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The Hindu
27 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Karnataka proposes a new Devadasi legislation with clauses on paternity test, right to property
In a bid to strengthen the legislation against the centuries-old Devadasi system, the Karnataka government is working on introducing a new law. It intends to do away with the need for the father's name in application forms and government identity cards, besides recognising the right of the child of Devadasi to identify the father by provisioning DNA test to prove paternity. The new legislation, Karnataka Devadasi (Prevention, Prohibition, Relief and Rehabilitation) Bill, is currently being discussed to replace the more than four-decade-old Karnataka Devadasi (Prohibition and Dedication) Act, 1982. Devadasis and their children have been for long seeking a comprehensive legislation that could end the evil system and provide for proper relief and rehabilitation. 'Legitimate child' Among other proposed provisions in the legislation, being drafted with the assistance of the Centre for the Study of Social Inclusion, National Law School of India University (NLSIU), are that any child of a Devadasi will be deemed as a 'legitimate child' and will have the right to property with inheritance and succession following the Hindu Personal Law. The proposed legislation also provides the option for unwilling children of a Devadasi not to be compelled to declare the name of their father while applying for government identity cards such as such as passport, PAN, Aadhaar, and driving licence. Since the Karnataka Devadasi (Prohibition of Dedication) Act, 1982 33 cases reported FIR lodged in 22 cases Conviction in four cases Seven cases in trial stage Acquittal in 11 cases Providing the right to maintenance to the child, the proposed law puts the burden of disproving paternity on the person named as the father of the child. The provision provides the right to be availed of by a male child until he is a minor and a girl child until marriage. It suggests DNA test to establish paternity upon refusal after the child approaches the taluk committee seeking recognition of paternal bond. However, provision is also made to the person indicated as father to retain the right to disprove claim of paternity through appropriate biochemical evidence. Penal clause While the existing law has set punishment to be a maximum of three years for those performing, permitting, taking part or abetting the performance of any ceremony or act for dedicating women as a Devdasi, the proposed law increases the imprisonment term to a maximum of five years with minimum imprisonment to be two years and a fine of ₹1 lakh. Survey of Devadasis 1993 – 22,873 2007 - 46,660 2025 - Fresh survey ordered by the SHRC to be conducted before October Ballari and Vijayanagara districts estimated to have around 9,000 Devadasis 'The new Bill was first proposed in 2018 after experts deliberated on the lacunae in the existing legislation. There is a need to overhaul the legislation to protect the interests of Devadasis. Consultations were held with Devadasis and their children before the proposed Bill was drafted,' said R.V. Chandrashekar, a researcher at the Bengaluru-based NLSIU. Consultation process Sources said that the inter-departmental consultation is almost complete, and the proposed Bill could soon be brought before the Cabinet ahead of it being piloted in the legislature. Among the many other perceived benefits of the Bill is comprehensive rehabilitation for Devadasis, many of whom do not have land or house of their own, and are struggling with both social and acute economic backwardness, besides battling health issues. Activists say that while only 46,660 Devadasis have been identified, a large number remain outside the list based on which benefits, including pension, are being provided by the government.
India Today
04-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
479 farmers died by suicide in 2 months in Maharashtra, says state minister
A total of 479 farmer suicides were reported in Maharashtra in just two months, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Makarand Jadhav informed the state Legislative Assembly on to questions from MLAs including Rohit Pawar, Jitendra Awhad, and Vijay Wadettiwar, Jadhav said that 250 suicides occurred in the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions in March 2025. In April 2025, the state recorded 229 cases of farmer of the 250 cases reported in March, officials found 102 to be eligible for compensation under government norms, while 62 were declared ineligible. Another 86 cases are still under investigation. Of the 102 eligible cases, the government has provided financial assistance in 77 so far. In the April cases, authorities identified 74 as eligible and 31 as ineligible for compensation. The process to extend aid in the remaining cases is said that the state government provides Rs 1 lakh as assistance to the legal heirs of farmers who die by suicide. 'If any person in the family of the deceased person is holding agricultural land, then the person is considered a farmer. After a suicide is reported, the family is visited by a district level officer. The necessary inquiry is conducted by a committee and after the complete proposal is made by the district level committee, the eligible and ineligible decision is taken, and immediate assistance is provided,' he said in a written also noted that the Relief and Rehabilitation Department is providing support in cases of crop damage due to natural highlighted ongoing efforts to prevent farmer suicides, including financial support schemes and infrastructure improvements. 'A total of Rs 12,000 is being provided annually through the Agriculture Department under the centrally sponsored Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana and Rs 6,000 under the Namo Shetkari Mahasamman Nidhi. To prevent suicides, schemes such as getting fair prices for farmers' farm produce, increasing irrigation facilities, and operating seaports are being implemented at the district level,' he added.- EndsTune InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Maharashtra
India Today
03-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Farmer suicide crisis deepens in Maharashtra, 767 deaths reported in 3 months
The Maharashtra government on Tuesday revealed that 767 farmers took their lives in the state during the first quarter of 2025, highlighting a deepening crisis in the agricultural a written response to the Legislative Council, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Makarand Jadhav Patil addressed concerns raised by opposition MLCs Dr Pradnya Rajeev Satav, Satej Patil, and Bhai Jagtap regarding the increasing suicide rates and delays in to the minister's statement, of the 767 reported cases between January and March this year, families of 373 farmers were deemed eligible for financial assistance, while 200 were found ineligible. Investigations into the remaining 194 cases are ongoing. Of the eligible cases, 327 families have received financial aid of Rs 1 lakh each, with actions underway to address the pending cases. The government has directed all divisional commissioners to expedite the resolution of these minister outlined several measures aimed at curbing farmer suicides, including compensation for crop losses due to natural calamities and the provision of Rs 12,000 annually to farmers through the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi and Namo Shetkari Mahasanman schemes, jointly funded by the state and central the government is ensuring fair prices for agricultural produce, providing irrigation facilities, and operating counseling centers at the district level to support farmers' mental health and well-being.- EndsTune InMust Watch
Scroll.in
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Maharashtra: 767 farmers died by suicide in first three months of 2025
The Maharashtra government on Tuesday said that 767 farmers died by suicide in the state between January and March this year, The Indian Express reported. Of these cases, 373 families were found eligible for financial compensation, while 200 were declared ineligible, state Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Makarand Patil said in a written reply to a question in the Legislative Council about farmer suicides. The inquiry in the remaining 194 cases was pending, Patil said. The minister stated that financial aid of Rs 1 lakh each had been given to the families of 327 eligible farmers, and efforts were being made to complete the compensation process in the remaining cases. All divisional commissioners had been directed to clear the dues quickly, he added. The minister was replying to a question raised by Opposition Congress MLCs Pradnya Rajeev Satav, Satej Patil and Bhai Jagtap about delays in compensation and the rising number of farmer suicides in the state, Deccan Chronicle reported. In 2024, Maharashtra saw 2,635 farmers die by suicide, while this number stood at 2,851 in 2023, Deccan Chronicle reported. Since 2001, Maharashtra has recorded 39,825 farmer suicides, according to The Times of India. Of these, 22,193 were related to the agrarian crisis in the state.
India Gazette
16-06-2025
- India Gazette
Pune bridge collapse: 4 dead, 51 injured after old structure gives way under tourist rush
Pune (Maharashtra) [India], June 16 (ANI): Four people died and 51 were injured when an old narrow bridge over the River Indrayani near Talegaon in Maharashtra's Pune district collapsed on Sunday afternoon. The deceased are Chandrakant Salve, Rohit Mane, and Vihaan Mane, while the fourth remains unidentified. While speaking to ANI, District Collector Jitendra Dudi said, 'A total of 51 people are injured and admitted to different hospitals, taking treatment, and four individuals have died. Three were identified as Chandrakant Salve, Rohit Mane, and Vihaan Mane, and one was male but unidentified...' 'The incident happened at 3:15 pm and we got the information at 3:30 pm... A team of about 250 people immediately came here. The rescue operation started, and so far we have rescued about 38 people,' he added. Dudi confirmed that search operations were ongoing. 'We asked people to tell us if their relatives are unknown, and two such people are unknown. The search operation is going on... This operation will continue till we identify and rescue all the people,' he told ANI. He also acknowledged prior warnings about the danger, saying, 'We had issued advisories and warnings to all the places that are dangerous for tourists, and this was one such place, but unfortunately, the number of tourists increased a lot... Going forward, we will form a team and investigate the incident, and if the administration is found guilty, I will ensure that action is taken against them as well.' On the medical front, seven patients were admitted to the ICU of Atharva Hospital. 'According to the doctors, six patients are out of danger, but one, who was found late, is in a critical condition but is stable as of now,' Dudi said. Maharashtra Minister of Relief and Rehabilitation Makarand Patil and District Collector Jitendra Dudi visited the Civil Hospital to meet the people injured and critically ill after the collapse. Reacting to the tragedy, NCP-SCP MLA Rohit Pawar said, 'The incident is very unfortunate... When the incident happened, young locals saved around 20-25 people; NDRF and police also saved people. The bridge was quite old, and there used to be discussions about its renovation, but unfortunately, it could not be done.' 'There are many such bridges that are old, some date back to 100 years, from the colonial era, in the entire Maharashtra and their situation is also dilapidated,' he told ANI. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey strongly criticised the authorities. 'The incident is very unfortunate... Why did the authority not put up barricades when the bridge was weak? Why was the security of the tourists not tightened...? All the higher authorities responsible for this bridge's maintenance should be arrested and punished,' he said. Dubey further claimed that funds were allocated but never used. 'A fund of Rs 8 crore was also allocated for the bridge, but stayed on paper... Looking at the poor conditions of Pune, people can't even travel as tourists?... We demand from CM Devendra Fadnavis and Dy CM Ajit Pawar that all those responsible must be punished, auditing of all old bridges should be done, and security should be deployed at all tourist places. This matter is straightaway a case of murder.' The search and rescue operation stopped the agency from moving out, and a collapsed part of the bridge was removed from the river. Further investigation into the cause of the collapse is still underway. (ANI)
