Latest news with #SocialSecurityScheme
The Hindu
01-08-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Nitish hikes the honorarium of supporting staff in government schools
Ahead of the Assembly elections, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday (August 1, 2025) doubled the honorarium for cooks, night watchmen, and physical education and health instructors working in government schools. Earlier on Wednesday (July 30, 2025) Mr. Kumar had announced that ASHA workers in the State will now get ₹3,000 per month as an incentive, a substantial increase from the existing amount of ₹1,000. He had also doubled the incentive of Mamta health workers from ₹300 per delivery. Now, in his latest announcement Mr. Kumar in post on 'X' said, 'It has been decided to double the honorarium of cooks working under the mid-day meal program in the Education Department, increasing it from ₹1,650 to ₹3,300 rupees. Similarly, the honorarium of night watchmen working in secondary/higher education schools has been doubled from ₹5,000 rupees to ₹10,000.' On June 21, 2025, Mr. Kumar had hiked the pension to ₹1,100 per month from ₹400 for the old age, differently abled individuals and widows of Bihar under Social Security Scheme. Mr. Kumar further said, 'The honorarium of physical education and health instructors has also been doubled to ₹16,000 along with their annual salary increment from ₹200 to ₹400. This will boost the morale of the working staff, and they will perform their duties with greater enthusiasm and dedication.' Bihar CM expressed that significant improvements have been made in the education system through the appointment of a large number of teachers, the construction of new school buildings, and the development of basic infrastructure. He asserted that cooks, night watchmen, and physical education and health instructors have played an important role in strengthening the education system. He pointed out that since the formation of the government in November 2005, the state government has been continuously working to improve the education system. Mr. Kumar added that in the year 2005, the total education budget was ₹4,366 crore, which has now increased to ₹77,690 crore. Last week, he had also hiked the monthly pension of retired journalists by ₹9,000 to ₹15,000. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary praised the move of Bihar CM saying, 'He has taken a commendable initiative towards making the education system more robust and effective. This decision has been taken to recognize the significant role of these workers and to boost their morale. This initiative is a solid step towards qualitative improvement in Bihar's education system.' Janata Dal-(United) State president Umesh Singh Kushwaha also expressed his happiness over the decision calling it historic. 'The decision is not just an increase in honorarium, but a far-sighted and sensitive initiative to honour the self-respect and dignity of the supporting personnel who contribute to the education system with their loyalty, dedication and hard work. Education is not limited to teachers and curriculum, but it is a holistic system in which important dimensions like nutrition, security, health and mental balance are linked,' Mr. Kushwaha said in a press statement. He added that once again, it has been proved that his style of governance is a committed example of human sensibilities, social justice and inclusive development.
The Hindu
21-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Top news of the day: June 21, 2025
DGCA asks Air India to remove three officials from roles related to crew rostering The DGCA on Saturday directed Air India to remove three officials, including a top executive part of the flight operations department, from their roles and responsibilities for 'systemic failures' and 'multiple violations' in flight crew scheduling. According to multiple sources. The DGCA order, a copy of which has been reviewed by The Hindu, states that internal disciplinary proceedings must be initiated against these officials without delay. An official confirmation from the DGCA is awaited. In poll-bound Bihar, Nitish Kumar increases pension to ₹1,100 per month from ₹400 Ahead of the Assembly election, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday made a major announcement which would benefit 1,09,69,255 people in the State. Mr. Kumar has increased the pension under Social Security Scheme for the old age, differently-abled individuals and widows of Bihar. 'I am pleased to inform you that under the Social Security Pension Scheme, all old age people, differently-abled individuals, and widowed women will now receive a pension of ₹1100 per month instead of ₹400,' Mr. Kumar said in the message posted on social media account 'X'. Sharing video footage of polling station breaches voters' privacy: EC officials Amid demands to make public webcasting footage of polling stations, Election Commission officials on Saturday said such a move is violative of privacy and security concerns of voters. They said that while such demand suits their narrative in making it sound quite genuine and in the interest of voters and safeguarding the democratic process, it is, in fact, aimed at achieving exactly the 'opposite objective'. 'Match is fixed': Rahul Gandhi alleges Election Commission 'deleting evidence' instead of giving answers Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday accused the Election Commission of India of 'deleting evidence' when it was required to 'provide answers' after the poll body instructed its officers to destroy CCTV, webcasting and video footage of the elections after 45 days. 'Voter list? Will not give machine-readable format. CCTV footage? Hidden by changing the law. Election photos and videos? Now they will be deleted in 45 days, not 1 year. The one who was supposed to provide answers - is the one deleting the evidence,' Mr. Gandhi alleged in a post on X. Missing filmmaker confirmed dead in Ahmedabad plane crash after DNA match; body handed over to kin Filmmaker Mahesh Jirawala, who was reported missing following last week's Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, has died in the catastrophe as confirmed by the DNA matching of samples, a police official said on Saturday. Jirawala, 34, was passing by from the area on his two-wheeler just when the London-bound plane plunged into a hostel complex in Meghaninagar part of Ahmedabad moments after taking off from the city's international airport, he said, adding that his mortal remains were handed over to his family. Anna University sexual assault case: Plea in Madras High Court insists on inquiring Annamalai to find out who is that 'sir' A writ petition has been filed in the Madras High Court seeking a direction to the Direcor General of Police (DGP) and the Inspector of Kotturpuram police station in Chennai to conduct an inquiry regarding Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) former State president K. Annamalai's claim that he was in possession of certain records related to the Anna University sexual assault case. The writ petition (criminal) has been numbered and expected to be listed before Justice P. Velmurugan this week. In-laws kill, bury woman over dowry in Faridabad; whole family booked A woman was allegedly killed and buried in front of her house by her in-laws, who managed to keep the secret, and the body, hidden for almost two months by reporting her missing. The woman, Tannu Kumar, a native of Shikohabad in Firozabad district in Uttar Pradesh, had married Arun Singh of Roshan Nagar area here two years ago. Her father, Hakim, alleged that police refused to listen to his complaint even after he raised suspicion about the freshly covered pit, which he witnessed when he visited his brother-in-law's house. Odisha floods: 50,000 people affected by flash flood in Subarnarekha River Over 50,000 people were affected as a flash flood in the Subarnarekha River caused water to enter their villages in Odisha's Balasore district on Saturday (June 21, 2025) following heavy rain in neighbouring Jharkhand, an official said. As many as 17 gram panchayat areas in the three blocks of Bhograi, Baliapal, Basta and a part of Jaleswar Notified Area Council (NAC) were affected by the flash flood, the official said, adding that the administration has geared up for the relief and rescue operations. Yoga is the pause button humanity needs, to breathe, to balance, to become whole again: PM Modi 'Yoga should guide the world from conflict to co-operation, and from stress to solutions,' said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday, on the occasion of the 11th International Day of Yoga. The Prime Minister led the Yoga Day celebrations and took part in a Yoga session at an event in Visakhapatnam, in Andhra Pradesh. Stating that in 11-years yoga has become an integral part of the lifestyle of millions across the globe the Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction in witnessing the visually impaired (Divyang) reading yogic scriptures in Braille and applauded scientists practising yoga even in outer space. Operation Sindhu: 517 Indian nationals brought back from Iran so far, says MEA Days after starting Operation Sindhu to evacuate Indian citizens from conflict-hit Iran and Israel, India will fly out two more evacuation flights from Iran to New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday (June 21, 2025). The first flight from the Iranian city of Mashad is expected to land in New Delhi at 4:30 p.m. and the second flight will arrive late evening at 11:30 p.m. The Embassy of India in Tehran also announced that citizens of Sri Lanka and Nepal will be evacuated by the Government of India as per requests from Colombo and Kathmandu. Israel hits Iranian nuclear research facility as war continues into second week Israel's military said Saturday it struck an Iranian nuclear research facility overnight and killed three senior Iranian commanders in targeted attacks as the war between the two nations continued into a second week. Early Saturday, smoke could be seen rising from an area near a mountain in Isfahan, where a local official said Israel had attacked the nuclear research facility in two waves. Polls can't take place without govt's support: Bangladesh election body chief The government plays a central role in the election process, the head of Bangladesh's Election Commission said on Saturday, asserting that holding polls is 'not possible' without its support. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin said that no matter 'how independent' the top election body is said to be, 'it is not possible to hold an election without the government's support.' As sports embrace gender tests, Coventry and IOC may follow As the gender furore that engulfed boxing at the 2024 Paris Olympics rumbles on, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is weighing reintroducing testing, while several sports have already embraced testing for male chromosomes. Such testing has its critics and the Olympics have already tried it once only to abandon it in 1996. Incoming president Kirsty Coventry, who will become the first woman to lead the Olympic movement when she starts her term on Monday (June 16, 2025), signalled a change of direction on this politically inflammatory and scientifically complex issue when she was elected in March. Liverpool signs Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for huge fee that could climb to $156 million Liverpool delivered a huge statement of intent after winning the Premier League title by signing Germany star Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen on Friday. The transfer fee could climb to 116 million pounds ($156 million), which would make the 22-year-old Wirtz the most expensive player in the history of British soccer. 'I feel very happy and very proud,' Wirtz told the official Liverpool website. 'Finally it's done and I was waiting for a long time.
The Hindu
21-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
In poll bound Bihar, Nitish Kumar increases pension to ₹1,100 per month instead of ₹400
Ahead of the Assembly election, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday (June 21, 2025) made a major announcement which would benefit 1,09,69,255 people in the State. Mr. Kumar has increased the pension under Social Security Scheme for the old age, differently-abled individuals and widows of Bihar. 'I am pleased to inform you that under the Social Security Pension Scheme, all old age people, differently-abled individuals, and widowed women will now receive a pension of ₹1100 per month instead of ₹400,' Mr. Kumar said in the message posted on social media account 'X'. He further said, 'All beneficiaries will receive the revised pension starting from the month of July, 2025. It will be ensured that this amount is transferred to the accounts of all beneficiaries by the 10th of each month. This will greatly benefit 1 crore 9 lakh 69 thousand 255 beneficiaries.' The announcement is seen to counter the promises by the Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav. In March 2025, the former Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Yadav had promised to give ₹2500 under Mai-Bahin Samman Yojna, increasing the amount of old age, disability and widow pension from ₹400 to ₹1500. He had also promised to provide a gas cylinder for ₹500. Along with this, Mr. Yadav has promised to give 200 units of free electricity if he voted power. Mr. Kumar asserted, 'The elderly are a priceless part of society, and ensuring their dignified living is our top priority. The state government will continue to strive relentlessly in this direction.' Reacting to the announcement made by Bihar CM, ruling Janata Dal (United) leader and MLC Neeraj Kumar posted the message on social media account 'X' saying, 'Nitish Kumar ji has increased the pension for widows, the elderly, and the disabled to ₹1100 under the policy of development with justice — on time, with respect! Tejashwi Yadav ji, if you get a break from criticism, why not sell some of your billions in assets — Start the Lalu/Tejashwi pension scheme!'
New Straits Times
01-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Explainer: Malaysia's anticipated Gig Workers Bill set for tabling after delays
KUALA LUMPUR: After two postponements, Malaysia's long-anticipated Gig Workers Bill is finally set to be tabled in parliament next month, aiming to provide much-needed legal and social protections for millions of Malaysians working in the gig economy. Gig workers, such as e-hailing drivers, food delivery riders, and freelancers, are currently not covered under existing labour laws, leaving them vulnerable to inconsistent income, a lack of social security, and limited access to job-related protections or benefits. The proposed legislation will formally define who qualifies as a gig worker and set out the rights and protections they are entitled to under Malaysian law. According to Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong, the bill aims to ensure that gig workers receive social protection through mandatory Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) contributions, fair income standards, and access to training and opportunities to upskill. Currently, only 26 per cent of the 1.16 million gig workers in Malaysia are officially contributing to Perkeso through the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme (SKSPS), the minister said. Additionally, platform companies, such as those in delivery or ride-sharing services, will face greater obligations to safeguard the welfare of their workers. Last year, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the bill would also include provisions for Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributions, further strengthening retirement security for gig workers. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also said the government plans to establish a dedicated commission to oversee gig workers' social protection, resolve contract disputes, and promote career advancement for gig workers in Malaysia. The draft bill was completed following a study and a series of consultation and engagement sessions with 3,000 stakeholders. It was originally scheduled for tabling in October 2024 but was postponed twice, first to November 2024, and now to the upcoming parliamentary session.
