-The Times of India MUMBAI: Barely one out of 10 police personnel in the state is a woman against the mandated minimum of three. The appalling ratio appears grave at a time when crimes against women have seen a jump. State home department norms require that at least 30% posts in the police force be filled by women, barring the top positions peopled by the Indian Police Service cadre. But women make...

-Outlook The Centre today decided to release a relief package of more than Rs 2,892 crore for seven states, including Maharashtra, to help them tackle the impact of droughts, floods and landslides faced last year. The decision was taken at the meeting of the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on drought, headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar. Briefing the media, Pawar said: "There were number of proposals from various states demanding central assistance...

-PTI An Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on drought headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Tuesday approved Rs 1,207 crore relief package to Maharashtra. “Rs 1,207 crore drought relief package has been approved for Maharashtra,” Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who is also a member of the EGoM, said after the meeting of the Ministers. Out of the total amount, Rs 807 crore will be released under the National Disaster Relief Fund to...

PTI Bhaiyalal Bhotmange, whose four family members were tortured and murdered at Khairlanji in Bhandara district in September 2006, on Tuesday asked the Maharashtra Government to hand over the land promised by it in the aftermath of the killings, which sparked nationwide protests. Mr. Bhotmange, who met Home Minister R.R. Patil, told reporters at the Vidhan Bhawan that he was yet to get the promised land. Mr. Patil spoke to Social Justice Minister...

-PTI MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court has restrained the Maharashtra Government from allowing excavation of sand in drought-hit villages, saying it would cause shortage of potable water for people and animals. The Court was hearing a petition filed by Rajendra Eknath Dhande, who sought a direction to the authorities to disallow sand excavation in drought-hit Khatgaon village of Karmala taluka in Solapur district. Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice Anoop Mohta were of...