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The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Nearly half of central funds for border bunkers in J&K lie unused, reveals RTI
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has not utilised nearly half of the central funds allocated for building underground bunkers for border residents over the last five years, according to information obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) application. The revelation comes amid heightened calls for civilian safety, following last month's Operation Sindoor and the intense cross-border shelling. Responding to the Right To Information application filed by Jammu-based activist Raman Kumar, the Jammu and Kashmir Home Department said, an amount of ₹242.77 crore was given to the Union Territory administration headed by the Lt Governor between 2020-21 and 2024-25. However, 46.58% of the money remains unspent. It said Rajouri district accounted for the highest utilisation of funds to the tune of ₹78.05 crore followed by Poonch (₹44.56 crore), Samba (₹42.09 crore), Kathua (₹37.20 crore), Jammu (₹17.51 crore), Kupwara (₹14.85 crore), Bandipora (₹4.33 crore) and Baramulla (₹4.15 crore). India shares a 3,323-km border with Pakistan, of which 221 km of the International Border (IB) and 744 km of the Line of Control (LoC) fall in Jammu and Kashmir. The Centre initially sanctioned the construction of 14,460 individual and community bunkers for ₹415.73 crore for border residents facing Pakistani shelling along the LoC and the IB in 2018-19. While 7,298 bunkers were sanctioned for the population along the LoC in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri, 7,162 underground bunkers got approved for villages along the IB in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts. Later, the government sanctioned more than 4,000 bunkers to cover a more vulnerable population, including the areas falling in the north Kashmir districts of Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara. According to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, so far, 9,500 bunkers have been set up along the India-Pakistan border in the Union Territory. The bunkers proved to be a lifesaver for the border residents during the intense Pakistani shelling last month, minimising human loss, even as massive damage was caused to residential houses, besides the loss of livestock. Sharing the reply of the Home Department with PTI here, Mr. Kumar expressed surprise over the non-utilisation of funds during the relatively peaceful years along the borders. "Only 53.42% of the funds were utilised between 2020-21 and 2024-25," he said. The Home Department said, "Total funds amounting to ₹24,277.85 lakh (₹242.778 crore) have been given by the government of India to the government of Jammu and Kashmir through the Finance Department, J&K during the financial year 2020-21 till date for construction of bunkers for civilians in border districts of Jammu and Kashmir." It said, an amount of ₹6,918.31 was released for 2020-21, ₹4,170 for 2021-22, ₹8,189.54 for 2022-23 and ₹2,500 each for 2023-24 and 2024-25. However, the reply said that the J&K administration has only spent ₹12,967.869 lakh (₹129.678 crore) for the construction of bunkers for civilians -- ₹4,881.108 lakh in 2020-21, ₹3,318.548 lakh in 2021-22, ₹2,275.313 lakh in 2022-23, ₹846.64 lakh in 2023-24, and ₹1,646.26 lakh in 2024-25. A total of 27 people, mostly civilians, lost their lives and 70 were injured in intense Pakistani shelling and drone attacks on forward villages in Jammu and Kashmir after Indian armed forces launched missile strikes on terror infrastructure across the border during the intervening night of May 6 and 7 under Operation Sindoor to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam attack that left 25 tourists and a local service provider dead. Poonch and Rajouri accounted for most of the civilian casualties, prompting requests for the construction of more safety bunkers along the borders. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the shelling-hit areas in both Jammu and Kashmir divisions within two days after India and Pakistan reached an understanding to halt military actions with immediate effect on May 10. He asserted that his government will formulate a policy to build individual bunkers for the people. "Community bunkers had been built, but they were not used for so long. No new bunker has come up in many years. Wherever I went, people said we should build individual bunkers," he said. "The government will frame a policy on that, and a scheme will be formulated for the people in these areas which are closer to the LoC and the border, and that would then be taken up with the central government," he added. He said the community bunkers are a lifeline during moments of crisis. "We will ensure the construction of more such safer spaces to protect and support our people living in border areas," he said.
The Hindu
21-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Concern over ‘non-translation' of teenage pregnancies into POCSO Act cases
Based on Right To Information (RTI) data, an activist has expressed concern over the alleged non-translation of teenage pregnancies into Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act cases in Madurai district. As per the RTI obtained by A. Veronica Mary, a health activist based in Madurai, in the 87 Primary Health Centres (PHC), 55 in rural and 32 in urban, located in the district, a total of 1,127 deliveries were performed in teenagers, aged under 18, between 2023 and 2024. While 429 deliveries were registered in 2023, 698 deliveries were performed in 2024, according to the data. Of all the PHCs in the district, Saptur PHC with 31 deliveries stood first, and T. Pudhupatti PHC with 30 deliveries, Virathanur PHC with 29 deliveries, Kancharampettai PHC and Thaniyamangalam PHC with 26 deliveries and Thumbaipatti PHC 25, followed in the list. Ms. Mary, pointing out the appalling number of teenage pregnancies recorded in the PHCs, questioned whether all of the pregnancies had been translated into POCSO. As per the system, the doctor or the hospital or the institution, whoever is first learning about the pregnancy of a minor girl, either through Child Line number 1098 or through available means, should inform the district administration, she added. Following the registration of the complaint, the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) or the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) should inform the police in addition to providing counselling or support to the victim, Ms. Mary stated. While there was a system or mechanism to bring the issue of teenage pregnancy to the notice of the police to follow up on the matter, the difference in POCSO cases in comparison with the RTI data showed that there existed a gap in the process, she alleged. Instead of reacting to such minor pregnancies, Social Welfare Department officials along with the Police Department should carry out awareness campaigns in schools and villages, she suggested. A social welfare department official who did not want to be named said that any information they receive regarding minor marriage or pregnancy, would be informed to the police. 'Even doctors are directed to inform the DCPU or social welfare department about the teenage pregnancies they come across. So, we have a tab on all such incidents in the district,' the official added.
Indian Express
13-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Guru Raghavendra Sahakara Bank scam: 5 years on, victims demand deposit insurance hike from Rs 5-lakh limit
According to the bank data accessed by The Indian Express, 31,376 individuals had invested up to Rs 5 lakh, totaling Rs 84.57 crore, and 5,853 individual accounts had more than Rs 5 lakh, totalling up to Rs 1,350 by Bhoomika Roy Banerjee and Mehak Singh Five-and-a-half years after the Reserve Bank of India imposed a moratorium on Sri Guru Raghavendra Sahakara Bank Niyamita (SGRSBN) in Basavanagudi, the affected depositors have intensified their demand for enhanced deposit insurance coverage. The victims, in a meeting held on Friday, have sought an increase from the current Rs 5-lakh limit imposed by the RBI under the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC). Harish V, joint secretary of the United Forum of Depositors — a group of SGRSBN depositors who are fighting to get back their money — stated that the government is doing little for their returns. In 2023, the Karnataka government ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation probe to look into the case where Rs 2,500 crore was allegedly misappropriated by the bank management. So far, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth Rs 159 crore as part of its probe into the alleged scam. However, Harish said, 'A Right To Information (RTI) query revealed that CBI had never taken the case to investigate. Thousands of them (depositors) are still in trouble and are unable to lead their lives.' He pointed out that even after five years there has been no attempt to recover the money by the defaulters or even by those from the management that led to the collapse of the bank. The administrators appointed by the government have changed but nothing has yielded any results, he added. According to the bank data accessed by The Indian Express, 31,376 individuals had invested up to Rs 5 lakh, totaling Rs 84.57 crore, and 5,853 individual accounts had more than Rs 5 lakh, totalling up to Rs 1,350 crore. Out of the 45,000 depositors, most of them got the Rs 5 lakh insurance amount from Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC). However, over 15,000 depositors who have deposited more than Rs 6 lakh are yet to get the complete relief amount. G K Gururaj, another joint secretary, said that the current DICGC insurance limit of ₹5 lakh provides inadequate protection for depositors who have lost their savings, running into lakhs and crores of rupees. 'A forensic report submitted to RBI has been passed to the administration for assessment. Preliminary estimates suggest losses of ₹1,944 crore, though depositors have expressed willingness to forgo nearly Rs 650 crore in accumulated interest if their principal amounts can be recovered,' he added. More than 60 of the depositors, mainly elderly citizens, have died after the bank fell into controversy, according to the forum. Among the depositors who attended the meeting was 76-year-old Usha Devi, a retired BBMP employee. Her husband died six months ago. Vasudev, an active member of the forum and a depositor, shared how his brother was recently denied hospital admission due to lack of funds. He also talks about the plight of elderly depositors whose basic medical necessities aren't met. He said, 'This is a humanitarian issue here; it's more than the money. Most of us are frustrated.' The RBI imposed withdrawal restrictions on SGRSBN in January 2020. (Bhoomika Roy Banerjee and Mehak Singh Interns with The Indian Express)
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Only one delivery in two years at Thandikudi GH on Kodaikanal hills, reveals RTI reply
Due to insufficient doctors and facilities at Thandikudi Government Hospital at Kodaikanal hills, only one delivery has been performed in the last two years, said a Right To Information (RTI) Act reply. Thandikudi GH, one of the three GHs in the hills, caters to the need of several hundreds of people, mostly Scheduled Tribes, residing in areas of Mangalamkombu, Malaiyakadu, Kottakombu, Kadukuthadi Pudur, among others. For the immediate medical assistance of the tribal people residing in those areas, Poolathur Primary Health Centre (PHC) best serves their needs, said the residents. But, for serious health conditions, pregnancies and accident treatments, the patients have to visit either of the three GHs – Thandikudi, Pannaikadu and Kodaikanal. For the people residing around the Thandikudi GH, accessing the other two GHs in the hills would mean travelling more than 25km to 30km. As the sole doctor at Thandikudi GH, due to the insufficient doctors and health workers, could not serve all the people, refers them either to GHs at Pannaikadu and Kodaikanal, located more than 25km to 30km away. Backing the claim of the people, a RTI data gathered by Madurai based health activist A. Veronica Mary specified that the Thandikudi GH has only one doctor in place of the sanctioned post of three doctors. While only 11 postings of pharmacists, nurses, technicians, of the 18 postings are filled, two positions of doctors and seven positions of paramedical staff remained vacant, the RTI reply added. Despite the hospital having 20 beds and having recorded an outpatient visit of 65,679 in 2023 and 75,780 in 2024, only a handful of people have been admitted as inpatients. Such patients, who wanted to get admitted for delivering babies, treated for accident injuries, were referred to hospitals in places like Kodaikanal, Badlagundu and Dindigul, said Ms. Veronica Mary. 'As the hospital has ultrasound scan machine to monitor the condition of the foetus during the pregnant women prenatal tests, due to the unavailability of a radiologist, pregnant women are referred to other hospital even for their periodical monthly check ups,' she alleged. To substitute for the vacant positions and to manage the burden, the existing doctor must rush to the hospital on 'call duty' even during odd hours, she stated. When the pregnant tribal women had to get admitted to hospital during their labour pain, they had to rush to the far away hospitals through the only mode of transport – bus, Ms. Veronica Mary noted. Due to unawareness about getting prior admission in hospital for delivery, most of the tribal women, instead of taking long-distance travel, preferred to deliver babies in their houses, she pointed out. 'Though they deliver their babies safely and mishaps are hardly reported, thanks to assistance of village elders, the hospital exists for such purposes,' she added. A health official in the district said the ultrasound machine was installed and a used one from a different hospital. 'As it collapsed recently, it is currently not in use,' the official added. Regarding doctors, the official said that as the GH was located in a very remote area, doctors preferred not to work there. 'Though appointments were due to the unwillingness of doctors, the positions still remain vacant,' the official noted.
Indian Express
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Bombay HC questions RTI law ‘misuse', seeks expeditious disposal of SIC's complaints
Disposing of the PIL seeking efficient functioning of State Information Commission (SIC), the Bombay High Court questioned 'misuse' of Right To Information (RTI) through 'frivolous' applications filed before the authorities under the RTI Act, 2005. After the lawyer representing SIC referred to some applications including the one as to how many Samosas were served at certain offices were filed, Chief Justice Alok Aradhe orally remarked, 'It is a paradox. Laws are made with a beneficial purpose This is now being misused. RTI is even being filed to find a prospective son-in-law, to get information about young government officers' qualifications.' The Court also directed the SIC to dispose of second appeals under RTI Act, 2005 in an expeditious manner. The HC was informed by the Maharashtra government that the post of State Chief Information Commissioner (State CIC) and seven divisional Information Commissioners (ICs) were filled in April and there was no vacancy in the Commission. A division bench of CJ Aradhe and Justice Sandeep V Marne disposed of a PIL filed by former chief information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi and some Right to Information (RTI) activists, through advocate Sunil Ahya in 2020. The PIL had claimed that disposal of second appeals before the Commission takes much time, ultimately frustrating the information seekers. The petitioner sought direction from the court to the SIC to chalk out a roadmap to dispose of nearly one lakh second appeals before authorities and complaints within 45 days. The PIL also sought creation of three additional posts of Information Commissioners in the state. AddItional govt Pleader Jyoti Chavan for the state government submitted that four vacancies including State CIC and three ICs were filled up in April, this year. She stated that the government is presently considering the financial impact of creation of three additional posts of ICs and shall take a decision if the occasion so arises.
