Latest news with #Lakra
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Nat'l ST commission meets tribals opposing Rims 2.0 construction
1 2 Ranchi: Amid growing opposition from tribal residents over the proposed establishment of the second campus of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims) at Nagri, on the outskirts of Ranchi, a five-member delegation of National Commission of Scheduled Tribes (NCST) led by member of the commission Asha Lakra visited the proposed site on Saturday and spoke to the locals. During the visit, the delegation interacted with the locals opposing the construction and assured them that their grievances would be taken into account. Following the visit, Lakra spoke to TOI and said that NCST has taken cognizance to the matter and thinks that the project must be shifted to a different location, in order to protect the livelihood of the local adivasi population. "The proposed site for Rims-2, which is around 272 acre in total, is largely agricultural land and livelihood of around 250 families solely depends on that land. If the construction of the project takes place, the tribals will lose both their source of income and identity, which will be in contrast to the mandates of the Constitution of the country. NCST is of the view that the project must be shifted to another location which is barren, so that the tribals do not lose their livelihood," Lakra told TOI. Following the on-ground visit, the delegation called on governor Santosh Gangwar and informed him about the matter. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Fastest Selling Plots of Mysore from 40L | 40+ Amenities PurpleBrick Learn More Undo Lakra said, they will also send a detailed report of the situation to the President of India and Jharkhand govt as well. The controversy around the project has been ongoing for around two months now. In June, dozens of farmers in Nagri sowed seeds on the roadside after the district administration stopped them from working on their fields, which were marked for the construction of the new medical college hospital. The issue has also sparked political differences within the ruling alliance. While state health minister and Congress leader Irfan Ansari has publicly supported the establishment of the second Rims campus, calling it vital for expanding healthcare infrastructure in the state, his party colleague Bandhu Tirkey has taken a contrary stand. Tirkey has sided with the protesting villagers and urged the govt to reconsider the location of the project. Ansari on Friday told media that there should not be any opposition in matters related to state's development. "If the CM, who represents the tribals, agrees to the project, I think there must not be any opposition. The construction of Rims-2 will help create new employment avenues for the locals," Ansari added.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Ensure all med facilities to injured int'l hockey player: Hemant to Ansari
1 2 3 Ranchi: A day after former international hockey player Bimal Lakra fell unconscious and sustained severe head injuries, chief minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday asked health minister Irfan Ansari to ensure all necessary medical treatment and facilities for the player. Taking to X, Hemant, who is currently camping in Delhi to attend to his ailing father Shibu Soren, wrote: Minister @IrfanAnsariMLA ji, ensure that Bimal Lakra ji is provided with all necessary medical facilities and keep us informed." Lakra is currently undergoing treatment at Ranchi's Curresta Hospital after sustaining injuries on his left side of his head on Monday. The hospital authorities said his health condition is currently under control. After he sustained the head injuries, Lakra was given preliminary treatment at Simdega. However, as his condition did not improve, the doctors immediately referred him to the Curesta Hospital in Ranchi for better treatment, where he is undergoing treatment under the supervision of two neurosurgeons. Dr Sanjay Kumar, who is treating the player, said, "At the time he was admitted, his condition was serious and there was a lot of bleeding, but we have stabilised him and then started treating him after examining the injury properly. His condition is improving." Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
United News of India
01-07-2025
- Health
- United News of India
Former Indian hockey player Bimal Lakra hospitalised
Ranchi, July 1 (UNI) Former Indian hockey player Bimal Lakra was hospitalised today after he was found unconscious in a field near his native village Tansar in Simdega district of Jharkhand. He has been admitted to the Curesta Hospital here for advanced treatment. According to Manoj Konbegi, Vice President of Hockey Jharkhand and President of Simdega Hockey, Lakra collapsed while working in his field. He was initially taken to Kurdeg for primary treatment and later referred to Simdega Sadar Hospital, where a CT scan revealed a blood clot in his head. Doctors advised immediate transfer to Ranchi for specialised care. Lakra, 45, represented India as a midfielder and was part of the national squad that won the silver medal at the 2002 Asian Games. His younger brother Birendra Lakra and sister Asunta Lakra have also represented India in international hockey. Taking note of the incident, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has directed Health Minister Irfan Ansari and Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Sudivya Kumar to ensure all necessary medical assistance is provided to Bimal Lakra and to keep him informed of the developments. UNI XC SSP
The Print
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Tribals in Great Nicobar not against development but lack info about mega project: NCST member
In an interview with PTI, Lakra said she led an NCST team to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from June 5 to 7 to review the issues faced by the tribal communities. The project, titled Holistic Development of Great Nicobar, involves the construction of a transshipment port, an international airport, a township and a power plant over more than 160 sq. km of land. This includes around 130 sq. km of pristine forest inhabited by the Nicobarese, a Scheduled Tribe (ST), and the Shompens, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), whose population is estimated to be between 200 and 300. New Delhi, Jun 30 (PTI) Tribal communities in Great Nicobar are not opposed to development but lack sufficient information about a proposed mega infrastructure project on the island, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) member Asha Lakra has said. She said the commission held a detailed meeting with representatives of all tribal groups, including the Great Andamanese, Jarawa, Nicobarese and Shompens. 'We met everyone…. We also had talks with both Shompen and Nicobarese people living on Great Nicobar Island. Most of the people have no idea about the project. They are busy with their own lives…. They demand more ferries to travel between islands,' Lakra said. Asked about her interaction with the residents of Great Nicobar, she said, 'They have no other problems. All they need is development…. Better transport, education and health facilities. This is what they told us. Everyone, barring the Sentinelese, said the same thing. They are in favour of development.' 'They want employment and their financial situation to improve,' Lakra added. She, however, stressed the need for a stakeholders' meeting with educated people from the island regarding 'such a big project' and said all necessary information should be shared with them. However, Barnabas Manju, chairman of the Little and Great Nicobar Tribal Council, told PTI over the phone that the council was not invited to the meeting and came to know about it through the local media. The council had written to the Union environment ministry and the Andaman and Nicobar administration in November 2022, withdrawing the no-objection certificate (NOC) it issued in August that year for the denotification of 84.1 sq. km of tribal reserve and the diversion of 130 sq. km of forest for the project. It alleged that crucial information was withheld while seeking the NOC. The tribal council had expressed shock on learning that parts of their pre-tsunami villages would be 'denotified and diverted' under the project. During a public hearing held at Campbell Bay in January 2021, the council's chairman had said that although they support the development plan, 'we want to go back to our ancestral villages'. Tribal councils in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are statutory bodies established under the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Tribal Councils) Regulation, 2009. They have limited advisory and executive powers, unlike autonomous councils under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which have legislative, executive and limited judicial powers and enjoy greater autonomy. Around 853 sq. km of the island's total 910-sq. km area is designated as a tribal reserve under the Andaman and Nicobar (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956. In tribal reserves, the tribal communities own the land and have full rights to use it for their daily needs. However, transferring, acquiring or selling land in these areas is strictly prohibited. Asked whether the commission looked into complaints of Forest Rights Act (FRA) violations related to the project, Lakra said, 'The only kind of FRA violations that has been reported involves non-tribal outsiders, who come for construction work, marry ST women and settle on tribal land.' This allows non-tribals to gain de-facto control over land protected under the FRA, she added. In April 2023, the NCST issued a notice to the Andaman and Nicobar administration, seeking 'facts and an action-taken report' on allegations that the mega project would violate the constitutional mandate and 'adversely impact' the lives of local tribals. Lakra said the commission would check whether a response has been received. At a media interaction earlier this month, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram said his ministry is examining objections raised by tribal communities regarding the proposed project. 'Yes, it is under examination. I had also answered a question (in this regard) in Parliament. We are currently examining the documents they have submitted. After that, we will decide the course of action,' he had said, replying to a question. On further questioning about what the ministry seeks to ascertain, Oram had said, 'First, we need to determine whether the gram sabha (tribal council in this case) was held, what the gram sabha recommended and whether there have been any violations.' PTI GVS RC This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
The Hindu
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Tribals in Great Nicobar not against development but lack info about mega project: NCST member
Tribal communities in Great Nicobar are not opposed to development but lack sufficient information about a proposed mega infrastructure project on the island, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) member Asha Lakra has said. The project, titled Holistic Development of Great Nicobar, involves the construction of a transshipment port, an international airport, a township and a power plant over more than 160 sq. km of land. This includes around 130 sq. km of pristine forest inhabited by the Nicobarese, a Scheduled Tribe (ST), and the Shompens, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), whose population is estimated to be between 200 and 300. In an interview with PTI, Ms. Lakra said she led an NCST team to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from June 5 to 7 to review the issues faced by the tribal communities. She said the Commission held a detailed meeting with representatives of all tribal groups, including the Great Andamanese, Jarawa, Nicobarese and Shompens. "We met everyone.... We also had talks with both Shompen and Nicobarese people living on Great Nicobar Island. Most of the people have no idea about the project. They are busy with their own lives.... They demand more ferries to travel between islands," Lakra said. Asked about her interaction with the residents of Great Nicobar, she said, "They have no other problems. All they need is development.... Better transport, education and health facilities. This is what they told us. Everyone, barring the Sentinelese, said the same thing. They are in favour of development." "They want employment and their financial situation to improve," Ms. Lakra added. She, however, stressed the need for a stakeholders' meeting with educated people from the island regarding "such a big project" and said all necessary information should be shared with them. However, Barnabas Manju, chairman of the Little and Great Nicobar Tribal Council, told PTI over the phone that the council was not invited to the meeting and came to know about it through the local media. The Council had written to the Union Environment Ministry and the Andaman and Nicobar administration in November 2022, withdrawing the no-objection certificate (NOC) it issued in August that year for the denotification of 84.1 sq. km of tribal reserve and the diversion of 130 sq. km of forest for the project. It alleged that crucial information was withheld while seeking the NOC. The Tribal Council had expressed shock on learning that parts of their pre-tsunami villages would be "denotified and diverted" under the project. During a public hearing held at Campbell Bay in January 2021, the Council's chairman had said that although they support the development plan, "we want to go back to our ancestral villages". Tribal Councils in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are statutory bodies established under the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Tribal Councils) Regulation, 2009. They have limited advisory and executive powers, unlike autonomous councils under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which have legislative, executive and limited judicial powers and enjoy greater autonomy. Around 853 sq. km of the island's total 910-sq. km area is designated as a tribal reserve under the Andaman and Nicobar (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956. In tribal reserves, the tribal communities own the land and have full rights to use it for their daily needs. However, transferring, acquiring or selling land in these areas is strictly prohibited. Asked whether the commission looked into complaints of Forest Rights Act (FRA) violations related to the project, Ms. Lakra said, "The only kind of FRA violations that has been reported involves non-tribal outsiders, who come for construction work, marry ST women and settle on tribal land." This allows non-tribals to gain de-facto control over land protected under the FRA, she added. In April 2023, the NCST issued a notice to the Andaman and Nicobar administration, seeking "facts and an action-taken report" on allegations that the mega project would violate the constitutional mandate and "adversely impact" the lives of local tribals. Ms. Lakra said the Commission would check whether a response has been received. At a media interaction earlier this month, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram said his Ministry is examining objections raised by tribal communities regarding the proposed project. "Yes, it is under examination. I had also answered a question [in this regard] in Parliament. We are currently examining the documents they have submitted. After that, we will decide the course of action," he had said, replying to a question. On further questioning about what the Ministry seeks to ascertain, Mr. Oram had said, "First, we need to determine whether the gram sabha (tribal council in this case) was held, what the gram sabha recommended and whether there have been any violations."
