YEH MERA INDIA

Outsourcing Sterilisation to NGOs- SC pulls up states

New Delhi: The Supreme Court took strong exception to the outsourcing of sterilisation camps by state governments to NGOs, as questions were raised over the family planning targets set by the Centre which have to be fulfilled by the states.

The matter being heard by the apex court related to such a camp in Bihar's Araria district where 53 women were operated within about two hours in January 2012.

A bench headed by Justice M B Lokur also asked Chhattisgarh government to file an affidavit specifying details as to how much compensation was paid to the victims of such a camp held in November 2014 in Bilaspur district in which over dozen women had lost their lives.

"It is a question of human life. We can't live with problems throughout our lives. It needs to be cured, solutions need to be found. This compensation thing is bringing all the problems. For this compensation, there is race against time and a number of operations are being conducted," it said. The bench, also comprising Justice U U Lalit, asked Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand to specify the Centre's stand on discontinuing granting of compensation to the patients and sought suggestions from it to check outsourcing of such camps and imposition of guidelines.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for the petitioner, said the target for sterilisation set by the Centre was the "trigger point" and states have to fulfil them.

States in order to meet these targets outsource the camps to NGOs, he said, adding that ASHA workers who are given targets bring women to such camps.

To this, the court said "sometimes the women are not even aware what they are subjected to. They (NGOs) are not doing any philanthropic work." "All possible loopholes need to be plugged. You can't flock people like herds (to these camps). Compensation needs to be dissuaded," the bench observed.

When counsel for Chhattisgarh government said action has been taken against the doctors who had conducted the operations, the bench retorted: "Forget about the prosecution and say what are the steps taken to prevent such incidents". It sought details of the steps taken by the state. The bench also threatened to impose Rs five lakh as compensation per victim on an NGO, Jai Ambe Welfare Society which had organised the camp in Bihar in which 53 women were operated in around two hours in January 2012.

"How are these NGOs selected for conducting such camps? Is there any background check? Who are the doctors who conduct such camps? Who gives permission for holding camps," the bench asked ASG.

The Additional Solicitor General told the bench that the Centre has framed certain guidelines for conducting sterilisation camps and it was the state which has to decide on who will conduct these camps.

The court was hearing a plea filed by Devika Biswas, who has sought an independent probe by a body like National Alliance for Maternal Health and Human Rights into such incidents.

Biswas, who hails from Araria district and claims to be an eye-witness, has also sought a thorough probe into the January 7, 2012 sterilisation camp held in her district. The bench asked the NGO to file its audited accounts, permission for holding such camps, details of members on its board and whether it had any medical professional or not. Counsel appearing for the NGO argued that it has been blacklisted by Bihar government since the incident and the only allegations against it was that they had supplied expired date medicines to persons who had undergone the surgery.

Bus Driver Stabbed for Overtaking

Mumbai: In yet another case of road rage, a state transport bus driver got several stab wounds near Punjab wadi signal in Chembur, allegedly for overtaking a motorbike being driven by a female. The accused, a pillion rider on the motorbike, was infuriated after the ST bus reportedly overtook them. Police said that a lady was riding the motorbike and the accused was a pillion passenger. After a thorough chase the lady over-sped her motorbike and stopped it before the ST bus, after which the accused got off the bike and reportedly stabbed the ST bus driver after getting physical with him. The ST bus driver, who received several stab wounds and injuries after being roughed up, was immediately taken to nearby Shatabdi hospital, form where he has now been discharged, police said. A complaint has been filed with Trombay Police Station and the hunt to nail the accused and bike bearing number MH-46 8140 is underway.

Maharashtra Government- more business friendly than people friendly

Mumbai: State cabinet has cleared changes in the procurement procedure for the Take Home Ration (THR) scheme. However, the changes would drive away the small Self Help Groups run by needy women from the competition and would favour certain bidders who control the women and child welfare department, Federation of Women Self Help Groups has said.

The cabinet, approved proposal to invite Expression of Interest (EOI) through technical bids instead of commercial bid for the THR under integrated child development service (ICDS) and SABALA schemes. Under these schemes, breakfast and lunch is supplied to children between age 6 months to 3 years, malnourished children and pregnant women at their doorsteps.

It was pointed out in cabinet meeting that there is no provision to call e-tender through EoI in Procurement Policy brought in by the industries department. Hence, cabinet also gave its nod to call e-tenders through EOIs based on technical bids in place of commercial bids, senior officials said.

However, the Federation of Women Self Help Groups claimed that the cabinet decision will favour three giant bidders who have indirect control over the women and child department.

Sanjana Ghadi, president of Federation of Women Self Help Groups, said, “This is an ugly attempt to throw away small SHGs run by needy women out of competition as the new procedure would require furnishing of several documents which hardly any SHG would have. The conditions regarding financial health of the bidders too are difficult for any single SHG to meet.”

Meanwhile, leader of opposition in legislative council Dhananjay Munde too accused the State government of planning to do away with small SHGs from bid competition to provide THR.

“The High Court has given clear directions to the State government that Women’s SHGs should get the tender of supplying ration. But, the department appears to have decided to keep these women’s SHGs away from the process,” he said.

Politicians' Wealth & Apex Court’s Helplessness

New Delhi: The Supreme Court agreed 100% with former top cop Julio Ribeiro on need to verify the politicians’ wealth, but it shied away from passing any order since it would amount to stepping onto Parliament’s domain.

Even while dismissing his PIL (public interest litigation) seeking a mechanism to verify the politicians’ wealth declared in their nominations while contesting elections, the Bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur advised him to better join hands with other eminent personalities to pursue the issue on other appropriate forums.

“Parliament should make a law. This is an area of the legislature where we can’t get in,” the Chief Justice said on the former Mumbai Police Commissioner’s petition for directions to the election Commission to get every declaration by the candidate verified.

He told Rebeiro that his concern is appreciated but he should better understand that the Election Commission does not have the kind of manpower needed to undertake the exercise he has demanded, lest it gets “submerged” doing it, rendering it unable to do its main job of holding elections to Parliament and State Legislatures. Millions of candidates contest these elections and the task of verifying all declarations was a tall order, the Bench said.

Ribeiro’s concern was why mandate such declarations if anyone can get away with false information.

The Bench said in any case the candidates losing the election were at liberty to challenge the winner for making a wrong declaration. It, however, agreed that this would not result in unseating of the winning candidates but it would lead to penalising such politicians in other ways.

No Hawking Zone board & Hawker’s right below

Bhayandar: After dragging its feet to curb the menace, the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) has now rolled up its sleeves to launch a massive anti-encroachment drive to get rid of illegal hawkers operating in the twin-city. This following Shiv Sena corporator Prashant Dalvi’s offer to resign in protest of civic chief Achyut Hange’s failure to find an effective mechanism on resolving the issue of illegal hawkers in the Mira Bhayandar region.

Fed up of official apathy towards tackling basic civic problems including the rising menace of hawkers Dalvi had offered to resign from the MBMC by submitting a letter to party chief Udhav Thackeray.

While Dalvi has listed a series of unattended civic issues, his major complaint is against MBMC’s deliberate failure towards putting an end to illegal hawker menace which has assumed alarming proportions in the twin-city, particularly in Mira Road’s Shanti Nagar, an area which he represents.

According to him, the menace of illegal hawkers and weekly markets is not just limited to an obstruction for pedestrians/motorists but it has been attracting criminal elements who are mostly into pick-pocketing and eve-teasing. Stung by Dalvi’s move and being pulled up by senior Shiv Sena functionaries, Hange has assured to launch a crackdown from Wednesday.  Notably, the entire stretches of road designated ‘No Hawking Zones’ declared by the MBMC have in fact turned into a vendors’ paradise so much so that pedestrians have been left with little or no space at all forcing them to walk on the road amidst heavy traffic movement.

As per a resolution passed by the general body, 66 ‘No Hawking’ and 26 ‘Hawking Zones’ have been identified in the region.