A 90-year-old freedom fighter from Bihar has been on dharna in New Delhi for the past four years demanding her pension.
Gayatri Devi has been forced to live on the streets of Delhi because the government has withdrawn her freedom fighter's pension.
"I have been on dharna for four years, without little food or water. I have no one. I have been suffering for four years here on the street," the 90-year-old says crying with her hands folded.
Gayatri Devi says she was getting money from the government under the 'Samman' pension scheme for freedom fighters from 1997.
"I have these documents to prove I was a freedom fighter. But in 2002 suddenly my pension stopped. I was told that my name appeared in a list of fake freedom fighters. But these allegations are totally false," she says.
CNN-IBN filed an RTI with the Union Home Ministry and found that Gayatri Devi had submitted document declaring her wanted by the then British government which made her eligible for a freedom fighter's pension.
Based on the documents a special team in charge of sanctioning pensions granted Gayatri Devi her due after investigating the case.
She got pension from 1997. But in 2002 because of a media report about some fake freedom fighters, Gayatri Devi's case got caught in a web of red tape. She was declared a fraud and her pension was stopped.
"My health is failing. I have heart problems and high blood pressure. But I don't have the money to get any tests done," she pleads.
"The administration calls me a liar. They say go home old woman. Where is this home they are asking me to go?" she asks the country for whose freedom she fought.
When CNN-IBN first found Gayatri Devi, she was wandering in the emergency ward of RML Hospital in Delhi. She had been brought in complaining of chest pain and breathlessness.
She has been fighting her lonely battle from Jantar Mantar for the past four years. CNN-IBN filed an RTI on her behalf, and now plans to take it to the Bihar State Government, so that she can finally have her case re-investigated.
But meanwhile, Gayatri Devi's health is failing and she needs medical attention. So, if there are any organisations that are able to offer her help, please contact at editor@ibnlive.com.
Saturday 9 January 2010
Wednesday 6 January 2010
Bank of the kids, by the kids
An unique bank run by children and for the children in Bihar allows poor children to save money and gives them soft loans to start small enterprises.
Ashna become a saviour of her family after her father suffered from spinal cord disease and his shop was on verge of closure after the children's bank, Bal Vikas Khajana, came to her help
The 16-year-old Ashna managed to get a soft loan of Rs 2,500 on her own credential and her father's shop is now up and running.
Ashna got the loan from the children's bank being run in Muzzafarpur district of Bihar.
"Our shop had shut down and I could do noting to save it. I decided to reopen the shop by taking a loan from Bal Vikas Khajana. My father can now make tazias," says Ashna.
Bal Vikas Khajana is a small cooperative bank, which is run by children for children.
The bank lends soft loans for starting small enterprise to child labourers, rag pickers or those working in factories
"We give loan and advance loan. We give two types of loans. One is for welfare and the other is for development," says Bal Vikas Khajana Branch Manager Mohammad Karim.
"Whatever money I earn a part of it goes to my mother and the rest is deposited in the bank," says rag picker Mushkan.
The smile and confidence on the faces of the children assures that the tribe of kid depositors would surely grow by leaps and bounds.link
Ashna become a saviour of her family after her father suffered from spinal cord disease and his shop was on verge of closure after the children's bank, Bal Vikas Khajana, came to her help
The 16-year-old Ashna managed to get a soft loan of Rs 2,500 on her own credential and her father's shop is now up and running.
Ashna got the loan from the children's bank being run in Muzzafarpur district of Bihar.
"Our shop had shut down and I could do noting to save it. I decided to reopen the shop by taking a loan from Bal Vikas Khajana. My father can now make tazias," says Ashna.
Bal Vikas Khajana is a small cooperative bank, which is run by children for children.
The bank lends soft loans for starting small enterprise to child labourers, rag pickers or those working in factories
"We give loan and advance loan. We give two types of loans. One is for welfare and the other is for development," says Bal Vikas Khajana Branch Manager Mohammad Karim.
"Whatever money I earn a part of it goes to my mother and the rest is deposited in the bank," says rag picker Mushkan.
The smile and confidence on the faces of the children assures that the tribe of kid depositors would surely grow by leaps and bounds.link
Monday 4 January 2010
Special package for the science and technology sector in Bihar
Prime minister Manmohan Singh today said that the government was considering revising the value of several government fellowships for scientists.
“The government is considering revision of the value of doctoral and post-doctoral fellowships, as well as formulation of new schemes that would cover all research scholars with some funding support,” he said inaugurating the 97th Indian Science Congress.
Singh also said that the government was planning a special package for the science and technology sector in Bihar and other such regions as part of its efforts to bridge asymmetries in development.
The prime minister said National Science and Engineering Research Board will start functioning before March. The Board is part of a government initiative to de-bureaucratise research, and hand over the task of funding research to an independent panel of eminent scientists.
Noting that under-representation of women was causing imbalance in the scientific resource pool, Singh asked science administrators to redouble efforts to attract talented young women to take up careers in science.
He announced a new scheme now available for women’s universities named Consolidation of University Research, Innovation and Excellence (Curie). This scheme provides financial help for complete upgrading of facilities in these universities, he said.
“The government is considering revision of the value of doctoral and post-doctoral fellowships, as well as formulation of new schemes that would cover all research scholars with some funding support,” he said inaugurating the 97th Indian Science Congress.
Singh also said that the government was planning a special package for the science and technology sector in Bihar and other such regions as part of its efforts to bridge asymmetries in development.
The prime minister said National Science and Engineering Research Board will start functioning before March. The Board is part of a government initiative to de-bureaucratise research, and hand over the task of funding research to an independent panel of eminent scientists.
Noting that under-representation of women was causing imbalance in the scientific resource pool, Singh asked science administrators to redouble efforts to attract talented young women to take up careers in science.
He announced a new scheme now available for women’s universities named Consolidation of University Research, Innovation and Excellence (Curie). This scheme provides financial help for complete upgrading of facilities in these universities, he said.
Bihar set exmaple for other
This is much more than the national average of 8.49%, making it the second fastest-growing state in the country. It has, of course, benefited from a low base effect since the state has long been a growth laggard, but governments before Mr Kumar had been unable to accelerate economic growth.
The output growth is a consequence of the restoration of normalcy. Kidnappings for ransom are no longer creating headlines, teachers have returned to schools and colleges, and doctors and nurses to primary health centres.
Villages and towns are being connected by a vast network of roads. Institutions are seeing a revival. Among Mr Kumar’s biggest achievements is the move to empower women—an experiment now being replicated in other states. Soon after assuming power, the state government decided to reserve 50% of the seats in panchayats and urban local bodies for women. The decision was hailed as a “revolutionary” step aimed at involving women in the decision-making process and giving them a voice in the political system.
The affable, soft-spoken chief minister has also made concerted efforts to improve education, health and infrastructure. In educational, the emphasis has been on persuading children to go to school. He kicked off two ambitious projects—Mukhyamantri Poshak Yojana and Mukhyamantri Cycle Yojana—to convince parents to send their daughters to school. All girl students above Class VIII were given free uniforms and a bicycle each. “The result has been remarkable. The drop-out rate among high school girl students has come down dramatically from 25 lakh to 10 lakh. So successful has the programme been that it’s now being extended to boys,” the Bihar CM pointed out.
The government simultaneously recruited 1 lakh teachers to attain a teacher-student ratio of 1:40, or one teacher for every 40 students. Schools in villages , which had become dilapidated because of the years of neglect, have been re-built and renovated.
In a state where poverty levels are still high, the health sector had taken a severe knock in the past few decades. Primary health centres (PHC) had been rendered non-functional , and doctors had stopped visiting them. The government has now appointed 25,000 doctors on contract, and a scheme has been launched to provide 102 free medicines to patients. The sector has, because of these measures, seen an impressive revival. Studies conducted in the state have shown that while, previously, only 39 patients visited a PHC every month on an average, the figure has shot up to 4,500 every month. Again, because of a series of incentives offered by the state administration, institutional deliveries, which were only 45,000 in 2005-06 , had gone up to 3.12 lakh by July this year.
Aware that no meaningful development can take place if the infrastructure is below par, the state government embarked on an ambitious mission to improve it. Thus, while just 318 km of roads were built in 2004-05 , 2,418 km of roads were constructed in 2008-09 . And while only 316 bridges could be constructed between 1975 and 2005, some 400 bridges have been built since this government came to power.link
The output growth is a consequence of the restoration of normalcy. Kidnappings for ransom are no longer creating headlines, teachers have returned to schools and colleges, and doctors and nurses to primary health centres.
Villages and towns are being connected by a vast network of roads. Institutions are seeing a revival. Among Mr Kumar’s biggest achievements is the move to empower women—an experiment now being replicated in other states. Soon after assuming power, the state government decided to reserve 50% of the seats in panchayats and urban local bodies for women. The decision was hailed as a “revolutionary” step aimed at involving women in the decision-making process and giving them a voice in the political system.
The affable, soft-spoken chief minister has also made concerted efforts to improve education, health and infrastructure. In educational, the emphasis has been on persuading children to go to school. He kicked off two ambitious projects—Mukhyamantri Poshak Yojana and Mukhyamantri Cycle Yojana—to convince parents to send their daughters to school. All girl students above Class VIII were given free uniforms and a bicycle each. “The result has been remarkable. The drop-out rate among high school girl students has come down dramatically from 25 lakh to 10 lakh. So successful has the programme been that it’s now being extended to boys,” the Bihar CM pointed out.
The government simultaneously recruited 1 lakh teachers to attain a teacher-student ratio of 1:40, or one teacher for every 40 students. Schools in villages , which had become dilapidated because of the years of neglect, have been re-built and renovated.
In a state where poverty levels are still high, the health sector had taken a severe knock in the past few decades. Primary health centres (PHC) had been rendered non-functional , and doctors had stopped visiting them. The government has now appointed 25,000 doctors on contract, and a scheme has been launched to provide 102 free medicines to patients. The sector has, because of these measures, seen an impressive revival. Studies conducted in the state have shown that while, previously, only 39 patients visited a PHC every month on an average, the figure has shot up to 4,500 every month. Again, because of a series of incentives offered by the state administration, institutional deliveries, which were only 45,000 in 2005-06 , had gone up to 3.12 lakh by July this year.
Aware that no meaningful development can take place if the infrastructure is below par, the state government embarked on an ambitious mission to improve it. Thus, while just 318 km of roads were built in 2004-05 , 2,418 km of roads were constructed in 2008-09 . And while only 316 bridges could be constructed between 1975 and 2005, some 400 bridges have been built since this government came to power.link
Saturday 2 January 2010
High security for Dalai Lama's visit to Bodh Gaya
High security arrangements were put in place for the visit of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama to Bodh Gaya in Bihar where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment.
The Dalai Lama will spend a week in Bodh Gaya, starting Jan 4. He will pray at the Mahabodhi temple, said Tenzing Lama of the Tibetan monastery at Bodh Gaya.
'A fool proof security will be in place for Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama's visit to Bodh Gaya as he faces serious threat to his life,' an official said Sunday.
Tenzing Lama said Dalai Lama will give a five-day programme of teachings at Bodh Gaya from Jan 5-9.
'Over 50,000 people from all over the world are expected to assemble at Bodh Gaya's Kalchakra Maidan to hear a discourse by the Dalai Lama,' he said.
Thousands of Tibetans have already arrived in Bodh Gaya from all across India to attend Dalai Lama's meeting. A local police officer said Bodh Gaya has turned into a mini-Tibet with the huge gathering of Tibetans.
The 1,500-years-old holiest Buddhist shrine Mahabodhi temple at Bodh Gaya, 110 km from here, is where the Buddha attained enlightenment 2,550 years ago.link
The Dalai Lama will spend a week in Bodh Gaya, starting Jan 4. He will pray at the Mahabodhi temple, said Tenzing Lama of the Tibetan monastery at Bodh Gaya.
'A fool proof security will be in place for Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama's visit to Bodh Gaya as he faces serious threat to his life,' an official said Sunday.
Tenzing Lama said Dalai Lama will give a five-day programme of teachings at Bodh Gaya from Jan 5-9.
'Over 50,000 people from all over the world are expected to assemble at Bodh Gaya's Kalchakra Maidan to hear a discourse by the Dalai Lama,' he said.
Thousands of Tibetans have already arrived in Bodh Gaya from all across India to attend Dalai Lama's meeting. A local police officer said Bodh Gaya has turned into a mini-Tibet with the huge gathering of Tibetans.
The 1,500-years-old holiest Buddhist shrine Mahabodhi temple at Bodh Gaya, 110 km from here, is where the Buddha attained enlightenment 2,550 years ago.link
Cold wave, icy winds grip Bihar
A cold wave has gripped Bihar with icy winds sweeping across many parts of the state. Dense fog has also led to several long distance trains running late, officials said Sunday.
Most of the schools were to reopen after winter vacations Monday but the Patna district administration has extended the holidays by two days due to the cold wave.
People in rural areas also faced intense chill due to icy westerly winds blowing across the state.
Muzaffarpur district recorded a minimum temperature of 6 degrees Celsius Sunday morning while it was 7 degrees in Purnea and Kishanganj.
An official at the meteorological department here said Patna district recorded 8.8 degrees Celsius and added that the cold wave would continue in the coming days.
"There will be no respite from the cold wave. The westerlies blowing will keep the weather cold for the next two days at least," the official said.
Heavy fog and poor visibility have also delayed long route trains, officials said.
While most people preferred to stay indoors, the poor were seen huddled around fires to keep themselves warm in the cloudy, foggy weather. link
Most of the schools were to reopen after winter vacations Monday but the Patna district administration has extended the holidays by two days due to the cold wave.
People in rural areas also faced intense chill due to icy westerly winds blowing across the state.
Muzaffarpur district recorded a minimum temperature of 6 degrees Celsius Sunday morning while it was 7 degrees in Purnea and Kishanganj.
An official at the meteorological department here said Patna district recorded 8.8 degrees Celsius and added that the cold wave would continue in the coming days.
"There will be no respite from the cold wave. The westerlies blowing will keep the weather cold for the next two days at least," the official said.
Heavy fog and poor visibility have also delayed long route trains, officials said.
While most people preferred to stay indoors, the poor were seen huddled around fires to keep themselves warm in the cloudy, foggy weather. link
Bihar on high alert after Maoists threat
After receiving intelligence reports that the Maoists are planning to blow up railway installations, security has been tightened in Bihar.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel frisked passengers and checked their luggage with bomb detection devices, and stepped up patrolling of platforms as a part of the drill.
Officials said a high alert was ordered since there was information that some anti-social elements from neighbouring Nepal had sneaked into the city.
"We are searching railway tracks. A high alert has been issued after observing the activities of Maoist rebels. We also received information that some anti-social elements sneaked in the region that is why we tightened the security," said Santosh Kumar, RPF official.link
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel frisked passengers and checked their luggage with bomb detection devices, and stepped up patrolling of platforms as a part of the drill.
Officials said a high alert was ordered since there was information that some anti-social elements from neighbouring Nepal had sneaked into the city.
"We are searching railway tracks. A high alert has been issued after observing the activities of Maoist rebels. We also received information that some anti-social elements sneaked in the region that is why we tightened the security," said Santosh Kumar, RPF official.link
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