‘Kagaz mitao, Adhikaar churao’: Rahul Gandhi accuses BJP of ‘stealing’ Bahujan rights by deleting voters; claims tribal land records missing in Chhattisgarh
NEW DELHI: Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of “stealing” the rights of Bahujans by removing their names from voter lists and “disappearing” forest rights titles of Adivasis. In a post on X Thursday, Gandhi alleged, citing a news report, that in Chhattisgarh’s Rajnandgaon district, more than half of the forest rights titles have vanished from government records, while in Bastar, 2,788 such titles have “suddenly” gone missing. “Kagaz mitao, Adhikaar churao – the BJP has made this a new weapon for the oppression of Bahujans. On one hand, they remove the names of Dalits and backward classes from the voter list, and on the other, they make the forest rights titles of tribals ‘disappear,’” he wrote. — RahulGandhi (@RahulGandhi) He said the Congress had enacted the Forest Rights Act to protect the water, forest, and land of tribals, while the BJP is weakening it and “snatching their primary rights.” Calling tribals the “first owners” of the country, Gandhi asserted, “We will protect their rights at all costs.” The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006- also known as the Forest Rights Act- grants legal rights to forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional communities for the ownership and use of forest land and resources, reported ANI. The law was enacted to address historical wrongs from the colonial era, when Adivasis and other forest dwellers were criminalised for using forest resources. 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.
Wayanad voters refute Anurag Singh Thakur’s fraud claims
Kozhikode: Several voters in Wayanad rejected BJP leader Anurag Thakur’s allegations of voter list fraud in the constituency. On Wednesday, Thakur held a news conference in Delhi and claimed that 4,246 voters of different religions were registered at the same house in Wayanad, which is represented by Priyanka Gandhi and was earlier represented by Rahul Gandhi. Among those named, two voters from Chaunderi in Kalpetta assembly segment said Thakur’s claims were completely false. He had cited them as examples of people from different religions living in the same house. Thakur had cited the case of Valliyamma (72) daughter of Somasundaram and Mariyam, daughter of Abdul Karim, as examples of voters of multiple religions registered in house number ‘o/ Chaunderi’ under booth 41 of Kalpetta. Both families added that Valliyamma and Mariyam, both elderly people, were living in separate houses. “Chaunderi is the name of our village. We were born and raised here. Many in the village use the place name as their house name. That doesn’t mean we live in one house,” said retired revenue department official K Vadivelu, who is the son-in-law of Valliyamma. Valliyamma’s daughter said that her mother had voted in all elections. “Mariyam is my mother’s childhood friend. She belongs to a different community and lives in another house at Keeripettakunnu. I don’t know how this allegation cropped up,” she said. Mariyam, whose house is located 1km away, rejected Thakur’s allegation. “Valliyamma is living in her house and I have my own,” she said. Also two other voters in Thiruvambady assembly constituency – Shahina and Madhavan V T – who were cited by BJP as examples of voters of multiple religions registered in the house named Vallikattummal in booth 24 rejected the allegation. “There are several families in ward-18 with the house name Vallikattummal. There are around 150 families with the same house name and they belong to all religions. For instance in our ward there is Vilasini, Mary, Shabeer and Gopalan and their house name is Vallikattummal,” said Shahina. Madhavan, who lives 3km away from Shahina’s home, rejected BJP’s allegation. Thakur had alleged that there were 20,438 duplicate voters in Wayanad. To substantiate his allegation, he mentioned Maimoona from Ernad assembly constituency, claiming she was registered as a voter in booths 135, 115, and 152. However, the three women named Maimoona are different individuals living in separate panchayats. Maimoona of booth 115 said that her father’s name was Vellipadan Muhammed and her husband was Mangalan Alavi. ” I voted in the booth at Thamburankunnungal all these years and have not voted anywhere else,” she said. The other two Maimoonas also refuted Thakur’s charges. Kalpetta MLA T Siddique rejected Thakur’s allegations and accused Election Commission (EC) of providing BJP with access to a digital electoral roll. Siddique asked whether EC, which served a notice to Rahul Gandhi over a news conference, would take action against Thakur for making false accusations. Siddique said Thakur has committed a criminal offence 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.
PM Narendra Modi breaks Indira Gandhi’s record with 12 consecutive Independence Day speeches
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has overtaken Indira Gandhi’s record for the most consecutive Independence Day speeches from the Red Fort, delivering his 12th in a row on Friday. Only Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, has given more consecutive speeches — 17 between 1947 and 1963. Indira Gandhi, who served two terms between 1966-77 and 1980-84, addressed the nation 16 times in total, with 11 of those being consecutive. Modi, who first spoke from the Red Fort in 2014, had last year broken Manmohan Singh’s record of 11 consecutive addresses. Singh served as prime minister from 2004 to 2014. Other leaders have had shorter runs. Lal Bahadur Shastri spoke twice, Morarji Desai and PV Narasimha Rao each for four years and Atal Bihari Vajpayee for six years during his tenure from 1998 to 2004. In 2023, Modi also set a record for the longest Independence Day speech — 98 minutes. 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.
Internal quota: Congress’ Dalit leaders resolve to amicably settle issue
After the session proceedings On Wednesday, the leaders met at Home Minister Parameshwara’s residence to iron out differences that have arisen after the Das Commission decided to divide the 17% reservation for SCs amongst five sub-categories. Bengaluru: Ahead of the special Cabinet meeting on Saturday (August 16) to decide on the Nagamohan Das Commission report on internal reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Dalit ministers and MLAs of the ruling Congress on Wednesday decided to amicably resolve the issue After the session proceedings on Wednesday, the leaders met at Home Minister Parameshwara’s residence to iron out differences that have arisen after the Das Commission decided to divide the 17 per cent reservation for SCs amongst five sub-categories. Since the SC (Left) / Madiga community has been allotted 6 per cent, the SC (Right)/ Holeya (5 per cent) and the Bhovi, Banjara, Korma and Korcha/ ‘touchable’ communities (4.5 per cent) are said to be unsatisfied with the proposals. According to sources, everyone has agreed that no community has to suffer. Social Welfare Minister Dr HC Mahadevappa, Food and Civil Supplies Minister KH Muniyappa, Backward Classes Welfare Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi attended the meeting. IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge and RB Thimmapur were not present but are said to have conveyed that they will stand by the majority’s decision. Sujay B M Courtesy : DH Note: This news is originally published on https:/deccanherald.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s Casteist Speech At Kerala Film Policy Conclave Interrupted; Faces Backlash From Dalit Filmmakers
Renowned Dalit singer Pushpavathi Poypadathu slammed Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s controversial remarks during his speech. The two-day Kerala Film Policy Conclave hosted by the Kerala state government on August 2-3 to brainstorm regulatory policies for the state’s film industry ended in a fiasco when veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan criticised the government incentive programmes for filmmakers from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) and women filmmakers. Gopalakrishnan’s remarks drew instant censure from Malayalam musician and composer Pushpavathi Poypadathu. The incident has drawn Kerala film industry personnel into a protracted division along caste and gender lines. Dalit human rights activist Dinu Veyil filed a complaint against the filmmaker for promoting ill will against SC/ST communities under Section 3(1)(u) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Gopalakrishnan’s remarks have displayed the full force of patriarchal and Savarna attitudes that contaminate the Kerala film industry. Dalit filmmakers need “intensive training with experts”. Addressing nearly 500 film delegates from around the country and the world at the Legislative Assembly complex in Thiruvananthapuram, Gopalakrishnan, in his concluding remarks at the conclave on August 3rd, insisted that the state’s current incentive programme is badly in need of reform, with many issues plaguing it, including corruption in the use of funds. At the 13-minute mark of his speech, for nearly three minutes, Gopalakrishnan expounded on the shortcomings of both the Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC) incentive for SC/ST filmmakers and Dalit filmmakers themselves: ‘In my lifetime I have not made a film for two crores. At the same time, the government gives 1.5 crores to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes to make films. I told the esteemed minister that this will lead the way to corruption. The esteemed finance minister knows this. But no changes have been made. Also, when they are selected, I have an important recommendation to make. For these people from the scheduled castes . . . they should be given at least three months of intensive training on how to make films. Someone approaches (the state) with interest in filmmaking. Sending them away by telling them, “Go make a film,” is no way to encourage them. So, they should be given three months of training under experts. They should be taught everything, including how to budget for a film. . . These are public funds. This is tax revenue taken from the public. There are numerous very important issues in our lives that need to be funded. . . Yes, you must provide training to them. Reduce the amount from 1.5 crores for one person to fifty lakhs each for three people.’ Regarding KSFDC initiatives for women filmmakers, Gopalakrishnan reiterated his recommendations: ‘The funding for women is the same. Don’t give money just because somebody is a woman. A woman should also be given training. It is very important that we have women film directors. We have one or two, and they are good. But if we want new directors like them to come forward, they must understand the difficulties of making films.’ “Women filmmakers must understand the difficulties of making films.” KSFDC, founded in 1975, started funding initiatives for women filmmakers forty-four years later in 2019-2020, followed by funding directors from the Dalit communities in 2020-21. Under the scheme, KSFDC awards 1.5 crores each to two filmmakers from each category. The applicants go through several rounds of evaluation, workshops, and interviews conducted by a panel of expert judges appointed by KSFDC. Gopalakrishnan expounded on the shortcomings of the incentive for SC/ST filmmakers: For these people from the scheduled castes . . . they should be given at least three months of intensive training on how to make films. Someone approaches (the state) with interest in filmmaking. Sending them away by telling them, “Go make a film,” is no way to encourage them. So, they should be given three months of training under experts. They should be taught everything, including how to budget for a film‘ So far, ten films produced by KSFDC have been released and/or are slated to be released under this scheme, which include Nishiddho (Forbidden, Dir. Tara Ramanujan, 2022), Divorce (Dir. Mini I. G., 2023), and B 32 Muthal 44 Vare (From B 32 to B 44, Dir. Shruthi Sharanyam, 2023), and comprise directors from Dalit communities. Nishiddho won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Feature Film in 2022 with an international premiere at the Frankfurt Independent Film Festival, while B 32 Muthal 44 Vare won the Best Director Award in the Women/Transgender category in 2023, and Victoria won the FIPRESCI award for Best Malayalam Film by a debut director in 2024. While Gopalakrishnan’s comments garnered some applause, audience response displayed several conclave attendees looking puzzled at these casteist and sexist remarks. At the outset of the public backlash against the filmmaker, the activist body Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) strongly condemned the filmmaker for his remarks: At the Kerala Film Policy Conclave and in the days that followed, Adoor Gopalakrishnan once again exposed his upper-caste, caste, and gender-biased perspective to the public through his comments on the filmmaking experiences of new female and Dalit directors in Malayalam cinema. During his speech, Adoor has undoubtedly confirmed his patriarchal and anti-Dalit stance by making derogatory statements about renowned singer Pushpavathi, who is also the vice-chairperson of the Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, who reacted against it. WCC strongly condemns Adoor’s approach and stance.’ “Who is she? Who has empowered her?” In the aftermath of the incident, in an interview given to a prominent Malayalam news channel, Adoor Gopalakrishnan defended his remarks. He insisted that he was ‘speaking for’ the Dalit community and not against it. It appears that Gopalakrishnan has appropriated the right to ‘speak for’ the Dalit community to himself. He has no tolerance for voices from inside the Dalit community, as evidenced by his hostile and unprofessional tirade against Pushpavathi Poypadathu for ‘interrupting’ him during his speech. Referring to Pushpavathi Poypadathu at various times as ‘girl’, ‘that woman’, and ‘some woman off the street’, Gopalakrishnan barked at the interviewer: Pushpavathi
The plight of drains in Khamaria Dalit Basti: Dirty water accumulated on the roads, danger of diseases, repair not done even after complaint
Residents are troubled by broken and clogged drains in village panchayat Khamaria Dalit Basti of Basti Saughat. Dirty water is accumulating on the roads. This is affecting the movement of people. Local residents Shyam Sundar, Dhoop Chand, Shailendra Bahadur, Suchit Kumar and Harilal said that this problem is very old. They have complained several times for the repair of drains. But no action has been taken by the administration. Dirty water coming out of broken drains is entering the nearby houses. This is spoiling the cleanliness of the entire area. Pedestrians are facing problems. The risk of diseases has also increased due to the accumulation of dirty water. Local people have demanded immediate action from the administration. They say that if the drains are not repaired soon, the situation may worsen. Arun Kumar Courtesy: Hindi News
Tamil Nadu Dalit techie murder: Another arrest in dishonour killing case
Chennai, Aug 14: In a fresh development in the alleged dishonour killing of 23-year-old Dalit techie Kavin Selvaganesh, the Crime Branch-CID on Wednesday arrested another suspect for aiding the prime accused. The arrested man, identified as Jeyapaul, is the cousin of the key accused, Surjith. According to investigators, Jeyapaul allegedly sheltered Surjith after the brutal murder. Surjith is accused of hacking Kavin to death on July 23 in Tirunelveli, reportedly in opposition to his sister’s inter-caste relationship with the victim. Earlier, Surjith’s father, Saravanan — a serving Sub-Inspector — was arrested in connection with the killing. Both father and son face murder charges under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Surjith’s mother, also a police Sub-Inspector, has been suspended, while the victim’s family continues to demand her arrest. Kavin, a software engineer from Thoothukudi, had been caring for his ailing grandfather at a Siddha centre where his girlfriend, a Siddha doctor from a dominant caste, worked. Investigators allege that Kavin was lured away and later murdered. CCTV footage is said to show Surjith taking Kavin on his motorcycle shortly before the attack. The murder, now under CBCID probe, has sparked outrage across Tamil Nadu over caste-based violence and alleged police complicity. Kavin’s family initially refused to collect his body, pressing for the arrest of all those involved. With Jeyapaul’s arrest, police believe they have closed in on a crucial link in the chain of events. Meanwhile, an unverified video of Kavin’s girlfriend has surfaced online, in which she professes her love for him and claims her parents had no role in the crime. Courtesy : Daijiworld Note: This news is originally published on https:/daijiworld.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Dalit youth beaten up again in Gujarat for keeping beard and moustache, police searching for accused
Gujarat Dalit Man Assault News: Once again a case of Dalit youth being beaten up for keeping beard and moustache has come to light in Gujarat. It is alleged that some upper caste people beat up a 27-year-old Dalit in Junagadh district. The police have started investigating the entire matter after receiving the complaint. Dalit youth beaten up in Junagadh for keeping beard and moustache. Ahmedabad/Rajkot: In the month of June, Dalits of Odisha were forced to crawl on the ground. Then those pictures had shamed the whole country. Now in Gujarat, just before Independence Day, an incident of Dalit youth being attacked for keeping beard and moustache has come to light. It is alleged that in a village in Junagadh district, a 27-year-old man was allegedly beaten up by five upper caste people for keeping moustache and beard and was abused with casteist slurs. The incident took place in Vajali village of Visavadar taluka on August 11 and came to light after the victim Sagar Makwana lodged a complaint at the Visavadar police station on Tuesday. When and how did this whole incident happen? According to the information, the victim Sagar Makwana’s father-in-law was seriously injured in the incident. At the Junagadh Civil Hospital, Makwana lodged a named complaint against Shailesh Jebalia, Lalo Bhupat Kathi Darbar and three unidentified persons. According to the complaint received by the police, Makwana, who lives in Manganath Pipli village, was towing his motorcycle after it broke down. While he was towing the bike, Jebalia and Bhupat confronted him and expressed their anger over him having a moustache and beard. The FIR states that they started abusing him on caste lines and warned him not to impersonate upper caste people. When the quarrel escalated and the trio started beating him, Makwana somehow fled to the house of his father-in-law Jeevan Karsan, which was nearby. Police on the lookout for the accused According to the complaint lodged with the police, Karsan suggested that they talk to Jebalia as he lives in the same village and settle the matter. When they reached near Jebalia, Bhupat reached there in a car with three others. The five abused the two men with casteist slurs and then assaulted them. The assailants fled from the spot as locals gathered at the spot. The villagers rushed the two injured to the hospital, where Karsan is said to be in a critical condition. According to Assistant Superintendent of Police (Visavadar) Rohit Kumar, the accused live in the same village where the complainant’s father-in-law lives. A team has been formed to nab them and they will be arrested soon. The victim Makwana is an agricultural labourer. Curated by: Achalendra Katiyar About the author Achalendra Kumar Katiyar is working with Navbharat Times Online. He started his career with DLA newspaper in 2008. He has worked with I Next, Aaj Samaj and Dainik Hindustan in a journey of 17 years. He keeps an eye on every development in Gujarat, Maharashtra and other western states. He has a good understanding of politics. Courtesy : Hindi News
Nails pulled out, third degree given… After being released from jail, three Dalit youths accuse Dewas police, were arrested for breaking the idol
Dewas News: Three Dalit youths were arrested in Dewas for breaking the idol. They have been released on bail. After this, the family has alleged that the police has given third degree. Former minister Arun Yadav has demanded the suspension of the policemen from the DGP. Dewas: Investigation has started into the allegations of assault on three Dalit youths in police custody in Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh. Ravi Ajmeri, Ritesh Ajmeri and Ritesh Sinam have been arrested on August 6. They were accused of breaking religious idols in the industrial area of Dewas. The idols of Lord Ganesha and Goddess were vandalized. The police registered a case and scanned more than 50 CCTV footage. After this, the accused were identified and arrested. Sent to jail after being produced in court At the same time, the accused were produced in court after the arrest and sent to jail. After getting bail, the family members of the accused are making serious allegations against the police. Former Union Minister Arun Yadav is sharing the video and alleging that three innocent Dalit children Ritesh, Ravi and Ritesh were brutally beaten up in Bavadia police station of Dewas. Third degree torture was done. Even the nails were pulled out. Arun Yadav has said that when there is no evidence then why such inhuman torture? Demand to suspend policemen Along with this, Arun Yadav has demanded that DGP Sir, immediately suspend the guilty policemen, set up a high-level inquiry and give justice to the Dalit children. At the same time, the family has alleged that three youths were severely beaten and tortured in police custody, which also includes the allegation of pulling out nails. Dewas SP Puneet Gehlot, while talking to an English newspaper, said that an independent investigation has been ordered. Gehlot said that the allegation is that the police have tortured them. While they were produced in the court after the medical test. After bail, they are claiming assault. The SP said that the arrest was made on the basis of solid evidence. At the same time, the police department has started investigating these allegations. The SP said that an impartial investigation will be conducted. Edited by: Muneshwar Kumar About the author Muneshwar Kumar is the Principal Correspondent at Navbharat Times Online. Has 14 years of experience in journalism. Has special interest in politics, crime, current affairs and off-beat news of Madhya Pradesh. Also has experience of ground reporting in many elections. I have been associated with Navbharat Times Online since 2020. Courtesy: Hindi News
Every Identity Counts: Breaking Barriers for Transgender Youth in India
Education and employment are the bedrock on which individuals build a self-dependent life—or at least, that’s the case for most. For people whose identities don’t conform to societal norms, even accessing basic education or formal employment often becomes an uphill battle. This was the case for Sonali Khan too. A 27-year-old trans woman, Sonali had to drop out of school because of incessant bullying from classmates. Teachers turned a blind eye, and the environment became so hostile that continuing wasn’t an option. When she finally gathered the courage to come out, she was met not with support, but with rejection. Her family abandoned her. The neighbours she grew up with ridiculed her and ignored her plight. Like many transgender youth in India, Sonali was pushed to the margins—not by choice, but by circumstance. According to the National Human Rights Commission of India, nearly 50% of transgender persons never attend school, and only 6% are employed in formal sectors. The rest, like Sonali, often find themselves in informal work or survival-based livelihoods, battling the compounded challenges of stigma, poverty, and exclusion. “I had to leave school when I was in 12th standard because of the daily ridicule, and soon after, my family threw me out,” said Khan, who now lives in Delhi. A person working on a laptop at a desk surrounded by colorful maps and personal items. The challenge of identity documentation Although the last census in 2011 put the number of transgender persons in India at 487,803, the actual figure is expected to be much higher now. Many understandably choose not to disclose their gender identity, and even if they do, they often lack official documents that reflect their true identity. Lack of identity documents, persistent stigma, and poor access to education continue to keep transgender persons away from formal employment. Those who embrace their true identity often start by dropping their “deadname”— the birth name they no longer use. This, however, brings new challenges, especially when accessing government welfare schemes that require valid identity cards. Many transgender people still hold ID cards under their deadnames, making them ineligible for these schemes. Without updated ID documents, they also struggle to find jobs, rent homes, or access healthcare. “Getting a job is not easy if you are a trans person. I applied for over 50 jobs, got called for interviews for three of them, and was promptly dismissed when they realized I was a trans woman,” said Khan. Legal progress and policy measures The Government of India has recognized these challenges—leading to several progressive legal reforms . These include the historic 2014 NALSA Judgement, which affirmed the right of transgender persons to self-identify their gender, and the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, which prohibits discrimination and outlines measures for education, employment, and healthcare access.. While these are among the most progressive measures around the world, there is a long way ahead in terms of their implementation. Schemes and initiatives for empowerment In 2022, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) launched the ‘Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihoods and Enterprise (SMILE)’ scheme. This initiative focuses extensively on rehabilitation, medical facilities, counselling, education, and skill development for the transgender community. SMILE Scheme provides financial assistance to Transgender students in secondary and senior secondary school (classes IX to XII) to promote their education and reduce dropouts. Furthermore, MoSJE has initiated various skill development initiatives though Garima Grehs (Shelter homes) and other partners. These initiatives aim to provide safe housing, training, and support for livelihood opportunities. However, getting more transgender persons to register on the National Transgender Portal, operated by the MoSJE, which is the official government platform for accessing identity cards and welfare schemes, remains a challenge. UNDP’s role in driving change UNDP played an important role in developing the framework document on transgender welfare in India, in collaboration with community-based organizations (CBOs). This document serves as a guiding blueprint for government programmes, outlining key priorities and recommendations to improve access to education, employment, healthcare, and social protection for transgender persons. It provided inputs for designing of the SMILE scheme, ensuring it addressed real challenges faced by the community. Additionally, as part of a global initiative, UNDP India worked with community-based organizations in Bihar to help the transgender community obtain Transgender identity cards. The project includes enrolling trans persons in the National Transgender Portal. The portal facilitates the issuance of Transgender Identity Cards through district authorities. Upon successful enrolment, a trans person receives a Transgender Identity Card, which can be used to update documents such as bank accounts and PAN cards with the person’s new name. Further, it will facilitate their access to Government welfare measures. A call for inclusion this International Youth Day While these initiatives are bringing change on the ground, it is time that all stakeholders double down on efforts to usher in a more rapid transformation. This International Youth Day, while we seek to include the younger generation in governance and make them active partners in achieving the SDGs, let us not forget that non-binary and transgender youth, too, have an equal stake—and an active role to play. For Sonali, having her identity recognized is more than a matter of paperwork. It is the difference between being shut out of opportunities and being able to rebuild her life with dignity. Her journey reflects what is at stake for thousands of young transgender persons across India. The world can’t afford to leave them behind if we are truly committed to building inclusive, resilient, and just societies. Their voices, experiences, and leadership are essential to shaping a future where no one is forced to choose between their identity and their dignity. It’s time to move beyond token inclusion and ensure that every young person, regardless of gender identity, has the opportunity to learn, to thrive, and to lead. Blog by Dr. Chiranjeev Bhattacharjya, Programme Analyst – Health, and James Jose, Communications Officer – Health System Strengthening, UNDP India. Courtesy : UNDP India Note: This news is