Yavatmal Murder Case | Dalit woman elected Sarpanch on a general seat, then murdered her husband out of enmity: Bombay High Court upholds life imprisonment for 10 convicts!
The division bench stated in its 179-page judgment that a comprehensive consideration of the oral evidence, medical and forensic evidence, and other proven facts establishes beyond reasonable doubt that the accused assembled unlawfully and, with a common objective, committed the murder of Mahesh Gawande out of political enmity. Yavatmal – The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has delivered a major verdict in the highly publicized 2018 Sarpanch-husband murder case in Parwa village, Yavatmal district. The division bench of Justice Urmila Joshi-Phalke and Justice Nivedita Mehta dismissed the appeals of the ten convicts, upholding the life imprisonment sentences awarded by the Special (Prevention of Atrocities) Court in Yavatmal. The verdict was delivered on August 4. The murder of a woman’s husband in broad daylight by multiple assailants in a village political battle, and the subsequent eight-year legal battle, has reached a crucial juncture with this High Court decision. What is the whole matter? Nalini Gawande, a resident of Parwa village in Yavatmal district, was elected as a Gram Panchayat member in April 2015. In January 2016, after a no-confidence motion was passed against the then Sarpanch, Rama Chimurkar. The post of Sarpanch was reserved for the general category, and Nalini, who belonged to the Dalit Buddhist community, became Sarpanch, a move opposed by a faction in the village. Munna Thakur, a prominent among the accused, openly objected to this election, and since then, a continuous conflict has erupted between the two factions. In December 2017, the accused abused Nalini’s husband, Mahesh Gawande, on the basis of caste, while in January 2018, a dispute erupted again over the distribution of hand pumps in the village. On January 27, 2018, accused Munna Thakur directly threatened over the phone that “her husband would be killed.” The very next day, on January 28, the accused attacked Nalini’s home, vandalized household items, and also assaulted Prafull Shabarkar. Fed up with this constant harassment, Nalini Gawande and her family moved to Yavatmal city. Murder in broad daylight On March 27, 2018, at around 1 p.m., Nalini returned to Parwa village with her husband Mahesh, son Mayur, and nephew Samyak to carry out repairs. At around 1 p.m., Mahesh Gawande left the house to have a snack with Sheikh Imran and Sheikh Israel, the repairmen. Mahesh was talking to Prashant Shabarkar, Nitin Lokhande, Raju Kawale, and Prakash Bhagat, who were playing cards near the Anganwadi, when the accused, armed with deadly weapons, formed an unlawful assembly and attacked Mahesh Gawande. Hearing the noise, son Mayur and nephew Samyak rushed to inform Nalini of the incident. Nalini then rushed to the scene and witnessed the accused attacking her husband with weapons. She screamed for help, which drew a crowd, and the accused fled the scene. Police arrived at the scene, and Mahesh was rushed to the Yavatmal District Hospital, where he had already died by the time they arrived. Nalini filed a police complaint that evening. According to the post-mortem report, a total of seventeen wounds were found on Mahesh Gawande’s body, including stab wounds near the left eye, on the cheek, on the jaw, on the forehead, on the chest, and on the abdomen, and a slit wound was also found. Medical officials concluded that these wounds were caused by sharp and sharp weapons, such as a knife, chopper, sword, and sickle, and determined the cause of death to be multiple stabbings and slashing of the throat. What the Investigation Revealed During the investigation, police recovered swords, sickles, and other weapons from the accused. The chain of custody of these weapons was established by the police through various panchnamas. Samples of soil collected from the crime scene and the nails of the body matched, which was confirmed by forensic examination and strengthened the eyewitness testimony. A total of eighteen witnesses were examined during the investigation, including Nalini Gawande, her son Mayur, and key eyewitnesses Sharda Narayane and Prashant Shabkar. Following the completion of the investigation, the police filed a charge sheet, and the trial was held in the Special (Prevention of Atrocities) Court of Additional Sessions Judge-2 in Yavatmal under Special Case No. 18/2018. On January 20, 2020, the Sessions Court convicted the accused under sections 302 (murder), 149 (unlawful assembly, offence committed with common intention), 120-B (conspiracy), 143, 147, 148, and 201 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced them to life imprisonment. The accused appealed to the High Court. Ten convicts—Sunil Deotale, Hanuman Pendor, Shubham Tekam, Raj Thakur, Munna Thakur, Vinod Chapriya, Sumit alias Pandya alias Sumedh Meshram, Praveen Bhagat, Bhimrao Awathare, and Swapnil Kumbhekar—filed five separate criminal appeals against the Sessions Court’s decision. Defense lawyers argued that there were inconsistencies in the eyewitnesses’ statements, that their testimony was unreliable because they were relatives of the complainant, and that the guilt of the accused had not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. However, the High Court rejected these arguments. The court noted that eyewitness Nalini Gawande, a woman from a rural background, could not be expected to provide an accurate and photographic account of an incident that unfolded over a few minutes when multiple attackers were attacking with deadly weapons. Citing the Supreme Court’s decision in State of Punjab vs. Hakam Singh, the division bench clarified that minor inconsistencies are not appropriate when evaluating the testimony of rural witnesses. The bench also elaborated on the thirteen principles of evidence evaluation laid down in the Supreme Court’s decision in Balu Sudam Khalde v. State of Maharashtra (2023). The court stated that the testimonies of Nalini Gawande, Mayur Gawande, Sharda Narayane, and Prashant Shabkar were corroborative, consistent, and reliable, and that minor discrepancies, despite their existence, did not affect the fundamental facts of the case. The judgment noted that the post of Sarpanch was held by the general category, and Nalini belonged to the Scheduled Castes. The accused party opposed her election as Sarpanch. This background was seen as the origin of the political rivalry that arose in the case. The court’s observations on unlawful
Huge rally in Nanded against Scheduled Caste sub-classification
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: A massive rally opposing the alleged move to sub-classify the Scheduled Caste (SC) category was held in Nanded on Sunday, with Dalit activists accusing state govt of trying to divide the community and warning of intensified protests if the proposal goes ahead. The rally, attended by several Dalit and social leaders, culminated in a public meeting where speakers expressed strong opposition to reservation sub-categorisation and called for unity among SC communities. Republican Sena functionary Anandraj Ambedkar alleged that govt was creating social divisions under the pretext of implementing a Supreme Court ruling. “We are not fighting against any elements of the society, but govt. To achieve the success, we have to remain united,” Ambedkar said. He further accused chief minister Devendra Fadnavis of misleading people on the issue of reservation sub-categorisation. Former minister Chandrakant Handore said the move would create divisions within the Dalit community and warned of stronger resistance if govt failed to reconsider its stand. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Silenced by caste, forged by resistance: Meet Urmila Pawar, the voice that forced India to confront its deepest shames
There is a kind of writing that does not simply tell a story. It breaks something open. It reaches into the parts of society that have been deliberately kept in shadow and holds a lamp up to them steadily, fearlessly, and without flinching. Urmila Pawar has been doing exactly that for over four decades. At the AutHer Awards 2026, the seventh edition of the prestigious joint initiative by JK Paper and The Times of India, Urmila Pawar received the Lifetime Achievement Award, a recognition that feels less like a culmination and more like a long-overdue acknowledgment of a voice that has always been essential, even when the world was not yet ready to hear it. She is 80 years old. And she has not stopped writing, fighting, or speaking. A childhood woven from poverty, caste, and quiet resistance Urmila Pawar was born in 1945 in Adgaon village of Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra, into the Mahar community, one of the communities that faced the most severe caste discrimination in Indian society. Her father’s insistence on educating his children led to Pawar eventually leaving the Konkan region for Mumbai to study. In a community where education for girls was not a given, this decision was quietly radical. She went on to earn a master’s degree in Marathi literature from the University of Mumbai, a woman from a Dalit family, in a system that had been designed to keep her out. When she was 12 years old, her family converted to Buddhism, inspired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. That conversion was not just religious. It was political. It was a declaration that they would no longer accept the identity that caste had forced upon them. And for Urmila Pawar, Buddhist philosophy would go on to shape every word she ever wrote. In 2003, Urmila Pawar published Aaydan in Marathi. The word “bamboo basketry” means things woven from bamboo, a direct reference to the work her mother did to survive. The English translation, titled The Weave of My Life: A Dalit Woman’s Memoirs, was published in 2009, translated by Maya Pandit. The autobiography covers many themes, including injustice, exploitation, hunger, poverty, and humiliation. But what makes it extraordinary is not the suffering it documents. It is the dignity and the clarity with which it is told. This memoir is not just a story but an account of a woman who believed that she had the power to create changes. The Weave of My Life questions the established norms and beliefs related to caste, class, and patriarchy. It explicitly challenges the deliberate neglect of histories related to caste oppression, struggles, and resistance. In this frank and intimate memoir, Pawar not only shares her tireless effort to surmount hideous personal tragedy but also conveys the excitement of an awakening consciousness during a time of profound political and social change. The book created a sensation. It was read, discussed, debated, and taught in universities. It was recognised as one of the most significant works of Dalit literature ever written by a woman. A life lived at the intersection of writing and activism Urmila Pawar’s contribution goes far beyond a single autobiography. She is the author of two acclaimed short story collections, Sahava Bot and Chauthi Bhint, and, with Meenakshi Moon, co-authored a book on the role of women in the Dalit movement. She is also a former actor of radical Marathi theatre and a playwright. For years she worked in the department of labour welfare for the government of Maharashtra. She was not writing from the comfortable distance of an academic or a literary professional. She was writing from within the lives she was documenting as a government officer, as a Dalit woman, and as someone who had lived the reality she put on the page. She is a prominent figure in the Dalit and feminist movements. Her writing is self-reflective and makes the reader ponder over these intimately felt oppressions. She also received the Matoshree Bhimabai Ambedkar Award in 2004 and was offered the Laxmibai Tilak Award, which she declined, a gesture that itself spoke to her unwillingness to accept recognition on terms she did not fully endorse. The Lifetime Achievement Award for Urmila Pawar is not simply recognition for a body of work. It is recognition for a body of resistance. She delicately navigated her readers through her long journey from the harsh landscape of the Konkan region to Mumbai, first as a Mahar and later as a woman as she challenged the conventions of both caste and gender to emerge as an activist and a strong literary voice. In a country where Dalit women’s stories have been systematically excluded from the literary mainstream, Urmila Pawar insisted on being heard. She wrote in Marathi, in the language of her community, about the lives that polite society preferred not to acknowledge. And she was right to insist. Because in order to begin to comprehend Dalit feminist writings, closely reading Pawar’s work is paramount to setting up a historical context for the Dalit feminist movement in Maharashtra. At 80, Urmila Pawar is not a relic of the past. She is a reminder that the most important stories are often the ones the world has worked hardest to suppress and that the writers who tell them anyway are the ones who matter most. Suggest a better headline for this and make it more engaging and impactful and deep and emotional. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Main accused in Maharashtra TET paper leak arrested from Bihar
Earlier, the SIT arrested Suman Kumari Gupta, wife of the alleged mastermind Bijendra Gupta, from Patna after call records and financial transactions reportedly linked her to him. Nearly a month after the Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) 2026 was postponed over a question paper leak, police have arrested the alleged mastermind, Bijendra Gupta, who was living under a false identity in Bihar. Gupta, who was arrested by Bhiwandi Police from Bihar, was brought to Pune Airport, from where he will be taken to Bhiwandi, ANI reported. Gupta allegedly has been linked to multiple paper leak cases. He has allegedly been involved in leaks related to the 2023 Odisha Staff Selection Commission (OSSC) examination, the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination and the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) examination. Gupta’s arrest comes after Maharashtra Police earlier arrested three other accused — Kapil Dahiya, Mithun Singh and Sonu Singh, from Bihar and Punjab, in connection with the case. The TET 2026 examination was postponed on June 27, a day before it was scheduled to be conducted, after police in Maharashtra’s Thane district detected that a portion of the question paper had been leaked and arrested three persons. Investigators have since found that the alleged racket extended across Delhi, Agra, Bihar and Haryana. Earlier, the SIT arrested Suman Kumari Gupta, wife of the alleged mastermind Bijendra Gupta, from Patna after call records and financial transactions reportedly linked her to him. Initial probe found that the confidential question papers were allegedly sourced directly from Mahim Patran Pvt. Ltd, a private printing press located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. The TET paper leak came close on the heels of the national controversy triggered by the NEET-UG paper leak, raising fresh concerns over the integrity of competitive Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Non-cognisable complaint lodged against transgender person for assaulting man in local train compartment
Mumbai: After a video clip capturing two transgender persons beating up a man inside a local train compartment went viral, the Govt Railway Police (GRP) tracked down the duo on Monday. One of them is a minor and was sent back to his guru with a warning. Police registered a non-cognisable complaint against the other and confirmed that preventive action will be taken against him. Elaborating on the incident, police said that the two transpersons were begging in local train compartments recently. When they asked for money from the man (captured in the video), he refused and argued that others had already taken money from him that day. This sparked an altercation, which ended in violence as the two transpersons rained kicks and blows on him. A co-passenger filmed the incident, which occurred on a Western Railway local between Mahim and Bandra stations in the general compartment. After the video was posted online, it came to the attention of the GRP. They tracked down the two and brought them to the Mumbai Central GRP chowky on Monday. “We registered a non-cognisable complaint against one of them and will take preventive action,” confirmed DCP (GRP) Pradnya Jedge. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Another Mumbai Local Train Shocker: Transgenders Brutally Assault Passenger; Video Goes Viral
A series of violent incidents in Mumbai local trains has raised concerns over commuter safety, security measures, and growing fear among daily travellers. In the incident, a passenger and transgender persons were reportedly involved in a physical altercation inside a local train. Mumbai’s suburban local trains have once again come under scrutiny after a video showing a violent clash inside a late-night local train went viral on social media. In the incident, a passenger and transgender persons were reportedly involved in a physical altercation inside a local train. The viral footage shows two transgender passengers allegedly assaulting a passenger during the confrontation. The reason behind the fight remains unclear. ALSO READ: School Holiday: Are Schools & Colleges Closed In Mumbai, Thane And Palghar As Heavy Rains Continue? The video has triggered discussions about passenger safety and security in Mumbai’s suburban railway network, which witnesses heavy daily footfall. Railway authorities have taken note of the incident and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the clash. Officials are investigating the video to determine what led to the confrontation. The incident comes days after two separate cases of violence on Mumbai locals, including the attack on two youths and another video showing a fight between two groups, sparked concerns among passengers. Previously, a video showing a violent clash between passengers in a Churchgate-Virar local train went viral on social media. The incident reportedly took place inside a crowded men’s compartment, creating panic among fellow commuters for some time. The video shows passengers involved in a heated argument, which soon escalated into a physical fight involving kicks and assault. While the exact reason behind the dispute is unclear, it is suspected that the argument may have started over limited standing space or accidental pushing in the crowded compartment. Other passengers were seen attempting to intervene and calm the situation. The repeated incidents of violence inside local trains have raised questions about maintaining security and preventing such conflicts during journeys. Author: Aishwarya Singh Courtesy : NDTV Note: This news is originally published on https:/ndtv.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Pawar vs power: NCP (SP) leaders push for BJP alliance as Sharad Pawar resists
As Supriya Sule categorically rejected reports of an NDA switch, sources say six of the NCP (SP)’s 10 Lok Sabha MPs and nine of its 10 MLAs favour joining hands with the BJP. MUMBAI: Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP) appears to be facing internal divisions over the prospect of joining hands with the BJP, with party sources indicating that while Pawar wants to keep his distance, several Lok Sabha MPs and MLAs favour exploring an alliance with the ruling party. According to party sources, the 86-year-old Pawar has categorically conveyed to senior party leaders that he is not comfortable joining hands with the BJP at the fag end of his political career. However, those in favour of the move believe they should initiate talks with the BJP and assess what it is willing to offer. The buzz in the Opposition camp comes weeks after six MPs of Maha Vikas Aghadi ally Shiv Sena (UBT) switched to ruling Shiv Sena. The NCP (SP)’s stand on the BJP’s proposed Delimitation Bill is likely to emerge as a litmus test for Sharad Pawar and his daughter, Supriya Sule, signalling where the party intends to position itself in Maharashtra’s evolving political landscape. The issue gained prominence on Wednesday after Sule, the party’s working president, said there would be “little reason to oppose” the Bill if it proposed a uniform 50% increase in seats across all states. Sule, however, said any decision on supporting the legislation would be taken only after discussions within the INDIA bloc. Rejecting speculation about the NCP (SP) joining the ruling alliance, Sule said the media had been predicting her swearing-in and ministerial portfolio for the past 12 years. Notably, the NCP (SP) has 10 Lok Sabha MPs. Of them, six are reportedly keen to join the BJP-led government at the Centre, while two — Sule and Amol Kolhe — are opposed to the move. Similarly, nine of the party’s 10 MLAs are said to favour joining hands with the BJP, with Rohit Pawar the lone dissenter. Interestingly, Rohit has conveyed to the party leadership that he is prepared to make sacrifices and continue fighting the BJP. He has also said that he is less concerned about three years in power than the next 30 years of his political future and that of Maharashtra. Rohit, the grandnephew of Sharad Pawar, has also opened a channel with the Congress and is in direct touch with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi should he decide to join the party. Rahul is also reportedly keen to induct Pawar into the Congress because of his willingness to take on the BJP. Meanwhile, senior NCP leader Jayant Patil has reportedly opened channels of communication with the BJP through two senior leaders, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde. “Patil has the support of six Lok Sabha MPs and nine NCP SP MLAs to initiate the talks with the BJP. In this talk, there are two thoughts, one given by the BJP that the NCP SP should merge with the NCP, not to be a separate entity of the NDA, but others are not keen to be with the NCP. They want to keep their separate identity,” a source told TNIE. Patil, meanwhile, said he met Fadnavis only to discuss an issue in his constituency, and asserted that there was no discussion in the Sharad Pawar-led party about joining the NDA. “There are no discussions going on in our party about joining the NDA. I met the chief minister only to raise the issue of the Islampur municipal council president, whose election has been declared invalid. (Deputy Chief Minister) Eknath Shinde was in Delhi, so I sought the chief minister’s appointment. The meeting lasted barely five to ten minutes, and there was no political discussion,” he told reporters. Patil’s meeting with NCP leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare in the presence of CM Fadnavis is understood to be part of the first proposal for a merger, sources said. However, Patil denied reports that he met Patel or Tatkare during his visit to the CM’s residence. Interestingly, Patel and Tatkare are also said to favour bringing Patil and the NCP (SP) into the NCP to curb the growing influence of Parth Pawar and make the party’s existing power structure more democratic. According to sources, the letter challenging Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar’s election as NCP national president is intended to convey that she can be replaced if required. Sudhir Suryawanshi Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Maharashtra TET paper leak: Rahul Gandhi’s 3 demands to CM Fadnavis
NEW DELHI: Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday intensified his attack on the Centre over recurring examination paper leaks, citing the cancellation of the Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) and accusing the system of failing lakhs of candidates. In a post on X, Rahul made three demands to the Maharashtra government, urging an immediate announcement of a fresh examination date, strict action against those responsible for the leak, and relief measures for affected aspirants. “Maharashtra TET paper leaked, exam cancelled. 6 lakh candidates left in limbo. Two weeks have passed, no trace of a new date. The leakers roam free, the system remains spotless, and the one paying the price is the one who toiled with honesty,” Rahul wrote. He said the affected candidates were future teachers who had spent years preparing for the examination, paid application fees, and travelled to distant examination centres, only to be left waiting “without a date, without answers.” “These are the country’s working and future teachers, the ones who hold India’s future in their hands – these are the very people who prepared year after year, filled out forms, paid fees, traveled to far-flung centers. And now they’re just waiting, without a date, without answers,” he wrote. Further addressing Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, Rahul Gandhi issued a three-point demand, making an immediate announcement of a fresh Maharashtra TET schedule the centrepiece of his appeal. He urged the state government to announce the new examination date without further delay, take strict action against those responsible for the paper leak instead of penalising candidates, and grant age limit relaxations to aspirants whose eligibility may have been affected by the postponement. He wrote, “Chief Minister ji, three things, today itself: Timeline: Announce the new TET date right now; Accountability: Action against those responsible for the leak, not against the candidates; Protecting the future: Those whose year was ruined by this leak should get age limit relaxations.” Rahul said the government must act swiftly to restore confidence among lakhs of candidates left in uncertainty following the cancellation of the examination, arguing that the burden of administrative failures should not fall on those who had prepared honestly for years. He further said, “The mistake is the institution’s, the punishment the candidate’s, this is not justice.” He also announced that he would hold a public interaction on July 17 in Dehradun, where he would address the broader issue of paper leaks. “On July 17 in Dehradun, I will discuss the growing crisis of paper leaks with you in detail. The time has come for an education revolution, to build a system where the youth reap the rewards of their hard work, not the failures of the system.” Paper leaks have emerged as a recurring political issue in recent years, with opposition parties repeatedly accusing governments of failing to ensure the integrity of competitive examinations and recruitment tests, while demanding stronger safeguards and accountability. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Modi Government is Committed to the Empowerment of Transgenders: Union Minister Ramdas Athawale
National Seminar on Awareness of Transgender Identity and Issues Concludes at Savitribai Phule Pune University The two-day National Seminar on Awareness of Transgender Identity and Issues successfully concluded today at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) with a valedictory session addressed by Shri Ramdas Athawale, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. Addressing the audience, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale reaffirmed the Government of India’s commitment to promoting the rights, dignity, and inclusive development of transgender persons. He emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts among government institutions, educational establishments, and civil society organizations to ensure equal opportunities, social acceptance, and the effective implementation of welfare initiatives for the transgender community. “The Modi government is fully committed to the empowerment and welfare of transgender persons,” stated Shri Ramdas Athawale. “The government is working for every oppressed community, and transgender empowerment is a major point on our national agenda.” The Minister highlighted key central initiatives, including the SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) Scheme, which is actively working to bring transgender individuals into the mainstream and include them in national development by facilitating education, healthcare, livelihood, rehabilitation, and social security. The national seminar was jointly organized by the School of Education, Department of Education and Extension (DEE), and the Department of Gender Studiesat SPPU, in collaboration with the Social Justice and Special Assistance Department, Government of Maharashtra. The seminar held on July 11–12, 2026, provided a vital platform for deep deliberations on crucial topics, including transgender identity, social inclusion, education, legal rights, healthcare, livelihood opportunities, and policy interventions. The two-day event drew active participation from academicians, researchers, policymakers, government officials, students, and members of the transgender community across various technical sessions. Distinguished dignitaries present on the occasion included Minister of state for Social Justice Madhuri Misal, Prof. (Dr.) Suresh Gosavi (Vice Chancellor, SPPU) and Prof. (Dr.) Parag Kalkar, (Pro-Vice Chancellor, SPPU), alongside other university officials and regional leaders. Harshal Akude/Parshuram Kor Courtesy : PIB Note: This news is originally published on https:/pib.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
India’s First Transgender Disaster Management Team Prepares To Deal With Flood Situation In Kolhapur
This team of ten members were made to undergo a rigorous, intensive training where they were given good experience to tackle life-saving situations Kolhapur: They are usually mocked or given money and shooed away; that is how the transgender people are normally treated in various parts of India. Not finding sufficient work for their sustenance, many transgenders are forced to take to begging. However, Kolhapur city has shown transgenders the way, by giving them an opportunity to be saviours. India’s first transgender disaster management team, trained by the District Disaster Management Authority, is now ready to tackle potential flood situations in Kolhapur district. On Wednesday, a 10-member team completed a rigorous ten days of intensive training where they were given hands-on field experience to tackle life-saving situations. This 10-member team was also given training to use disaster management equipment in order to get prior experience, so that they are present as rescuers when any emergency situation of a disaster occurs. Shivani Gajbar is enthusiastic about facing any calamity. Speaking with ETV Bharat, Gajbar said, “We are prepared to play this significant role of being rescuers as part of our district’s response to any disaster.” The country’s first transgender disaster management team Heavy rains have been wreaking havoc across Maharashtra, including Kolhapur district. Many local rivers have already touched danger mark, and people have been asked to remain vigilant or move to higher ground. During this period, Kolhapur District Disaster Management Authority mobilised a trained team comprising over 2,000 ‘Aapda Mitra’ (Disaster Friends) and ‘Sakhi’ volunteers. For the first time this year, a 10-member transgender disaster management team from Kolhapur district will also be operational. This team is now prepared to assist citizens in various situations that include search, relief and rescue operations. A part of their training also included clearing trees that had fallen on roads due to strong winds. They were given training to assess flood risks in affected villages, transport villagers during evacuations, and respond to road accidents or other monsoon-related emergencies. Gajbar stated that they aim to reach every citizen through real-life experiences during natural disasters. “We are committed to ensuring that timely assistance reaches citizens in case there is any situation of a disaster.” District Disaster Management Officer Prasad Sankpal stated, “Our district disaster management cell is fully prepared with our strategies that are in line with forecasts from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). This includes a team of transgender individuals to tackle any potential flood situation.” The transgender people expressed their joy of being selected as ‘saviours’ in these times and are thankful for being able to be useful to society. Courtesy : ETV Bharat Note: This news is originally published on https:/etvbharat.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights