Latest news with #PrashantKumarSingh
NDTV
15 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Free Movement, 3-Phase Plan To Rebuild Lives In Manipur: Chief Secretary Shares Details
Imphal/Guwahati/New Delhi: The Manipur government has come up with a three-phase plan to ensure internally displaced persons can return home safely to rebuild and restart their lives in peace, Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh told reporters in the state capital Imphal on Friday. Free movement of people will be possible very soon, he added. "A lot of things are happening, both here in Imphal as well as in Delhi. Everybody is working hard. The central government, the state government and civil organisations are working in close coordination," the chief secretary said. Mr Singh said the situation in the state where Meitei-Kuki ethnic clashes began in May 2023 has improved a lot, except for one-two odd incidents now and then. Farmers from both the communities are working in their fields with little gap in distance and even helping each other with sharing water, the chief secretary said. "Things are improving as we talk, one or two incidents apart. Farming is going on peacefully as we have made adequate arrangements. I am glad to say that both sides are farming together closely and sharing water. That is a very good sign and positive signals are coming. We have appealed to all civil society organisations to maintain calm," he said. Manipur has been under the President's rule since February after N Biren Singh resigned as chief minister. The chief secretary, however, cautioned that one odd incident here and there can happen because some mischievous elements are always there. He asked people from both communities not to be misled by such elements. "Some people want to prolong [the crisis]. Some want something mischievous to happen. But the press should play a responsible role. Please verify from us and please report the right things," Mr Singh told reporters. On June 19, a farmer from the Meitei community was shot at by unknown people near the foothills in Bishnupur district's Phubala village, after which the security forces launched an operation and a gunfight broke out. An elderly woman from the Kuki tribes was killed in the crossfire, the police said. Even in this case, civilians who were going about their day normally were either injured or killed, officials had said, pointing at the role of a few "unknown miscreants" in keeping the Manipur tension alive. Homecoming And Rehabilitation The three-phase plan to help people rebuild their lives will begin this month with the return of "a good number" of people to their homes with government help, the chief secretary said. The second phase will start in October, and the third and last phase will be in December, he said. All relief camps are planned to be shut by December after every displaced person has returned home or shifted to well-built prefabricated houses, Mr Singh said. "First, those who want to go back immediately, a good number will go this month. Many have already started going back," he said. "The number [of displaced people] which was 62,000 in the beginning [of the conflict] is now about 57,000. And as we speak, yesterday I took stock of Churachandpur and Kangpokpi. People have started going back. The first round will go back by July, the second round by October, and the third round by December," Mr Singh said. According to the chief secretary, the government will offer three types of assistance: 1. Some 8,000 people whose houses were destroyed will be given Rs 3 lakh [total of Rs 1.3 lakh and Rs 1.7 lakh] to build houses. 2. Financial aid will be given to approximately 7,000 people who fled from their homes but the structures were not destroyed or damaged, only became dilapidated in the last two years. "There will be some kind of monetary help for them so they can go and set up their house and start their livelihood," the chief secretary said. 3. The government estimates that some 10,000 people may not be able to return immediately even after December. These may include those who have fled from Moreh, Churachandpur and Kangpokpi. They will be accommodated in at least 1,000 more prefabricated houses that the government is building. "The camps are planned to be shut by December. That is the plan," Mr Singh said. To a question about speculation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may visit Manipur, the chief secretary said there is no information yet. "Not that we are aware of. I mean, an expectation is there but nothing has come as of now," he said. The clashes between the valley-dominant Meitei community and the nearly two dozen tribes known as Kukis, who are dominant in some hill areas of Manipur, have killed over 260 people.
Hindustan Times
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Manipur to shut relief camps by December, phased rehabilitation to start from July
Imphal: The Manipur government will shut all relief camps housing internally displaced persons (IDPs) by December, and to help the displaced families rehabilitate, a three-phase programme will begin in July, chief secretary Prashant Kumar Singh said. Chief secretary Prashant Kumar Singh at the 2nd foundation day of the Manipur State Commission for Scheduled Tribes in Imphal on Friday. (Sourced) Addressing the 2nd foundation day of the Manipur State Commission for Scheduled Tribes in Imphal on Friday, Singh said that if the displaced families are unable to return to their original homes by the deadline, they will be allotted newly built pre-fabricated housing units. The rehabilitation programme, set to begin in July, will be followed by subsequent phases in October and December, Singh added. Since the outbreak of ethnic violence in 2023 between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kuki-Zo groups, over 260 people have been killed, 1,500 injured, and more than 70,000 displaced. According to government data, the number of displaced persons has decreased from 62,000 to 57,000, with many families already returning home. To accommodate those still unable to return, an additional 1,000 pre-fabricated homes are under construction. Also Read: Manipur shuts down to mark 2 years of clashes, sees widespread public support Singh said that families whose homes were destroyed in the conflict and are willing to return to their villages will be eligible for a financial reconstruction package of ₹1.3 lakh, plus ₹1.7 lakh for rebuilding assistance. He added that the initiative is part of a joint effort between the state and central governments to facilitate the reopening of major highways and ensure free and safe movement. 'At this rate of progress, we are hopeful that public movement across major roads will resume without fear,' Singh said. Addressing security concerns in the state, Singh said, 'There is a visible improvement on the ground. I appeal to all civil society organisations from both sides to remain calm and cooperative. While isolated incidents may still occur, the overall situation is improving.' Also read: Manipur: Meitei, Kuki-Zo communities to mark anniversary of ethnic clashes on May 3 Responding to speculation of a possible visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Singh said there is no official confirmation. 'However, several development projects in Manipur and other northeastern states have been completed and are awaiting formal inauguration,' he said. Singh also said that a team from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) in Guwahati will visit the state to oversee the Aadhaar enrolment process, including the issuance of Bal Aadhaar for children and coverage for adults over 18.
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Manipur: Govt working on resettling internally displaced persons by December
Manipur Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh said that the government is working towards resettling all Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) by December 2025—either in their original homes or in government-constructed temporary housing. All the camps will be closed by December. Speaking to the media in Imphal, the Chief Secretary stated the relocation will take place in three phases—July, October, and December. 'First is those who want to immediately go back by July and a good number have started going back. The IDPs number was 62,000 in the beginning, now it is 57,000.' He said, ' On Thursday I took stock of Churachandpur and Kangpokpi and people have started going back. The first round will go back by July, second by October and third by December. There are around 8000 houses which were completely destroyed and for this government will provide around Rs 1.3 lakh plus 1.73 lakhs so that they can rebuild their houses.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Container Houses Indonesia (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Undo He added that second is around 7000 houses which were abandoned however not destroyed but dilapidated in two years. Some kind of money help will be extended to them. Around 8000 people who have come from Moreh, Kangpokpi will be allowed to stay in the prefabricated houses, we are building over a thousand more prefabricated houses. All the camps will be closed by December.' He said that things are improving. 'Except one or two incidents' things are improving, farming is also going on. Both sides are farming together, which is a good sign, even sharing water. Live Events Addressing widespread speculation about a possible visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the state in the first or second week of July, the Chief Secretary clarified that there is the expectation, but state government has not received any official communication regarding such a visit. In Manipur, at least 258 people have been killed and over a thousand people injured in the ethnic violence between the tribal Kuki-Zo and the non-tribal Meitei people since May 3, 2023. The ethnic violence between the non-tribals Meiteis and tribal Kuki-Zo broke out in the northeastern state on May 3, 2023, after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Nearly 81% advertisements on OTT platforms during ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 promoted unhealthy products: Study
A staggering 80.9 per cent of all advertisements aired on over-the-top (OTT) platforms during the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men's World Cup held in India in October-November 2023 promoted tobacco, alcohol, and high-fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) products, a study has found. The study led by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (ICMR-NICPR) was published recently in the journal Frontiers in Digital Health. Dr Prashant Kumar Singh, lead author and senior scientist at ICMR-NICPR, told The Indian Express that the study provides the first systematic evidence from a low- and middle-income country showing how sporting events have become vehicles for promoting products that contribute to non-communicable diseases. A team of experts from ICMR-NICPR, Vital Strategies, Institute of Public Health Bengaluru, and AIIMS New Delhi conducted the research. Five trained researchers independently recorded data for cross-verification to ensure rigour and reduce biases. 'As India aims to reduce premature non-communicable disease (NCD) deaths by 25 per cent by 2025, we cannot allow commercial interests to undermine public health through unregulated digital platforms. Immediate policy intervention is crucial,' said Dr Shalini Singh, senior author and director of ICMR-NICPR. She also stressed that their findings revealed a concerning loophole in digital advertising regulation. 'While we have strict laws against tobacco and alcohol advertising, companies are exploiting OTT platforms through surrogate advertisements, particularly targeting the massive Indian cricket audience. With 422 million viewers exposed to these promotions, this represents a public health crisis hiding in plain sight,' said Dr Singh. Key findings The analysis of 341 hours of streaming across 48 matches revealed disturbing patterns of targeted marketing such as that 80.9 per cent of all advertisements (1,769 out of 2,118) promoted unhealthy products, 90.7 per cent of advertisements during India matches belonged to the unhealthy products category, and 86.7 per cent of surrogate tobacco advertisements were specifically aired during matches involving India. It also found that 60.6 per cent of unhealthy advertisements during over-breaks targeted products commonly consumed by children. A total of 422 million viewers in India were exposed to these promotions. Celebrity endorsements were common, with 17.5 per cent featuring Bollywood actors and 17 per cent featuring cricket celebrities. Children particularly vulnerable The study identified children as especially vulnerable targets, with edible products commonly consumed by them comprising the highest frequency of unhealthy advertisements during cricket breaks. Products included chocolates, potato chips, noodles, and biscuits – all heavily marketed during peak viewing times. Despite existing laws such as the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, and the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act, 1995, that prohibit direct tobacco and alcohol advertising, the study revealed that companies successfully circumvent these restrictions through surrogate advertising on digital platforms. 'The research showed a stark disparity in advertising patterns – surrogate tobacco advertisements were predominantly displayed during India matches (86.7 per cent) while being negligible during other countries' matches, indicating targeted marketing strategies,' Dr Singh said. Researchers called for immediate action, updated regulatory frameworks to encompass digital and OTT platforms, stricter enforcement mechanisms for surrogate advertising, specific protections for children given their vulnerability to advertisement-induced behaviours, and comprehensive monitoring of OTT platforms with clear consequences for non-compliance. Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition. ... Read More
Economic Times
22-06-2025
- Health
- Economic Times
All adults of one in five households in India are overweight, reveals new study
Agencies Representational image An alarming new study has found that all adults in two out of 10 households are either overweight or obese. Overweight is defined as a body weight higher than what is considered healthy for a given height, commonly assessed using Body Mass Index (BMI). A person is considered overweight if his or her BMI is between 25 and 29.9 kg/m2. On the other hand, obesity is defined as a BMI of 30.0 kg/m2 or greater. The study was conducted by researchers from ICMR-National Institute for Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR), TERI School of Advanced Studies and Symbiosis International analysed data from the fifth round of National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019-21) to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity in over 6 lakh households. The results found that nearly 20 per cent of the households had all adult members classified as overweight while 10 per cent of households had all adults classified as the number went higher up in states like Manipur, Kerala, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, where over 30 per cent of households had all adults overweight, according to the study, which was published in Public Health Journal. In Tamil Nadu and Punjab, 4o per cent households had all adults classified as obese. The proportion of households with all obese members was nearly twice as high in urban areas compared to rural study mentions that families are 'gaining weight together'. It reveals that if one family member is overweight or obese, others are significantly more likely to be obese/overweight as well. "This clustering pattern underscores the urgent need for family-centred approaches to obesity prevention rather than individual-focused interventions," lead researcher from ICMR-NICPR Prashant Kumar Singh. Director ICMR-NICPR Shalini Singh, said, "The household clustering of obesity and overweight represents a paradigm shift in how we understand obesity. This study tells us the family unit is the epicentre of this health challenge."The study warned that individuals in these family obesity clusters face heightened risk of developing multiple non-communicable diseases. It is already known that obesity serves as a marker for poor cardio-metabolic health and is known to be a gateway to numerous chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and heart failure. It is also linked to 13 types of cancer.
