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The Hindu
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Vidasam demands recovery of ‘freehold land' from land grabbers and its return to Dalits
The 6 lakh acres of land in Visakhapatnam district, which was declared freehold in violation of G.O. No. 596, should be acquired and returned to the STs, and the reports of the two Special Investigation Teams (SITs), formed during the TDP and YSRCP governments, should be made public, demanded Vistrutha Dalita Sanghala Aikya Vedika (Vidasam) State convener Busi Venkata Rao. A protest was organised by Dalit organisations at the Gandhi statue, near GVMC, on Monday (July 07). Addressing the gathering, Mr. Venkata Rao alleged that some political leaders had grabbed around 6 lakh acres of assigned lands in the district, by taking undue advantage of G.O. issued by the previous government on assigned lands. This was confirmed by the Cabinet Sub Committee. He warned that the kingpins behind the assigned land scam were trying to join the present coalition government and trying to influence the government to legalise the lands grabbed by them. He alleged that the land grabbers had got their names included after removing the names of the original landholders and converting the land into 'freehold'. He alleged that some influential persons in the present government were advising that only registration fee should be collected from the 'land grabbers'. He demanded that the government should acquire the freehold lands and reallocate them to the Dalits. He also sought amendment of the G.O. to ensure that purchase and sale of these lands should be allowed only between those belonging to one community. Dalit leader Omkar, who presided over the meeting, criticised the coalition government for failing to initiate any action on the police officials, who had beaten three youths with lathis on the road, in full public view. Another leader T. Srirama Murthy alleged that not even a case was filed by the police when a Dalit area was ostracised by the villagers in Mallam village in Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan's constituency. Dalit leaders K. Chinna Rao, Thantadi Kiran Kumar, Kothapalli Venkata Ramana, Bagam Gopala, Maturu Srinivasa Rao, Sodadasi Sudhakar and D. Nirmala were among those who participated.
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Himachal CM flags off 12 e-scooters to reach out to HIV, TB, hepatitis patients
Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday flagged off 12 e-scooters from his residence. These e-scooters have been provided to the Health department through the State AIDS Control Society and would be deployed across eight districts of the state, a release said. It said the initiative aims to deliver doorstep medical services including delivery of medicines, screening and counselling services to patients suffering from Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Sexually Transmitted Infection (SITs), Tuberculosis (TB) and Hepatitis. This is the first time such a dedicated and humanitarian outreach model was being implemented in the state to ensure that no individual was deprived of essential treatment. This initiative would ensure the continuity of medication and significantly contribute to achieving viral load suppression among patients, thereby enabling them to live healthier and longer lives, the release said. Commending the State AIDS Control Society and the Health department for this initiative, the Chief Minister said Red Ribbon Clubs, youth, educational institutions and non-governmental organizations have played a vital role in raising sustained awareness about HIV. "Making Himachal Pradesh HIV-free was our collective responsibility. I am confident that these e-scooters would strengthen our ongoing efforts." He said that over 6,000 individuals were currently living with HIV in the State and most of whom have achieved viral load suppression, a testament to the success of the state government's policies and consistent efforts. He said that the State Government was promoting electric vehicles in the state for conservation of environment and providing e-scooters to the Health department was also a step in this direction. Health and Family Welfare Minister (Col.) DhRam Shandil said that the State AIDS Control Society was actively working through 471 Red Ribbon Clubs established in universities, colleges and industrial training institutes across the state. Additionally, the Adolescent Education Programme was being implemented in schools. The Department of Youth Services and Sports and the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan were also partnering to raise awareness about HIV among out-of-school youth.
