Counterview

J&K RTI Foundation and Founder Civil Rights Movement Kupwara note on how RTI Pend is empowering Kupwara with insights on Right to Information Act: *** RTI Pend, the grassroots initiative aimed at democratizing access to information, hosted its 2nd event in Kupwara. On the request of the Civil Rights Movement Kupwara, this event was tailored to enlighten the people of Kupwara with the intricacies of the Right to Information Act, presented in their local language and dialects. The event successfully bridged both offline and online participation, addressing queries on the spot and offering applicants practical solutions. During this informative event, a comprehensive discussion unfolded, focusing on various facets of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Special attention was given to sub-section j of section 8 of the Central RTI Act 2005, which pertains to personal information and its potential misuse by Public Authorities. The event took place at Batargam, Kupwara, at the behest of Ak...

By Rajiv Shah  A new report , “The Junk Push: Rising Consumption of Ultra-processed foods in India- Policy, Politics and Reality”, public health experts, consumers groups, lawyers, youth and patient groups, has called upon the Government of India to check the soaring consumption of High Fat Sugar or Salt (HFSS) foods or ultra-processed foods (UPF), popularly called junk food.

By Bharat Dogra*  It is not too long ago that a prolonged farmers’ movement in India to resist three new laws aimed at increasing corporate control over Indian farming had captured the imagination of the country. The widespread support and sympathy for this movement eventually led to the three controversial farm laws being scrapped by the government, a move that was appreciated.

By Harsh Thakor  State of Israel has boundlessly continued to rip the flesh of the Palestinian people, to champion Zionism. Nevertheless, Palestinians led by the National Liberation Movement with relentless or death defying courage are retaliating the Israeli might, like a phoenix rising from the ashes or cornered tigers .A protracted battle is simmering. During September the blood thirsty State of Israel has mercilessly hounded the Palestinian people. Only during the month of September at least 84 abductions by the Israel Defence Forces [IDF] occurred. These abductions took place in all the Palestinian territory, including Jenin, Ramallah, Gaza and Jerusalem, among others. In one of the biggest operations, the IDF abducted 17 people, including two teenagers among them. In others abduction attacks occurred with rubbed bullets, tear gas and hand grenades fired by Israeli forces at those who resisted their intrusion. On 1st of September the Israeli forces attacked the weekly March ...

ActionAid note on drive to empower informal sector workers Odisha with the support of District Labour Department: *** The Odisha Unorganised Workers Social Security Board (OUWSSB) facilitated an Unorganized Workers Awareness Camp at the Red Cross Bhawan in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The event took place in collaboration with the District Labour Department at Khordha, Centre for Child and Women Development and ActionAid Association. This informative event aimed at empowering informal sector workers by disseminating crucial information regarding their eligibility for various social security schemes provided by the Government of Odisha. The Unorganized Workers Awareness Camp was a significant step towards educating and engaging with the local community, particularly informal workers, about the recent expansion of eligibility for social security benefits. During this event, District Labour Department in Odisha shared with the over 150 members of the local community about approximately 50 differe...

By Busani Bafana*  Mango farmer Eufria Nyadome used to earn $60 from selling a 20-litre bucket of fresh mangoes and now can barely make $20 even though her mango trees are giving a good yield. She is throwing away buckets of rotten mangoes. Nyadome, from Mhondiwa Village in Ward 9 Murehwa District of Zimbabwe, has lost her income to an invasive Oriental fruit fly all the way from Asia. The fruit fly is classified as an invasive alien species, flagged by scientists as one of the leading causes of biodiversity loss around the world. Invasive alien species could be plants, animals, or microorganisms that are introduced intentionally or unintentionally into areas where they are not native. The Oriental fruit fly is one of the 3,500 harmful invasive alien species that a new report by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services ( IPBES ) finds are seriously threatening nature, nature’s contributions to people, and good quality of life. According to the Assessmen...

By A Representative  The Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA) Rajasthan chapter, in a letter to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, endorsed by more than 70 organisations and networks, has demanded framing and notification of rules to the Rajasthan Right to Health Act 2022, wondering why the law has not yet begun being implemented.

By Sanjeev Kumar*  Recently, the Dalit Adivasi Shakti Adhikar Manch (DASAM) organized a Training of Trainers (ToT) Workshop for sewer workers and waste pickers from all across Delhi NCR. The workshop focused on bringing sanitation workers from different parts of Delhi to train them for organization building and to discuss their issues of minimum wage, contractual labour, regular jobs and social security.

By Shamsul Islam* Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, true to his training at RSS ‘boudhik shivirs’ (ideological training camps), has said that the “Bajrang Dal is not associated in any way with the Bharatiya Janata Party or the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.”

By A Representative  In a surprise move, the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), claiming to represent Muslim diaspora, said, it "supports" the US Department of State in urging India to cooperate with “ a full and open investigation ” into Indian government agents’ alleged assassination of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar on the Canadian soil.