RASHTRIYA SAHARA, Lucknow, 18.5.2021 Page No. 07, Size:(10.78)cms X (12.59)cms. ANI, Online, 18.5.2021 Page No. 0, Size:(0)cms X (0)cms.
Delhi HC issues notice on plea of slum-dwellers, homeless people for food, shelter, financial help https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/delhi-hc-issues-notice-on-plea-of- slum-dwellers-homeless-people-for-food-shelter-financial-help20210517125754/ The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice on a plea of slum dwellers and homeless people, who sought direction to the Central Government, National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC), Delhi government, Delhi police and other authorities to make adequate arrangements for their food, shelter, financial help, and employment skills and to provide them with ration cards, labour cards or other beneficiary cards for them. The bench of Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh sought a response from all the respondents and adjourned the matter for June 4. Around six people, who are slum dwellers, homeless and belong to the poor section of the society with the help of two law students, had moved the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) and sought direction to NHRC, National Commission for protection of children rights, Delhi commission for protection of children rights, Delhi urban shelter improvement board, Delhi state legal service authority for an instant detailed survey of numbers of street dwellers, homeless, beggars across Delhi and direct the Government of NCT of Delhi to form a permanent committee to look after these people from time to time. The petitioners also sought direction for arrangement by creating community kitchens and provide quality food three times a day in their hands and make proper mechanisms for distribution. The plea stated that the education of their children is at stake as they cannot go to school because for them food is more important than education. This breaches their fundamental right under section 21 A, the right to education. The two law students (petitioners also), Shrikant Prasad and Vineeta Mahamana (Petitioners) claimed that they recently visited many places in Delhi including slums and roadside dwellers of Southeast Delhi, and found these people living in bad condition without food and shelter. "These people were not aware of the law and rights provided to them. The Supreme Court of India in its earlier judgment had pulled Centre and State governments for not having a concrete policy regarding them," the petitioners said. The PIL further stated, "Homeless children and street dwellers are living a destitute life at various red-light are compelled to beg due to non-availability of work during the pandemic. Due to unemployment, many are compelled to live on a footpath with their children who are also compelled to beg by compromising their health and safety. They are not beggars but helpless and homeless. This is the situation of whole Delhi." "As per the report 1.77 million Indians are homeless and 40 per cent of them are even getting no lockdown relief," the plea stated. "The problem is especially acute for homeless women who are malnourished and suffer from various other diseases, mental health issues and risky pregnancies. With hospitals overburdened with COVID-19, the issue of accessibility is likely to be worse now," the plea said. (ANI)
FREE PRESS JOURNAL, Online, 18.5.2021 Page No. 0, Size:(0)cms X (0)cms.
‘Not from Bihar, not our culture’: State Water Minister on bodies floating in Ganga https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/not-from-bihar-not-our-culture-state-water-minister- on-bodies-floating-in-ganga Bihar Water Resources Development Minister Sanjay Kumar Jha on Monday said that the bodies found floating in the river Ganga were not from the State and added that it is 'not our culture'.
Jha's remarks come after reports of several bodies being found floating in Ganga and its tributaries in the last few days in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Speaking to ANI, the Minister said, "Do you think this is our culture? No it's not. It is serious matter if bodies have been found floating in river Ganga but these bodies are not from Bihar." "We are shocked by the way bodies have been found floating in the holy Ganga river. Ever since we have seen this news we have taken immediate steps and asked officials to take appropriate action," said the Minister.
The Centre should probe this matter, he said and added that it is a matter of grave concern and calls for investigation.
"We have placed nets in many places in the Ganga river. I can't say openly about which state the bodies are coming from but it's matter of probe. Most of the bodies are found in border areas of Bihar," said Jha.
Meanwhile, the Centre has asked Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to prevent the dumping of dead bodies in the Ganga and its tributaries, calling media reports of bodies of COVID- 19 victims being dumped in the rivers "undesirable and alarming".
The Jal Shakti Ministry said that the state governments should focus on their safe disposal and dignified cremation.
On May 13, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had issued notices to the Union Jal Shakti Ministry, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, after receiving complaints about dead bodies floating in the Ganga.
Namami Gange has directed states to prevent dumping of dead bodies in the Ganga "and focus on their safe disposal and providing support for ensuring dignified cremation," the Jal Shakti Ministry said at a review meeting conducted on May 15-16.
The state pollution control boards have also been directed to monitor the water quality more frequently in consultations with the health departments.
FIRSTPOST, Online, 18.5.2021 Page No. 0, Size:(0)cms X (0)cms.
Deaths of three prisoners in shootout at Chitrakoot jail expose lawlessness in Uttar Pradesh prisons https://www.firstpost.com/india/deaths-of-three-prisoners-in-shootout-at-chitrakoot-jail- expose-lawlessness-in-uttar-pradesh-prisons-9627471.html The open murder of two prisoners by another inmate inside the Chitrakoot jail in Uttar Pradesh has posed serious questions on the security in state's prisons and the lawlessness that has gripped its jails right under the nose of the administration.
In a simple version of what transpired leading to the incident, it was said that an inmate fatally shot two others and the shooter was later gunned down by the police. The truth is that this simplified narration has only raised more questions than answers.
Was it a gang war or a fake encounter to eliminate criminals in an extrajudicial manner? How could a pistol be taken inside the jail premises when the prison manual strictly prohibits even the possession of a needle? Shockingly enough, the CCTV cameras in the area where the incident took place have not been working for two months thus ending the possibility of procuring any credible video evidence.
Last Friday (14 May), a prisoner named Anshu Dixit fired a pistol at Meeruddin alias Meraj Ali and Mukim alias 'Kala', a hardened criminal from western Uttar Pradesh killing them both on the spot. Dixit was himself killed in retaliatory action by the police. While jailor Mahendra Pal and jail superintendent Sriprakash Tripathi have been suspended as per the direction of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, these are only routine short-term measures and do little to cleanse a system thoroughly.
Anshu was transferred from Sultanpur jail to Chitrakoot jail on 8 December 2019 while on 20 March 2021, Mukhtar Ansari's special hand Meraj was sent to Chitrakoot jail from Varanasi. On 7 May 2021, Mukim, accused in more than 60 cases, was sent from Saharanpur jail to Chitrakoot jail. The trio died on 14 May.
Deaths of three prisoners in shootout at Chitrakoot jail expose lawlessness in Uttar Pradesh prisons Anshul Dixit in Rae Bareli jail, 2018. Photo procured by Mohammad Sartaj Alam
According to sources, 22 out of 30 CCTVs in the high-security cell in which Anshu was kept were not working for the last two months. A letter was written to the executive body to fix the CCTVs as maintenance is the responsibility of the agency that installed the cameras. In such a situation, the question arises that even after the complaint, why the cameras were not fixed? Why the jail administration commit such grave negligence? Why no action was taken against the agency concerned?
Since the jail officials were suspended in this matter, the Chitrakoot superintendent of police Ankit Mittal proved hardly helpful in providing more information. "Ask the jail administration. My health is not good," Mittal responded bluntly when more information was sought on the alleged gang war, access to arms by inmates and the sloppy maintenance of security gadgets. FIRSTPOST, Online, 18.5.2021 Page No. 0, Size:(0)cms X (0)cms.
In the FIRs, it has been revealed that at the time of the shootout none of the senior Chitrakoot jail officials were present. Both the jail superintendent and the jailer were not in jail at the time of the incident. The two deputy jailers were already on leave as they were COVID-19 positive. The jail superintendent was present at his official residence. The first FIR was lodged against the gang war accused by the jail superintendent while the second FIR was lodged regarding Anshu's encounter.
Anshu's father Jagdish Dixit claims that his son was killed in a fake encounter.
"What happened in the jail is completely wrong. The day before his death, Anshu spoke to me on the phone, he was absolutely fine then. He asked me to bring over his stuff. The police are lying by saying that he was asked to surrender. This is a fabrication. I have another son, who is a medical representative by profession and is absconding now. Big names have a hand in what happened yesterday. I cannot take his name or else it will be difficult for me to live. We cannot fight them. Whatever it is, all is political malice," Jagdish said.
Talking more about his son Anshu, Jagdish said, "My son was studying in Class 6 from Saraswati Shishu Mandir. He was a bright student. Once I bought him a dozen pencils and asked him not to use them all at once. But his classmates used to steal it. In anger, he brought pencils from several other students from his class the next day. I saw what he did was wrong. Then I asked him to immediately return the pencils and he did so. I am saying that I raised him well. He was not a criminal but the government and administration made him one. He was killed today, I know that I will not get justice.
"At the age of 14, he was badly injured by the boys of MLC Bharat Tripathi of Sitapur. After that, he did not come back from home. He grew up in the world of crime and never came under our control. Neither our son formed a gang nor did he have any relation with Mukhtar Ansari."
Meanwhile, Mursalin, the uncle of the deceased Mukim, said, "This incident happened on the day of Eid. All this has happened with planning because is it easy to get a pistol inside the jail? Who else carries a pistol apart from the police? I believe he was a criminal, looting cases were registered in his name, but there was no grudge with Anshu Dixit. God only knows who hatched this plan."
But, Mukim's mother Meena only said that the police criminalized her son. While Abdul Kalam, brother of Merajuddin, the third criminal killed in the Chitrakoot jail shootout case, expressed doubt on the police, "I know who is behind this conspiracy. I know who the conspirator is, but I will tell the name later. My brother has not met Mukhtar Ansari since 2004, my house was broken by forcibly associating my brother's name to that with Mukhtar. No one has a criminal record in my house. I retired from the railways."
FIRSTPOST, Online, 18.5.2021 Page No. 0, Size:(0)cms X (0)cms.
The Uttar Pradesh government has constituted a three-member inquiry committee comprising Chitrakoot commissioner DK Singh, IG Satyanarayana and DIG Sanjeev Tripathi to investigate the incident.
Former IPS officer Amitabh Thakur and human rights activist Nutan Thakur have sought an inquiry by the National Human Rights Commission in the alleged gang war and encounter in Chitrakoot jail.
In their complaint, they said that there are at least 10 reasons which make the administration's story completely unbelievable. They include the sudden availability of weapon in jail to a person who had anticipated his murder in jail, the presence of only five selected witnesses in the case, Anshu's categorical allegation on IG STF Amitabh Yash and jail administration of conspiring to kill him.
In a way, he had prophesized his own death, the second such suspicious death in an Uttar Pradesh jail after Munna Bajrangi's similar allegations on Amitabh Yash and the non-functioning of CCTV in Chitrakoot jail.
NDTV, Online, 18.5.2021 Page No. 0, Size:(0)cms X (0)cms.
NHRC Warns Union Education, HRD Secretaries Over Plight Of Students From Poor Backgrounds https://www.ndtv.com/education/nhrc-warns-union-education-hrd-secretaries-over- plight-of-students-from-poor-backgrounds The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has warned of coercive action while issuing a final reminder to the Secretary, Department of Education and Secretary, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India over the hardships, miseries and sufferings of financially backward students and those living in remote and inaccessible areas. The NHRC in its order stated, "This is a complaint received from human and social rights activist drawing the attention of the Commission to poor conditions of living, unavailability of the smartphone, lack of power and internet connectivity, etc. affecting the fundamental right of education of students across India who are living in remote/inaccessible places."
The NHRC passed the order acting on a petition filed by a civil liberties lawyer, noted human rights activist and Supreme Court advocate, Radhakanta Tripathy.
Taking cognizance, notice was issued to the concerned authorities as the intervention of the Commission is sought by Mr Tripathy to ensure availability of smartphone to the poor students, proper supply of electricity and network connectivity.
The NHRC in its order further said, "No report is received from the Secretary, Ministry of Human Resource Development and Secretary, Education, Department of Higher Education despite notice issued. Let reminder be issued to the authorities concerned to submit a report within four weeks failing which the commission shall be constrained to take resort to coercive measures under section 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act."
"Stay Home and Stay Safe" has been the campaign propagated by both the central and state governments but due to inaccessibility of the internet, poor connectivity and lack of power supply, the students especially in the remote areas and from the vulnerable segment have to come out of their houses and walk for miles together for the bare necessities for their studies. This creates an education deficit and enlarges the gap of privileges among the student communities in India, Mr Tripathy pointed out.
More than one crore of students across India has been deprived of education due to the lack of active government intervention. On one hand, there are no communication facilities to move out physically, while power supply and digital connectivity remain a mirage for the students in many areas in India, the plea stated.
Citing various instances of students' problems, Mr Tripathy pointed out that 38 lakh students in Odisha are deprived of the facility due to the non-availability of mobile networks in their areas. He said the fact is also admitted by the Government of Odisha.
NDTV, Online, 18.5.2021 Page No. 0, Size:(0)cms X (0)cms.
Similarly, in Telangana, students in Adivasi areas of Asifabad, Mancherial and Adilabad districts, and remote villages of ITDA Utnoor and Eturunagaram tribal regions suffer the same problem, the petition added.
However, in Jammu and Kashmir, students could not access online classes because of the government's order restricting network connectivity to 2G instead of 4G, the plea mentioned.
Mr Tripathy stated that the teachers have been advised to continue communication with students through virtual mode like Massive Online Courses. However, due to the lack of digital infrastructure, both teachers and students are facing unprecedented challenges.
Mr Tripathy further alleged that no corrective measure has been taken by the Government of India, State and Union Territories to assess the education deficit and to fill the gap of education during and after the COVID-19 situation due to lack of planning.
JANSATTA, Online, 18.5.2021 Page No. 0, Size:(0)cms X (0)cms.
बोलती लाश https://www.jansatta.com/editorial/jansatta-editorial-page-article-and-comment-on- plight-of-people-died-by-corona/1720854/ गंगा म बड़ी सं या म बहते शव कसी को भी झकझोर सकते ह । हाल म उ र देश से लेकर बहार तक गंगा म ऐसे शव देखने को मले। गािजयाबाद से लेकर क नौज, उ नाव, कानपुर, यागराज, वाराणसी, गाजीपुर, ब लया जैसे िजल से ये शव बहते आ रहे ह । बहार म भी कई जगह से ऐसी खबर ह । जा हर है, ये शव उन शहर या ामीण इलाक से ह नद कनारे ऊपर ह ऊपर दफनाए या बहाए गए ह गे जो गंगा कनारे पड़ते ह । कफन म लपट लाश अगर बह रह ह , कनारे लग रह ह , अधजल ह , त- व त हो चुक ह , जानवर न च रहे ह , तो इससे यादा वीभ स या हो सकता है! शव को इस तरह बहाने-दफनाने क घटनाएं मी डया म आने के बाद रा य मानवा धकार आयोग ने इसका सं ान लया। उ र देश और बहार सरकार को नो टस जार कए। आयोग ने जो सवाल पूछे और चतं ा जताई, वह तो ठ क है ह , ले कन शव क ग रमा और मानव अ धकार का जो मु दा उठाया, उसे नजरअंदाज नह ं कया जा सकता।
गौरतलब है क पछले ह ते बहार के ब सर िजले के चौसा म ऐसे ह इकह र शव को पो टमाट म के बाद दफनाने क बात सामने आई थी। उ र देश म गंगा कनारे पड़ने वाले िजल के हालात तो और र गटे खड़े देने वाले ह । क नौज म गंगा कनारे साढ़े तीन सौ से यादा, उ नाव म नौ सौ से यादा, गाजीपुर म तीन सौ, कानपुर म चार सौ से यादा शव नद कनारे दफन मले। सवाल है क हाल म ह अचानक ऐसा य होने लगा? माना जा रहा है क ये शव उन लोग के ह जो कोरोना सं मत थे और इनके प रजन क है सयत अं तम सं कार का खचा उठाने क भी नह ं थी। कोरोना सं मत के अं तम सं कार के लए मशान म िजस तरह से लूटखसोट मची है, मोट रकम ऐंठ जा रह है और घंट कतार म लगना पड़ रहा है, वह कसी से छपा नह ं है। दसू र मह वपूण बात यह क िजन िजल म यह सब देखने को मल रहा है, वे महामार क चपेट म ह ।
भले सरकार कतने दावे य न करती रह क ामीण इलाक म हालात काबू म ह , इलाज के सारे बंदोब त ह , ले कन लाश के ये ढेर अस लयत उजागर करने के लए काफ ह । अब इसम यादा शक नह ं बचा क सं मण क जांच, इलाज से लेकर अं तम सं कार तक म सरकार ने जो लापरवाह दखाई, ये शव उसी का नतीजा ह ।
शव क दगु त से वच लत मानवा धकार आयोग ने रा य और क शा सत देश को मतृ क के अ धकार और स मान क र ा के लए कानून बनाने का सुझाव दया है। आयोग ने कहा क शव का साम ू हक अं तम सं कार या उ ह साम ू हक प से दफनाना व धस मत नह ं है, य क JANSATTA, Online, 18.5.2021 Page No. 0, Size:(0)cms X (0)cms.
यह कसी भी मतृ क के स मान और अ धकार का उ लंघन है। ले कन सरकार को इससे कहां मतलब है! कहना बड़ा आसान है क जो चला गया, वह मुि त पा गया। ले कन यह नह ं भूलना चा हए क ये शव ऐसे कठोर सवाल भी छोड़ गए ह िजनका जवाब एक न एक दन सरकार को देना ह पड़ेगा।
सं वधान का अनु छेद-21 सफ जी वत यि त को ह ग रमा और स मान के साथ जीने का अ धकार नह ं देता, बि क मतृ यि त को भी वह समान प से यह अ धकार दान करता है। मतृ क के अ धकार और ग रमा क र ा रा य का कत य है। ले कन ऐसा लगता है क हमार सरकार न ठु र ह । कहते ह लाश नह ं बोलतीं, ले कन आज लाश ह बोल रह ह । NAVBHARAT TIMES, Online, 18.5.2021 Page No. 0, Size:(0)cms X (0)cms.
बेघर लोग को दन म तीन बार अ छा भोजन देने के लए अदालत म या चका https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/india/petition-to-court-to-provide-good-food-to- homeless-people-three-times-a-day/articleshow/82707778.cms शहर म बेघर लोग को दन म तीन बार अ छा भोजन मुहैया कराने क एक या चका द ल उ च यायालय म आई िजसने सोमवार को क और द ल सरकार से इस बाबत जवाब मांगा। म ु य यायाधीश डी एन पटेल और यायमू त यो त सहं क पीठ ने क , रा य मानवा धकार आयोग, द ल सरकार, प ु लस, रा य व धक सेवा ा धकरण और रा य तथा द ल बाल अ धकार संर ण आयोग को नो टस जार कर या चका पर उनका ख जानना चाहा।
व ध के दो छा और कु छ बेघर लोग क या चका म दल ल द गयी है क द ल क सड़क पर सैकड़ प रवार बुर ि थ त म रह रहे ह िज ह पया त भोजन और साधन स ु वधाएं उपल ध नह ं ह ।
या चका म अ धका रय को यह नद श देने क मांग क गयी है क द ल म बेघर लोग और भीख मांगने वाल का व ततृ सव ण कराया जाए और उनके हत का यान रखने के लए एक स म त बनाई जाए।
NEW INDIAN EXPRESS, Online, 18.5.2021 Page No. 0, Size:(0)cms X (0)cms.
Sterling protest for justice https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2021/may/18/sterling-protest- forjustice-2303855.html Nearly three years since the police opened fire on people protesting Sterlite Copper and claimed the lives of 13 civilians, the world is a much different place. A pandemic has had its way for more than a year now, a newly-elected government is finding its way through the chaos, Vedanta Limited has been allowed to reopen its Thoothukudi unit if only to produce oxygen that the country is desperately in need of. Yet, not much has changed for the people of Thoothukudi. Now, as it was then, justice is still far from reach; given that their demands are yet to be met. It is to draw attention to this state of affairs that Anti-Sterlite People’s Movement has called for a solidarity hunger strike — Stay-at-Home Satyagraha for Justice in Thoothukudi — in the lead up to May 22.
“We needed to draw focus on the issue that justice remains to be seen for the people of Thoothukudi. These were people who didn’t have a choice; they took up the people’s cause, no one was protesting for personal gain,” begins Fathima Babu, activist and coordinator of the Movement. While there was little they could do last year, the need to act became impertinent when Vedanta was allowed to open its oxygen plant at Thoothukudi this year, she reasons. Besides, there is much to hope from the newly elected government that put forth action against Sterlite Copper as one of its prominent poll promises.
“It (DMK) gave plenty of attention to Sterlite in its election manifesto, promising to shut it down. But, when politicians are pushed into difficult situations, we don’t know how far they will remember their promises. After all, we’ve been protesting Sterlite for 25 years now; production aarambicha pothe poraatamum aarambichiduchu. And both AIADMK and DMK have been at the helm. So, we are having to be cautious,” she reasons. Hence, the call for a solidarity protest. In the lead up to May 22, it has asked people to give up one meal or one day’s food for the people who lost their lives in the fight against the copper smelter giant and the police atrocity, and those left behind and awaiting justice. “More than the hunger strike, it is a way for us to show that people are still opposed to this corporation.
The government should not think that the people would accept Sterlite now that it has been allowed to function (in this limited capacity). There will be more such efforts but none that is against government regulations for Corona. We don’t believe in breaking the laws of the land or getting involved in any kind of violence,” she asserts. While this is a way to remind the government of the work still left to be done, it’s also a means to remember the ones lost to the fight, she says. “Avangaluku ninaivoottal, ivangaluku ninaivendhal,” she remarks.
Besides, as much as Sterlite has been allowed to open for what can be termed a ‘medical emergency’, there is no trust in the corporation that is believed to have returned to the arena with a kalla saavi. That’s why their list of demands is led by the call to close the plant permanently. NEW INDIAN EXPRESS, Online, 18.5.2021 Page No. 0, Size:(0)cms X (0)cms.
Ensure that Vedanta does not return to Thoothukudi “That’s our ultimate demand.”
Prosecute Vedanta and its directors for fraud and violation of environmental laws “Criminal proceedings have not been initiated against them yet. I tried; it was dismissed in the JM 3 court. Then, I went to the Madurai Bench (of the Madras High Court). But, isn’t there a huge difference between the case filed by a retired professor in some corner of the state and the one filed by the government? So, we want the government to initiate criminal proceedings. After all, it did win against Hindustan Unilever in Kodaikanal.”
Identify and take action against police persons responsible for the 2018 massacre “There was the CBI investigation against the police firing. It should either identify the people who were involved in the firing or declare that there was no firing. But, cases have been filed only against the people. One policeman has been charged. But not for firing at people. So what are the findings about the police firing?”
Withdraw all cases against Thoothukudi residents filed to cover up the state’s collusion with Vedanta and complicity in the violence “There are hundreds of cases against the people of Thoothukudi. All of them have to be withdrawn. The protests were for their life and livelihood.”
Ask the National Human Rights Commission to reopen the Thoothukudi enquiry, and make public its findings “When things heated up in Thoothukudi, they took suo moto cognisance of the incident and initiated an investigation. After all that work, they declared that things had returned to normal and closed the case. What has returned to normal? Have the 15 people come back to life? Have the people decided to let Sterlite be? Or has Sterlite said it won’t smelt copper there? So, we have to force them to reopen the case.”
Direct Justice Aruna Jagadeesan committee to examine witnesses online to expedite finalisation of the enquiry into the Thoothukudi massacre “All these years, they have focussed on physical presence for deposition. They could have done it online. We do even the smalled meetings online these days.”
In the meantime, the hunger strike is to keep the members of the fight alive, she says. “We are not going to achieve much by not eating. That way, there are lot more people with no means to food in the country. This hunger strike is not a huge concept. Aana makkal atha seyyum pothu unarvoda seiyaraan la? That’s what we want,” she surmises. The global online relay to hold Vedanta accountable began on May 12 and will conclude with the highest numbers on May 22, the anniversary of the Thoothukudi massacre.
NEW INDIAN EXPRESS, Online, 18.5.2021 Page No. 0, Size:(0)cms X (0)cms.
Plea to provide quality meals to homeless thrice a day: HC seeks stand of Centre, Delhi government https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2021/may/17/plea-to-provide-quality- meals-to-homeless-thrice-a-day-hc-seeksstand-of-centre-delhi-government- 2303725.html A plea to provide adequate quality food three times a day to the homeless and beggars in the city was raised before the Delhi High Court which on Monday sought the Centre and Delhi government's responses to it.
A bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh issued notice to the Centre, National Human Rights Commission, Delhi government, police, state legal services authority and the national as well as Delhi commission for protection of child rights, seeking their stand on the petition.
The plea by two law students and some homeless persons has contended that there are hundreds of families living in destitute conditions on the streets of Delhi without sufficient food or civic amenities. It has sought a direction to the authorities to carry out a detailed survey of the number of homeless and beggars across Delhi and to form a committee to look after the interests of these persons.
It has also sought that adequate arrangements be made to provide quality food three times a day to the homeless by creating community kitchens. Besides that the plea also seeks issuance of ration cards, labour cards and financial help of Rs 5,000 per month to the homeless and to create more shelters for them.
ECONOMIC TIMES, Online, 18.5.2021 Page No. 0, Size:(0)cms X (0)cms.
Plea to provide quality meals to homeless thrice a day: HC seeks Centre, Delhi govt stand https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/plea-to-provide-quality-meals-to- homeless-thrice-a-day-hc-seeks-centre-delhi-govt-stand/articleshow/82706831.cms A plea to provide adequate quality food three times a day to the homeless and beggars in the city was raised before the Delhi High Court which on Monday sought the Centre and Delhi government's responses to it. A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh issued notice to the Centre, National Human Rights Commission, Delhi government, police, state legal services authority and the national as well as Delhi commission for protection of child rights, seeking their stand on the petition. The plea by two law students and some homeless persons has contended that there are hundreds of families living in destitute conditions on the streets of Delhi without suicient food or civic amenities. It has sought a direction to the authorities to carry out a detailed survey of the number of homeless and beggars across Delhi and to form a committee to look after the interests of these persons. It has also sought that adequate arrangements be made to provide quality food three times a day to the homeless by creating community kitchens. Besides that the plea also seeks issuance of ration cards, labour cards and nancial help of Rs 5,000 per month to the homeless and to create more shelters for them.
TELEGRAPH, Online, 18.5.2021 Page No. 0, Size:(0)cms X (0)cms.
Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha appeals to govt to shift ailing Stan to hospital https://www.telegraphindia.com/jharkhand/jharkhand-janadhikar-mahasabha-appeals- to-govt-to-shift-ailing-stan-to-hospital/cid/1815941 The Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha, a coalition of progressive civil rights organisations, on Monday wrote to Maharashtra home minister Dilip Walse Patil urging him to shift octogenarian Jesuit priest Father Stan Swamy to a good hospital after family members of the Ranchi-based tribal rights activist complained that he had developed Covid-19 symptoms at Taloja Central Prison in Navi Mumbai.
“Stan Swamy is a Parkinson’s disease patient with severe tremors in both hands. As a result, he has trouble drinking from a glass, taking bath and washing clothes on his own. He also has a serious hearing problem and needs hearing aids for both ears. He was operated twice for hernia in the recent past. Stan had called up his colleague (Fr Joe Xavier, director of the Bangalore-based Indian Social Institute) on May 14 and shared that he was feeling very weak and fragile. Stan has fever, cough and a running stomach. He was given antibiotics by the ‘ayurvedic’ doctor of the jail.
“The medicines did not help much. He is yet to be tested for Covid. He has also not yet received first vaccine shot,” the letter said.
It was signed by rights activists Aloka Kujur, Bharat Bhusan Choudhary, Elina Horo and Siraj Dutta, all members of the Mahasabha.
The letter says that there are reports of rising Covid cases in the Taloja jail and suggests: “In this situation, Stan should be immediately shifted to a good hospital and given adequate medical treatment. It will be really helpful if he is shifted to a hospital like Holy Family (a super-speciality hospital in Mumbai) or Holy Spirit (charitable trust hospital in Mumbai) where his Jesuit colleagues can take care of him.”
The letter, copies of which have been sent to Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, further said:
“Stan is an elderly and ailing person with limited mobility and no history of violence against others…. We also sincerely hope that he gets immediate bail.”
Stan’s elder brother Irudaya Swamy had told the media on Sunday that the 84-year-old priest has severe cold, fever, body pain and diarrhoea and that he could not attend the call of his legal counsel on May 15.
“We have no doubt that he is affected by Covid-19. We are worried,” the 90-year-old man from Tamil Nadu told a virtual news conference.
Father Arockiasamy Santhanam, spokesperson for the National Lawyers Forum of Religious and Priests, said that they plan to urge the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to send a team of doctors to the prison to examine the situation TELEGRAPH, Online, 18.5.2021 Page No. 0, Size:(0)cms X (0)cms.
and direct the government and prison authorities to attend to the health needs of prisoners such as Fr Stan.
“The NHRC has issued many protocols to be strictly followed in the prisons. But it seems the Taloja prison does not follow any of the Covid protocols and the prison authorities do not have any respect for the NHRC,” alleged Fr Santhanam.
He had also attended the virtual news conference organised on Sunday by the relatives and friends of Fr Stan and 15 others arrested in the Bhima-Koregaon case.
The Jesuit lawyer wants the prison authorities to “respect health rights of prisoners”.
“Health is a fundamental right and very well part and parcel of Article 21 of the Constitution. We hope the Taloja (jail) will not become an Auschwitz,” he added.
Fr Stan was arrested by the National Investigation Agency on October 8, 2020, from his residence near Ranchi on the charges of having links with Maoists and plotting to overthrow the government.
The counter-terrorism agency flew him to Mumbai where a court remanded him to jail a day after his arrest.
Fr Stan and 15 others have been arrested under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
ORISSA POST, Online, 18.5.2021 Page No. 0, Size:(0)cms X (0)cms.
NHRC seeks ATR on anti-liquor activist’s ‘murder’ in Jajpur https://www.orissapost.com/nhrc-seeks-atr-on-anti-liquor-activists-murder-in-jajpur/ The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Jajpur Superintendent of Police to submit an action-taken report (ATR) in connection with the alleged murder of a woman who opposed illegal sale of liquor at Barei village under Mangalpur police limits in the district. The rights panel, while hearing a petition lodged by a rights activist, directed the SP to submit the ATR within six weeks. The commission also asked the SP to enquire into the alleged police inaction in the matter that led to the fatal attack on the lady. The Jajpur Collector has also been asked to submit a separate report with the details regarding the monetary compensation awarded to the next kin of the deceased lady under various government schemes as well as Section 357 of the CrPC within six weeks. Notably, Bijay Jena of Barei village was selling liquor illegally. But Lakshmi had been opposing liquor sale in the village. She had even asked Bijay to refrain from the illegal trade. Later, she had lodged a complaint at the local police station seeking action against the bootlegger. Acting on her complaint, police asked Bijay to stop the illegal business and warned him of action if he continues with the business. Bijay had since been harbouring a grudge against Lakshmi. He attacked her with stones and sticks May 3. A critically injured Lakshmi was rescued by the villagers and rushed to the Jajpur district headquarters hospital. Later, she was shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack after her condition deteriorated. However, she succumbed to her injuries May 3
PRINT, Online, 18.5.2021 Page No. 0, Size:(0)cms X (0)cms.
Bodies floating in Ganga not from Bihar, not our culture, says state minister https://theprint.in/india/bodies-floating-in-ganga-not-from-bihar-not-our-culture-says- state-minister/659825/ Bihar Water Resources Development Minister Sanjay Kumar Jha on Monday said that the bodies found floating in the river Ganga were not from the State and added that it is ‘not our culture’. Jha’s remarks come after reports of several bodies being found floating in Ganga and its tributaries in the last few days in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Speaking to ANI, the Minister said, “Do you think this is our culture? No it’s not. It is serious matter if bodies have been found floating in river Ganga but these bodies are not from Bihar.”
“We are shocked by the way bodies have been found floating in the holy Ganga river. Ever since we have seen this news we have taken immediate steps and asked officials to take appropriate action,” said the Minister.
The Centre should probe this matter, he said and added that it is a matter of grave concern and calls for investigation.
“We have placed nets in many places in the Ganga river. I can’t say openly about which state the bodies are coming from but it’s matter of probe. Most of the bodies are found in border areas of Bihar,” said Jha.
Meanwhile, the Centre has asked Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to prevent the dumping of dead bodies in the Ganga and its tributaries, calling media reports of bodies of COVID- 19 victims being dumped in the rivers “undesirable and alarming”.
The Jal Shakti Ministry said that the state governments should focus on their safe disposal and dignified cremation.
On May 13, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had issued notices to the Union Jal Shakti Ministry, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, after receiving complaints about dead bodies floating in the Ganga.
Namami Gange has directed states to prevent dumping of dead bodies in the Ganga “and focus on their safe disposal and providing support for ensuring dignified cremation,” the Jal Shakti Ministry said at a review meeting conducted on May 15-16.
The state pollution control boards have also been directed to monitor the water quality more frequently in consultations with the health departments.
HINDUSTAN TIMES, Delhi, 18.5.2021 Page No. 14, Size:(8.11)cms X (9.60)cms. RASHTRIYA SAHARA, Delhi, 18.5.2021 Page No. 7, Size:(4.30)cms X (9.99)cms.