Govt plans scheme for free entrance exam coaching for Dalit students
New Delhi: Delhi govt is planning to launch a welfare scheme to provide IAS, JEE, medical and other competitive examination coaching for free to Dalit students. The scheme is expected to be similar to the previous AAP govt’s Dalit scholarship initiative, which has become non-operational due to allegations of irregularities. Two officials familiar with the development said BJP govt wanted to provide structured academic support to Dalit students, many of whom couldn’t afford crucial private coaching. “The educational support for Dalit students has been a longstanding demand of Dalit organisations and student groups. They have been urging authorities to ensure that talented students are not denied opportunities due to a lack of financial resources,” said one of them. “Minister Ravinder Indraj has asked the department to prepare a comprehensive scheme and submit it for consideration. The work will begin shortly,” he added. In 2017, AAP govt launched Jai Bhim Mukhyamantri Pratibha Vikas Yojana to provide free coaching to economically disadvantaged SC students for various competitive and entrance exams. It subsequently became non-functional due to alleged financial irregularities and non-payment to coaching institutes. The anti-corruption branch is investigating the allegations. The SC/ST/OBC/minorities welfare department will prepare the scheme, which is likely to cover tuition fees at empanelled coaching institutes and may also include stipends to help students sustain themselves during the preparation. Officials said all details were still at the planning stage. The department will seek inputs from the finance and law departments. “The scheme is expected to include stricter monitoring mechanisms to make it foolproof and ensure that it serves its intended purpose with higher transparency and accountability. A formal announcement is likely soon,” the official said. 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
3 transgender persons booked for obscene dance at Navi Mumbai traffic signal
Navi Mumbai: Nerul police booked three miscreant transgenders for performing an obscene dance after stopping vehicles at a traffic signal under the Nerul flyover on the Sion-Panvel highway on Tuesday morning. Nerul police said that the accused transgender persons were detained and escorted to the police station, where an FIR was registered against them under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) section 296 for performing obscene acts in public places or singing/reciting obscene songs, ballads, or words in or near public places, if done to the annoyance of others, along with Section 3(5) for common intention. The accused were released after being served notice under Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) section 35(3), directing them to appear for questioning whenever summoned for inquiry. A police officer said that yet another offence under the Maharashtra Police Act was registered against four other transgender persons a couple of days ago for creating a nuisance at a traffic signal in Nerul. Legal action is being taken after several verbal complaints against the transgender persons deliberately blocking the way of vehicles for seeking alms and causing inconvenience and annoyance to motorists. 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
PCMC’s new welfare scheme to help transgender train for driving jobs
Pune: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) on Tuesday approved a new welfare scheme to train the city’s transgender community to drive. The initiative, approved during the standing committee meeting, aims to create employment opportunities in civic hospitals and other PCMC establishments. A senior PCMC official stated that the scheme willempower transgender residents to get jobs as drivers. PCMC, in 2022, became the first municipal corporation in Maharashtra to employ transgender people. At present, around 150 transgender individuals work on a contractual basis across various civic departments. They serve as security guards, marshals in civic gardens, and assist in property tax recovery. “Some have also been placed in private firms through collaborations with TATA and Lighthouse Communication,” the official said. Mamata Shinde, deputy municipal commissioner and head of PCMC’s social development department, said the proposal to launch the scheme was finalised after community representatives requested targeted skill development and employment initiatives, as they faced difficulties finding jobs. “Training will be provided to drive three- and four-wheeler vehicles. We are considering their employment in civic hospitals and schools,” she said. Shinde said Rs 25 lakh allocated under ‘Other Welfare Schemes’, which have remained unutilised every year, will be diverted to this initiative. “Many members of the community do not have any documents, such as an Aadhaar card, so the civic body will soonorganise a drive to help them obtain it,” she added. 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
Bihar polls: Congress will stand by its word, says Revanth
Hyderabad: The extended meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) in Patna on Wednesday adopted resolutions promising ‘10 Guarantees’ to the people of Bihar, on the lines of Telangana’s ‘Six Guarantees’. According to the sources, the CWC’s ‘10 Guarantees’ to the people of Bihar are similar to the Telangana and Karnataka models, where guarantees (poll promises) were given, following which the party secured power in the two states. During his address at the CWC meeting, chief minister A Revanth Reddy explained about the caste survey conducted in Telangana as per the promise made by Rahul Gandhi. Revanth reportedly assured the people of Bihar that every promise and guarantee made by Rahul Gandhi will be implemented in Bihar too, if the Congress is voted to power. Revanth also explained about two bills passed in the Telangana assembly, one extending 42% reservations to the BCs, and another removing the 50% cap on total reservations in local bodies. He alleged that these bills are pending with the President of India, with the BJP intentionally stopping their approval. The CWC meeting praised the Congress govt’s efforts to promote social justice through the caste survey, 42% BC quota, SC categorisation and the implementation of all promises made by Rahul Gandhi. Revanth, at the CWC meeting, called upon the party leaders to lead the party to victory in Bihar under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud’s speech at the CWC meeting highlighted the Congress govt’s social justice initiatives. “The caste survey and BC quota Bills passed by the Congress govt have become a role model for the country, in tune with Rahul Gandhi’s fight for OBCs and other sections with the slogan ‘jitni aabadi, unti hissedari’,” he said. He credited the Congress’ success in Telangana to Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo yatra’ and Sonia Gandhi’s six guarantees. In Sept 2023, the Congress had convened an extended CWC meeting in Hyderabad, followed by a massive public meeting at Tukkuguda on the city outskirts. Sonia Gandhi unveiled the party’s six guarantees at the public meeting, and the party leadership believes it was this guarantee model that led Congress to victory in Telangana. Deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka, ministers N Uttam Kumar Reddy and Damodar Rajanarasimha, CWC special invitee Vamshi Chand Reddy and AICC in charge Meenakshi Natarajan also attended the meeting in Patna. 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
Online application for voter roll change will need Aadhaar
NEW DELHI: Election Commission now requires an applicant seeking fresh enrolment or inclusion/exclusion of a voter from the electoral roll via online mode to mandatorily verify his identity through OTP-based Aadhaar authentication. While online applications related to the electoral roll – through Form 6 (fresh enrolment), Form 7 (objection to inclusion/exclusion of voter in roll) and Form 8 (corrections) – would henceforth require’e-sign’ based on Aadhaar authentication, those who do not have Aadhaar number can always fill out the physical forms and personally submit them to the electoral registration officer (ERO) or the booth level officer (BLO). The ‘e-sign’ requirement for online applications related to the voters’ list, EC sources told TOI, was conceptualised in Aug and rolled out quietly in the second week of Sept. The reform, it was underlined, preceded Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s Sept 18 press conference during which he had alleged unauthorised attempts at deletion of over 6,000 voters in Aland assembly constituency of Karnataka in Dec 2022.The ‘e-sign’ initiative is meant to ensure that the applicant’s name in the electoral photo identity card (EPIC) and phone number – as declared in the online Forms 6, 7 or 8 – matches with his/her details recorded in the Aadhaar system. Form 7 allows an elector to object against the proposed inclusion or exclusion of a voter in the electoral roll of a constituency in which he himself is also registered. Such an applicant must mention his name, EPIC number and mobile number of self ‘or’ relative (father/mother/husband/legal guardian) in the form. The e-sign option prompts the applicant to complete his OTP-based Aadhaar authentication before submitting the form. EC had, soon after Rahul’s presser, clarified only 24 of the 6,018 applications for deletions in Aland were found genuine, while the remaining 5,994 were found incorrect, and rejected. An FIR was filed on Sept 6, 2023 by the Aland ERO in the case and all available details handed over to the investigation agency. 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 Modi govt’s response on Palestine issue abdication of humanity, morality: Sonia Gandhi
NEW DELHI: Asserting that India needs to demonstrate leadership on the issue of Palestine, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Thursday slammed the Modi government’s stance, saying its response has been characterised by a “profound silence” and an abdication of both humanity and morality. She said the government’s actions appear to be driven primarily by the personal friendship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and rather than India’s constitutional values or its strategic interests. “This style of personalised diplomacy is never tenable and cannot be the guiding compass of India’s foreign policy. Attempts to do the same in other parts of the world, most notably in the United States , have come undone in the most painful and humiliating ways in recent months,” Gandhi said in her article published in The Hindu. This is the third article by Gandhi on the Israel-Palestine conflict, published in a national daily in the recent past, in which she has vehemently criticised the Modi government’s stance on the issue. India’s standing on the world stage cannot be wrapped up into the personal glory-seeking ways of one individual, nor can it rest on its historical laurels. It demands persistent courage and a sense of historical continuity, she said in her article titled ‘India’s muted voice, its detachment with Palestine’. Gandhi pointed out that France has joined the United Kingdom, Canada, Portugal and Australia in recognising Palestinian statehood — “the first step in the fulfilment of the legitimate aspirations of the long-suffering Palestinian people”. More than 150 of the 193 countries that are members of the United Nations have now done so, she said. Gandhi underlined that India had been a leader in this regard having formally recognised Palestinian statehood way back on November 18, 1988, after years of support to the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). She cited the examples of how India raised the issue of Apartheid South Africa even before Independence and during the Algerian struggle for independence (1954-62), India was one of the strongest voices for an independent Algeria. In 1971, India intervened firmly to prevent genocide in what was then East Pakistan, midwifing the birth of modern-day Bangladesh, she pointed out. On the critical and sensitive issue of Israel-Palestine as well, India has long maintained a delicate but principled position, emphasising its commitment to peace and the protection of human rights, the former Congress chief said. India needs to demonstrate leadership on the issue of Palestine, which is now a battle for justice, identity, dignity and human rights, Gandhi asserted. In the last two years, since the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Palestine in October 2023, India has all but relinquished its role, she opined. “The brutal and inhumane Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023, were followed by an Israeli response that has been nothing less than genocidal. As I have previously raised, more than 55,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed, including 17,000 children,” she said. The residential, schooling and health infrastructure of the Gaza Strip has been obliterated, as have agriculture and industry, Gandhi said. “Gazans have been forced into a famine-like situation, with the Israeli military cruelly obstructing the delivery of much-needed food, medicine, and other aid — a ‘drip-feeding’ of aid amidst an ocean of desperation,” she said. In one of the most revolting acts of inhumanity, hundreds of civilians have been shot down while trying to access food, she pointed out. Gandhi opined that the world has been slow to respond, implicitly legitimising the Israeli actions. The recent moves by several countries to recognise Palestine as a sovereign state are a welcome and long-due departure from the policy of inaction, she said. “This is a historical moment and an assertion of the principles of justice, self-determination and human rights. These steps are not merely diplomatic gestures; they are affirmations of the moral responsibility that nations bear in the face of prolonged injustice. It is a reminder that in the modern world, silence is not neutrality, it is complicity,” she said. And here, India’s voice, once so unwavering in the cause of freedom and human dignity, has remained “conspicuously muted”, Gandhi said, hitting out at the Modi government. Meanwhile, it is appalling that just two weeks ago, India not only signed a bilateral investment agreement with Israel, in New Delhi, but also hosted its highly controversial far-right finance minister who has invited global condemnation for his repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank, she said. Gandhi argued that India must not approach the issue of Palestine as merely a matter of foreign policy but as a test of India’s ethical and civilisational heritage. The people of Palestine have endured decades of displacement, prolonged occupation, settlement expansion, restrictions on movement and repeated assaults on their civil, political and human rights, she said. Their plight echoes the struggles that India faced during the colonial era — a people deprived of their sovereignty, denied a nationhood, exploited for their resources, and stripped of all rights and security. “We owe Palestine a sense of historical empathy in its quest for dignity, and we also owe Palestine the courage to translate that empathy into principled action,” she said. 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
Vermont Christian school wins court battle over transgender athlete ban: Here’s why it matters for religious freedom
A federal appeals court has ruled in favour of a Vermont Christian school that was previously banned from participating in the state’s sports league after it forfeited a basketball game against a team with a transgender player. The ruling reinstates Mid Vermont Christian School into the Vermont Principals’ Association (VPA), the governing body for school sports in the state. In a decision issued by the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on September 9, the court granted the school a preliminary injunction, allowing it to rejoin the VPA while the case continues. The court stated that the school was likely to succeed in its claim that its removal from the sports league was based on religious discrimination, as reported by the Associated Press. Forfeited game leads to expulsion from state league The incident began in 2023 when Mid Vermont Christian School, based in Quechee, forfeited a high school girls’ basketball playoff game. School officials stated that the presence of a transgender player on the opposing team compromised “the fairness of the game and the safety of our players,” as reported by the Associated Press. Following the forfeiture, the VPA expelled the school from all state-sponsored athletic and co-curricular activities, including academic competitions such as debate tournaments and science fairs. The VPA cited its policies regarding race, gender, and disability awareness, stating that the school had violated its principles. Legal case filed by Alliance Defending FreedomIn response to the expulsion, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a conservative legal group, filed a lawsuit on behalf of Mid Vermont Christian School, some students, and parents. The case argued that the school’s First Amendment rights had been violated. According to ADF, the school had participated in the state’s sports league for nearly 30 years and only chose to forfeit the game to avoid breaching its religious beliefs, as reported by the Associated Press. David Cortman, an attorney with ADF, said in a statement that “the government cannot punish religious schools — and the families they serve — by permanently kicking them out of state-sponsored sports simply because the state disagrees with their religious beliefs,” as quoted by the Associated Press. Appeals court finds expulsion not religiously neutral In its ruling, the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit found that the VPA’s decision to expel the school was not neutral toward religion. The court wrote, “We conclude that plaintiffs are likely to succeed in showing that the VPA’s expulsion of Mid Vermont was not neutral because it displayed hostility toward the school’s religious beliefs,” as quoted by the Associated Press. The preliminary injunction means that Mid Vermont Christian School can resume participation in state-sanctioned sports and other activities while the case proceeds in court. The final outcome of the legal challenge is still pending. Emails seeking comment were sent to both Mid Vermont Christian School and the Vermont Principals’ Association, as reported by the Associated Press. Neither party has publicly responded to the court’s ruling. 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
SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav calls for nationwide PDA unity to empower the marginalized
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday emphasized that unity among backward classes, Dalits, and minorities is crucial to gain political power and protect the Constitution. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday emphasized that unity among backward classes, Dalits, and minorities is crucial to gain political power and protect the Constitution. In a statement shared on his WhatsApp channel, Yadav, underlined that the Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak (PDA) movement is about empowering those who have historically faced exploitation and oppression. Yadav described PDA as a unity born out of a shared consciousness and collective feeling against the exploitation and oppression of marginalized communities. “PDA is basically the name of that unity born out of consciousness and common feeling against the exploitation, oppression, and neglect of ‘backward, Dalit, and minority’,” he said. The PDA movement aims to bring together people from every class who stand for humanity and are against injustice. The PDA movement, born in Uttar Pradesh, has now become a beacon of hope for the oppressed and marginalized communities nationwide. The movement’s slogan, “Jo Peeedit Woh PDA” (Those who are oppressed are PDA), resonates with people from all walks of life who have faced historical neglect and exploitation. The PDA movement seeks to promote inclusive governance, ensuring equal opportunities for all citizens to thrive.The movement champions the causes of social justice and equitable development, aiming to counter attempts to undermine reservation policies. Yadav also advocates for a caste census to ensure fair representation and allocation of resources based on demographic realities. The PDA movement is not just about politics; it’s about empowering the marginalized communities to stand up against injustice. As Yadav said, “Let’s unite to save the Constitution, protect reservations, and build a new, prosperous tomorrow for all.” The movement’s slogan, “PDA ka parcham poore desh mein lahraayenge, hum apni PDA sarkar banayenge” (We will hoist the PDA flag across the country and form a PDA government), reflects its determination to bring about change. Courtesy : The Statesman Note: This news is originally published on https:/thestatesman.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Punjab SC Commission seeks report from SSP Jalandhar in Jaitewali case
Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], September 23 (ANI): The Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission has sought a report from the SSP Jalandhar in the case involving abusive remarks against Sant Krishna Nath Chaheru and the Dalit community of Village Jaitewali, near Jalandhar, on Tuesday. Speaking on this matter, a spokesperson for the Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission stated that the matter came to the attention of the Commission’s Chairman, S Jasvir Singh Garhi, through a newspaper report. Hence, taking suo motu notice of the matter, the Chairman directed the SSP Jalandhar to submit a report through the concerned Deputy Superintendent of Police by September 25. Meanwhile, the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, took steps to uplift education for Scheduled Caste students, said Cabinet Minister Baljit Kaur during a press conference at Punjab Bhawan. During the press conference, she stated that the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment, and Minorities has implemented major initiatives to ensure that students from marginalised communities receive opportunities to excel in higher education and professional careers. While discussing the new Overseas Scholarship Scheme, Baljit Kaur stated that Scheduled Caste students and children of landless agricultural labourers can now pursue studies at the world’s top 500 universities with full financial support from the Punjab Government. This scheme covers visa, airfare, tuition fees, a maintenance allowance of Rs 13.17 lakh per annum, a contingency allowance of Rs 1.35 lakh, and medical insurance. She also announced the launch of a two-month PCS Crash Course for SC, BC, and minority students at the Ambedkar Institute in Mohali, designed to prepare them for the civil services. She also mentioned that applications are being accepted offline and via email between September 17 and 26, and forty candidates will be selected through an entrance test on September 30. (ANI) Courtesy : ANI News Note: This news is originally published on https:/aninews.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
HRF demands Collector-led probe into Kaikaluru Dalit attack case
The Human Rights Forum (HRF) has demanded a comprehensive probe, under the leadership of the District Collector, into the Kaikaluru Dalit attack case. A three-member team from the HRF visited Danagudem near Kaikaluru, where a Dalit, P. Ajay, was allegedly attacked with a knife by members of Kapu community. The team learnt that the incident took place on September 5 during the Ganesh idol immersion celebrations, when Ajay, who was on his way to a ration shop on a two-wheeler, honked to alert the revellers. Enraged at this, the revellers, belonging to another community, reportedly attacked Ajay. Casteist slurs were reportedly hurled at his mother and sisters, who tried to help him. They were also reportedly dragged by their hair and beaten up. Despite being present there, the police personnel could not do anything, the activists wrote in a statement issued on Tuesday. HRF condemned the silence of the State government on this subject, and demanded stern action against all the accused. They also demanded a Collector-led probe in the incident and action under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against officials for threatening the complainant with a rowdy sheet. Ajay is undergoing treatment at the government hospital in Eluru. HRF activists A. Ravi, Md. Iqbal and Mutyala Srinivasa Rao were part of the fact-finding team. The Hindu Bureau Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehindu.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights