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Khadi India comes to the rescue of potters of Varanasi

By
The Commune
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As part of the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan,’ the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has undertaken to train potters in Varanasi to aid them in gaining skills to make earthen lamps, sculptures, and other pottery related items. “The idea is also to dissuade people from buying Chinese lights and other articles during the festive season,” the press release from PIB said.

The villages of Varanasi such as Itahradih, Ahrauradih, Arjunpur, and Chak Sahjangiganj house a significant number of potters. Nearly, 150 to 200 families have engaged in pottery. However, these families find it difficult to sustain in this field due to old techniques, drudgery involved in manual clay making, and lack of marketing support.

Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena, chairman of KVIC distributed electric potter wheels to 80 potters’ families. They have set a target to distribute 1500 potter wheels in Varanasi in the next 3 months.

Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, many non-resident workers from different states have returned to their native states as a result of economic distress. The KVIC is also planning to distribute 300 electric potter wheels and other equipment to 300 non-resident workers families in Sewapuri in Varanasi.

60 non-resident workers have already been trained by KVIC. In addition to that, 300 families are expected to receive pottery relevant tool kits next month. The mission is to create nearly 1200 jobs for the migrant laborers in Varanasi to avoid migrating to other cities for a livelihood.

Keeping in mind, the upcoming festive season, potters in villages of Varanasi have been making earthen lamps, traditional lamps, and sculptures of Laxmi and Ganesh.“Several villages in Varanasi have already been benefitted under the Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana,” Saxena said.

Jeyaraj & Bennix Case: BJP leader Tarun Vijay files complaint with NHRC

By
The Commune
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Former MP and President of Students and Youth for Thiruvalluvar Tarun Vijay has filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission and has demanded a probe by central agencies over the Sathankulam police brutality incident that resulted in the death of Jeyaraj (59) and Bennix (31).

Jeyaraj and his son Bennix had been detained by the police at Sathankulam Police Station of Thoothukudi district, following a dispute over having kept their shop open despite the lockdown.

Mr. Tarun Vijay in his complaint said “It is a national blot on us, it hurts me here in Uttarakhand, sitting in Dehradun as much as it hurts Tamils. Hence I am filing this complaint from Himalayas”.

He expressed his anguish in a strong manner saying that people who were supposed to provide protection and uphold the dignity and spirit of the Constitution became monsters.

He said that the culprits must be given the harshest punishment and must be treated like terrorists.

“Justice has been broken into smithereens. India has been ashamed. Citizenship has been abused. Faith of the citizen in law and order machinery has been broken.  They have shamed  savages like Pol Pot, Idi Amin and ISIS terrorists.” Mr. Tarun Vijay said in his complaint.

The former MP who is known for his affinity towards Tamil and passionate about Tamil causes quoted extensively from the Iraimaatchi (The Greatness of a King) chapter of Thirukkural to drive home the point of upholding justice.

The complaint was filed through Human Rights Defense International (HRDI), an organisation committed to the cause of Indian Diaspora, minorities, refugees, stateless people, women, workers and other marginalised sections of society, of which Mr. Tarun Vijay is a member.

Speaking to The Commune, Secretary General of HRDI, advocate and human rights activist Rajesh Gogna said that the colonial mindset of police force still exists. He said that the history of police brutality shows that it is the marginalized sections and common citizenry who fall victims. “Police have much more power during emergency situations like this, they should act with a sense of responsibility” he said.

“They are middle class people who had opened their mobile shops to cater to the needs of public. They had just kept their shops open for 30-40 mins extra. What was the crime in that?” Mr. Rajesh Gogna said. He termed the incident a “custodial murder” and said that the culprit officers must be tried as ordinary criminals and not as police officers with privileges. He pressed for the registration of an FIR and arrest of those involved. He called for a judicial enquiry by a sitting Supreme Court or a High Court Judge.

Mr. Rajesh Gogna added that the family should be given a compensation of ₹1 crore. “If police officers who die of COVID19 can be given ₹1 crore, why only ₹10 lakh for those who died at the hands of police officers who were supposed to protect their lives?” he said.

UN appeals to members to follow UNSC’s orders after the report on Pakistan by the US

By
Vaibavi Jayakumar
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United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a Holocaust memorial event at U.N. headquarters, Monday, Jan. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Antonio Guterres, UN’s Secretary General, has expressed that he expects the member countries of the United Nations to uphold their duties to the Security Council resolutions after a report by the United States stated that Pakistan continues to shelter terrorism. This report further included the incident of Pakistan’s inactivity towards the JeM founder Masood Azhar.

The UN 1267 Sanctions Committee designated Azhar as a global terrorist in May last year, slapping an arms embargo, asset freeze and travel ban on him, 10 years after India’s first move to have him blacklisted at the UN. Following the designation, the State Department said that the designation is an “important step” in promoting a peaceful and stable South Asia.

In their Congressional mandated country reports on terrorism for 2019, the United States accused Pakistan of harbouring terrorism and maintained that the suspension of monetary aid to the country remains in effect as of December 2019. It also accused the latter of having taken little to no steps in order to curb terrorism and prevent those groups that specifically targeted India.

It emphasized that groups that were supposedly taken action against were reportedly those that were focused externally, adding that the perpetrators responsible for the Mumbai terrorist attacks still roam free.

COVID-19 survivors at risk of losing their insurance if Trump’s bid to repeal Obamacare passes

By
Vaibavi Jayakumar
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Hundreds of Americans who have survived COVID-19 look at a bleak future as President Trump appealed to the US Federal Court to repeal the Obamacare insurance that was put forth by the previous government.

The Affordable Care Act, which was brought into force by the Obama government in March 2010, aims at the provision of affordable healthcare for people. By wrapping up this provision, the Trump government puts the lives of thousands of people who have been availing this scheme for their insurance on the line. This means that anyone applying for insurance who subsequently contracts Covid-19 could also find their insurance invalidated or be denied coverage in the future. If they were allowed to keep their insurance, they could still be charged higher premiums or have future treatment for coronavirus turned down.

The abolition of pre-existing condition coverage is especially difficult for those who have has Covid-19, because so little is known about the long-term health impact of the disease.

Following Trump’s appeal, this issue was debated by the jury of the US Supreme Court. Although the verdict has not been issued in this case, it is expected that the court will not decide until the elections get over in November.

Meanwhile, the United States reported an all-time high record of cases at 40,000, while the total number of deaths has been 124,000.

H. Raja condemns police brutality against Jeyaraj and Bennix, calls for justice

By
The Commune
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BJP National Secretary H. Raja has called for strict action against police officials responsible for the extrajudicial killing of father-son duo Jeyaraj and Bennix. He said that the matter is under investigation by the judicial magistrate and said that strict action should be taken against the culprits based on its orders.

He also said that it would be injustice to defame the entire police force for the crime committed by the 4 police officers at a police station as the police have been helping in the battle against the Chinese virus.

He said that any protest against the entire police force at this time will be considered as anti-people protest. He also questioned the silence of those who remained silent for SI Wilson’s murder. SI Wilson was shot dead by Abdul Shameem and Thoufeeq Yusuf on January 8, 2020 in Kanyakumari.

He added that the intelligence unit must identify the forces driving the protests by trade associations. He also expressed concerns over equating this protests with George Floyd protests in the USA. He struck a note of alarm saying that “one must not forget the protests instigated at the ringing of a Church bell by the Chinese wagers who helped in creating a market for Chinese copper”

“There is no alternative opinion on justice being delivered to the family and the police officers brought to books”, he said adding that this situation cannot be let to take advantage by inimical forces for rioting.

“Let’s keep talking about it, read more about it, and share the information”, he said.

Brazil signs agreement with AstraZeneca for COVID-19 vaccine

By
Vaibavi Jayakumar
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Brazil signed a $127 million deal with AstraZeneca on Saturday, to locally produce the COVID-19 vaccine that has been green signalled for trials. This company’s vaccine is gaining demand globally, as they have already signed a deal with the EU to deliver 400 million doses. According to WHO, this company has become the first to ever have a licensed vaccine formula for the disease thus far.

The British drug maker is already carrying out large-scale, mid-stage human trials of the vaccine, which was developed by researchers at Oxford University.

This vaccine is to be produced locally by Brazil’s Fundação Osvaldo Cruz, also known as Fiocruz, which is the country’s biggest pharma company. Speaking about this, Elcio Franco, Brazil’s No.2 public health official, said in a statement that an agreement has been signed for producing 30 million doses of the vaccine locally by the government. He added that it has been made fully clear while making the payment that another vaccine might potentially be licensed that might have better results.

This comes at a time when the government has been heavily criticised for their delayed response to the pandemic as well as the President’s indifference. The latter has also been criticised heavily for forcing people to consume hydroxychloroquine when the WHO has specifically advised against its mass consumption as a preventive drug.

Meanwhile, Brazil stands second in the world with a record number of 1.5 million cases and more than 55,000 deaths.

Karnataka CM kickstarts work on 108 feet Kempe Gowda Statue in Bengaluru

By
Vaibavi Jayakumar
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Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa laid the foundation stone for the construction of a 108-foot gigantic statue of Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda, on the occasion of his 511th birth anniversary on Saturday. It is to be erected at the Bengaluru Airport, which is named after him.

This project is touted to cost an estimate of Rs 78 crores, and is to be designed and sculpted by Ram Sutar, who was instrumental is designing the Statue of Unity.

Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, KPCC President D.K. Shivakumar, Deputy Chief Minister Dr. C.N. Ashwath Narayan, who is also the Chairman of Kempegowda Development Authority, Revenue Minister R. Ashoka, as well as Adichunchanagiri Mutt Seer Sri Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji, Suttur Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji and Siddaganga Mutt Seer Sri Siddalingapura Swamiji were the dignitaries who graced the event.

Kempe Gowda was born in Magadi, Bengaluru, on June 27, 1510 and was instrumental in the development of Bengaluru as a city. He also developed water bodies, including lakes and tanks for its supply to its people throughout the year.

The government also plans to develop the Kempapura village in the Magadi taluk as a tourist spot, where Kempe Gowda’s tomb lies.

Man beheads his own friend for having affair with his wife

By
The Commune
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Muthu of Alanganallur near Madurai was arrested after four months in a murder case where he had beheaded his own friend. Muthu’s wife and Muthuvelu were allegedly in an extra-marital affair.

Coming to know of it, Muthu and his friend Nagaraj had taken Muthuvelu for having drinks and later beheaded him four months ago. Nagaraju had carried the severed head of Muthuvelu and surrendered at the police station.

Muthu had by then escaped to Kerala.

Muthu had been hiding at his relative’s place in his native since the lockdown and was arrested by the police.

Shattering Glass Ceilings: India’s first woman Weapons Systems Officer

By
The Commune
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Tejaswi Ranga Rao is the first woman to be selected as a Weapons Systems Officer in the Indian Air Force’s frontline air-dominance fighter aircraft, Sukhoi-30 fleet. She will be directly involved in all air operations and weapon systems of a military aircraft.

She completed her schooling in Chennai and joined the National Cadet Corps (NCC) while pursuing her  BSc in Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Genetics from Bangalore. She trained at the Navigation Training School of the Indian Air Force for a year and graduated from the Air Force Academy.

She is also a recipient of the president’s plaque for not only acing but topping the navigation course. This achievement is a first among women in the history of the navigation course.

“Another glass ceiling shattered. A woman in control of the Su-30 cockpit for all mission-related weapon systems is definitely a first for the IAF. In a multi-crew fighter cockpit, it is essential that the pilot and the WSO work in tandem towards mission accomplishment. Having a good WSO doing her job takes off half the mission pressure from the pilot in front who now can direct his spare mental capacity towards flying the airplane,” said Wing Commander AR Giri (retired), who is a former IAF pilot.

She expressed gratitude to her parents who helped her realize her dream. She also thanked her mentors and instructors for being supportive and guiding her to achieve her goals which have paved the way for opportunities for women to play a vital role in this field.

Vande Bharat Mission: Third phase lends a hand to North-east Indians stranded in Kyrgyzstan

By
The Commune
-

Air India will carry more than 100 Indians including people from six states of Northeast India stranded in Kyrgyzstan on 30 June 2020 under the third phase of the Vande Bharat Mission.

The Government of India started the third phase of the Vande Bharat mission on 11 June 2020 which will last till 2 July 2020. The mission is to bring back stranded Indians from different parts of the world.

The Law and Education Minister of Tripura, Ratan Lal Nath said that the flight would land at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati. He added that a great number of residents of north-east Indian states had returned from Kuwait, Bangladesh, and other parts of the region.

Out of these, 70 people are from Manipur, 67 from Assam, eight from Arunachal Pradesh, and two each from Tripura and Mizoram, and one from Meghalaya.

Health officials said that they were sent in institutional quarantine for seven days, after which they had to undergo home quarantine for another seven days. Most of the residents who returned were tested positive for COVID-19.

The fourth phase of the mission will begin on July 3. In this phase, stranded Indians from Gulf countries, Singapore, and Malaysia will be brought back to India.

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The Commune is a news and views portal focusing on social and political issues of the southern part of India with a focus on Tamil Nadu.
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