Latest news with #Shanti
New Indian Express
16 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
VIMUKTHI urges Andhra Pradesh government to implement pending welfare schemes for sex workers
VIJAYAWADA: Marking International Sex Workers' Rights Day, VIMUKTHI—the State Federation of Women Survivors of Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking—called on the State government to urgently implement long-pending rehabilitation and welfare measures for over 1.33 lakh sex workers and survivors. At a State-level meeting held in Vijayawada, VIMUKTHI President Apoorva cited Ministry of Health data stating Andhra Pradesh has the highest number of women engaged in sex work, affecting nearly 2.25 lakh family members. APSACS data from 2022 shows over 40,000 sex workers in the State are above 40 and unable to exit the profession due to lack of alternative livelihoods. Executive Committee Member Shanti criticised the non-implementation of crucial policies, including once hailed as a pioneering anti-trafficking framework during the tenure of then Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. She noted that policies such as (interim relief) and (compensation) have also been ignored. Between 2016 and 2022, 2,460 survivors were rescued, yet 90% received no support. RTI data revealed only 592 of 2,737 survivors in shelter homes received services. Of the Rs 12 crore allocated for compensation, less than Rs 20 lakh has been used. VIMUKTHI demanded a shift to community-based rehabilitation.
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Time of India
4 killed, 3 injured as truck rams into car on Bahraich highway near Ramnagar
The mangled remains of the car on Bahraich highway LUCKNOW: Four people were killed and three others critically injured when a truck rammed into their MUV on the Bahraich highway near Dhanaura village under Ramnagar police station limits. The incident occurred around 7:30 am when the victims were returning from a wedding ceremony in Kanpur. The car occupants Rajveer Kushwaha (35), his wife Shanti Singh (32) and brother-in-law Ramashankar Maurya (40) of Khiramba village and driver Ayan Qureshi (30) of Imam Bara, Gonda, died on the spot. Three others — Rajveer's 6-year-old daughter Anvi Kushwaha, Ramashankar's wife Pooja Maurya (35) and their 9-year-old son Akshay alias Ayush — sustained serious injuries and were first rushed to CHC Ramnagar before being referred to the KGMU trauma centre in Lucknow due to their critical condition. Rajveer's uncle, Anoop Kushwaha said that four cars were returning from the wedding when the last vehicle met with the accident. The truck involved was seized by police. The family of the deceased couple alleged that jewellery and valuables worth over Rs5 lakh were stolen from the bodies of Rajveer and Shanti after the accident. Anoop said that only the jewellery belonging to Ramashankar Maurya was returned by the police, while that of Rajveer and Shanti remained missing. To support the claim, Anoop presented wedding photos taken hours before the accident, showing the couple adorned with jewellery. A bag containing clothes was also reported missing. Ramnagar SHO Anil Pandey said that when he reached the accident site, only Shanti and Pooja were found inside the car, and a youth who made the distress call was present. He confirmed that an inquiry would be conducted into the alleged theft of the jewellery and missing belongings.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
4 killed, 3 injured as truck rams into car
Lucknow: Four people were killed and three others critically injured when a truck rammed into their MUV on the Bahraich highway near Dhanaura village under Ramnagar police station limits. The incident occurred around 7:30 am when the victims were returning from a wedding ceremony in Kanpur. The car occupants Rajveer Kushwaha (35), his wife Shanti Singh (32) and brother-in-law Ramashankar Maurya (40) of Khiramba village and driver Ayan Qureshi (30) of Imam Bara, Gonda, died on the spot. Three others — Rajveer's 6-year-old daughter Anvi Kushwaha, Ramashankar's wife Pooja Maurya (35) and their 9-year-old son Akshay alias Ayush — sustained serious injuries and were first rushed to CHC Ramnagar before being referred to the KGMU trauma centre in Lucknow due to their critical condition. Rajveer's uncle, Anoop Kushwaha said that four cars were returning from the wedding when the last vehicle met with the accident. The truck involved was seized by police. The family of the deceased couple alleged that jewellery and valuables worth over Rs5 lakh were stolen from the bodies of Rajveer and Shanti after the accident. Anoop said that only the jewellery belonging to Ramashankar Maurya was returned by the police, while that of Rajveer and Shanti remained missing. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo To support the claim, Anoop presented wedding photos taken hours before the accident, showing the couple adorned with jewellery. A bag containing clothes was also reported missing. Ramnagar SHO Anil Pandey said that when he reached the accident site, only Shanti and Pooja were found inside the car, and a youth who made the distress call was present. He confirmed that an inquiry would be conducted into the alleged theft of the jewellery and missing belongings.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Sex workers urge government to provide alternative livelihood, extend financial support
Members of the State Federation of Women Survivors of Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking have appealed to the government to provide compensation, healthcare, and education support for their children. The federation urged the government to implement community-based rehabilitation programs and extend welfare schemes to support their reintegration into society. According to Apoorva, President of the NGO Vimukthi, which fights for the rights of trafficked survivors in the State, there are about 1.33 lakh sex workers and survivors of trafficking in Andhra Pradesh. Speaking at a programme held on International Sex Workers' Rights Day on Monday, Vimukthi executive committee member, Shanti, expressed concern over the poor implementation of government orders intended to protect the rights of sex workers and their families. Ms. Apoorva asked the government to facilitate the formation of self-help groups (SHGs) among the survivors and provide access to loans for them through the APSACS, DRDA, and MEPMA and create opportunities for alternative livelihoods. The programme was attended by HELP, secretary Ram Mohan Nimmaraju, programme manager Bhaskar, Vimukthi project manager Pavan Kumar and others.
India Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Indian TV was better in the 90s - and it's not just nostalgia
There was a time when Indian television felt like an evening ritual, not just background noise. A time when stories unfolded gently, characters felt like neighbours, and the screen reflected who we truly were, not who algorithms thought we should be. The 90s were that rare era when TV didn't chase shock value or drama for drama's sake. It paused, breathed, and let real emotions take centre gathered under whirring ceiling fans, watching women like Shanti, Priya, and Simran navigate life with dignity, doubt, and strength. These weren't just serials, they were mirrors. And for many of us, especially women, they offered something today's TV rarely dares to: a chance to feel WHO WEREN'T JUST CHARACTERS - THEY WERE US Mandira Bedi in Shanti (UTV Software Communications) There was 'Shanti', played powerfully by Mandira Bedi, a journalist uncovering dark secrets while carrying her pain with dignity. She wasn't waiting to be saved; she was writing her own story, and thousands of women saw their silent strength in her."I still remember waiting for Shanti every afternoon. It wasn't just a show — it felt like watching a woman find her voice when we were still learning to find ours. My mother and I never missed an episode, and we'd talk about it like those characters were people from our own mohalla (neighborhood)," recounted Rekha Sharma, 47, a homemaker. There was Priya in 'Swabhimaan', elegant, intelligent, unapologetically flawed. Kitu Gidwani's portrayal of a mistress-turned-socialite was groundbreaking. She wasn't a villain. She was human, and that alone made her revolutionary for her time. "Shows like 'Swabhimaan' and 'Hasratein' were bold for their time, but they never felt vulgar. They showed real problems, real choices — not the over-the-top stuff we see today. It was like watching a mirror of society, not a circus," commented Anil Mehta, 52, a government employee. Neena Gupta in Saans advertisementIn 'Saans', Neena Gupta as Priya Kapoor, gave us the quiet devastation of a woman dealing with infidelity and finding her way back to herself. Her breakdowns weren't theatrical, they were hauntingly real. Many women didn't just relate to her, they were her. Nikki Aneja and Varun Badola in Astitva (Ananda Telefilms) Then came Dr Simran in 'Astitva' played by Niki Aneja Walia, a successful doctor navigating a relationship with a younger man, societal judgment, and her own evolving identity. Her character made space for conversations around self-worth and ageism, topics barely whispered on screen back Dey, 44, a schoolteacher, recalled watching the show and aspiring to be like Dr Simran. "I was in college when Astitva aired. Dr. Simran wasn't just a character — she was an aspiration. A strong, independent woman who made choices on her own terms. For many of us, it was the first time we saw someone like that on Indian TV and thought — maybe we can be like her too," she said. Seema Kapoor in Hasratein 'Hasratein' - led by Seema Kapoor as Savi, a woman in an extramarital relationship - didn't paint women's desire as shameful. It treated it as something honest, complex, and deeply human. These stories didn't offer fantasy. They offered a mirror. Women across India looked into it and whispered, 'That's me."COMEDY THAT LEFT YOU SMILING, NOT SQUIRMING Dekh bhai Dekh advertisementDekh Bhai Dekh gave us Sameer Diwan (Shekhar Sumar), Sunita (Bhavna Balsavar), Sanju (Vishal Singh), and the lovable chaos of a joint family we all secretly wished we had. It was warm, relatable, and full of quirks not noise. Zabaan Sambhal ke Zaban Sambhal Ke made us laugh at our cultural confusions through Mohan Bharti, the bumbling Hindi teacher played brilliantly by Pankaj Kapur, surrounded by a hilarious mix of immigrant students. It was witty without being mean, silly without being could laugh with your parents. You could watch with your kids. That kind of comedy didn't need HAPPENED TO THAT TV?Today's television often feels disconnected from reality. Women are either deified or demonised; plots stretch and exaggerate, driven more by TRPs than by truth. The rich storytelling and subtlety of the '90s have been replaced by spectacle and noise. Despite more money, more technology, and more channels - somehow, we've lost the WHEN TV SAT WITH YOU LIKE A FRIENDThose 90s shows weren't just stories. They were companions. They stayed with you long after the episode ended. They made you think, feel, and sometimes, heal. We didn't binge-watch them. We waited for them. One episode a day. And in that wait, we connected with the show, with each 90s didn't rely on flashy graphics or gimmicks. They relied on truth. Maybe it's time we stopped chasing trends and remembered how it felt when TV saw us in all our strength, flaws, and humanity. Because sometimes, the future of storytelling lies in remembering where we came from.
