Ministry of Power should not force PSPCL to import coal
Ministry of Power should not force PSPCL to import coal in preference to PSPCL obtaining coal from its captive Pacchwara mine in Jharkhand ToShri Rajiv Gauba Cabinet Secretary Government of…
India
Workers’ Rescue A Himalayan Achievement; Next Step is to Prevent Such Mishaps
The nation heaved a big sigh of relief when the 41 workers trapped in the under-construction Silkyara-Barkot tunnel (Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand) were finally rescued on November 28 after a…
Uttarakashi tunnel tragedy provides a time for serious introspection of all the projects in the Himalayas
The safe return of the 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel near Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand, is a matter of great satisfaction for the entire nation. Kudos to all those…
Two Decades of Depoliticised Politics in Odisha Under Mr Naveen Patnaik
The classical Odia literature, art, architecture, stone carvings, and its historical and cultural heritage, along with distinct philosophical musings, stand as testaments to Odia renaissance of the state, society, and…
Death of Public Libraries: Whether Modi government loves to imitate the Nazi Rule Book One Step at a Time
'A Library is a thought in cold storage' This adage by Herbert Samuel ( British Statesman 1870-1963) sounds prophetic but as of now it is not going to have any…
No Light At The End Of The Tunnel: How Uttarakhand Continues to Overlook Past Calamities
Development cannot be a mindless process when it comes to the mountains. What we are witnessing is a slow man made death of the fragile Himalayas. Silkyara-Danda Tunnel Collapse On…
Laxity in Occupational Safety measures can have serious consequences
The accident at the Silkyara tunnel where 41 workers got trapped, has exposed not only vulnerability of such happenings but also poor state of emergency preparedness to deal with such…
Urban Program Needed for Providing Shelter and Facilities at Gathering Points of Daily Wage Workers
A large number of daily-wage workers gather every day in Haiderpur (Delhi) on a side of a busy road. They wait here till a contractor or other employer comes to…
Barrelakka Is Setting A New Moral Trend In An Immoral Electoral System
Barrelakka (Buffalo Sister), whose original name is Sirisha, is just 25 years old unemployed poorest of the poor girls from Kollapur constituency in South Telangana. She is an independent candidate…
Workers Struggle Hard to Keep Away Hunger in Times of Dwindling Employment
It is around 10 in the morning and the number of workers at the Sigalpur labor chowk in Shalimar Bagh area of Delhi is increasing. As a worker Munna says—“The…
Towards 2024: Citizens’ Responsibilities
It is Constitution Day once again! We, the people of India, gratefully remember 26 November 1949 when the Constitution of India was passed and adopted by the Constituent Assembly. The…
Anti-Vedanta Activists Get Bail
#SijimaliMatters Update # 5, November 23, 2023 The past three and a half months have been both tumultuous and decisive in shaping the antimining resistance of Adivasis and Dalits in…
Rethinking Democracy: A Blessing or Curse (Panauti) for the Nation?
In the midst of the ongoing democratic fervor across five states, the nation finds itself engulfed in the familiar chaos of rallies, meetings, speeches, and political crossfire. Dignity, decency, and…
Sad that some intellectuals are supporting dubious sports nationalism
More sad than the cheap jingoism and unsporting behaviour we witnessed in the world cup cricket final in the Narendra Modi stadium on November 19 is the collaborative approach from…
BRICS Extraordinary Meeting and Failure of Modi Doctrine
With the conclusion of the BRICS + extraordinary meeting hosted by South Africa on the conflicts in West Asia, it has been clear that India will continue its alignment with…
India-China War, 1962: Recalling the story of the historic, unilateral ceasefire… in search of peace and development
Map Courtesy : A.G. NOORANI, The Truth About 1962 (frontline.thehindu.com) November 21 of 1962 was the day China had declared unilateral ceasefire. The war that commenced on Oct 20 had…
The Proposed Amendment of Scheduled Tribe Land Transfer Regulation and Tribal Life Interface in Odisha
The Odisha Government has recently proposed to bring a major change in the Odisha Scheduled Areas Transfer of Immovable Property (by STs) Regulation, 1956. The amendment aims at allowing a…
Distress of Mustard Farmers Points to the Coming Wider Crisis for Farmers of all Traditional Oilseeds
Recent reports indicate a sharp downward trend in the price of mustard, an important oilseed crop of India. The price in recent days at INR 5200 a quintal compared to…
Celebrating Constitutionality!
Rosary School in Vadodara (Baroda) Gujarat is one of the premier educational institutions of the State. It is co-educational and run by the Society of Jesus. It caters to about…
Protest against Israel not allowed in Mumbai, 13 detained
Mumbai police picked up 13 individuals, 11 of whom are students belonging to the Muslim community for taking part in a prayer meeting in solidarity with children who were killed…
The Emerging Deep State in India
Of late there are discussions about the emerging Deep State in India. In fact, Donal Trump, former President of USA said that he is constrained to wage a war against…
Inclusion of an Adani Group’s adviser on the Environment Ministry’s appraisal committee for Hydro-projects improper
Inclusion of an Adani Group's adviser on the Environment Ministry's appraisal committee for Hydro-projects prima facie deliberate, involving a serious impropriety- Demand for an independent investigation ToShri Rajiv Gauba Cabinet…
By appealing to the religious sentiments of the electorate, the Union Home Minister has prima facie violated the Model Code of Conduct
To Shri RajivKumar Chief Election Commissioner Election Commission of India (ECI) Shri A C Pandey Election Commissioner Election Commission of India (ECI) Shri Arun Goel Election Commissioner Election Commission of India…
`Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ in foreign policy and `Bharataiva Bibhedanam’ in domestic policy
Our Prime Minister is fond of spreading the traditional Indian message of `Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,’ welcoming the entire world as one family. But apparently, certain parts of the world are excluded …
“Golden Passports” from Cyprus in violation of Article 9 of the Constitution
Indian passport holders obtained "Golden Passports" from Cyprus in violation of Article 9 of the Constitution- Prosecute them under the relevant laws To Shri A K Bhalla Union Home Secretary…
The Truth about Modi Government celebrating ‘Tribal Pride Day’
Today the Modi government is celebrating ‘Tribal Pride Day’ across the country in the name of ‘Virsa Munda Jayanti.’ According to an article published by Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun…
Jharkhand: A state of unfulfilled dreams
The story of all the newly created states in India is designed to fulfil the dreams and aspirations of the people who lived in agony and deprivation, were culturally deprived…
By appealing to the religious sentiments of the electorate, the Union Home Minister has prima facie violated the Model Code of Conduct
To Shri RajivKumar Chief Election Commissioner Election Commission of India (ECI) Shri A C Pandey Election Commissioner Election Commission of India (ECI) Shri Arun Goel Election Commissioner Election Commission of India…
Possible conflict of interest in the membership of MEFCC’s EAC on hydro project
To Ms Leena NandanSecretaryMinistry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MEFCC)Govt of India Dear Ms Nandan, I refer to a news report which stated as follows: "On September 27, the…
Bursting firecrackers: A nation-building exercise to defeat the forces of evil
Air pollution can have huge negative effects on cognitive intelligence and thus positive effects on national commitment. There is a place where people are not good. They protest, they raise…
Baring Their Claws
There is a news that the government is planning to proceed against 'anti-government content' appearing in media on the lines of British colonial laws that still quietly survive in our…
MSMEs in India: Nation’s Progress Depends on Them
The growth of the organized sector at the expense of the unorganized sector has huge consequences. Because the latter employs 94% of the workers, its decline has led to growing…
Workers Denied Employment by Construction Ban Must Get Compensatory Help
Festival season is fast approaching. Woolens for the winter must be purchased now. This is when construction workers of Delhi would like to get as much work as possible to…
Emerging ‘(dis) Order’ of International and National Governance: Some Reflections
The canvas of the theme of the Seminar is too vast and the sub themes of it are too many. It becomes difficult for me to select issues to reflect…
The Missing Dimension in the Debates on Pollution in Delhi and Other Indian Cities
High pollution levels in Delhi have been causing very serious health concerns almost every winter in recent times, and it is the same situation this year too. Now the pollution…
Festival of Dipawali Should be a Symbol of Taking Prosperity to the Huts of the Poorest
Dipawali is a festival when lamps and candles are lighted in the homes of even the poorest with the hope of economic prosperity. This is a time of light and…
Open letter to Chief Justice of India, D. Y.Chandrachud
Your Lordship, (is that how I should address you ? I’m not sure being a layman). But, leaving out the legalistic formalities, let me congratulate you first on your observations …
India’s Armed Forces: Ill-effects of politicisation
India’s professional soldier is apolitical The Indian Armed Forces, or “the Armed Forces of the Union”, comprise the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force. They are…
Resist the Corporate-State Nexus’ Attempt at Looting The People’s Resources of Majingmali, Odisha
On 4th November, around 10am, Odisha Mining Corporation Limited (OMC) staff, flanked by two police platoons and two JCB vehicles, arrived at Gadeljhola road juncture near Kalagaon which leads to…
Online Betting Apps in India: A Growing Concern for Youth and Families
The recent government announcement to ban 22 illegal betting and gambling apps and websites appears to be a case of too little, too late. On Sunday, the Ministry of Electronics…
Appointment of Chief Information Commissioner- Prima facie violation of Section 12(3) of the RTI Act
To Smt. Droupadi Murmu Hon'ble President of India Respected Rashtrapati Ji, The Parliament enacted the Right to Information Act (RTIA) under Article 19 of the Constitution. The Act requires public authorities…
In the ongoing election season, the focus should be on nation-building rather than just forming a new government
Election campaigns are currently in full swing across five states: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Mizoram. Various political parties, including the government, opposition, and emerging entities, are vying for…
Public Distribution System is much more than PMGKAY- Improve legal entitlements, not mask them as election doles
The Right to Food Campaign is against the central government’s actions to misrepresent National Food Security Act 2013 (NFSA) as their own initiative through Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana…
70 hours a week – a serious health hazard
The Chairman of Infosys Shri N R Narayana Murthy seems to have forgotten the popular poem that was taught to us during school days ‘The Cry of the Children’, by…
The Truth of Yogi government’s promise to give 1.25 crore Land Pattas to Dalits
The Yogi government has been holding meetings and announcements to woo Dalits in different divisions of Uttar Pradesh for the last several months. Recently, on November 3, Yogi Adityanath, while…
Finance Ministry’s latest notification on Electoral Bonds violates the Model Code of Conduct
Finance Ministry's latest notification on Electoral Bonds violates the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and disturbs the level-playing ground for political parties To Shri Rajiv Kumar Chief Election Commissioner Election Commission of…
Current Disasters
Contemporary trends portend more challenges in times farther ahead than one bargains for.The good people seem hesitant in taking firm steps for reaching their goals while the worst,"full…
It is important to protect India’s democratic strengths regarding Right to Information
People of this country have a right to know every public act, everything done in a public way, by their public functionary. They are entitled to know the particulars…
You reach this conference in Delhi at the risk of your life
Crossing the road on foot to reach the venue of the international conference on public transport in Delhi was a near death experience last week. Every one knows this is…
The Dilemma of Work-Life Balance in India: Narayana Murthy’s Advice and the Changing Landscape”
Over the years, India has witnessed a significant transformation in the work culture and lifestyle of its citizens. The rise of the IT and allied sectors, coupled with economic reforms…
Think before you leap on the slippery palm oil path
The Indian government first made a big mistake by getting highly dependent on imported palm oil to meet its edible oil needs, despite having a rich and diverse heritage of…
Speading a red carpet for NPAs? RBI should step up vigilance
To Shri Shaktikanta Das Governor RBI Dear Shri Shaktikanta Das, Both the Finance Ministry and the RBI seem to be slipping fast into a sense of undue complacency about the…
Kalamasery Blast In Kerala Betrayed The Ugly Face of Islamophobia in Newsrooms
On Sunday, October 29, three people were killed and several others injured after an explosion occurred during a Jehovah's Witnesses conference in Kalamasery. This incident shocked Kerala terribly. But we…
The welfare schemes overpowering the political agenda of criminalization and communalization in Indian political premises: Are we returning to the basics?
The two of the very fearful skeletons, which have often hounded the Indian polity over the last few decades, have been the entry of people with criminal antecedents and the…
Unraveling the Recent Apple Warning: State-Sponsored Attacks Target Opposition Leaders and Journalists in India
The Apple's India team's recent 'clarification' on its so-called algorithm malfunction has much to discuss. However, it refrained from explicitly mentioning the (perceived as absurd) theory of an algorithm malfunction.…
Sijimali Bauxite Mining: Withdraw False Cases
We bring to you an update on the status of the cases foisted on the people of Sijimali and Niyamgiri as well as a short account of the public meeting…
Homeless in the Himalayan Cold
Starting from Delhi on a hot afternoon, I could feel the first chill of cold weather on reaching the lower hills of Himachal Pradesh in the evening. Winter has arrived…
Bauxite Mining of the Sijimali Hills Illegal, Declare Public Meeting at Talaampadar
A huge public meeting was held on 29th October at Talaampadar of Thuamal Rampur Block in Kalahandi district of Odisha. This public meeting was attended by over 2000 people. The…
Ensure nutritious food to all
It is a matter of worry that at a GHI score of 28.7 in the Global Hunger Index Report 2023, India ranks at 111position out of the 125 countries surveyed. In comparison, our neighbours’…
India’s solidarity with Israel is untenable
India’s muscular diplomacy, an attribute of the present government, has run into heavy weather. Body blows from multiple sources — spat with Canada; Maldives’ triumphalism about evicting Indian servicemen; China-Bhutan…
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