THE CPI(M), on July 16, organised a state-wide satyagraha in front of government hospitals in Telangana to highlight and protest the state and central governments’ failure in containing the spread of Covid-19 in the state. Over 47,000 Covid-19 positive cases have been reported across the state and more than 400 people have succumbed to the infection so far.The protests were held in 196 centres across Telangana wherein nearly 4,700 people participated.

CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat, in a letter to union minister for environment, forests and climate change, Prakash Javadekar on July 17, has conveyed the Party’s objection to the Draft Notification for Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) 2020.Below we publish the full text of the letter.IT is clear enough that India’s environment regulation structure is not robust and needs correction. EIA is part of this structure.

THE PTI (physical training instructors) teachers, 1983 in number,  were appointed by the Haryana Staff Selection Board (HSSB) on April 10, 2020. The PTI teachers were then posted in schools across the state of Haryana. Those who were not selected challenged the selection procedure in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The high court passed an order on September 11, 2002 and set aside the selection of the PTI teachers. The PTI teachers and the Haryana government challenged this order of the high court in the supreme court.

THE employees and officers of BSNL, organised black-flag demonstrations throughout the country on July 16, 2020, protesting against the cancellation of BSNL’s tender to procure 4G equipments. Day-long black-badge wearing was also done by the employees and officers on that day.The All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB), the umbrella organisation of all the major trade unions and officers’ associations, organised these programmes. Lockdown, prohibition under section 144 and other severe restrictions are imposed throughout the country, to contain the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.

THE COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown virtually brought life to a standstill but, sadly, there has been no halt in caste-based discrimination and atrocities in Tamil Nadu. Attacks against members of the Scheduled Caste (SC) and the Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities are, in fact, increasing day by day.