Andhra farmers to receive Rs 7,000 as first instalment today
During a teleconference with ministers, MPs, MLAs, parliamentary constituency presidents, zonal coordinators, Rythu Sangham leaders, and grassroots workers, Naidu said the TDP's legacy is rooted in farmers' welfare, noting, 'The plough is on our flag'.
He reaffirmed the coalition government's commitment to farmers, stating that the Annadata Sukhibhava scheme is being implemented as promised in the election manifesto. Similarly, the State government is also providing agricultural machinery and adequate water for irrigation, he added.
'Our responsibility is to deliver good governance and communicate these efforts to the people,' Naidu said, urging the party cadre to counter misinformation and 'conspiracies' allegedly being spread by the YSRCP. He slammed the previous YSRCP government for failing to pay crop insurance premiums and mismanaging public funds.
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Hans India
4 minutes ago
- Hans India
AP aqua farmers in tight spot as US tariffs take toll
Rajamahendravaram: Andhra Pradesh's vital aquaculture sector is facing an unprecedented crisis following the recent imposition of increased tariffs on shrimp imports by US President Donald Trump. This move, described by local farmers as a plunge 'from the frying pan into the fire', has significantly jeopardised the Rs 18,000-crore aqua export industry in the state. Andhra Pradesh is the undisputed leader in India's shrimp production and exports, contributing roughly 75 per cent of the nation's total shrimp output and about 32-33 per cent of the value of India's seafood exports. Over 10 lakh families in the state are directly or indirectly reliant on this sector, with major production hubs in West Godavari, Konaseema, Kakinada, and other districts. On July 31, the US President announced 25 per cent tariff on imports from India. The immediate consequence of the new US tariff was a sharp drop in shrimp prices. Farmers in the Godavari districts, including Konaseema and West Godavari, lament that prices have fallen by up to Rs 40 per kg. This steep decline means export prices, typically ranging from Rs 270-Rs 300 per kg, have now plummeted to Rs 220-Rs 230, resulting in a loss of Rs 40-Rs 50 per kg for farmers. The industry, which produces 4 lakh tonnes annually with 3.5 lakh tonnes earmarked for international markets, is grappling with a severe crisis. Farmers stated that by July 31, the price of 100-count shrimp had already dropped by Rs 40 per kg. According to a farmer, with new tariffs, exporting Rs 1 lakh worth of shrimp to the US could attract a tax outgo of Rs 26,000, potentially pushing the total burden further when factoring in other costs. This will not only hit cultivators hard but also the livelihoods of lakhs of daily wage labourers in associated sectors like packing, processing, and transportation, he added. Aqua sector experts warn that this price collapse would put farmers at a high risk of being unable to recover investments, leading to a debt trap. A decline in exports will also force processing units to reduce operations, potentially resulting in significant job cuts across the state. However, T Jagadeesh, a leading exporter from Bhimavaram, expressed his optimism that the aqua sector in AP would overcome the crisis. Speaking to The Hans India, Jagadeesh acknowledged the severe anxiety prevalent in the region's aqua industry, comprising nearly 200 exporters. He stated that the new US tariffs, combined with existing duties, would impose an additional burden of nearly 35 per cent on exporters. He, however, pointed out that the aqua sector is no stranger to crises and has consistently overcome challenges with determination. He further explained that state's aquaculture industry was not solely dependent on the American market, noting the availability of several alternative market opportunities. In response to this looming crisis, the state government is said to be actively considering strategies to mitigate the impact. An official confirmed that measures such as rebranding shrimp products, boosting internal marketing, and diversifying export opportunities were being explored to increase local consumption and find new markets for the beleaguered industry.
Hindustan Times
4 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Soon, SOPs to curb non-consensual content
BENGALURU The Union government has set up an expert committee to create a standard operating procedure for combating the spread of non-consensual intimate images (NCII), following directions from the Madras high court in a case involving a woman lawyer whose private images were leaked and repeatedly resurfaced online. Centre told the court that the committee, composed of six experts and representatives from the Union government, will come up with a framework to deal with all cases involving NCII content. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Senior counsel Abudu Kumar Rajarathinam, who appeared for the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), told the court that the committee, composed of six experts and representatives from the Union government, will come up with a framework to deal with all cases involving NCII content. The government made the submission before a bench of justice Anand Venkatesh of the Madras high court that was hearing the woman advocate's petition against the continued circulation of her private photos and videos, which her former partner had recorded without her consent and shared online. Despite multiple takedowns, the images kept reappearing, prompting Venkatesh to intervene and demand urgent systemic solutions. The government informed the court that MeitY had constituted a committee with representatives from the ministries of home affairs, women and child development, communications (department of telecommunications), and MeitY itself. The joint secretary of MeitY will head the panel, which also includes cyber law experts and nodal officers from the participating ministries, it said. The committee will draft an SOP (standard operating procedure) that combines 'legal and technical strategies to immediately and effectively' tackle NCII content. It will also propose long-term solutions and outline clear steps that victims themselves can take when their private content is leaked online. The Centre told the court that sensitising government agencies to the issue will form another key part of the committee's mandate. The high court recorded the submissions and said the committee should treat the present case as a 'test case' to find a robust mechanism to block such content and prevent it from resurfacing. 'This is like Ravana's head. Each time you cut it, it grows back. Even when we block the video, it reappears. The real problem is relapse,' justice Venkatesh said, referring to the woman lawyer's videos and photos resurfacing online despite the government and police authorities repeatedly blocking them. The court then suggested that MeitY can take the same steps it took to block over 1,400 URLs, including international links, spreading anti-India propaganda during 'Operation Sindoor'. Justice Venkatesh said the same intensity and technological tools must apply when a 'citizen's dignity' is at stake. 'The nation is nothing but a conglomerate of its citizens. If we can take swift action to protect the country's image, we must do the same when one individual's fundamental right under Article 21, right to dignity, is under attack,' the judge said. The court noted that NCII content remains a pervasive and recurring issue, especially affecting women who face stigma, threats, and long-lasting trauma. 'This isn't just one woman's fight. It reveals systemic gaps that harm thousands of women across the country,' the judge said. The petitioner's counsel pointed out that while MeitY had previously blocked six URLs, the video had now resurfaced across 13 new links. Senior counsel Rajarathinam confirmed that the URLs were inaccessible in Delhi and Mumbai but still active in Tamil Nadu. He said this was probably because of coordination issues with local service providers and said the authorities will fix it. The court reiterated that the committee must take the present case as a blueprint and evolve a method that works, so it can be replicated in future cases. 'This court will not allow this to become just another committee with a report that gathers dust,' justice Venkatesh said. During a previous hearing last month, the court had directed MeitY to detect and remove all private content of the petitioner within 48 hours. The woman had filed a police complaint after discovering that her ex-partner had secretly filmed their private moments and shared the content online. Despite repeated takedown efforts, the videos continued to resurface on pornographic websites, messaging apps, and social media platforms.
India.com
4 minutes ago
- India.com
Trump's new visa rule to make travel to US nearly impossible, Indians may have to pay in lakhs just to enter US, visa bond policy to roll out soon
Donald Trump's administration has proposed new changes to the U.S. visa rules this week. If these new rules are approved, people from certain countries may have to pay a large amount of money as a security bond to enter the U.S., no matter why they are visiting, whether for business or tourism. As per a report by Reuters news agency, the U.S. State Department is planning to launch a pilot program where visa applicants will need to deposit a bond ranging from USD 5,000 to USD 15,000. In Indian currency, this would be around Rs. 4.2 lakh to Rs. 12.5 lakh. This rule could apply to people traveling for work, business, or even just for holidays. The main purpose of this bond is to act as a financial guarantee which is to make sure that people who come to the U.S. return to their home country on time. It is meant to prevent visitors from staying in the U.S. illegally after their visa expires. In simple words, visa holders must leave the U.S. before their allowed time ends and should not try to seek asylum or stay there without permission. U.S. State Department officials were informed about this plan on August 4, and the official notification has already been sent to the Federal Register. The final version of the new rule is expected to be made public by Tuesday, and this new program might start from August 20. Few countries to be part this pilot project Trump's administration has said that this new visa rule will first be tested as a pilot project. But what's surprising is that it will apply only to a few selected developing countries and India is likely to be one of them. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio said that the State Department is planning to start a 12-month pilot program. Under this, adults applying for a U.S. visa may need to pay a bond of USD 10,000, and for children, the bond could be USD 5,000. If the traveler leaves the U.S. on time, they might get their money back. Once the visa is approved, travelers will be required to enter the U.S. within 30 days, and they must also leave the country before their visa expires. Trump's new visa policy may create problems for India If India is included in this list, Indian citizens, no matter why they are visiting the U.S., may have to pay over Rs. 12 lakh just as a bond before even stepping into the country. This proposal has already started facing criticism. Experts believe that such a high bond amount will make it nearly impossible for people from developing countries to travel to the U.S. This could lead to a sharp decline in the number of tourists and business travelers going to the US. And this isn't the first time the Trump administration has suggested such a move. A similar limited pilot program was proposed back in 2020 as well, but it was never implemented by the Biden administration.
