Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Misery goes on for India child workers
Dear fellow citizen,
Pl. go on and read the news below. Yes, it relates to Faridabad.It is a shocking piece of news from Faridabad.A child labourer being beaten by her Mistress.
What is indeed shocking is that such people are still free & they continue to treat
Small children badly.
Is the Government sleeping?
I think that they have a more active role to play here too.
Misery goes on for India child workers
by Lourdes for everyone
By Renu Agal
BBC News, Delhi
Shanta says she was beaten regularly by her employer
Shanta looks like any other six-year-old, except there is an open wound on her head, her hands are swollen, chapped and grey and she can barely walk.
She is the youngest of the three little girls aged six to 13 years who were rescued last month from Faridabad in the state of Haryana.
Badly beaten and bruised, the girls all worked as domestic helps just a few miles away from India's capital, Delhi.
In October, the government enacted a law banning children under 14 from working as domestic servants, at teashops, food stalls, restaurants, hotels or in the hospitality industry.
Beatings
What has baffled many is the reluctance of local police to prosecute the family that employed the children for violating the new legislation.
I was woken at four in the morning and then I had to wash the clothes, sweep and mop the floor
Shanta, former child labourer
The sentence for breaking the new child labour law carries a prison sentence of up to two years and a fine of up to 20,000 rupees ($450).
Shanta says she had been working with the family for the past year after her brother left her there.
"I used to work in water the whole day. She [the employer] beat me up regularly with a stick for not finishing my work on time. I was woken at four in the morning and then I had to wash the clothes, sweep and mop the floor," she told the BBC.
According to Shanta, she was given rice only twice a day - served on the floor - and was made to sleep in the bathroom.
She said that she never complained about her plight as that would have meant more beatings.
The children's hands are cracked and scarred from hard work
Two other girls, Rita and Sunita, say they were also abused and locked up like Shanta.
They were rescued by a local non-governmental organisation (NGO) after a neighbour watched them being beaten up and informed the police.
The police filed a complaint against the employers but only under the less severe Juvenile Justice Act rather than the tougher new law.
"These girls were trafficked from West Bengal and then they were illegally confined as bonded labour, they were abused and made to work. Still their employers were not booked under the Child Labour Act," said Rishi Kant of the Shakti Vahini NGO which rescued the girls.
Worst fears
The employers have already been given bail.
Thousands of children work in roadside food stalls
Police say they could not have brought a prosecution against Shanta's employers under the Child Labour Act because the girls were being paid for their work.
"The Child Labour Act is applied only when children under 14 are not paid for their work and when they are trafficked, and since this did not happen, this law was not applied to them, says Faridabad police superintendent Mahinder Singh Sheoran.
Experts say the Child Labour Act does not make that distinction. They say that it bans all children under 14 working as domestic labour and in roadside eateries and hotels.
Haryana Labour Minister Birender Singh supports the district administration's stand but following pressure from the local media has now ordered that the employers be charged under the Child Labour Act.
Social activists were largely sceptical about the efficacy of the new law when it was brought into force in October. They say cases like Shanta's confirm their worst fears.
NGOs say that as children continue to work in inhuman conditions, many in the political and administrative establishment continue to remain indifferent to their plight.
Shanta, Rita and Sunita are not the girls' real names.
Pl. go on and read the news below. Yes, it relates to Faridabad.It is a shocking piece of news from Faridabad.A child labourer being beaten by her Mistress.
What is indeed shocking is that such people are still free & they continue to treat
Small children badly.
Is the Government sleeping?
I think that they have a more active role to play here too.
Misery goes on for India child workers
by Lourdes for everyone
By Renu Agal
BBC News, Delhi
Shanta says she was beaten regularly by her employer
Shanta looks like any other six-year-old, except there is an open wound on her head, her hands are swollen, chapped and grey and she can barely walk.
She is the youngest of the three little girls aged six to 13 years who were rescued last month from Faridabad in the state of Haryana.
Badly beaten and bruised, the girls all worked as domestic helps just a few miles away from India's capital, Delhi.
In October, the government enacted a law banning children under 14 from working as domestic servants, at teashops, food stalls, restaurants, hotels or in the hospitality industry.
Beatings
What has baffled many is the reluctance of local police to prosecute the family that employed the children for violating the new legislation.
I was woken at four in the morning and then I had to wash the clothes, sweep and mop the floor
Shanta, former child labourer
The sentence for breaking the new child labour law carries a prison sentence of up to two years and a fine of up to 20,000 rupees ($450).
Shanta says she had been working with the family for the past year after her brother left her there.
"I used to work in water the whole day. She [the employer] beat me up regularly with a stick for not finishing my work on time. I was woken at four in the morning and then I had to wash the clothes, sweep and mop the floor," she told the BBC.
According to Shanta, she was given rice only twice a day - served on the floor - and was made to sleep in the bathroom.
She said that she never complained about her plight as that would have meant more beatings.
The children's hands are cracked and scarred from hard work
Two other girls, Rita and Sunita, say they were also abused and locked up like Shanta.
They were rescued by a local non-governmental organisation (NGO) after a neighbour watched them being beaten up and informed the police.
The police filed a complaint against the employers but only under the less severe Juvenile Justice Act rather than the tougher new law.
"These girls were trafficked from West Bengal and then they were illegally confined as bonded labour, they were abused and made to work. Still their employers were not booked under the Child Labour Act," said Rishi Kant of the Shakti Vahini NGO which rescued the girls.
Worst fears
The employers have already been given bail.
Thousands of children work in roadside food stalls
Police say they could not have brought a prosecution against Shanta's employers under the Child Labour Act because the girls were being paid for their work.
"The Child Labour Act is applied only when children under 14 are not paid for their work and when they are trafficked, and since this did not happen, this law was not applied to them, says Faridabad police superintendent Mahinder Singh Sheoran.
Experts say the Child Labour Act does not make that distinction. They say that it bans all children under 14 working as domestic labour and in roadside eateries and hotels.
Haryana Labour Minister Birender Singh supports the district administration's stand but following pressure from the local media has now ordered that the employers be charged under the Child Labour Act.
Social activists were largely sceptical about the efficacy of the new law when it was brought into force in October. They say cases like Shanta's confirm their worst fears.
NGOs say that as children continue to work in inhuman conditions, many in the political and administrative establishment continue to remain indifferent to their plight.
Shanta, Rita and Sunita are not the girls' real names.
Labels: Child Labour, Faridabad, Government, NGO, slums, society
‘Wear helmet’ drive from Jan 07 in Gurgaon
‘Wear helmet’ drive from Jan in Gurgaon
December 11th, 2006
Gurgaon: At least one person is killed everyday in road accidents in Gurgaon and Faridabad. Alarmed by the rising number of accident deaths this year in Gurgaon (see box), the administration has decided to launch a special drive against drivers and pillion riders for not using helmet, in the first week of January.
Gurgaon inspector general Mahendra Lal said that huge volume of traffic movement on NH-8 and plying of trawlers are the main reasons for road accidents. But, he said, people not wearing helmets are more at risk.
‘‘We agree that most of the deaths occur because the twowheeler riders don’t wear helmets. I don’t understand why riders are averse to spending a small amount on buying helmets just for their safety. People should get used to wearing helmets now,’’ he said.
I s s u i n g warning to offenders in the city, Lal said that one-week special intensive drive against people riding without helmets will be launched in January first week. ‘‘Our cops will take punitive action against them as per the provisions of Motor Vehicle Act (MVA), which makes it mandatory for both the riders to put on helmets. We are in the process of establishing a separate traffic wing in the city and once it’s in place, we will carry on with the special drive. We can’t let people die like this,’’ the IG said.
According to traffic cops, though the provisions of the MVA is applicable all over the country, in Gurgaon only 10 to 20 per cent two-wheeler riders use helmets.
A senior traffic cop said once people will have to pay challans for violating the Act, they will get used to the idea of wearing helmet.
ALARMING STATS
Gurgaon: Death toll stood at 273 in 2005 and by December 4 this year it reached 329. The number of non-fatal injuries touched 648 this year against 500 in last year
Faridabad: 237 people have been killed in 2006 against 161 in 2005. Similarly, the number of non-fatal injuries stands at 589 against 434 of last year
Source:http://epaper.timesofindia.com
December 11th, 2006
Gurgaon: At least one person is killed everyday in road accidents in Gurgaon and Faridabad. Alarmed by the rising number of accident deaths this year in Gurgaon (see box), the administration has decided to launch a special drive against drivers and pillion riders for not using helmet, in the first week of January.
Gurgaon inspector general Mahendra Lal said that huge volume of traffic movement on NH-8 and plying of trawlers are the main reasons for road accidents. But, he said, people not wearing helmets are more at risk.
‘‘We agree that most of the deaths occur because the twowheeler riders don’t wear helmets. I don’t understand why riders are averse to spending a small amount on buying helmets just for their safety. People should get used to wearing helmets now,’’ he said.
I s s u i n g warning to offenders in the city, Lal said that one-week special intensive drive against people riding without helmets will be launched in January first week. ‘‘Our cops will take punitive action against them as per the provisions of Motor Vehicle Act (MVA), which makes it mandatory for both the riders to put on helmets. We are in the process of establishing a separate traffic wing in the city and once it’s in place, we will carry on with the special drive. We can’t let people die like this,’’ the IG said.
According to traffic cops, though the provisions of the MVA is applicable all over the country, in Gurgaon only 10 to 20 per cent two-wheeler riders use helmets.
A senior traffic cop said once people will have to pay challans for violating the Act, they will get used to the idea of wearing helmet.
ALARMING STATS
Gurgaon: Death toll stood at 273 in 2005 and by December 4 this year it reached 329. The number of non-fatal injuries touched 648 this year against 500 in last year
Faridabad: 237 people have been killed in 2006 against 161 in 2005. Similarly, the number of non-fatal injuries stands at 589 against 434 of last year
Source:http://epaper.timesofindia.com
Labels: Faridabad, Gurgaon, Health is real wealth, Municipal Coorporation, roads, Safety, society, Traffic
Chocolate Singer.....Man with sweetest voice!
Chocolate Singer.....Man with sweetest voice!
Born on 30th July, 1973, Faridabad raised by his parents who were singers too. His first performance at four and half years where he sung a Mohammad Rafi song and from then his singing journey began...
Discovered and promoted by the big name in the film industry Gulshan Kumar received fame with his song 'Achha sila diya tune'. He is none other but Sonu Nigam!
Sonu Nigam has been the top most singer today and has all the hit songs till today! His voice plays a magic touching listeners hearts and souls. He has been in this field for a long time and struggled through and made to the top. He started of being the anchor of musical program SaReGaMa on Zee Tv and audience started recognizing him as a versatile singer as his songs started becoming popular.
Let it be a romantic song, a sad song, happy family song or even a patriotic song, Sonu puts his heart in his singing and his voice creates that mood automatically. Let it be Shah Rukh, Salman, Abhishek or even Hrithik his voice will be recognized and every time he has a unique element in the song.
Few of his hit songs include Yeh Dil Deewana from Pardes, Sandese Aate hai from Border, Satrangi re from Dil Se, Zindagi maut na ban jaaye from Sarfarosh, Tanhayee from DCH, Suraj Hua Madhham from K3G. His other hits include melodious Saathiya, Sarfaroshi ki tamanna, Piyu bole, Suna Mann ka angan, Main hoo na, Tumse milke dil ka hai jo haal, Kal ho na ho!
I am a big fan of his and planning to create a collection 'Simply Sonu'.
He also ventured into Indipop and was popular with his albums and songs.
His singing has been recognized and he has been awarded Filmfare awards for best playback singer for songs Saathiya and Kal ho na ho. He also received National award for the song Kal ho na ho.
One of the interviews i liked where he said "I am 'shameless' enough to explore every possibility open"
One of the shows on TV he did with Johnny Lever called 'Johnny Ala Re'
One of his first Indipop album songs which was a big hit called 'Ab mujhe Raat Din'
one of his hit songs and my favourite too from movie 'Main hoo na'
Sonu Nigam is one of the respected singers of Bollywood today and one of the youngest achievers too.
Wish he stays the top most singer!!
BTW, if you haven't seen the comic side to his talent, do have a look at: Amazing Mimicry by Sonu Nugam
Born on 30th July, 1973, Faridabad raised by his parents who were singers too. His first performance at four and half years where he sung a Mohammad Rafi song and from then his singing journey began...
Discovered and promoted by the big name in the film industry Gulshan Kumar received fame with his song 'Achha sila diya tune'. He is none other but Sonu Nigam!
Sonu Nigam has been the top most singer today and has all the hit songs till today! His voice plays a magic touching listeners hearts and souls. He has been in this field for a long time and struggled through and made to the top. He started of being the anchor of musical program SaReGaMa on Zee Tv and audience started recognizing him as a versatile singer as his songs started becoming popular.
Let it be a romantic song, a sad song, happy family song or even a patriotic song, Sonu puts his heart in his singing and his voice creates that mood automatically. Let it be Shah Rukh, Salman, Abhishek or even Hrithik his voice will be recognized and every time he has a unique element in the song.
Few of his hit songs include Yeh Dil Deewana from Pardes, Sandese Aate hai from Border, Satrangi re from Dil Se, Zindagi maut na ban jaaye from Sarfarosh, Tanhayee from DCH, Suraj Hua Madhham from K3G. His other hits include melodious Saathiya, Sarfaroshi ki tamanna, Piyu bole, Suna Mann ka angan, Main hoo na, Tumse milke dil ka hai jo haal, Kal ho na ho!
I am a big fan of his and planning to create a collection 'Simply Sonu'.
He also ventured into Indipop and was popular with his albums and songs.
His singing has been recognized and he has been awarded Filmfare awards for best playback singer for songs Saathiya and Kal ho na ho. He also received National award for the song Kal ho na ho.
One of the interviews i liked where he said "I am 'shameless' enough to explore every possibility open"
One of the shows on TV he did with Johnny Lever called 'Johnny Ala Re'
One of his first Indipop album songs which was a big hit called 'Ab mujhe Raat Din'
one of his hit songs and my favourite too from movie 'Main hoo na'
Sonu Nigam is one of the respected singers of Bollywood today and one of the youngest achievers too.
Wish he stays the top most singer!!
BTW, if you haven't seen the comic side to his talent, do have a look at: Amazing Mimicry by Sonu Nugam
Labels: Faridabad, music, society, Sonu Nigam
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Housing projects worth Rs 68 crore for slum dwellers of Faridabad
Housing projects worth Rs 68 crore for slum dwellers
Bijendra Ahlawat
Tribune News Service
Faridabad, November 28
The ambitious project of city development plan for Faridabad, launched under the Jawaharlal National Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM), has finally been set rolling.
The Union Ministry of Urban Development today approved the first phase of the project to improve the basic services for the urban poor.
Under this development plan, two housing projects worth Rs 68.58 crore were sanctioned for slum dwellers.
The Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) will undertake these projects. A sum of Rs 247 crore has been proposed to relocate the dwellers in slum clusters in a phased manner.
Project reports of various schemes, incorporated in the city development plan and costing Rs 2,679 crore, have been prepared and submitted for approval. The development plan includes repair and relaying of roads, sewerage system, drainage, water supply and solid waste management.
A meeting of the MCF authorities and the Ministry of Urban Development was held at Nirman Bhawan in New Delhi, this morning, in which the detailed project report (DPR) of basic services for the urban poor was accepted for Faridabad.
Under the scheme, the MCF would develop multi-storeyed residential units for slum dwellers at two spots in which a total of 2248 flats would be built.
According to Commissioner, MCF, who led the delegation at the meeting, more than 2,000 families residing in slum clusters would be relocated in the scheme in the first phase. The new residential colonies would be developed at Dabua Colony and Bapu Nagar on MCF plots.
He said while each two-room set unit would cost Rs 1.51 lakh, every colony would have the facility of a car park, a shopping centre and a primary school.
He said the detailed project report (DPR) of the third such colony was being prepared and it would cost about Rs 50 crore.
There are a total of 67 slum clusters out of which at least 29 would be relocated. This include relocation of 29,708 jhuggis in the city, he added.
It may be recalled that Faridabad is one of those leading cities in the country, where the growth of slum cluster has been relatively high.
The population of the city is over 15 lakh at present.
Bijendra Ahlawat
Tribune News Service
Faridabad, November 28
The ambitious project of city development plan for Faridabad, launched under the Jawaharlal National Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM), has finally been set rolling.
The Union Ministry of Urban Development today approved the first phase of the project to improve the basic services for the urban poor.
Under this development plan, two housing projects worth Rs 68.58 crore were sanctioned for slum dwellers.
The Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) will undertake these projects. A sum of Rs 247 crore has been proposed to relocate the dwellers in slum clusters in a phased manner.
Project reports of various schemes, incorporated in the city development plan and costing Rs 2,679 crore, have been prepared and submitted for approval. The development plan includes repair and relaying of roads, sewerage system, drainage, water supply and solid waste management.
A meeting of the MCF authorities and the Ministry of Urban Development was held at Nirman Bhawan in New Delhi, this morning, in which the detailed project report (DPR) of basic services for the urban poor was accepted for Faridabad.
Under the scheme, the MCF would develop multi-storeyed residential units for slum dwellers at two spots in which a total of 2248 flats would be built.
According to Commissioner, MCF, who led the delegation at the meeting, more than 2,000 families residing in slum clusters would be relocated in the scheme in the first phase. The new residential colonies would be developed at Dabua Colony and Bapu Nagar on MCF plots.
He said while each two-room set unit would cost Rs 1.51 lakh, every colony would have the facility of a car park, a shopping centre and a primary school.
He said the detailed project report (DPR) of the third such colony was being prepared and it would cost about Rs 50 crore.
There are a total of 67 slum clusters out of which at least 29 would be relocated. This include relocation of 29,708 jhuggis in the city, he added.
It may be recalled that Faridabad is one of those leading cities in the country, where the growth of slum cluster has been relatively high.
The population of the city is over 15 lakh at present.
Labels: Faridabad, Municipal Coorporation, oads, Project, Real Estate, roads, slums, society
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Too Many Cooks Spoils the Broth
Every great city has mentor who drives the development of the region.Faridabad is unlucky here.While the state leadership takes special interest in developing Gurgaon,Faridabad has none to support it.
In contrast, it has a full truckload of Leadership but with no ownership.Nobody is clear about his or her role,they are just busy politicking.
There is an MP, MLAs,City presidents/gen secretaries,Mayor,Dty Mayor,Ward members,member of state bodies,but there is an utter chaos everywhere.
The common citizen of Faridabad lives a life of ignorance while its quality of Life continues to detoriate daily.He/she doesnot know whom to approach for any issue.
Ultimately RWAs(Resident Welfare Association) wherever existing do play some role but are again marred by Political minded people.
Faridabad is herd of politically active people but none ever bothers to take a revolutionary lead for the cause of the society.
In contrast, it has a full truckload of Leadership but with no ownership.Nobody is clear about his or her role,they are just busy politicking.
There is an MP, MLAs,City presidents/gen secretaries,Mayor,Dty Mayor,Ward members,member of state bodies,but there is an utter chaos everywhere.
The common citizen of Faridabad lives a life of ignorance while its quality of Life continues to detoriate daily.He/she doesnot know whom to approach for any issue.
Ultimately RWAs(Resident Welfare Association) wherever existing do play some role but are again marred by Political minded people.
Faridabad is herd of politically active people but none ever bothers to take a revolutionary lead for the cause of the society.
Labels: Faridabad, Leaders, politics, society
