India

Mumbai, Dec 26 (IANS) Over 150 families applied for medical insurance benefits worth approximately Rs 7 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) at a two-day camp for senior citizens organised in Dharavi, said Dharavi Social Mission (DSM) on Thursday.

Lok Vikas Camp, organised at Prajapati Sahakari Utpadak Mandal in Kumbharwada on December 20 and 21, focused on offering access to government healthcare schemes and enrol eligible beneficiaries under the PM-JAY, said a statement.

A dedicated desk was set up to cater to the super senior citizens, aged 70 years and above, to facilitate ease of registration.

The initiative addressed a pressing need for awareness and accessibility of government schemes in Dharavi whose residents, despite being in the heart of Mumbai, were unaware of such benefits.

The beneficiaries expressed their gratitude for this initiative. Chitroda Manibai Hamir, a beneficiary at the camp, shared, "This scheme is very helpful. I am very happy to get this card."

Laxmi Chitroda, who came to register her father-in-law, appreciated the awareness created by DSM, stating, "I was not aware of this scheme earlier. DSM has been very helpful in creating awareness and assisting us in the process."

One of the Ayushman Bharat applicants was 96-year-old Sonabai Kamalia, who was personally assisted in enrolling for the scheme.

The event showed a ray of hope to all senior citizens, empowering the elderly and their families with vital healthcare benefits.

The event evoked a positive response from the community, with residents expressing the need for more such camps in Dharavi.

DSM has announced plans to organise similar initiatives in other sectors of Dharavi, aiming to take these government welfare schemes to a larger population.

Dharavi Social Mission (DSM) is an initiative of Dharavi Redevelopment Project Private Limited (DRPPL), dedicated to fostering wholesome development of Dharavi residents encompassing social, economic and infrastructure dimensions.

The Mission has a special emphasis on youth, women, industries and underprivileged groups within Dharavi.

The focus of the Mission’s efforts is to enhance skill-based employment, education, healthcare & hygiene, social engagement and community welfare.

--IANS

rch/skp

Amaravati, Dec 26 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh's opposition YSR Congress Party has called for protests across the state on Friday over the hike in the power tariff.

During the protests, the YSRCP will submit memorandums to divisional engineers and other designated officials at Electricity Department offices, demanding urgent relief for the public.

The opposition party has strongly condemned the TDP-led government for imposing an exorbitant electricity tariff.

It said within six months, Rs 15,485 crore in power charges were levied, including Rs 6,000 crore in November bills and Rs 9,412 crore projected for December.

Speaking to media persons at the YSRCP central office in Tadepalli, former minister Dr Merugu Nagarjuna underscored the escalating financial strain on citizens. He highlighted that power tariffs have surged by 25-55 per cent even during the winter season, sparking fears of unaffordable rates in the upcoming summer months. Despite a 1.17 per cent reduction in power demand compared to the previous year, unofficial load shedding persists, exposing the operational inefficiencies of the TDP government, he said.

Nagarjuna also decried the revocation of 200 free units of electricity for SC/ST families. He claimed that the YSRCP government extended Rs 47,800 crore in subsidies to DISCOMs between 2019 and 2024. In contrast, the subsidies of only Rs 13,255.76 crore were provided during the TDP's earlier tenure (2014–2019).

He accused Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of betraying public trust with unfulfilled promises, including the much-hyped “Super 6” manifesto.

Nagarjuna also reminded citizens of past injustices, such as the 2000 Bashir Bagh police firing on farmers protesting against a power tariff hike.

The YSRCP has called for an immediate rollback of Rs 15,485 crore in increased tariffs and the reinstatement of the 200-unit free power benefit for SC/ST families. The party reaffirmed its commitment to be the voice of the people through peaceful and democratic means.

--IANS

ms/vd

Kolkata, Dec 26 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday that she will visit Sandeshkhali on December 30 in North 24 Parganas district, which came on the national radar before the general elections earlier this year, following allegations of sexual harassment of local woman and land grabbing of people by local Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan.

Speaking to the media persons at the end of the last meeting of the Cabinet for the current calendar year at the State Secretariat Nabanna on Thursday noon, the Chief Minister told about her scheduled trip to Sandeshkhali.

"I will be going there to attend an official programme on December 30. I will hand over documents of public services to 100 beneficiaries there. A total of 20,000 individuals will be handed over such papers from different camps established there on that day," Banerjee said.

Doubts were raised from different quarters, including the opposition parties in the state as to why the Chief Minister was avoiding a visit to Sandeshkhali while it witnessed violence earlier this year, following a protest by local women there against sexual harassment and land grabbing.

However, political observers feel that the Chief Minister's visit to Sandeshkhali on December 30 is significant as she is expected to make any important announcements from there on that day.

Speaking at the end of the Cabinet meeting, Banerjee also said that on January 1, Trinamool Congress will be organising blood-donation camps throughout the state on the occasion of the party's Foundation Day.

"On January 2, there will be an overall administrative review meeting at Nabanna. On January 6, I will be going to Sagar Islands in South 24 Parganas district on the occasion of Gangasagar Mela," the Chief Minister added.

CM Banerjee said: "An administrative meeting has been called on January 2 in Nabanna hall. All departmental work will be reviewed. I will go to Gangesagar on January 6. I will go to the Bharat Seva Ashram Sangh first. The Maharaj of Kapilmuni Ashram is quite old. I don't want to disturb him. He has opened a fourth temple. I will visit the Bharat Seva Ashram first followed by Kapilmuni Ashram."

--IANS

src/khz

Bengaluru, Dec 26 (IANS) Karnataka BJP has announced that it would stage a protest in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue here, condemning the centenary celebration by the Congress party in Belagavi. BJP has called Congress a "fake" party, just like the fake celebration in the name of Gandhi ji.

Speaking at a press conference held at the BJP State Office Jagannath Bhavan on Friday, BJP chief and MLA B. Y. Vijayendra criticised that the Congress party in the country and the state is not the original Congress but a fake one.

“A protest will be held on Friday (Dec 27) at 10.30 a.m. in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue in Bengaluru against the fake policies of Congress during its session in Belagavi,” Vijayendra announced.

He stated that it is not right for the Congress party to use crores of taxpayers' money from the people of the state to organise a grand session in Belagavi. Members of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council will participate in this protest, he added.

"The Congress party has thrown aside the principles of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr Ambedkar. Congress lacks the moral standing and qualification to invoke the names of Gandhi and Ambedkar," the state BJP head asserted.

He accused the Congress of having no commitment to the country’s unity and integrity, alleging that it is Congress that is responsible for dividing the nation.

Vijayendra highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has developed five key locations associated with Babasaheb Ambedkar into sacred pilgrimage sites (Panchtirth).

He also criticised the Congress for using crores of rupees from taxpayers' money to organise a grand session in Belagavi, calling it "inappropriate."

Mahatma Gandhi clearly stated to dissolve the Congress party after achieving Independence for the country. Former PM Jawahar Lal Nehru and others retained the party and pursued the policy of divide and rule of the British. The current Congress party is also continuing the same policy, charged Vijayendra.

"The Congress party was a movement that came to existence to achieve Independence. The present Congress party is a fake Congress party. The present Congress leaders don't deserve to take the name of Mahatma Gandhi. They can’t even take his name of Mahatma," he slammed.

In Belagavi, the hoardings for centenary celebrations of the 1924 Indian National Congress session presided over by Mahatma Gandhi (the only Congress session presided over by Mahatma Gandhi) "are made out of systematic conspiracy by the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and CM Siddaramaiah. The Indian map is distorted in the hoardings and posters. The Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) region and Siachen region is given away to Pakistan and China," he pointed out.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it clear that not an inch of our country will be given to Pakistan or China. But the Congress party has changed the map of India. There is no commitment by the Congress party towards the country. It also shows their stand on the sovereignty of the country. Their stand has come out again during the time of the centenary session in Belagavi," he stated.

--IANS

mka/kvd

Bengaluru, Dec 26 (IANS) Former Congress President Sonia Gandhi in her message to the Extended Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting organised on the occasion of centenary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi taking over as the President of the grand old party in Karnataka's Belagavi asserted that the legacy of the Father of the Nation is "under threat from those in power in Delhi".

In her two-page letter addressed to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and members of the Extended CWC, Sonia Gandhi also expressed 'regret' for not being able to be present with all of them on the historic occasion.

The letter reads: "The 39th session of the Indian National Congress was held exactly a hundred years ago at this very location. It is, therefore, only appropriate that you are assembled at Mahatma Gandhi Nagar. Mahatma Gandhi’s becoming Congress President here then was a turning point for our party and for the Independence movement. It was a transformational milestone in our country's history.

"Today, we re-dedicate ourselves to preserve, protect and promote the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi. He has been and will continue to be the fundamental source of our inspiration. It was he who moulded and guided all our remarkable galaxy of leaders of that generation. His legacy is under threat from those in power in New Delhi and the ideologies and institutions that have nurtured them."

The letter further stated: "These organisations never fought for our freedom. They opposed Mahatma Gandhi bitterly. They created a toxic atmosphere that led to his assassination. They glorify his killers.

"Gandhian institutions in various places across the nation are under assault. It is therefore also fitting that this meeting is called Nava Satyagraha Baithak. It is now our sacred duty to renew our resolve to confront these forces with all the might at our command and with uncompromising determination."

The former Congress chief also wrote: "Friends, I am sure that the issue of strengthening our organization further to face the challenges it confronts will also come up today. Our great organisation with such a glorious history has, time and again, demonstrated its resilience."

"Let us individually and collectively move forward from this meeting firm in our resolve to meet the many challenges our party faces with a renewed sense of urgency and a refreshed sense of purpose. I wish every one of you the best for 2025 and beyond,” the letter concludes.

--IANS

mka/pgh

Ranchi, Dec 26 (IANS) Protests have started against the alleged preparation by the Jharkhand government to impose a cess on petrol and diesel and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has warned it that such a move would be both "suicidal" and "anti-people".

A recent media report claimed that the state government is drafting a proposal to impose a cess on petroleum products to generate more revenues. If implemented, this could raise petrol and diesel prices by Rs 2-3 per litre in the state.

However, state Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore has denied the existence of any such proposal.

Addressing media persons here on Thursday, he said: "There is no such proposal at the moment. If required in the future, the government will make decisions based on the prevailing situation. Also, we oppose the Central government's intent to impose a tax on aviation fuel, as discussed during the GST Council meeting held recently in Jaisalmer."

Jharkhand BJP President Babulal Marandi, however, has alleged that the government is indeed planning to impose the cess following Chief Minister Hemant Soren's instructions to increase state revenue. He accused officials of burdening the public to fill the state treasury, calling the move "anti-people."

Marandi expressed his discontent in a statement, asserting that the proposal would lead to inflation in everyday goods. Criticising the Chief Minister, he posted on social media: "Your ill-considered decisions, such as raising electricity tariffs and now planning to increase fuel prices, betray the trust of the public. These steps will further strain the finances of common people."

He further urged public representatives to set aside political differences and put pressure on the government to abandon the proposal. "This rushed attempt to increase revenue is causing widespread dissatisfaction among the people. It’s imperative to withdraw such anti-people measures," Marandi added.

--IANS

snc/skp/vd

Chandigarh, Dec 26 (IANS) Protesting farm unions on Thursday announced that they have received assurance from a wide spectrum of employee unions, traders, and transporters for joining their Punjab shutdown on December 30 in support of their demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

Slamming the Centre for not accepting the demands of protesting farmers, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarwan Singh Pandher clarified that emergency services, passengers bound for airports, and students going for exams would be exempted from the shutdown.

"Emergency services like medical services will continue, airport passengers will not be stopped, vehicles of marriage parties also will not be stopped. Besides, students will also be allowed to go for their exams. We urge the entire Punjab, especially the youth, to follow what the forum decides," he told the media.

The farmers have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri borders between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 in support of their long-pending demands. Besides the legal MSP for crops, they have been demanding loan waivers and reforms to improve conditions in the agricultural sector.

Another farm union, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has written to President Droupadi Murmu, seeking an appointment with her to discuss their issues.

The SKM said they wanted to address the situation surrounding farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s hunger strike and other “pressing issues”, including the introduction of a National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing.

Meanwhile, Dallewal’s fast-unto-death entered the 31st day on Thursday.

Earlier, railway commuters faced inconvenience in Punjab with a three-hour "rail roko" protest on December 18 by farmers who squatted on rail tracks.

The protest was carried out at over 100 locations in the state, badly impacting the railway services, at the call of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha.

A group of 101 farmers attempted to march to Delhi on foot thrice between December 6 and 14 but were stopped by security personnel of Haryana.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on December 24 slammed the BJP-led Union government for "stepmotherly treatment" of farmers by not even giving them an opportunity to air their genuine demands.

In a statement, the Chief Minister has said global leader Narendra Modi “is more worried about intervening in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine but the Prime Minister is apathetic towards the food growers of the country”.

He has said the Union government has been blatantly ignoring the genuine demands of the farmers of the country, which is highly deplorable.

The Chief Minister reminded PM Modi that when the country was facing a serious crisis in food production, the hard-working and resilient farmers of the state had made the country self-reliant in grains.

He has said the farmers of the state had even over-exploited the only available natural resources in terms of fertile soil and water, just to fill the national food pool.

--IANS

vg/vd

Bengaluru, Dec 26 (IANS) The Karnataka BJP unit on Thursday challenged Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge asking whether he is in a position to ask forgiveness for the injustices done to Ambedkar by the grand old party.

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru at the party headquarters, the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, asked, "Mallikarjun Kharge, being the Congress President, will you be able to ask forgiveness for injustice done to Ambedkar by the Congress?"

"You (Kharge) are the Congress President now. You are so helpless. You said on the floor of the House that it is only Sonia Gandhi who can do anything to you, no one else. Why have you become the Congress President? Do Dalits need such slavery? This is my question. Can you ask once now why B.R. Ambedkar was not given Bharat Ratna by the Congress party? You don't dare to question. You are happy with the power that you wanted and got in the party," Narayanaswamy said.

"Union Home Minister Amit Shah has insulted the Congress and not Ambedkar. I want to question Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. I have respect for him, he was all right when he was in Karnataka. Now he has become a puppet. Are you strong enough to ask forgiveness as a Congress President for injustice done to Ambedkar by the Congress party?" he reiterated.

Narayanaswamy also said, "Ambedkar was not a member of the Congress. The party had opposed his ideals from the days of the roundtable conference till his death. During the formation of the interim government, it was not a single-party government. Ambedkar, Syama Prasad Mukherjee were included," he said.

"Ambedkar contributed immensely and why did he have to resign? Then PM late Jawahar Lal Nehru could not tolerate him. After the Constitution was formulated, his workload became lesser. Ambedkar had a vision of the economy and expressed his wish to handle the Finance portfolio and also the Planning department. Nehru did not agree and refused," the BJP leader added.

"Ambedkar fought for the voting rights of women. Ambedkar tried to introduce the Hindu Code Bill and the Congress opposed it. Against this backdrop, Ambedkar quit the Congress. Ambedkar was behind the establishment of the Reserve Bank of India and not Jawahar Lal Nehru," Narayanaswamy underlined.

"I want to ask the Congress leaders where is the resignation letter of Ambedkar. It should be preserved in the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Is it there? It is not available. Because Ambedkar has exposed the Congress and that's why it was destroyed. Ambedkar in his 40-minute speech in the Parliament has exposed the Congress and it is available," he said.

"Union Minister Amit Shah has only said that the Congress party which insulted Ambedkar all through now made it a fashion to take Ambedkar's name for electoral gains," he said while targeting the Congress-led state government.

"The Congress is arranging sponsored protests across the state and country. When Ambedkar came out with the Constitution the BJP was not established. The BJP took birth to support the ideology of Ambedkar," Narayanaswamy added.

"What happened to Jagjivan Ram, a senior Congress leader? He quit Congress and established his party. What happened to Sardar Patel? It is the BJP which gave him the respect, not the Congress. V.P. Singh had to quit the Congress to become the PM. What happened to former PM late Lal Bahadur Shastri?... Sitaram Kesari, Pranab Mukherjee? None barring the Gandhi family in the Congress are tolerated," he said.

State BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra said: "The Congress never wasted any opportunity to insult Ambedkar. From the time of Jawahar Lal Nehru to the present day, the Congress never showed respect to Ambedkar. Narayan Sadoba Kajrolkar, the personal assistant of Ambedkar, was made to contest elections against him. The Congress defeated Ambedkar in the Lok Sabha election and even awarded Padma Bhushan to Kajrolkar."

"Jogendra Nath Mandal, a close aide of Ambedkar, vacated his seat in West Bengal for him. But the evil Congress conspired and the region where the seat represented by Ambedkar was located was given away to the then East Pakistan. Ambedkar has clearly stated that the Congress is a burning house and there is no future for Scheduled Castes in the party," Vijayendra underlined.

"Union Minister Amit Shah has exposed the Congress. The Congress is trying to misguide the people of the country and they can't succeed," he added.

--IANS

mka/khz

Kolkata Dec 26 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday informed a special Kolkata court that the huge cash and gold recovered from the twin residences of Arpita Mukherjee in July 2022 in connection with the multi-crore cash-for-school job case in West Bengal, actually belonged to her mentor and former West Bengal Education Minister and Trinamool Congress Secretary General Partha Chatterjee.

The ED counsel informed the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court that Mukherjee, who is currently out on conditional bail now, had confessed during her interrogation by the central agency that the twin residences registered in her name were used by Chatterjee to stock that cash and gold.

The process of framing of charges about all named as accused - some individuals and some corporate entities and trusts - started at the special PMLA court on Thursday.

On Thursday, Chatterjee's counsel also filed a petition seeking relief from the ED-registered case in the matter.

Chatterjee is the 10th accused in the case to file a relief petition in the matter and earlier this week, nine other accused individuals have filed relief petitions.

The special court has observed that as per rules, the process of charge framing will start with those who have filed relief petitions in the case.

So, accordingly, on Thursday, the process of charge framing started with those 10 accused individuals who have filed relief petitions so far.

After the process of framing of charges is over, the trial process will begin.

Chatterjee and Mukherjee have already been shown as the highest beneficiaries in the total scam amount of Rs 151.26 crore in the cash-for-school job case in the records of the ED as elaborated in its fifth and last supplementary charge sheet. As per the supplementary charge sheet filed at the special court, of the total amount of Rs 151.26 crore confiscated by the ED so far, the combined share of proceeds of Chatterjee and Mukherjee in the entire amount is Rs 103.78 crore. The confiscation is in terms of cash and gold seized and immovable property attached.

--IANS

src/vd

Poonch, Dec 26 (IANS) A training camp organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Women and Child Education in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, saw dozens of Anganwadi workers getting trained for successful implementation of ‘Poshan bhi, Padhai bhi’ scheme in their respective towns and villages.

Many volunteers and Anganwadi workers (AWW) as well as helpers (AWH) were trained by Delhi-based trainers on how to take forward the Centre’s programmes for early childhood care along with their education in remote locations.

A couple of them also spoke to IANS and explained how the path-breaking scheme will serve even those children, living in the remotest part of the country.

Khan Shamim Bano, hailing from a remote location in J&K told IANS, “The Prime Minister has launched many schemes including ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’. Through the Nav Chetna and Adharshila schemes, the focus is on providing quality education to children in far-off locations while ensuring their nutritional growth.”

Tajim Krishi hailing from Mandi (Poonch) said that many trainers came from Delhi and gave training to local educators under the Poshan project from December 7 to 26.

"It is a very innovative and good scheme of the Central government to impart education to children. This model encourages tutoring children while mixing it with sporting activities,” she added.

Scores of Anganwadi workers having received 15-day training will now move to their respective towns and villages, with a stipulated goal of taking this to their remote locations.

The ‘Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi’ scheme was launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and focuses on integrating education with nutrition for a child’s holistic development, and aims to bridge the gap in remote and rural locations. CDPO officials supervise and monitor training sessions for the seamless execution of the programme and adherence to its objectives.

Under the programme, expert guidance is provided by trainers and nutrition specialists. The Anganwadi workers are trained to implement educational activities alongside nutritional support to promote the cognitive, physical and emotional growth of children.

The programme aims to strengthen the role of Anganwadi workers as educators and caregivers, thus empowering them to deliver impactful early childhood education.

--IANS

mr/kvd