A detailed probe will be carried out into the death of former Union minister Gopinath Munde after the NCP and allies will form the next government, the party’s Maharashtra unit chief Jayant Patil said on Thursday.
Patil’s remark comes a few days after a “cyber expert” claimed senior BJP leader Munde was “killed” as the latter was aware of alleged hacking of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP-led NDA had won the polls.
The cyber expert, identified as Syed Shuja who is seeking political asylum in the US, had last Monday claimed the 2014 polls were “rigged” through the EVMs, which he had said, could be hacked.
The Election Commission of India had denied the charge and asked the Delhi Police to lodge an FIR against the self- proclaimed cyber expert.
Shuja did not provide any proof to back his claims made at a press conference in London he addressed via Skype.
Munde died in a road accident in New Delhi in 2014, a week after taking over as Rural Development Minister in the Narendra Modi Cabinet.
“The responsibility of tracing who is responsible for Munde’s death is on us. How he was killed has to be probed.
“Hence, a detailed probe will be carried out when our government is formed in the near future,” Patil said at a rally in Vasmat in Hingoli district.
The rally was organised as part of the third leg of the NCP’s ‘Parivartan Yatra’, a public outreach programme the party has undertaken ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Patil said “it did not augur well” if a leader like Munde died allegedly in connection with an EVM-related matter.
The former Maharashtra minister also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on the issues of farm loan waiver and Dhangar quota, respectively.
“Both of them (Modi and Fadnavis) have forgotten (to keep promises made on the issues). Hence, there is no trust left in them,” he added.
He hailed NCP chief Sharad Pawar for giving “historic farm loan waiver” to farmers (in 2009) when the latter was the Union Agriculture Minister.
“But this government has not given a single penny,” Patil alleged.
Another NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal also addressed the rally and attacked the Shiv Sena for continuing to be part of the governments at the Centre and in the state despite the Uddhav Thackeray-led party’s constant criticism of the BJP-led regimes.
According to the disciples of the self-styled Godman HDH Nithyananda Paramashivam on January 23, he initiated into powers of the third eye to 82 students afflicted by varying stages of blindness at a blind school in Vastrapur area of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, claiming there will be No More Blind kids! As per the Nithyananda Hindu University, “Bhagawan Sri Nithyananda Paramashivam” initiated powers of the third eye to the blind children enabling them to read print material with consistency and stability while recognising shapes, pictures, objects, and colours for the first time in their lives. In a conversation with AV Editor, Swami Hari Chaitanya Puri Maharaj exclaimed, “Vedas have mention of such Vidya where even blind people can see through Inner vision. One institute in Malleswaram is practicing this and the students, after rigorous training, have mastered the Art. The Hindu religion is rich in various inventions; if you practice it, you will start believing in it.”
Popularly addressed as Bhagwaan Sri Nithyananda Paramashivam, who is known among his devotees for his speeches, is revered, regarded, respected, and worshiped as the Avatar (living incarnation) of super-consciousness by millions across the globe, as claimed on his official website. As per Swami Nithyananda’s disciples, he is the 293rd Pontiff of the world’s oldest Shaivaite Aadheenam (temple monastery complex) and also the head of the world’s largest Shaivaite Aadheenam. He is also the youngest Maha Mandaleshwar (the highest level of Hindu spiritual guardianship) of the Mahanirvani Akhada (the ancient apex body of Hinduism).
Apart from that, it was stated that he and his Sangha (spiritual community) around the globe is serving humanity by reviving the science of completion, the science of Enlightenment, and manifesting various extraordinary spiritual powers as per the Vedic Agamic tradition of Sanatana Hindu Dharma. He is the author of 350 books, which are translated and published in 500 titles and various international languages.
On the official social media page of Nithyananda Hindu University, it is mentioned that due to multiple invasions and illegitimisation of the Vedic education system in the home country, this knowledge transmission system was almost lost. He is reviving this knowledge transmission system through Nithyananda Hindu University. It is claimed to be the oldest university as per known records that was first started in Kailaasa by Paramashiva Himself and then established in various sacred places such as Naimisharanya, Varanasi, Kanchi, Mathura, Avantika, etc — the mokshapuris. Nithyananda Hindu University was conceived with this objective in 2001 and legitimised by the establishing of the University in the US in 2007.
The first “experimental breakthrough” like no other in the modern world, of visually impaired children being able to read after being initiated by into third eye awakening by “Balasanths”, child students of the Nithyananda Gurukul, all of whom have been initiated in the ancient Vedic science of the third eye by the Bhagwaan Nithyananda Paramashivam, as claimed by the disciples of Swami Nithyananda.
Dr. Aniruddh Ambekar commented, “Most of today’s self-styled Godmen are nothing but scams who choose this way to loot others with their fraudulent activities. People believe that these Godmen will relieve them for their miseries; while on the other hand, many spiritual leaders have so far been arrested for frauds and criminal activities. Medical science doesn’t support such miracles and these are godmen’s trick to benefit their businesses.”
However, it is believed that, if the Swami Nithyananda has these powers as claimed by his disciple to embark eyesight to those blinds, it is suggested for all the believers and non-believers to seek the help of the ‘His Divine Holiness’ as called by the followers and disciples.
Renowned eye specialist Dr. Tatyarao Lahane stated, “People should realise that no miracles can bring back eyesight and only medical science can do that. People who have got their eyesight back might have gone through some treatment, it’s not possible otherwise. If miracle by spiritual leaders had the power to bring eyesight back, no blind would’ve been left in the world. Spreading superstitions in the country must be stopped and being in the world of developed science and technology, we must push away unfounded beliefs.”
The Bombay High Court Thursday said the Election Commission had a constitutional obligation to hold fair elections and hence should take steps to prohibit advertisements or paid political content on social media.
A division bench of Chief Justice N H Patil and Justice N M Jamdar was hearing a petition filed by lawyer Sagar Suryavanshi, seeking directions to the Commission to prohibit all persons, whether politicians or private individuals, from posting advertisements related to politics or elections, or paid political content on social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, 48 hours before the election day.
Advocate Pradeep Rajgopal, appearing for the Commission, told the court that the poll panel has recommended amendment section 126 (b) of the Representation of Peoples Act, which prohibits public meetings, processions, campaigns, etc 48 hours before polling.
“By way of amendment, we propose to include the term electronic media in the provision,” he said.
The bench then noted that amendments to the Act would take a lot of time.
“Till the amendment is brought, what does the Election Commission propose to do about the issues raised in the petition? Elections are coming up. The commission should have some answers,” Chief Justice Patil said.
The court suggested the Commission to pass orders before the upcoming elections.
“The Election Commissioner can issue orders. You (EC) are not helpless. In order to conduct and hold fair elections the commission can issue orders. It is your constitutional obligation,” the chief justice said.
The bench has also directed a senior officer of the Commission to remain present before it next week for further hearing on the plea.
The petitioner’s lawyer Abhinav Chandrachud told the bench that social networking sites, such as Facebook, had advertising policies in the UK and the US, where all advertisements and paid content were subjected to strict verification process.
He argued that a similar policy must be implemented in India too.
The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd (MSEDCL) will appoint ‘power managers’ in 23,000 villages to attend to the complaints related to electricity and its theft, an official release said on Wednesday.
The MSEDCL will appoint 23,000 ‘village electrical managers’ one at the gram panchayat level. They will attend to the power-related complaints and electricity thefts, the release said.
During a programme held in Nagpur recently, Energy Minister Chandrashekar Bawankule distributed certificates to candidates, who have completed ‘gram vidyut vyavasthapak’ training jointly initiated by the MSEDCL and Maharashtra State Skill Development Society.
Bawankule said the course will open employment opportunities for the youth in rural areas, as the ‘village electrical manager’ will work for the MSEDCL at the gram panchayat level.
“Similarly, these power managers will also be given the responsibility of implementation and creation of awareness on solar energy installations in hospitals, schools, farms and homes,” he said.
Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil on Thursday said that if the BJP and the Shiv Sena don’t forge an alliance for the upcoming elections, the Congress-NCP combine will come to power in the state.
Speaking to reporters here, he said Lok Sabha and state assembly elections will be held separately.
The revenue minister said since the alliance between both the parties is very strong, it has withstood numerous “quakes” in the last four years.
“Had the Congress and the NCP decided to fight the polls separately, then there was no harm in our going solo. However, even the Sena knows that in the present scenario, if we fight separately, the Congress-NCP combine will come to power,” the minister said.
The BJP will not be affected in case it loses, as the party will come to power at the Centre. The party is already in power in 20 states, he said.
“While the BJP will win 100-110 seats and Sena 40-50 seats, it is the people who will suffer. None of the political parties will be affected,” Patil said.
Replying to a query, the minister said elections to the Lok Sabha and state Assembly will be held separately “without any doubt”.
When asked about the tremors felt in Palghar district, Patil,who also holds the relief and rehabilitation portfolio, said seismologists and experts from IIT Bombay were studying the recent incidents.
“The earthquake incidents are limited to two villages in Palghar. The collector has been asked to make alternate arrangements for them to stay. We will see if they should be shifted to some other place altogether or be given new homes,” Patil said.
Mild tremors were felt in and around Dahanu in Palghar district on Sunday and Thursday, officials said.
Kate Hudson has recently revealed that she embraces a “genderless approach” when it comes to raising her 3-month old daughter Rani and her two older brothers from previous relationships.
People cited an interview Hudson gave to AOL, where she said that having a daughter does not really change her approach, but there is “definitely a difference.”
“I think you just raise your kids individually regardless – like a genderless [approach]. We still don’t know what she’s going to identify as,” she further added.
Hudson also said that right now her daughter is incredibly feminine in her energy, sounds and way. “It’s very different from the boys, and it’s really fun to actually want to buy kids’ clothes,” she explained.
According to Hudson, her own upbringing as the only girl in a group of brothers, including Oliver Hudson and Wyatt Russell, helped her see the fluidity of gender roles.
She went on to share that as a child she was a “tomboy in a spinning dress,” adding, “My middle brother [Boston Russell], who is closest to me in age, was basically my sister because I put makeup on him all the time, and I’d dress him up and he loved it.”
However, the ‘Almost Famous’ actress added that growing up as a girl with all boys ends up giving one a thick skin. “People say, ‘Oh, your brothers must’ve really protected you.’ And I’m like, ‘They threw me right into the fire!'” she explained.
While Hudson is committed to raising her three children in a gender-neutral environment, Kurt Russell had previously shared that her demeanor has shifted a bit when compared to how she parented her sons as babies.
Three members of a family were killed and another one seriously injured when their car rammed into a stationary bus from behind at Chandwad on Mumbai-Agra national highway on Thursday morning, police said.
The incident took place around 11 am, police said.
Mahendrakumar Samdadia (51), his wife Vandana (45), son Himanshu (19) died on the spot, while the couple’s another son Hardik (20) sustained serious injuries in the incident and was admitted to a hospital, they said.
“The family was heading towards Nashik from Malegaon in their car. When their vehicle reached goddess Renuka temple at Chandwad, one of its tyres burst. Due to it, Mahendrakumar lost control over the car, which rammed into the stationary bus of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) from behind,” an official of Chandwad police station said.
The Samdadia family hailed from Dindori taluka in Nashik district, police said.
Bodies of the deceased were sent to Chandwad government hospital for post-mortem and a case has been registered.
Ryan Reynolds has said that “Deadpool” threequel will go in a “completely different direction”.
The actor, who plays the title role of Merc With a Mouth in the Marvel film franchise, said the writers are looking to shake things up with the potential sequel.
“(They are) looking to go in a completely different direction” with the third installment,” Reynolds told Variety.
“Often, they reboot or change a character maybe like four movies too late,” he added.
Reynolds co-wrote “Deadpool” with Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick.
The actor is currently promoting the film in China. A re-cut, PG-13 version of the 2018 film would hit Chinese screens Friday.
This was the first time the franchise has passed the country’s stringent censorship rules.
Justifying its decision to allocate Rs 100 crore for the proposed Bal Thackeray memorial, the Maharashtra government Thursday told the Bombay High Court it was within its discretion to allot land or money for a monument for a prominent person and it cannot be questioned in court.
The government made the submission before a division bench of Chief Justice N H Patil and Justice N M Jamdar which was hearing two petitions challenging the state’s decision to convert the mayor’s bungalow in central Mumbai into a memorial for Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray.
The petitions were filed by activist Bhagwanji Rayani and NGO Jan Mukti Morcha in April 2017 when the government had proposed to set up the memorial.
When the petitions came up for hearing Thursday, petitioners’ advocates Pradeep Havnur and Uday Warunjikar sought to amend the pleas so as to also challenge the decision of the BJP-led government to allocate Rs 100 crore for the memorial. The decision was taken earlier this week.
Havnur argued that the amount could be used for other important issues facing the state, while Warunjikar claimed the entire machinery was being mobilised for a private individual.
Senior counsel Milind Sathe, appearing for the government, opposed the petitions, saying it was the state’s discretion how much land or money should be allotted for a memorial.
“Whether a person deserves a memorial or statue is up to the state government. Such state actions cannot be questioned in a court of law,” Sathe maintained.
The bench, while agreeing to this, however, said the court could question the manner in which a decision has been taken.
It allowed the petitioners to amend their pleas to challenge the Rs 100-crore allocation and directed the government and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to file their affidavits by February 12.
The court also issued a notice to a government trust, ‘Balasaheb Thackeray Rashtriya Smarak Samiti’, set up in September 2016 to carry out work for the memorial, seeking its reply on the issue.
The petitioners also raised objections to the setting up of the trust and said of its 11 members, six are private persons.
“The six permanent members include Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena chief) and (his son) Aaditya Thackeray. If it is a government trust, how can private persons be made permanent members?” Warunjikar asked.
The petitions also challenged a recent amendment to a provision in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act by which the civic body chief was permitted to lease any immovable property, owned by the BMC, to any person at a nominal rate of Re 1 per year.
Financial inclusion means providing financial services to the weaker sections of society. It also ensures that financial services meet them at affordable cost. According to rural needs, deposits and withdrawals and loan facilities provided by banks are kept in the purview of financial services, but today accidental or life insurance and pension have also been included in this purview.
When Concept of financial inclusion got importance: –
The importance of financial inclusion began to grow from the year of 2000, because people started to open their account in the bank to start self-employment or get employment in micro industries. In the absence of financial awareness in rural areas, people were living a difficult life.
Bank’s contribution in financial inclusion: –
In the financial year 2016-17, a report of NABARD’s, All India Financial Inclusion Survey was published, according to which 88.1 per cent of rural households and 55 per cent of the farming families had a savings account. On average, each family was saving 17,000 rupees annually. 52.5 per cent of the farming families and 42.8 per cent of the families engaged in farm labour were in debt. 26 per cent of the families associated with agriculture and 25 per cent of the families engaged in farm as agriculture labourer were enjoying the facility of insurance, while 20.1 per cent of the farming families and 18.9 per cent of the families of agricultural labourers were taking advantage of pension. According to this survey, the annual average income of the farming family was Rs 1,07,172 and the average annual income of the farm labourers was Rs 87,228.
Clearly, the large chunk of the rural population is still not transacting with the bank. Due to limited duration of work in banks, inadequate availability of alternative channels, etc., villagers are not taking benefit of financial services. In order to connect the villagers to the banks, many mini banks are being opened in rural areas, known as Customer Service Point (CSP). These mini banks are being provided facilities like deposits, withdrawals, inquiries regarding their accounts etc. to rural customers. More than 58,000 business correspondents (BCs) and CSPs of State Bank were working across the country till March 31, 2018. BC’s work is to bring financial awareness among the villagers and provide them banking facilities at their home. Banks are also providing alternate channels such as ATMs, internet kiosks etc. to the villagers.
State Bank of India has more than 58,000 ATMs across the country; most of them are in rural areas. By March 31, 2018, the number of point-of-sale across the country was 31 lakhs, while 86.18 crore debit and credit cards had been issued. State Bank is providing about 80 per cent of the services through alternative channels such as Internet, Mobile, ATM etc. In the year 2018, there were 2.22 lakh ATMs across the country.
With the availability of mobile towers, electricity and phones in villages, the villagers are now using technology based banking products, but the number of such villagers is still low.
Pradhan Mantri Jandhan Yojana was started on August 15, 2014, and on August 28, the work of implementing this scheme was started. Under this scheme, facilities like life insurance, opening zero Balance account, sanctioning loan, Issue Rupay card, SMS etc. are being given to the common man. Till December 5, 2018, 33.44 million accounts were opened by all the banks, of which Rs 84,815 crore was deposited. 26.44 lakh Rupay cards were also issued in these accounts. Rupay card is an ATM card, also called debit card. By the help of this card, withdrawal of money, transfer of money, enquiry of accounts, payment of bills, shopping from point of sale, online shopping, etc. benefits are being enjoyed by villagers. Under the Prime Minister Jandhan Yojana, due to the opening of accounts of the villagers in large numbers, the government is directly transferring the money received from various government schemes through direct benefit transfer (DBT) in their account, thereby reducing the role of middlemen. Along with this, corruption has also been reduced by this measure. The spread of Pradhan Mantri Jandhan Yojana is mainly in rural areas. With the launch of this scheme, the rural people are easily open accounts in banks, because the Know Your Customers (KYC) has been simplified to make this scheme successful. The bank is also providing the facility of overdraft to the villagers who operate the account. Under the facility, customers are allowed to withdraw a fixed amount from the account on the basis of satisfactory transaction.
Role of Mudra Loan in implementing financial inclusion: –
After the introduction of the Prime Minister’s Mudra Loan Scheme, small businessmen like Rehadiwale, Khomchevale, Fariwale etc. have opened their accounts in the bank for taking the benefit of this scheme. There are public Sector banks (PSUs) in the forefront in disbursing Mudra Loan. The second place is of private bank and Micro Financial Institution (MFI). In the year 2018, accounts of 4.88 million Mudra Loan beneficiaries were opened. The number of beneficiaries was 70 per cent, while 23 per cent belonged to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and 32 per cent of the Backward Class. Rs 2,53,677 crore was sanctioned in these accounts and Rs 2,46,437 crore was distributed among the beneficiaries. In the financial year 2018, among 4.81 crore beneficiaries, a large number were small traders. During the financial year 2019, till December 7, 2019, 2.81 crore accounts were opened, out of which Rs 1,48,503.57 Cr. was sanctioned and Rs.1,42,009.91 Cr. were distributed among beneficiaries.
Employment Generation from MNREGA: –
To provide employment to the villagers, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 (MNREGA) program is being run by Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. Till December 15, 2019 as many as 11 crore 63 lakh workers were working under this scheme, whereas the total number of workers involved in this scheme was 25.55 million. The spread of this scheme is in 691 districts and 6918 blocks in the country. Under this scheme, 12.89 crore Job Cards have been issued so far. Since the beginning of this scheme, a total of Rs 4,95,535.52 crore has been given as wages, while the number of beneficiaries benefitting from this scheme till December 15, 2018, is 4.36 crore.
Participation of youth in the development of rural areas: –
The definition of the age of young people in India has been changed from time to time. At present, 15 to 34 years of age are considered as young people. According to this definition, in 2011 census, the population of youth in India was 42.19 crore, in which the number of men was 21.75 Cr. and the number of females 20.44 crore. In 2011, the total population of the country was 121.09 crore. Thus, the youth in India was 35 per cent in 2011, in which about 70 per cent were rural youth and the remaining 30 per cent urban youth. According to the Agriculture Census of 2011, approximately 61.5 per cent depend on rural agriculture. The percentage of marginal families having less than one hectare of agricultural land decreased from 62.9per cent of 2001 census to 22.5 per cent in the 2011 census. The role of agriculture in the Indian economy is very important. Its contribution to GDP is approximately 17 per cent and it is an area providing employment to more than 60 per cent of the rural population.
Conclusions: –
At present, rural youth do not have many options to fulfill their dream. For them, starting self-employment or getting employment is the most important aspect for living. Depending on traditional agriculture, they cannot get two times meal. For this, it is necessary that they cultivate farming by doing the latest way or by doing small business. With opening accounts in the bank, they can avail loans, can insured crops, take benefits of government schemes etc. To Connect the rural youth with the bank is one of the most important and effective solutions of various rural problems.
By-Satish Singh
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of AFTERNOON VOICE and AFTERNOON VOICE does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
According to the disciples of the self-styled Godman HDH Nithyananda Paramashivam on January 23, he initiated into powers of the third eye to 82 students afflicted by varying stages of blindness at a blind school in Vastrapur area of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, claiming there will be No More Blind kids! As per the Nithyananda Hindu University, “Bhagawan Sri Nithyananda Paramashivam” initiated powers of the third eye to the blind children enabling them to read print material with consistency and stability while recognising shapes, pictures, objects, and colours for the first time in their lives. In a conversation with AV Editor, Swami Hari Chaitanya Puri Maharaj exclaimed, “Vedas have mention of such Vidya where even blind people can see through Inner vision. One institute in Malleswaram is practicing this and the students, after rigorous training, have mastered the Art. The Hindu religion is rich in various inventions; if you practice it, you will start believing in it.”
The Bombay High Court Thursday said the Election Commission had a constitutional obligation to hold fair elections and hence should take steps to prohibit advertisements or paid political content on social media.
The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd (MSEDCL) will appoint ‘power managers’ in 23,000 villages to attend to the complaints related to electricity and its theft, an official release said on Wednesday.
Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil on Thursday said that if the BJP and the Shiv Sena don’t forge an alliance for the upcoming elections, the Congress-NCP combine will come to power in the state.
Ryan Reynolds has said that “Deadpool” threequel will go in a “completely different direction”.
What is Financial Inclusion:-