NCP (SP)-BJP ties under spotlight after report of confidential Jayant Patil-Vinod Tawde meeting
Senior leaders reportedly discussed a possible alliance; NCP (SP) denies reports of extending support to the BJP. MUMBAI: Following a report by The New Indian Express indicating that the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) is initiating talks with the BJP, it has emerged that senior party leader Jayant Patil and BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde reportedly held a confidential meeting to discuss the blueprint of a potential alliance. It was reported that Sharad Pawar has initiated parallel tracks of discussion: one with the Congress regarding a potential merger, and another with the BJP-led NDA over extending legislative support.. The NCP (SP) has eight Lok Sabha MPs and 10 MLAs in Maharashtra. According to sources, the BJP is keen to secure the party’s support in Parliament for the smooth passage of key legislation. A source familiar with the discussions claimed the NCP (SP) had sought one Union Cabinet berth for Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule and two ministerial berths in the Maharashtra government for Jayant Patil and Jitendra Awhad. “NCP (SP) majority of the MPs and MLAs are in the opinion of joining hands with the power to get the development fund and survive in competitive politics. The party is keen on important ministerial portfolios. Once that is finalised, an official announcement of support to the NDA will be made,” the source said. However, both Jayant Patil and Supriya Sule denied reports of any such meeting or alliance discussions. Patil said political leaders routinely interact across party lines, while Sule said, “We are also part of various government-constituted committees where different party MPs are members. We do attend such meetings and meet the MPs of ruling and opposition parties; that does not mean we are joining them.” NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar also dismissed speculation about supporting the BJP. “The NCP (SP) is a secular and progressive party while the BJP harps on a communal agenda. Therefore, there is no question of extending support to the BJP and being part of the NDA,” he said. Meanwhile, Congress leaders have reportedly begun internal consultations on the possibility of an NCP (SP)-Congress merger. According to party sources, Lok Sabha MP Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary K C Venugopal have spoken individually with senior Maharashtra Congress leaders to seek their views. Some leaders, sources said, expressed concern that an NCP (SP) merger could allow its leaders to dominate the party’s organisational affairs and decision-making, and urged the leadership to deliberate carefully before taking a call. 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
Khawaja Asif: ‘Rahul Gandhi too,’ Pakistan’s Defense Minister furious over India’s counterattack, spews venom over PM Modi’s award
Khawaja Asif: Pakistani leaders are unable to digest the highest honors bestowed upon Prime Minister Modi by countries around the world. Pakistan’s Information Minister Ataullah Tarar and Defense Minister Khawaja Asif have criticized Modi’s international honors. Khawaja Asif targeted the honors bestowed upon PM Modi India called the Pakistani Defense Minister ‘mentally unstable’ Khawaja Asif mentioned Rahul Gandhi and The Guardian in his post Khawaja Asif enraged after India called him ‘mentally unstable’ Islamabad/New Delhi: Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif is furious after India called him ‘mentally unstable’. He said on Sunday that personal attacks on him by India will neither solve the problems facing New Delhi nor restore Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “sagging” credibility at home and abroad. The Defense Minister of this Islamic country, which failed to stop Indian missile attacks, has once again lied and talked about defeating India. Accusing them of spreading “propaganda,” Asif said that the attacks on him are an attempt to divert attention from questions about Modi’s international image and the credibility of foreign honors received by the Indian Prime Minister. In his post, Khawaja Asif referred to Indian leader Rahul Gandhi, who had criticized PM Modi’s award. Khwaja Asif enraged by India’s response Khwaja Asif also referred to a report in the British newspaper “The Guardian,” saying that both had questioned the credibility of some awards received by Modi. He wrote, “Hounding me will not solve the problem.” Calling me mentally unstable will not stabilize Modi’s woefully declining credibility at home and abroad, especially after last year’s defeat to Pakistan. He further wrote, “Rahul Gandhi is making the same claim about Modi’s awards, saying they are AI-generated or manually managed to project the image of a global statesman. This has actually enhanced his reputation as a global fraud.” He further added, “Even a respected newspaper, ‘The Guardian,’ raised this issue and questioned the credibility of those awards.” He said that Modi’s desperate attempts to obtain fake honors from abroad are an attempt to stabilize his credibility, which is “woefully shaky at home.” Pakistan is unable to digest Modi’s awards Pakistani leaders are unable to digest the highest honors bestowed upon Prime Minister Modi by the world’s nations. Pakistan’s Information Minister Ataullah Tarar and Defense Minister Khawaja Asif accused Modi of turning international honors into a deliberate public relations campaign. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has received the highest civilian and state honors from 34 countries and international organizations since 2016. He is the Indian leader with the most international honors in history. PM Modi has received the highest honors from countries such as Norway, Sweden, Israel, Russia (Order of St. Andrew the Apostle—Russia’s highest civilian honor), France (highest civilian and military honors), the United States (Legion of Merit—Chief Commander Degree), Kuwait, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, the Maldives, Palestine, and Afghanistan. Curated by: Abhijat Shekhar Azad About the Author Abhijat Shekhar Azad is an international affairs and defense journalist at Navbharat Times Online. He has nearly 17 years of experience in various news channels and digital journalism. Courtesy: Hindi News
Legal changes disrupt transgender healthcare arrangements, doctors fear prosecution
Before the 2026 law, transgender people could apply online to change their gender marker on the basis of a letter from a gender-affirming care provider, such as a surgeon or psychiatrist Mehr Khan, an Indian transgender woman, arrived for a routine hormone therapy appointment only to discover the crucial treatment had been suspended after a recent change in the law narrowed the range of those eligible for such services. “The doctor was really just hiding his face. He didn’t know what to say,” said the 26-year-old event planner, adding that she glimpsed “fear on the staff’s faces” at the clinic in the southern city of Hyderabad. Khan is one of many Indians grappling with denial of care after the option for self-identification of gender was scrapped in March, making legal recognition conditional on certification by a panel of doctors instead. But the government has yet to specify the nature of specialists on such panels, leaving uncertain whether they owe responsibility to state or central authorities. Before the 2026 law, transgender people could apply online to change their gender marker on the basis of a letter from a gender-affirming care provider, such as a surgeon or psychiatrist. India says the change aims to curb misuse of welfare benefits and boost safeguards, but activists and doctors warn it could boost uncertainty for providers and cut many people off from key medication. The government and Tata Trusts, which funds the Sabrang Clinic, where Khan was being treated, did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment. At least a dozen transgender people told Reuters the change had disrupted their care arrangements, with clinics pausing services and delaying surgeries. Five doctors said they were proceeding cautiously, as some providers ask transgender people for declarations that they were seeking treatment voluntarily. “Doctors are very concerned and confused as to what kind of care they are now allowed to give,” said Arundhati Katju, a senior lawyer with a Supreme Court practice. Global trend targeting transgender rights The change comes amid a global trend to curb transgender treatment, as the United States has recently limited access to gender-affirming care, although in Asia, countries such as Thailand offer broader access but limited legal recognition. Activists who once saw India as taking a progressive stance on such recognition say it is now moving toward tighter state oversight. In the southern tech hub of Bengaluru, business development manager Ananya Balamurali, 24, said her July gender-affirming surgery at a private clinic in the capital, New Delhi, had been put on indefinite hold after the change to the law. In the port city of Kozhikode in the southern state of Kerala, makeup artist Ichu, 30, said a government hospital had refused to approve her hormone replacement therapy, despite months of consultations. Doctors were initially “ready to give the letter”, but withdrew approval after a board meeting, she added. The Association of Transgender Health in India estimates its transgender population at about 20 million among a populace of 1.4 billion, well in excess of a figure of about 500,000 in the most recent census of 2011. The amended law undermines a landmark 2014 Supreme Court ruling recognising transgender people as a third gender, said association founder Dr Sanjay Sharma. “This is a public health emergency,” said Sharma, a former air force official and the father of a transgender child. The legal provisions could be interpreted as penalising hormonal and surgical interventions and potentially expose doctors to prosecution, he said, besides fears that medical board checks could be physically and mentally invasive. Although transgender people are usually pushed to the margins of society in India, they are invited to bless weddings and births in some areas, in line with traditional beliefs. Members of such traditional groups, as well as intersex people and people “coerced” into being transgender, are the only ones the 2026 law recognises as “legitimate”. It also explicitly bars self-identification as a basis for transgender identity, ruling out gender changes on official documents for those outside the narrowed definition, Sharma said. Spectre of unregulated care Gender-affirming care includes HRT, making use of hormones such as estrogen or testosterone to align physical traits with individuals’ gender identity, with surgery preceded by up to a year of such treatment. Abruptly stopping HRT can disrupt endocrine function, causing bone density loss and symptoms similar to menopause, doctors say. Restricted access could drive the transgender community to seek unregulated care, say activists. “We’re worried that the new law might push the transgender community into a shell,” said Hyderabad-based activist Rachana Mudraboyina, adding that many might turn to quacks to avoid documentation hurdles. Debbie Das, the owner of a design business in the tech hub of Bengaluru, said the uncertainty prompted her to delay starting HRT, as she is chronically ill and lacks steady income after the legal change led to cancellation of some projects. “I didn’t want to start HRT and then have to panic about whether I should stop,” she said. Transgender men may be especially vulnerable as the law does not clearly cover them, said Fred Rogers, a counsellor based in the southern metropolis of Chennai, who added that public understanding of transgender issues revolves around women. As a whole, however, India’s transgender community must battle persistent stigma and exclusion in a society largely still patterned on traditional lines, where disapproval by family and employers pushes many into informal work. The government says the law aims to curb exploitation and trafficking and widen welfare access, but activists warn some aspects may have the opposite effect. Ichu, who gave only one name, now seeks care at a clinic 50 km (31 miles) away from her home, while Khan relies on an older prescription after missing a planned dosage change. “People at the clinic said, ‘Give us a week or two, we’ll figure this out,’” Khan said. “It’s been months now and we’re still entirely clueless about where to go, what to do.” Courtesy : The Telegraph Note: This news is originally published on https:/thetelegraph.com/bha and
India’s changed gender rules can put transgenders’ health at risk
Under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026, the country has taken away the right of its people to self identify their gender; a clinical evaluation by a medical board is now required to attest for the same. To align their sex with the gender, a social construct for identity, many transgenders have unique clinical needs like With the provision of ‘self identification’ of gender scrapped by the recent amendment to law, transgender persons are at a loss when it comes to the quality of healthcare given to them. When Mehr Khan, an transgender woman from Hyderabad went to a clinic for a routine hormonal therapy session, she was taken aback as the doctor hid his face and had nothing to say to her. She was informed the government had narrowed down the scope of people who could use this treatment, according to Reuters. In other words, she needed a ‘legal’ recognition of her gender which would involve a panel of doctors making the decision for her identity. The 26-year-old event planner could feel the fear that filled the faces of the clinical staff. Under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026, India took away the right of its people to self identify their gender and rather a clinical evaluation by a medical board is now required to attest for the same. Paused treatments Khan is one of the many transgender people who now need a medical certificate to prove her identity only after which she can pursue her treatment. Transgender persons have complex healthcare needs, with many of them suffering from body dysmorphia, a condition where a person experiences intense shame and worry over perceived body defects. As per experts, this regressive move can put the healthcare of transgender persons at a greater risk, with healthcare facilities pausing their treatment or delaying surgeries. In Bengaluru, a transgender business development manager Ananya Balamurali’s (24) gender affirming surgery scheduled at a private clinic in New Delhi has been put on an indefinite hold after changes were made to the law, according to Reuters. Likewise, a 30-year-old makeup artist from Kozhikode in Kerala was refused hormonal replacement therapy at a government clinic despite multiple prior consultations. Old versus new Before the clipped law, a transgender person could easily have their gender marker changed online after fetching a letter from a gender-affirming care provider, be it a surgeon or a psychiatrist. But now, they will have to get clinically evaluated before getting an official certificate of identity. These changes, according to the government, have been brought in to curb misuse of welfare policies and boost safeguards. However, with the fear of prosecution hanging around the doctors, they are not able to help them with the medical needs of transgender persons. Also, the government is yet to specify the nature of specialists to make gender evaluations and whether its jurisdiction comes in the scope of the State or the Central authority. This can cause further delay for transgenders seeking medical help. Amid this uncertainty, there is a fear of them bypassing conventional routes of clinical care and choosing quacks over certified medical doctors for health concerns. Additionally, this can also add an additional layer to shame and stigma around a community which is already marginalised in more than one sector of life. Price of uninterrupted treatment To align their sex with the gender, a social construct for identity, many transgender persons have unique clinical needs like hormone-based therapy which help them feel more like themselves in everyday life. Some may also need implants or sex-altering surgeries to find that alignment and sometimes they may do it to fight off the stigma around their identity. Hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) makes use of hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and testosterone to regulate one’s physical health. For instance, in women having PMOS (polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome), the affected females very often have testosterone beyond permissible levels and doctors may give hormonal treatments to restore a hormonal balance. Likewise, transgender persons may also need these hormones to feel more aligned with their perceived identity. Abruptly stopping these hormones can cause metabolic dysfunction, disrupted endocrine function, loss of bone density, and other symptoms that can mimic menopause. Also, the stigma around the situation can make them wary of reaching out to medical help from established routes. 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
TN: Family abducts woman on highway for marrying Dalit man
M Chithiravalli belonged to the Most Backward Class (MBC) and Ajith Kumar belonged to the Scheduled Caste community. Chennai: A woman in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruchirappalli was reportedly abducted by her family on Saturday, July 4, for marrying a Dalit man, with her kin assaulting her, hurling casteist slurs and giving death threats. According to The Hindu, the woman was identified as 27-year-old M Chithiravalli. She was allegedly abducted on the Tiruchi-Dindigul national highway near Maravanur under Manapparai Police Station limits. A police team rescued her and subsequently arrested four people, including her elder brother, involved in the crime. A resident of Mudukupatti, Chithiravalli married Ajith Kumar, 27, at a temple near Tiruchi in June. She belonged to the Most Backward Class (MBC) and Kumar belonged to the Scheduled Caste community. Since her family strongly opposed the union due to the caste differences, both sides approached the Manapparai All Women Police Station. Chithiravalli was sent with Kumar and his parents following the enquiry. Relations between Kumar and Murugesan, the husband of Chithirivalli’s sister, worsened soon after. Relations between families sour, leading to abduction Murugesan, on July 1, filed a complaint claiming Kumar threatened him, following which the two were directed to appear at the police station for questioning. According to the report, Kumar, his mother and Chithiravalli arrived for the inquiry on Saturday and submitted a petition. Murugesan failed to appear. The issue escalated when Kumar was returning with the two women from the police station in an autorickshaw. At around 1:40 pm, Murugesan, along with other accused, intercepted them in two cars on the National Highway and abducted Chithiravalli. The police said the group attacked Kumar, abused him with casteist slurs and threatened to kill him, while forcibly taking Chithiravalli away. Woman rescued from grandmother’s house Police officials acted swiftly, tracing Chithiravalli to her grandmother’s house in Yagapuram. She was reportedly confined by her family and was rescued that same night. Police arrested four accused – including Murugesan, his brother P Prakash, M Malaisamy, Chithiravalli’s elder brother and N Amanullah, alias Mala. They have been remanded to judicial custody, while the cars used for abduction were seized. Authorities have since registered a case based on Kumar’s complaint under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Chithiravalli’s family had allegedly been pressuring her to leave Kumar and had threatened her with serious consequences if she didn’t. Courtesy : TSD Note: This news is originally published on https:/thesiasatdaily.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Bhadohi: Dalit Labourer Beaten, Caste-Abused for Drinking Water Outside UP Clinic; 2 Arrested
A Dalit labourer was allegedly beaten, caste-abused and threatened with death after drinking water from a vessel outside a private clinic in Uttar Pradesh’s Bhadohi district. Police said the accused claimed the container had been ‘polluted’ because it was used by a Dalit. Two people have been arrested after the victim, who was hospitalised for 12 days, lodged a complaint. A Dalit labourer was allegedly beaten, caste-abused and threatened with death after drinking water from a vessel kept outside a private clinic in Uttar Pradesh’s Bhadohi district. According to police, the accused claimed the container had been “polluted” because it had been used by a Dalit. Two people have been arrested in connection with the incident. The alleged assault took place on June 23 when Bhola Gautam, a painter by profession, stopped at a private clinic while returning home from work to seek medicine for a headache. Police registered an FIR after Gautam lodged a complaint on July 5 following his discharge from hospital. UP Shocker: Dalit Man Beaten to Death in Lalitpur After Refusing to Massage Acquaintance’s Feet, 3 Arrested. Dalit Man Assault Over Drinking Water According to the FIR, Gautam asked for water to take his medicine and was directed to a vessel placed outside the clinic. As he drank the water, a nearby shopkeeper, identified as Subhash Bind, allegedly began verbally abusing him and questioned how a person from a “lower caste” could use the vessel. Police said Bind then allegedly attacked Gautam with a stick, causing injuries. The complaint further alleges that the accused declared the vessel had been “polluted” because a Dalit had drunk from it, assaulted Gautam and threatened to kill him. Firozabad Shocker: Dalit BSc Student Dies by Suicide After Caste-Based Assault in Uttar Pradesh. Victim Hospitalised for 12 Days According to Additional Superintendent of Police Shubham Agrawal, Gautam was rescued by his co-worker Om Prakash Vishwakarma and other bystanders. He suffered injuries to his head, abdomen, back and legs. Gautam was initially admitted to the district hospital before being referred to a hospital in Varanasi, where he underwent treatment for 12 days. After being discharged, he approached the police and filed a complaint. Based on Gautam’s statement, police registered an FIR late on Monday. Officials said two accused, including Subhash Bind, have been arrested. Further investigation into the case is underway. By Meera Courtesy : LatestLY Note: This news is originally published on https:/latestly.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Madhya Pradesh: No bridge, no ambulance! Woman gives birth on a cot in the middle of a raging river, video goes viral
In Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, an ambulance was unable to reach due to a lack of roads and bridges. After this, villagers safely delivered a baby on a cot in the middle of a raging river. A video of the system’s negligence went viral. Madhya Pradesh: A shocking and system-shattering incident has come to light in Chhindwara district. A pregnant woman was forced to give birth on a cot in the middle of a raging river due to the lack of an ambulance. Heavy rains cut off this area from the main road, and the villagers’ long-standing demand for a bridge has remained unheeded. City and Local Guide This horrific incident occurred in the Lohari Mohalla of Hathoda Hiri village in the Amarwara block. During the monsoon, the river, which overflows with rainwater, completely cuts off approximately 20 families living there. A video of the incident surfaced on Sunday, showing villagers carrying a pregnant woman on a cot across a swollen river. The video exposed the daily hardships faced by residents of the area. According to family members, Shankar Vishwakarma’s 35-year-old wife, Savita Vishwakarma, suddenly experienced severe labor pains on Wednesday evening. Alarmed relatives immediately called the 108 ambulance service. However, due to the river’s overflowing waters and the lack of a proper road, the ambulance was unable to reach their neighborhood. With no other way to help, the family and villagers were forced to place the woman on a cot and set out on foot to cross the river. While wading through the rapidly flowing water, Savita’s pain intensified, and she gave birth to the baby on the cot. The villagers managed to reach the other side of the river with the mother and child, where they waited for an ambulance. But when no help arrived despite waiting for a long time, they gave up and resorted to a motorcycle. They were taken on the same motorcycle to Amarwada Civil Hospital, where doctors gave the reassuring news that both mother and newborn were completely healthy. Geographical Context The woman’s brother-in-law, Gopal Vishwakarma, expressed his anguish, explaining that their village is completely cut off every year during the monsoon. He said that his sister-in-law was in severe pain, and despite calling an ambulance, it could not reach them due to the river, forcing her to resort to a cot and deliver on the way. Gopal leveled serious allegations against the administration, saying that the villagers have repeatedly appealed for a concrete bridge and road, but no one has listened. The same situation arises every year during the rainy season, and even schoolchildren have to risk their lives crossing the river daily. The villagers have filed written complaints with the District Panchayat, SDM, and public representatives, but no concrete action has been taken to date. Regarding this entire incident, health officials at Amarwada Civil Hospital say they have no clear understanding of why the ambulance failed to arrive on time. A health official explained that the 108 ambulance service is operated directly from the Bhopal control room, but the good news is that both mother and child have reached the hospital and are safe. This incident has once again exposed the ground reality of health services in remote areas of Madhya Pradesh. Even though the scope of emergency ambulance services has expanded in the state, poor roads and lack of infrastructure still pose a major obstacle to timely medical assistance in many villages. Following this incident, angry villagers have once again intensified their demand for a bridge and an all-weather paved road. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
The compulsion of labor: Why are the lives of tribal girls being ruined in Tamil Nadu, 1,500 kilometers away from a small village in Odisha?
The Tamil Nadu gas leak incident: A heartbreaking story of poverty, desperate migration, and the tragic deaths of 12 daughters from a small tribal village in Odisha. New Delhi: The tragic deaths at a seafood processing unit in Tiruvallur, Tamil Nadu, have exposed the pain of a highly vulnerable tribal community in Odisha’s Keonjhar district. This tragedy reflects the desperate migration that has devastated these villages of their youth, especially women. 56-year-old Bisuni Juang is illiterate. But sitting outside his mud hut, he carefully examines a pile of government documents. He tries to understand how his 16-year-old daughter, Jamini, died in Tamil Nadu, nearly 1,500 kilometers away. Since the gas leak at a factory in Tiruvallur district on June 21st, 15 people have lost their lives. Of these, 12 deceased were from Odisha’s Keonjhar district, all women. Two of the deceased, including Bisuni’s daughter, Jamini, were residents of Rangamatia village. Geographical Context Of the 68 people hospitalized, 65 are women. The five who are in critical condition and battling for life on ventilators all hail from Rangamatia. Rangamatia is a small tribal village with a population of just over 200. At least 10 women and 8 men from this village were working in the same seafood unit. This gas leak has made this small village the victim of one of the biggest incidents ever. Maps Bisuni says that some block officials came to his house and handed over Jamini’s body, simply stating that she died due to ‘gas’. The distraught father says he doesn’t know what this means; his daughter was only 16 years old and still had a full life ahead of her. Jamini, who studied until Grade 5, was the third of Bisuni’s four daughters. Her two elder sisters, aged 21 and 19, are married, while the youngest is just 14. Jamini left for Tamil Nadu about seven months ago, becoming the first member of the family to leave Keonjhar. Usually, they only visit their married daughters’ homes in nearby villages. The family has had no contact with Jamini since her departure. Until last year, the village didn’t even have mobile network; now, it has BSNL service, but Bisuni doesn’t have the money to buy a phone. The Juang community is part of a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), and Bisuni has long struggled with extreme poverty. Her only assets include two goats and a mud house divided into two parts. Due to the lack of their own cultivable land, the tribal people of the village clear parts of the forest to grow crops and depend entirely on forest produce. Tourist Attractions According to the 2011 census, Rangamatia had 38 households and a total population of 158. Located in hilly terrain and poorly maintained roads, this village lacks drinking water or electricity. A small spring in the nearby forest is the only source of water for quenching thirst. The village has only one Anganwadi (Anganwadi) and a primary-level school. Girls like Jamini typically don’t study beyond grade 5. The nearest high school is 10 kilometers away, and reaching it is nearly impossible due to lack of money and transportation. While government records state a motorable road 1 km away, it is located on the other side of a hill. The nearest hospital is located 40 km away in the town of Harichandanpur. Unable to even reach nearby markets for employment, young people like Jamini are forced to migrate to support their families. Bisuni doesn’t even know the wages her daughter was promised there. Girls and women who go out to work are mostly unmarried. It’s usually the men of the household who go out to work after marriage. The Odisha government initially announced a compensation of ₹4 lakh for the families of the deceased, which was later increased to ₹10 lakh. However, Bisuni claims that they have so far received only ₹3,000 from the Panchayat for the funeral. Native Gumani Juang, the second victim of Rangamatia, was 15 years old according to her Aadhaar card, but her parents claim she is 19. She had gone to Tamil Nadu in November last year with a group of laborers, including her 20-year-old elder brother, Parsu. Parsu was employed at a unit in Andhra Pradesh. Gumani’s 53-year-old father, Bira Juang, was against sending her so far. But Gumani was not ready for marriage and, lured by the promise of a better life and money, insisted on going. Bira says that he last spoke to his daughter on the phone just a few hours before the gas leak. She happily told him that she had saved some money and would return home soon. Upon receiving news of the gas leak and Gumani’s critical condition, the family hired a car and set out. They had just reached Bhubaneswar when Parsu called to inform them that it was difficult to reach Gumani’s place of work. Disappointed, they returned, and later their worst fears were proven true. Bira, who owns a two-room house built under the Rural Housing Scheme and a few goats, no longer wants to let his son Parsu go out to work. He says he cannot afford to lose his last remaining child. Natural Disasters Bira Juang also makes serious allegations against an organized network that lures tribal youth like his daughter. He names Shrikant Juang from his own village, who posed as a supervisor of a unit in Tamil Nadu and convinced them to go there. Keonjhar District Labor Officer Akash Bisoi has informed that the accused, Shrikant, is currently absconding and strict legal action will be taken against him. The Keonjhar District Labor Office does not have official figures on the number of tribal laborers migrating from these interior areas, but hundreds are unofficially acknowledged to be working outside. Following the deaths in Tamil Nadu, the Odisha Labor Department ensured the return of 58 migrant laborers, most of whom were from Keonjhar district. Keonjhar District Collector Vishal Singh said the administration is conducting a thorough investigation to determine whether
Why did tribal women in Udaipur wait for 4 hours for internet access? Brinda Karat writes to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan about the shutdown of MNREGA!
The ‘Vikasit Bharat – Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Rural) Act, 2025,’ or VB-GRAMG Act, will come into effect on July 1. New Delhi/Udaipur—Senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and former Rajya Sabha member Brinda Karat has written a letter to Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, raising serious objections to the rules of the Vikasit Bharat – Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Rural) Act (VB-GRAMG Act). This letter, written a day before the new law comes into effect, cites genuine problems faced by rural laborers and demands the immediate withdrawal of the rules and the reinstatement of MNREGA. Karat begins her letter by referring to Barapala, a tribal village in Rajasthan’s Udaipur district, where she had interacted with laborers at a MNREGA worksite the previous day. He reported that during the summer season, many female workers waited for about four hours from 6:30 am to 10 am for the online attendance site to open, but could not work that day due to a lack of internet connection. This situation was reported to be common. Indigenous He reported that after the end of MNREGA in December last year, these workers received only 18 days of work from January to June, despite assurances to Parliament that work would continue until the new law was implemented. In particular, at least 12 elderly women complained that the biometric facial recognition technology was unable to recognize their eyes, resulting in them being excluded from work. Karat said that the end of MNREGA has been devastating for the poor in the village. During the summer season, many female workers waited for about four hours from 6:30 am to 10 am for the online attendance site to open, but could not work that day due to a lack of internet connection. This situation is common in the tribal areas of Rajasthan. In light of these very real problems, Karat told the Union Minister that his ministry published eight rules of the VB-Gramji Act on May 22nd without consulting rural and MNREGA workers’ organizations and unions. Had they been consulted, the real problems could have been addressed, but the new rules are more flawed than the law itself and completely ignore the voices of workers. Internet and Telecom In the letter, Karat first raises the constitutional question of whether these rules violate Article 258 of the Constitution, which deals with the “conferring or imposing of duties” on states. According to him, the VB-Gramji Act not only imposes financial burdens on state governments but also imposes responsibilities without their consent. While Article 258(3) requires the central government to reimburse states for additional expenditure, the new rules deprive states of any role in decision-making, a direct attack on the federal structure. Kerala provided an average of 66 days of work a year, which is much higher than the national average, but will receive fewer funds due to its low population. Similarly, Tamil Nadu, which has the highest number of active MNREGA workers despite having a high GSDP, will also receive fewer funds. Karat also criticized the allocation criteria (Rule 396E). He said that the law already relies on fund allocation rather than demand-based work, but the rules determine allocation based on the recommendations of the 16th Finance Commission, which assigns a 42.5 percent weighting to per capita Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and 17.5 percent to population. He said these criteria have nothing to do with rural laborers seeking work. Politics Citing an example, he pointed out that Kerala provided an average of 66 days of work a year, which is much higher than the national average, but will receive fewer funds due to its low population. Similarly, Tamil Nadu, which has the highest number of active MNREGA workers despite having a high GSDP, will also receive fewer funds. Karat called this discriminatory and demanded an immediate reconsideration. Furthermore, Karat viewed the “additional expenditure” (Rule 403E) clause as an insult to state governments. He stated that state governments wish to spend their own funds on work expansion and innovation, but the rules bind them to central financial oversight. He sharply questioned whether the right to work would be held hostage to the efficiency or inefficiency of state governments as dictated by the central government. Regarding wage payment and worker identification (Rules 397E and 402E), Karat stated that the rules are completely silent on crucial issues such as the actual determination of wage rates, the timeframe for wage increases, or linking them to price indexes. He stated that the excessive emphasis on online registration and attendance is far removed from rural reality. Even with good internet access, registration can take 1-3 hours. Will this time be included in wages? He questioned why workers should be punished for the dishonesty of officials. Karat said that this approach to the use of technology is based on elitist thinking, while the experience of millions of MNREGA workers shows that this thinking is wrong. He warned that arbitrary and high productivity standards can make it impossible for workers to even earn minimum wages. Therefore, the rules should include a provision for time-use surveys. This is especially important for women workers, as most of the workers in these workplaces are women. Executive Branch Karat also described the formation of the National Level Steering Committee (NLSC) (Rule 397E) as a bureaucratic trap. He said that this committee has minimal representation from states (only five members) and no place for workers or other stakeholders. While more than 50 percent of workers are women, 18 percent are Scheduled Tribes, and 17 percent are Scheduled Castes, their ministries have been excluded from this committee. States are bearing 40 percent of the cost, but with only five members, they have been treated unfairly, as if the center is saying, “Share the cost, but the decisions will be ours.” The Central Council has no binding power, and no independent authority has been created for social audits, which are essential for transparency and corruption control. Finally, Karat said that these
Dalits’ share of budget spent on other schemes: Maharashtra government under fire for allocating ₹2.8 crore to the Warkari Mahamandal!
VBA strongly objects: Dalits’ budget worth crores diverted to other schemes, scholarships and welfare schemes still pending Mumbai – The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) has strongly protested the Maharashtra government’s decision to approve financial assistance of ₹2.80 crore from the Social Justice and Special Assistance Department’s budget for the Ashadhi Ekadashi festival through the Chief Minister’s Warkari Mahamandal. The party alleges that the budget earmarked for the welfare of the Scheduled Caste community is being continuously diverted to other schemes, adversely affecting the rights and development of the Dalit community. Through a Government Order issued on July 2nd, the Maharashtra Government has granted administrative and financial approval of a total of ₹2.8 crore (280 lakh rupees) to the Chief Minister’s Warkari Mahamandal to provide assistance of ₹20,000 per Dindi to 1,400 Dindis accompanying 10 palanquins of Maan during the Ashadhi Ekadashi Wari in Pandharpur. According to the Government Order, this amount will be provided from the “Chief Minister’s Warkari Mahamandal’s Assistance Grant (2235D963)” under the Budget Head 2235 – Social Security and Welfare of the Social Justice and Special Assistance Department. The order also states that this amount will be distributed through the Chief Minister’s Warkari Mahamandal, with the Divisional Commissioner, Pune, designated as the Controlling Officer and the Tehsildar (General Administration), Office of the Divisional Commissioner, Pune, as the Drawing and Disbursing Officer. Discrimination and Identity Relationships Criticizing the order, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi’s State General Secretary, Rajendra Patode, alleged that the Social Justice Department’s budget, especially funds earmarked for the Scheduled Castes, is being continuously used for schemes that are not directly related to the social, educational, and economic empowerment of the Dalit community. He stated that previously, similar funds were used for the Kisan Samman Yojana, the Chief Minister’s Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, and the Chief Minister’s Tirtha Darshan Yojana, and now, in the same vein, Rs. 2.80 crore has been allocated to the Chief Minister’s Warkari Mahamandal. Patode stated that if the government wishes to implement these schemes, separate provisions should be made for them from the general budget. He alleged that shifting the budget earmarked for the Scheduled Caste community to other items violates constitutional rights. According to him, numerous schemes related to scholarships, education, economic development, and social justice for Dalit students are still pending, while crores of rupees are being spent for other purposes. Diverting the budget allocated for the Scheduled Caste community to other items violates the rights granted by the Constitution. Previously, funds from the Social Justice Department were similarly used for the Kisan Samman Yojana, the Chief Minister’s Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, and the Chief Minister’s Tirtha Darshan Yojana. – Rajendra Patode, State General Secretary, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi also stated that due to the lack of a separate and effective legal framework for the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan, governments are arbitrarily using this budget. The party alleges that this is why the actual benefits of the funds allocated for the Scheduled Caste community are not reaching the targeted groups. Patode described this as a “financial emergency”-like attack on the rights of the Dalit community and called for a widespread public movement on this issue. However, the Maharashtra government’s administrative decision states that the purpose of this assistance is to provide ₹20,000 per Dindi to the 1,400 Dindis accompanying the 10 palanquins of Maan participating in the Ashadhi Ekadashi Wari in Pandharpur. The preamble states that the Warkari tradition is an important cultural heritage linked to Maharashtra’s social harmony, saint tradition, and public awareness, and given the growing numbers, this assistance is considered necessary for management and facilities. According to the government, the Chief Minister’s Warkari Mahamandal was established to carry out welfare programs for the Warkari community and kirtankars, and as in the past two years, it has been decided to provide grants to the Dindis this year as well. Currently, this decision has sparked political debate over the use of the Social Justice Department’s budget. The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) has demanded that the budget allocated for the Scheduled Caste community be used only for schemes related to the social, educational, and economic development of that community, and that legal safeguards be ensured to prevent the diversion of such funds to other schemes. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News