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The Wire
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
With Aadhaar as the Only Proof, Bihar's Musahar Community Left Clueless Amid Electoral Roll Revision
Patna (Bihar): Twenty-eight-year-old Sugni Devi only has an Aadhaar card, PAN (permanent account number) card and voter card as identity proof and she seemed sure that these documents will work in the revision of voter list. But, when informed that Aadhaar card, PAN card and voter card are not valid, she was surprised. 'Aisa kaise ho sakta? Humlog to yahi jante hain ki Aadhar card hi sab kuch hai… aur aap bol rahe ki ye kaam hi nahi aayega? (How is this possible? We have known that Aadhaar card is everything now ...and you are saying it is worthless?)' she asks. Sugni Devi belongs to the Musahar community, considered among the poorest of Dalit communities in India. She lives in Musahar Toli, a colony in Rukanpura locality of Patna in a shed created by hanging plastic sheets on government land on the roadside. Musahar Toli of Chulhaichak, Patna, Bihar. She does not have any of the 11 documents – caste certificate, residential certificate, bank account, domicile, education certificate, family register, NRC document, passport, forest rights etc – which the Election Commission has declared as the valid documents for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter list in Bihar, which commenced on June 25 and will be completed by July 26. Sugni has studied only till the Class 8, so she does not have any matriculation certificate – the document Election Commission has asked for the proof of date of birth. Meanwhile, the Booth Level Officer (BLO) has got Sugni Devi's sign on enumeration form and got the details of the Aadhar card. Sugni Devi has studied only till Class 8 and does not have matriculation certificate. She does not have any of the 11 documents asked by ECI for SIR process. Rukanpura's Musahar Toli has about 170 voters but so far, only 50-60 voters' enumeration forms have been filled. According to locals, not a single form contained any of the 11 documents the EC has asked to submit. Shweta Kumari, a resident of Chulhaichak Musahar Toli, located about 5 km away from the previous colony, reached the BLO at a primary school with the form, but she doesn't know why this form is being filled. She says, ' Form par janganana likha hua hai to humko laga ki janaganana ho raha hai (Census is written on the form, so we thought that census form is being filled).' She said that she too has only an Aadhaar card and voter card as identification proof. However, she is relaxed because the officials did not ask her for any other document and she thinks Aadhaar card will do the job. Ritesh Kumar, 30, who resides in the same locality and runs a grocery shop, says that he too has only Aadhaar and voter card. He has filled the form, but no identity proof was asked from him. Ritesh Kumar, 30, has filled the SIR form, but no identity proof was asked from him. Patna, Bihar. When told by this reporter that Aadhaar card, voter card and PAN card are not valid and that he would need to submit one of the 11 documents suggested by the Election Commission, he was shocked. 'No document has been asked from us. This way my name will be removed from the voter list. If this happens, then how will I prove that I am a citizen of India?' he said. Calling the SIR a conspiracy of BJP, he says, 'BJP wants that SC-ST (Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe) people should not be able to vote, that is why it has brought such a rule because it knows that the documents that have been demanded will not be with the poor like us.' There are about 300 voters in Chulhaichak Musahar Toli. A local resident, 27-year-old Lalu Manjhi, said that none of the families living here have residential certificates because the people are living on government land. They do not have other documents as well. He added that the people of Musahar Toli do not know what this process is and why it is happening. It is worth noting that the population of Musahars in Bihar is 40.35 lakh, according to Bihar caste survey 2023. The Election Commission has asked for the certificate of secondary examination as proof of date of birth. However, the caste survey data clearly shows that only 98,420 Musahars have passed matriculation. A dilapidated communication building in Rukanpura, Patna, Bihar. The Election Commission has also included documents related to government jobs in the desired documents for identity proof, but according to the caste census data, only 10,615 Musahars are in government jobs – just 0.75% of their total population. Residential certificates are the other accepted proof. But the data shows that out of the total 8.73 lakh Musahar families in Bihar, only 26% of them have pucca houses. A block-level officer, on the condition of anonymity said, 'Not a single voter has attached a document with an enumeration form.' Social activist Raju Manjhi who also belongs to the Musahar community, says that Musahars are the most deprived community in Bihar and most of them do not possess any documents at all. He says, 'They are afraid to even go to government offices, where will they go to get government documents made?' 'The government should pay special attention to the Musahars. If attention is not paid, the names of most of the Musahars will be removed from the voter list and they will all be deprived of the right to vote,' he notes. All photos are by Umesh Kumar Ray.
Hans India
11-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
BoB unveils dedicated agriculture branch
Vijayawada: Bank of Baroda on Thursday inaugurated a specialised CAMP (Centre for Agriculture Marketing and Processing) branch here. Located within the premises of its Vijayawada Main Branch, this new dedicated facility aims at bolstering support for the agricultural sector in the region. Chief General Manager, NABARD–AP MR Gopal was the chief guest and Ritesh Kumar, General Manager & Zonal Head, Bank of Baroda, and Anupam Srivastava, Deputy General Manager & Regional Head, Vijayawada also participated. A key highlight of the inauguration was the symbolic handover of sanction letters totalling Rs 22.27 lakh to farmers by the NABARD CGM. These sanctions included Rs 4.90 lakh under the Agri Infrastructure Fund for a Drone Package, Rs 10.30 lakh for a four-wheeler loan for farmers, and Rs 7.07 lakh for a tractor loan. Speaking on the occasion, Gopal commended Bank of Baroda's initiative in launching this agriculture-focused branch.
Mint
15-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
DS Luxury bets on premium fashion boom, plans 30 stores by FY28 as India's luxury market is set to boom
With India's appetite for high-end fashion and accessories on the rise, DS Luxury, the luxury retail arm of Dharampal Satyapal Group Ltd, makers of Catch and other FMCG products, is gearing up for aggressive expansion over the next three years. The company plans to operate 30 stores across the country by 2027–28, spanning both luxury mono-brand boutiques and a new multi-brand concept. 'India's luxury market is likely to see several new additions in terms of luxury malls, for which infrastructure is still lacking. We would look to have as many as 30 stores by then across the country," said Ritesh Kumar, promoter, DS Luxury Retail Ltd, in an exclusive conversation with Mint. The move comes amid a broader shift in consumption patterns. 'The quiet luxury trend is definitely gaining popularity in India," he said, 'but brand logos as status symbols are still relevant and garner massive demand." DS Luxury currently retails seven luxury menswear brands such as Tom Ford, Berluti, Brioni, and Brunello Cucinelli in luxury malls across Delhi. It introduced Tom Ford in the country back in 2010. Also Read: India's Gen Z is drinking less, but drinking betterLate last year, it launched a women's accessories and shoe brand, Aquazzura, and most recently, this month, it has brought Italian fashion brand Eleventy Milano to India in Delhi's The Lodhi Hotel. The company is known for its luxury, contemporary clothing and of the LVMH group portfolio—has also emerged as a very strong performer for the company, too. Multi-brand retail next Now, it is working on a multi-brand retail concept in collaboration with an international partner, with launches expected this fiscal. Initial rollouts are planned in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. 'This will be more like a concept outlet, and a lot of brands that are not present in India will find it easy to come into this multi-brand outlet and start to retail here," Kumar said. The multi-brand format, he added, will also help the company enter tier-2 cities, where luxury mall infrastructure is still developing or has not developed at all. 'These types of formats can be taken to different cities, even where luxury mall infrastructure doesn't exist," he said. The format also serves as a risk hedge in a market where brand cycles can be short. 'Sometimes luxury brands also tend to have a shelf life, so when there is a multi-brand store, that helps reduce the risk for us as well as for the brand before they launch in a mono-brand format," Kumar said. DS Luxury is also in advanced talks with several global names across ready-to-wear, shoes and accessories. 'We are very serious about looking at women's shoes and accessories as a category. Accessories, shoes and bags are doing very well as a category across the world. Select categories and brands have good consumption and strong demand, which will probably continue to see an uptick even in the future," he added. Also Read: Airfares are down but insufficient hotel rooms are keeping travel costs high: Thomas Cook Apart from its luxury fashion vertical, DS Group also owns Swiss chocolate brand Läderach, luxury children's wear stores Les Petits, Le Marche, Le Gourmet by Le Marche, and gourmet French bakery and patisserie chain L'Opéra. Le Marche, which also comes under Kumar's purview, has about 10 stores across the country. It will look to add another 3-4 outlets over the next few years to its newly launched Le Gourmet by Le Marche, a luxury grocery store that sells products from brands like Harrods, Swiss tea brand Sirocco, Bacha coffee, and Maestrani chocolates, etc. Luxury retail changes All of this comes on the back of the fact that the country's luxury retail landscape is set for a significant transformation with upcoming developments across major cities over the next 4-5 years. While at present there are a clutch of luxury malls in the country, in Delhi, Bharti group is working on Worldmark Aerocity, poised to become the country's largest mall, while Mumbai is expected to see new luxury-focused projects like Oberoi Realty's Three Sixty West in Worli and additional expansions by the Palladium group. Similar activity is underway in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and other metros, signalling stronger infrastructure support for premium retail. Also Read: Virat Kohli to continue to rule ad world despite retirement from Tests, T20Is This growth comes as India's affluent population is set to expand sharply over the next five years. According to property consultancy Knight Frank India, the number of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (those with net worth exceeding $30 million) is projected to rise by 58.4%, to over 19,000 by 2027 from 12,069 in 2022. The billionaire count is also expected to grow to 195 from 161 during this period. Meanwhile, the high-net-worth individual (HNI) segment—with net assets over $1 million—is forecast to more than double to 16.5 lakh from 7.9 lakh. Key takeaways
Indian Express
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Karnataka High Court allows burial of accused migrant labourer shot in in Hubballi encounter
The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday allowed the burial of the accused migrant labourer from Bihar who was allegedly killed in a recent police encounter in Hubballi district. The deceased, Ritesh Kumar, who was accused of murdering a five-year-old girl, was shot at in the leg and back during an escape bid when he allegedly attacked the police on April 13. According to the police, he was later declared dead when taken to the Karnataka Medical College and Research Institute in Hubbali. The People's Union for Civil Liberties, which had originally moved the court, had also expressed concerns regarding the subject of the mandatory First Information Report (FIR) after the shooting. The matter was heard by a Division Bench consisting of Chief Justice N V Anjaria and Justice K V Aravind and is set to be heard again on Friday. In the previous hearing, the PUCL had raised concerns regarding a possible cremation of the body before postmortem, with the state noting that only a burial could be permitted in such cases as the relevant guidelines would be followed. The High Court also stated that the post-encounter guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in the People's Union of Civil Liberties v State of Maharashtra case would have to be followed. The Bench on Tuesday permitted the request from Advocate General Shashikiran Shetty to bury the body as post-mortem had been completed. The PUCL, represented by senior advocate Aditya Sondhi, expressed concern regarding the fact that the FIR was filed against the deceased accused regarding the shooting and not with regard to the investigation of the shooting itself. Sondhi further stated, 'The prayer before your lordships….is to have the enquiry committed either by a retired judge or by an independent investigating agency'. The AG responded that the matter had been referred to the CID and not the local police.
India Today
30-04-2025
- India Today
Human rights body hauls Karnataka over minor's rape, encounter death of accused
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued notices to the Karnataka government and the state's Director General of Police (DGP) following media reports alleging the abduction, rape, and murder of a minor girl, and the subsequent death of the accused in a police encounter in Hubballi. In a statement released on Wednesday, the NHRC said it had taken suo motu cognisance of the reports, which claimed the incident occurred on April 14. The Commission said it was seeking a detailed report within four weeks from the Chief Secretary and the state's police chief. The report is expected to include the post-mortem examination and magisterial inquiry reports of both the deceased minor and the accused. advertisement'The contents of the news report, if true, indicate a serious violation of the human rights of the victim, a minor girl, and the arrested suspected perpetrator, killed in an alleged encounter,' the Commission said. According to the report cited by the NHRC, people gathered in protest outside the Ashok Nagar police station after the girl's body was found, demanding the immediate arrest of the accused. The accused was reportedly apprehended within hours of the incident. However, while being taken for questioning, he allegedly attempted to attack the police, leading to gunshot injuries that resulted in his death. The case pertains to the death of a five-year-old girl who was strangled to death after an attempted rape in Karnataka's Hubballi. The accused, Ritesh Kumar from Bihar, lured the child into a shed and tried to sexually assault her. When locals heard the child scream, they rushed to the scene, but by then, Ritesh had strangled her and fled. He was later identified through CCTV footage that showed him carrying the girl away while she was playing in front of her arrested Ritesh and booked him under sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and for murder. During questioning, Ritesh reportedly confessed to the crime. According to Hubballi Police Commissioner Shashi Kumar, the accused attacked police officers with stones when taken to his place of residence to retrieve documents and verify his identity. A woman sub-inspector fired a warning shot in the air, and when he did not stop, multiple rounds were fired. He sustained gunshot wounds to his leg and back and later died at the sub-inspector and two police personnel were also injured in the altercation and are receiving treatment. Police said Ritesh had been living in Hubballi for nearly three months, working at construction sites and hotels, and had been away from his native Patna for several years. A team has been sent to Bihar to gather more information on his NHRC has stressed the need for transparency and accountability in the handling of such serious incidents, especially when they involve the custodial death of an accused and the rights of a child victim. IN THIS STORY#Karnataka
