The Tribune – Women issues in Panjab

Crackdown on female foeticide

The government had success in managing to add 17 girls to the sex ratio of 876 girls per 1,000 boys recorded in 2001, to make it 893. However, this figure is still well short of the national average of 940. The only consolation is that Punjab figures higher in gender ratio than the neighbouring Haryana (877) and far higher than Chandigarh (818), especially since the latter has the country’s eighth highest literacy rate, as compared to Punjab’s 17th position.

To its credit, the SAD government was more stringent in enforcing the PNDT Act compared to the preceding Congress government. Prior to 2007, it was not difficult for a pregnant woman to get her foetus aborted after getting the gender determined, usually done after 14 weeks of pregnancy. However, soon after talking over the reins in 2007, the government tightened the noose around medical establishments involved in this practice, making it difficult to get a foetus aborted after 10 weeks of pregnancy. This is believed to have contributed greatly to improving the sex ratio.

The stringent measures included a series of periodic crackdowns. During its tenure, the government suspended licences of 322 out of a total 1,296 ultrasound scan centres in the state, cancelled licences of 34 others and initiated 24 court cases, according to state Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) Satish Chandra.

As even the improved gender ratio shows, plenty more remains to be done in this direction.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120110/punjab.htm#12

Crime against women continued unabated

Looking at the crime statistics, it does not seem the state government was able to substantially improve the safety environment for women. Dowry deaths, rape, cruelty by a relative or husband, molestation, female foeticide, and desertion of wives by NRIs continued.

The high incidence of crime against women was serious enough for Member Secretary of the Punjab State Women’s Commission Sarvesh Kaushal to write to the state Chief Secretary in 2009, saying, “Despite the Domestic Violence Act already operational, such insensitivity to the cause of women is baffling. The same is also true of the other burning issue of female foeticide, in which only 11 cases have been registered in five months.”

He had cited figures for the first five months of 2009 (January to May), during which 153 women were raped, 222 kidnapped and another 130 molested. This was in addition to 70 women who were murdered, 55 who were driven to commit suicide and 39 who lost their lives for inability to “satisfy” their in-laws’ dowry demand.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120110/punjab.htm#13

Not until society pitches in

One hurdle in improving women’s lot is their status in the larger society, which continues to deny equality.

Gurdev Kaur Sangha, Chairperson of the Punjab State Women’s Commission, said: “We have taken up the issue of women’s rights violations and addressed a number of cases related to domestic violence. Unfortunately, despite all the government has done to empower women, the fact remains they are still facing discrimination at the hands of their family and society at large,” irrespective of whether they were rich or poor. However, she added the middle class were treating women relatively better.

Men used their clout and money and did not even allow women to get justice. “Just two decades ago, I used to think women would be treated well by their in-laws with women’s literacy on the rise. I believed educated mothers-in-law would treat their daughters-in-law better. Unfortunately, it has only led to the demand for gold in dowry being upgraded to diamonds,” Sangha said. No government could do much if the mindset did not change, she added.

Given the environment against women, Dr Rainuka Dagar, Director (Research), Gender Studies Unit, Institute for Development and Communication (IDC), Chandigarh, said the Punjab government deserved credit for implementing the PNDT Act. “In 1901, the state had a sex ratio of 874 women per 1,000 men. Having a history of skewed gender ratio, the improvement in Punjab is rather encouraging. It is not easy to change the mindset of the people. I am glad political leaders have made a move and brought the issue to the forefront.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120110/punjab.htm#14

The Tribune – Sukhbir leads the crorepati club; Ex-CM Bhattal’s worth up to Rs 2.9cr

Kanchan Vasdev, Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 9. With assets worth more than Rs 76 crore, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal today turned out to be the richest candidate in the fray among those who have filed their nominations till now for the January 30 Assembly elections. Sukhbir filed his papers from the Jalalabad Assembly segment. He has gone richer by Rs 17.77 crore in the past two years. Sukhbir’s assets were worth Rs 58.67 crore during 2010 by-elections.

According to the affidavit filed by Sukhbir, he does not own a car. He is left with only one tractor this time as compared to the last time when he had two tractors. His movable assets are worth Rs 27,56,57,364 which includes Rs 5 lakh cash besides deposits in banks, shares debentures and jewellery. His immovable assets, including agricultural and non-agricultural property, are worth Rs 48,88,33696.

His wife, Harsimrat Badal, is worth Rs 15.38 crore and does not own any vehicle or immovable property. Former Congress CM Rajinder Kaur is worth Rs 2.97 crore marking an increase of over Rs 1.5 crore compared to last elections.

Sukhbir’s brother-in-law, Bikram Singh Majithia, a SAD candidate from Majitha constituency in Amritsar, is a multi-millionaire but does not own a vehicle. He owned a Mahindra Scorpio vehicle worth Rs 7 lakh in the last elections.

Majithia’s total assets have gone up by over Rs 2 crore as compared to the last time. This time, he has declared total assets worth Rs 11.21 crore, which include movable assets worth Rs 5.34 crore and immovable assets worth Rs 5.86 crore. His movable assets include Rs 4.35 crore in bonds, jewellery worth Rs 50.7 lakh, bank deposits worth Rs 12.7 lakh, investment in NSS/insurance policy worth Rs 9.76 lakh and Rs 2.25 lakh cash in hand.

His immovable assets include agricultural land worth Rs 5.66 crore and a residential building worth Rs 20 lakh. He, however, also has dues to the tune of Rs 65 lakh.

In 2007 elections, Bikram had declared total assets worth Rs 9.16 crore.

Avtar Henry, a Congress candidate from Jalandhar North proved to be the second richest candidate till now by declaring assets worth Rs 13.95 crore that includes immovable property worth Rs 8.59 crore and movable property worth Rs 5.36 crore.

Sitting MLA from Guruharsahai, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi declared assets worth Rs 3.5 crores. He owns a Honda Accord car. A Chevrolet Cruze, valued at Rs 14.30 lakh, is in the name of his spouse. Being an international shooter, Sodhi also owns guns worth Rs 7 lakh.

In the name of immovable assets, Sodhi owns 13-acre land in Mohan Ke in Guruharsahai village besides 4.3 acres in Kotbilla village in Panchkula (Haryana).

BSP candidate from Jalandhar Cantonment, Hardev Kaur Shant is yet another multi-millionaire in the race with an assets of Rs 3.12 crore, more than that of even the former Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia (Rs 2.59 crore).

Deputy Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha Bhagat Chunni Lal and BJP candidate from Jalandhar is worth Rs 4.5 crore.

Chief Parliamentary Secretary and BJP candidate from Jalandhar North KD Bhandari is the poorest candidate. He owns nothing in his name. An agricultural property at Raowali village in Jalandhar and a 6-marla plot at Preet Nagar on Sodal Road are in the name of his wife Neena Bhandari.

Lal Singh, Congress candidate from Sanaur, is worth Rs 3,99,41,010 and his wife is worth Rs 2,66,49,600.

Health Minister, Satpal Gosain, who is a BJP candidate from Ludhiana Central constituency is worth Rs 3.5 crore.

Former DGP PS Gill, who is a SAD candidate from Moga, is worth Rs 3 crore. He owns a Mercedes car worth Rs 49 lakh and his wife has jewellery worth Rs 3 lakh.

(With inputs from Parneet Singh, Anirudh Gupta, Deepkamal Kaur, Shivani Bhakoo and Gagandeep Teja)

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120110/main1.htm

The Asian Age – Hasina visits Tripura on Wednesday to commemorate history

Agartala, 10 January 2012. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina makes a historic border crossing here on Wednesday with a 100-member delegation to commemorate the northeast Indian state’s role in her nation’s liberation.

She will be accompanied by her Foreign Minister Dipu Moni and a delegation comprising traders, prominent leaders, intellectuals and journalists during her two-day maiden visit to the state.

The Tripura Central University will confer an honorary doctorate (honoris causa) to Hasina on January 12 during the university’s ninth convocation. The Tripura government will host a huge civic reception for Hasina at the famous Assam Rifles ground.

According to historian and writer Bikach Chowdhury, Tripura had six to seven camps under four different sectors from where the ‘muktijoddhas’ (freedom fighters) fought the Pakistani forces in the nine-month-long war in 1971 that led to the creation of Bangladesh from East Pakistan.

“A large number of Tripura’s youths, politicians, leaders and other citizens had helped the muktijoddhas in numerous ways to achieve their goal. In fact, Tripura was the ‘labour room’ of the Bangladesh liberation war,” Chowdhury told the media, adding these could have influenced Hasina’s decision to visit.

Political analyst and columnist Gautam Das recalled: “During the war, to evade Pakistani forces’ barbaric atrocities, over one crore (10 million) Bangladeshi men, women and children took shelter in the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, Assam and Meghalaya.”

“Over 1,600,000 Bangladeshis – a number larger than the state’s then total population of 1,500,000 – had taken shelter in Tripura alone,” he said.

Das, who has personal experience of the 1971 war, said veteran communist leaders Jyoti Basu and Nripen Chakraborty had played a key role in providing relief to Bangladeshi refugees and demanding Indian recognition to Bangladesh.

“Hasina’s illustrious father and architect of Bangladesh’s independence, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, had become more famous following the Agartala conspiracy case. This also may be the reason behind Hasina’s visit to Agartala,” said Tripura Finance Minister Badal Chowdhury, who had done his primary education in the erstwhile east Pakistan, now Bangladesh.

The case related to charges of sedition, slapped by the then Pakistan government against Sheikh Mujib and 34 other people. Filed in January 6, 1968, it charged Sheikh Mujib and others in conspiring with India against the stability of Pakistan.

“Bangabandhu, as he was known, Sheikh Mujibur Rehman was not involved in the case though he was named as the ‘first accused’. In fact, when the Agartala conspiracy case was initiated, Sheikh Mujib had already been in prison in Dhaka along with many others,” Das said.

Chowdhury said the Tripura government has been building an ambitious edifice and a park in southern Tripura in memory of Indian soldiers and Bangladeshi freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives during the 1971 war.

“The park being built at Chottakhola, a border village, 130 km from Agartala, at a cost of Rs.2.3 crore, will have a statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” Chowdhury told the media.

Hasina’s visit was eagerly sought by the state, with Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, Governor D.Y. Patil and the Tripura Central University vice chancellor Arunoday Saha inviting her to visit during separate visits to Dhaka.

“Hasina at once accepted our invitations and agreed to visit Tripura,” Sarkar had said, on his return. (IANS)

http://www.asianage.com/india/hasina-visits-tripura-wednesday-commemorate-history-582

Sint-Truiden – Hasselt – Antwerpen – Rotterdam – Den Haag vv 26 and 27 November 2011

26/11 – Antwerpen Centraal, street level 

 26/11 – Antwerpen Centraal, Koningin Astridplein, Tram 12 

26/11 – Antwerpen Centraal, Koningin Astridplein, Tram 12

26/11 – Antwerpen Centraal, Koningin Astridplein, Tram 12

To see more Belgium/Netherlands Public Transport pictures go to:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12445197@N05/sets/72157622685920411/

More Belgian/Netherlands pictures to follow
Harjinder Singh
Man in Blue

The Tribune – Be India’s growth propellers, President urges diaspora

Prabhjot Singh, Tribune News Service

Jaipur, January 9. Stressing need for developing key areas like education, skills and health care, President Pratibha Patil exhorted the overseas Indian community to continue helping India in becoming a global power.

Delivering the valedictory address at the 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations here, she said 27 million strong Indian overseas community was not only large but was becoming increasingly influential.

Complimenting Kamla Persad Bissessar, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, she said overseas Indians with sheer hard work, dedication and commitment have risen to top positions in their new countries.

Pratibha Patil said in the present century human society was facing the daunting yet inspiring task of forging “sustainability” in all its activities so that while meeting current human needs, the requirements of future generations were also safeguarded. She called upon overseas Indians to play a great role in meeting this major challenge as they had gained knowledge and experiences in academics, science and technology.

While appreciating the need for youth connectivity, the President appreciated the ‘Know India Programme’ as it brings groups of young overseas Indian youth to India with a view to promote awareness of different facets of life here. “We must continue to promote greater exchange between the youth as an important aspect of forging linkages and maintaining the tradition of close bonds,” she said.

She also appreciated the Indian Community Welfare Fund that has been extended from 18 countries to all Indian missions overseas.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120110/main5.htm#1

Dawn – Kayani, Pasha acted illegally, says Gilani

Islamabad, 10 January 2012. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani once again on Monday took what appeared to be a potshot at the military when he said affidavits submitted to the Supreme Court by the Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and ISI chief Lieutenant General Ahmad Shuja Pasha on `memogate` were `unconstitutional and illegal`.

In an interview with the People`s Daily Online of China, which was released by the official Associated Press of Pakistan news agency, Mr Gilani said since the COAS and ISI DG had submitted their replies to the court without seeking approval of the competent authority under the rules of business, the statements carried no legal import.

`No summary seeking approval of the competent authority was initiated by the ministry of defence nor was any approval obtained from the defence minister,` the prime minister was quoted as saying by the APP.

The media wing of the prime minister`s secretariat confirmed the statement.

Soon after the APP released excerpts of the interview, it was picked by major news search engines and online editions of newspapers all over the world.

Some saw it as an obvious reference to the ongoing tension between the government and the military establishment.

However, legal experts said it was too late on part of the prime minister to take this stand as the court had already set up a three-member commission to investigate the memo case.

Salman Akram Raja, a Supreme Court lawyer, said: `I don`t think it`s going to make any impact on the investigations which the commission is carrying out into the memo case.

The government should have clarified its position it had nothing to do with the statements made by General Kayani and General Pasha in replies submitted to the court. But the government didn`t do so, said Mr Raja.

The lawyer, however,added it was not clear whether the COAS and ISI DG could go to the court in their individual capacities, as said by Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq.

They forwarded their statements through the attorney general, Mr Raja recalled, adding that as individuals they should have hired their own counsel to deal with the Supreme Court.

The Director General of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General Athar Abbas, wasn`t available to comment on the development.

According to APP, the prime minister was referring to an observation by the Chief Justice of Pakistan that any act of a government functionary without the government`s nod was unconstitutional and illegal.

Apparently, Mr Gilani was quoting from remarks made by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry during a meeting on November 22 with a delegation of the National Defence University: `Any action of the armed forces taken without a direction by the federal government would be unconstitutional, illegal, void ab initio and consequently of no legal effect.However, it should be noted that this is not the first time that the prime minister has lashed out at the military establishment. He backtracked on all occasions.

In an address to the National Assembly on December 22, he astounded observers by using harsh words against the military.

He said no one would be allowed to run a `state within a state` and also wondered who had given a visa to Osama bin Laden.

But within days, in an attempt to calm down frayed tempers, Prime Minister Gilani clarified his remarks about ‘state within a state` He said his statement was aimed at Defence Secretary Khalid Naeem Lodhi, who, in a written statement submitted to the apex court last month, had said the ministry had no operational control over the army and the ISI and only looked after their administrative affairs.

President Asif Zardari, during an interview with a private television on January 7, tried to further clarify Mr Gilani`s statement about Osama`s visa. He said the premier was referring to former president Pervez Musharraf, and not the sitting military leadership.

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/10/army-isi-chief-statements-to-sc-not-approved-by-govt-pm.html