NHRC notice to Gujarat chief secretary following silicosis deaths in Rajkot

By Our Representative
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Gujarat chief secretary and the district magistrate, Rajkot, to respond to a complaint filed by health rights activist Jagdish Patel of the People's Training and Research Centre (PTRC), Vadodara, regarding the alleged death of Raju Prakash Parihar and two others reportedly because of silicosis, a fatal occupation disease, in Rajkot, one of Gujarat’s top cities.
In a notice issued to the chief secretary and the district magistrate, NHRC, even as pointing out that at least three other workers were contracted the fatal disease, said, the senior Gujarat officials have been “asked to look into the issue and direct the concerned officials to verify” the complaint, insisting ,they should “take necessary steps to extend monetary relief and rehabilitative steps to the next-of-kin as well as workers suffering from silicosis.”
Asking the district magistrate, Rajkot, to respond “within eight weeks”, the notice said, “It is pertinent to mention here that these people, who have allegedly died of Silicosis and / or are suffering from silicosis. Hence, the State government has to keep this in mind while enquiring into the matter.” The incident of the death of Parihar and others came to light in August 2019.

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ISKCON UK 'clarifies' after virus infects devotees, 5 die due to big temple meet

By Rajiv Shah
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Counterview Desk
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By Souparno Chatterjee*
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By Our Representative
In an email alert to Counterview, well-known political scientist Shamsul Islam has said that was “shameful for any political party in democratic India to keep children of Sindhias in their flock” given their role during the First War of Indian Independence (1857). In a direct commentary on Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia moving over to BJP, Prof Islam has quote from a British gazetteer to prove his point.

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By Our Representative
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By Rishiraj Sinha, Biswanath Sinha*
“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background or his religion. People learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” – Nelson Mandela
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Modi, Shah 'forget': Gandhi’s first Satyagraha was against citizenship law of South Africa

By Nachiketa Desai*
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Gujarat construction workers walk home as Rs 2,900 crore welfare fund lies unused

By Our Representative
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