KORAPUT IS a district with Maoist infestation and many other problems; which surrounds the un-divided Koraput throughout the year. One of the most serious problems is child labour in this backward region. Though the Orissa state government had decided to eradicate child labour till 2014, and had also stepped in various programmes regarding the same. But the state is witness to a large number of poor tribal children working in various hotels, road sides and market places.
Till date there is no proper record of how many child labourers are there in the state. The child labour brings a negative picture towards the visitors. In a democratic state, it is shameful that this problem is increasing day by day and growing to become a vast problem.
Looking forward to eradicate child labour from Orissa, government has taken various steps. The state government has joined hands with various departments of state, such as; Women and Children Welfare Department, Revenue Department, Employment Department, etc. These departments will identify the child labours and also calculate the same. They will also work for the welfare and development of the child labour and its eradication.
Along with the above plans and programmes, the state government has also decided to take help from the Central government. It is also been decided to open at least two transit homes in district level. All these plans and programmes of the state government are welcome but how far all these will be fruitful remains a big question.
Poverty and poor standard of living is the main reason for the increased child labour in Koraput. Around 72 per cent of the population is below the poverty level in the area. To earn their day to day livelihood they put their poor children to work. Poor tribal children working in garage, workshops, shops, hotels, road side, grazing animals, collecting dry woods for fuel at home, etc can be seen every .
The government should properly plan to eradicate poverty from these areas. If only each and every family set out of poverty then only eradicating child labour till 2014 would be possible.
February 05, 2010
Safety of your cell phone: Some tips
Cell phone snatching and cell phone stealing have become something so common these days that incidents like these don’t make much of news. It just takes a minute for the cell phones stealers to get away before the person even realizes that their cell phone is gone. They are very good at their job.
Now the point is not to appreciate their sleight of hand but take steps to protect and safeguard our mobile phones from the thieves. Public transport is the most common place where instances like this take place. While getting into a bus make sure you have your mobile phone in your hand and not in your pocket or bag.
Avoid talking on your mobile phone while in a bus or on a road with either a lot of crowd or less people. Don’t get into a fight with a group of 3-4 or more people. They will deliberately get into a fight over a very petty issue with you and when you get involved they will snatch your cell phone and run away making you feel like a fool.
Keep your eyes and ears open with your head in an active mode and as soon as you feel something fishy, alarm the people around you, shout for help and check your belongings at the very moment. Don’t panic, try to keep yourself calm and if something happens don’t ever get into a physical fight with people because they might be ready to harm you and they may hurt you physically.
February 01, 2010
Welcome verdict of Delhi High Court on RTI
JUSTICE S Ravindra Bhatt of Delhi High Court should be complimented for his repeated verdict to induce transparency as desired under Right to Information (RTI) Act when he now turned down pleas of several public-funded bodies including Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, Indian Olympic Association, Sanskriti School etc against CIC-verdicts holding these bodies under purview of RTI Act.
In fact, concerned public information officers of public-bodies losing court-cases against CIC verdicts should be penalised to discourage filing such baseless cases at a time when RTI Act in itself is absolutely clear without actually needing any further endorsement from the courts. Such a move will discourage filing frivolous court-cases against CIC verdicts simply to defer providing information in otherwise required under RTI Act for a time-bound supply of information.
A division-bench at Supreme Court had once rightly observed that many-a-times petitioners seeking stay-orders at initial stage are successful to drag cases for long but ultimately losing the case! Case-number WPC 2908/2007 against CIC verdict at Delhi High Court still remains undecided because of the public-authority Department of Justice obtaining ex-party stay in April 2007, went on seeking adjournments again and again while cases filed against CIC verdicts in the year 2009 were decided in the year 2009 itself.
In fact, concerned public information officers of public-bodies losing court-cases against CIC verdicts should be penalised to discourage filing such baseless cases at a time when RTI Act in itself is absolutely clear without actually needing any further endorsement from the courts. Such a move will discourage filing frivolous court-cases against CIC verdicts simply to defer providing information in otherwise required under RTI Act for a time-bound supply of information.
A division-bench at Supreme Court had once rightly observed that many-a-times petitioners seeking stay-orders at initial stage are successful to drag cases for long but ultimately losing the case! Case-number WPC 2908/2007 against CIC verdict at Delhi High Court still remains undecided because of the public-authority Department of Justice obtaining ex-party stay in April 2007, went on seeking adjournments again and again while cases filed against CIC verdicts in the year 2009 were decided in the year 2009 itself.
Adjournment-culture in courts must be curbed
Parties seeking adjournments should be made to pay some reasonable but fixed cost which should go to the exchequer rather than opposite side or its counsel. Even judges should normally not have discretionary power to deviate from such fixed cost.
JUSTICE S N Dhingra of Delhi High Court has rightly lashed out at frivolous reasons usually given to seek adjournments just to deliberately delay court-proceedings. A division-bench of Supreme Court had also opined against frequent stay-orders granted by courts that too at a time when parties obtaining stay-orders many-a-times ultimately lose the cases under stay.
Parties seeking adjournments should be made to pay some reasonable but fixed cost which should go to the exchequer rather than opposite side or its counsel. Even judges should normally not have discretionary power to deviate from such fixed cost.
Justice SN Dhingra’s strictures and dismissal of request for adjournment is in tune with the vision-document presented by Union Law Minister at New Delhi conference on October 24, 2009, with some practical solutions to check unholy adjournment-culture in courts.
But all this is not enough. Rather government-departments/ministries are amongst prominent names in seeking adjournments. Department of Justice sought such an ex-party stay-order against verdict from Central Information Commission (CIC) about three years ago, but since then the case has not moved even an inch with counsels for the public-authority seeking adjournments again and again! Even a meeting of all the information commissioners at CIC had to decide that Chief Information Commissioner would meet Chief Justice of Delhi so that cases against CIC verdicts could be decided fast to maintain spirit of Right To Information Act for providing timely information.
Since a large number of cases involve government functionaries, the court/bench handling such cases should devise a mechanism whereby fixed days are devoted for such particular government functionaries which are most involved in court-cases. For example, all cases involving Central Information Commission may be taken on a particular day of the month and likewise. It should be ensured that counsels of government functionaries may be present on priority on such suggested fixed days.
JUSTICE S N Dhingra of Delhi High Court has rightly lashed out at frivolous reasons usually given to seek adjournments just to deliberately delay court-proceedings. A division-bench of Supreme Court had also opined against frequent stay-orders granted by courts that too at a time when parties obtaining stay-orders many-a-times ultimately lose the cases under stay.
Parties seeking adjournments should be made to pay some reasonable but fixed cost which should go to the exchequer rather than opposite side or its counsel. Even judges should normally not have discretionary power to deviate from such fixed cost.
Justice SN Dhingra’s strictures and dismissal of request for adjournment is in tune with the vision-document presented by Union Law Minister at New Delhi conference on October 24, 2009, with some practical solutions to check unholy adjournment-culture in courts.
But all this is not enough. Rather government-departments/ministries are amongst prominent names in seeking adjournments. Department of Justice sought such an ex-party stay-order against verdict from Central Information Commission (CIC) about three years ago, but since then the case has not moved even an inch with counsels for the public-authority seeking adjournments again and again! Even a meeting of all the information commissioners at CIC had to decide that Chief Information Commissioner would meet Chief Justice of Delhi so that cases against CIC verdicts could be decided fast to maintain spirit of Right To Information Act for providing timely information.
Since a large number of cases involve government functionaries, the court/bench handling such cases should devise a mechanism whereby fixed days are devoted for such particular government functionaries which are most involved in court-cases. For example, all cases involving Central Information Commission may be taken on a particular day of the month and likewise. It should be ensured that counsels of government functionaries may be present on priority on such suggested fixed days.
January 20, 2010
Amar Singh-Away from the limelight?
AMAR SINGH’S resignation from all party posts was accepted by the Samajwadi Party President Mulayam Singh Yadav. Earlier, Amar Singh told the media that he was tired with the day to day activities of the party and could not handle the pressure and he wanted to devote time to his family.
It was not easy for him as he has been serving the Samajwadi party, and all the responsibilities were on his shoulders. It became too much to bear. He also revealed to the media that his two friends, who had stood by him all through were
Amitabh Bachchan and Anil Ambani family.
It is not easy to leave the limelight of Indian politics as you are always in the news and in the thick of things. It is not easy giving up the celebrity status. But I think Amar Singh should stick to his guns and leave the political scene and concentrate on the home front, which means giving time to his family which he said that he regretted not doing earlier.
Amar Singh was really the face of the Samajwadi party, and he had done lot for the party. He did a lot for his constituency as well as indirectly the country. It should be nice to leave on a good note than joining other parties like the Congress or NCP.
It was not easy for him as he has been serving the Samajwadi party, and all the responsibilities were on his shoulders. It became too much to bear. He also revealed to the media that his two friends, who had stood by him all through were
Amitabh Bachchan and Anil Ambani family.
It is not easy to leave the limelight of Indian politics as you are always in the news and in the thick of things. It is not easy giving up the celebrity status. But I think Amar Singh should stick to his guns and leave the political scene and concentrate on the home front, which means giving time to his family which he said that he regretted not doing earlier.
Amar Singh was really the face of the Samajwadi party, and he had done lot for the party. He did a lot for his constituency as well as indirectly the country. It should be nice to leave on a good note than joining other parties like the Congress or NCP.
Derecognising deemed universities: Government
A DAY after Central government submitted an affidavit to snatch the accreditation of 44 deemed universities spread across India in the honourable Supreme Court, it had said interest of the students would be taken care of and there is no move from government to play with, and jeopardise the career of the lakhs of student studying in these universities.
Addressing media persons on the issue, Cabinet Minister for Human Resource and Development Kapil Sibal said, "We are going to take care of all students and government's intention is not to put any student in problem. All students will get a university degree. Technically, we haven't derecognised any deemed university. We have moved the Supreme Court with an affidavit and a report by the expert committee on deemed universities.”
Till Tuesday (January 19) morning, there was an uncertainty and nervousness among the students and pall of gloom was clearly noticed, as derecognising universities would have left many students in darkness. Nevertheless, with government coming forward to rescue these students, a ray of hope has emerged.
It is really a commendable move from the government, students eager to study and willing to excel in life would definitely study and it is not their fault if an existing deemed university is blacklisted or snatched off its accreditation in the middle of the academic session. Government should ensure that universities offering education meet government guidelines.
Addressing media persons on the issue, Cabinet Minister for Human Resource and Development Kapil Sibal said, "We are going to take care of all students and government's intention is not to put any student in problem. All students will get a university degree. Technically, we haven't derecognised any deemed university. We have moved the Supreme Court with an affidavit and a report by the expert committee on deemed universities.”
Till Tuesday (January 19) morning, there was an uncertainty and nervousness among the students and pall of gloom was clearly noticed, as derecognising universities would have left many students in darkness. Nevertheless, with government coming forward to rescue these students, a ray of hope has emerged.
It is really a commendable move from the government, students eager to study and willing to excel in life would definitely study and it is not their fault if an existing deemed university is blacklisted or snatched off its accreditation in the middle of the academic session. Government should ensure that universities offering education meet government guidelines.
January 14, 2010
Delayed Justice
ALL THOSE, who have been following the Ruchika case, might have noticed the change in the former state police chief SPS Rathore's expression. Initially when he was convicted of the crime which incidentally took place almost 20 years ago, he was smiling and looking smug, confident that an influential man like him could get away with it.
Its not that the law or the government made or would have made any effort to meet out justice in this case. It was the sheer courage and determination of the people involved, Ruchika’s parents and her friend, that the pressure was put upon the government to take a stand. Left to our legal system the trial would have taken another couple of decades.
If truth be said and properly investigated there will be much more that will come out of this case. Why should he be tried again, he was convicted, so why don't they just try him on the new FIRs registered and work fast to at least guarantee him a life imprisonment if not the death sentence.
Another thing we don’t understand is the anticipatory bail brought time and again before the court. He doesn’t deserve it. Also, what about all the officials who have served him over the years and influenced the case from the beginning. What about the officials, who mentally and physically tortured the family in the initial stages of the investigation.
Police officials are supposed to protect us and not take advantage of us. I don't think that Ruchika’s family is so poor that they couldn't afford to pay the fees of the school from where she was dismissed. But if her family can be so tortured, imagine what the poor ordinary man who goes to the police to file a complaint has to deal with.
Corruption goes hand in hand with violence, we should all try to stop it at its root by providing our security personnel with adequate income so that they don't have to supplement it with bribes.
Its not that the law or the government made or would have made any effort to meet out justice in this case. It was the sheer courage and determination of the people involved, Ruchika’s parents and her friend, that the pressure was put upon the government to take a stand. Left to our legal system the trial would have taken another couple of decades.
If truth be said and properly investigated there will be much more that will come out of this case. Why should he be tried again, he was convicted, so why don't they just try him on the new FIRs registered and work fast to at least guarantee him a life imprisonment if not the death sentence.
Another thing we don’t understand is the anticipatory bail brought time and again before the court. He doesn’t deserve it. Also, what about all the officials who have served him over the years and influenced the case from the beginning. What about the officials, who mentally and physically tortured the family in the initial stages of the investigation.
Police officials are supposed to protect us and not take advantage of us. I don't think that Ruchika’s family is so poor that they couldn't afford to pay the fees of the school from where she was dismissed. But if her family can be so tortured, imagine what the poor ordinary man who goes to the police to file a complaint has to deal with.
Corruption goes hand in hand with violence, we should all try to stop it at its root by providing our security personnel with adequate income so that they don't have to supplement it with bribes.
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