Category: TOP STORIES

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) Ahead of the Assembly elections, Delhi Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), R. Alice Vaz, on Monday urged voters to use helpline number 1950 (toll-free) for their electoral queries and complaints.

To ensure inclusivity and accessibility, the helpline offers assistance in approved local/regional languages.

It operates on all days a week, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., allowing citizens to connect at their convenience, she said.

This effort focuses on improving accessibility and ensuring that every voter receives accurate information and timely support, she added.

The Voter Helpline – 1950 serves as the first point of contact for citizens seeking assistance with electoral services, she said.

Callers can inquire about various queries, including EPIC (Voter ID), electoral roll, polling station details, online registration, voting dates, and other election-related matters. The helpline is designed to provide comprehensive and user-friendly support to all voters in English and Hindi, she said.

The helpline is designed to provide comprehensive and user-friendly support to all voters in English and Hindi, she added.

In addition to providing information, the helpline facilitates complaint registration.

Citizens can report issues related to electoral services by dialling this toll-free number, 1950. Feedback and suggestions from callers are also encouraged to help improve the quality of services offered, she said.

Earlier last month, the CEO said that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) collected nearly 1.62 lakh forms during house visits to address additions, deletions, and corrections in the electoral roll in the past three months.

On November 28, Vaz also highlighted that for the upcoming Assembly elections, the number of polling stations is likely to increase by 70, ensuring better accessibility and convenience for voters across Delhi.

She said house-to-house verification was conducted by BLOs from August 20 to identify unenrolled voters, prospective electors who will turn 18 by October 1, 2025, and entries requiring deletion, such as those for deceased or permanently shifted voters.

“Cases of multiple entries and family splits were also identified. During this extensive verification drive, BLOs collected nearly 1.62 lakh forms (6, 7, and 8) to address additions, deletions, and corrections in the electoral roll,” Vaz said in a statement.

–IANS

rch/khz

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) From expanding health coverage to all elderly above 70 years of age to promoting cervical cancer vaccination among young girls to slashing customs duty on cancer drugs and improving several disease rates, India has made substantial progress in healthcare in 2024.

In 2024, the Union government continued its emphasis on tackling non-communicable diseases and allocating funds for research in the healthcare sector.

The Union Budget 2024-25’s total outlay for the health sector was Rs 89,287 crore, amounting to 1.85 per cent of the budget expenditure. While it remains below the 2 per cent mark for health outlays from FY18 to FY22, it is marginally up from 1.76 per cent, and Rs 79,221 crore in the revised estimate for budget 2023-24.

It exempted customs duty on three crucial cancer drugs — Trastuzumab deruxtecan (for breast cancer), Osimertinib (lung cancer drug for EGFR mutation), and Durvalumab (for lung and biliary tract cancers).

In addition, GST rates for these drugs were also slashed — from 12 per cent to 5 per cent; the maximum retail price (MRP) was reduced for these drugs.

Further, the flagship health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) was expanded to provide health coverage to all senior citizens above 70 years irrespective of their income.

The government has also worked towards medical education and infrastructure. In his address to the nation on Independence Day, PM Narendra Modi promised to create 75,000 more medical seats in the next five years, from the current over one lakh in the country to reduce foreign dependence in medical education. The government added 5,150 more seats for MBBS courses in 2024.

Over two lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been established across the country to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment. More than 14,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras have also been launched across the country where medicines are available at an 80 per cent discount — a significant reduction in the cost of treatment for both poor and middle-class families.

Further, emphasising the vision of ‘Swasth Bharat’ (Healthy India) for ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’, the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) also introduced the Rashtriya Poshan Mission to enhance the nutritional status of children, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls.

Parallelly, India’s digital health infrastructure has seen remarkable advancements through the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) initiative — a hassle-free method of accessing and sharing your health records digitally. Till December 22, more than 71.81 crore ABHA numbers have been generated and 46.53 crore health records have been linked with ABHA.

Mission Indradhanush led to the vaccination of 5.46 crore children and 1.32 crore pregnant women. The programme also includes a provision of 11 types of vaccines enhancing protection against preventable diseases. A U-WIN portal was also launched to digitise routine immunisations.

Notably, these efforts led to remarkable improvement in key health indicators, including a reduction in Maternal Mortality Ratio, Infant Mortality Rate, and Total Fertility Rate.

India also got WHO certification for eliminating trachoma — a bacterial eye infection that can cause irreversible blindness. India is the fourth country in Southeast Asia, after Nepal, Myanmar, and Pakistan to achieve the feat.

A shorter and more effective treatment regimen for tuberculosis was also launched under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP). It reduced the treatment duration from 9-12 months to 6 months.

Meanwhile, the government has also launched several health projects related to the Ayush sector, with the Ayurveda manufacturing sector seeing an 8-fold growth in the last 10 years. It has led to significant growth in medical tourism resulting in about 123 regular Ayush visas and 221 e-Ayush visas issued to foreigners seeking treatment in India.

–IANS

rvt/uk

Giridih (Jharkhand), Dec 23 (IANS) A woman in Giridih district of Jharkhand allegedly committed suicide on Monday due to continuous harassment by employees of a microfinance company.

The police arrived at the scene after getting the information and recovered the body, which has been sent for post-mortem examination. An investigation into the matter is underway, the police said.

The deceased, identified as Sulekha Devi, was a resident of Bhurai village under the Teesri police station area. Her husband, Amarjeet Sharma, works as a labourer in another state.

Reports say that Sulekha had taken a loan of Rs 50,000 from the microfinance company but was struggling to pay some installments. Company employees reportedly pressured her repeatedly to repay the outstanding amount.

On Monday morning, the company officials visited Sulekha’s house again, demanding immediate payment. Despite her pleas for some more time, the employees allegedly issued threats.

As tensions escalated, villagers gathered outside her home, but the company representatives continued to put pressure on her for immediate payment of dues.

Tragically, Sulekha ended her life by hanging herself inside her home. Villagers rushed to save her, but she had already succumbed by the time they brought her down from the noose.

The company employees fled the scene after the incident.

Local panchayat head Ibrahim Mian informed the police, who recovered the body and sent it to Sadar Hospital for post-mortem.

The police station in-charge said that an investigation is going on and culprits will be brought to book.

This incident highlights a troubling pattern of harassment by microfinance and non-banking financial companies in Jharkhand. Similar cases have been reported in the past as well.

In October last year, Zaibun Khatoon, a resident of Khandoli village in Bengabad police station area, consumed poison after facing harassment from microfinance agents. She succumbed during treatment.

In September last year, a 17-year-old girl from Hara Naukadih village under the Pratappur police station area in Chatra district died after consuming poison. She had reportedly been beaten and harassed by loan recovery agents.

Authorities continue to urge stricter regulations on recovery practices to prevent such tragedies.

–IANS

snc/skp/

Patna, Dec 23 (IANS) As Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar started the first phase of Pragati Yatra from Valmikinagar in West Champaran on Monday, the Cabinet Secretariat of the state issued the schedule of the second phase of the Yatra starting from January 4 from Gopalganj.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar initiated Pragati Yatra, a development-oriented journey with the aim of reviewing ongoing projects and introducing new schemes to boost the infrastructure and welfare systems across Bihar.

S. Siddhartha, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Cabinet Secretariat issued the notification of the schedule and said that Nitish Kumar will embark on the second phase of his Pragati Yatra from Gopalganj on January 4, followed by neighbouring Siwan on January 7, Saran on January 8, Darbhanja on January 11, Madhubani on January 12 and Samastipur on January 13.

The copies of the letter were sent to the district magistrate, Superintendent of Police and Divisional Commissioners for the respective areas and directed them to start the preparation.

Nitish Kumar is expected to announce schemes worth crores in every district.

He will also review and monitor the ongoing development projects to ensure timely and effective implementation.

The Pragati Yatra reflects Nitish Kumar’s commitment to community-centred governance and equitable development.

In the first phase, Nitish Kumar started his Pragati Yatra from Valmikinagar, West Champaran on Monday.

He laid the foundation stones of various projects worth ₹700 crore, including a landmark ₹139 crore scheme for electrification using underground cables in the Valmikinagar Tiger Reserve area.

The electrification project is expected to be completed within 18 months, significantly transforming the lives of people in these villages.

Nitish Kumar’s Pragati Yatra highlights his long-standing tradition of engaging directly with citizens and officials to drive development at the grassroots. The phased approach to this journey ensures that every region of Bihar receives attention, with specific interventions tailored to local needs.

–IANS

ajk/kvd

Hassan (Karnataka), Dec 23 (IANS) Expressing dissatisfaction over the Belagavi police handling the BJP MLC C.T. Ravi case, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H.D. Kumaraswamy, said on Monday that if BJP legislators pursued the legal fight properly, all the police officers involved in the case could be suspended.

Speaking to the media at Haradanahalli in Hassan district, Union Minister Kumaraswamy said: “Any police officer who mentally tortured C.T. Ravi, under the influence of a Minister will have to face the consequences.”

C.T. Ravi was accused of making a derogatory remark against Women and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar in the Legislative Council.

Following the complaint by Minister Hebbalkar, BJP MLC Ravi was arrested and later released after the order by the Karnataka High Court.

BJP MLC Ravi alleged that he was assaulted, made to travel throughout the night, not given food, water and not even allowed to visit the toilet, adding that the police threatened him of carrying out his encounter.

“They discussed Union Minister Amit Shah’s statements made in the Rajya Sabha during the Assembly sessions. This issue pertains to the Rajya Sabha. Is Amit Shah a member of the Karnataka Legislative Council?” he asked.

“I am closely observing everything happening in this state. The Congress government is harassing political opponents in every possible way. They are preparing the stage for the kind of politics Karnataka might face in the future,” he noted.

Union Minister Kumaraswamy alleged that the government is misusing the police to suppress political opponents.

“Was it necessary to drag C.T. Ravi around all night? He is an elected representative. If he needed to be arrested, he could have been directly presented before the magistrate’s court in Bengaluru. What was the need for this humiliation? Who directed this?” he asked.

The JD-S leader warned that if BJP members take the right legal route, the officials responsible would face suspension.

Union Minister Kumaraswamy warned, “Any officer who mentally tortured C.T. Ravi, under the influence of a Minister will have to face the consequences.”

“This behaviour is unacceptable,” he said.

The JD-S leader said, “Does this state even have a Home Minister? Over the past six or seven months, several incidents about law and order have taken place, yet the government remains silent. Karnataka is heading toward darker days as political vendettas and hatred are taking centre stage,” he added.

Union Minister Kumaraswamy said the deterioration of the state’s police system is unfortunate, which once served as a model for the country.

“Our forefathers built a robust system and created a healthy environment. Karnataka Police was respected nationwide. Unfortunately, this government is hell-bent on destroying it. They are working to tarnish the reputation of the police department,” he said.

Citing examples, Union Minister Kumaraswamy asked, “What happened to the case involving former Congress Minister Vinay Kulkarni? What action was taken in the complaint filed by a teacher against Congress leader Gurappa Naidu accused of sexually harassing teachers in Bengaluru?”

He clarified that he does not hold the police department entirely at fault.

“Certain Ministers in the government are giving directions to a few select officers, leading to unlawful decisions within the department. Cases are being booked as per their whims, and their opponents are being crushed through abuse of power and violation of laws,” he said.

He warned, “Time will provide answers to all of this.”

Speaking about the inauguration of the Jayadeva Hospital in Kalaburagi by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Union Minister Kumaraswamy questioned the CM’s contribution to the project.

“When I was the Chief Minister, I initiated this project. Later, the BJP government released Rs 128 crore. BJP MP C.N. Manjunath from Jayadeva Hospital raised Rs 40 crore for this initiative. This government shows no gratitude toward those who worked on it before. This is an uncivilised government,” he said while targeting the Congress government.

He further added, “Now they claim they will manage NIMHANS. They cannot even manage the hospitals already in place. In north Karnataka, maternal and child deaths continue daily. It is heartbreaking. What measures have been taken to stop this? Hospitals lack adequate doctors and staff. Is this how you plan to build the state?”

He also criticised the government for its lack of concern about the issues in North Karnataka.

“The government made grand claims about addressing the region’s problems, but just yesterday, a young mother died during childbirth in Ballari. These deaths are occurring daily, yet the government shows no concern,” he said.

–IANS

mka/khz

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) In the last one and a half years, around 10 lakh permanent government jobs have been offered, setting a remarkable record, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, taking part in the 14th edition of Rozgar Mela.

While distributing 71,000 job offers, PM Modi highlighted that such job fairs were part of the government’s endeavour to provide employment with complete transparency. So far, 9.25 lakh job letters have been issued in 14 editions of Rozgar Mela.

On Monday, the Rozgar Mela was held at 45 locations across the country. The recruitments took place for various ministries and departments of the Central Government.

PM Modi launched Rozgar Mela – the recruitment drive for 10 lakh personnel — on October 22, 2022. The first edition saw the handing over of appointment letters to 75,000 new appointees.

Rozgar Mela represents a significant initiative by the Government to enhance employment opportunities for the youth across India. By facilitating direct connections between job seekers and employers, it not only addresses the pressing issue of unemployment but also empowers individuals to contribute to national development.

In the 13th edition of Rozgar Mela held on October 29, PM Modi distributed 51,000 appointment letters. On that occasion, the Prime Minister remarked that the government was creating new opportunities to make it easier for Indian youth to get jobs abroad.

Citing the recently released Germany’s Skilled Labour Strategy for India, PM Modi informed that Germany had increased the number of visas given to skilled Indian youth every year from 20,000 to 90,000. He added that India’s youth will benefit greatly from this.

PM Modi also mentioned that India had signed agreements related to migration and employment with 21 countries in recent years, including countries like Japan, Australia, France, Germany, Mauritius, Israel, the UK and Italy, apart from the Gulf countries.

A total of 71,000 appointees each were given letters in Rozgar Mela edition number 2, 3, 4 and 5. In the sixth (June 13) and seventh editions (July 22), 70,000 appointment letters each were distributed by the PM.

In the eighth edition of Rozgar Mela, held on August 28, 2023, 51,000 job letters were distributed. A total of 51,000 appointment letters each were distributed in the ninth, 10th and 11th editions of Rozgar Mela held earlier last year.

The highest number of 1 lakh appointment letters were distributed in the 12th edition of Rozgara Mela held on February 12.

On that occasion, the PM highlighted the Budget announcement of about 1 crore rooftop solar plants and said this scheme will create lakhs of new jobs.

–IANS

rch/uk

Chennai, Dec 23 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has strongly criticised the recent amendment to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, calling it an undemocratic assault on free and fair elections.

In a post on X, Stalin said that democracy was facing its gravest threat under the BJP-led Union Government.

The Union Government’s amendment to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, introduced on Saturday following recommendations from the Election Commission of India (ECI), has sparked widespread debate.

The amendment restricts public access to election materials, such as CCTV footage, unless explicitly listed by the ECI.

Voicing his objections, Stalin said, “Democracy is facing its gravest threat under the BJP-led Union Government, with the reckless amendment of Section 93(2)(a) of the Conduct of Election Rules designed to undermine transparency in elections.”

He argued that the amendment was a reaction to a Punjab and Haryana High Court directive to provide CCTV footage of an election booth.

Stalin added that the move undermines one of the Constitution’s fundamental features — transparency. In a post on X, Stalin said, “The BJP-led Union Government’s fear extends beyond Haryana, reflecting anxiety over Maharashtra, where their orchestrated and unholy victory in the recent Assembly election has raised serious concerns.”

He cast doubts on the BJP’s recent electoral victories, particularly in Maharashtra. Stalin criticised the ECI for what he described as its willingness to bow to pressure from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

He remarked, “It is shocking that the Election Commission of India, instead of defending its institutional integrity, has willingly succumbed to the Union Government’s influence, effectively defacing its own creation — free and fair elections.”

The Chief Minister called on all political parties, including those aligned with the Union Government, to unite against what he termed an undemocratic assault on free and fair elections.

It is worth noting that the DMK and Stalin have been vocal opponents of the BJP-led central government.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the DMK-led alliance made a clean sweep, winning all 39 seats in Tamil Nadu and the lone seat in Puducherry.

–IANS

aal/uk