Human traffickers are exploiting the devastation in Nepal caused by the massive earthquake by luring girls and women in to sex trade. As Nepal is trying to revive from the nation’s biggest disaster, thousands of poor girls and women have become vulnerable to human trafficking.

Anti-trafficker said that there is a need for greater attention to protect girls and women as many people in Nepal are still without shelter and possession. There are fears that human traffickers will target the camps for the displaced by the earthquake, which caused nearly 8000 deaths

Women and girls have long been targeted in the Himalayan region and the UN estimates that around 15000 girls are trafficked abroad, mainly to India and South Korea.

A brothel manager said that there is a huge demand for girls from Nepal in the brothels of Mumbai, and it’s because they are fair-skinned and not dark like Indians. One-quarter of Mumbai’s 70,000 prostitutes are from Nepal.

Paris/London, May 21 (PTI) India has the lowest income inequality among all emerging economies, but it is much higher than most of the advanced economies, OECD said today.

The countries with higher income gap than India include Russia, China, Brazil, Indonesia and South Africa — which have recorded the highest income inequality among all developed and emerging economies studied by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Paris-based OECD, a grouping of the world’s 34 major economies, said the rich-poor gap in most advanced economies has risen to highest levels in past three decades, while it continues to remain much higher in many emerging economies.

Among both developed and emerging countries, the gap was found to be highest in South Africa and lowest in Denmark.

India had the lowest income gap, of the nine emerging economies studied by OECD, followed by Russia, Indonesia, Argentina, China, Latvia, Brazil, Columbia and South Africa.

For OECD countries, the income gap was highest in Chile, Mexico, Turkey, the US and Israel. The countries with lowest inequality are Denmark, Slovenia, Slovak Republic and Norway.

Talking about India, OECD said that the direct job creation schemes can serve as a useful back stop to ensure that the long-term unemployed and other disadvantaged groups maintain a contact with the labour market.

“India has one of the largest public works programme in the world in terms of coverage ? the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGA) ? which plays an important role in reducing short-term poverty and smooth employment and income throughout the year for rural labourers.

“The programme however remains little used, mainly in poorer states because of lack of funding and weak implementation capacity,” it added.

OECD said that the richest 10 per cent of OECD population now earn 9.6 times the income of the poorest 10 per cent. This ratio was seven-times in 1980s and nine-times in 2000s.

As per the study, wealth is now even more concentrated at the top level, exacerbating the overall disadvantage of low-income households.

In 2012, the bottom 40 per cent owned only 3 per cent of total household wealth. In contrast, the top 10 per cent controlled half of all total household wealth and the wealthiest 1 per cent owned 18 per cent.

“We have reached a tipping point. Inequality in OECD countries is at its highest since records began,” OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria said.

“The evidence shows that high inequality is bad for growth. The case for policy action is as much economic as social. By not addressing inequality, governments are cutting into the social fabric of their countries and hurting their long-term economic growth,” he added.

It also called for more steps to reduce the gender gap.

“If the proportion of households with working women had remained at levels of 20 to 25 years ago, income inequality would have increased (further)…” it said.

New Delhi, May 21 (PTI) The Delhi High Court today stayed the trial court proceedings against MNS chief Raj Thackeray in various cases lodged against him for allegedly making anti-Bihari remarks in 2008.

“The proceedings before the trial court are stayed,” a bench of Justice Sunil Gaur said, adding that “it seems” none of the complainants, on whose complaints trial court had summoned Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Thackeray, are serious about pursuing the matter.

It also observed that none appeared in the case listed before this court.

Earlier, the court on February 12 had issued notice to the respondents– eight persons who have filed separate complaints against Thackeray, and had sought their reply on the plea of the MNS chief.

Thackeray has moved the High Court seeking stay on the proceedings before a trial court and quashing of the criminal complaints against him for allegedly making inflammatory remarks.

Senior advocate Arvind Nigam, appearing for Thackeray, contended before the court that in absence of the sanction the proceedings before the trial court is unwarranted.

Earlier on January 30, 2013, the court had stayed execution of the non-bailable warrants (NBWs) and tagged the matter with several other similar petitions moved by the MNS chief. All these matters will now come up for hearing on October 12.

As per Thackeray’s plea, complaints were filed against him in various places including Delhi, Jharkhand and Bihar in 2008 under sections 153A (promoting enmity between classes), 153B (assertions prejudicial to national integration), 295A (maliciously insulting religion of any class), 500(defamation) and 504 (insult intended to provoke breach of peace) of IPC.

London, May 21 (PTI)?The UK Foreign Office is looking into the mysterious disappearance of a British-Indian hotelier who went missing while on a business trip to Punjab.

Ranjit Singh Power’s family in Britain fears he may have been kidnapped after he uncharacteristically failed to stay in contact with them and did not catch his return flight from Amritsar on May 14.

The 54-year-old owns the four-star Ramada Park Hall Hotel in Wolverhampton, in the West Midlands region of England, and is in the habit of ringing his family every day.

But this time, he last spoke to his partner, Angela Bir, on May 7 when he landed in India.

“We are getting more and more distraught. Our fears are he may have been kidnapped or even worse,” his daughter Emma told the ‘Express & Star’ newspaper.

“Father would contact England two or three times a day if not more. We have not heard from him at all. He is very careful and has always been aware of his security,” the 26-year-old said.

Power, who grew up in the West Midlands,?has now been placed on the West Midlands Police’s Missing Persons list as the Foreign Office joins the investigation.

“A British national was reported missing in India on May 14. We are providing consular assistance to the family and liaising closely with local authorities,” a spokesperson said.

A West Midlands Police spokesperson confirmed Power is on the Missing Persons list and urged anyone with information to call 101.

Power, a wealthy businessman, bought the Ramada Park Hall Hotel out of administration four years ago from its previous owners. He previously owned the Connaught Hotel in Wolverhampton before selling it in 2004.

With one year complete of Modi Government the “Acche din Ayange” slogan yet remains to be a dream. The rural people opened bank accounts in huge numbers hoping that the Government would give them money as promised but a year gone by not a single penny has entered their accounts.
The suicide of poor farmers has not reduced in fact increased. The land bill to be passed by the Govt has been a big fiasco as it is blamed that it is completely in the favour of rich industrialist.

Modi in his latest foreign tour to all the countries has insulted India and Indians giving an impression that he carries a magic wand to wipe out the mess created by the past governments. Whatever India is today as it stands is a known fact is because of the previous governments.

All necessary commodities has seen a sharp rise of price, making the common the man difficult to manage his/ her household.

The business sector might look healthy but the businessmen have still crossed their fingers to see where it leads. Corruption to a certain extent has been controlled but petty bribes the police and government departments still exists.

The health sector has not witnessed any change and medical treatment for the common man seems to out of reach with expensive hospitals and nursing homes mushrooming all over India.

The education sector has not seen any developments with the education minister always being trapped in controversies with very less development. Her time seems to spent on protecting her statements on the media which she does so tactically.

The arrogance and attitude of the ministers are all out the media with violating rules to say that it is not applicable to V VIPs. The attitude shown during interviews of ministers exhibits their boisterous behavior.

Govind Ghimire
Editor

Bhubaneswar, May 21 (PTI) With the IMD forecasting heat wave-like situation across Odisha for a week, the state Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) today put all the district collectors on alert and asked them to monitor the situation on a daily basis.

“The SRC in urgent letters to all the 30 district collectors has asked to ensure that the existing guidelines to beat heat are followed sincerely,” Deputy SRC Pravat Ranjan Mohapatra said.

As per the instruction given to the district collectors, the SRC has asked them to ensure that no labourer is subjected to any kind of hard work between 11 am to 3.30 pm during the scorching heat.

The SRC also reminded the district collectors that all arrangements need to be readied in hospitals to treat heat wave affected. Besides, the SRC also told the district administration to ensure that the passenger buses plying during the day time need to carry drinking water.

“This apart, the SRC has also said in the letters that the district administration will ensure repair of all defunct tubewells and ensure smooth supply of drinking water through pipelines,” Mohapatra, said adding that charitable water distribution centres need to be opened in all the urban pockets.

Meanwhile, the IMD reiterated its forecast and issued a fresh release saying that heat wave conditions may prevail over some parts of interior Odisha and north coastal areas of the stare in the next 48 hours.

“The high temperature and heat wave conditions are due to dry and hot winds from north-west parts of India towards Odisha coast in addition to clear sky conditions here,” said Sarat Chandra Sahu, the Director of IMD, Bhubaneswar.

Cyclonic circulation over east-central Bay of Bengal and subsequent formation of low pressure there in 48 hours favoured the continuation of flow of dry and hot north-westerly winds through the Odisha coast, Sahu pointed out.

Meanwhile, normal life continued to remain affected as mercury level rose across the state. While two places of the state recorded 44 degrees Celsius yesterday, a total of 12 places experienced temperature above 40 degrees Celsius.

Patna, May 16 (PTI) Over 10,000 Home Guard personnel courted arrest across Bihar today as their indefinite strike continued for the seventh day, while the state government acted tough by registering an FIR against those who had blocked the bridge over the Ganga leading to the death of two patients.

Vaishali Superintendent of Police (SP) Chandrika Prasad said, “We have lodged an FIR at the Ganga Bridge police station against 150 Home Guards in connection with the blockade of Mahatma Gandhi Setu yesterday.”

Seventeen of the accused have been named while the rest are unnamed. The police said no family member of the patients, who died in yesterday’s ‘chakka jam’ while on their way to hospital, has come forward so far to lodge a complaint.

In today’s ‘jail bharo’ agitation the home guards on strike squatted on the main thoroughfares in district headquarters, blocking vehicular movement. In Patna over 3,000 of them demonstrated at R-Block roundabout before 450 of them courted arrest. In rest of the districts the number of those who courted arrest varied between 150 and 550.

The agitators in several districts marched on the roads and raised slogans regarding fulfilment of their demands including post-service benefits, a hike in their daily allowances and retirement age.

Home Guard Director General (DG) P N Rai said, “Altogether 10,213 Home Guards courted arrest across the state today as part of their on going strike. So far they have not approached us for talks.”

Rai added that additional men from various forces like Bihar Military Police, District Armed Police and Special Auxiliary Police have been roped in to discharge duties in place of the Home Guard personnel. .

Mumbai, May 21 (PTI) The US dollar ended cheaper against the rupee at 63.64/65 per dollar but the pound sterling finished higher at Rs 99.76/78 per pound at the close of the Interbank Foreign Exchange market today.

Following are the Interbank Forex and RBI rates:

(In Rs Per Unit) Unit Interbank RBI Reference US Dollar 63.64/65 US Dollar Rs. 63.7000 Pound Sterling 99.76/78 Euro Rs. 70.6688 Euro 70.93/95 Japanese Yen(100) 52.

New Delhi, May 21 (PTI) Amid a row over hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s plea for passport, the Union Home Ministry today said the request will be processed on “merit” as the travel document is the “right of every Indian citizen”.

Sources said the Ministries of Home Affairs and External Affairs will take a decision on the issue in consultation with the Jammu and Kashmir only after Geelani visits the nearest passport office for biometrics.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, meanwhile, said Geelani will have to write ‘Indian’ in the nationality column to apply for the passport.

“Passport is the right of every Indian citizen and is issued by the Ministry of External Affairs after following due process. In case any applicant applies for the passport, he should fulfill all the formalities before his case is processed. As and when the matter is referred to the Ministry of Home Affairs, we will process the case on merit,” a Home Ministry spokesperson said.

Jammu and Kashmir’s ruling coalition partners PDP and BJP are sharply divided over the Geelani passport issue.

PDP has said it would approach the Centre for giving passport to Geelani on “humanitarian” grounds while BJP has said he should not be given the travel document till he “apologises” for his anti-national activities.

Sources said Geelani and his family members want to travel to Jeddah and have applied for passports online.

But he has not yet visited the regional passport office in Srinagar to give his biometric data and clicking the photograph. As per the new rules, an applicant must visit the passport office in person to give biometric details and click the photograph.

Sources said after Geelani visits the passport office to complete the formalities, his application will be sent to the Ministries of Home and External Affairs for their comments as he falls in ‘prior security clearance’ category for issuing of a passport.

The Ministries, then, in consultation with the Jammu and Kashmir government, would take a final decision on granting the passport to him. .

Mumbai, May 21 (PTI) In a case smacking of religious discrimination, a young MBA graduate was declined employment in a diamond export company for being a Muslim, prompting the National Commission for Minorities to seek an explanation from the business house.

The alleged incident also drew criticism from the Centre’s BJP-led government, which said religious discrimination cannot be allowed.

Management graduate Zeshan Ali Khan had applied for an opening in the company on May 19 and, according to him, he received a response within 15 minutes which said they hired only non-Muslim candidates.

“Thanks for your application. We regret to inform you that we hire only non-Muslim candidates,” the company said in response to his application.

“I was looking for a job, I came to know about a recruitment drive taking place at Hare Krishna Exports Pvt LTD, one of the leading exports houses of the country. I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to start my career with them.

“I applied for a job day before yesterday in the evening at 5:45 PM and within 15 minutes I get a reply from them that we regret to inform you, we don’t hire Muslims. We only hire non-Muslim candidates. I was quite shocked when I read about this, I took a screen shot of it and posted it on Facebook,” he said.

“At a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting foreign countries and inviting them for investment and pushing ahead the ‘Make in India’ campaign, the leading export houses are rejecting candidates for their religion,” he said.

Even as his social media posts triggered an outrage against the company, it sent a regret mail to Khan, blaming a trainee in its HR team with no decision-making powers for the “blunder”.

“It was a blunder and personal mess created by one of our trainees who has no decision making power. We have 61 employees in our office here including one Muslim in the HR team,” Hari Krishna Exports Private Ltd said in the mail.

NCM chairperson Naseem Ahmed said, “We just received a petition this morning and as per our set procedure we will call for the comments of the respondent company and based on their response we will decide our course of action.

“If there is any truth in this, it is unfortunate. An inquiry should be conducted,” he said.

Reacting to the controversy, Minister of state for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, “A person’s caste, region or religion cannot be a demerit.

“Discrimination on the basis of religion is neither allowed by our system nor the Constitution. If there has been case in which he (Zeeshan) was denied or fired from the job only on the basis of his religion, then I feel its not right,” Naqvi said.

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