Latest news with #Rajesh
Time of India
3 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Kottayam first zero-poverty dist in state
Kottayam: Minister for local self-govt, rural development and excise M B Rajesh formally announced the district as the first in the state without any extremely poor residents on Saturday. Rajesh said that when the LDF govt came to power in 2021, the first decision taken was to make the state free from extreme poverty by Nov 1, 2025, and Kottayam district was far ahead of others in achieving this target. "People in other states are amazed by the progress made by Kerala in eradicating extreme poverty. In the world, such an effort was made only in China before. We are approaching the goal by providing houses to the homeless through the LIFE project, providing land to those without land through the 'Manasodithiri Mannu' project and providing land with the cooperation of private individuals," the minister said. Ports minister V N Vasavan, who presided over the function, said Kottayam will be the first district in the country to achieve this feat. Works launched in 2021 The process of collecting data to identify those living in extreme poverty began in the district in Oct 2021. The survey was conducted on a mass basis. As many as 1,344 enumeration teams participated in the survey, with 2,688 enumerators involved. Focus group discussions and grama sabha discussions were held. Extreme poverty was determined based on food, health, income and housing (homeless, without a home and land). Kottayam became the first district in the state to complete the extreme poverty determination process on Jan 10, 2022. As many as 1,071 people were identified in the survey. Those who died and those who migrated to other states or districts were excluded through a super check. In the final list, 903 people were found to be extremely poor. In Aug 2022, 978 microplans were prepared for the rehabilitation and livelihood of the extremely poor. Project implementation began in Oct 2022. According to the microplan prepared at the LSG level, health services such as food, medicines, palliative care and health aids were made available to all families in need. Providing food kits to families facing food shortages and cooked meals to families unable to cook is still continuing. This service is currently being provided to 605 families. Medicines were made available to 693 families in need. Palliative care services are also being provided to 206 families who needed them. Health and safety supplies were provided to six families in need. Facilities were provided for 155 families who needed a source of income. Income sources were provided to 140 families through the Kudumbashree-Ujjeevanam project, six families through LSG bodies, five families through other departments, and five families through private institutions. Safe housing was ensured for all homeless and landless people. Houses were ensured for 67 families in extreme poverty who needed only houses. Land and houses were secured for 50 families in need of houses, property and housing. Twenty-two families were shifted to rented houses. This was made possible through the LIFE project, PMAY project, sponsorship, and the help of other voluntary organizations. As many as 490 beneficiaries were provided with entitlement documents, including Aadhaar, ration card, bank account and other identity cards. Fifty-five students were also provided with free bus passes. Along with providing study materials to these children, study guidance programmes were also organized. As part of the project, steps were taken to rehabilitate and treat those who wandered and those facing mental challenges.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Rooted in nature, this security guard is fierce guardian of trees
1 2 3 Rajkot: Whenever the monsoon arrives in full bloom, the lone room of a modest one-bedroom flat in Balsar village, some six km from Rajkot, comes alive with activity. Seven-year-old Nidhi and her five-year-old brother Dev sit cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by a sea of envelopes, diligently packing seeds of various plant species. Their father, Rajesh Baraiya, carefully matches each seed type to the correct address before the packets are dispatched across the country. Welcome to Gujarat's most heartfelt seed bank — not housed in a plush office, but silently thriving in a humble home, bare of sofas, décor, or any modern frills. Baraiya is no trader of seeds, but a security guard in a private company, whose passion has turned him into a diligent guardian of fast-depleting tree species. Despite working in a 12-hour shift and earning a humble salary, this 35-year-old's dedication is as deep-rooted as the trees he has helped nurture. Since 2019, he has been running the Vande Vasundhara Seed Bank, distributing rare and native plant seeds to thousands across India. His only charge? Courier fees. Baraiya started expressing his emotions for trees through poems, but he felt words were not enough to save them from extinction. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Haz tu Kia tuyo. Kia Undo In June 2019, he turned his poetry into action, starting with a few packets in the informal seed bank. Today, it's a collection of over 200 varieties — custard apple, bamboo, butterfly pea (Aparajita), Nepali pepper (Timru), cannonball tree (Kailaspati), black datura, haritaki, and more — many of them vanishing from India's soil but surviving in Rajesh's care. Rajesh has unflinching support of his wife, Dani, who dries fruits and pods. During rains— the peak planting season — orders pour in. In the first 25 days of June alone, Baraiya sent out 1,080 seed packets. His target for the season: 4,000. Among the recipients are 550 schools and colleges in Gujarat — none charged for shipping. With some help from social media and conventional word-of-mouth, he shares his number online and calls start flooding in from Jammu to Kerala. Now, Others send back seeds of their own harvest in gratitude, helping the cycle continue. Hasmukh Patel, a farmer near Kalawad in Jamnagar, said, "Three years back, he was searching for seeds of Leptadenia reticulata ,a rare medicinal plant known as Jivanti Dodi. I found Baraiya and received the seeds, grew the plant successfully. I now donate seeds back to the bank. On weekends, while others rest, Baraiya sets off on long journeys into forests and far-off villages, searching for rare species, pods, or even just a single viable seed. Sometimes, he brings back medicinal plants people request. Every journey adds another layer to this living archive of India's flora.
Hindustan Times
10 hours ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Kottayam first district in Kerala which is free of extreme poverty: Minister Rajesh
Kottayam , Kerala Minister for Local Self Government, M B Rajesh, on Saturday declared Kottayam district as free of extreme poverty. Kottayam first district in Kerala which is free of extreme poverty: Minister Rajesh Rajesh, speaking at a function held here where he made the announcement. said that Kottayam is leading the way in achieving the state government's goal of making Kerala free of extreme poverty. State Cooperation Minister V N Vasavan, who presided over the event, hailed the achievement and said Kottayam was probably the first district in the country to be free of extreme poverty. Rajesh, during his speech, said that the first decision taken by the current LDF government was to eradicate extreme poverty from the state. For this, a survey was conducted and 64,006 families were found to be living in extreme poverty, he said. He claimed that such an attempt had been made before only in China. As part of the initiative, microplans were prepared for each family and 93 per cent of the families identified in the survey have been lifted out of extreme poverty, he contended. He also said that other states in the country were amazed by Kerala progress in eradicating extreme poverty. Rajesh said the government was moving towards its goal of eradicating extreme poverty by providing houses to the homeless through the LIFE project and giving land to the landless. Vasavan, speaking about Kottayam's achievement, said that the district was ahead in completing the data collection process and preparing and implementing the microplans. He said that 903 families were identified as extremely poor in the district in the final list and 978 microplans were prepared for them in August 2022. As per the microplans prepared at the local self-government body level, food, medicines, palliative care, and health support services, including equipment, were made available to all the families in need, he said. Besides that, facilities for an income source were also provided to over 150 families, the minister said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
News18
16 hours ago
- News18
A YouTuber's Video, A BJP MP's Call: How A Man Was Freed From 17 Years Of Bonded Labour
Last Updated: Trapped in bonded labour for 17 years in Punjab, Uttarakhand's Rajesh was rescued after a video by YouTuber Jagjeet Singh caught the eye of MP Anil Baluni, who stepped in to help In a startling case that highlights the persistence of modern slavery in India, a man from Uttarakhand has been rescued from bonded labour in Punjab's Tarn Taran district after 17 years of captivity. His ordeal came to light after a video filmed in a cowshed caught the attention of Garhwal MP Anil Baluni, who helped initiate his rescue. The man, Rajesh, left Uttarakhand at the age of 18. For nearly two decades, his family had no knowledge of his whereabouts—until recently, when a YouTuber-activist filmed him living in dire conditions. The footage led to intervention from civil society and political leadership. Baluni, who saw the viral video, immediately contacted Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria to seek help in bringing Rajesh back. However, he credits the real breakthrough to grassroots efforts. Speaking to News18, Baluni said, 'I haven't done much. I just made few calls. The real work was done by a YouTuber Jagjeet Singh and team. It's them who took the risk to shoot the video and made us aware of it." बहुत बहुत आभार महामहिम राज्यपाल जी, आपके त्वरित मानवीय सहयोग के लिए। आपने अमानवीय व्यवहार, प्रताड़ना और नारकीय जीवन जी रहे मेरे लोक सभा गढ़वाल से चमोली के युवक राजेश को मुक्ति दिलाई।मैं पंजाब पुलिस के डीजीपी श्री गौरव यादव जी, एसएसपी तरन तारण और सम्पूर्ण पुलिस टीम का भी… — Anil Baluni (@anil_baluni) June 25, 2025 Jagjeet Singh, who also runs the NGO that rescued Rajesh, said they acted on a tip-off that claimed three men were being forced to work '20 hours a day." In a previous statement to The Indian Express, Singh confirmed the operation and added that Rajesh is now receiving medical treatment at Tarn Taran District Hospital. News18. Rajesh is currently under medical care, including psychological treatment for the trauma endured during his years in captivity. His return to Uttarakhand is expected once doctors clear him for travel. While Rajesh's story may appear exceptional, it reflects a broader and deeply troubling pattern. A 2021 estimate by the Walk Free Foundation placed around 11 million people in India under modern slavery, which includes forced labour and debt bondage. According to Union government data, 315,302 people were released from bonded labour between 1978 and January 2023, with 94 per cent reportedly rehabilitated. This case serves as a sobering contrast in India's growth narrative—where on one end, Indians are flying to the International Space Station, and on the other, individuals like Rajesh still live and suffer in invisible chains. First Published: June 28, 2025, 16:16 IST
New Indian Express
20 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Torture of two dalit men: Ganjam police nabs main accused
BERHAMPUR: Five days after two dalit men were assaulted and tortured on cattle smuggling suspicion at Dharakote, Ganjam police arrested the prime accused in the case and produced him in court on Friday. The accused is 20-year-old Rajesh Samal of Jahada village. Rajesh reportedly led the mob which assaulted and tortured Babula Naik and Bulu Naik of Singipur village on June 22. IIC of Dharakote police station Chandrika Swain said so far, 12 people have been arrested in connection with the incident. Efforts are underway to nab others involved in the case. According to the FIR filed by the victims, they were transporting a cow and two calves to their village on a cargo auto-rickshaw when a mob intercepted them at Kharigumma. Accusing them of transporting the cattle illegally, the group demanded Rs 30,000 to release the animals. The FIR said when the victims refused to comply, the miscreants tied their limbs, thrashed them, partially shaved their heads at a local salon and forced them to crawl for nearly two km to Jahada village. They were also forced to consume grass and drain water at Jahada.
