Fifty-five civil society groups from the U.S., the U.K. and Canada have come together to demand the immediate release of jailed human rights activist Binayak Sen, who was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Chhattisgarh court. They will observe the Martyrs' Day (January 30) as a ‘global day of protest against repression of human rights activists' in India. The coalition has demanded the repeal of draconian laws that give the state arbitrary...

A courier company in Mumbai shows the way in providing employment for the hearing impaired. IN the milling crowds of Mumbai, they stand apart with their orange T-shirts printed with the name Mirakle Couriers. Every day, during the busy hours of the working week, one sees them on the sidewalks, in public transport and elsewhere with large black bags slung on their shoulders. It would not be enough to say...

The government intends to give the oldest child welfare programme a fresh lease of life through new technology. It proposes to use mobile phones to monitor its food programme directed at children between the years of 0-6. The ministry of women and child development (WCD) will use mobile phones to monitor the integrated child development scheme (ICDS) and spread awareness on nutrition and sanitation. The issue will be discussed in...

Describing female foeticide as a “disgrace” to society, President Pratibha Patil has called upon the medical fraternity to ensure that diagnostic tests are not misused for pre-natal gender determination. “We have laws and legal provisions that specially prohibit medical practitioners from disclosing the gender of the foetus. It is not only illegal, but it is socially immoral and detrimental to society. It is very important that all medical facilities, doctors and...

Administration trying to make the land encroachment-free Several slum-dwellers were injured in a clash with the police while trying to foil a bid to remove their jhuggis at Narayani Basti, 1 km from the State Secretariat here, on Saturday. Resentment has been brewing among inhabitants of Narayani Basti for long with the administration trying to make the land encroachment-free. Slum dwellers assembled to impede work by the demolition squad comprising officials from...