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‘Help!’ says Maharashtra CM to Modi

Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan wants the Centre to resolve the State’s load-shedding and power crisis, writes to Modi requesting help.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

Yesterday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had roundly criticised PM Narendra Modi and his Government for not fulfilling their ‘achche din aanewale hain’ promise. Today, Chavan wrote to Modi asking his help in involving all States to solve rising load-shedding problems.

In a letter dashed off to the PMO today, Chavan expressed his concerns over private power generators expressing inability to continue with their operations, in lieu of disputes arising out of fuel unavailability. The letter was sent a day after Mumbai, the country’s financial capital, experienced unprecedented hours of near-total blackout in the business and tony residential neighbourhoods for a few hours.

In the letter, Chavan has urged Modi to look for a solution to the problem of load-shedding in at least five affected States, of which Maharashtra is one.

See the letter reproduced below:

‘DGIPR/ CMO

September 3, 2014

Respected Prime Minister,

As you are aware, competitive bids had been invited for supply of power by involving the Private Sector in electricity generation. However, since the bids were finalised, there have arisen very serious issues regarding fuel availability. Legal challenges have emerged due to change in laws that have lead to disputes arising out of the Power Purchase Agreement that were executed. As a result of these disputes, Private Generators have expressed inability to continue with the operation. This has led to large scale load shedding across the State. Due to the ongoing Ganpati Festival in Maharashtra, the problem has become more acute.

The State Government has been engaging with the Private Power Producers for almost two years to find a solution. To resolve this crisis, I have also held a meeting with Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon.MoS (Power), Govt. of India, in the presence of Shri Sharad Pawar, MP on 30th August, 2014 in Mumbai. During the meeting, it was felt that in view of the magnitude of the problem and its national ramification, the matter needs to be resolved at the highest level. The fact that this problem is being faced by at least five States calls for a larger consultation and involvement of the Govt. of India to resolve the issue.

I earnestly request that you may please call a meeting of Chief Ministers of the concerned States so that an early solution could be found.

 

Sd-

Prithviraj Chavan,

Chief Minister, Maharashtra.’

(Picture courtesy www.facenfacts.com)

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“I was misquoted by the newspaper”: Abu Azmi

“The question of asking for punishment for rape victims does not arise,” SP leader says, blaming ‘misquote’ in Mid Day.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

The furore over Samajwadi Party’s (SP) Maharashtra head Abu Azmi simply refuses to die down. A few days after the party and most notably, his son Farhan (contesting the Lok Sabha seat from Mumbai North Central) and daughter-in-law Ayesha Takia, were left embarrassed by Azmi’s controversial statements on women having consensual sex before marriage and that rape victims should be punished, the leader today tried to clear the air over the issue in a press conference in Mumbai.

“I didn’t say what I was quoted as saying in the Mid Day newspaper,” Azmi said, referring to the story that first appeared in the city tabloid. “The question of me or anyone else asking for punishment for rape victims does not arise…I regret [how my statement was twisted]. If a rape victim were to be punished [along with the rapist], it would be an act for the lowest of the low,” he said.

Explaining what he had actually said, Azmi added, “If the reporter (from Mid Day) chose to twist my words and print them, it is unfortunate. In fact, I was asked a question by another reporter, about Islam punishing sex before marriage for both men and women. To this, I had replied that yes, Islam did punish it and hence, it would be wrong to ask for severe punishment for a rapist in every such allegation. I said that if a woman has consensual sex and then resorts to blackmail and alleges rape, it may lead to a man being hanged.” He then added, “I did say that Islam punishes all rapists with death. But I also explained that such cases should be treated with caution, so that all parties receive justice. I had been speaking to the Mid Day reporter over the phone, and I did not know that the conversation was being recorded. What I had said off the record was also published as is, which is a wrong practice.”

Azmi further said that because of the news, his supporters and admirers had been “very hurt”. At the conference, he also read out the entire transcript of the conversation he had had with the Mid Day reporter, stressing that not once had he mentioned anything about punishing a rape victim.

What are your thoughts on Abu Azmi’s statements and his rebuttal? Let us know in the comments section below.

(Picture courtesy www.dnaindia.com)

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Mumbai #1 destination for sex trafficking: Report

High migration rates and high demand for affordable sex services make Mumbai a lucrative city for child and women trafficking.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

It is a grim reality that, curiously enough, is still not receiving the kind of immediate attention it deserves. The plague of child and women trafficking continues unabated – every day, more women and young girls are being trafficked and forced into the flesh trade. Most of these victims land up in Mumbai.

As per a report released recently by Dasra, in association with The Hummingbird Trust, Omnidyar Network and Kamonohashi Project, and titled ‘Zero Traffick: Eliminating sex trafficking in India’, “According to Government data, 74 per cent of Indian States have a high concentration of women engaged in the sex trade…The geographical position of West Bengal, coupled with having some of the poorest districts in India, has made it a prime source area for CSE (Commercial Sexual Exploitation) victims. According to experts, Mumbai in Maharashtra is the most likely destination.”

What the report says

trafficking of womenThe findings for Maharashtra and Mumbai are grim, to say the least. The reasons for the most numbers of trafficked girls and women to reach Mumbai are many, of which two are the most common – some are sent by families with ‘trusted’ friends and associates to look for jobs in the cities, while others are knowingly sold off. Dire financial straits and high unemployment are often contributing factors.

The Report cites a primary reason – the high concentration of migrants in Mumbai. “Rampant growth in megacities such as Mumbai has seen an influx of migrant workers who have left their homes and families to find work in the cities. This has resulted in a rapid escalation in the demand for cheap sex. Loneliness, coupled with the anonymity of the city, has made paying for sex an attractive option; a majority of migrant workers report that they have indulged.

“Traffickers have met this demand through a massive increase in the number of girls trafficked. This has resulted in a drop in the real wages of sex workers by over 50 per cent – in turn, making sex readily affordable to even the most poorly paid day labourer.

“…Increase in migration, as a consequence of globalisation, coupled with Kamathipura’s (Mumbai’s prime red light area) history since the British Era has contributed to Mumbai being a destination for trafficking. As per a study, Mumbai, along with Goa, is a favoured destination also for paedophile tourists from Europe and USA,” the Report mentions.

It goes on to add that while Kamathipura and Falkland Road are the city’s oldest and largest red light areas, escalating real estate prices in South Mumbai have resulted in newer red light districts being formed in the Northern areas of the city, such as Vashi, Bhiwandi, Jamuna Mansion and Bhandup. Additionally, smaller towns such as Thane, Pune and Sangli in Maharashtra are emerging as satellite districts.”

However, Mumbai also seemingly shows progress when it convictions in trafficking. “Mumbai reported the highest numbers of cases registered under the ITPA (Immoral Trafficking of Persons Act) and out of a survey of 88 cities, accounts for 15 per cent of cases registered under the ITPA. Also, the Ingrated Anti Human Trafficking Units set up in Maharashtra have conducted 478 rescue operations and have so far rescued 2,683 victims and arrested 1,558 traffickers,” the Report says.

Read the entire report here.

 (Pictures courtesy ahmedbashu3.blogspot.com, www.instablogs.com. Images used for representational purpose only)

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‘Blood on call’ to be operational from tomorrow

In case of an emergency, you can call a helpline and get blood delivered to your doorstep within the hour.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

It is a novel attempt, and the country’s first, to have a ‘blood delivery’ service operational. Maharashtra will formally roll out its ambitious ‘Blood On Call’ or the ‘Jeevan Amrut Seva’ emergency blood supply service all over the State from tomorrow, January 7, 2014.

The Government has been testing the service for a year now – the pilot project was launched in Satara and later Sindhudurg, last year. Tomorrow, the State’s Health Department and Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan will inaugurate the service for all of Maharashtra at the State-run JJ Hospital, Byculla. The inauguration will take place at 4 pm.

What’s the service about?

“Too often, people requiring blood of a certain group have to run from pillar to post to get it. If it’s an emergency, every minute counts. With the ‘Blood On Call’ service, people can simply dial the toll-free number, give the details of the blood group and the reason for requiring it, and the blood will be delivered within one hour,” explained State Health Minister Suresh Shetty. The blood will be priced “at pre-decided Government rates” and will be of “good quality”, the Minister assured. Users will need to dial 104 and the required numbers of packets will be delivered in sealed containers in an hour. The call centre for the service is currently based in Pune. However, coordinating centres in 10 major cities in the State will be fully operational in the next four months, Shetty said. For now, existing blood banks in the State are part of the network for this service.

When the coordinating agency sends its representative to the patient, a quick cross-match of blood type is done via a blood test. Once the blood type and specific requirement (for plasma, RBC, platelet or whole blood) is ascertained, the packets will be sold to the patient at a rate of Rs 450 per bag. Transport costs will also have to borne by the patient – Rs 50 for a distance of up to 10 km, and Rs 100 for up to 40 km.

The service will be operational in Mumbai and rest of Maharashtra from January 7, 2014.

(Picture courtesy zetco.pk)

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Understaffed Mumbai Police not able to complete investigations: Survey

But overall, Mumbai residents have faith in the policing systems and most use the police helpline numbers to report crimes.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

All is not lost when it comes to dealing with crime in Mumbai – it seems that while crimes against women and children are on the rise, citizens’ awareness about reporting crimes has also gone up. However, with Mumbaikars not entirely favourably disposed towards the Mumbai Police when it comes to solving crimes, there is a large majority of people in the city that feels insecure about living in Mumbai.

As per a survey commissioned to Hansa Research by city-based citizen empowerment organisation Praja Foundation, 29 per cent of respondents from South Central Mumbai feel unsafe in Mumbai. This region also felt most insecure about the safety of women, senior citizens and children (27 per cent) and travelling from one place to another in the city (30 per cent). The survey included responses from 24,694 households in all of Mumbai.

Mumbai policeState of policing in Mumbai

However, the survey found a large number of respondents having faith in the Mumbai Police’s investigations. “About 70 per cent respondents said they were satisfied with police’s response to reported crimes,” the survey reads. “Overall, 11 per cent respondents did not report a crime because they did not have faith in the police.”

Higher rates of reporting crimes – whether witnessed or personally experienced – have revealed a grim picture: there has been a sharp increase in the numbers of rapes and molestations in Mumbai, over the past two years. “In the last two years, 2011-2012 and 2012-21013, rapes have gone up by 57 per cent (294 cases) and molestation cases have gone up by 43 per cent (793 cases),” the survey says. Correspondingly, the conviction rate has gone down to 7 per cent in 2012 from 10 per cent in 2011.

The lack of investigations is not merely down to lack of intent, however – the Mumbai Police force continues to be understaffed and overworked, thus hampering quality of investigation. “As of July 2013, Mumbai Police has a strength of 35,761 officers out of the sanctioned 41,398. The police control room is short by 140 officers. The resultant gap [in manpower] severely affects not only the quality of investigations but also causes delay in completing investigation,” the survey finds.

For the entire survey and past white papers from Praja, visit www.praja.org.

(Pictures courtesy www.thehindu.com, www.outlookindia.com)

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Bigger fleet taxis on Mumbai’s roads soon?

State Government okays the re-granting of 7,844 cancelled taxi permits for bigger fleet cabs in Mumbai Metropolitan Region and outside.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

We are currently counting down to General Elections 2014, and if ruling parties want to make a difference to their fortunes, the time is now. The Congress-NCP Government in Maharashtra is taking a step in this direction by tackling two problems at once – the problem of congestion on the city’s roads, and that of cabs having a carrying capacity of just four passengers.

Today, the State Government decided to reissue 7,844 of the taxi permits it cancelled for phone fleet taxis. From last year, the Government had cancelled 19,687 permits in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and nearby areas. However, the Government has recently been mulling the idea of radio cab operators adding vehicles that have a passenger carrying capacity of five or six passengers, plus a driver. The need for a larger vehicle has long been felt, it feels, with some families having to hire two cabs when going out because of the present low carrying capacity of taxis. Hence, by hiring one vehicle instead of two, the congestion on the city’s roads may be reduced.

There is already a draft notification in place that proposes that the operator of a radio cab service ensures that at least 10 per cent of its cabs have a seating capacity of five or six passengers, plus the driver. Today, the Government also emphasised that the operator must have at least 1,000 permits in the MMR. As on October 2010, the Government had decided to grant at least 4,000 licenses to phone fleet taxis. By amending the rules, the Government is also looking to restrict the number of permits given to a single operator so that more operators can put their vehicles on the road and prevent any one company from monopolising the market.

However, there is no clarity on how much a ride in a fleet taxi will cost.

(Picture courtesy www.thehindubusinessline.com)

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