The supply chains of sellers are impacted due to lockdown

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April 24, 2020

As a population of 1.3 billion stays indoors to fight the COVID-19 virus, India is finding it difficult to get a move on and questions are being asked about what the one month long lockdown can do to the crucial logistics sector of the country. The time period may have been necessary to control the spread of coronavirus but the unplanned manner in which the Centre implemented it has led to chaos and pain among migrant workers and normal public. COVID-19 pandemic has already caused untold suffering across the world, but it has also indorsed the bonds of society that unite humanity. In our country, those who are most vulnerable to the consequences of this pandemic are the poor and underprivileged. A significant economic fallout of the COVID-19 is the resulting inadequacies across the country’s already overburdened logistics landscape, which, according to India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) employs more than 40 million people and contributes USD 200 billion plus to the economy. The vast segment, considered to be the lifeline of the country, holds critical importance as it connects various markets, suppliers and customers dotted across the country. In the stir of the growing crisis, it was decided that this critical sector should be allowed to function, especially when carrying essential commodities. However, after weeks of lockdown, the wheels are still at halt.

Citing operational constraints, country’s largest eCommerce marketplaces Flipkart and Amazon have suspended their logistics services for sellers on its platform. Also, according to the Retailers Association of India (RAI), the supply chain of about 25,000-30,000 supermarkets have so far been impacted due to the lockdown announced. The outbreak and the subsequent lockdown across states resulted in stuck shipments increasing by 9%, order delays were up by 21%, and delivery percentage has seen a clear decline of 9%. What is interesting is that this data pertains to the period before the nationwide lockdown started on March 25, which means these numbers would be way worse. According to the representative of the logistics platform, in Pune, there are 31 pin codes that have been blocked by most of the logistics companies. Some logistics firm found there was a surge in business during the initial days of the coronavirus outbreak but it changed once the national lockdown was announced. However, business had come to a standstill post-lockdown for almost a week before the online firm was able to start deliveries of essential goods. The supply chains of sellers are impacted as many of their shipments are stuck in China or at ports, thereby impacting their ability to function. However, currently deliveries of non-essential goods in India is banned thus mitigating the impact, but there will be a huge backlog to overcome once the lockdown lifts.

The delivery boy, the truck driver, the pick-up guys—the vital link in the chain of transportation of goods, work on daily wages or work with significantly smaller organizations that employs less than 10 people. They are thus not even registered for facilities like Provident Fund (PF) or insurance like the Employee State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), etc.

The workers are solely dependent on government support to sail through the 21-days of lockdown. In the mass migration we saw from Delhi and Mumbai, lot of them were truckers, loaders, cleaners, carpenters, mesons among others, who are involved at the last mile delivery or pick-ups. Ever since the lockdown was announced on 24 March, transportation of goods severely hampered, perhaps this is the reason the essential commodities have gone out of stock or their prices are gone up. The super markets are out of stock, street side vendors gone missing, small grocery shops charging huge due to uncertain situations. There is long queue in front of grocery shops and that is never ending saga. Everyday people are standing for hours to meet their daily needs. Due to the shortage of trucks, transportation the essential goods have been affected during the lockdown which has been imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus pandemic. Now since government gave permission to open essential goods outlets, we find no drivers to drive the trucks or carry commodities one place to another, this is why the supply is inadequate. Things have not changed at the ground level as many drivers have either abandoned the trucks and have left for their villages and home towns, or have moved to stay put at places where basic amenities like food and shelter are available. The major grouse against the authorities is the lack of clarity on notices. What is requires is a good coordination and clear transmission of information. There is not much clarity as of now about is allowed and not allowed. The non-essential goods are stuck in the supply chain and have to be cleared to unclog hubs and warehouses. Despite essential goods being allowed, many sellers of these goods are not being allowed to open their warehouses by the State authorities, thus rendering this permission useless. A few vendors received harsh treatment from on-the-ground authorities when trying to deliver goods. This problem is now being overcome as on- the-ground authorities have more information and curfew passes are being given to executives for delivery of essential goods.

There are around 90 lakh commercial vehicles across the India but only around 5 percent of them are operating now. These are mainly LPG and other petroleum products carriers and short distance milk tankers. Moreover, people are safe in their homes while the drivers and labourers are exposed to risk of the virus on the roads and in the open. Everyone is in rush to be with family and in safe zone, only house is the place where all want to reach. workers have migrated to villages to be near loved ones, the difficulty of getting food as eateries are shut has added to their woes. Those who are still in the cities are unable to come to work due to regulation issues. Trucks are still to be found waiting on the roads or those that have been abandoned post-lockdown. Apart from drivers the availability of labour is also a big challenge that is hampering logistics operations in the country.

The government is finding it a challenge to grant permission for all vehicles to ply on the road. Police stations have to give curfew passes to trucks but there are more urgent issues to be taken care of like movement of essential goods. There is a long line at police stations for the permission papers and coupled with labour issues, clogged inventory, difficult intercity movement, it is a long and difficult haul for the logistics industry as of now. Police station lack staff, because maximum police personals are deployed at check points. Very minimum stall is arrayed at every chowki which is managing, curfew passes, permissions, domestic violence cases, social disharmony issues and above all their personal matters too. After all they too are human and they to have fear to their lives and concern for their families. In entire lock down process, government lacked planning in implementation.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

Why BJP was silent for 66 hours on Palghar lynching?

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Afternoon Voice

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April 23, 2020

On 16 April 2020, a lynching of two Hindu Sadhus of Juna Akhara and their driver took place in the presence of police in Gadchinchale Village, Palghar District. BJP the opposition in Maharashtra kept silent for 66 hours, and almost after two days, Devendra Fadanvis issues statement. His reaction came when social media was flushed with outrage over the lynching of two sadhus at Palghar with various videos and pictures. Nobody knows who posted the video first and how did he or she got access to it.

The question here is, why BJP reacted to incidence so late? Whereas BJP has its prominent existence in Palghar and their Sarpanch could have informed the party chief about the same. Once Devendra passed statement, then several BJP leaders accused the Uddhav Thackeray government of failing to protect the two sadhus who were on their way to Gujrat.

Meanwhile, 101 villagers have been arrested by the Maharashtra police on charges of murder of the three men. On 22 April, Maharashtra Home Minister, Anil Deshmukh posted a complete list of people arrested, and said that none of the people arrested were Muslims.

BJP’s national spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged that the members of CPI(M) and Nationalist Congress Party were present at the time of lynching. He said the State government must clarify what these party leaders were doing at the site when the lynching took place. Whereas “Gadchinchle village is a stronghold of the BJP and even the sarpanch Chitra Choudhari belongs to the party. Many BJP workers have already been arrested in the lynching case. There are photos available which show them felicitating former BJP MLA Pascal Dhanare,” the statement issued by Home minister stated.

The left party’s statement demanded an inquiry into whether the vehicle used by the victims had the required permit to travel, and also why they did not travel by national highway. “Why did the car go through remote areas on the border of Maharashtra and the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli instead of taking the direct National Highway from Mumbai to Surat? Why was it allowed to proceed to the remote and deserted area late in the night and by whom?” it asked.

The Congress, too, slammed the BJP for fanning hatred and fake news. Party spokesperson Sachin Sawant said, “Amit Shah calls Thackeray after every incident, but he never called the Gujarat CM after Surat incident or call Yogi Adityanath over lynching in U.P. It shows that the BJP is playing to defame Maharashtra and nothing else.”

What made saffron leaders of BJP maintain long silence on Palghar mob lynching?

By

Vaidehi Taman

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April 23, 2020

Palghar lynching incidence is an horrific and extremely condemnable incident indeed. We should think about the environment who created it, as it is common in the incumbent regime. The shocking incident took place on the night of April 16 in Palghar district of Maharashtra when two ascetics Mahant Kalpavruksha Giri and Sushilgiri Maharaj were travelling in a vehicle driven by Nilesh Telgade to Gujarat for attending a funeral. The aforesaid three individuals were lynched by a mob who allegedly suspected them to be child kidnappers after they reached Gadchinchale village in Dahanu taluka. Moreover, Palghar murderers and victims are from the same beliefs, despite that some poisonous elements intentionally communalizing it, this mentality of some misguided people certainly is more dangerous than coronavirus and they are the real enemies of India. Till today no one knew who those sadhus were or if they ever existed or not, but now all of sudden they have become a political tool.

Look at the irony, the main opposition party and its leader Devendra Fadnavis gave his statement after 66 hours of the incidence, almost after two and half day. Why was he silent all this while for so long? Yesterday (Wednesday) Arnab Goswami a TV anchor was attacked at 12.15 am midnight and immediately the very next morning BJP gave statement/reaction in series. Arnab was attacked as he blamed Sonia Gandhi for Palghar attacks and for that attack, BJP rendered immediate reaction. The Palghar mob-lynching videos that show three individuals, including a 70-year-old, being beaten to death with sticks by an angry mob have gone viral. Now, it must be mentioned that the incident was first reported on Friday, April 17. The outrage however began almost two to three days later, when the incident caught the attention of officials and politicians at the national level. This seems to have been triggered at least in part by a video of the incident that appeared on social media two days after the brutal incident. When the news first broke on TV on the 17 April, no BJP leader or any other political or social activist reacted on it. Despite its horrific nature, it was viewed as a simple, run of the mill crime story by almost everyone. Maharashtra has faced some incidents of mob-lynching or mob-beating on the suspicion that victims are thieves in the past too – which might have helped normalise this incident. The video however appears to have been a game changer. Suddenly, we had visuals of a Hindu sadhu being beaten to death and many were quick to jump in with a newfound communal angle to the story. That’s how, there was glitter in Devendra’s eyes, he saw some immediate future for BJP and after a long pause finally reacted after 66 hours. It is Hindu Sadhus whom Devendra Fadnavis gave separate stage presence in Wankhede Stadium during his Oath ceremony. It is Hindu Sadhus about whom he constantly talks and because of those Hindu Sadhus they recite “saffron saffron” all the time. But on those Hindu Sadhu’s attack, his reaction comes after third day? Why?

The village Sarpanch is of BJP, there are so many BJP karyakartas in that village. From Last five years BJP had a Member of Parliament here, so how did he missed getting any information about the lynching? Suppose he might have got the information, then what was the reason for keeping silent? Is it that the reason that Devendra felt that Uddhav Thackeray may someday get frustrated and come out of alliance and then BJP can find its path towards power? In the greed to retain power, he sidelined his basic ideology? The narrative of saffron has gone missing in his gesture while reacting to Palghar lynching.

Madhu Chauhan, Madhav Bhandari, Chandrakant Patil, Girish Vyas, like leaders who have strong RSS background, how come they afford to keep soundless on such atrocious issue? It’s the BJP supporters who started flooding the social media with tweets and posts and then the matter went wide spread. Till the time BJP leaders wake up it was too late to react. BJP’s Pravin Darekar was totally unaware of any such incident, until people poked him, he was not even updated about the happenings around. Once Devendra’s strong statement got aired, then CMO and Home Minister followed & gave their statements. By doing some damage control, one BJP leader reached driver’s family with one lakh check, he clicked many photo graphs and circulated it in media for publicity and his part was done. TV channel’s financial claims of funds assimilated for their family members is not credited in their accounts yet.

More than the party leaders, its BJP supporters who were vocal on Palghar lynching. On social media platforms, right-wing-activists were demanding that the probe be handed over to the CBI or NIA and finally, the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress Maha Vikas Aghadi government has handed over the probe to State-CID. Maharashtra government also suspended two policemen for alleged negligence of duty in the wake of lynching of three men. Uddhav Thackeray has already ordered a high-level probe into the Palghar lynching incident while saying that culprits will be brought to justice. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has also sought a report from Maharashtra government over the Palghar mob lynching incident.

As the matter started heating up on social media, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath spoke to Maharashtra CM regarding the incident. Adityanath urged Uddhav Thackeray to take strict action against the culprits involved in the lynching of three men in Palghar district. BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj, meanwhile, warned that seers from across the country will march to Maharashtra in protest against the Palghar mob lynching incident if stern action is not taken against culprits. Looking at high level drama, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar opened up saying it is condemnable and unfortunate. Backing Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, he said that the CM is doing all that he can.

However, some videos have emerged which show police personnel standing mutely even as the mob was attacking the three persons. This has come in for a lot of criticism from leaders across the political spectrum. According to the Maharashtra Police, 110 accused persons including 9 juveniles have been arrested for the mob-lynching. The adults are in police custody while the latter has been sent to a children’s home. As the time flew, the news and posts on Sadhu’s took back seat and Arnab Goswami is new sentimental subject for BJP and its supporters, this time they did not delay even for an hour. Rather they were ready with their script much in advance by trending the hashtags on social media. Collectively, the right wingers find new joy by tarnishing Sonia Gandhi with utmost abusive language and expressions, who is still a fear factor for nation’s largest ruling party BJP. Gradually after three days everybody has started speaking on it and Palghar mob lynching has become wildfire issue, but people are wondering as why PM Modi is still silent on this incident?

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

Hard for elected govt to have “political will” to meet with challenges of reservation: Supreme Court

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Afternoon Voice

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April 23, 2020

It is very hard for an elected government to have the “political will” to meet the challenges arising out of the reservation scenario wherein neither the lists of those entitled have been reviewed nor the quota provisions have come to an end, the Supreme Court has observed.

The apex court noted that the government is required to revise the lists for providing quota so that benefits trickle down to the needy.

It said reservations are provided due to discrimination and disadvantages suffered by the backward classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for “sharing the state power”.

“It was envisaged that social disparities, economic and backwardness should be wiped out within a period of 10 years, but gradually, amendments have been made, and there is no review of the lists nor the provisions of the reservation have come to an end,” said a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra.

“Instead, there is a demand to increase them and to provide reservations within the reservation. It is very hard for any elected government to have the political will to meet with the challenges arising out of the aforesaid scenario,” said the bench, also comprising Justices Indira Banerjee, Vineet Saran, M R Shah and Aniruddha Bose.

The top court observed this in its 152-page verdict by which it quashed the January 2000 order of the erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh, which had provided 100 per cent reservation to the Scheduled Tribe candidates for post of teachers in schools in the scheduled areas.

The bench said that reservation provided to Scheduled Tribes and constitution of scheduled areas is for the reason that systems concerning way of life are different as they were in “isolation” and “differed in various aspects from common civilisation” such as delivery of justice, culture and way of life.

“The formal education, by and large, failed to reach them, and they remained a disadvantaged class, as such required a helping hand to uplift them and to make them contribute to the national development and not to remain part of the primitive culture,” it said.

“The purpose of the constitutional provisions is not to keep them in isolation but to make them part of the mainstream. They are not supposed to be seen as a human zoo and source of enjoyment of primitive culture and for dance performances,” it said.

The bench further said that social, economic upliftment and education are necessary for the tribals to make them equal.

Referring to the 1992 Indra Sawhney judgement, which is popularly called the Mandal Commission verdict, the apex court noted it was held that the State Lists adopted to provide reservations are not meant to be sacrosanct and unalterable.

“Now there is a cry within the reserved classes. By now, there are affluent and socially and economically advanced classes within Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. There is voice by deprived persons of social upliftment of some of the Scheduled Castes/Tribes, but they still do not permit benefits to trickle down to the needy,” it said.

“Thus, there is a struggle within, as to worthiness for entitlement within reserved classes of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and other backward classes,” the bench said.

It agreed with the submissions that the government is required to revise the lists and said it can be done presently without disturbing the percentage of reservation so that benefits trickle down to the needy and are not usurped by those classes who have come up after obtaining the benefits for the last 70 years or after their inclusion in the list.

Dealing with the January 2000 order of the erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh, the bench said it was “arbitrary” and “not permissible” under the Constitution.

Certificate is illegal if no rites for solemnising marriage: Bombay High Court

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Afternoon Voice

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April 22, 2020

There were many stories of acquiring fake marriage certificates by couple without any rituals. The Bombay high court (HC) turned down a four-year-old certificate of registration of marriage obtained by a Thane resident and his partner on grounds that it lacked the sacredness, as no rites for honoring a marriage was performed, and also observed that the Thane Family Court was not justified in rejecting his plea. The appellant had moved the HC after the Thane Family Court had rejected his plea on November 16, 2017. He had sought a declaration that the marriage registration certificate issued by the Thane Municipal Corporation on September 29, 2016, which stated that he married his girlfriend on July 28, 2016, at a local Mandal, which solemnises marriages, was illegal and that he was still a bachelor.

He said that he had fallen in love with one of his colleagues at a gymnasium, where both of them worked. Though they were keen to get married, they were apprehensive that their family members might not accept the match. They hatched a plan to convince their family members. They obtained a marriage registration certificate from a local Mandal and had planned to reveal to their family members about tying the nuptial knot. But the woman’s parents were annoyed when she disclosed the plan. They compelled her to lodge a police complaint at Rajaram police station in Ratnagiri district, alleging that she was abducted and her signatures were forcibly obtained to get hold of the forged marriage registration certificate. A case was registered against the man and some other persons.

Later, the dispute was settled amicably. The HC held that the family court was not justified in rejecting the appellant’s plea. It said under section 7(1) of the Family Court’s Act a suit or proceeding for a declaration as to the validity of a marriage or as to the matrimonial status of any person is within the exclusive jurisdiction of the court and that the Thane resident’s plea fell in that category.

“The respondent woman (his purported wife) has not disputed these facts,” said the HC bench. “She is not opposing the prayers made before the Family Court at all. The Family Court was not justified in dismissing the petition filed by the appellant on the ground of lack of jurisdiction,” it added.

Also Read:

Fake marriage certificates and supporting document rackets are mushrooming in India

Fake marriage certificates and supporting document rackets are mushrooming in India

By

Vaidehi Taman

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April 22, 2020

We always believed and conditioned that the marriages are made in heaven, but these days marriages can be made anywhere on the documents because the fake certificate rackets are mushrooming across India. fake and fraudulent marriages are being conducted in some small chambers and groups. Few years back there was a case of Madras where the marriages were conducted in the chambers of some advocates. The Madras high court had sprawled upon a thriving ‘fake marriage cartel’, in which advocates play priests and solemnize weddings in their chambers, no matter those getting married are present or not. More than 3,500 such ‘weddings’ were registered in just two registrar offices in Chennai in 2013. In most cases, advocates who specialized in such procedures conducted the marriage, issued certificates and then ‘forced’ registration officials to register the marriage without the physical presence of the ‘newlyweds’. The racket came to light after many habeas corpus petitions were filed by ‘aggrieved grooms’, who said came to court saying their ‘wives’ were in the illegal custody of their parents. On being summoned, many women girls told the court that though they knew the ‘groom’, no such marriage had taken place. One girl said a carpenter engaged by his father had registered her as his wife without her knowledge. After a close scrutiny of ‘marriage certificates’ revealed a pattern, the judges ordered an inquiry. Another advocate, Neelanarayanan, conducted 382 marriages, while one Athitham solemnized 318. Advocate S Venkatesan conducted 277 marriages and one Alamelu solemnised 269 marriages. Noting that a group of advocates has taken solemnisation and registration of marriages as a special branch of practice, the judges remarked that even if it is clear that there is something foul in the marriage, officials cannot refuse registration, as they were abused and threatened with physical violence

In 2017, Sleuths of the Thane (rural) police busted a fake Marriage and supporting documents racket in Bhayandar. However, the 57-year-old fraudster who operated the racket is still at large. Naresh J. Mehta was found to be involved in providing all types of government documents including Pan cards, Aadhaar cards and ration cards and marriage certificates to his clientele on the virtue of fake and fabricated documents. The action followed after members of the social organization Consumer Social Work Sanstha passed information to the police about the fraudulent activities. After sending a decoy and confirming the authenticity of the complaints, a team of police raided Mehta’s office and seized incriminating documents including blank letterheads of local corporators, marriage certificates, birth certificates, this apart from seals and stamps of Special Executive Officers and even the Income Tax department. The accused would expertly delete the name and address on the original documents and when approached by customers, he would fill that person’s name in the blank spaces to use them as supporting papers required for cards and certificates issued by various government agencies. In one year hundreds of people took help of these documents for various purposes and because each time after deliverance of certificate he used to delete the document from computer and enter new one, so the tracing people who opted for fake certificates became really difficult for cops, most of the certificate holders migrated or took jobs abroad.

If you visit any courts in Mumbai. Especially Bandra, from notary to marriage everything can be arranged without the presence of persons. What you need is money to satisfy their demands. Some even come to your door steps to deliver these certificates if they build trust on you. It’s the agents around courts who have tie-ups with lawyers. There are many small-time lawyers, who stand at the gate to catch someone who can give them business, they literally chase a person who enters the gate of court. They take you to the side, ask your requirements and bargain hard on money and time of deliverance. Then form their they will escort you to some lawyer’s shack and there the final word of exchange happens. They arrange everything from a witness to sign the papers to the so-called parties mentioned on the papers. At the end you get what you want. But this does not guarantee the authenticity. If you are challenged, then you are definitely come under clutches of law.

Especially, marriage certificates are proof of your marriage & can be used to prove various other things like traveling abroad, passports, Aadhar card etc. The process has now become really simple & we can get an online marriage certificate from the comfort of your home. But making fake documents, speaks about criminal mind you got and want to indulge in illegal act of using fake marriage certificate for registration of marriage with the Registrar of Marriages. The Registrar of Marriages has power to get the marriage certificate checked from the source and if found fake, refuse the registration of marriage and even get you prosecuted for the offence of giving wrong information and making false statement on oath/affidavit for the process.

One of such incidents came up during the hearing of a habeas corpus petition filed by one S Balakrishnan Pandian. Saying that that he had married a girl and got the marriage registered too, he claimed the girl was in the illegal custody of her father. He wanted the court to direct police to trace the girl and produce her in court. He also furnished a copy of the ‘marriage certificate’ as proof. The next day, the girl was produced in court. During inquiry, she said she was doing her BE (computer science) in a college in Sivakasi. Though she admitted knowing the boy, she denied the marriage. When the marriage certificate was shown to her, she said she never signed anywhere and that it might have been obtained without her knowledge. But, before parting with the case, the judges said they had come across several habeas corpus petitions of late, where ‘marriage certificates’ by Royapuram sub-registrar had been submitted as proof, and ordered a CB-CID probe into the suspected racket.

A marriage which has already been solemnized can be registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. The Hindu Marriage Act is applicable in cases where both husband and wife with a minimum age of 21 and 18 respectively, are Hindus, Buddhists, Jains or Sikhs or where they have converted into any of these religions. Where either of the husband or wife or both are not of any of the religion mentioned above, the marriage has to be registered under the Special Marriage Act, 1954. Muslim couples need to register their marriage under Special Marriage Act. As per the order passed by The Hon’ble Supreme Court all marriages should be registered under respective states or union territories. When it comes to marriage or your existence stick to legal aspect of it. Do not fall in the trap of easy jobs such as fake certificates.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

Government should provide special insurance cover to Media persons amid COVID-19

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Afternoon Voice

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April 21, 2020

Indian Media, Journalist, Media, Rs 50 lakh, Insurance Cover, Covid-19, Coronavirus, Lockdown, Reporters, Cameraman, Photojournalists, Insurance for Media — Image Courtesy: Associated Press

More than fifty media persons from Mumbai have tested positive for coronavirus, most of them are from the electronic media, have tested positive for coronavirus after they underwent tests at a special camp organized in Mumbai last week.

Mumbai Press Club, President Gurbir Singh wrote to Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray stating that, As Mumbai City locked down to face the challenge of the Coronavirus, these field journalists even today continue to stand by their duty, filing their reports, taking photographs and recording videos in the most hazardous locations. Most media houses have shut their offices and have not provided any protective gear, or special insurance to these frontline personnel. However, they continue to demand reports and visuals and expect the journalists to move around the city risking life and limb. In these circumstances, the Mumbai Press Club had taken some initiative to provide some logistical support as well as accident insurance, etc but that is not enough.

In the letter he further requested that “some immediate steps to safeguard our lives and profession should be taken, such as ensure that all media companies immediately provide proper transport, safety equipment and sanitized space to work. Where it is not possible for the media companies to provide the above, the state government should ensure necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) and sanitized space to those venturing in the field. To provide immediate testing facilities for all journalists who are suspecting symptoms, or who have been in proximity of colleagues who have tested positive. There should be no time lost in this, and the testing location must be a captive facility without crowding and only for journalists. The state government has been providing special insurance cover for all emergency and essential category of workers who are tackling the coronavirus pandemic for the sum of Rs 50 lakh. Since journalists are performing an ‘essential service’, it is requested that the category of working journalists be brought under the same umbrella with cover of Rs 50 lakh and provided the protection of an essential worker.

TV Journalists Association President Vinod Jagdale confirmed to media that while the number of test reports received so far is not available, there are many have tested positive so far and the figures are likely to go up.

An official in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said that most are said to be asymptomatic cases and all have been sent to home quarantine for now while others” test results are awaited.

Minister of Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar told AV that, “I am very much saddened to so many electronic media journalists have tasted COVID positive, particularly camera persons, have been found Covid-19 positive in Mumbai. Every journalist should take proper care,”.

The minister said an advisory was being issued to all newspaper and media establishments to ensure that adequate care and precautions were taken.

On the instructions of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, BMC was directed to conduct the special screening camp for media persons. 171 media-persons including reporters and camera persons were screened on April 16-17 near the Mumbai Press Club, the reports of which have started coming. All the media persons found infected with coronavirus will be kept in isolation and a process was underway to find out suitable places to the purpose. Efforts were also on to trace their high and low risk contacts.

The media persons – who mostly perform field duties – were also given tips to ensure their personal safety in public places, wearing masks, using sanitizers, etc. in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mumbai has become eye opener for other states, Delhi CM also to arrange mass COVID-19 test for media persons in Delhi on the lines of the one carried out in Mumbai. Even Punjab government has already arranged camps for media person’s COVID test.

Also Read:

Journalists putting their health in danger by covering news during lockdown

Journalists putting their health in danger by covering news during lockdown

By

Vaidehi Taman

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April 21, 2020

Indian media is old institution but the upcoming channels have all young scribes and camera persons, most of them are goal oriented and enthusiasts. In the race of breaking news, this clan gets compromised due to survival issues. Amid coronavirus pandemic these journalists across India, many of whom are putting their health and, for some, their lives at risk in order to cover the pandemic from the front lines. When it comes to TV channels, one cannot remain in isolation or self-quarantine. Going to the spot or field for visuals is must for them. The health risks are primary because journalists are experiencing what everybody else is experiencing in terms of social distancing, self-isolating, quarantining. But it’s particularly forceful for journalists because they have to put those risks aside in order to do their jobs. There is pressure on journalists because in the recent past, there is financial slowdown, newsrooms across media houses have been seeing layoffs and reducing. Journalists across print, television and digital media are being given notices. Many say this has been the worst phase of job losses in the business of news, ever since the global slowdown hit the Indian economy between 2012 and 2013. Close to 1,000 journalists across the country have been handed termination notices. The English language media has been the worst hit. Almost all leading channels, newspapers and digital news portals have seen mergers and sackings in the last three months. Most media companies are top heavy and overstaffed. A lot of media houses took audacious decisions in terms of product launches and hired journalists at extremely high packages of anywhere between Rs 25 lakh and Rs 30 lakh and unfortunately it turned out to be an unmaintainable model now. however, alongside layoffs there is also a hiring freeze across media houses and some like one of the leading financial dailies have also announced that the employees would not be awarded any increments for the year. Apart from the layoffs, the industry has also been in a state of gloom because of a number of newspaper editions from leading media houses being forced to shut down, leaving several journalists jobless.

There is fear of loss, many journalists breaking all the boundaries and reaching to get coverages so that they can sustain in job. But the importance of physical and mental health risks is not going to get better and is not going to go away. That’s the reason we see lots more adjustment in agreements that are putting journalists at risk. And, of course, one has to mention that freelancers are experiencing the biggest health risks because they’re going out and getting the story, and then trying to find some publication to pick it up later for publishing by granting the journalist with perks. It’s not like they have any organization that’s behind them or that’s giving them health insurance, so the health risks remain particularly large for them.

On April 20, around 53 of 167 television journalists in Mumbai who underwent tests for COVID-19 tested positive. Most of them are young reporters and camerapersons, who have been spending several hours every day reporting on the extraordinary impact of the COVID19 on people and the economy. Most media houses have shut their offices and have not provided any protective gear, or special insurance to these frontline personnel. However, they continue to demand reports and visuals and expect the journalists to move around the city risking life and extremity. In these circumstances, the Mumbai Press Club had taken some initiative to provide some logistical support as well as accident insurance, etc but that is not enough. As can be seen the pandemic shows no signs of dying away, and journalists are forced to continue to work to provide news and information to the public. While some of us have the privilege of working from home, many journalists have still to venture out in hazardous zones and common spaces, and require immediate protection.As journalists and news media are declared as ‘essential services’ we request you to take the following immediate steps to safeguard our lives and profession. Government should ensure that all media companies immediately provide proper transport, safety equipment and sanitized space to work. Where it is not possible for the media companies to provide the above, the state government should ensure necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) and sanitized space to those venturing in the field. They should be provided with immediate testing facilities who are suspecting symptoms, or who have been in proximity of colleagues who have tested positive. There should be no time lost in this, and the testing location must be a captive facility without crowding and only for journalists. The state government has been providing special insurance cover for all emergency and essential category of workers who are tackling the coronavirus pandemic for the sum of Rs 50 lakh. Since journalists are performing an ‘essential service’, it is requested that the category of working journalists be brought under the same umbrella with cover of Rs 50 lakh and provided the protection of an essential worker. This is very crucial time; the journalists are facing lot of challenges in their personal and profession lives.

The families are helpless because, the scribe is the bread earner and they have no choice than allowing him to risk his life and go out, the coldness and detachment shown by editors and news channel owners towards reporters, who are literally putting their lives in danger, is disheartening. There is nothing brave in going every day on the field without proper protection. Hyperactive news channels, with a constant hunger to better their Television Rating Points (TRPs), have been pushing journalists to report from the ground, even in cases where the reporter is clearly reluctant. In most cases, the reporters are on their own, with little to no support from the organization. In some cases, the television channels have issued advisories, segregated teams and strictly banned the two segregated teams from inter-mingling. But such measures are meaningless. These advisories only ask then to take care. It doesn’t tell how. Also, they are not provided with any personal protection equipment from the organization. Everyday they walking on thin rope, to sustain with job, to fulfill the hunger of news channels with content and at the same time feed the families. Being media person, nothing seems to be in his/her favour, one has to really rest upon own fate.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

Record 1,426 new cases in Singapore, mostly foreign workers affected

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Afternoon Voice

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April 20, 2020

Singapore on Monday reported a record 1,426 new coronavirus cases, out of which 1,410 are foreign workers, including Indians residing in dormitories, health officials said.

With the fresh cases, the total number of coronavirus cases in the city-state stands at 8,014, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said.

“We are still working through the details of the cases, and further updates will be shared via the MOH press release that will be issued tonight,” said the Ministry in a statement.

A total of 18 foreign worker dormitories have been gazetted as isolation areas, as the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise.

As of Sunday, the cluster at S11 Dormitory at Punggol remained the biggest, with 1,508 confirmed cases.

The next biggest cluster was at Sungei Tengah Lodge, with 521 confirmed cases.

Though the dormitories are being disinfected and bedding accommodation re-arranged, most of these were overcrowded, leading to a large number of cases as foreign workers are now undergoing screening and testing.

All foreign workers in the construction sector have been placed on mandatory stay-home notices until May 4 as a precautionary measure against the spread of COVID-19.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) noted that while the recent rise in the number of foreign workers infected with the coronavirus has mostly been concentrated in dormitories, there have been cases at construction worksites.

Meanwhile, crime-fighting has continued during the COVID-19 outbreak, albeit with precautionary measures for inmates, suspects and accused persons, the Channel News Asia reported on Monday.

In the prisons, where no coronavirus case has been detected as of Apr 10, inmates have been issued with a reusable mask each.

Newly admitted inmates are housed separately from the general population and monitored for 14 days, said the Singapore Prison Service (SPS).

All inmates have their temperatures taken twice daily and safe distancing measures are in place to reduce the gathering of inmates, for example during yard time.

Family members of inmates are not allowed to visit during the circuit breaker period from Apr 7 to May 4, as SPS has suspended all family visits.

Instead, inmates can make local phone calls to their families or communicate via email and traditional mail.

If the inmates need to be produced in court, video-conferencing is used when possible, otherwise SPS works closely with the courts to implement safe distancing for those who need escorting to court.

A Singapore Police Force spokesperson told the Channel that police services are “largely unaffected”, but frontline officers are issued with personal protective equipment including masks and gloves.

Most court hearings originally scheduled during the circuit breaker period have been adjourned, the Chief Justice previously announced.

However, cases that are urgent and essential continue to be heard, albeit with extra precautions, according to the Channel report.

CM Thackeray urges HM Shah for action against communal twist to lynching

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Afternoon Voice

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April 20, 2020

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to take action against those giving communal colour to the lynching of three men by a mob in Palghar district.

The state government has already ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident that took place on April 16.

State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh earlier warned against giving any communal colour to the incident, as two of the three deceased were believed to be seers.

In a video message, Thackeray said he received a call on Monday from Amit Shah who himself said there is no communal angle to the Palghar mob lynching incident.

“I have urged him to initiate action against those who are giving a communal twist to the Palghar mob lynching, which is factually incorrect. I also informed him that my government is definitely going to take action against the perpetrators,” Thackeray said.

The chief minister earlier said stern action will be taken against those involved in the lynching of the three men.

“The Palghar incident has been acted upon. The police has arrested all those accused who attacked the 2 sadhus, 1 driver and the police personnel, on the day of the crime itself,” Thackeray tweeted late Sunday night.

“Nobody guilty in this heinous crime and shameful act will be spared and they will be brought to justice in the strongest way possible,” he added.

Deshmukh said those who attacked and who died in the Palghar mob killings are not from different religions.

“I have ordered Maharashtra police and @MahaCyber1 to take action against anyone instigating communal hatred in the society or on social media,” he said in a tweet on Sunday.

“Police have detained 101 people involved into the killing of three Surat bound people in Palghar. I have also ordered high level inquiry into these killings,” he said.

Deshmukh said police are keeping an eye on those who wanted to use the incident to create a rift in society.

Palghar police on Monday suspended two policemen for alleged dereliction of duty in the wake of the incident that took place on April 16 night when three men from Kandivali in Mumbai were going in a car towards Surat in Gujarat to attend a funeral.

Their vehicle was stopped near a village in Palghar. The three were dragged out of their car and beaten to death with sticks by a mob on suspicion that they were thieves.

The deceased were identified as Chikne Maharaj Kalpavrukshagiri (70), Sushilgiri Maharaj (35), and their car driver Nilesh Telgade (30).