By Vikas Meshram  The picture for the US presidential election is becoming clearer now. After President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the race, former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama immediately endorsed Kamala Harris. Barack Obama made this announcement through a video. In it, Barack Obama said that he and Michelle are proud to support Kamala Harris.

By NS Venkataraman* In what appears to be an unprecedented situation in Europe  during  the last several years, mob violence and riots have now taken place in Leeds, UK, with violent mob burning buses and damaging public property.  What is particularly shocking is that these riots have taken place on a flimsy issue and it was organised  at a very short notice  by the rioters. 

- विनीत तिवारी  भारतीय जन नाट्य संघ (इप्टा) की इंदौर इकाई द्वारा इप्टा से 1950 के दशक से ही जुड़े रहे भारत के आधुनिक नाटक जगत के महान नाटककार हबीब तनवीर को उनके ही द्वारा मंचित और निर्देशित नाटक के अंश और नाटकों में गाये गीतों के माध्यम से 10 जून 2024 को इंदौर के अभिनव कला समाज सभागृह में "याद-ए-हबीब" कार्यक्रम में याद किया। श्रोताओं और दर्शकों की संख्या सभागार की क्षमता पार कर गई थी और नीचे बैठे और खड़े हुए लोगों ने भी अपनी जगह छोड़ना गवारा नहीं किया जब तक कार्यक्रम चलता रहा। प्रस्तुतियाँ देने के लिए जो कलाकार आये थे, वे भी हबीब तनवीर जी के साथ दशकों तक रंगमंच में काम किये थे।  “जिन लाहौर नी वेख्या ओ जन्म्या ही नहीं” की नाट्य प्रस्तुति देश विभाजन की पीड़ा एक माँ पर किस तरह गुजरी है और कैसे साथ-साथ रहते दो अलग-अलग धर्मों के लोग भी मोहब्बत के धागे से जुड़ जाते हैं और जो लोग मजहब की बुनियाद पर इंसानियत का ही क़त्ल कर देते हैं, उनके दिलों के काले अँधेरे को सजीव किया “जिन लाहौर नी वेख्या ओ जन्म्या ही नहीं” नाटक के संक्षिप्त संस्करण की प्रस्तुति ने।  असगर वज़ाहत के नाटक "जिन लाहौर ...

By Harsh Thakor*  In February this year, we celebrated the 70th birthday of former Caribbean pace bowler Michael Holding, who simply composed poetry on cricket field, taking grace to heights of divinity. ‘Whispering Death’ was the perfect name attributed to Holding, with batsmen literally left clueless whether the ball had passed the bat. His deliveries would skid through like a bullet in spite of the minimum of effort.

- राम पुनियानी*  उत्तर प्रदेश और उत्तराखंड में खाने-पीने का सामान बेचने वाली सभी दुकानों में नेमप्लेट लगाने के आदेश – जिस पर सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने बाद में रोक लगा दी – की तुलना रंगभेदी दक्षिण अफ्रीका और नाज़ी जर्मनी से की गई. नाज़ी जर्मनी में यहूदियों को अपनी दुकानों और व्यवसायों को चिन्हित करने पर मजबूर किया गया और इसके बाद उनका अत्यंत क्रूरतापूर्ण दमन हुआ.   सन 2024 के आमचुनाव में भारतीय जनता पार्टी (भाजपा) की चुनावी ताकत में कमी आई. वह बहुमत हासिल नहीं कर सकी. इससे यह आशा जागी थी कि बहुवाद और विविधता जैसे प्रजातान्त्रिक मूल्य एक बार फिर मज़बूत होंगे. चुनाव प्रचार के दौरान ही प्रधानमंत्री नरेन्द्र मोदी को यह अहसास हो गया था कि राममंदिर कोई जादू की छड़ी नहीं है जो उनकी पार्टी की झोली को वोटों से भर देगी. और इसलिए उन्होंने समाज को बांटने वाले प्रचार का सहारा लेना शुरू कर दिया. उन्होंने इंडिया गठबंधन पर आरोप लगाया कि अल्पसंख्यकों का समर्थन हासिल करने के लिए वह उनके आगे मुजरा कर रहा है. उन्होंने यह भी कहा कि इंडिया गठबंधन संविधान में संशोधन कर अनुसचित जातियों / जनजातियों और ओबीस...

By Dr Maya Valecha*  Recently, there has been propaganda for magnifying the risk of cervical cancer. The problem seemed so insignificant or unknown till some time back that one health journalist in a prominent newspaper gave the picture of cervical bones in the article of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine two years back. Cervical cancer is the cancer of the lowest part of uterus from where the menstrual blood comes out, and when the baby comes out of womb, that small aperture becomes 10 cm wide.

By Palla Trinadharao  The Ministry of Finance, Government of India (GoI), which released the Economic Survey Report (ESR) 2023–24 in July,  also deals with climate change and energy transition while underling the need to look at the problem through the lens of India. This details the country's aggressive targets and difficulties in converting to a low-carbon economy in order to combat climate change.  The ESR highlights notable advancements in energy efficiency and renewable energy.

By Monica Tewari, Garbhit Naik, Mansee Bal Bhargava*  Forest landscapes are complex in nature with the interconnectedness of flora and fauna with soil, water, air, and many more aspects including the social-cultural appropriation. A degraded forest landscape makes it even more complex as a wicked problem because of the dominance of the anthropocene which alters, slows and even ends the regenerative capacity of the forest.

By Aseem Mishra*  As per the Housing for All Plan of Action (HFAPoA) of Bhuj, prepared under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY) in 2018, out of a total of 13,978 households residing in slums, 83 percent (approximately 11,631) houses were owned and were sited on public land.  PMAY gives Rs 3.5 lakh of government assistance to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) with an annual household income of Rs 3 lakh. Here, the condition is that the piece of land should be in the applicant's name. In the case of Bhuj, 83 percent of households lack land entitlement as they live on public land. 

By Deepmala Patel*  Avantha Power and Infrastructure had promised to provide employment to the people living in the area when the Jhabua power plant was commissioned. Although it is currently owned by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), this power plant which promised development in the area is wreaking havoc. The toxic ash coming out of the Jhabua power plant has been illegally dumped in the fields of tribal farmers of Gorakhpur, Barela, Umarpani and Bineki of Ghansor development block of Seoni district of Madhya Pradesh for more than two years. Despite all the complaints, the dangerous ash is destroying the farmers’ fields and their crops.

- कविता कुरुगंटी*  जैसा कि सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने जीएमओ से संबंधित जनहित याचिकाओं पर खंडित फैसला सुनाया है, जीएम-मुक्त भारत के लिए गठबंधन ने दोनों माननीय न्यायाधीशों की एकमत टिप्पणियों और निष्कर्षों के कार्यान्वयन की मांग की है। गठबंधन ने नागरिकों और विशेषज्ञों से जीएम के लिए राष्ट्रीय नीति तैयार करने के लिए माननीय न्यायालय द्वारा आदेशित सार्वजनिक परामर्श में बड़ी संख्या में भाग लेने का आह्वान किया है। राज्य सरकारों से सार्वजनिक हित और एहतियाती सिद्धांत को ध्यान में रखते हुए भाग लेने और अपना पक्ष रखने के लिए मांग की, कहा कि भारत के चिंतित नागरिक अब बड़ी बेंच के गठन और अगले दौर की कार्यवाही का इंतजार कर रहे हैंl *** जीएमओ के संबंध में भारत की नियामक व्यवस्था पर सवाल उठाने वाली याचिकाओं में लगभग 20 वर्षों की सुनवाई के बाद, भारत के सर्वोच्च न्यायालय ने 2-न्यायाधीशों की बेंच ने विभाजित फैसला सुनाया। बेंच ने यह निष्कर्ष निकालने से इनकार कर दिया कि दिल्ली विश्वविद्यालय की जीएम सरसों खरपतवारनाशक सहिष्णु है या नहीं। जीएम-मुक्त भारत के लिए गठबंधन ने भारत सरकार से बेंच के दोनों माननीय न्यायाध...

By Nimisha Agarwal*  On July 26, 2005, Mumbai experienced an unprecedented rainfall of 944 mm in 24 hours, resulting in catastrophic flooding that claimed over 1,000 lives and caused extensive damage to infrastructure and property. This deluge, one of the worst in the city’s history, highlighted severe deficiencies in urban planning and flood management. 

By Sumit Kumar Ganguly*  On July 29, twelve years ago, the first election to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) was held. The GTA is the semi-autonomous body responsible for the governance of the hill areas of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts in West Bengal. The separate administrative setup was created under a State legislation in the wake of the Gorkhaland statehood movement by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) led by Bimal Gurung. Most people are unaware of the fact that the election to this body is not conducted by any independent constitutional authority like the Election Commission of India (ECI) or the State Election Commission (SEC).

- બીરેન કોઠારી*  નિવૃત્ત સનદી અધિકારી, વિદ્યાવ્યાસંગી, ઉ.ગુ.યુનિ.ના સ્થાપક-કુલપતિ, 'વહીવટની વાતો'ના લેખક અને અસંખ્ય સુભાષિતોનો પ્રાસાદિક ગુજરાતીમાં અનુવાદ કરનાર વિદ્યાપુરુષ કુલીનચંદ્ર યાજ્ઞિકનું હાલમાં ૯૭  વર્ષની વયે અવસાન થયું.  તેમની સાથેનો પરિચય હસિત મહેતા થકી થયેલો. નડિયાદ જવાનું થાય ત્યારે વખતોવખત તેમને મળવાનું બને. તેમને આંખે સાવ ઓછું દેખાતું હોવાથી તેમની સમક્ષ જઈને નામ બોલતાં જ તેઓ ઉષ્માપૂર્વક હાથ પકડી લે અને વાત શરૂ કરે. આવો અનુભવ મારા જેવા અનેકને થયો હશે.  હસિત મહેતાને લઈને ઉર્વીશ અને હું પણ તેમને 'કુલીનકાકા' કહીને સંબોધતા. દોઢેક વર્ષથી નડિયાદના 'ગોવર્ધનરામ સ્મૃતિમંદીર' સાથે સંકળાવાનું બન્યું, જે કુલીનકાકાના નિવાસસ્થાનની બિલકુલ પાસે. એ પછી તેમની સાથેનો પરિચય વધુ ગાઢ થતો ગયો. એનું એક કારણ એટલે 'સ્ટડી સર્કલ' યાનિ 'ગૃપ ડિસ્કશન', જેને અમારા મિત્રો 'જી.ડી.'ના ટૂંકા નામે ઓળખે છે.  એનો પરિચય આપવાથી કુલીનકાકાની દૃષ્ટિનો પરિચય મળી રહેશે. કુલીનકાકાનું નિવાસસ્થાન નાગરવાડામાં આવેલી 'અચાભાઈની ખડકી'માં. બસોએક વરસ જૂનું, અસલ નાગરી શૈલીન...

By Bharat Dogra*  Aruna Roy’s book published by HarperCollins under the title ‘The Personal is Political –An Activist’s Memoir’ has attracted a lot of attention within a short time, and for good reason. A part of the reason relates to what Amartya Sen and Jean Dreze say in their comment on the book, “Aruna Roy reflects on a life of deep engagement, weaving the personal and the political. A great inspiration.”

By Shamsul Islam*  The directive of the RSS-BJP government issued on dated July 9, 2024, stated that the government had “reviewed” instructions issued in 1966, 1970, and 1980, “and it has been decided to remove the mention of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) from the impugned OMs (Official Memorandums) dated 30.11.1966, 25.07.1970 and 28.10.1980”. 

By Fr Cedric Prakash SJ*  India will and should never forget that infamous night of 25/26 June 1975, when, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had a state of emergency declared all over the country. During that dark chapter of the country’s history which lasted for a twenty-one-month period till 21 March 1977, civil liberties were suspended, freedom of speech and expression was totally muzzled, political opponents of the Government and those who protested the emergency were imprisoned and human rights violations by those in power, were the order of the day! The most obvious response for the people of India was to say (in the words of the world’s people, in the aftermath of the horrors of the Nazi regime) “never again!” and to ensure that those dark days would never visit the country, at any time in future. Sadly, the reality today, is worse than the ‘emergency!’

- પંક્તિ જોગ*  ઇ શ્રમ પોર્ટલ પર રજીસ્ટર થયેલ દરેક શ્રમિક ને રાશન કાર્ડ મળવું જોઈએ એ અંગે સર્વોચ્ચ અદાલતે અગાઉ ચુકાદો આપ્યો હતો.  તાજેતરમાં આ જ કેસમાં સુપ્રીમ કોર્ટ માં તેમને 4 અઠવાડિયા ની અંદર એ કાર્ડ ને નેશનલ ફૂડ સિક્યોરિટી એક્ટ (NFSA) અંતર્ગત સામેલ કરી અનાજ આપવાનો ઑર્ડર કર્યો છે.  ગુજરાતમાં લગભગ 1.16  કરોડ  ઇ શ્રમ કાર્ડ રજીસ્ટર થયાનું અગાઊ સરકારે કહ્યું હતું. તે તમામ પાસે NFSA કાર્ડ (જેનાં પર 5 કિલો અનાજ મળી શકે) છે કે કેમ? તેની હવે ચકાસણી કરી (માપદંડ મૂજબ)  તેમને NFSA માં સામેલ કરવાની પ્રક્રીયા સરકારે કરવી પડશે.  સર્વોચ્ચ અદાલતે સ્પષ્ટતા કરી છે કે આ કાર્ડ માટે 2011 ના જનગણના અને NFSA કાયદામાં આપેલ ક્વોટા નો બાધ નડશે નહીં.  ગુજરાતમાં આજની તારીખે 74,18,710 કુટુંબોના 3,60,22,731 લોકોને  NFSA માં સામેલ કર્યા છે. જે 2011 ના વસ્તી મૂજબ 59.55% થાય છે. કાયદા અનુસાર રાજ્ય ના 67.5% વસ્તીને NFSA માં શામેલ કરી શકાય.  આજની  વસ્તીને ધ્યાને લઈએ તો કાયદા મુજબ 4 કરોડ 90 લાખ જેટલાં લોકોને NFSA અંતર્ગત સસ્તું અનાજ મળી શકે તેમ છે.  વઘુ એક મહત્વ...

By Harsh Thakor*  Sir Garfield St Aubrun Sobers attained cricketing immortality, transcending boundaries no cricketer ever scaled in terms of all round cricketing skill, and art. Sobers could turn the complexion of match in all departments 360 degrees. For sheer aestheticism possibly no one surpassed Sobers in the world of sport.

By Vijay Prashad*  At the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Washington, the focus was on Ukraine. In the Washington Declaration, the NATO leaders wrote , “Ukraine’s future is in NATO.” Ukraine formally applied to join NATO in September 2022, but soon found that despite widespread NATO support, several member states (such as Hungary) were uneasy with escalating a conflict with Russia. 

By Kavitha Kuruganti*  After nearly 20 long years of hearings in a batch of petitions questioning India’s regulatory regime with regard to GMOs, the Supreme Court of India delivered a split verdict from a 2-judge Bench. The Bench refused to conclude whether Delhi University’s GM mustard is herbicide tolerant or not. The Coalition for a GM-Free India responded by asking the Government of India to begin implementing the common observations and conclusions of both the Hon’ble Judges on the Bench, even as other matters go to a larger Bench to be constituted by the Chief Justice of India. 

By Mitra Ranjan*  The Right to Education (RTE) Forum’s National Convenor Gautam Badyopadhyay has said that the Union budget ignores the school education sector. “Far from delivering 6% GDP for education that the government has repeatedly promised, this year’s budget brings neither significant focus nor new money for the education India’s 431 million citizens under 18”, he underlined.

Counterview Desk  Condemning four hours of "illegal detention and house search" of People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) National Council and Chhattisgarh Unit Office Bearer Kaladas Dehariya, even as demanding dropping of "fabricated and false" proceedings under the anti-terror law UAPA immediately, PUCL  has said that the security agency NIA's conduct was "shocking", as during the operation, the "neighbours' houses were locked."

By Raj Shekhar*  The Right to Food Campaign has expressed its deep disappointment that in the budget announcement for 2024-25 rather than enhancing spending in the critical area of food security, the budget has either remained stagnant or has declined. 

By PK Sreemathi, Mariam Dhawale* The All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) has expressed its disappointment with the 2024-25 budget placed before the parliament today. The NDA government’s first full post-poll budget shows that it is in complete denial of the social reality faced by women today. 

- राज शेखर*  रोज़ी रोटी अधिकार अभियान यह जानकर निराश है कि 2024-25 के बजट घोषणा में खाद्य सुरक्षा के महत्वपूर्ण क्षेत्र में खर्च बढ़ाने के बजाय, बजट या तो स्थिर रहा है या इसमें गिरावट आई है। वित्तीय वर्ष (FY) 2024-25 के लिए राष्ट्रीय खाद्य सुरक्षा अधिनियम के तहत खाद्य सब्सिडी का बजट अनुमान रु. 2.05 लाख करोड़ है, जो पिछले वित्तीय वर्ष के संशोधित अनुमान से 3.3% कम है। जब सभी स्रोत एवं ज़मीनी सच्चाई से यह स्पष्ट है कि देश कुपोषण और खाद्य असुरक्षा के बड़े संकट का सामना कर रहा है, तो यह वास्तव में चौंकाने वाला है कि खाद्य सब्सिडी बजट में कटौती की गई है। पोषण (स्कूल मिड-डे मील) योजना में 2023-24 के अनुमानित बजट ₹11,600 करोड़ से मामूली वृद्धि देखी गई है, जो ₹12,467 करोड़ है (हालांकि यह 2022-23 में इस योजना पर होने वाले वास्तविक व्यय ₹12,681 करोड़ से कम है)। छह साल से कम उम्र के बच्चों, गर्भवती और स्तनपान कराने वाली महिलाओं और किशोर लड़कियों के लिए सक्षम आंगनवाड़ी योजना में भी कमी देखी गई है और इसे ₹21,200 करोड़ का बजटीय आवंटन मिला है ( 2023-24 के संशोधित अनुमान ₹21,523 करोड़ था)। समर्थ जि...

By Umesh Babu*  The Union budget of the year 2024-25 is Rs. 48,20,512 crore out of which only Rs. 1,65,493 crore (3.43%) against the due Rs 7,95,384 crore is allocated for Scheduled Caste and only Rs. 1,32,214 crore (2.74 %) for Scheduled Tribes against the due amount of Rs. 3,95,281 crore as per Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) of 1975 and 1979. The Union budget grossly failed to allocate the budget as per the policy and it shows that the Union government is totally against the due empowerment of SCs and STs.

- उमेश बाबू*  वर्ष 2024-25 का केंद्रीय बजट 48,20,512 करोड़ रुपये है, जिसमें से 1,65,493 करोड़ रुपये (3.43%) अनुसूचित जाति के लिए और 1,32,214 करोड़ रुपये (2.74%) अनुसूचित जनजाति के लिए आवंटित किए गए हैं, जबकि अनुसूचित जाति और अनुसूचित जनजाति की योजनाओं के अनुसार उन्हें क्रमशः 7,95,384 और 3,95,281 करोड़ रुपये देने आवंटित करना चाहिए था । केंद्रीय बजट ने जनसंख्या के अनुसार बजट आवंटित करने में बड़ी असफलता दिखाई दी है और इससे स्पष्ट होता है कि केंद्र सरकार को अनुसूचित जातियों और अनुसूचित जनजातियों की समाजिक सुरक्षा एवं एवं विकास की चिंता नहीं है| अनुसूचित जातियों और अनुसूचित जनजातियों के कल्याण के लिए योजनाओं के नाम पर सरकार कॉर्पोरेट जगत  का हित कर रही है । इस केंद्रीय बजट में, केंद्र सरकार ने अनुसूचित जाति और अनुसूचित जनजाति के कल्याण के लिए बनाई जाने वाली योजनाओं की जगह  अन्य क्षेत्रों में पैसे आवंटित कर दिए हैं (जैसे दूरसंचार, सेमीकंडक्टर, लार्ज स्केल इंडस्ट्रीज, परिवहन उद्योग, उर्वरक आयात, रासायनिक उत्पादन आदि) और अनुसूचित जाति उपयोजना एवं अनुसूचित जन जाती योजना की मूल आत्...

By Bezwada Wilson*  The Union Budget for the year 2024-2025, placed by the Finance Minister in Parliament has completely deceived the Safai Karmachari community. There is no mention of persons engaged in manual scavenging in the entire Budget. Even the scheme meant for the rehabilitation of manual scavengers (SRMS) has been outrageously scrapped. 

By Kiran Vissa, Kavitha Kuruganti*   Calling out the continuously-lowered budgetary allocations for agriculture sector in the country by the Union government, and terming it as clearly anti-farmer, the Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture (ASHA-Kisan Swaraj) network stated that the government has not obviously reformed its ways from the drubbing it received from rural voters in the recent general elections.  It also said that the lessons that the government ought to have picked up from the historic farmers’ movement and the commitments made to Samyukt Kisan Morcha are also being ignored. 

By Shankar Sharma*  National media houses have carried multiple headlines on the latest budgetary proposals for the energy sector.  They should indicate multiple concerns to the overall welfare of our people in the near term as well as in the long term: Union Budget 2024 | Govt to come out with document on energy transition pathway: Sitharaman Renewable power companies gain from pumped storage projects Push for research and development of new technology for nuclear energy in Budget 2024 Budget 2024: Nuclear energy to drive India’s Viksit Bharat's new power mix On an objective consideration of various statements in the budget speech, those of us who have been keen observers of the electricity/ energy sector, have to come to an unfortunate conclusion that the overall welfare of our country was not at the focus of those advisors, who might have persuaded you to  make budgetary provision for additional super critical thermal power plants, high voltage transmission lines, Pump...

By Nava Thakuria*   After nearly two hundred people, mainly students, were killed by the government armed forces allegedly in liaison with the ruling party affiliates in Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has blamed the opposition political leaders for the violence that erupted across the nation. She argued that the government in Dhaka was compelled to impose a strict curfew with an aim to maintain the law and order situation and it will be lifted as the situation improves.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak   On July 23, Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget (2024-25) which highlights the priorities of Hindutva politics of economic growth sans human development. The Modi-led BJP government, along with its finance minister, continues to pursue failed and rejected neoliberal economic policies, including the reduction of corporate taxes, in an attempt to spur economic growth. 

By Gautam Mody*  Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the country on July 22 that the Union Budget for the ongoing financial year 2024-25 would lay the economic foundations for the next 5 years and the direction for the next 25, until we got to his goal of ‘Viksit Bharat’. Today’s Union Budget 2024-25 (BS) presented to parliament was so underwhelming that Modi felt the need to make a thirty-minute national broadcast, to explain to us what it was all about.

- મુજાહિદ નફીસ*  વર્ષ 2024-25નું બજેટ ભારત સરકાર દ્વારા નાણામંત્રી નિર્મલા સીતારમને સંસદમાં રજૂ કર્યું હતું. આ વર્ષનું બજેટ 4820512.08 કરોડ રૂપિયા છે, જે ગયા વર્ષની સરખામણીમાં લગભગ 1% વધારે છે. જ્યારે લઘુમતી બાબતોના મંત્રાલયનું બજેટ માત્ર 3183.24 કરોડ રૂપિયા છે જે કુલ બજેટના અંદાજે 0.0660% છે. વર્ષ 2021-22માં લઘુમતી બાબતોના મંત્રાલયનું બજેટ રૂ. 4810.77 કરોડ હતું, જ્યારે 2022-23 માટે રૂ. 5020.50 કરોડની દરખાસ્ત કરવામાં આવી હતી. ગયા વર્ષે 2023-24માં તે રૂ. 3097.60 કરોડ હતો. કેન્દ્ર સરકારે મહત્વની યોજનાઓના બજેટમાં ઘટાડો કર્યો છે જે નીચે મુજબ છે:  પ્રિ મેટ્રિક સ્ટુડન્ટ સ્કોલરશિપ સ્કીમમાં રૂ. 106.84 કરોડનો ઘટાડો, પોસ્ટ મેટ્રિક સ્કીમમાં રૂ. 80.38 કરોડનો વધારો, મેરિટ કમ મીન્સ સ્કીમમાં રૂ. 10.2 કરોડનો ઘટાડો, મૌલાના આઝાદ ફેલોશિપ સ્કીમમાં રૂ. 50.92 કરોડનો ઘટાડો, રૂ. 4 કરોડનો ઘટાડો કોચિંગ સ્કીમ, રૂ. 5.70 કરોડની વ્યાજ સબસિડી, UPSC તૈયારી યોજનામાં શૂન્ય 00 જોગવાઈ, કૌમી વક્ફ બોર્ડ વિકાસ યોજનાના બજેટમાં રૂ. 1 કરોડનો ઘટાડો, કૌશલ્ય વિકાસ પહેલ યોજનામાં 0% જોગવાઈ, નયી મંઝીલ યોજનામાં 0% જોગવાઈ, લઘ...

By Mujahid Nafees*  The budget of  Rs 48,20,512.08 crore for the year 2024-25 presented in Parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman  suggests an increase of about 1% compared to last year, yet the allocation for the Ministry of Minority Affairs is only Rs 3,183.24 crore, which is approximately 0.0660% of the total budget. In the year 2021-22, the budget of the Ministry of Minority Affairs was Rs 4810.77 crore, followed by Rs 5020.50 crore proposed for 2022-23, and Rs 3097.6 crore proposed for 2023-24.

By Rosamma Thomas*  Pala town in Kottayam district of Kerala is about 25 km from the district headquarters. St Thomas College in Pala is currently hosting a three-day workshop on knowledge systems, and gathered together are philosophers, sociologists, medical practitioners in homeopathy and Ayurveda, one of them from Nepal, and a few guests from Europe. The discussions on the first day focused on knowledge systems, power structures, and epistemic diversity. French researcher Jacquiline Descarpentries, who represents a unique cooperative of researchers, some of whom have no formal institutional affiliation, laid the ground, addressing the audience over the Internet.

By Gova Rathod*  The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Gujarat, organised an event in Ahmedabad entitled “Remembering Fr. Stan Swamy in Today’s Challenging Reality” in the memory of Fr. Stan Swamy on his third death anniversary.  The event included a discussion of the new criminal laws enforced since July 1, 2024.

By Jitendra Parmar*  As many as 17 faith leaders, together for an interfaith dialogue on child marriage in New Delhi, unanimously have agreed that no faith allows or endorses child marriage. The faith leaders advocated that all religious places should display information on child marriage.

- राहुल देव  सरकारी कर्मचारियों के लिए राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक संघ की गतिविधियों में भाग लेने पर ५८ साल से लगा हुआ प्रतिबंध इस सरकार ने हटा लिया है। यह केन्द्र सरकार के संपूर्ण संघीकरण पर लगी हुई औपचारिक रोक को भी हटा कर समूची सरकारी ढाँचे पर संघ के निर्बाध प्रभाव-दबाव-वर्चस्व के ऐसे द्वार खोल देगा जिनको दूर करने में किसी वैकल्पिक सरकार को दशकों लग जाएँगे।  मुझे क्या आपत्ति है इस फ़ैसले पर? संघ अगर केवल एक शुद्ध सांस्कृतिक संगठन होता जैसे रामकृष्ण मिशन है, चिन्मय मिशन है, भारतीय विद्या भवन है,  तमाम धार्मिक-सांस्कृतिक-सामाजिक संगठन हैं तो उसपर प्रतिबंध लगता ही नहीं। ये संगठन धर्म-कार्य करते हैं, समाज सेवा करते हैं, हमारे धर्मग्रंथों-दर्शनों-आध्यामिक विषयों पर अत्यन्त विद्वत्तापूर्ण पुस्तकें, टीकाएँ प्रकाशित करते हैं। इनके भी पूर्णकालिक स्वयंसेवक होते हैं।  इनमें से कोई भी राजनीति में प्रत्यक्ष-परोक्ष हस्तक्षेप नहीं करता, इस या उस राजनीतिक दल के समर्थन-विरोध में काम नहीं करता, बयान नहीं देता।  संघ सांस्कृतिक-सामाजिक कम और राजनीतिक संगठन ज़्यादा है। इसे छिपाना असंभव ह...

By Bharat Dogra*   Aasmeen is a domestic worker who lives in Haiderpur hut colony in Delhi. Her day starts at 5 am when she still has a lot of sleep left in her eyes but must somehow raise herself from her bed. After all she has to leave for work at 9.

By Sudhansu R Das  Over the years badminton has become the second most popular game in the world after soccer.  Today, nearly 220 million people across the world play badminton.  The game has become very popular in urban India after India won medals in various international badminton tournaments.  One will come across a badminton court in every one kilometer radius of Hyderabad.  

By Harsh Thakor* On July 18th the cricket world celebrated the 75th birthday of Dennis Lillee.The very sight of him running in to the bowling mark was one of cricket’s most captivating sights. Dennis Lillee pumped adrenalin or never say die spirit to an unparalleled height in his era and was an epitome of perfection in the art of fast bowling. 

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*  Homelessness is on the rise in both urban and rural areas of Odisha, exacerbating the struggles of its inhabitants. Currently, 11.07 percent of the population in the state lives in poverty, reflecting widespread economic hardship. Hunger and malnutrition continue to be pressing concerns, with many families unable to access sufficient food, safe drinking water and nutrients. 

- झारखंड जनाधिकार महासभा*  20 जुलाई को गृह मंत्री व भाजपा के प्रमुख नेता अमित शाह ने अपनी पार्टी के कार्यक्रम में आकर झारखंडी समाज में नफ़रत और साम्प्रदायिकता फ़ैलाने वाला भाषण दिया. उन्होंने कहा कि झारखंड में बड़ी संख्या में बांग्लादेशी घुसपैठी आ रहे हैं, आदिवासी लड़कियों से शादी कर रहे हैं, ज़मीन हथिया रहे हैं, लव जिहाद, लैंड जिहाद कर रहे हैं. असम के मुख्यमंत्री हेमंत बिश्व सरमा जिन्हें आगामी झारखंड विधान सभा चुनाव के लिए जिम्मा दिया गया है, पिछले एक महीने से लगातार इन मुद्दों पर जहर और नफरत फैला रहे हैं। भाजपा के स्थानीय नेता भी इसी तरह के वक्तव्य रोज दे रह हैं। न ये बातें तथ्यों पर आधारित हैं और न ही झारखंड में अमन-चैन का वातावरण  बनाये  रखने के लिए सही हैं. दुख की बात है कि स्थानीय मीडिया बढ़ चढ़ कर इस मुहिम का हिस्सा बनी हुई है। यह मुसलमानों के विरुद्ध साम्प्रदायिकता फैलाकर विधान सभा चुनाव के पहले धार्मिक ध्रुवीकरण की कोशिश है. लोकतंत्र बचाओ अभियान इन भाषणों व राज्य में नफ़रत फ़ैलाने की कोशिश की कड़ी निंदा करता है. एक तरफ़ नरेंद्र मोदी के नेतृत्व में NDA सरकार लगातार संसद मे...