24.02.22

Manipur Flag-hoisting Tradition

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With in Manipur being scheduled from 27thFebruary to 3rdMarch, the candidates are holding a unique flag hoisting ceremony in their constituencies before embarking on campaigning to the people of the state. This ritual is unique to Manipur, is practiced by people of all races, Political Parties, religions, and communities.

Generally, on an auspicious date, this ceremony is held in the courtyard of the respective candidates Home. The event consists of a priests prayers, hoisting of the party flag by the candidate, and blessings from the elders of the community. The scale of the ceremony varies from one candidate to the other.

TheAthenpot Thinbais an important aspect of the flag-hoisting ceremony. The Women carry various vegetables and fruits, traditional snacks, rice, and flowers and place them at the base of the flagpole of the party. Other gifts are also presented to the candidate to wish him or her good luck in the polls.

Thinba means to present or drop things, and Athenpot means an offering that contains a variety of objects such as flowers and food.

In religious practice, Athenpot is given to gods to appease them, while in elections it is presented to the candidates to show support.

The candidate can then converse with the audience or give a speech.

Assam CM announces construction of Lachit Samadhi, Alaboi war memorial

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To mark the 400th birth anniversary celebrations of Lachit Borphukan, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced building a Lachit Samadhi this year along with the construction of a war memorial on the Alaboi war.

The CM made this announcement in the Cabinet meeting held on Sunday.

CM Sarma also announced that President Ram Nath Kovind will visit the State on a three-day visit from February 25 to 28. On February 25, the President of India will inaugurate the year-long celebration of 400th birth anniversary of Lachit Borphukan at Srimanta Kalakshetra in Guwahati.

State scheme to fight malnutrition

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To address the issue of Malnutrition among adolescent girls, pregnant and ailing Women, the Odisha government has implemented the Strategy for Odishas Pathway to Accelerated Nutrition (SOPAN) in 125 blocks of 22 districts across the state.

Under the scheme, girls and women will be provided weekly nutrition supplements. Besides, programmes likeKishori Mela, additional spot feeding for pregnant and mothers of newborns will be organised.

Director of ICDS project Arvind Agrawal instructed district collectors to carry out various activities, such as distribution of eggs thrice a week to 15 to 19-year-old girls, under the scheme.

The scheme will be implemented in Angul, Bolangir, Bargarh, Boudh, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Jajapur, Ganjam, Keonjhar, Koraput,Malkangiri,Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Rayagada, Sambalpur, Subarnpur and Sundargarh districts.

Tamil Nadu to recover 5,832 crore from miners

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The Nadu government has informed the Madras High Court that it has decided to recover losses to the tune of 5,832.44 crore from private beach sand mineral exporters, seize all the stocks available with them and constitute a Special Investigation Team to probe illegal mining since 2000-01.

In a counter-affidavit filed before Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy, who were seized of a suo motu PIL taken up in 2015, Industries Secretary S. Krishnan sought the courts nod to seize 1.55 crore tonnes of stocks and hand them over to Indian Rare Earths Limited, a central Psu.

The counter-affidavit pointed out that the government had originally issued 64 beach sand mining licences (52 in Tirunelveli and six each in Thoothukudi and Kanniyakumari districts) to seven miners. However, following complaints of large-scale illegal mining, the government banned the mining as well as the transportation of beach sand Minerals in 2013.

Kerala: Christian Nadars to be included in OBC list

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The state cabinet on Wednesday decided to include the Christian Nadar community, except people belonging to South Indian United Church (SIUC), in theOBClist. This was one of the promises made by theLDFin the last Assembly.

To affect the decision, the government would bring about an amendment in the 1958Keralastate and subordinate service rules 2021. The amendment would come into force with retrospective effect from August 15, 2021.

Though the had included the converted Christians, excluding SIUC, in state OBC list, vide an order on February 6,2021, the High Court had stayed the same following a petition against the order.

Karnataka: Article 25 of Constitution does not cover right to wear hijab, says advocate general

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The government on Tuesday told the that there is no restriction on wearing hijab but it is subject to institutional curbs and discipline.

Countering the petitioner from Udupi district, who challenged the ban on hijab on campuses, Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi said the right to wear the headscarf falls under the category of 19(1)(A) and notArticle 25as has been argued by the petitioners.

The Preamble of theKarnataka Education Actprovides for this with a view to maintain a secular perspective, he said. There is institutional discipline. It may be hospitals, schools, military establishments, he added.

The AG said the right to grow a beard in the military has been negated on the ground that institutional discipline bars exhibition of individual choices.

According to him, under Article 19(1)(a), the right to wear the dress as an exercise of freedom of expression is contradictory as there would be persons who do not wish to wear it as well.

Telangana to prioritise education, health in budget 2022

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With Covid-19 continuing to pose a challenge, the will prioritise Education and Health activities, in the 2022-23 budget, said vicechairman of the state planning board BVinod Kumar.

According to the former Karimangar MP, a new medical college will be built near Mulugu and Kopthagudem districts.
Questioning the rationale behind not considering national status for any Irrigation project in Telangana, he alleged that centre is not cooperating with the state government.

Special chief secretary for finance,Ramakrishna Rao, stated that while the Finance Commission has recommended more transfer of funds to states, the central government is not paying any heed to these suggestions.

Andhra Pradesh govt aims to complete new districts formation by March 10

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The has put the reorganisation of districts on fast track and decided to complete the bifurcation and allocation of employees to the new districts by March 10.
Ahead of finalising boundaries of new districts, the state level committee started taking stock of grievances, complaints and representations received in the districts with district collectors on Wednesday.

The committee held discussions with district collectors V Prasanna Venkatesh (West Godavari), J Nivas (Krishna), Vivek Yadav (Guntur) and Pravin Kumar (Prakasam) who attended the meeting held in Vijayawada.

Goas languages have rich contribution to nation building, says governor P S Sreedharan Pillai

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Goa governorP S SreedharanPillai said that themother tongueis the best language for a person that will help him or her prosper in life.

The local languages of Goa have a rich contribution to nation building and I have been trying to understand them over the past seven months, said Pillai.

The governor on Wednesday, along with spouse Rita, visitedSattaritaluka as part of Pillais Sampurna Goa Yatra programme. He interacted with the sarpanchas and members of the village panchayats of Nagargao, Mauxi and Sanvardem and assured them full assistance in their future endeavours, after the sarpanchas presented a brief report of the development activities taken up in their areas.

Pillai said he has taken up the Sampurna Goa Yatra initiative to understand the village life and life of people from remote areas of the state.

The governor urged Goans to help fulfil the dream of a Golden Goa. He also heaped praises on Goans for their contribution in socio-economic spheres.

Bombay high court on Wednesday upheld the states rule that shops and establishments must display their sign boards in Marathi in Devanagri script saying it is “reasonable.”

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“No other language or script is prohibited or banned. The requirement of display of name in Marathi in Devanagri is reasonable in Maharashtra,” said Gautam Pateland JusticeMadhav Jamdarwhile rejecting a petition by Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association that challenging Rule 35 of Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of EMPLOYMENT and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2018 that the name board of every establishment shall be in Marathi language in Devanagri script.”

The petition said it ultra vires Fundamental Rights including freedom of expression and to carry on trade as it mandates every establishment with more than 10 employees to have a name board in Marathi in Devanagri script.