The Dauphine Orleans Hotel is a notoriously haunted location that sits only a stone’s throw away from Bourbon Street. Located in the center of the French Quarter, this hotel has over a hundred rooms where guests regularly report ghost sightings, disembodied voices and more. But why is this location so infested with spirits?

In the late eighteenth century, a man named Don Andres Almonester y Roxas owned the Dauphine Orleans Hotel’s plot of land. He also owned most of the surrounding real estate as well, and eventually donated part of the hotel’s land to the local Charity Hospital. For a time, the land was used to treat the various ill citizens of the city.

But it wasn’t until 1857 that the building’s use took a darker turn.

It was in 1857 that May Baily’s Place opened. Technically referred to as a “sporting house,” May Baily’s was a brothel. This business was a brothel, which was a location where people of ill-repute would often gather and participate in illicit activities. May Baily opened this establishment after her father died during the yellow fever epidemic, hoping to strike rich during hard times. With the help of a family friend, the business soon opened its doors. Luckily for Baily, she also received a license from the city deeming all activities within as legal.

While May Baily ran this fine establishment, her younger sister Millie allegedly hated everything that the fine brothel stood for: subjugation to a life with little choice.

Millie wanted nothing to do with the red-light district. As the story goes, Millie got her chance to escape the sordid life she’d always known in 1861, when she met a nice Confederate soldier. Against all the odds stacked against the couple, they fell in love and Millie’s beau proposed.

Her happiness was short-lived.

On the very day of the wedding, Millie’s betrothed was shot dead. Gambling was the cause; the brawl that took her young soldier’s life, the end result. Her wedding dress that she had sewn so meticulously, caressed so lovingly, never made it to the altar, although Millie apparently took the opportunity to wear it around the sporting house whenever she could.

Guests have spotted Millie’s ghost in her lace wedding gown standing forlornly near May Baily’s, as if still half-hoping that her loved one might return for her.

Guests have reported seeing the spirit of a man dressed in dark Confederate uniform—is it too much to ask that it might be poor Millie’s long lost love?

Many of the people who have witnessed ghosts claim that some are simply patrons from the past. Men visiting their favorite brothel, even after death. There are also reports of the ghosts of prostitutes, still roaming the old building in search of their next customer

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a very rare inherited connective tissue disorder characterized by the abnormal development of bone in areas of the body where bone is not normally present (heterotopic ossification), such as the ligaments, tendons, and skeletal muscles. Specifically, this disorder causes the body’s skeletal muscles and soft connective tissues to undergo a metamorphosis, essentially a transformation into bone, progressively locking joints in place and making movement difficult or impossible. Patients with FOP have malformed big toes that are present at birth (congenital). Other skeletal malformations may occur. The abnormal episodic development of bone at multiple soft tissue sites frequently leads to stiffness in affected areas, limited movement, and eventual ankylosis (fusion) of affected joints (neck, back, shoulders, elbows, hips knees, wrists, ankles, jaw – often in that order).

Episodic flare-ups (inflammatory soft tissue swellings) of FOP usually begin during early childhood and progress throughout life. Most cases of FOP occur as the result of a sporadic new mutation and the genetic mutation that results in this disorder has been identified. FOP is caused by the mutation of a gene (ACVR1) in the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway, which is important during the formation of the skeleton in the embryo and the repair of the skeleton following birth.

Signs & Symptoms

All individuals with classic FOP have malformations of the great toes and, in approximately 50% of patients, the thumbs. These changes in the skeleton are present at birth (congenital) and are the first clinical signs of this disorder. The most common skeletal malformation associated with FOP is a shortened great toe with a malformed distal first metatarsal and a missing or abnormal first phalanx and/or interphalangeal joint. Other malformations of the toes and fingers may include inward turning of the great toe toward the other toes (hallux valgus), abnormally short fingers and toes (microdactyly), and/or permanent fixation of the fifth finger in a bent position (clinodactyly). Other congenital signs of FOP include proximal medial tibial osteochondromas, malformation of the upper part of the spinal column (cervical vertebrae), and an abnormally short broad neck of the bone in the thigh that extends from the knee to the pelvis (femur).

Progressive bone formation in connective tissues (heterotopic ossification) usually occurs during early childhood, and progresses throughout life. The abnormal development of bone may occur spontaneously but often occurs following an episode of soft tissue injury or a viral illness. The first sign of heterotopic ossification is the appearance of firm tender swellings on certain parts of the body, especially the back, neck, and/or shoulders. These soft tissue swellings mature through a cartilage-to-bone (endochondral) pathway to form mature heterotopic bone. The ectopic bone growth usually involves tendons, ligaments, skeletal muscle tissue, and connective tissues such as fascia and aponeuroses. In many cases, pain and stiffness occurs in these areas. On some occasions, a low-grade fever may herald the development of these swellings. Although the swellings eventually regress, they usually harden into mature bone as they decrease in size.

In the affected areas, bone slowly replaces connective tissue. The neck, back, chest, arms, and legs are usually the first areas affected. The disease eventually affects the hips, ankles, wrists, elbows, shoulders, and/or jaw as well as the abdominal wall. In some affected individuals, the progression of bone development may be rapid; in others, the process may be gradual. Even among identical twins, the disease progression may vary greatly, reflecting different environment impacts such as traumatic episodes.

Chronic swelling in various parts of the body is a common physical characteristic of individuals with FOP. Swelling may occur coordinately with the abnormal bone formation that characterizes FOP, or it may occur when recently-formed bone presses on lymphatic vessels, obstructing the flow of tissue fluid. In addition, swelling may also be caused by a lack of pumping action within the hardened (ossified) muscle and can cause blood and tissue fluids to pool in a limb (e.g., arms and/or legs).

Abnormal development of bone eventually leads to stiffness and limited movement of affected joints. If the jaw is involved, affected individuals may have trouble eating and/or speaking. In addition, abnormal development of bone may lead to progressive deformity of the spine including side-to-side (scoliosis) and, in some cases, front-to-back curvature of the spine (kyphosis). As is the case for skeletal bone, the bone that develops in abnormal areas may fracture and then undergo fracture repair. As the disease progresses, individuals with FOP experience increasingly limited mobility that causes problems with balance, difficulty walking and/or sitting, and/or severely restricted movement.

FOP may eventually result in complete immobilization. Affected individuals may experience progressive pain and stiffness in affected areas, complete fusion of the spine, and/or pain in affected areas of the body caused by abnormal bony growths that compress the nerves in these areas (entrapment neuropathies). As mobility begins to deteriorate, affected individuals may exhibit an increased susceptibility to respiratory infection or right sided congestive heart failure. Hearing impairment is seen in approximately 50% of affected individuals. In some cases of more severe forms of variant FOP, individuals may exhibit hair loss or mild cognitive delay.

One in every two million people are diagnosed with Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva.The disease mostly begins in childhood, usually diagnosed before age ten.  Nearly 90% of the time the disease is misdiagnosed and mismanaged by physicians or other health care providers. However, there have been 800 confirmed cases in the world and 285 in the United States.67% undergo invasive procedures for diagnosis and treatment such as, an osteotomy, blood sample, or an MRI. Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva has not been shown to be linked with any specific gender, ethnicity or race.

FOP is caused by a mutation in the ACVR1 gene. This gene is involved in growth and development of bones. The mutation allows them to grow unchecked. The gene can be inherited from one parent, but in most cases of FOP, it’s a new mutation in a person with no family history of the disease.

There are no known effective treatments for FOP but clinical trials are underway. Certain types of drugs have been used to relieve pain and swelling associated with FOP during acute flare-ups (most notably corticosteroids) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication between flare-ups.

Diagnosis

Misdiagnosis of FOP is common but can be avoided simply by examining the individual’s toes for the characteristic feature, short great toes. The diagnosis may be confirmed by a thorough clinical evaluation, characteristic physical findings, and sequencing of the ACVR1 gene.

Standard Therapies

Treatment

Biopsies should be avoided when FOP is suspected because these tests may result in rapid bone formation in those areas where tissue is removed. Intramuscular injections (e.g., immunizations) must be avoided, and dental therapy should preclude injections of local anesthetics and stretching of the jaw. In addition, individuals should avoid any situations, such as falls, that may cause blunt trauma, since trauma may cause abnormal bone development in most cases. Various viral illnesses including influenza and influenza-like illnesses may provoke flare-ups of the condition.

In affected individuals with an increased susceptibility to respiratory infections due to progressive mobility impairment, steps may be taken to prevent infection, such as preventative (prophylactic) antibiotic therapy.

There are no known effective treatments for FOP but clinical trials are underway. Certain types of drugs have been used to relieve pain and swelling associated with FOP during acute flare-ups (most notably corticosteroids) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication between flare-ups.

Affected individuals may benefit from occupational therapy. Special shoes, braces, and other devices that assist in walking and weight-bearing have been used to help people with FOP. Affected individuals may have their physicians contact an occupational therapist who can help obtain special devices or tools to assist them in daily activities.

Genetic counseling may be of benefit for families with inheritance of FOP. A team approach for infants diagnosed with FOP will also be of benefit and may include special social, educational, and medical services. Other treatment is symptomatic and supportive.

Based on the cross-sectional analysis of the baseline data, functional and physical disability as assessed by CAJIS and the FOP-PFQ increased over time. Although longitudinal data are not yet available, the cross-sectional analyses suggest that CAJIS and FOP-PFQ are not sensitive to detect substantial progression over a 1- to 2-year period. Future evaluation of longitudinal data will test this hypothesis. The statistically significant correlations between HO volume and the functional endpoints, and the estimated average annual increase in total HO volume, suggest that the formation of new HO will be measurable over the relative short-term course of a clinical trial, and represents an endpoint that is clinically meaningful to patients.

“We are made to create. We feel useful when we create. We release our ‘stuckness’ when we create. We reinvent our lives, tell new stories, and rebuild communities when we create. We reclaim our esteem, our muse, and our hope when we create.”

There is no one universal definition of visual art though there is a general consensus that art is the conscious creation of something beautiful or meaningful using skill and imagination. The definition and perceived value of works of art have changed throughout history and in different cultures.

Expression became important during the Romantic movement with artwork expressing a definite feeling, as in the sublime or dramatic. Audience response was important, for the artwork was intended to evoke an emotional response. This definition holds true today, as artists look to connect with and evoke responses from their viewers.

Immanuel Kant was one of the most influential of the early theorists toward the end of the 18th century. He believed that art should not have a concept but should be judged only on its formal qualities because the content of a work of art is not of aesthetic interest.

There are as many ways to define art as there are people in the universe, and each definition is influenced by the unique perspective of that person, as well as by their own personality and character.

Stop judging your work. Nothing kills creativity faster than comparing your work to someone else’s. Your job is not to judge your work. Your job is to put it out there. To see what will become of it. Give your creativity every chance of survival.

Don’t fuss over details as you move forward. What matters is that you get something done. Every day if you have to.

The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists. It rewards people who get things done. Give yourself time in your life to wonder what’s possible and to make even the slightest moves in that direction.

You will screw up in the process but it’s okay. Don’t beat yourself up for making a mistake or making a wrong choice. It will only lead to self destructive behavior.

Lower your expectations of yourself and your work. Realize that you don’t have to create a masterpiece every time you enter the studio. If you go in and fingerpaint and it feels good, you learn something, you stretch yourself, and enjoy the process, that is a success.

You don’t have to say something huge with every artwork that you make. Take the pressure off and you will enjoy yourself along the way.

Art, like life, is messy. The process is the exciting part and one that others love to take part in. Remind yourself that by showing your process you have one more opportunity to connect with other people about the chances you are taking, the details you see, and the messiness of it all.

It also helps people understand your final work. Showing works as they progress can be great teaching moments for people who weren’t trained as artists in seeing just how much work and skill go into a piece.

Even if you draw a stick figure, it is art. Don’t let other people’s definition ruin the meaning of art to you.

Deforestation is the clearing, destroying, or otherwise removal of trees through deliberate, natural, or accidental means. It can occur in any area densely populated by trees and other plant life, but the majority of it is currently happening in the Amazon rainforest.Deforestation or felling trees has become a favorite activity of man to extract assorted needs – be it medicines or precious paper to waste. For obvious reasons, it is shameful to read the statistics on how discriminating man has been, especially when it comes to deforestation… but in the end, there is always hope.Forests cover more than 30% of the Earth’s land surface, according to the World Wildlife Fund. These forested areas can provide food, medicine and fuel for more than a billion people. Worldwide, forests provide 13.4 million people with jobs in the forest sector, and another 41 million people have jobs related to forests. Forests are a resource, but they are also large, undeveloped swaths of land that can be converted for purposes such as agriculture and grazing. In North America, about half the forests in the eastern part of the continent were cut down for timber and farming between the 1600s and late 1800s, according to National Geographic. Today, most deforestation is happening in the tropics. Areas that were inaccessible in the past are now within reach as new roads are constructed through the dense forests. 

One of the most dangerous and unsettling effects of deforestation is the loss of animal and plant species due to their loss of habitat. 70% of land animals and plant species live in forests. Not only does deforestation threaten species known to us, but also those unknown.
The trees of the rainforest that provide shelter for some species also provide the canopy that regulates the temperature. Deforestation results in a more drastic temperature variation from day to night, much like a desert, which could prove fatal for many inhabitants.

According to satellite data, tropical forests are being destroyed at a rate of about 8 million hectares (31,000 square miles) a year — an area equivalent in size to the state of South Carolina or the Czech Republic.

If the current rate of deforestation continues, it will take less than 100 years to destroy all the rainforests on the earth. The rate of deforestation equals the loss of 36 football fields every minute.There are more than 121 natural remedies in the rain forest, which can be used as medicines.According to the Rainforest Action Network, the United States has less than 5% of the world’s population yet consumes more than 30% of the world’s paper.The overexploitation of forests is making it extremely difficult to replant a new ecology.

Forests provide more than a home for a diverse collection of living things; they are also an important resource for many around the world. In countries like Uganda, people rely on trees for firewood, timber and charcoal. Over the past 25 years, Uganda has lost 63% of its forest cover, Reuters reported. Families send children — primarily girls — to collect firewood, and kids have to trek farther and farther to get to the trees. Collecting enough wood often takes all day, so the children miss school. 

4500 acres of forests are cleared every hour by forest fires, bull dozers, machetes etc. Poverty, over-population and unequal land access are the main causes of man- made deforestation.1.6 billion people across the globe depend on forest products for their livelihoods there by adding more to deforestation.Almost half of world’s timber and up to 70% of paper is consumed by Europe, United States and Japan alone.There are more than 121 natural remedies in the rain forest which can be used as medicines.Industrialized countries consume 12 times more wood and its products per person than the non-industrialized countries. The United States has less than 5% of the world’s population but consumes more than 30% of the world’s paper.Agriculture is the leading cause of deforestation Fuel wood in sub Saharan African countries is consumed up to 200% times more than the annual growth rates of the trees. This is causing deforestation, lack of timber resources and loss of habitat for the species living in it. Trees are important constituents of the ecosystem by absorbing carbon.Worldwide more than 1.6 billion people rely on forests products for all or part of their livelihoods.Tropical forests, where deforestation is most prevalent, hold more than 210 gigatonnes of carbon.According to Forestry Department Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, about half the world’s tropical forests have been cleared or degraded.

Further effects of deforestation include soil erosion and coastal flooding. Trees help the land to retain water and topsoil, which provides the rich nutrients to sustain additional forest life.Without forests, the soil erodes and washes away, causing farmers to move on and perpetuate the cycle. The barren land which is left behind in the wake of these unsustainable agricultural practices is then more susceptible to flooding, specifically in coastal regions.

Despite their immense value, since the 1960s, nearly half of the world’s rainforests have been lost. Every day, about 81,000 hectares (200,000 acres) of rainforest — an area nearly 14 times the size of Manhattan — are burned around the world.​

Deforestation is one of the main threats to the species living in the jungles of Borneo and Sumatra. But it isn’t the only threat. Poachers and wildlife smugglers, through the palm oil production, are easily accessible to the animals here. Orangutans are the real victims here. They’ve been found buried alive and attacked by machetes. In the last twenty years, over 50,000 orangutans have died through deforestation. Ninety percent of orangutan habitat has been destroyed. So many innocent lives have been taken. When parts of the rainforest  are cleared, orangutans are left without food. In order to feed themselves, they have no choice but to enter nearby villages in search for food. As a result, mother orangutans are killed by poachers. And their babies are stolen from them and sold to wildlife parks or kept as pets.

Developing alternatives to deforestation can help decrease the need for tree clearing. For example, the desire to expand the amount of land used for agriculture is an attractive reason to deforest an area. But if people adopted sustainable farming practices or employed new farming technologies and crops, the need for more land might be diminished, according to the UN’s Sustainable Forest Management Toolbox. Forests can also be restored, through replanting trees in cleared areas or simply allowing the forest ecosystem to regenerate over time. The goal of restoration is to return the forest to its original state, before it was cleared, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The sooner a cleared area is reforested, the quicker the ecosystem can start to repair itself. Afterward, wildlife will return, water systems will reestablish, carbon will be sequestered and soils will be replenished. Everyone can do their part to curb deforestation. We can buy certified wood products, go paperless whenever possible, limit our consumption of products that use palm oil and plant a tree when possible. 

Expressing concern over Jammu having earned the dubious distinction of recording one of the lowest COVID recovery rate of 43% in the country, Union minister Dr Jitendra Singh announced today that Centre will monitor Jammu COVID situation on daily basis and the Central team of experts will remain in touch with medical professionals in Jammu on day-to-day basis, apart from providing regular tele-consultation facility from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, till such time as the pandemic situation improves in the region.

During a meeting convened to review the alarming COVID situation in Jammu region, Dr Jitendra Singh received inputs from the Central team led by Dr S K Singh and Dr Vijay Handa, who are currently on a visit to Jammu. The meeting was attended, among others, by Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, Addl Health Secretary Kiran Ahuja while the Union Territory was represented by Advisor Health Rajiv Bhatnagar, Financial Secretary (Health) Atal Dullu, Divisional Commissioner Jammu Sanjeev Verma, Senior faculty members of Government Medical College Jammu and Deputy Commissioners of different districts of the Jammu Division.

Dr Jitendra Singh said that instructions have been issued to the health authorities in Jammu region to provide Oximeters and Oxygen Concentrate for Home Quarantine patients.

Dr Jitendra Singh assured the people of Jammu and Kashmir that the rising cases of COVID-19 in the UT would be tackled effectively through better hospital management and containment strategy. He said that issues like shortage of oxygen cylinders, medical staff in hospitals would be resolved at the earliest.

The Union Minister appreciated the Central Ministries of Health and Home Affairs for promptly responding to his request and sending a Central Medical Team at a short notice led by Dr.Sudhir Kumar Singh to assess the ground situation in Jammu and adjoining districts. The Central Team will remain in touch with the Medics in Jammu Division for continuous support and guidance on daily basis, apart from the Tele Consultation with AIIMS twice a week, till the pandemic situation improves, he added.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said, all necessary measures would be taken on an emergency basis to reverse the trend. He also asked the hospital providers to follow the Union Health Ministry SOP judiciously to avoid infection among themselves and create awareness about the same in public. He also advised the Financial Secretary (Health) Atal Dullo to hold regular meetings with Civil Society, Eminent Persons and Religious Leaders for educating the common man about the pandemic and for taking preventive measures attached to them. He also called for a designated Helpline and Control Room for COVID care and added that they should remain in functioning mode.

Dr Jitendra Singh underlined that non-COVID patients should get all the facilities and care they need and instructed the State Health Authorities to take necessary steps in this regard. Expressing his deep concern for high rates of infection and death in Jammu Division, Dr Jitendra Singh gave directions for Aggressive and Focussed testing, Contact Tracing and isolation and delineation of Red Zones in a scientific manner.

The Minister said that all the three main issues of Oxygen cylinders, Medical Staff and Containment flagged by the Central Team would be dealt with on priority basis. He, however, expressed satisfaction that the process of hiring the nurses, para-medics and doctors on contractual basis to overcome the shortage has begun and will soon yield the results. The Union Minister also called for long term measures like dedicated infectious medical facilities and more oxygen plants in medical colleges and hospitals in due course.

To ensure availability of banking outlet (Bank branch/Business Correspondent (BC), within 5 kilometers of all inhabited villages the Government has launched a Geographic Information System (GIS) based app., namely, Jan Dhan Darshak app (JDD app) developed by National Informatics Centre (NIC). This was stated by Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Union Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

Banks have been provided login credentials to upload the GIS location of their branches, Business Correspondents and ATMs on the app. As per JDD app, there are 1.66 lakh branches, 4.35 lakh BCs and 2.07 lakhs ATMs mapped by the banks. Further, as per data uploaded by the banks on JDD app, out of the 5.53 lakh mapped villages on the app, 5.52 lakh (99.8%) villages are having branch or BC within 5 kilometers distance, the Minister said in a written reply.

Giving more details, Shri Thakur said that as per extant guidelines dated 18.5.2017 on rationalisation of Branch Authorisation Policy, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted general permission to domestic Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding Regional Rural Banks), to open banking outlets at any place in the country, without seeking prior approval of RBI in each case, subject to at least 25 percent of the total number of banking outlets opened during a financial year being in unbanked rural centres i.e. centres having population less than 10,000 (Tier 5 and Tier 6 centres). Further, 10 Small Finance banks and six Payment Banks have been licensed by RBI for providing banking services across the country including the rural centres.

The Minister said that under Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), all villages were mapped by banks into 1.59 lakh Sub-Service Areas (SSAs) with one SSA catering to 1,000 to 1,500 households. While 0.33 lakh SSAs have been covered with bank branches, 1.26 lakh SSAs, have been covered by deployment of interoperable Business Correspondents (BCs).

In pursuance of RBI guidelines, rolling out of banking outlets in uncovered areas is a continuous process and looked after by State Level Banker’s Committee (SLBC), in consultation with the concerned State Government, member banks and other stakeholders. Banks, inter-alia, consider proposals for opening banking outlets in the light of RBI’s instructions, their business plans and their commercial viability. To further assess the viability for opening a banking outlet, banks carry out survey as required.

As informed by SLBC, Haryana and SLBC Bihar, all the Gram Panchayats and Blocks in these States are covered with banking services by bank branches/ Business Correspondents, the Minster stated.

To ensure availability of banking outlet (Bank branch/Business Correspondent (BC), within 5 kilometers of all inhabited villages the Government has launched a Geographic Information System (GIS) based app., namely, Jan Dhan Darshak app (JDD app) developed by National Informatics Centre (NIC). This was stated by Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Union Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

Banks have been provided login credentials to upload the GIS location of their branches, Business Correspondents and ATMs on the app. As per JDD app, there are 1.66 lakh branches, 4.35 lakh BCs and 2.07 lakhs ATMs mapped by the banks. Further, as per data uploaded by the banks on JDD app, out of the 5.53 lakh mapped villages on the app, 5.52 lakh (99.8%) villages are having branch or BC within 5 kilometers distance, the Minister said in a written reply.

Giving more details, Shri Thakur said that as per extant guidelines dated 18.5.2017 on rationalisation of Branch Authorisation Policy, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted general permission to domestic Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding Regional Rural Banks), to open banking outlets at any place in the country, without seeking prior approval of RBI in each case, subject to at least 25 percent of the total number of banking outlets opened during a financial year being in unbanked rural centres i.e. centres having population less than 10,000 (Tier 5 and Tier 6 centres). Further, 10 Small Finance banks and six Payment Banks have been licensed by RBI for providing banking services across the country including the rural centres.

The Minister said that under Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), all villages were mapped by banks into 1.59 lakh Sub-Service Areas (SSAs) with one SSA catering to 1,000 to 1,500 households. While 0.33 lakh SSAs have been covered with bank branches, 1.26 lakh SSAs, have been covered by deployment of interoperable Business Correspondents (BCs).

In pursuance of RBI guidelines, rolling out of banking outlets in uncovered areas is a continuous process and looked after by State Level Banker’s Committee (SLBC), in consultation with the concerned State Government, member banks and other stakeholders. Banks, inter-alia, consider proposals for opening banking outlets in the light of RBI’s instructions, their business plans and their commercial viability. To further assess the viability for opening a banking outlet, banks carry out survey as required.

As informed by SLBC, Haryana and SLBC Bihar, all the Gram Panchayats and Blocks in these States are covered with banking services by bank branches/ Business Correspondents, the Minster stated.

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As on 31st July, 2020, total 19,844 cases were pending before National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), including 12,438 cases under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). This was stated by Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Union Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

Giving more details about regular staffing positions in NCLTs, Shri Thakur said that total 320 posts of officers/staff have been created in NCLT. Recruitment Rules (RRs) for these posts have been notified on 21.01.2020 and NCLT has initiated action to appoint employees on these posts on regular basis. Presently, 40 posts are filled on regular basis.

The Minister said that e-court project is being implemented in all 16 benches of NCLT. So far, e-filing has been started in 9 benches and it will be extended to remaining benches also. During COVID-19 pandemic, all benches are hearing cases through Video Conferencing.

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