Amid technical and infrastructural constraints, Maharashtra has rolled out 1.2 million Aadhaars, but the beneficiaries have been able to make little use of these numbers Ashok Bhil, a 25-year-old graduate from Navalpur, 7 Km from Tembhli, is disappointed with the way the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is rolling out Aadhaar in Maharashtra. Last September, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government chose Tembhli, a small village in the predominantly tribal Nandurbar...

The All-India Adivasi Mahasabha, on the first day of its three-day long conference here on Monday at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium, stressed the need to unite the diverse tribal communities from across the country to gain a voice in Delhi, as a starting point to controlling their own destinies – and their land, water and forests. In his speech, Meghalaya Governor R.S. Moosahary told delegates: “Let us unite all tribal groups...

Takes suo motu cognisance of the March 23 report published by The Hindu NEW DELHI: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), taking suo motu cognisance of the March 23 report published by The Hindu on murders, violence and rape in a Chhattisgarh village, has sought a report within two weeks from the Union Home Secretary, Chhattisgarh Chief Secretary and the Director-General of Police (DGP). Agnivesh attacked Social Activist Swami Agnivesh, who was attacked...

The Union Cabinet on Tuesday cleared a proposal, seeking an amendment to the Indian Forest Act (IFA) that aims to put an end to harassment of tribals for petty cases. The proposal sought amendment to Section 68 of IFA, 1927, which deals with the power of forest officials to compound offences. The proposed amendment aims to increase the financial limit of the power to compound a forest offence up to an...

One officer allegedly beat him with rifle butt, accusing him of sending food to Maoists Two days after The Hindu reported that security forces burnt down close to 300 homes and granaries in three villages of Chhattisgarh's violence-wracked Dantewada district, Special Police Officers (SPOs) assaulted a truck owner for delivering emergency rations to these villages. According to eyewitness reports, Koya commandos (tribal police corps), during a five-day anti-Maoist offensive from March 11...