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Indian Express
10 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Chandigarh civic body revises community centre policy: free use for poor girls' weddings, RWAs meet; rituals payable
The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (MC) has decided to continue offering free use of community centres for weddings of girls from the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, as well as for meetings of Residents' Welfare Associations (RWAs) and Senior Citizen Associations, but ceremonies such as 'pagdi' and post-funeral meals (kriya bhog) will now attract a 25 per cent booking charge. These events were previously exempt, but the policy was revised after opposition to an initially proposed 50 per cent fee. The new draft policy, which includes revised usage rules and updated pricing, will be presented for approval in the MC House meeting scheduled on June 3. Earlier drafts that suggested charges for RWA meetings and poor girls' weddings were rolled back, following strong objections from civic groups. Revised booking charges across categories Booking fees for community centres are set to increase across the board. Category-A centres, currently priced at Rs 44,000 (including tax), will now be available for Rs 60,000 (excluding tax). Centres previously available for Rs 22,000 will now cost Rs 40,000 and applicable tax. For Category C centres, charges will increase from the previous range of Rs 5,000–Rs 22,000 to Rs 15,000–Rs 30,000. Membership-based access introduced The Corporation is also introducing an annual membership model for community centres, similar to club memberships. The annual fee has been fixed at Rs 1,000 for Category A and B centres and Rs 500 for senior citizens. For Category C centres, it will be Rs 500 and Rs 250 for senior citizens. Members will enjoy privileges such as discounted bookings and access to facilities like gyms and indoor games. The operation of each centre will be overseen by a management committee, with the area mayor acting as patron and the local councilor as chairperson. Nominated councillors and departmental SDEs will also be included in these panels. PPP model for operations and expansion Under a new Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative, five community centres — located in Sectors 37, 38-West, 40, 49 and 50 — will be operated and maintained by private companies. The company offering the highest revenue share will win the contract. These operators will be allowed to rebrand the centres, but booking charges cannot exceed 1.5 times the base rate. Additionally, Request for Proposals (RFPs) will be floated to construct new centres on vacant land in Sectors 24, 51, 63 and Bapu Dham (Sector 26), and to redevelop existing centres in Sector 29 and Thakurdwara (Manimajra), along with managing the Rose Club in Sector 16. These contracts will be for 15 years initially, extendable by five years.
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
CM Nayab Singh Saini urges citizens to follow Ahilyabai Holkar's legacy to realize PM Modi's vision of a developed India
Kurukshetra: Haryana Chief Minister (CM) Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday called upon citizens to follow in the footsteps of Ahilyabai Holkar, pledging to serve society and ensure education and equal rights for girls, in alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed India by 2047. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Speaking at a grand state-level celebration of the 300th birth anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar at Pipli in Kurukshetra, CM Saini said the revered queen was not just a ruler but a living embodiment of woman power who broke social barriers during an era when women were denied education and independence. To commemorate her legacy, the Chief Minister announced the construction of a museum dedicated to Ahilyabai on a two-acre land parcel, where youth can learn about her life and contributions. Additionally, a gateway in her name will be built in a city or village, with the consensus of the Pal-Gaderia community. CM Saini also pledged Rs 31 lakh from his discretionary fund for the Pal-Gaderia Dharamshala in Kurukshetra. Cabinet ministers and MPs, including Krishan Lal Panwar and Naveen Jindal, also pledged Rs 11 lakh each for the cause. Highlighting Ahilyabai Holkar's nation-building efforts, Saini noted her contribution to the reconstruction of major pilgrimage sites including Kashi Vishwanath, Somnath, Mathura, Ayodhya, Badrinath, and Rameshwaram. In recognition of her work, her statue was unveiled at Kashi Vishwanath Temple by in 2019. Saini praised the valor and leadership of Indian women in contemporary times, citing the recent Operation Sindoor where Indian Armed Forces, under PM Modi's command, destroyed terrorist hideouts in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. He lauded the vital roles played by officers Vyomika Singh and Sophia Qureshi. The Chief Minister reiterated the state government's commitment to equitable development under the 'Haryana Ek-Haryanvi Ek' initiative. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He highlighted welfare schemes such as free monthly food rations to 49 lakh BPL families, over 15 lakh free LPG connections under Ujjwala Yojana, and affordable gas cylinders at Rs 500. Healthcare initiatives under the Ayushman Bharat-Chirayu scheme were also emphasized, providing free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh to over 20 lakh patients, including senior citizens. Through the Dayalu Yojana, Rs 5 lakh financial aid is offered in cases of death or disability for low-income families. To uplift backward classes, the state has formed a dedicated commission, extended 27% reservation in education and jobs, and raised the creamy layer income limit from Rs 6 to Rs 8 lakh. Educational incentives include free schooling up to Class 12, scholarships, and waived university fees for girls. Marking World No Tobacco Day, CM Saini urged citizens to reject addiction and commit to health, service, and values. 'Let us pledge today to root out substance abuse and work toward a healthier society,' he concluded.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Delhi: Data, verification, eligibility— why Mahila Samriddhi scheme is stuck
Non-availability of consolidated data of eligible beneficiaries, time-consuming verification process, and delay in developing an online portal are among the reasons behind the delay in implementing the Mahila Samriddhi Yojana, one of the top poll promises of the ruling BJP. Under the scheme, the government has promised a monthly aid of Rs 2,500 to women with a household income under Rs 2.5 lakh. The BJP initially promised to deliver the scheme by March 8, International Women's Day. However, it was approved by the Delhi Cabinet after the deadline passed, and a budget of Rs 5,100 crore was allocated. The government constituted a high-level committee headed by CM Rekha Gupta and ministers Parvesh Sahib Singh, Kapil Mishra, and Ashish Sood as members to finalise the eligibility criteria, norms, and implementation of this scheme. Asked about the reasons behind the delay and expected launch of the scheme, the CM said, 'I believe that the time we've had so far is a very short period to implement a detailed and foolproof plan. It needs to be fully prepared and presented to the public.' She said verification of eligible candidates will be completed, and registration will take place. 'As I have repeatedly said, the Mahila Samriddhi Scheme is not a one-time scheme. It is meant to reach every single woman who comes from a poor family… We do not want even a single eligible woman to be left out… We don't want to implement it in a hurry,' she added. 'We want this scheme to be implemented in a way that an eligible woman can apply every month for financial assistance… Work is on to create a detailed plan… It will soon be implemented,' the CM added. The Delhi government has decided to create a unique data hub with consolidated data to identify eligible candidates, according to officials. To collect this data, the department has started verification of ration card and BPL (below poverty line) card holders to weed out ineligible candidates. The IT department, which is executing the data hub project, has selected six departments — Department of Women and Child Development, Social Welfare, Revenue, MCD, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, and Labour — on a pilot basis to implement its ambitious Unified Data Hub (UDH) project, which will consolidate data from various departments in a single space to ensure only eligible people avail the benefits of welfare schemes. Moreover, sources said, the committee formed to decide the eligibility norms for the Rs 2,500 scheme met last week under the chairmanship of the CM. Defining a family as husband, wife, and children; capping annual family income at Rs 2.5 lakh; limiting the scheme to women aged between 21 and 60 years; one beneficiary per family; and non-owner of a vehicle — these are among the eligibility criteria being considered for the scheme. 'The scheme is likely to be implemented before the Bihar elections, which are in November,' an official said.
NDTV
2 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Aminul Islam Becomes New BCB President: Report
Former national team captain Aminul Islam has been elected President of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), replacing Faruque Ahmed, who was ousted after a no-confidence motion and a series of controversies during his short tenure. According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, the decision was made at a board meeting in Dhaka on Friday, barely 24 hours after Faruque lost his place as one of the sports ministry's representatives on the BCB board. The move automatically disqualified him from holding the president's post. Aminul Islam, who led Bangladesh in their 1999 World Cup debut and famously scored the country's first Test century in 2000, steps into the role at a turbulent time for the board. He has taken leave from his position as ICC development manager in Melbourne to serve as BCB chief. Aminul will remain president until the next board elections, expected by October this year. Faruque's removal was initiated after eight BCB directors submitted a no-confidence motion against him, which, combined with the findings of a fact-finding committee on alleged corruption in the BPL, prompted the sports ministry to act. One of the signatories was Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, who was also the other representative from the ministry on the board. The turmoil comes just nine months after Faruque was appointed BCB president on August 21, 2024, replacing Nazmul Hassan, who had resigned from the post and his role as the sports minister. Faruque's time in office, however, was marred by controversies, especially surrounding his handling of head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe's dismissal and the 2025 edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). As per ESPNcricinfo, Faruque questioned Hathurusinghe's role on his very first day in charge and then sacked him within two months - a move that allegedly violated the BCB constitution by not consulting board directors. His unilateral decisions created rifts within the board, particularly with Fahim. The final straw came during the BPL. Durbar Rajshahi, one of the franchises, failed to pay players on time and even left hotel bills unpaid in Chattogram and Dhaka. This triggered a player protest and forced government intervention. The controversy reportedly embarrassed the interim government and drew the attention of Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the head of the interim government, who had taken an active interest in the BPL. In total, Faruque lasted nine months and eight days as president.
News18
2 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Aminul Islam Becomes New BCB President: Report
Last Updated: Aminul Islam is the new President of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, replacing Faruque Ahmed after a no-confidence motion. Faruque's tenure faced controversies and BPL issues. Former national team captain Aminul Islam has been elected President of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), replacing Faruque Ahmed, who was ousted after a no-confidence motion and a series of controversies during his short tenure. According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, the decision was made at a board meeting in Dhaka on Friday, barely 24 hours after Faruque lost his place as one of the sports ministry's representatives on the BCB board. This move automatically disqualified him from holding the president's post. Aminul Islam, who led Bangladesh in their 1999 World Cup debut and famously scored the country's first Test century in 2000, steps into the role at a turbulent time for the board. He has taken leave from his position as ICC development manager in Melbourne to serve as BCB chief. Aminul will remain president until the next board elections, expected by October this year. Faruque's removal was initiated after eight BCB directors submitted a no-confidence motion against him. This, combined with the findings of a fact-finding committee on alleged corruption in the BPL, prompted the sports ministry to act. One of the signatories was Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, who was also the other representative from the ministry on the board. The turmoil comes just nine months after Faruque was appointed BCB president on August 21, 2024, replacing Nazmul Hassan, who had resigned from the post and his role as the sports minister. Faruque's time in office was marred by controversies, especially surrounding his handling of head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe's dismissal and the 2025 edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The final straw came during the BPL when Durbar Rajshahi, one of the franchises, failed to pay players on time and even left hotel bills unpaid in Chattogram and Dhaka. This triggered a player protest and forced government intervention. The controversy reportedly embarrassed the interim government and drew the attention of Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the head of the interim government, who had taken an active interest in the BPL. In total, Faruque lasted nine months and eight days as president. (with IANS Inputs) First Published:
