The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB)  today signed a $300 million loan to finance inclusive and sustainable water supply and sanitation infrastructure and services in 14 secondary towns of the state of Rajasthan.The signatories to the Rajasthan Secondary Towns Development Sector Project were Shri Sameer Kumar Khare, Additional Secretary (Fund Bank and ADB), Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance who signed for the Government of India, and Mr. Takeo Konishi, Country Director of ADB’s India Resident Mission, who signed for ADB.

Shri Khare said the project aims to provide better quality and more sustainable water supply and sanitation (WSS) services in the project towns that will improve quality of life in these towns, including for the poor and vulnerable after signing the loan agreement. The investments in WSS with 10- year operation and maintenance contracts will ensure improved and sustainable service delivery in line with the state government’s urban sector development plan.

Mr. Konishi said ADB incorporated practical lessons from the three earlier urban sector projects it has funded in Rajasthan since 2000 and included innovations such as the use of smart technologies and cost-effective systems.  The project will empower urban local bodies, and strengthen their institutional capacity; deepen sector reforms, and build resilience of communities to manage health pandemics.

Through the project, water supply systems in at least eight project towns are expected to improve by 2027, benefiting more than 570,000 people. Citywide sanitation systems will benefit about 720,000 people in at least14 secondary towns. 

The project will strengthen the institutional capacity of the local governments and the Rajasthan Urban Drinking Water, Sewerage, and Infrastructure Corporation Limited, a corporate entity established with ADB’s technical support. Enhanced support to women and vulnerable groups will be provided through skills training, paid internships, and community engagement and awareness activities.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for 8 National Highway projects in Kerala tomorrow. The event will be attended by the Governor Shri Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Shri Pinarai Vijayan and Union MoSs Gen (Retd) Dr V K Singh and Shri V Muraleedharan, Ministers from the State, Members of Parliaments, MLAs and senior officers from the Centre and the State.

Details of the projects:

Inauguration: Kazhakoottam to Mukkola, 27 km, Rs 1,121 Crore.

Foundation Stone Laying:

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will release the autobiography of Dr. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil and rename Pravara Rural Education Society as ‘Loknete Dr. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil Pravara Rural Education Society’, on 13th October at 11 AM via video conferencing.

Dr. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil served as Member of Lok Sabha for multiple terms. His autobiography is titled ‘Deh Vechwa Karani’ which means ‘dedicating one’s life for a noble cause’, and is aptly named as he dedicated his entire life to the benefit of society through his path-breaking work in various fields, including agriculture and cooperatives.

Pravara Rural Education Society was established in 1964 at Loni in Ahmednagar district, with the aim to provide world class education to the rural masses and  empower the girl child. The Society is currently serving with the core mission of educational, social, economical, cultural, physical and psychological development of students.

The Seventh Meeting of Ministers of Justice of the Shanghai CooperationOrganisation (SCO) Member States will be hosted by Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister of Law & Justice, Communication and Electronics & Information Technology on 16^th October, 2020.

In this connection, Shri Anoop Kumar Mendiratta, Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law & Justice will also host the Second meeting of the ExpertsWorking Group on 13^th and 14^th October, 2020.

Both the meetings shall be conducted through Video Conferencing mode.

First Expert Group Preparatory Committee Meeting of the Seventh Meeting of the Ministers of Justice of SCO Countries was also held in New Delhi on 1 7^th and 18^th September, 2019.

The Experts Working Group will discuss and share their experiences, best practices and the novel steps taken by them for creating conducive environment for promoting resolution of disputes and other related activities of the Ministries of (Law and) Justice including legal services and forensic activities.

In the Seventh Meeting of the Ministers of Justice of the SCO, Member States shall further deliberate on areas of cooperation; creating favourable conditions for resolving disputes; and implementation of the Action Plan of the Working Groups of Experts onForensic Activities and Legal Services. A Joint Statement following the results of the Seventh Session of the Ministers of Justice of the SCO Member States shall be signed.

The Ministers of (Law and ) Justice and senior officials / experts from the Ministries of Law & Justice of India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will be participating in the Meeting. The SCOSecretariat will be providing necessary assistance during the three days’ deliberations.

eSanjeevani, Ministry of Health’s telemedicine initiative, is rapidly gaining popularity amongst patients and doctors. It has recorded 5 lakh teleconsultations in a short span of time. The last one lakh consultations were completed in a record time of 17 days. As a digital modality of healthcare services delivery, eSanjeevani is gradually shaping into a parallel stream for the Indian healthcare delivery system with the number of teleconsultations per day on the platform touching 8,000 mark in the last few days. At present 26 States are using eSanjeevani’s two variants of telemedicine namely – doctor to doctor (eSanjeevaniAB-HWC) and patient to doctor (eSanjeevaniOPD).

eSanjeevani AB-HWC was launched by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in November 2019 and it is to be implemented at 1,55,000 Health and Wellness Centres in conjunction with identified Medical College hospitals under Govt. of India’s Ayushman Bharat Scheme in ‘Hub & Spoke’ model by December 2022. eSanjeevaniAB-HWC is functional at around 4,000 Health and Wellness Centres and onboarding of an equal number of HWCs is underway.

The second variant of this ambitious initiative, eSanjeevaniOPD which has the potential of being the world’s largest telemedicine platform, was rolled out on 13^th of April 2020 during the first lockdown when the OPDs across the country were closed.  eSanjeevaniOPD enables access to OPD services by the patients in the confines of their homes. eSanjeevaniOPD has been accepted evenly by both the patients and the doctors. Over 100 telemedicine practitioners have completed more than 1,000 tele-consultations and a few of them have logged over 10,000 consultations. On the other hand, over 20% patients have used eSanjeevani to consult with doctors for more than once.

Rapid adoption of eSanjeevaniOPD across the country has taken a significant step forward with the launch of a wide range of speciality and super-speciality OPDs. Besides general and speciality OPDs, AIIMS Bathinda has set up super-specialty OPDs like radiation oncology, surgical oncology, paediatric surgery; these super-speciality OPDs providing online OPD services to patients in all neighbouring states including Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh & Himachal Pradesh. Tamil Nadu government is providing AYUSH, Yoga and Naturopathy OPD services through eSanjeevaniOPD. Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi has set up a Dental & Oral Maxillofacial Surgery OPD for patients in New Delhi. Kerala is setting up 14 OPDs on eSanjeevaniOPD for providing Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram – District Early Intervention Centres services for its populace. Each of these 14 OPDs on the  telemedicine platform has a team comprising of psychologist, special educator, speech therapist and a physiotherapist who can collectively address common issues pertaining to child development and their future health. At present, eSanjeevaniOPD is hosting 26 general OPDs and 190 speciality and super-speciality OPDs. Around 20,000 doctors and health-workers across the country have been trained on both the variants of eSanjeevani.

The Union Health Ministry is complementing efforts of State Governments by establishing a robust digital health ecosystem and human and infrastructural resources to boost the adoption of eSanjeevani. The Ministry has roped in Centre for Development of Advanced Computing’s Mohali branch for providing end-to-end technical services like development, implementation, operations and training of health personnel.

The top ten States which have registered highest consultations through eSanjeevani and eSanjeevaniOPD platforms are Tamil Nadu (169977), Uttar Pradesh (134992), Himachal Pradesh (39326), Kerala (39300), Andhra Pradesh (31365), Uttarakhand (16442), Madhya Pradesh (14965), Gujarat (10839), Karnataka (9498), Maharashtra (7895).

Dear self,
How are you doing? I hope you are doing well. I know life has been tough but you have done quite a good job to stay alive. Thank you for not giving up.
Life is not a straight line, it goes up and down. If you are sometimes happy or sometimes sad, be glad because this is life. If you don’t want these ups and downs in life, then that is as good as wanting death.The challenges you have gone through, and those you will face in the future, may break you down. It makes you think about your self-worth, your weakness, and your failure. This devil will try to hold you from walking toward your goal. It is like a dark cloud full of negative thoughts that turns even darker every time you look up to find a hope.During our past life journey, I am terribly sorry that I was not great enough to ignite your motivation, was not good enough to encourage, to appreciate you. Sorry that I allowed you to hang your head down low. I was not all ears to listen to your problems. I did not stand up for you.But behind these dark clouds, there is a bright blue sky waiting to shine on you once you blow those clouds away. The same goes to these hardships; while you are looking for help to unlock this hardship, you also learn something: nobody can help you but yourself.Have you noticed that you have changed? You have. You have improved. I am glad that you did. You have eliminated your hidden fears and have had the courage to let go. The change you that you experienced is definitely hundred percent different from the past, when your anxiety would make you cancel your plans by using “I’m busy” as an excuse. This change is beautiful. Keep it going throughout your life.I hope you are more confident to stand up and rise up to challenges. I hope you stop comparing your life to that of others. Tell yourself that your life is perfectly imperfect. At the end of the day, it is all about yourself. As I am writing this letter, your life isn’t fully figured out yet. You are not 100% sure of your direction, or what you are going to do long-term in life. Surprise me with what you have in store. And something to remember is that it is okay to not know what you want to do in life.
Love,

-palak!!

In a latest judgment titled Shikha @ Sheeba vs State of U.P. and 4 others in Habeas Corpus Writ Petition No. 502 of 2020, the Allahabad High Court as recently as on October 8, 2020 in a well-worded, well-reasoned and well-framed manner  directed the Senior Superintendent of Police, Kanpur Nagar to take out a girl named Shikha @ Sheeba who is a Muslim woman who had converted to Hinduism to marry a Hindu man named Rohit Rathore from the custody of her brother and father. This direction was made keeping in view the serious threat of honour killing which the girl named Shikha @ Sheeba faced from her brother and father. The Bench of Justice JJ Munir further ordered that she should be housed at the Nari Niketan, Kanpur Nagar in safety and security till the time she is produced before the Court. Very rightly so!  

                                    To start with, Justice JJ Munir of the Allahabad High Court who authored this notable judgment sets the ball rolling by first and foremost pointing out in the introductory para that, “Heard Sri Adya Prasad Tiwari, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri Vinod Kant, learned Additional Advocate General assisted by Sri Arvind Kumar, learned AGA appearing on behalf of the State.” 

                                     To put things in perspective, it is then pointed out in the next para that, “It is submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner that Shikha @ Sheeba daughter of Mukhtar Ali has married Rohit Rathaur S/o Ram Sewak Rathaur (who has effectively filed this petition on her behalf) according to the Hindu rites on 03.07.2020 at the Arya Samaj Mandir, Rawatpur Gaon, Kanpur Nagar after converting to Hinduism at the same Arya Samaj Mandir on 03.07.2020 earlier in the day. The parties’ marriage has been duly registered under the U.P. Marriage Registration Rules, 2017 on 09.07.2020 at the office of the Marriage Registration Rules, 2017 on 09.07.2020 at the office of the Marriage Registration Office at Serial No. 468, SRO Office – Sadar Fourth, District Kanpur Nagar. A copy of the said certificate of registration is also on record.” 

                                              As it turned out, it is then pointed out further in this ruling that, “The FIR has been lodged in this case by the detenu’s father, Mukhtar Ali, wherein he has indicated the detenu’s age to be 22 years, giving rise to Case Crime No. 293 of 2020 State vs. Rohit Rathaur under Section 366 IPC, P.S. Bilhaur, District Kanpur Nagar.”

                                          As a corollary, it is then pointed out by the Court that, “In connection with the said case, the learned counsel for the petitioner has invited the Court’s attention to the detenu’s stand recorded before the learned Magistrate under Section 164 Cr.P.C.”

                               While elaborating on the statement made under Section 164 Cr.P.C., the Court then points out that, “In the said statement, the detenu has said that she had left home because she was annoyed with her mother. She wants to marry Rohit and stay with him.”

                                     In other words, what this clearly signifies is that the detenu went of her own free will. She was not coerced into submission. She of her own free volition wanted to marry Rohit. The Court also points out further clarifying that, “No one has taken her away by blandishment, and that Rohit has not done anything contrary to her wish by force.”

                                             Furthermore, the Court then points out that, “It is stated in paragraph no. 14 that the S.H.O., P.S. Bilhaur, Kanpur Nagar by trick and in connivance with the 4^th respondent, handed over Shikha @ Sheeba into the hands of her father, after she had spoken exculpatory in favour of Rohit. Since then, she is in illegal confinement of her father and brother.” How can all this be ignored? The Court had to take all this into account.

                                       Going ahead, it is then pointed out by the Court that, “It is also averred in paragraph no. 15 that the detenu called up Rohit over Mobile Nos. 7572053986 and 7523058325, informing him that she is being tortured by respondent nos. 4 & 5, and that she may be murdered at any time. She has requested Rohit to rescue her.” 

                                     To be sure, the Court then makes it known that, “It is averred that it is on her instruction received over telephone that Rohit has moved this petition. It is averred in paragraph no. 16 that on account of the religious barrier between parties, the 4^th and 5^threspondent, who are brother and father of Shikha @ Sheeba are so embarrassed and annoyed that Shikha @ Sheeba is facing a potent threat of being murdered at their hand in consequence of an act of honour killing. Learned counsel for the petitioner states that it is not just about rescuing Shikha @ Sheeba from illegal confinement and preventing her from becoming a victim of honour killing that this Court must intervene.”

                            Not stopping here, the Court then says that, “Admit. Issue notice. Notice be served upon respondent nos. 4 and 5 through all urgent means of communication through the learned Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Kanpur Nagar returnable on 12.10.2020.”

                                    Moving on, it is then further directed by the Allahabad High Court that, “The Senior Superintendent of Police, Kanpur Nagar is ordered to cause Shikha @ Sheeba daughter of Mukhtar Ali presently in the custody of Imran Hasan S/o Mukhtar Ali and Mukhtar Ali S/o Maqbool Ali, resident of Ward No. 22, Lal Bahadur Sastri Nagar, Bilhaur, Kanpur Nagar, Bilhaur, Kanpur Nagar to be produced before this Court on 12.10.2020 at 02:00 p.m., without fail.”   

                               For the sake of clarification, the Court then holds that, “The Senior Superintendent of Police, Kanpur Nagar shall observe all protocol relating to prevailing COVID-19 pandemic proliferation and shall ensure the safety of all concerned while undertaking the aforesaid exercise. List the matter in the additional cause list on 12.10.2020 at 02:00 p.m.”

                                       Without mincing any words, Justice JJ Munir of the Allahabad High Court then unequivocally holds that, “Since, there is a serious threat of Shikha @ Sheeba becoming a victim of honour killing, it is preferable to err on the side of caution. The Senior Superintendent of Police, Kanpur Nagar is ordered to forthwith take out Shikha @ Sheeba from the custody of Imran Hasan S/o Mukhtar Ali and Mukhtar Ali S/o Maqbool Ali, respondent nos. 4 and 5 and house her at the Nari Niketan, Kanpur Nagar in safety and security, until time that she is produced before this Court, in compliance with the rule nisi.”

                                         Finally, it is then directed by Justice JJ Munir of the Allahabad High Court that, “Let this order be communicated to the learned Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Kanpur Nagar, the Senior Superintendent of Police, Kanpur Nagar, the Director General of Police, Lucknow, U.P., the Principal Secretary (Home), Lucknow, U.P. and the In-charge, Nari Niketan, Kanpur Nagar by the Joint Registrar (Compliance), forthwith. Let a copy of this order be also provided to Sri Vinod Kant, learned Additional Advocate General by the Office, today.”

                                         It would be premature to conclude what the final judgment would be in this case. We have to keep our fingers crossed till the case is concluded finally. The next hearing is on October 12.

                                    But one thing is clear: Allahabad High Court has given temporary relief to the Muslim woman who married a Hindu man from the custody of her father and has also acknowledged that there is a serious threat of honour killing. It has also accorded paramount consideration to the safety and wishes of the woman which is certainly a step in the right direction. There can be no two views on this! 

                                            Needless to say, this order of Allahabad High Court has to be complied with unconditionally and unambiguously. Every adult man and woman is free to do what he/she likes and especially regarding marriage they are free to marry as per their own choice! No denying it!  

Sanjeev Sirohi, Advocate,

s/o Col BPS Sirohi,

A 82, Defence Enclave,

Sardhana Road, Kankerkhera,

Meerut – 250001, Uttar Pradesh