YEH MERA INDIA

Disabled unfriendly states of India

New Delhi: People with disabilities constitute almost 5% of the total population, but just four states of Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have set up separate departments to look after their welfare. Even the Centre did not have such a department until recently.

The Supreme Court judgment awarding damages of Rs 10 lakh to eminent disability rights activist Jeeja Ghose of Kolkata highlighted how the disabled persons are not able to get benefits of many schemes announced for their welfare for want of an independent department dealing with them.

Only 19 states out of a total of 36 states have independent sate commissioners for the disabled while the responsibility in other states has been given as an additional charge to officers or the post lies vacant.

A Parliamentary Standing Committee headed by the BJP’s MP Ramesh Bais took strong exception to the apathetic attitude of the states because of which the disabled persons continue to face barriers in their participation as equal members of the society.

It has driven attention of the Centre to Article 41 in the Constitution making it mandatory for the governments to help out the disabled. It said the Article clearly states that “the State shall, within the limits of its economic capacity and development, make effective provision for securing the right to work, to education and to public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement and in other cases of undeserved want.”

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities which works under the Social Justice Ministry admitted to the committee that the rights regarding disability were very low in the order.

Stressing that no country or society can ever progress ignoring the needs and aspirations of the disabled, the committee asked the Centre to impress upon the states to have a separate disability department to address to the concerns, issues, problems and difficulties of the disabled persons, so as to bring them into the mainstream.

After 33 yrs, Rs 5 lakh for Widow of Godse’s Captor

Bhubaneswar: About 33 years after the death of Raghu Nayak who showed exemplary courage in capturing Mahatma Gandhi’s killer Nathuram Godse, the Odisha government provided a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to his widow. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik handed over the cheque to Mandodari Nayak and felicitated her by presenting a shawl at the secretariat here.

She was accompanied by the Collector of Kendrapara district and her family members.

The financial assistance was given to Nayak’w widow from the chief minister’s relief fund, officials said. Raghu Nayak was awarded Rs 500 during his lifetime for his extraordinary courage by former President Rajendra Prasad. The state government, according to the Chief Minister’s Office, decided to provide financial assistance to Nayak’s widow after it came to know about her financial hardship.

While Nayak had died in 1983, their son also passed away some years later and Mandodari now stays with her daughter.

Raghu Nayak, a resident of Jagulaipada village of Kendrapara district, was working as a gardener at Birla House in Delhi where Godse had opened fire on Gandhiji on January 30, 1948.

Though he could not save the leader, he was the first to chase down Godse and overpower him. Later, Godse was awarded capital punishment.

The residents of Jagulaipada erected a memorial pillar in Nayak’s memory in 2005 with assistance from German automobile maker Daimler-Chrysler.

Nayak’s family members and residents of his village lament that history has failed to give the brave man his due.

“History books are almost silent on him. Nowhere can you find the mention of the person who tried to save the life of the Mahatma. We believe he deserved recognition by his countrymen,” said Maheswar Das, a schoolteacher.

The only book where Raghu’s bravery finds a mention is ‘Mahatma Gandhi — The Last Phase’, a biography of the Father of the Nation written by his private secretary Pyarelal.

Role Reversal: Criminals use CCTVs to spy on cops

New Delhi:  The Delhi Police, which has its own dedicated CCTV network to monitor law and order across the national capital, is baffled by what can be called a role reversal — criminals using such cameras to track movement of local police around their hideouts.

The trend came to light in the posh southern part of the city where a gambling racket was operating full time but came out clean every time the police paid a surprise visit.

The police later received input about CCTV cameras installed around the gamblers’ hideout in Vasant Gaon area and planned a secret operation. But things only got worse as a woman, who had allegedly sheltered the gang, confronted the police team and accused them of harassing her, that too by entering the premises of her house, and to support her claims, she had CCTV grabs.

The terrified beat officials retreated to the police station and reported the matter, compelling the station in-charge to take up the issue with senior officials.

“It has been observed that criminals indulging in sale of illicit liquor, running gambling rackets and selling drugs, have installed CCTV cameras in their houses to keep check on the movements of beat constables of the area.

“If any beat constable dares to enter the premises forcibly, they would use these CCTV cameras as evidence, accusing them of having gone there to demand money or harass the women living on  the premises,” DCP (South) Ishwar Singh said.

In late April, the Special Task Force of South district was assigned the job of tracking such gangs and bringing them to book. In around 10 days, the special team busted three such cases, including another gambling racket, an illicit liquor supplier and a marijuana peddling ring.

The marijuana ring, busted in Sangam Vihar area, was allegedly headed by a 50-year-old woman who had installed CCTV cameras in and around her shanty from where the dealings took place. She wrapped up within seconds every time her informers, who were tasked with monitoring the footage, informed her of police presence, a senior official said.

Shortage of ice-cream leads to cancellation of marriage

Mathura (UP):  Shortage of ice-cream in a marriage party led to heated argument between the bride and groom sides and finally resulted in brick-batting in which three police personnel were injured and cancellation of the wedding.

The incident took place in Mahesh Nagar colony in Raya-Sadabad road here, when after ‘Jaimaal ceremony’ the host and few members from the groom side entered into heated argument over the shortage of ice-cream, police said. “It finally led to a clash between both the groups,” SP (Rural) Arun Kumar Singh said. Following which, police was called in by the groom’s side and on their complaint, seven persons from the bride’s side were arrested, he said. Angry over police action, members from the bride’s side, including women, started pelting stone on police and also blocked the Raya-Sadabad road, Singh said, adding one constable and two sub-inspectors were injured.

Exam in undies

PATNA: The Army regretted in the Patna High Court conducting a recruitment examination at Muzaffarpur for candidates in their underwears to prevent cheating and promised to take all precaution so that such an incident does not recur. An affidavit was submitted by Director, Army Recruitment Board, Muzaffarpur, V S Godhara and a division bench of acting Chief Justice Iqbal Ahmed Ansari and Justice Samrendra Pratap disposed off the PIL after it. Central government counsel S B Sanjay submitted the affidavit on behalf of Godhara expressing regret over the incident.