
‘Eradication of child labour our priority'
Ashok Kumar
, announced on Tuesday that a strategic meeting will be held in the first week of July to finalise a comprehensive plan for the eradication of child labour.
He was speaking at an introductory meeting of the commission following its reconstitution.
He acknowledged that making Bihar child labour-free poses a challenge. "It can only be achieved when the government, society, families, and administrative machinery work together in coordination," he said. He placed special emphasis on the role of families and the importance of public awareness campaigns.
Secretary-cum-labour commissioner Rajesh Bharti outlined the state's accomplishments in this domain, saying that Bihar is the first state in the country to implement a child labour tracking system (CLTS).
He added that Bihar is the first state to offer financial assistance of Rs 25,000 from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to each rescued child labourer, which he said underscores the government's sensitivity and commitment.
Vice-chairman Arvind Kumar Singh stressed the need for coordination across departments, academia, and civil society. "It is essential to raise awareness among family members through extensive publicity at all levels," he said. He reiterated that a child labour-free Bihar can only be realised through the participation of all stakeholders.
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The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
Fulfil freedom fighters' dreams, Minister urges people
Information and Public Relations Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy has appealed to people to strive towards fulfilling the dreams of the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for India's independence. Addressing the gathering at the 79th Independence Day celebrations held at the police parade grounds here on Friday, the Minister, along with MLA Badeti Chanti, Zilla Parishad Chairperson Ganta Padma Sri, Eluru District Collector K. Vetri Selvi, Range IGP G.V.G. Ashok Kumar, Superintendent of Police K. Pratap Shiva Kishore, and Joint Collector Dhatri Reddy, recalled the sacrifices of the nation's heroes and urged the youth to draw inspiration from them. Highlighting various welfare and development initiatives, Mr. Parthasarathy said the government was committed to empowering the poor, women, and students. 'It is our duty to develop the nation in all spheres, just as our freedom fighters envisioned,' he said. On the occasion, the Minister launched the 'Stree Shakti Scheme', enabling free bus travel for women in Eluru. Accompanied by the Collector and other officials, he travelled in a bus and interacted with women passengers to understand their experiences. IGP Ashok Kumar distributed sweets to staff and urged police personnel to work with dedication and ensure justice for the needy. The SP participated in Independence Day celebrations at Suresh Chandra Bahuguna English Medium School, motivating students to work hard to achieve their dreams. He also assured the development of school infrastructure, including the provision of computers for the laboratory. Cultural performances by students won the appreciation of the police officers present. Later, the Minister, Collector, IGP, and SP presented meritorious certificates to 54 personnel for their exemplary service.


News18
4 days ago
- News18
'Corridor In Vrindavan, Improved Facilities': What Is Shri Banke Bihari Temple Trust Bill?
Last Updated: The legislation promises improved facilities, streamlined crowd management, and greater financial transparency, while assuring that centuries-old rituals remain untouched. Shri Banke Bihari Temple Trust Bill, 2025, was presented and passed in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday — the third day of Monsoon Session. The legislation promises improved facilities, streamlined crowd management, and greater financial transparency, while assuring that centuries-old rituals remain untouched. The bill also proposes the creation of a Banke Bihari Corridor to manage the overwhelming crowds at the revered temple. What is Shri Banke Bihari Ji Temple Trust Bill, 2025? The bill seeks to establish a statutory trust with full administrative authority over the temple's assets, finances, crowd management, and facilities, while pledging to preserve the shrine's centuries-old traditions. Interestingly, the bill was tabled despite the Supreme Court recently staying a similar ordinance issued on May 26 this year, which aimed to bring the temple under a newly created trust. On August 8, the apex court set up an interim 14-member committee, headed by retired Allahabad High Court judge Justice Ashok Kumar, to oversee the temple's day-to-day affairs until the Allahabad High Court decides on the ordinance's validity. The government has cited the August 2022 stampede at the temple, in which two devotees died and seven were injured, as a major reason for introducing the bill. The shrine occupies around 870 square metres, with only 365 square metres functioning as the viewing courtyard. Narrow access routes to the temple, combined with lakhs of devotees arriving annually – especially during festivals – create acute congestion. The 2022 tragedy, the government's statement says, exposed the urgent need for efficient crowd control, safer facilities, and regulated darshan arrangements. The bill also ties into the state's vision for a Banke Bihari Corridor, modelled on Varanasi's Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, to ease access and improve infrastructure for pilgrims. Corridor Project and Legal Disputes The corridor plan has been embroiled in legal disputes. After the Kashi Vishwanath project's inauguration in February 2022, the Adityanath government shifted its focus to Vrindavan's most famous shrine. It proposed using temple funds to acquire five acres of surrounding land for the corridor, prompting opposition from the temple's Goswami priest community. The Allahabad High Court barred the use of temple funds for the project. In May this year, the Supreme Court overruled the High Court, allowing the funds to be used, after which the state issued the May 26 ordinance creating the trust. But following a review petition from the Goswamis, the court modified its earlier order, deleting the part that permitted use of temple funds and acknowledging it had erred by not hearing the priest community. This led to the stay on the ordinance earlier this month. Custodianship and Administrative Powers The bill proposes the formation of the Shri Banke Bihari Ji Temple Trust as the custodian of all movable and immovable assets of the shrine, including idols, ornaments, jewellery, cash, cheques, drafts, hundi collections, gifts, grants, contributions, and properties. It grants the trust powers to set darshan timings, appoint priests and staff, determine their salaries, ensure the safety of devotees, and maintain financial transparency through proper record-keeping. The trust would also be empowered to acquire movable or immovable property worth up to Rs20 lakh without state approval, with larger purchases requiring government sanction. It would be authorised to resolve disputes over claims to the deity, temple, or associated lands. Composition of the Proposed Trust According to the bill, the Shri Banke Bihari Temple Trust will have 18 members – 11 nominated and 7 ex-officio. All nominated members must be Sanatani Hindus, including three eminent representatives from Vaishnav sects, three from other Sanatan Dharma traditions, three distinguished individuals such as scholars or social workers, and two Goswami tradition representatives – one each from the Raj-Bhog and Shayan-Bhog Sevayats, descendants of the temple's 16th-century founder, Swami Haridas Ji. Ex-officio members will include the District Magistrate, Senior Superintendent of Police, Municipal Commissioner, CEOs of the Braj Teerth Kshetra Vikas Parishad and the Trust, and a state government nominee. If any ex-officio nominee is non-Hindu or not aligned with Sanatan Dharma, a junior officer will replace them. The Trust's CEO will hold ADM rank, and trustees will not be personally liable for decisions made in good faith. Promised Facilities for Devotees The bill also promises provisions for improved facilities for devotees, including prasad distribution centres, dedicated darshan paths for the elderly and persons with disabilities, drinking water stations, resting benches, queue and access management kiosks, cow shelters, an Annakshetra (community kitchen), hotels, inns, exhibition halls, canteens, and waiting rooms. These, the government says, will provide world-class amenities without disrupting religious practices. It has assured that all rituals, festivals, customs, and traditions of the temple will continue without change. Political Debate and Community Concerns Politically, the move has sparked debate, as the BJP – now championing the bill – has historically opposed government interference in temple administration. The Goswami priest community fears the trust could dilute their traditional control over the shrine's affairs. The government, however, insists that the trust will be an autonomous body designed to 'preserve and formalise existing traditions" while ensuring 'financial transparency" and accountability. 'The purpose of the trust is not to take over assets or properties of the temple. Instead, it is to merely ensure that financial transparency is maintained," the official statement clarified. Though the Assembly has passed the bill, its implementation remains stalled due to ongoing court proceedings. Until the Supreme Court's stay is lifted and the legal questions resolved, the trust will remain on paper only, with the interim committee continuing to manage the shrine's affairs. Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Banke Bihari temple vrindavan view comments Location : Lucknow, India, India First Published: August 14, 2025, 16:19 IST News explainers 'Corridor In Vrindavan, Improved Facilities': What Is Shri Banke Bihari Temple Trust Bill? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Yogi govt tables bill to formBanke Bihari temple Trust
1 2 Lucknow: The Yogi Adityanath govt tabled the Sri Banke Bihari Temple Nyas Bill in the UP assembly on Wednesday, the third day of the monsoon session. The state govt had earlier promulgated an ordinance, Sri Banke Bihari Nyas Adhyadesh. The bill tabled on Wednesday stipulates that the trust will have a right over offerings, donations, and all movable and immovable properties of the temple. This includes idols installed in the temple, offerings/gifts made to deities within the temple premises and precincts, property given in support of any worship-service-ritual-ceremony-religious ritual, offerings in cash or kind, and bank drafts and cheques sent by post/telegram for the use of the temple. The temple properties will include all movable and immovable properties of Shri Banke Bihari Ji Temple, including jewellery, grants, contributions and hundi collections. Earlier, after the ordinance was challenged in the Supreme Court, the apex court had stayed the operation of the ordinance last week and advised the petitioner to approach the high court to get the matter resolved. The SC also formed a high-powered committee under the chairmanship of Justice Ashok Kumar, former judge, Allahabad HC, to oversee and supervise the day-to-day functioning of the temple till the final outcome of proceedings before the Allahabad however, clarified that its interim direction won't stop the state govt from ratification of the ordinance in the state assembly. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Move That Changed Their Lives - See How It Works! Forex Trading | Search Ads Learn More Undo However, the exercise would be subject to the outcome of the HC proceedings, the apex court had said. While tabling the bill on Wednesday, the state govt said the customs, festivals, ceremonies and rituals that have been going on since the time of Swami Haridas would continue without any interference or change. The trust will fix the time of darshan, appoint priests and determine salaries, allowances/compensation. Along with this, the trust will also be responsible for the safety of devotees and visitors and effective administration and management of the temple. "After the formation of the trust, the target has been set to provide world-class facilities to the devotees. This will include arrangements like distribution of prasad, separate 'darshan path' for senior citizens and divyangs, drinking water, benches, access and queue management kiosks. Similarly, cow shelters, a kitchen, hotel, exhibition room, canteen and waiting room will also be developed," the govt said. According to the state govt, the trust will have 11 nominated and 7 ex-officio members. The nominated members will include three eminent members from Vaishnav traditions/sects/peeths (which may include sadhus, saints, munis, gurus, scholars, head priests, mahants, acharyas, swamis). There will also be three members from traditions/sects/peeths of Sanatan Dharma (eminent personalities of the same category). Likewise, three members from any branch/sect of Sanatan Dharma (eminent person/educationalist/scholar/entrepreneur/professional/social worker), two members from Goswami tradition- descendants of Swami Haridas-ji; one representative of Raj-Bhog Sevadaars and the other of Shayan-Bhog Sevadaars. All nominated members will be Sanatani Hindus. Their tenure will be of three years. Ex-officio members will include the Mathura district magistrate, SSP, municipal commissioner, CEO of Uttar Pradesh Braj Teerth Kshetra Vikas Parishad, CEO of Banke Bihari Temple Trust, and a nominated representative of the state govt. If an ex-officio member is a non-Hindu/non-believer of Sanatan Dharma, a junior officer will be nominated in his place. The meeting of the trust will be mandatory every three months. For this, notice will have to be given 15 days before the event. The board/members will not be held liable for actions done in good faith. The trust will have the right to purchase movable/immovable property up to Rs 20 lakh on its own. Above this, govt approval will be required. The CEO will be an ADM-level officer. "The ordinance institutionalised the administration while protecting the religious tradition of the temple and presents a roadmap to provide improved experience to the devotees," the state govt said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.