchers chose not to expose participants directly to .
Delhi Metro: CISF official saves woman as she attempted to commit suicide
A 21-year-old woman was stopped by a CISF official when she was attempting to commit suicide at a Delhi Metro station here on Tuesday, a senior official said. He said the incident took place around 7:30 PM at the Inderlok station when CISF Assistant sub-inspector Umesh Panday noticed a woman climbing to the foot-over bridge linked to the station in order to leap towards the road below. The official hastily pulled her back and brought her to the station control room where her husband also reached after sometime, they said. The couple hail from Moradabad district of Uttar Pradesh and they had some dispute due to which the woman decided to take the extreme step, the official said. "Suicides are quite frequently reported in the Delhi Metro and hence CISF personnel have been asked to remain extra vigilant towards these instances. The prompt action of the official saved a valuable life today," he said.
NCW seeks report from Delhi Police over journalist being shot at in east Delhi
The National Commission for Women has sought a detailed action taken report from the Delhi Police in a case involving an attack on a woman journalist in east Delhi. Mitali Chandola, 38, had received bullet injury in her arm when she was shot at allegedly by two masked men in east Delhi's New Ashok Nagar area in a suspected case of family dispute. The incident took place in the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday when Chandola was going somewhere in her car around 12.30 am. Another car suddenly overtook her's and the two masked men allegedly opened fire targeting her, police said. The National Commission for Women chairperson Rekha Sharma said the panel is deeply concerned and shocked over the incident and is disturbed about security of women. "Considering the gravity of the matter, I request you to kindly take action in the matter and send a detailed action taken report to the Commission at an early date by e-mail/fax," she said in the notice. The NCW also issued a notice to the .
India yet to hear officially from Antigua on revocation of Choksi's citizenship
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is yet to hear officially from the Antiguan government on the revocation of Mehul Choksi's citizenship, and will make a move only after the island nation initiates internal process on the matter, government sources said on Tuesday."India waits for Antigua's internal process of revoking citizenship. Only after that extradition process can start separately. India continues to engage with Antigua. The MEA is yet to hear officially from the Antiguan government about revoking of the citizenship," they said.The response after Antiguan Prime Minister Gaston Browne said that the citizenship of the fugitive diamond merchant will be rescinded and he will be extradited to India once his legal options are exhausted."His citizenship was processed and he got through. But the reality is his citizenship will be revoked and he will be repatriated to India. So there is recourse. It is not a case that we are trying to provide any safe harbour for criminals, for ...
Authorities fail to deport 219 Myanmar refugees
Mizoram government and the Assam Rifles authorities Tuesday failed to deport 219 Myanmar refugees from Lawngtlai district to the neigbouring country, Home department officials said. The officials said the refugees staying in Hmawngbuchhuah village were proposed to be deported on Tuesday but reports from the Ministry of External Affairs said that Myanmar authorities failed to send people to persuade the refugees to return to their country. Earlier an attempt was made to deport the refugees in the presence of Lawngtlai district administration, police, Assam Rifles and an NGO failed on June 15 due to 'inclement weather' and 'humanitarian' reasons, the officials said. Over 1,700 refugees from Paletwa and surrounding villages in Myanmar fled the country during the later part of November in 2017 and entered Mizoram and took shelter in four villages in Lawngtlai district along the Myanmar border areas due to armed conflict between the Myanmar Army and the Arakan Army (AA) ...
Farmer who committed suicide wasn't under debt: Sachin Pilot
The farmer who committed suicide recently in Sri Ganganagar district "wasn't actually under debt", Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot said on Tuesday."From whatever information I have received so far, the person was not actually under debt. However, the incident is regrettable. The state government is fully committed in securing a better future for the farmers in the state," Pilot said."We have given some commitments in our manifesto and the government is absolutely confident and will ensure that the farming community will have a better future in the state. We are putting a lot of efforts to elevate their condition. The government is announcing financial help to the farmers and we have made it clear that all loans that the farmers have taken will be waived off," he added.Sohan Lal committed suicide on Sunday leaving behind a note apparently written by him in which he accused Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Pilot of not fulfilling the pre-poll promise of waiving bank ...
Two held for flesh trade; four women rescued
Two persons, including a farm house owner, have been arrested from Maharashtra's Palghar district for allegedly running a flesh trade, police said Tuesday. Four women and girls were rescued from the farm house at Kalamb in Virar when police raided it Monday, an official said. He said the accused have been identified as Vinod Prasad Mohan Jaiswal (33) and Dilip Kini (63), the owner of the farm house. They have been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the official said, adding that police are investigating whether Jaiswal is part of a racket involved in human trafficking.
HC reserves order on death-row convicts' plea in Pune BPO gang rape and murder case
The Bombay High Court Tuesday reserved its judgment on petitions filed by two convicts in the 2007 Pune BPO gang rape and murder case seeking stay on the execution of their death warrant. Convicts Purushottam Borate and Pradeep Kokade were to be executed on June 24. The HC last week, however, said the execution shall not take place as scheduled until further orders. In their petitions filed last month, the duo sought a stay on the ground that there has been an inordinate delay in deciding their mercy petitions by the Maharashtra Governor and the President, as well as in issuance of the warrants for execution of the death penalty. They also sought for the death penalty to be commuted to life imprisonment. A division bench headed by Justice B P Dharmadhikari Tuesday reserved judgment after hearing counsels of both the petitioners and the state and union governments. The state government, seeking dismissal of the petitions, said while considering the rights of the convicts, the rights of
Amnesty raises fresh fears of executions in Sri Lanka
Amnesty International raised on Tuesday fresh concerns that Sri Lanka may soon end a 42-year moratorium on capital punishment and hang 13 men convicted of drug offences. The London-based rights group said it was "alarmed" over media reports of preparations to resume hangings although the country still does not have a qualified hangman. "Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena must immediately halt his plans to resume executions for at least 13 prisoners convicted of drug-related crimes," Amnesty said in a statement. Sirisena in February announced he would carry out the first executions in 42 years within less than two months, but he is yet to sign any death warrant, officials said. He said this was in response to spiralling narcotics-related crime inspired by President Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines. The president has also appealed to human rights organisations not to pressure him on his decision. Criminals in Sri Lanka are regularly handed death sentences for murder, rape and
Gay Myanmar man posts Facebook bullying note before taking life
A gay Myanmar man posted a note on Facebook including screenshots of alleged homophobic bullying before taking his life, prompting activists to call Tuesday for more protection for the emerging LGBTQ community. Same-sex relations are still officially illegal under Myanmar's colonial-era laws, but although LGBTQ people enjoy more freedoms in the country than ever before, rights groups say homophobia and discrimination are entrenched in the socially conservative country. Kyaw Zin Win took his life after posting a final Facebook message to his family and friends, alongside a plea "not to be reborn" in a country "where superiors oppress those under them". The 26-year-old librarian at Myanmar Imperial University (MIU), his profile picture black with an insignia of death, detailed how he had been bullied by colleagues. He alleged his bosses forced him to come out at work and attached screenshots of group message chats appearing to show colleagues mocking him. By Tuesday, the posts on ...
Some colleges with minority tag offering seats for cash: Munde
An allegation of some junior colleges having religious and linguistic minority statuses 'selling' the vacant seats for money was raised Tuesday in the Maharashtra Legislative Council. Responding to a calling attention raised by the Leader of Opposition Dhananjay Munde, state Education Minister Ashish Shelar said flying squads would be deployed to ensure strict compliance with norms for admission in junior colleges. Munde has alleged that some junior colleges having religious and linguistic minority statuses generally cannot fill the sizable number of seats from their respective communities. "However, instead of surrendering these non-filled seats to the state government for its online procedure, these colleges offer admissions by accepting cash against the unfilled seats, which is an illegal practice," Munde alleged. The NCP leader also named three such junior colleges having the minority status and alleged that they have been accepting money against the vacant seats. To
Maharashtra: Govt increases monthly remuneration for freedom fighters
Maharashtra government increased the monthly remuneration for all the freedom fighters here on Tuesday.Quoting the Chief Minister of state Devendra Fadnavis, CMO Maharashtra tweeted: "State Govt has increased monthly remuneration for all freedom fighters, be it for India's freedom struggle, Goa Mukti Sangram or Marathwada Mukti Sangram. We salute and remember all the heroes for gifting us this day."In another tweet, Maharashtra CMO, while quoting Fadnavis, also announced pension for Misabandis."We are also giving pension to Misabandis. We feel that it is not only financial assistance but a matter of respect for their role in preserving values of Indian Democracy. We will ask all Collectors to expedite all pending cases," the tweet read.
Weavers protest at Jantar Mantar against Telangana govt
Weavers from Telangana Tuesday alleged that the state government had turned a blind eye towards their welfare and claimed that around 350 weavers have committed suicide so far. The weavers under the banner of 'Weavers United JAC' held a protest at Jantar Mantar here. "Weavers in the state do not have insurance and health card. If a weaver dies, the entire family will come down to the street and their children will become helpless", said Dasu Suresh, Chairman of Weavers United JAC. He said the government had announced Rs 273 crore budget for two years for the development of Telangana's weavers but not even a quarter of the amount has been spent by them so far. "Telangana government is not taking care of the weavers. Around 350 weavers suicides have taken place," he said. The organisation also demanded exemption from GST on yarn, colour dyes and related chemicals. The Weavers United JAC has written petitions to central government where they have put forward their demand which include ...
Under debt, Rajasthan farmer ends his life
A 45-year-old debt-ridden farmer allegedly committed suicide by consuming celphos in Raisinghnagar of Rajasthan's Sriganganagar district, police said Tuesday. The farmer, identified as Sohan Lal, had taken a crop loan of Rs 2.5 lakh. He took celphos, a pesticide, on Sunday. The body was handed over to family members after a post-mortem on Monday, Raisinghnagar police station incharge Kishan Singh said. He said Sohan Lal's neighbour gave them a suicide note that he claimed to have found at the farmer's residence. In the suicide note, Lal has held the state government responsible for not waiving loans of farmers as promised in their election manifesto. Singh said the claims in the suicide note were being verified and the handwriting would be matched with that of the farmer to establish its authenticity.
Manipur: Isolated village gets first police station
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday inaugurated the first police station of Behiang village located near the India-Myanmar border in Churachandpur District here.Speaking at the inauguration function attended by a large number of people, the Chief Minister said that the police station has been set up understanding the need for security of the people residing at far-flung and interior areas like Behiang.He also asked the personnel and officers of the newly inaugurated police station to keep a check on the entry of illegal migrants and drug trafficking activities. He further directed them to attend to grievances of the villagers by holding Meeyamgi Numit every month.This was Singh's second visit to the village. He had laid the foundation for the construction of the police station during his maiden visit in December 2017.
'Wanted better life for her': Gurupreet's mother who died near US-Mexico border
The parents of a 6-year-old Indian girl who died of heat stroke near a remote and deserted US-Mexico border said they sought asylum in the US because they desperately "wanted a safer and better life for her", according to a media report. Gurupreet Kaur, who was a month shy of turning 7, was found dead by the US Border Patrol officials 27 kilometres west of Lukeville, Arizona, after her mother left her with other Indian migrants she was travelling with to go in search of water. "We wanted a safer and better life for our daughter and we made the extremely difficult decision to seek asylum here in the United States," CNN quoted a joint statement by the girl's mother and her father released through the US Sikh Coalition. "We trust that every parent, regardless of origin, colour or creed, will understand that no mother or father ever puts their child in harm's way unless they are desperate," it said The girl's father, identified as A Singh, has been living in the US since 2013, and has an .
