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Birth Centenary of Anna Bhau Sathe- People’s poet

TITLED as Gorky of Maharashtra, Anna Bhau Sathe was born in a dalit family on August 11, 1920 in Vategaon village in Satara district in Maharashtra. Anna Bhau’s journey from his village to one of the most astounding figures of literature in Maharashtra is nothing less than a fairy tale. A person who did not even know the letters till he started working in Bombay rose to one of the finest poets that the state has ever produced.

Ventilator Scam: PM Cares, Sorry Careless

PMCARES, a private trust fund created by the prime minister, right since the inception is in strong criticism not just by the opposition parties but by all those who believe in transparency of public funds. Nobody knew for what and how will this money be utilised, which quintessentially was supposed to be spent to mitigate the Covid-19 pandemic in India. Humongous amount was generated under this fund and a lot of money was collected through coercion by virtually forcing the government employees including the medics to shed a part of their salary.

J & K: A Year after 370, Belie the Euphoric Pronouncements

THE euphoric reverberations sounded by the BJP and its cohorts immediately after the shredding of Article 370 of the Constitution of India did not last long. August 5, 2020 will mark one year of the dismantling of the state into two union territories, Ladhak and Jammu & Kashmir. Jubilation was in the BJP’s camp and its leaders explicitly made statements that next is the turn of POK(Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) and Aksai Chin to be fully integrated with India; to them Article 370 was a hurdle in the integration of J & K to Indian State.

Smoke and Mirrors: A Corporate Hindutva Project as delusional NEP

ANY worthwhile policy making has to start with an objective assessment of the existing ground reality. Proceeding from this, discerning the challenges, the policy ought to set out a roadmap for overcoming them. However, despite the PM’s loud claims that NEP 2020 was preceded by intense study and research for last 3-4 years, no data or reference to these appear in the policy document! Therefore, the inescapable conclusion is, more than anything else, this is a vision statement.

Drive for Privatisation of Healthcare: NDHM

IN his Independence Day speech this year, the prime minister has made a ‘major’ announcement. It is about the launching of NDHM (National Digital Health Mission). He said, “From today, a major campaign is being launched in which technology will play a big role. The National Digital Health Mission is being launched today. This will bring a new revolution in India’s health sector and it will help reduce problems in getting treatment with the help of technology,” PM has said.

Increasing Child Sexual Abuse: A Wake-Up Call to Government and Society

AS many as 109 children were sexually abused every day in India in 2018 according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). 39,827 cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO) were reported in that year. But on an average, the conviction rate in child rape cases is less than 30 per cent and pendency of cases is as high as 80-85 per cent. India has come a long way in enacting legislations and legal measures to handle cases of child sexual abuse. But the crimes continue unabated.

Narrative of ‘New India’: Destruction of Indian Constitution

AS we approach our 73rd Independence Day, a new national narrative is being scripted to bequeath to India’s future.  This narrative of a `New India’ suggests that on August 15, 1947, India achieved its independence; on August 5, 2019, with the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian constitution; and August 5, 2020, when the Ram temple construction was formally launched by the prime minister is the day of India’s real freedom.

People of Jammu & Kashmir Humiliated

THE people of Jammu and Kashmir had opted to become part of secular India rather than the Muslim Pakistan not simply by virtue of the Instrument of Accession which is the legal basis of the association, but more importantly because of those promises of building a pluralist, secular India in which the people of J&K were to have a very special status and maximum autonomy. Those promises were contained in Article 370 of the Indian constitution and in the constitution of J&K itself.

Rumble on Railway Tracks: Why Privatise Indian Railways?

THE media is agog with stories about rail privatisation. The ministry of railways has sought private players’ request for qualification for 151 trains running on 109 rail routes. Howrah-Delhi, Howrah-Chennai, Howrah-Mumbai and Delhi-Mumbai are among the routes to be privatised. The lifelines of Mumbai and Kolkata, the suburban trains, will also be given to private entities.

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