Urban News

  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size
Community Development

Beggars create nuisance near Clock Tower

Wednesday, 20 October 2010 06:32 administrator
Print PDF

The Pioneer  20.10.2010

Beggars create nuisance near Clock Tower

PNS | DEHRADUN

Groups of women and children begging on the roads are creating serious public nuisance around the Clock Tower in Dehradun. The beggars are known to harass tourists as well as locals until they pay money to them and even they don’t hesitate in stealing purses and mobiles of the tourists.

Such blatant anomalies are continuing in spite of the fact that begging is a punishable offence in the city. The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) too has the authority to take legal action against beggars creating public nuisance, but has failed to do so.

Women carrying small babies in their laps and children could be seen chasing people for alms at Clock Tower, Darshan Lal Chowk and even in Paltan Bazzar.

They block the way, pull the clothes and keep on nudging the visitors and sometimes snatch purse and vanish into the labyrinths of near by localities. And if caught, these children apologised in a manner that the people have no other option but to let them off.

According to sources there is a gang active in Dehradun which force these women and children to beg against their will. This gang has its base in slums situated at the banks of Rispana and Bindal rivers within the city limits. The gang gives shelter to the beggars in the slums and asks for a share in alms from the beggars.

The police however keep an eye on each and every incident on Clock Tower with the help of close circuit camera installed there, but so far failed to curb this menace.

Local police had even caught some juveniles indulging petty thefts but that did not make any visible difference on ground.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 October 2010 06:35
 

SC/ST beneficiaries in Kodagu to get sites soon

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 10:15 administrator
Print PDF

The Hindu  13.10.2010

SC/ST beneficiaries in Kodagu to get sites soon

Staff Correspondent


Taking stock:Deputy Commissioner K.H. Ashwatha Narayana Gowda presiding over the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Committee meeting in Madikeri on Tuesday.

Madikeri: Deputy Commissioner K.H. Ashwatha Narayana Gowda said on Tuesday that steps would be taken to distribute sites and title deeds to SC/ST beneficiaries in the district soon.

He was presiding over a meeting of the District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee concerning SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities), according to a press release.

Many SCs and STs were living in Ashokapura, Ukkuda, Chamundeshwarinagar and Mangaladevinagar in the city, Mr. Gowda said, and directed the revenue officials to conduct a survey and submit a report to him.

Somwarpet tahsildar Devaraj said that a survey had been completed (when he was the Madikeri tahsildar) and a report given to the district administration some time ago.

Mr. Gowda said that the issue would be looked into and the point whether land could be handed over to the Madikeri City Municipal Council to distribute it to the beneficiaries would be examined.

He told the taluk social welfare officers to visit at least five panchayats in a month to ascertain whether funds meant for SCs and STs were being spent.

Mr. Gowda said that requests were being received from SCs and STs to reserve land for graveyards in the district.

Their requests would be considered if there was government land, he said.

He appealed to the urban local bodies and gram panchayats to provide financial help to construct Ambedkar bhavans in the three taluk centres in the district.

Superintendent of Police Manjunath Annigeri suspected that funds meant for the welfare of SCs and STs were being diverted for other purposes. Welfare activities, education, economic development and other-related activities should be taken up with the funds available, Mr. Annigeri said.

Cases were being registered against those perpetrating atrocities against SCs and STs in the district, he said.

District Social Welfare Officer Rajesh Gowda gave details regarding compensation disbursed to SCs and STs in Kodagu. Members of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Committee Raju, Veerabhadraiah and Prakash spoke.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 13 October 2010 10:16
 

Night shelters for homeless in the pipeline

Monday, 11 October 2010 08:43 administrator
Print PDF

The New Indian Express  11.10.2010

Night shelters for homeless in the pipeline

HYDERABAD: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is planning to provide night shelters for shelter-less people.  

In this connection the GHMC has sought generous support from public, philanthropic organisations, NGOs, hospitals, corporate companies and the like. The corporation is asking all concerned to extend their cooperation in providing facilities in night shelters like beds, bed-sheets, pillows, blankets, carpets, buckets, plates, glasses, utensils, TVs, indoor games, and provisions for the homeless.  The GHMC also welcomes contribution in cash or kind or active participation or assistance.

For further details, contact: additional commissioner (UCD)-23260052, zonal commissioner (Central Zone)-23322978, zonal commissioner (North Zone)-27807321, zonal commissioner (East Zone)-24043600, zonal commissioner (West Zone)-23010062 and zonal commissioner (South Zone)-24500254.

Last Updated on Monday, 11 October 2010 08:46
 

SHRC case in Beggar’s Colony deaths

Wednesday, 22 September 2010 07:32 administrator
Print PDF

The Deccan Chronicle  22.09.2010

SHRC case in Beggar’s Colony deaths

Sept. 21: The State Human Rights Commission has registered a case of culpable negligence and held officials of Beggars Colony directly responsible for the recent series of deaths there. The rights commission said Manje Gowda, former chairman, central relief committee, Krishnegowda, joint director, backward classes department and former secretary of the committee Lakshminarasimhaiah, former superintendent, Dr G. Harimurthy, medical officer in charge, M. Mahadevaiah, chief warder, D. Bhagyalakshmi, receiving officer, and Hanumantharayappa, head warder for the state of affairs at the colony.

It said the atmosphere at the colony is deplorable and sub-human. Assault, deprivation of food was resorted as punishment instead of redressal of the inmates’ grievances. Though the deteriorating health conditions of inmates was visible on Sunday August 15, it was only on August 17 that they got care when the inmates started dying, it states.

SHRC chairperson Justice Nayak has made certain recommendations which holds good for all beggar centres across the state stating that procedure of admission requires to be followed scrupulously. Standing committee of all agencies connected with functioning of the centre BBMP, BWSSB, Health and others should be formed, he said. Justice Nayak sought a compliance report in six months.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 22 September 2010 07:35
 

Government makes Beggars’ Colony a better place

Thursday, 16 September 2010 07:31 administrator
Print PDF

The New Indian Express  16.09.2010

Government makes Beggars’ Colony a better place

BANGALORE: A month after debating about the ill-treatment meted out at the inmates of the Beggars' Colony, seems like changes have finally taken place and this was inspected by the Minister of Social Welfare M Govind Karjol, on Wednesday.

The minister, who inaugurated the new water purifying tanks in the colony, also spoke about the others changes in the colony. He said the BBMP had provided the colony with 20 pourakarmikas and currently, there were three doctors and 10 assistants and the new dormitory had cost Rs 32 lakh and a borewell had cost Rs 10 lakh.

Karjol said that nearly 200 beggars were released and that the government was also looking at shifting the 98 mentally ill inmates to Dharwad.

He further added that the inmates who belonged to Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu would soon be sent back to their respective states and that the Tamil Nadu government had assured to take a decision on the same, within two months.

Karjol also said that the welfare department had spent Rs 1.87 lakh on footwear and Rs 8.32 lakh on uniforms for the inmates and the government had started adult education and was providing them with employment opportunities.

Meanwhile, commenting on the deaths of two inmates in the Beggars' Colony in Mysore, he said that they had died due to old age. "Presently, the food for inmates is being provided by ISKCON and steps to provide fruits and eggs is being taken care by the welfare committee itself," he said.

Special Officer, Dr Rajanna Naik said, "we do not like to keep the inmates idle, so, we try to engage them in sports like volleyball, throwball, vocational training like carpentry and candle making."

Last Updated on Thursday, 16 September 2010 07:34
 
More Articles...


Page 9 of 16