Latest news with #Sahu
Scroll.in
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Yet again, Odisha student's death by suicide shows how India is still failing women
Predictable, knee-jerk reactions and promises of harsh punishment followed the death by suicide of a 20-year-old woman from Odisha on July 14 after she was sexually harassed by a college faculty member. The incident underscored how India's reactive and punishment-focused response to violence against women is fundamentally inadequate. The 20-year-old BEd student at Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore had set herself ablaze outside the principal's office on July 12. Two days later, she succumbed to 95% burn injuries at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Bhubaneswar The student's testimonials and letters being circulated by the media show that she was harassed for months by the head of department Samir Kumar Sahu, who allegedly demanded sexual favours to clear her attendance backlogs. Sahu was arrested on July 12 and college principal Dilip Ghosh soon after. The student had met Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi to report the harassment. She had also posted about the harassment on her X account tagging the Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, the state's higher education minister and Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan, who is a Member of Parliament from Odisha. But her pleas went unheard. The immediate aftermath followed a familiar script, with Majhi promising 'strictest punishment under law'. The state government hastily directed higher education institutions to constitute Internal Complaints Committees under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, as if the absence of such mechanisms had been a sudden revelation rather than a longstanding oversight. It shows that even basic legal mandates under the act are unaddressed in Odisha. The opposition Biju Janata Dal and Congress held protests in Odisha demanding political accountability. But systemic accountability will not result solely from resorting to criminal law and punishing offenders. The systemic failures that enable such violence must be addressed. However, since the 2012 Delhi gangrape, India has repeatedly turned to punitive legislation to address sexual violence. The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, and the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018, introduced harsher penalties for sexual offences. After the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the state-run RG Kar Hospital in August last year, West Bengal enacted the Aparajita Woman and Child Act, 2024. But less than a year later, in July, Kolkata witnessed another violent crime: a law student was gangraped in an alleged act of revenge by a former classmate after she refused to marry one of them. The persistence of such crimes despite severe laws underlines the futility of seeking deterrence through retributive punishment alone. Friends of the Odisha student say her ordeal was not confined to sexual harassment by Sahu but also included verbal abuse and harassment that she endured for months. Sexual slurs and rumours of her being of 'loose' character were circulated on college WhatsApp groups. Demeaning language by her peers led to her being ostracised, possibly creating an environment of isolation and despair. The college Internal Complaints Committee had found Sahu guilty and recommended his transfer but the directive was not implemented. These failings show that it was not just a case of individual misconduct, but a comprehensive institutional failure that pushed a young woman to the brink. This occured despite the fact that the prevention of workplace sexual harassment law, which has mechanisms to check such incidents, includes educational institutions under its purview. Section 19 of the act mandates employers to organise workshops and awareness programmess on sexual harassment and conspicuously display the consequences of sexual harassment as well as the manner of reporting to the internal complaints committee. Merely focusing on punishing Sahu and the principal shifts focus away from the government's shortcomings in implementing the safeguards already in place. However, days after the incident, the Odisha government on July 19 announced the Shaktishree programme for women's safety. Its main features include a mobile app to report complaints, an empowerment cell of female faculty and students, a code of conduct, online training on the prevention of sexual harassment at the workplace act and increased camera surveillance. #Odisha takes a bold step with the #Shaktishree Initiative to ensure safer campuses for women. — CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) July 19, 2025 The state government's technocratic approach ignores ground realities such as the fact that women, especially those from marginalised groups, have low access to smartphones and the internet. Similarly, the reliance on student-led cells, training modules and periodic visits by mentors treats sexual harassment as coordination problem rather than one requiring fundamental cultural change. The Balasore student had already reported her harassment through existing channels to the college internal complaints committee. More reporting mechanisms would not have protected her when the system failed to act on her complaints. Majhi, while announcing the Shaktishree programme, did not say whether the government has the capacity to deliver these measures, and in what timeframe. It also is not clear how everyday incidents will be prevented while this new initiative is put into place. Women as citizens Implementing both, the prevention of sexual harassment at the workplace act and the Shaktishree initiative requires political will grounded in the recognition of women's rights as citizens, not daughters, sisters or mothers. This is difficult in Indian society where close-knit family relations and caste and religion markers determine the worth of women, creating a pervasive rape culture. In another incident in Odisha earlier in July, BJP legislator Santosh Khatua used sexual slurs against Lekhashree Samantasinghar, a senior leader of the opposition Biju Janata Dal. After Samantasinghar's complaint, the police filed a case against Khatua. But the ruling BJP did not admonish its legislator or criticise his behaviour. In March, after the Congress alleged that crimes against women in the state had increased, the state government refused to constitute a house committee to consider this phenomenon. This political apathy creates an enabling environment in which violent crimes against women flourish with impunity, provoking public outrage only when they breach the narrow boundaries of respectability. In the case of the Balasore student, this culture of impunity proved fatal, as political leaders turned a blind even as the student pleaded with them to intervene. The path forward demands the strict implementation of the orders of the internal complaints committee, mandatory gender sensitisation programmes, regular institutional audits, robust grievance redressal mechanisms, psychosocial support and a cultural transformation that challenges deep-rooted social prejudices. Unless these are addressed, preventable tragedies such as the death of the young woman in Balasore will continue.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
5,100 houses demolished by DDA in three years, 3,000 households rehabilitated: Minister tells Rajya Sabha
A total of 5,185 houses were demolished in the Capital in the action taken by Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in the last three years, Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu told Rajya Sabha on Monday. Of these, 3,043 households — and effectively 17,015 people — have been provided with alternative rehabilitation in the form of flats in Ashok Vihar, Kalkaji and Narela. According to Sahu, who provided the details in response to a question, the DDA has spent Rs 766 crore (excluding land cost) in building housing for the rehabilitation of slum dwellers. Considering an average household size of five, an estimated 25,000 people have been displaced due to such demolitions. A total of 1,896 households from the Bhoomiheen Camp in Kalkaji were allotted flats in the In-situ Rehabilitation (ISR) project at Kalkaji Extension. From slum clusters in Jailorwala Bagh in Ashok Vihar, Golden Park, Rampura, and Mata Jai Kaur, 1,404 households have been rehabilitated to the Swabhiman Apartments in Ashok Vihar. From a JJ cluster at Kalibari near RML Hospital, 103 families have been rehabilitated in Narela. The rehabilitation of slums in the city is governed by the Delhi Slum & Jhuggi Jhopri Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2015, which was approved by the Cabinet in 2016. It prioritises in-situ rehabilitation to ensure alternative accommodation to a slum dweller on the same land or within a 5 km radius. To be eligible for rehabilitation, however, the slum must have at least 50 households, must have existed before 2006, and the slum dweller must prove residence in the slum before 2015. 'The transition from jhuggi living to life in a modern flat, cohesive group living, sense of community ownership of common resources like common area, lift, etc. and adapting to the changes' were the main challenges faced by slum dwellers in the rehabilitation process, according to the reply. There are 675 slum clusters in Delhi, according to the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB). Of these, 376 occupy Central government land and come under the DDA's jurisdiction. DUSIB is responsible for rehabilitating the remaining 299 JJ clusters located on Delhi government land. Political parties estimate that roughly 50 lakh people, or close to a quarter of the total population, live in slums in the national capital. Devansh Mittal is a trainee correspondent with The Indian Express. He studied political science at Ashoka University. He can be reached at ... Read More
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Dacoits loot bank in Jharsuguda
1 2 Jharsuguda: Three armed dacoits looted cash from Odisha Grameen Bank at Bhikampali in Lakhanpur block of Jharsuguda district on Monday. According to police, the incident occurred around 1.40pm when four customers were present inside the bank. Three unidentified miscreants, wearing helmets and brandishing firearms, stormed into the premises, looted cash, and also took mobile phones from people. They reportedly fled with around Rs 50,000 in cash; however, the exact amount is yet to be ascertained. Bipin Sahu (47), a grocery shop owner and regular customer of the bank, recounted the harrowing experience. "At around 1.45pm, I went inside the bank to deposit money. As I was stepping out, I saw three men wearing helmets and holding guns enter. They asked me to go back inside. We followed their instructions quietly as they were armed," said Sahu. "They seized everyone's mobile phones, though I managed to hide mine under a seat," he added. "All three were speaking in a mix of Lariya and Odia. Two of them were well-built, and one was slim. One of them wore spectacles beneath his helmet," Sahu further said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like My 4-year-old kidneys are failing, only you can help Donate For Health Donate Now Undo The bank manager, whose mobile phone was not taken, immediately alerted the Rengali police. Following the incident, the police sealed border routes between Odisha and Chhattisgarh, as well as roads leading to Sundargarh. A manhunt has been launched to apprehend the culprits.
News18
3 days ago
- News18
AIIMS Student Found Dead In Patna Hostel Room, Suicide Suspected; Cops Launch Probe
'His room was locked from the inside. Police immediately reached the spot, and other administrative officials were also called, and they broke into the room around 1 pm. The deceased was found lying on the bed. He was taken to the emergency ward where doctors declared him brought dead," said SDPO (Phulwarisharif-1) Sushil Kumar. No suicide note was found at the spot, police said, adding that Sahu's body had been sent for the post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of the incident. AIIMS officials said he was a PG student in the gynaecology and obstetrics department, who had joined the college in January. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team was called to collect evidence from the scene, and the police have started an investigation into all possible aspects, including foul play, suicide, or medical condition, according to NDTV. The incident comes days after a second-year BDS student at Sharda University in Greater Noida died by suicide on Monday, citing harassment. Prior to this, a college student in Odisha's Balasore district died after setting herself on fire, allegedly over harassment by a teacher. Earlier in the day, Dr Tapeshwar Prasad, a retired official from the Health Department, was shot and seriously injured by unidentified assailants in Bihar. The incident took place while he was returning from his agricultural field when three criminals riding an Apache motorcycle ambushed and opened fire on him.
Time of India
7 days ago
- General
- Time of India
State wildlife authorities launch app to rescue snakes
Chennai: As part of 'World Snake Day' celebrations, Tamil Nadu Forest Department launched the beta version of "NAAGAM" — a first-of-its-kind official mobile application to streamline snake rescue operations across the state. Forest Secretary Supriya Sahu said the app, developed by Leopard Labs, functions as a direct interface between the public and trained snake rescuers. Madras Crocodile Bank Trust will be its legal advisor. "The app is designed as a powerful regulatory and scientific tool to ensure ethical, documented, and certified rescues of snakes across TN," she said. NAAGAM enables the public to raise snake rescue requests with a simple tap, automatically alerting the nearest certified rescuer. It ensures only trained and certified rescuers respond, minimising the risk of unethical or unsafe handling of snakes that stray into homes. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai The app also allows rescuers to record critical rescue data, including snake species, location of rescue, photographs, and release site details. A public awareness programme will be conducted post-rescue. It also collects and organises real-time biodiversity data on snake sightings and rescues, contributing to long-term conservation strategies, Sahu said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo The app provides location-specific information on nearby hospitals and primary health centres with antivenom stocks, adding critical value during emergencies. As part of the celebrations, the forest department launched a technical training workshop for snake rescuers, attended by officials from the forest department, herpetologists, and certified rescuers from across the state. The NAAGAM app will soon be available for public use on both iOS and Android platforms, she added. At Chennai Snake Park, as part of the World Snake Day celebrations, a cartoon titled 'Snakes are farmers' friends' in Tamil, English, and Hindi was released.
