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  • Jharkhand government’s warning of violation of Migrant Act

    Jharkhand government’s warning of violation of Migrant Act

    Jharkhand government has reminded Border Roads Organisation (BRO) about repeated violations of provisions of the Inter-state Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979, just before the season of recruitment of workers for various road projects commences.

    Thousands of labourers from different districts of Jharkhand are taken for road projects in Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir and other border areas of the country by contractors of BRO.

    The letter, written on Tuesday by labour, employment, training and skill development department secretary Rajesh Kumar Sharma and addressed to the director general of BRO, draws attention to the annual engagement of casual paid labourers (CPLs) from Jharkhand by BRO.

    “This engagement has been going on for many years since the raising of BRO. Thousands of workers travel mostly from Dumka and other districts of Santhal Pargana division of Jharkhand to Ladakh and other border regions in the months of April to September every year. During the national lockdown imposed in March 2020, hundreds of migrant labourers were stranded in high-altitude terrains with uncongenial climatic conditions,” the letter states.

    The letter also claimed: “The Jharkhand government rescued hundreds of workers by special airlift missions during May-June 2020. The Government of Jharkhand has also initiated ‘Safe and Responsible Migration Initiative (SRMI)’ in December 2021. These actions clearly demonstrate the commitment of the state government towards the welfare of inter-state migrant workers of the state working with BRO, and to enforce established statute and legal provisions of the Inter-state Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979.” According to the letter, the labour commissioner of Jharkhand in multiple communications to BRO has repeatedly raised the issue of violations of the provisions of the act.

    The communications were sent after receiving multiple complaints of CPLs. “The issue was also raised to the Chief Engineers of Vijayak and Himank, and Secretary – Labour, Ladakh, by the delegation of Government of Jharkhand when it visited the Union Territory of Ladakh in October-November 2021.

    It was mutually agreed upon that BRO will register itself as Principal Employer/ Establishment under the Inter-state Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979, which has not been achieved yet,” the letter says and reiterates that BRO has to oblige with the provision of the said act.

    The letter informs that road construction companies empanelled by BRO have started recruiting migrant workers as CPLs again in an “opaque manner”.

    “The Jharkhand government has humbly requested the BRO multiple times to follow provisions of the said Act, but the BRO has not shown any sincerity towards the requests,” the letter states.

  • Jalpaiguri resident died in Bhutan

    Jalpaiguri resident died in Bhutan

    A 40-year-old person from Jalpaiguri district was found dead in Bhutan on Monday.

    Samir Majumdar, who was a resident of Milpara, a locality in ward IV of Dhupguri town, was working at a site in Sipchu of the neighbouring country for electrification works.

    Sources said on February 13, he left with Arun Sarkar, one of his relatives, for the site and went missing on February 25. Sarkar filed a complaint with the police but could not trace him.

    On Monday, his body was found hanging at a location far from the site and today, it was brought to Dhupguri for last rites.

    His family members have alleged that Samir has been murdered. Police from Dhupguri police station have visited the deceased’s house. “If the family files any complaint, we would probe into the case,” said an officer.

    Accident

    Amit Pradhan (24), a resident of Putharjhora under Malbazar police station of Jalpaiguri, died in an accident on Monday night.

    Police said he was on his way to his home on a motorcycle. The vehicle rammed into a road divider and he fell on the spot. Locals rushed him to the local health centre where doctors pronounced him dead.

    Seizure

    Acting on a tip-off, around 5,000 bottles of cough syrup have been seized from a village in South Dinajpur district on Monday night.

  • Mamata Banerjee will protest against the Center

    Mamata Banerjee will protest against the Center

    Chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Tuesday that she would hold a dharna for around 30 hours from March 29 near B.R. Ambedkar’s statue to protest against allegedly dictatorial attempts to malign her government and deprive Bengal of its rightful dues from the Centre.

    Although Mamata did not specify which Ambedkar statue she would hold the sit-in by, sources in the Trinamul Congress said she had probably meant one on Red Road in Calcutta and not in Delhi. However, there is a possibility of the chief minister visiting Delhi next week to participate in a non-Congress, non-BJP political exercise being planned by AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal.

    “I will do this (the dharna near the Ambedkar statue) as the chief minister of Bengal to protest against this dictatorial attempt to malign the state government and deprive our state of its rightful dues,” said the Trinamul chairperson at the Calcutta airport, en route to Bhubaneswar to meet her Odisha counterpart and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik.

    Mamata is scheduled to meet Naveen on Thursday, six days after she hosted Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav at her residence in Calcutta. On Friday, JDS leader H.D. Kumaraswamy is slated to call on Mamata at her Kalighat home.

    These meetings take place against the backdrop of stern criticism of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress by Mamata and seniors in her party, with indications of her preference — at least at the moment — for equidistance from the BJP and the Grand Old Party.

    Although there are murmurs that the meeting between Mamata and Naveen could be a stepping-stone towards the formation of an alliance of regional satraps ahead of the general election, BJD insiders dismissed the possibility, while Mamata played down the political significance of the talks.

    “This is not a matter of united Opposition or anything (like that). It is a personal meeting, a courtesy meeting,” she said in Calcutta.

    Naveen Patnaik.
    Naveen Patnaik.
    File picture
    Asked if it was her desire to see regional parties stepping forward to take the lead ahead of 2024, she said: “Regional parties are always strong.”

    “The central government just gives the policies, but the state governments are the implementing authorities…. So, wherever we go, whenever we meet somebody, we want to discuss the development of the states, the federal structure,” Mamata added. “But this meeting (with Naveen), I have decided it is a courtesy meeting, let me see.”

    The Bengal chief minister will be in Puri for an hour from around 4pm on Wednesday and is likely to offer prayers at the 12th-century Jagannath shrine there.

    “We have organised a number of functions, including a special puja for her. She will also offer prayers at the temples of Maha Laxmi, Maa Bimala, Lord Hanuman, and others located inside the shrine,” said senior servitor Jagannath Swain Mohapatra.

    Mamata is likely to make a spot assessment of the land allocated by the Odisha government to Bengal for the construction of a guesthouse in Puri for tourists from the state.

    Before leaving for Odisha, Mamata repeated her attack on the BJP-led Centre. “Not a paisa was given to Bengal under the 100-day employment guarantee scheme. This is the only state, (to which) nothing is being given…. We are spending our own money on (various central) projects,” said Mamata.

    “I personally met the Prime Minister over the Rs 1.15 lakh crore due to Bengal from the Centre. (Union home minister) Amit Shah was here for a meeting, I told him, too. Everybody there has been written to, spoken to, repeatedly. Despite that, we can see a deliberate attempt to stop the funds,” added the Bengal chief minister.

    Referring to the removal of fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi’s name from the Interpol Red Corner notice list, Mamata has said people like him and industrialist Gautam Adani are the “best friends” of the Centre.

  • 500 players will get government jobs: Yogi

    500 players will get government jobs: Yogi

    Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said more than 500 sportspersons from the state will be absorbed into the police force and other administrative departments here soon. The chief minister made the announcement at the opening ceremony of the five-day 71st All India Police Athletics Cluster Championship being organised at the PAC Ground.

    “The event is taking place in the state after a gap of 10 years. I am also glad that the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), which is performing its duty on India’s borders with Nepal and Bhutan very efficiently, is one of the organisers of the event,” Adityanath said in a statement.

    The participation of 1,300 sportspersons from 32 districts has taken the championship to a new level this year, he said. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have seen sports culture develop in the country in the last nine years, the CM said. Not only has the participation of sportspersons increased in the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, but they are also winning medals in these competitions, he said. Yogi informed that around 2,000 to 2,500 sportspersons are getting associated with sports events in every parliamentary constituency of the state with Sansad Khel Mahotsava. “The government is also building sports grounds in villages, mini stadiums in blocks and stadiums in districts along with sports colleges. Programme to give sports kits to Yuva Mangal Dal and Mahila Mangal Dal is also happening,” Adityanath said.

  • PM to make seventh visit to Karnataka on March 25

    PM to make seventh visit to Karnataka on March 25

    Bengaluru: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a visit to poll-bound Karnataka on March 25 — his seventh this year — during which he will take part in various events including a Metro ride, and address a mega public meeting organised by the BJP. Assembly polls are due by May, and the schedule is likely to be announced by the Election Commission in the coming days. During the visit, the Prime Minister will participate in programmes organised in Chikkaballapura, Bengaluru, and Davangere districts.

    According to an official release, the Prime Minister on his arrival here in the morning on that day, will travel to Chikkaballapura by helicopter to inaugurate Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research there. He will then fly back to Bengaluru in the afternoon to inaugurate the Whitefield Metro Line and will ride in the Metro.

    Modi will then proceed to Davangere to address a public meeting, and after that will proceed to Shivamogga to emplane for Delhi from Shivamogga Airport. Though details about the public meeting have not been shared in the official release, it is said to be a mega rally of the ruling BJP as part of its poll preparations in Karnataka.

    Karnataka BJP and its leaders including Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai have said that Modi will attend a mega rally in the district headquarters town of Davangere on March 25, to mark the culmination of the 8,000-km long ‘Vijay Sankalpa Yatre’. The 20 day state-wide tour, which began from four different parts of the state, in specially designed vehicles or ‘Rathas’, was kickstarted on March 1 by BJP national President J P Nadda at Male Mahadeshwara Hills in Chamarajanagar district.

    Several senior BJP leaders, Chief Ministers of other BJP-governed states, and Union Ministers have taken part in the programme. This is said to be the first party meeting, which the Prime Minister will be attending, since the poll preparations began in Karnataka. According to party functionaries, the event is aimed at energising the BJP cadres in the run-up to Assembly polls. BJP, which aims to come back to power in the state with an absolute majority this time, has set a target of winning at least 150 of the total 224 seats in the Assembly.

  • Chamarajanagar BJP leaders oppose Somanna’s leadership in the district

    Chamarajanagar BJP leaders oppose Somanna’s leadership in the district

    Chamarajanagara: As the Assembly elections are nearing, preparations are going on in political parties including campaigning. During this election, it is a good idea if the favourite leaders take charge of the district and they are putting pressure on the leaders in this regard. Now there is discontent in BJP in Chamarajanagara district. Minister V. Somanna has been warned of a go back movement if he is given the in-charge of Chamarajanagara election. Instead, BJP State Vice President B.Y. Vjayendra should be given charge of the old Mysuru region. A demand has been heard that it should be given to BYVijayendra.

    Chamarajanagara district BJP spokesperson AyyanpurShivakumar has stated that Somanna should not be given election in-charge of Chamarajanagara district. The reason is that there is speculation that he will join the Congress. He should not be made a candidate in Chamarajanagara district as Somanna did not work for the party in the last election. He accused that VSomanna , despite minister in BJP government has gifted a house to the candidate who won against our candidate.

    He alleged that Somanna did not work for the party even in the Lok Sabha elections. So he should not be allowed to contest from here. He should not be given election charge. He has blackmailed BJP high command in Delhi to give to post of Chamarajanagara election in-charge and to give him ticket. He alleged Somanna blackmailed leaders that he would join Congress if he not given the position he desired.

    He further stated that Somanna called him and told him not to hold a press conference. He should not contest in Chamarajanagara district itself. He said party workers would not allow to issue ticket for him for any reason as he did not organise the party in district. Somanna did not participate in Vijaya SankalpaRath Yatra and other party activities. Since the last one and a half years, he behaved like supporting the Congress in the district. Those who want Somanna for the district are only some of his supporters. He said majority of party workers areopposing leadership of Somanna in the district.

  • Merck India’s first ever student engagement program with 600 students

    Merck India’s first ever student engagement program with 600 students

    Bengaluru: Merck believes that fostering a sense of belonging, among its employees, is crucial for driving progress and innovation. The company is committed to creating an inclusive environment to enable employees from diverse backgrounds to work together. To attract the right talent into the workforce, Merck has been continually partnering with industries and academia – for training, skill development and research.

    With a strong background of academic advancement and being at the forefront, Merck is strengthening ties with educational institutions to expand the industry. The event organised with New Horizons College of Engineering was a step in this direction. This was the first time that MITC (Merck IT Centre) in partnership with the company’s University relations team organised an all-day student engagement programme.

    This event saw a plethora of activities starting with panel discussion ‘Hear Me Out’ with students across age groups – which centred around expectations of a future workplace from the lens of diversity and inclusion. The discussion moderated by Head of HR, Merck India – Shiv Kumar – was attended by 600 enthusiastic students along with the faculty and leaders from MITC. Shiv Kumar said, “It was no time that DE&I took the centre stage as a burning topic amongst the students. Merck India continues to find ways to bring voices together to ready the workplace for the future and learn from the generations which will soon enter the workplace. This was just one of our many efforts.”

    Following the panel discussion was a visit of the industry-sponsored labs in the campus by MITC Leadership team. With a visit to these laboratories, the Merck team gained an in-depth understanding of how partnerships with academic institutions can offer students practical, relevant, and hands-on learning experiences that align with industry needs. The event concluded with ‘Chai Pe Charcha,’ where the students had the exclusive opportunity to interact with the leadership team of Merck IT Centre as well as Merck India University Relations.

    The team guided these students to create a vision board as a group – to showcase their ideal workplace for women. The best vision won prizes. Crucial issues such as diversity, inclusion and equity at work place along with a cohesive society were some of the hot topics that were discussed. This thoughtful initiative enabled everyone to gain insights into the mind-set of the future workforce and how to prepare the environment accordingly.

  • Karnataka Assembly Elections: Bommai breaks silence amid speculation about BJP’s CM face

    Karnataka Assembly Elections: Bommai breaks silence amid speculation about BJP’s CM face

    Amid speculation on who will be the Bharatiya Janata Party’s chief ministerial face for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections, incumbent CM Basavaraj Bommai has hinted he will be the saffron party’s CM candidate in the polls.

    Addressing a public gathering in Karnataka’s Mudhol, CM Bommai said that he has done lots of development work in the Bilagi constituency and will visit the constituency as the “next chief minister”.

    “Even in the Bilagi constituency, I have done thousands of development works including water irrigation projects. But Murgesh (Minister Murgesh Nirani) didn’t take me to the inauguration. If he takes me there, people will get to know about it, so he didn’t take me. Don’t make that news, I will come again there as the next chief minister,” Basavaraj Bommai said, following which the crowd cheered.”

    Notably, the CM’s remark also shows that he is averse to Nirani, a prominent leader from the Panchamasali Lingayat community whose name initially figured in the probable list of chief ministers before Bommai assumed power due to the support of former CM BS Yediyurappa in July 2021.

    ‘Bommai is trying to say that he is the Lingayat leader after Yediyurappa’: JDS’ Tanveer Ahmed
    Speaking to Republic on Bommai’s remark, Janata Dal Secular (JDS) spokesperson Tanveer Ahmed said, “Politics is a game of aspirations. Any person aspiring to become the chief minister, (even) the sitting chief minister, is their choice. But, what is happening here in BJP, all 224 candidates are saying that they are capable of becoming CM and they are the right candidates.”

    “There is a lot of confusion here among the people of Karnataka because this statement is a political statement. Bommai is trying to say that he is the Lingayat leader after Yediyurappa because, after the way Yediyurappa was thrown out of the BJP, Bommai is trying to fill in that space. But we have to really see what is going to happen,” the JD(S) leader asserted.

  • Millets National Meet 24 March

    Millets National Meet 24 March

    Hyderabad: Industry body Assocham in association with Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, ICRISAT, ICAR – NAARM, ICAR – IIMR and ICMR – National Institute of Nutrition are organising a National Conference on Millets: The Future Super Food for the World on 24th March 2023 at Novotel HICC, Hyderabad. The conference will aim to engage stakeholders from domestic and international level and continue to promote and support the growth of millets, in order to create a more sustainable and equitable food system for all. The event will mark the presence of key stakeholders, representatives from union and State governments, academia, startups, tech providers, R&D institutes, food safety experts and FPOs.

    The industry experts will share their knowledge in this conference, which will offer unique branding and business opportunities to the organisations engaged in food processing and allied sectors. The programme has been designed as such to provide partners with a valuable opportunity to showcase their expertise and position them to further their business interests.

    In recent years, there has been a growing interest in alternative, more sustainable food sources. One such food source is Millets, a group of small-seeded cereal grains that are grown in dry and semi-arid regions of the world. They have been staple foods for thousands of years in many parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe, but have declined in popularity in recent times due to the increased consumption of wheat and rice. They are known for their high nutritional value, drought tolerance, and resilience to extreme weather conditions.

    In India, millets have been traditionally grown and consumed by the rural population but have recently gained popularity as a “super food” due to their health benefits and suitability to the changing climate conditions. Consequent to the initiative of the Government of India, the United Nations has declared the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYOM). This will create both domestic and global demand and enhance exports from India. Millet is a storehouse of micronutrients, vitamins, and minerals. International Year of Millets will raise awareness about the contribution of millets for Food Security and Nutrition, motivate stakeholders for continuous production and quality improvement of millets and attract attention to increase investment in research and development services.

  • IPCC report a call to action for all, especially countries like India: Co-author

    IPCC report a call to action for all, especially countries like India: Co-author

    India should bolster its adaptation and mitigation efforts in line with the warnings issued in the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), as the country is going to bear the devastating effects of global warming, say two prominent co-authors of the key United Nations document.

    Aditi Mukherjee and Dipak Dasgupta, the Indian co-authors of the report released on Monday, said rising sea levels are a matter of concern for the Indian subcontinent as it would affect the ecology and livelihood of millions of people living in coastal areas.

    “This report (Synthesis Report of the IPCC) is a call for action for all countries, especially countries like India, which are very vulnerable to climate change given their location in the tropics. The report provides a menu of climate actions, both mitigation and adaptation actions, which India can implement based on its national circumstances,” Mukherjee told PTI in an online interview.

    According to the report, which presents a sort of urgency in implementing policies that could bring down the emissions, the world is already only a few tenths of a degree away from the global target of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

    “Human activities, principally through emissions of greenhouse gases, have unequivocally caused global warming, with the global surface temperature reaching 1.1°C above 1850–1900 in 2011–2020. Global greenhouse gas emissions have continued to increase, with unequal historical and ongoing contributions arising from unsustainable energy use, land use and land-use change, lifestyles, and patterns of consumption and production across regions, between and within countries, and among individuals,” the report said.