Latest news with #InternationalWomen'sDay
Hans India
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
3rd Subhadra instalment on Aug 9
Bhubaneswa: Odisha government will release the third instalment of Rs 5,000 financial assistance under the Subhadra Yojana to over 1 crore women beneficiaries on August 9 in Koraput district, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida said here on Wednesday. Subhadra Yojana, an ambitious women welfare scheme of the BJP government, was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday on September 17, 2024. The scheme is designed to provide eligible women aged between 21 and 60 years with Rs 50,000 over five years, from 2024-25 to 2028-29. Each beneficiary will receive Rs 10,000 annually in two instalments of Rs 5,000 each — one on Rakhi Purnima and the other on International Women's Day (March 8). This year, the Rakhi Purnima will be celebrated on August 9. Speaking to reporters, Parida said the women, who turned 21 years old recently, will be allowed to apply for the scheme after August 9. Nearly two lakh beneficiaries, who had received the first instalment, were later found ineligible due to having purchased five acres of land, vehicle or filed IT returns, Parida said. 'Our officials will conduct field-level inspection of these rejected beneficiaries. Those found eligible will receive the instalments in one go,' she added. Parida said women filing zero income tax returns and those with an annual income of less than Rs 2.5 lakh will be eligible to avail the benefits under the scheme. The Deputy Chief Minister further informed that 93,000 women, who reached the age of 60 years, have been excluded from the beneficiary list. The list of excluded women has been sent to the department concerned for their inclusion in the social security scheme (old age pension), Parida said.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
QR auto safety scheme fails; SOS alerts ignored
Chennai: On International Women's Day this year, chief minister M K Stalin launched a women's safety initiative to equip 90,000 auto-rickshaws in the city with QR code stickers, promising real-time emergency alerts to Greater Chennai Police (GCP). Months later, with incomplete coverage, technical glitches, and lax enforcement, the schemes leaves women exposed to the very risks it sought to prevent. A TOI check of the system revealed its failures firsthand. Multiple scanned QR codes and pressed SOS buttons received no follow-up responses from GCP control room. In one instance, the auto driver received the call instead of the complainant. "If the problem is with the driver, what is the point of calling him and not the woman in distress," asked D Archana of Korukkupet, who tried to complain about a driver's reckless driving. "I reached home safely only with my brother's help. How could a scheme fail so completely?" You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai Data further shows that of 90,000 stickers printed, only 50,000 were affixed. "We received 13,000 SOS calls and will try to act on pending cases and track autos without stickers," said a GCP officer. Despite claims that 70,000 autos were covered, tracking data remains inconsistent. The second phase is indefinitely delayed, and local police stations, unable to trace non-compliant autos, have passed stickers to traffic units, highlighting poor coordination. Drivers cite practical lapses. S P Rajesh, an auto driver from Saidapet said, "QR codes tear easily. Many drivers work without uniforms or documents and earn 700 a day. Some even run autos with expired fitness certificates or after multiple ownership transfers."
Time of India
9 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Govt to disburse third instalment of Subhadra scheme funds on Raksha Bandhan
1 2 Bhubaneswar: The Odisha govt will disburse the third instalment of Subhadra Yojana funds, amounting to Rs 5,000, to over one crore beneficiaries on August 9 on Raksha Bandhan in Koraput. "Following the disbursement, the portal will open for fresh registration," deputy chief minister Pravati Parida said on Wednesday. "Those who turned 21 recently will be allowed to apply for the scheme after August 9 on the portal," Parida added. Around two lakh beneficiaries were rejected from receiving the third instalment of the Subhadra scheme for failing various eligibility criteria post-disbursal. "Nearly two lakh beneficiaries, who received the first instalment, were later found ineligible since they own five acres of land, a vehicle or had filed IT returns," Parida said. The govt has decided to conduct a door-to-door field-level survey after August 9 to know the exact reasons behind rejection and assess if they are true or not. "By reopening the portal and reassessing past exclusion, the state govt is keen to address gaps in implementation. After the survey, those who are found eligible will receive the instalments at one go," Parida added. The Odisha govt launched the flagship Subhadra Yojana, a welfare scheme for women aged between 21 and 60, to provide Rs 50,000 per year for over a five-year period, from 2024-25 to 2028-29. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Swelling and internal bleeding in the brain, help this baby Donate For Health Donate Now Undo Women beneficiaries will receive two instalments of Rs 5,000 each on International Women's Day and Raksha Bandhan every year. About 93,000 beneficiaries who crossed 60 were removed from the beneficiary list and their names were forwarded to the Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities department so that they can get benefits under pension and social security schemes.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Actor Sheena Chohan's mom gave her wings to fly and touch the sky
What does a dear friend's daughter mean to a woman? It is indeed a cherished connection evoking affection and hope that her talent touches great heights. So it is for me with Sheena Chohan, daughter of my dear friend from college days, Harry Bains, who was to marry a dusky handsome Punjabi charmer of a well known family of transporters with roots in Bathinda but settled in Kolkata in the well-established business of the Chohan Transport. Over the years one has noted with interest Sheena's journey from theatre to web series and now a break to the admiration of a large audience. It also takes one back to one's own college days in the swinging 70s and our own young dreams. Of course, some dreams came true and some did not and we hoped that our daughters would fulfil them in their own wacky way. Sweet and sour memories of youth flood in as one looks back at those days when one felt that and we would go our way. Although the International Women's Day had been declared by the United Nations in the sweet 70s and there was talk of women's liberation, yet things were somewhat conservative in Chandigarh and more so in Punjab. For the plain ones like me, it had to be masters in English literature and then the job of a college lecturer well-draped in a saree, holding an attendance register till a suitable match could be arranged. For the more comely ones, it sufficed that they be married to rich and handsome young men and live happily ever after. Then and now: Young Sheena Chohan with her mother, Harry. (Sheena Chohan) Yet we dreamt of love, adventure and work. For the few who had come from convents and public schools it was important to be part of the smart english-speaking gang and sadly some labelled many bright ones who had studied in Hindi or Punjabi medium schools as 'Bhenjis'. It was important to wear smart western apparel on the first day of college. For someone like me, with a widowed mother, dependent on sons for the monthly allowance, it wasn't that easy. Of course, the stamp of Loreto Convent Shillong was there and a bright result card. My mother made it up by buying me a pink khadi pant-suit, which in present-day lingo could be called co-ords, to the GCW (Government College for Women, Sector 11). Those days girls who had stepped into their 17th year were considered women and much later W was substituted with G for girls! I made it a point to be with the smart set which was made of the tall beauty Harry, fresh from the Lawrence School Sanawar, petite and pretty Simran Singh from Chelsea, Convent of Jesus and Mary, Shimla, Silky haired Sunita Laal who drove to the college in a sleek long white car. Our main concern was that the seniors should rag us, as that meant acceptance. Sure enough, it happened that rainy day and they made us sit in puddles, so much so for my pink khadi pants. But we were happy that we had attracted notice. Harry those days lived in Sector 27 and I half a kilometre away in Sector 19 and got to see more of each other. In the second year of college we made a pact to lose weight and started walking a long distance to college. Sure enough it happened and my kind friend would try to include me in her activities and made an effort to get me into the grand college fashion show called 'The Sunflower' but I did not have the right twirl in my walk. However, I was overjoyed to see Harry walk the ramp with aplomb in a stylish red coat. A film offer was to follow for her but, of course, that was a no-no for her family. In the final year, Harry did get me into a fashion photography shoot for the Eves Weekly and wasn't I, thrilled? Then came her marriage and a shift to Kolkata two children, daughter Sheena and Sunny. With the passing away of her husband, she showed business acumen while raising her kids. While I had met her once with little Sheena, still a kid in Chandigarh, it was much later during a visit to Kolkata I saw her blooming into a beautiful young girl with stars in her eyes and already in the world of modelling and theatre. I recall the mother telling me, 'I was not allowed to do anything that I wanted to but I let Sheena do whatever she desired.' The gen-next had less taboos in following their dreams. Before losing myself in the nostalgia, let me get to the heart of the matter here and now. Journey of the star When asked how it was to play the role of Avali opposite a seasoned actor like Subodh Bhave? the actor replies: 'In creating a person we already know through legend, one has to first remember that she is human like you and me. So I worked very closely with director Aditya, making myself a blank page for his vision, yet trying to see everything through her eyes, so that I can bring forth Avali's inner world with emotion.' Indeed, she captured the emotional world of the character not just with words but eyes and expressions. The actor says 'Eyes are the windows of the soul and the eyes do speak volumes and never lie. If you go beneath the Wikipedia entry and put yourself in Avali's place faced with choices and challenges then her eyes become yours.' She adds, 'When the truth of the character sprang alive in me, I became the vessel by which she communicated.' It did not happen in a day Let the readers not be mistaken that Sheena achieved this miracle in a day. Behind the skilled portrayal of Avali there has been a decade of sheer hard work with the young actor winning several accolades for her performances. She has played the lead in seven feature films, collaborating with three of India's most celebrated directors. After five years of theatre in Delhi, Sheena was launched in the South, opposite megastar Mammootty in an action film. Sheena's breakout international recognition came when a feature film, 'Ant Story', she headlined was acquired by Netflix, leading to Best Actress nominations at the prestigious Dubai and Shanghai International Film Festivals. Her first steps into the OTT field saw her star in The Fame Game, opposite Madhuri Dixit on Netflix, The Trial, opposite Kajol on Disney Hotstar. Sheena first lead role on OTT space was her standout performance in the hit series EX-Mates, where she won Best Actress – Comedy as well as the Best Actress Award, solidifying her position as a rising force in Indian entertainment. That same year, she was honored with the Most Promising Rising Star in Bollywood award. Looking ahead to 2025, after Sant Tukaram, Sheena's slate is more exciting than ever. She also takes on the role of Lilith, a mystical and seductive she-devil, in a gripping upcoming series that explores myth, power, and dark femininity. Adding to her versatile choices, Sheena headlines a new crime thriller Pan India South She also makes her mark internationally with a role in the Hollywood feature Nomad, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Taron Lexton, where she explores the themes of identity and displacement in a global setting. And last but not the least, beyond the camera, Sheena is a passionate advocate for human rights. Through her work with the United for Human Rights campaign, she has reached millions across South Asia, using her voice to promote equality, freedom, and education — a mission that is close to her heart and aligned with her global outlook. As a fond aunt one wishes her more success in her art and her versatile ability commitment to combining mainstream cinema magic with meaningful storytelling. Harry my friend, love you for letting your little girl do what she wanted to do. nirudutt@
Buzz Feed
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Rihanna Fan Account Tricks Fans And Celebs With Baby Post
Yesterday, while scrolling through Instagram, I was stopped in my tracks after seeing that Rihanna had posted a picture of herself in a hospital bed holding a newborn baby. I saw the caption 'MOTHER,' and immediately thought, 'OMG, baby number three is here!' — until I decided to take a closer look… Upon closer inspection, I realized that not only was the picture super old, but it wasn't Rihanna who just posted it. In fact, the account that shared it wasn't one that I even followed. The throwback selfie at the center of all this — which shows the singer holding her now-1-year-old son, Riot Rose — was taken in 2023 and originally posted by Rihanna back in March in celebration of International Women's Day. You can find the OG post here. If you follow the real Rihanna, you'll know that she has the iconic handle, @badgalriri, and the widely-seen post on my timeline was shared by a verified parody account called @badqalriri. The fan page also has Rihanna's very recognizable IG profile pic, which made things confusing for those of us casually scrolling through Instagram. As you can see, the account has 975,000 followers and clearly states in its bio that it's a fan page. And though I may have been able to detect the hoax before I got too excited, it appears that plenty of people were tricked into thinking that Rihanna just gave birth. Rihanna and A$AP Rocky unveiled their third pregnancy in May. We don't know exactly when it's due; however, based on the timelines of their previous pregnancy reveals, fans have speculated that Baby Number 3 may arrive around November. At the time of writing, the fan account post has over 2 million likes and more than 18,000 comments. The famous likers include Kris Jenner, Ashley Graham, Kacey Musgraves, Raye, Kristin Davis, and the comment section includes a couple of big names, too. Like Olivia Munn, who commented a row of nice hearts. Oh, and Gigi Hadid, who sweetly shared her congratulations. Honestly, I'm not mocking these people — I was nearly tricked, too! But, I do have to wonder how long until they all realize that Rih (the last time I checked) is very much still pregnant…
