Tag: jharkhand

Bihar seeks legal opinion on EPF benefits to teachers.

Source – hindustantimes.com

After the Patna High Court order and letter from the additional central provident fund commissioner (Bihar and Jharkhand) Rajib Bhattacharya to the additional chief secretary (education) RK Mahajan, the state government has finally sought legal opinion on extending EPF coverage to its nearly four lakh teachers.

“The government has sought legal opinion from the advocate general on how to go about it. Once the opinion arrives, the government will initiate the process,” said a senior official of the education department.

Interestingly, while the teachers are yet to get PF facility, it is already there for nearly 19,000 tola sevaks and nearly 9,000 volunteers of Talimi Markaz, who were deployed on a fixed salary to being out-of-school children to schools.

On October 16, the Bihar Education Project Council also issued directive for deduction of EPF amount from resource teachers and other employees.

In his letter, a copy of which has also been sent to chief secretary Deepak Kumar, the additional commissioner, EPFO, has stated that the matter needed to be resolved immediately as the HC might initiate contempt proceedings if the timeline of 60 days stipulated for compliance of its order and extension of PF benefits to teachers were not adhered to. Nearly a month has already lapsed since the order was passed.

“It is requested that nodal officer for each district as well as state coordinator may be nominated at the end of this month by the department of education to work with EPFO’s nodal officers for initiating action as per the EPF & MP Act, 1952. The compliance of the court is possible only when the department initiates the process,” he wrote.

Hearing a writ petition filed by two teachers from Maner and Nalanda, the bench of Justice Anil Kumar Upadhyay had last month directed the regional PF commissioner to see that the petitioners were benefited by the EPF scheme. “Necessary action in terms of the provisions of the Act must be taken by the officer at the earliest, preferably within a maximum period of 60 days from the date of receipt/production of a copy of this order,” the bench observed.

Regional PF commissioner RW Syiem said the additional commissioner had held meetings with Mahajan in the light of the Patna HC order for timely compliance. “The department has sought legal opinion from AG, but so far we have not been apprised of it. We have also written to the executive director of the Bihar Education Project Council, as a large number of teachers are under it,” he said.

Syiem said the EPFO has been consistently approaching the government for extension of PF coverage to all teachers. “We have also written to the district education officers (DEOs). We are serious about it,” he said.

A senior education department official said the huge backlog had created a difficult situation for the government, as PF was a statutory requirement. “When even tola sevaks have been extended the PF facility, why were teachers kept out of it for so long? Perhaps the AG will suggest a way out,” he said.

Ex-hockey captain lauds Jharkhand sports talent.

Source – dailypioneer.com

In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, it was ‘chai pe charcha’ that took the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to newer avenues of power, the State BJP in similar and new avtar on Wednesday carried out ‘Coffee with Youths’ the party’s new strategy to connect with youths.

Targeting youths ahead of year-end Assembly election, the State BJP on Wednesday carried out Coffee with Youths at RIMS auditorium, which was attended by ace hockey player and former Indian Hockey team captain Sandeep Singh.

Last month Olympic medalist Yogeshwar Dutt, Commonwealth gold medalist Babita Phogat and former Indian Hockey captain Sandeep Singh joined the BJP ahead of Haryana Assembly elections.

Sandeep, who is a BJP candidate from Pehowa Assembly seat in Haryana during an hour long interaction with youths talked about politics, sports and the values which a youth should have.  Sandeep interacting with youths said, “Before casting the vote one should keep it in their mind that my first vote is for Country. There is no issue bigger than nationalism.” On a query posed by a youth on prospects of sports in Jharkhand, Singh said, “Jharkhand has always remained as sports hub of country.  The State is known for giving finest sportspersons to the country. Everyone knows about MS Dhoni one of the finest sportspersons, but at the same time Jharkhand has given 65 international Hockey players many of whose statues are installed in England.”

 Singh, whose biopic Soorma, which hit the silver screens last year, also praised Chief Minister Raghubar Das’ effort for promotion of sports in State along with sports policy. He said, “The Jharkhand sports policy is finest as inspired with Chief Minister’s vision of setting up sports academy in Jharkhand I too set up sports academy in my state for promotion of sports in my State.” Singh said, “In State earlier, stadiums were lying unused but now these stadiums witness sports activities, which is State level to national and even international level.” Urging the youths to once again support BJP Government in State, he said, “A State can progress only if there is stable Government.

The State has witness development but it needs five years more to make Jharkhand a progressive State.”

The ace Hockey player also asked youths to say no to junk food, mobiles and speeding bikes saying that these things distract youths. He also asked the youth to elect corruption free Government.

The function was also attended by BJP leader Tarun Jung, Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth among others. Large number of youths which included college and RIMS students attended the function.

Jharkhand Food: Check 3 Must-try Delicacies From The State.

Source – republicworld.com

Jharkhand food is famous across the nation for its traditional and spicy taste. Jharkhand is an Eastern-Indian State, which is popular for quite a few reasons like beautiful temples, massive national parks, and serene waterfalls. It is the home-town of the well-known Indian cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni as well. Take a look at some of the must-have dishes from the State.

Jharkhand: Top three must-have dishes from the state

1. Litti Chokha

Litti chokha is undoubtedly one of the most popular main-course dishes of Jharkhand, which has gained a lot of popularity in the entire nation for its flavoursome taste. Litti is a whole wheat flour oval-shaped balls, which are stuffed with pickled sattu or gram flour. They are grilled in a tandoor, or at very high temperature in an oven. Chokha, on the other hand, is a normal mashed brinjal sabzi with a few masalas in it. If you’re haven’t had litti chokha before, then you must give it a try this festive season.

2. Pitha

Pitha is a very saleable stuffed-dessert in Jharkhand. Even though it did not originate in the state and has been adapted by the Bengali cuisine, still, it remains as a celebrated dish in Jharkhand. One can find several varieties of pitha’s in the state, from milk pitha to aloo ka chokha pitha. There is absolutely no dearth in the variety of pitha’s which are available on streets of Jharkhand. They are cute looking rice flour cylindrical-shaped balls, which are stuffed in the middle, and can be a great option for a Diwali dinner with family and friends.

3.Dhuska

It is a staple street food item in the state of Jharkhand, especially in its capital city Ranchi. Dhuskas are deep-fried flattened circles, that somewhat look like pakoras in terms of appearance. Dhuskas are made up of rice, urad dal, chana dal, and masalas. They are served best with mint green chutney or aloo-chana sabzi. The street food is very popular amongst college students, as it is very affordable and filling in nature.

Jharkhand: Activist Stan Swamy’s properties attached, civil rights group criticises police and state.

Source – scroll.in

Civil rights group Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha on Tuesday rebuked the state police for attaching a few items belonging to human rights activist and Catholic priest Stan Swamy the day before. The police took away two tables, three chairs, a cupboard and a mattress from his home at the Bagaicha campus in Namkum near Ranchi.

The police had filed a sedition case against Swamy and 19 other activists from Jharkhand in July 2018 for their Facebook posts questioning “state excesses in villages that conducted Pathalgadi and attack on Adivasi rights”, said the Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha. Pathalgadi is a practice adopted by some villages to declare their gram sabha as the only sovereign authority, not the state or central government.

“Father had posted an objectionable post,” said Khunti Superintendent of Police Ashutosh Shekhar, according to The Telegraph. “Following this an FIR was registered against him and others. Despite summons and warrant, when he did not appear in the trial court, an order to attach his property was issued.”

The civil rights group condemned “the continuous harassment of activists and public intellectuals who are critical of the policies of BJP governments” and added that “the harassments are wholly unjustified and are part of the government’s growing attempts to stifle dissent and intimidate those fighting for justice”. The police’s attempts “indicate that it is an attempt by the BJP to invent a false enemy and engage in scaremongering in order to polarise the election in its favour”, said the Mahasabha.

The group sought the immediate quashing of the FIR against Swamy and asked the police to drop the charges against him. “Stan is an exceptionally gentle, honest and public-spirited person. Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha has the highest regard for him and his work,” it said, adding that it also sought action against the Khunti Police “for the repression unleashed by it in Pathalgadi villages and building a false case against Stan Swamy and others”.

The civil rights group said the police had used the Facebook posts as the activists’ endorsement of the Pathalgadi movement in Khunti. The movement, which had its epicentre in Khunti district, was a unique form of protest. It used the Adivasi practice of installing stone tablets – traditionally used to mark graves – in order to list out constitutional provisions that award vast powers to village councils in Adivasi-dominated Fifth Schedule areas. The movement has been tarred by linking it to Maoists, and branded secessionist and anti-national.

“Among other sections, they [the 20 people] have been booked under 66A of the Information Technology Act 2000, which was repealed by the Supreme Court in 2015,” the group said in its statement. It added that Swamy and three others – rights activists Aloka Kujur, Rakesh Roshan Kiro and Vinod Kumar – had challenged the FIR in Ranchi High Court.

But even though the hearing is on, the local police approached the district court and got an arrest warrant on June 19, the group said. “However, such a warrant can only be issued if it is proved that the accused is hiding or trying to evade arrest,” it added. “Before the warrant was issued, neither did the Khunti police visit the residences of Stan and others to inquire if they were present nor did it send them any notice. This raises questions on the legality of the warrant itself.”

The civil rights group pointed out that “just a week before the warrant was issued, Stan’s room was raided by the Maharashtra police, in the presence of Jharkhand Police, in the Bhima-Koregaon case”. Swamy’s presence at Bagaicha during the raid was reported widely reported in the media, “and yet, the Khunti Police got an arrest warrant issued in a week”, the group added.

The four activists filed an application to quash the warrant in the High Court but the Khunti court declared Swamy an absconder on July 22, said the Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha. Though Swamy appealed to quash this order as well, the notice to attach his property was issued on September 24.

“The irony of the Khunti police declaring Stan an absconder, even though he fully cooperated with the Maharashtra police in their investigations (and was available at his residence) in the same period was raised by his lawyer in the High Court,” the statement added. “The government lawyer asked for additional time when he was asked by the court to explain this paradox. He was asked to justify the state’s orders, regarding the arrest warrant and declaring Stan an absconder, on the next hearing scheduled for October 23.”

The attachment of Swamy’s belongings two days before the hearing “indicates an attempt by the police to ensure that Stan’s appeal for quashing of arrest warrant becomes infructuous”, the civil rights group added.

Mad rush among Congress, JMM MLAs in Jharkhand to join BJP.

Source – indiatoday.in

Speculations are rife that three MLAs from the Congress and three MLAs from Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) camp may join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on October 23.

The reports come just ahead of formal announcement for Assembly elections in Jharkhand.

It may come as a jolt for the Congress and JMM. The list doing rounds in political circles includes the name of former state Congress president and MLA from Lohardagga Sukhdev Bhagat, formidable MLA from Barhi (Hazaribag) Manoj Yadav and Badal Patralekh from Jarmundi (Dumka).

The JMM is also said to face desertion.

MLA from Bahragora Kunal Sarangi (Jamshedpur), Chamra Linda from Bishunpur (Gumla) and MLA from Mandu (Ramgarh) JP Patel are likely to join the BJP on Wednesday.

The Congress had nine MLAs. The party will be reduced to six if the three MLAs make their way to join the BJP. Similarly, the JMM will also be left with 16 MLAs if the three MLAs say goodbye to the party.

Most of the MLAs could not be contacted. Their phones are either switched off or not reachable hinting at them joining a new party.

Kunal Sarangi has confirmed that he will join the BJP. He said that he has no differences with Hemant Soren and will continue to enjoy a very good personal rapport with him in future.

The MLAs and many leaders aspiring for a good career in politics see prospects and a bright future for themselves in the BJP.

FORECAST OF MODERATE RAIN IN RANCHI DURING NEXT 24 HRS, JAMSHEDPUR TO ALSO SEE SOME SHOWERS.

Source – skymetweather.com

Many parts of Jharkhand have observed light to moderate rain and thundershowers during the last 24 hours. The capital city of Ranchi recorded 37 mm rain, while 17 mm of rainfall was recorded in Daltonganj from 8:30 am on Saturday. Meanwhile, traces of rain have been recorded over Jamshedpur.

All these weather conditions were a result of the Cyclonic Circulation over the east-central parts of Madhya Pradesh along with an Anti-Cyclone over North Bay of Bengal off Gangetic West Bengal Coast. The same system is feeding moisture from the Bay of Bengal over Jharkhand and adjoining region.

According to our meteorologists, the above systems would remain intact for another 24 to 36 hours and bring more moderate rain and thundershowers for the state.

After 24 to 36 hours, rains would taper over the region, however, moderate spells of rain would keep lashing South Jharkhand for another 3-4 days.

Meanwhile, the capital city of Ranchi would observe comfortable yet humid weather along with moderate rain for another 24 hours. The highest relative humidity will be around 95%, while minimum around 75%.

These rains would reduce slightly after 24 hours. However, another spell of moderate rain is likely between October 23 and 25. Rains during this time would occur mostly during the late afternoon or early evening hours. The day temperatures would settle between 27 and 29-degree Celcius, while minimums would be somewhere close to 18 degree Celcius.

Not only Ranchi, but many other places like Jamshedpur, Bokaro, and Gumla in Jharkhand stand a chance to see post Monsoon showers for the next few days.

Develop park where mining is over: Jharkhand CM

Source: energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com

Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Friday said that the coal companies should follow the norms and develop parks where mining has been completed.

In a meeting with Union Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi in Ranchi, the Chief Minister said: “People have no option but to live in dust in mining areas. We should make efforts to get them rid from dust”.

“As per the norms park or public utility places should be developed in the areas where mining has been completed. But such norms are being ignored. The dust is causing hazardous diseases among people,” said the Chief Minister.

Das also demanded that the people who were displaced due to mining should be given jobs.

The Union minister agreed to give jobs to the displaced people.

“One person in each family whose lands were acquired for mining in the Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) areas would be given job as per the qualification,” Joshi said.

The Coal Minister also agreed that Coal India subsidiaries will do Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities as per the priorities of the state government.

Ajoy Kumar, former Jharkhand Congress chief, may join Aam Aadmi Party

Source: hindustantimes.com

Former Jharkhand Congress chief Ajoy Kumar is set to quit the grand old party and join the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday, about three weeks after he was removed from the post.

Kumar was on August 26 replaced by former union minister and tribal leader Rameshwar Oraon the new Congress chief in poll-bound Jharkhand.Oraon, a 1972 batch retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, was 14 years senior in service to Kumar who resigned from the post on a bitter note.

In his August 9 resignation letter, 57-year-old Kumar, a 1986 batch IPS officer and once considered close to former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, had levelled serious allegations against his senior party colleagues, including Oraon, Subodh Kant Sahay, Pradeep Balmuchu and Furqan Ansari.

He had accused them of placing “personal interests” above the party and “indulging in corrupt” practices. A former Lok Sabha MP from Jamsedhpur, Kumar was appointed the Jharkhand Congress chief in November 2017.

The Congress in Jharkhand is a divided house with factionalism taking a heavy toll on the party in the recent national elections, winning just one of the total 14 Lok Sabha seats from the state. Its alliance partner Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) also managed to bag just one seat.

Though the Congress is likely to continue its alliance with the JMM for the assembly polls too, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is on a strong wicket following its stupendous performance in the Lok Sabha elections, winning 11 seats. Its ally AJSU Party secured one seat.

Kumar will be tasked with the responsibility of expanding the AAP base in the tribal-dominated state.

Jharkhand lynching case: Murder charge reimposed against 11 accused of killing Tabrez Ansari

Source: hindustantimes.com

The Jharkhand police on Wednesday reimposed section 302 of the Indian Penal Code ( murder) in a supplementary charge sheet filed against 11 accused in a case involving the mob lynching of 24-year-old Tabrez Ansari in Dhatkidih village under Seraikela police station (PS) on the night of June 17-18 this year, district police officials said.

Police also pressed the same charge against two others accused in the case.

The police dropped the charge of murder in the first charge sheet submitted in the Seraikela court on July 23 and charged the 11 jailed accused under section 304 of the IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) citing the autopsy report and viscera report that mentioned cardiac arrest as the cause of Ansari’s death on June 22.

Ansari died during treatment at Seraikela Sadar Hospital, four days after he was brutally beaten up by an angry mob for allegedly trying to burgle the house of Kamal Mahato in Dhatkidih village during the intervening night of June 17 and 18. He was handed over to the police by villagers on June 18 and sent to jail the same day. His thrashing was captured on a video.

The absence of the murder charge in the original charge sheet prompted outrage; the police were already under fire for not admitting a clearly injured Ansari in hospital soon after it apprehended him.

“Seraikela police submitted a supplementary charge sheet in Setaikela court today under section 302 of the IPC after ongoing investigation against two more accused was completed. Since the second autopsy report has further elaborated and pinpointed cause of death and the forensic report has also confirmed the integrity of the lynching video, section 302 of IPC has also been re-imposed against all the 11 jailed accused,” said Navin Kumar, South Chotanagpur inspector general of police (IGP).

Kolhan DIG Kuldeep Dwivedi in a statement on Wednesday said that viscera report from forensic science laboratory (FSL), Chandigarh, attributed Ansari’s death to cardiac arrest but added that it did not pinpoint the exact cause of death.

The police got another an autopsy test done by a board of doctors of the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College Hospital (MGMMCH) in Jamshedpur, he added.

This showed that the cardiac arrest was caused by heart chambers filling with blood as a result of the beating he received, he explained in the statement. “The forensic report of the lynching video also confirmed its integrity and stated that no tampering was done with the video, therefore, section 302 is being imposed against all the 13 accused.”

Ansari’s widow Sahista Parveen expressed her happiness that the murder charge has been reimposed against all the accused but sought a CBI investigation into the case.

“This is victory of our fight for justice. Imposing section 302 sure has sparked hope for justice but I still demand a CBI probe so that the culprits can’t escape by any chance. I want all of them to be hanged to death,” Parveen said.

Jharkhand girl with heart ailment dies after made to attend school drill

Source: newindianexpress.com

RANCHI: In a tragic incident, a class I student reportedly died after being made to stand under the sun for a drill at Shiksha Niketan run by TELCO in Jamshedpur on Tuesday. The school administration made the girl attend the drill despite her parents informing them about the girl undergoing treatment for cardiac complications. 

“We have been informed that one girl has died in Shiksha Niketan School who was undergoing treatment in Bangalore. We are looking into the matter to find out the actual reason of death,” said Akhilesh Mandal, officer in charge of Telco Police Station. 

According to school sources, the girl collapsed on the ground and was taken to the hospital in an auto-rickshaw where the doctors declared her brought dead. Meanwhile, activist Ankit Anand of Shiksha Satyagraha, which works on irregularities in schools in Jamshedpur, has alleged negligence from the part of school administration.

“I have demanded CCTV footage of entire incident to clear all confusion about the incident. It is nothing but sheer negligence of school administration, which should have taken proper care of the ailing child and not have made her stand in the sunlight,” said Anand.

The school apparently also lacks trained professional who can apply first aid in case of any such incident as per the guidelines of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).