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So much for Women’s Day!
Assam: 125 women killed in 10 months
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At 865 females, R’sthan sees sharp decline in sex ratio
Air India’s all-women crew take off from Bangalore
Pranab acknowledges Mamata as future CM
TDP pulls out of Telangana JAC
Bhutan to drop travel advisory for Assam
Defence projects behind schedule
SC to Raj: Stop hate speeches
Abducted WB teacher still untraced
Tandon panel’s validity questioned by deemed varsities
Stampede kills youth at job drive
Bill supporters aid its opponents
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So much for Women’s Day!
New Delhi, March 8 A new analysis of the socio-political conditions of young women vis-à-vis men shows that only 27 per cent young women in the country take their own decisions about everyday lives. For the rest, husbands and parents do the thinking. Twice as many young men - 56 per cent - do so. More shocking is the sheer lack of choices women have in terms of freedom of movement and finance control. Conducted by the International Institute For Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai, and the Population Council New Delhi, the analysis shows that while only 4 per cent unmarried young men suffer curbs on movement, 22 per cent unmarried young women and 31 per cent married ones say they’re not allowed to go out alone. Economic and educational empowerment of women also leaves much to be desired: 25 per cent young women never attended school as, compared to 8 per cent men. The former are also severely disadvantaged economically with just 11 per cent with a bank account. Of these, less than half have the freedom to operate the account. With gender stereotypes still existent, it’s little surprise that Indian women report negligible political and community participation. Just 15 per cent of them have ever participated in a community-led programme -- health camps, cleanliness drives, festivals or national days. The percentage stands at 45 for men. Likewise, only 10 per cent young women have ever joined a sports or social club, indicating firm inhibitions that prevent them from getting a life. Further, at a time when MPs are stooping to new lows to prevent women’s reservation in politics, it’s almost absurd that just three-fifths (60 per cent) of the women eligible to vote have ever done so. More than half feel their lot will remain unchanged no matter which party comes to power. “Lack of exposure makes it difficult for women to participate in politics. That’s why educational empowerment is a must for political empowerment. Currently, just one in three women has completed secondary education, a basic to work,” Usha Ram of IIPS told The Tribune today. She also referred to graver forms of exploitation that women suffer -- one fifth get married before 15 years and 47 per cent have the first pregnancy before 18. Surely, a long way to go. Whither empowerment?
Analysis of data gathered from six states of study — Andhra, Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu (two-fifth of India lives in these states) — shows how women completely lack control over their lives. Just one in seven said she met her spouse before tying the knot. One in four admitted sexual violence in marriage. As if this wasn’t bad enough, more than half said it was fine if their husbands beat them up.
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Assam: 125 women killed in 10 months
Moreover, the Assam police has registered 3,807 domestic violence cases under Section 304 (B) of IPC and 40 cases related to trafficking of women during the same period, according to figures provided by the Assam government today. Assam’s cabinet minister Rockybul Hussain in reply to queries raised by Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) legislator Alaka Sarma informed the Assam Assembly today that 545 persons were arrested during the period in connection with rape cases registered and out of those 45 were convicted. In case of rape cases, chargesheets have been filed in 788 cases, final report received in 249 cases while inquiry is pending in 393 cases. He said in 125 cases of murder of women during the period, 89 persons were arrested and eight convicted so far. The investigating agencies filed chargesheets in 40 cases, final report in seven cases while inquiry is pending in 78 cases. Regarding the 3807 cases of domestic violence against women during the period, investigating agency has arrested 1,525 persons so far and out of those 37 have been convicted. The agency has filed chargesheets in 1943 cases, final report in 661 cases while inquiry is pending in 123 cases. Forty cases were registered in connection with trafficking of women during the period and so far 59 persons have been arrested. The Assam government today said that it had coordinated with NGOs, local bodies, Village Defence Parties (VDPs) to mount vigil against women trafficking networks active in the state and special attention was being paid on railway stations, bus stands, airports, ferry ghats to detect such cases.
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At 865 females, R’sthan sees sharp decline in sex ratio
Jaipur, March 8 The survey puts 865 females against 1,000 males in 2008 - down by 44 in 2001. The figure is much less than the national average of 933 recorded in the 2001 census and is almost equal to that of Haryana that had the lowest sex ratio in the last decade. What has come as a surprise for many is the fact that six districts, including Jaipur, that are primarily responsible for the sharp decline in the ratio are among the more developed districts in the state. The survey, which was conducted at 300 centres across the state, puts Rajasthan's wheat-basket Sriganganagar at the top with 850 females against 1,000 males. It is followed by Jhunjhunu at 863, Hanumangarh at 872, Sikar at 885, Alwar at 887 and Jaipur at 899. However, the Health Department officials are tightlipped over the survey result, though they have admitted that there was a need to be more vigilant against illegal sex determination tests. As per the government reports, there are around 2,000 registered and unregistered ultrasound machines in the state. The officials stressed upon the need for informers who could provide tip-offs about sex determination labs, as neither the manufacturers nor the distributors of ultrasound machines provide them data of the buyers. Meanwhile, the state government has brought ultrasound labs under intense scrutiny, as a result of which about a dozen doctors have been busted under the Health Department’s special drive. Seven doctors were caught red-handed in Jhunjhunu last month alone. Three doctors would face legal action as soon as the department completes its investigation. According to the PNDT officials, machines of the accused doctors have already been seized. The department is also taking the help of the local NGOs to bust such doctors.
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Air India’s all-women crew take off from Bangalore
Bangalore, March 8 In the morning, flight IC-106 from Bangalore to Mumbai had Captain Sangeetha Bangar in command while Captain Pallavi was the co-pilot, the cabin crew were Nitisha, Meherewanji, Susheela and Keren, a release said. In the evening flight IC-903 from Bangalore to Delhi was piloted by Captain Priya with Captain Niranjana as co-pilot. The cabin crew were Easwari, Kaplana, Lipika and Sonia. Both the flights were operated by the latest fly-by-wire Airbus A 319 aircraft which have joined the Air India fleet recently, it said. Across its wide network, Air India operated a record 22 all-women crew flights today to mark the occasion of International Women’s Day, it added. — PTI
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Pranab acknowledges Mamata as future CM
Kolkata, March 8 Sharing the same dais with the Railway Minister at a function at Alipore in south Calcutta last evening, Mukherjee praised Mamata’s leadership skills, adding that she was their leader in West Bengal. Sitting by his side, Mamata smiled and nodded. Jubilant at the Finance Minister’s acknowledgement, the TMC supremo drew Mukherjee’s attention to the audience that her future chief secretary Ardhendu Sen (presently, the home secretary) was also present at the function. Both the leaders held bilateral talks on their joint campaign in the forthcoming civic polls in 82 municipalities, and the next Assembly elections against the CPM. They both left for New Delhi by the same flight in the evening. Earlier, Mukherjee held several rounds of talks with the WBPCC(l) office-bearers and other leaders and discussed the preparations for the forthcoming civic polls in June jointly with the Trinamool Congress. During the talks, the Finance Minister advised the party leaders not to make any public statements on seat- sharing with the TMC that would affect the unity move.
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TDP pulls out of Telangana JAC
Hyderabad, March 8 The TDP, headed by N Chandrababu Naidu, decided to walk out of the JAC following differences with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) that has been in the forefront of the agitation. The JAC, comprising Telangana representatives of the Congress, TDP, TRS, BJP and several civil society organisations fighting for statehood cause, has been showing signs of falling apart since the announcement of the Justice Srikrishna committee by the Centre to examine the statehood issue. The TRS finds itself isolated as its call for en mass resignations of elected representatives from the region to protest against the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the Srikrishna panel has been ignored by other parties in the JAC. The JAC’s call for “social boycott” of the MPs and MLAs who refuse to quit came as a last straw leading to the Congress severing its ties with the all-party grouping. With this, the Telangana movement lost much of its steam. The TDP’s decision to quit the JAC has further diluted the cause. The immediate provocation for the decision was the recent clash between its workers and pro-Telangana lawyers who sought to disrupt the opposition’s rally. They were demanding that Naidu spell out his stand on the issue. The lawyers were attacked by TDP supporters, prompting the JAC to demand apology from Naidu. Refusing to apologise, the TDP chief charged the TRS leadership with engineering the protest and systematically targeting his party. What has further added to the mutual acrimony was JAC convener Prof M Kodandaram’s call to boycott the products of Heritage Foods, a company owned by Naidu’s family.
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Bhutan to drop travel advisory for Assam
Guwahati, March 8 The Kolkata- based Bhutanese Consul General Dasho Tsering Wangda said today here that the advisory in question was issued in the wake of December, 2003 Operation All Clear launched by the Royal Bhutan Army to demolish the bases of North-East insurgent groups-United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), National Democratic Front of Bodoland ( NDFB) and Kamatapur Liberation Front (KLO)-in that country fearing that these groups might target Bhutanese citizens in Assam in retaliation. “Before that advisory was issued, a large number of patients from Bhutan used to travel to Guwahati for treatment while hundreds of students were studying in various educational institutions in Assam. The Government of India used to provide seats for Bhutanese students in medical colleges and engineering colleges in Assam. Moreover, the state used to receive lots of tourists from Bhutan and bilateral trade was thriving between traders from Bhutan and Assam.
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Defence projects behind schedule
New Delhi, March 8 The Ministry added “(modernisation) is a continuous process based on threat perception, technological changes and available resources”. This was in response to a question posed by three Lok Sabha MPs. The modernisation is undertaken through procurement of defence equipment/ platforms in accordance with the provisions of Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP), the Ministry said. Contrary to the reply, stark realities are that Indian Army’s artillery gun purchase is running behind schedule by a decade. The Army air defence is straddled with vintage guns while network-centric operations of the Indian Army are yet to be implemented. The Battlefield Surveillance System (BSS) is yet to mature. The Navy warship building programme is running behind schedule. The schedule for building submarines is so slow that the Comptroller and Auditor-General had to intervene last year to point out the slow movement. The sea-borne aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov is behind schedule by five years. The upgradation of fighter planes of the Indian Airforce is also running behind schedule and so is the medium load transport plane
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New Delhi, March 8 “This (filing of criminal cases) will continue against you. Why don’t you stop this sort of things? You go on making such statements,” a Bench comprising Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan and Justice BS Chauhan said.The Bench made the observations during the petition filed by Thackeray seeking shifting of the three cases filed in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand recently against him to the National Capital. “What is the guarantee that in future you will not make such statements?” the Bench said, while issuing notices to those who have filed private complaints against the MNS chief for his alleged action and speeches promoting animosity among citizens. The case filed in Mandasor in Madhya Pradesh was in connection with the incident in which Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azami was slapped by MNS legislators in the Maharashtra Assembly, allegedly at the instance of Thackeray. The other two cases have been filed against him in Aurangabad in Bihar and Jamshedpur in Jharkhand for his alleged inflammatory speeches against north Indians. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the MNS chief, pointed to the earlier order of the apex court by which cases lodged against him in different parts of the country were shifted to Delhi. The apex court had on January 8 shifted seven cases registered against Thackeray in Jharkhand and Bihar for promoting animosity by his alleged hate speeches to Delhi’s Tis Hazari Court. Rohatgi had submitted that the cases against Thackeray were “politically motivated” and there was feared that he would not get a fair trial in the two states. Deport Pak prisoners, Centre told The Supreme Court today directed the Centre to deport within two months all Pakistani prisoners who have completed their sentences after being arrested under the Public Safety Act of Jammu and Kashmir. A Bench comprising Justices Markandey Katju and RM Lodha, which passed the direction, disapproved of the submission of the Centre that these prisoners could be released only in return for an equal number of Indian prisoners languishing in jails in Pakistan. “Relief under Article 21 of the Constitution of India is available to every person irrespective of his nationality. This provision in the Indian Constitution can not be allowed to be diluted,” the Bench said. The court was hearing a petition filed by Bhim Singh, leader of the Jammu and Kashmir Panthers Party, seeking release of 124 Pakistani nationals detained in different jails of the country. “This court is the custodian of the civil rights of every person, Indian or foreigner, under Article 21 and no person shall be deprived of his life or liberty without the procedure established by law,” the Bench said. “How can the government keep them in detention in violation of the fundamental rights of a person for years together without resorting to the procedure of law?” it said. The apex court also perused the affidavit filed by the Centre in which it said 22 prisoners who have completed their sentences, were detained in different jails across the country. — PTI
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Abducted WB teacher still untraced
Jhargram/Bankura (WB), March 8 The worker, who along with two others was on way to home on bicycles, was shot dead last night by Maoists at Golbandhi, they said. The two others were unharmed. Meanwhile, school teacher and local CPM leader Ranjit Duley, who was taken away at gunpoint from the Barulia Madhyamik Siksha Kendra in Sarenga area on March 4, remained untraced, sources said. In Kolkata, Director General of Police Bhupinder Singh ruled out the release of six cadre as demanded by the Maoists arrested for the killing of Sarenga police station in-charge Rabi Lochan Mitra on February 25. “There is no possibility of conceding such a demand as it will give rise to more kidnappings,” Singh said. “The Maoists are under pressure and have been scaling down their demands,” the DGP claimed. To a question, he said that police had information that the teacher was being held in Bhalukbasa jungle in West Midnapore district. Earlier, an unidentified body of a man aged about 40 with bullet injuries in the head and chest was found today on the banks of a canal at Oregada near Binpur in West Midnapore district, police said, adding he was not a resident of the area. — PTI
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Tandon panel’s validity questioned by deemed varsities
New Delhi, March 8 The deemed varsities, which face derecognition in wake of the recommendations of the committee and a task force, also sought a copy of these two reports, upon which a Bench comprising Justices Dalveer Bhandari and AK Patnaik asked the Centre to publish them on the official website. Senior counsel KK Venugopal and Ranjit Kumar, both appearing for a number of deemed universities, contended that the government should not have appointed Prof Tandon as the head of the committee that went into the functioning of such institutions as he was president of NBRC Society, the governing body of NBRC, and chairperson of NBRC’s Scientific Advisory Committee. Established by the Department of Biotechnology under the Union Ministry of Science and Technology in November 1997, NBRC was accorded the deemed university status on May 20, 2002. The Bench, which had restrained the Centre on January 25 from going ahead with the decision to derecognise 44 deemed universities, today clarified that this order would continue to be in force. The next hearing would take place on April 13 and both the parties would file by then their respective contentions on the subject. The deemed universities also contended that the task force had no power to recommend withdrawal of the deemed university status as under the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act this role had been assigned exclusively to the UGC. Further, the government had no right to strip such institutions of the deemed university status before
the completion of the five-year period.
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Stampede kills youth at job drive
Mumbai, March 8 The stampede occurred this morning shortly after the gate at the Kalina hostel recruitment centre was opened. Nearly 3,000 aspirants who had camped outside throughout the night rushed in with their application forms and other documents. “While many of those outside managed a safe entry, some people slipped and fell, others piling on top of them,” Shakeel Ahmed, a job aspirant, told The Tribune at the VN Desai hospital. Ahmed was not among those injured and had come to check on his friends. At the stampede site, policemen could be seen repairing barricades that were broken as hundreds of people tried to climb over them to get into the recruitment centre. The drive began but not before a delay of couple of hours, police said. The government has order a probe into the incident.
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Bill supporters aid its opponents New Delhi, March 8 The Left, the BJP, and to some extent the Congress, which, till last week, seemed determined to make history on International Women’s Day by pushing through the Women’s Bill, suddenly became conscientious about parliamentary democracy and insisted on a discussion, which looked impossible in that chaos. At least one of them, CPM leader in the Rajya Sabha Sitaram Yechury admitted to a change of stance. Yechury admitted, “Yes, last week I had said, let us push the button. But now, I agree with others that bypassing discussion on a Constitution Amendment Bill will create a bad precedent.” The first indication of capitulation of the supporters of the Women’s Bill came from BJP deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha SS Ahluwalia, who said, “We are not in favour of passing the Bill without discussion.” Putting the onus of ensuring order in the House on the government, he said, “It is a Constitution Amendment Bill and it cannot be passed without discussion.” He, of course, accused the government of not being serious enough about the Bill, saying it should have discussed and built a consensus before introducing it in the House. CPI leader in the Upper House D Raja also opposed pushing through of the Bill without a discussion. “Every government enjoys majority in the House and tomorrow another government could pass something more drastic without a discussion,” he said. A section of MPs also suggested calling for Marshals and ejecting the unruly members and after that press for passage of the Bill. But the Congress and the government were reluctant on that count.
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Terror alert in three metros Delhi HC rejects godman’s plea 
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Bangalore, March 8
Guwahati, March 8
