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Don’t strike work, or else…

Government warns workers against participating in general strike called on February 20 and 21, hinting at suspensions and other punishments.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

As many as 11 Central trade union organisations and national federations of various industries and professions are set to go on a 48-hour strike starting February 20. The strike, called by trade unions in the country, however, has prompted the Maharashtra State Government to issue a few stern directives to class IV and senior-level employees of the Government and its affiliated organisations.

In a Government Resolution (GR) issued on February 17, 2013, the State Government has warned striking workers of strict action. “Class IV workers belonging to Central Trade Unions and employed with the State Government and its affiliated organisations have issued a Strike Work notice for February 20 and 21, 2013. In the light of this, with a view to ensuring the smooth operation of services throughout the State, employees participating in the strike will be liable for disciplinary action.

“Further, Government officials may attempt to persuade the striking workers from participating in the strike. The State will also bring into effect the Centre’s ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy against striking workers,” the GR says.

Additionally, attendance of all departments will be submitted to the heads of various departments till noon, during these two days. All leaves of officials and other workers for the two days have been cancelled, and those on leave may be recalled to work. “Department heads should not leave their offices during working hours in the strike period. They must also ensure that all essential works and services will continue to be provided during this time,” the GR states.

The strike has been called to protest rising inflation and alleged violation of labour laws by the Central Government. Thus far, transport unions have declared that autorickshaws and taxis will continue to ply in the city in the light of ongoing examinations. However, general services provided by domestic gas agencies, petrol pumps and nationalised banks, among others, may be hit.

(Picture courtesy blogs.wsj.net. Image used for representational purpose only)

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2 dead, five injured as car takes wrong turn at Bandra

The Honda Accord missed a turn and rammed into five other vehicles, killing two. Driver of the car was arrested.

A horrifying accident took place at Bandra’s Linking Road near the famed Amarsons store this morning, when a Honda Accord reportedly took a wrong turn after missing a No Entry sign. The accident caused a smashup of at least three cars in all, apart from an autorickshaw and a bike.

Two people were pronounced dead, while five others suffered serious injuries and were being treated at the Bandra-based Bhabha Hospital. One woman was being treated at Lilavati Hospital.

The errant car is said to belong to a foreigner who was in the car at the time of the accident. The driver of the car has also been admitted to hospital after being arrested for rash and negligent driving.

More details are awaited.

(Picture courtesy ibnlive.com)

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First preference to LPG holders at UID Centres

State extends deadline for LPG holders to get UID enrollment, by a month. The new deadline is March 15, 2013.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

If you are an LPG holder and still haven’t got yourself enrolled for an AADHAR card, you have just received a reprieve from the State Government – though the cut-off date for enrollment for LPG holders to avail of the Government’s scheme to transfer cash directly into the holder’s AADHAR-linked saving’s bank account for not more than nine gas cylinders per financial year, was February 15, 2013, the State decided to extend this date by a month.

Hence, the new cut-off date for enrollment is now March 15, 2013, said Chief Secretary Jayantkumar Banthia in a meeting yesterday.

Moreover, such LPG holders would receive first preference at UID enrollment centres across the city and State throughout this month. There would be separate lines for them. However, the enrollment process for others will also continue simultaneously, till December 31, 2013. Obviously, non-LPG holders would do well to attempt enrollment after March 15 to prevent additional chaos at each centre.

The subsidy will be transferred directly into the holder’s bank account if he/she provides the bank with the AADHAR number and ask for the AADHAR number to be linked to their account.

(Picture courtesy livemint.com. Picture used for representational purpose only)

 

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After gutkha, doctors want ban on supari, zarda and paan masala

The Indian Dental Association recently wrote to the PM, asking for all smokeless tobacco substances to be banned from sale.
by Krishnaraj Rao

Doctors, more specifically dentists in the country, are increasingly up in arms against the sale of chewable tobacco in any form. Several state branches of the Indian Dental Association (IDA) have addressed a letter earlier this month to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pointing out the while banning gutkha was good, it was not good enough.

The letter said, “We the dentists who are responsible for oral health, are extremely worried about rising trends of mouth cancer especially amongst the youth. This epidemic is the result of rampant use of tobacco and areca nut in different forms. As per Global Adult tobacco Survey, 2010 released by Ministry of Health, 22 crore Indians are chewing this deadly concoction. We would like to thank the Government for banning gutkha in several states under the Food Safety Act.

“However, gutkha chewing accounted for only 10 per cent of all smokeless tobacco consumption. Regional consumption of smokeless tobacco product is diverse and smokeless tobacco product is been flavoured and packaged in different pouches and sachets. The major chewing is in the form of Jarda, Surti, Khaini, Mava, Kharra,Paan etc apart from Paan Masala (supari/betel nut) with or without tobacco. Supari (betel nut or areca nut) is a confirmed cancer-causing substances and leads to many other diseases. Despite plethora of knowledge against it, supari is being sold as a mouth freshener under brand name of Paan Masala or Supari Mix.

“The epidemic of mouth cancer cannot be curtailed without a comprehensive prohibition of selling these lethal products freely as packaged mouth fresheners. We sincerely hope that you will use your good offices to prevent premature deaths in our country by strict implementation of section 2.3.4 of Food safety and standards (prohibition and restrictions on sales) regulation 2011 to ban all flavored and packaged smokeless tobacco product across country. Please prohibit the packaged and misleading areca nut preparation in the form of pan Masala, Supari Mix etc,” the letter says.

“I request the PM to urge the remaining eight states to ban gutkha for effective implementation of the ban across the country to save millions of lives, especially, youth from this killer product,” said Dr Ashok Dhoble, General secretary, IDA Head Office.

While the tobacco bans passed by states earlier in 2012 were strictly restricted to gutkha and paan masala containing tobacco, some of the later ones have been tending towards taking on other forms of chewing tobacco also. For instance, see Mizoram’s ban order, which says, “complete ban on sale of gutkha/paan masala/zarda or other chewable products containing tobacco or nicotine with immediate effect and until further order.” This is also one step ahead of most other states, which have put a one-year tenure on their ban orders.

The death knell for the chewable tobacco industry first sounded on August 1, 2011, when a new rule was notified under Central Government’s Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSAI). It said: “Tobacco and nicotine shall not be used as ingredients in any food product.” Soon afterwards, 20 states banned gutkha, namely: Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Punjab, Uttarkhand, Mizoram, Delhi, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Nagaland Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and four Union Territories  – Chandigarh, Daman & Diu, Dadra and Nagar-Haveli and Andaman-Nicobar.

(Picture courtesy wahid.fr. Image used for representational purpose only)

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What the BMC’s planned for the city this year

Surplus budget announces ‘Banner Free Mumbai’ and a 24/7 helpline for the mentally distressed, among a slew of other things.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has several designs on the city this year, and it announced its plans for Mumbai through its Budget 2013-2014 today at the BMC headquarters. BMC chief Sitaram Kunte presented the surplus Rs 27,578 crore budget; this is the highest municipal corporation budget in the country.

Budget 2013-2014 exceeds the previous budget by over Rs 1 crore.

The following are some of the announcements for this fiscal year:

– Rs 6,443.76 crore has been assigned for water supply and drainage works.

– Rs 45 crore has been proposed for the widening and cleaning of Mithi and other rivers.

– Road concretisation and building of new flyovers will get Rs 2,650.74 crore.

– On the health front, the BMC Commissioner announced such ambitious measures as the setting up of a 24/7 helpline for the mentally distressed, a Rs 20 crore corpus for a state of the art diagnostics facility at KEM Hospital, and the setting up of a University of Health Sciences, among other things.

– 26 new fire brigade stations will be set up in the next five years. The Fire Brigade’s equipment is also to be upgraded.

– It is proposed to set up four new water tunnels on the Malabar Hill-Cross Maidan, Powai-Vairavli Maidan, Maroshi-Ruparel via Vakola and Gundavli-Bhandup routes. This will cost Rs 1,069 crore. Two new water tunnels are also proposed from Chembur to Trombay and Chembur to Wadala.

– Rs 82.11 crore to be set aside for beautification and development of gardens.

– The BMC proposes to set up a permanent laser show display at Powai Lake.

– An entertainment and activity centre for senior citizens has been proposed.

– The BMC chief has announced a ‘Banner free Mumbai’ and a continuation of the zero garbage policy for the city. Instead, the BMC is mulling the idea of designated zones for hoardings and banners.

(Picture courtesy scamsleak.blogspot.com)

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Free of all charges

Shaheen Dhada and Reenu Shrinivasan have been absolved of all charges in the Facebook arrests case. Court admits closure report.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

It was a case that was no case, to begin with. Stating the obvious proved costly for Palghar resident Shaheen Dhada, and agreeing with her, for her friend Reenu Shrinivasan – Shaheen had questioned the total lockdown of Mumbai and surrounding areas on Facebook after the death of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on November 17, 2012. The two girls were arrested and subsequently let out on bail, following a complaint by local Shiv Sena shakha pramukh Bhushan Sankhe.

Today, the girls have been cleared from all charges pertaining to the case. The court admitted the closure report filed by the cops and thus, the two have been cleared from the case.

A round of protests all over the country put the spotlight on the Palghar cops and the Maharashtra Government’s subsequent handling of events. An inquiry into the matter was immediately ordered, and the complaint was found to have no grounds for arrest – it was alleged that the FB post had offended religious sentiments. The investigation officers were suspended and the magistrate who had ordered the arrest was transferred.

In November last year, the Home Department of the Government had asked the police to file a closure report in the case. Palghar police had been asked to initiate the legal process that would result in the case being closed; the report was to be filed in the court. Such a report is filed when investigators conclude that no case can be made against the accused.

(Picture courtesy indiavision.com)

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