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Decks cleared for Navi Mumbai Airport plan

Protesting farmers and Maharashtra State CM Prithviraj Chavan finally reach an agreement over compensation and land package for the sale.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

In a meeting that lasted over two hours on Monday, November 11, 2013, the State Government of Maharashtra and farmers from Ulwe village (Panvel) finally reached an agreement over the compensation package for the land sale over the Navi Mumbai airport issue.

In a press release issued from State CM Prithviraj Chavan’s office, the Government is said to have agreed on giving 22.5 per cent land back as developed plots out of total land acquired from the farmers whose lands will be affected as part of the airport project. Earlier, the farmers had insisted on 35 per cent land back as part of the compensation.

Once complete, this will be the city’s second airport.

The press release says, “The 22.5 per cent land back offer (12.5 per cent from State and 10 per cent from CIDCO) was agreed to by the representatives of the farmers. The State has decided that each farmer that will be displaced by the project will get a house that is triple the size of his existing house. Further, the land that will be given as compensation will be close to the airport project, so that the end beneficiaries may gain commercially from their proximity to the airport.” It is being discussed that the land will be developed with modern infrastructure as well, and will be called ‘Pushpaknagar’.

However, the package comes with a rider from the CM – if the project and the rehabilitation component is perceived as ‘too costly’, the State will remain free to explore “other options”, he is learnt to have said during the meeting.

The Navi Mumbai airport project is spread over 1,160 hectares of land, out of which 685 hectares were already in the possession of the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco), which officiates as the nodal agency for the project. The Central Government had granted the necessary environmental clearances to the project over three years ago. However, farmers’ agitating over the lack of clarity over compensation from the State had held up progress in the matter till date, over the remaining 475 hectares. The required land surveys for the project will begin soon, and the CM has instructed that a review meeting with the project-affected farmers/their representatives be held every week from now.

(Picture courtesy shaikhhashim.blogspot.com)

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Dear BMC Commissioner, no hawkers please!

There’s a chance that 1 lakh hawkers will be added to Mumbai’s streets very soon. Retailers’ body will oppose it.

Two days ago, the Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA) wrote to BMC chief Sitaram Kunte protesting against the upcoming Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending Bill, 2012, which is to come into effect once cleared by the Rajya Sabha.

viren shahAs per the letter, the FRTWA is determined to protest the passing of the Bill on grounds that it will add more hawkers to the roads without clarity on who will regulate their working. Produced below is the full text of the letter written by Viren Shah (in pic on left), President, FRTWA:

“To The BMC Commissioner,

Mumbai

The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill, 2012 will come into effect once cleared by Rajya Sabha.

Presently, the city has between 1.5 lakh and 2 lakh hawkers, including unlicensed ones. The Act is expected to add on another 1 lakh hawkers who will spill onto the city’s pavements. Estimates have it that the number of hawkers will be 2.5% of the population.

Considering the latest census, which has pegged the city’s populace at 1.25 crore, the city will have 3.13 lakh hawkers.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has appointed a two-member committee to study the current hawking situation and come up with solutions which can be implemented as pilot projects in the city.

hawkers outside shopsThese experts will conduct street surveys and spatial studies for a holistic solution which can be implemented for the pilot projects. A work order for the study was issued last week. Dadar and Vile Parle have been earmarked as probable areas to conduct the pilot project study. Work on the survey is expected to start shortly after a meeting of civic officials scheduled for next week.

FRTWA strongly objects to this new policy whereby these two members who are going to make 1 lakh hawkers legal and they will be placed through out mumbais market and public places,stations,schools,hospitals which is going to be against the  supreme court guidelines.

Who will regulate them? BMC AND POLICE?

Even now these illegal hawkers are not under any control and the way they have spread their wings in sizes and width, they have not only occupied pedestrian footpaths but also parts of roads in many busy areas of Mumbai and that too main roads like Linking road, Crawford market and most of the station ares of Mumbai where pedestrians have no footpath to walk, vehicles have no road to drive on and  shopkeepers have no entrance for their customers to enter the shops.

We strongly object to such a policy whereby two members are going to give licenses to one lakh hawkers and Mumbai will become hawking zone.

These hawkers do not pay taxes, get goods without any license, without paying any octroi or VAT and neither they pay any income tax.

Why do we tax paying citizens bear their burden and allow these illegal hawkers to occupy our pedestrians footpath, roads and shop windows and entrances of shops without any tax to the Government?

We will approach the Supreme Court if such policy is passed by Rajya sabha.

We will not allow hawkers in front of our shops in Mumbai.

Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA)

Viren shah
President

(Pictures courtesy www.nscimumbai.com, www.wildjunket.com, www.dnaindia.com. Hawkers’ images used for representational purpose only)

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State to award Rs 3,00,000 to rape survivors

Government decides to award a minimum of Rs 2,00,000 to survivors of rape and acid attacks, apart from medical expenses.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

The recent gangrape of a young photojournalist inside Shakti Mills in Mumbai has spurred the Maharashtra State Government to take measures to both fast-track the dispensing of justice and compensation for those affected by sex crimes. In a cabinet meeting yesterday, the State Government decided to award a minimum sum of Rs 2,00,000 as compensation to victims of rape (women and children), sexual assault and acid attacks.

Apart from this, a sum of Rs 50,000 will also be awarded for medical expenses and a separate corpus will take care of the victim’s rehabilitation and counselling both during and after the course of treatment.

The initiative, titled ‘Manodhairya Yojana’ will come into force from October 2, 3013. The funds will be provided by the State Government as of now, and if need be, funds will be solicited from the Central Government’s schemes for women and children.

What do you think of this initiative? Is it enough or not sufficient to help those affected by sex crimes and other violence? Tell us in the comments section below.

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Maharashtra promulgates superstition ordinance

Read the full text of the promulgated ordinance; was pushed through after Dr Narendra Dabholkar’s murder in Pune last week.
by The Editors | editor@themetrogome.in

Everybody’s in for it now. At least, those who are in the business of black magic, superstition, being holy and possessing curative powers, or simply people who still believe in human sacrifice, or the practice of inflicting pain on others to achieve success or make money, are truly in for it in the State of Maharashtra.

Unfortunately, it took the murder of activist and key anti-superstition luminary in the State, Dr Narendra Dabholkar, last week in Pune, for the Government to finally get going on pushing the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman and Aghori Practices Bill, 2011, which has been pending with the Legislative Assembly for two years now. However, in light of recent events, the Government feels that, “from the implementation point of view, the Government considers it expedient to make a law, after modifying certain provisions of the Bill, by promulgating an Ordinance.” (Read the full document as ratified by the State Governor today, below).

As per the Ordinance, any person indulging in acts of superstition, black magic and sacrifice, apart from other related acts, will be liable for the severest punishment. Charges made out in these cases will be non-bailable and cognisable. A special authority is to be set up to monitor such acts and to ensure that the process of prosecution is handled well.

black magic ordinance 26.8.2013 English

(Picture courtesy unseenrajasthanparanormal.blogspot.com)

 

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Global survey on violence against women journos launched

All women journalists can participate in survey that maps the global situation of women in the line of journalistic duty.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

The International News Safety Institute (INSI) has launched a global survey on violence against women journalists in collaboration with UNESCO as part of promotion of the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity. All news media workers, and particularly women journalists, are invited to participate in the survey, which will run until September 20, 2013.

The survey is supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs and was created together with the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF). It is aimed at looking into the global situation of female journalists and the nature of the dangers they face in connection with their work.

“In many parts of the world, women are threatened and attacked for the work they do – work which, in some cultures and countries, challenges gender stereotypes,” said Hannah Storm, Director of INSI.

According to her, these attacks take the form in sexual assaults, rapes, cyber-bullying, emotional harassment and threats against their loved ones. “Sadly,  many of these crimes are not reported as a result of powerful cultural and professional stigmas,” she added.

The findings of the survey will serve as the basis for INSI to work further with field experts, which will be followed by a series of recommendations to increase the safety of women journalists.

This survey will allow news producers to confidentially share the experiences of women journalists, in order to get a real sense of the dangers and threats they face in their day-to-day work, and work to find ways to make the situation safer for them and their families.

The survey itself will contribute to the “UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity” which is based a multi-stakeholder approach to create a free and safe environment for journalists and media workers, both in conflict and non-conflict situations.

The survey also complements INSI’s on-going efforts in the issue of safety of journalists, acknowledging that danger also spans all genders. Prior to this survey, INSI has published a publication titled No Woman’s Land – On the Frontlines with Female Reporters and has kicked off with a safety training programme specifically aimed at female media workers in various parts of the world.

Women working in the news media are especially invited to participate in this survey, although men with information to add are also welcome. The survey can be accessed here. Last date for completion is September 20, 2013.

(Picture courtesy peaceisthenewblack.blogspot.com. Picture used for representational purpose only)

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‘Respect our privacy, give us breathing space’

Mumbai gangrape victim and her family send out a plaintive appeal and thanks the nation for its overwhelming love, support.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

Today, the family of the 22-year-old photojournalist who was gangraped by five men in the Shakti Mills compound in Mahalaxmi three days ago, sent out a message to the Government, the Mumbai Police, the authorities of Jaslok Hospital, the members of the Press, and the general public, all of whom have shown support and empathy with the girl and her family.

Reproduced below is the message from her mother:

DATE 25TH AUGUST 2013
“Dear Members of the Print and Television media of Mumbai and the Nation at large,

My daughter and I are overwhelmed with the support given to us by the police, the media and the public at large during such a nightmarish phase for us. We want to thank you all for showing sensitivity and restraint which has given us strength, hope and courage to pick up the pieces of our lives after the most tragic incident. We would also like to thank the authorities including the Jaslok hospital staff and management, the state administration, the Chief Minister’s office and Mumbai Police for their support and prompt action.

We would also like to apologise for the inconvenience caused to other patients and their relatives during this time. We hope and pray for your continued support and campaign in the fight for justice for my daughter and women at large in India. Now that stringent laws are in place, we are optimistic that your and the government’s efforts will help fast track the matter so that the severest of punishment is meted out. This will ensure that even the most sick-minded think twice before they act in such an
inhuman and insensitive way.

I have one small request to all of you. Please continue to respect the privacy of my daughter and me in this most trying time of our lives and give us the breathing space we so desperately need by not visiting our residence. We live in a society where such actions will only make it more difficult for us to get back to a normal life. This can also impact my daughter’s life and become an impediment in our struggle to regain our sanity and composure.

We hope and pray you will empathize and adhere to our humble request while continuing your support for justice, not just for my daughter but for all those victims and families who go through the same hell as we have.

Thank you.
God bless you and your families.”

 (Picture courtesy www.hindustantimes.com)

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