Latest news with #Thakur
Hindustan Times
31 minutes ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Utmost priority to bridge gender gap in India: Centre on WEF Gender Gap report
New Delhi, The Centre on Wednesday said it has given utmost priority to bridge the gender gap in India, in response to the country slipping to the 131st position out of 148 countries in the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Index 2025, down from 129th rank in 2024. Utmost priority to bridge gender gap in India: Centre on WEF Gender Gap report Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur said the government is committed to reducing gender disparity through a "multi-pronged approach" across economic, educational and political domains. "The Government of India has given utmost priority to bridge the gender gap in India, by reducing disparity between men and women and by increasing socio-economic status of women and their participation in various fields," Thakur said in a written reply. She highlighted several initiatives including the enhanced paid maternity leave, cash benefits for mothers under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, and schemes like Sakhi Niwas, Stand Up India and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana to boost women's employment, entrepreneurship, and skill development. Thakur also underlined the government's focus on political empowerment of women, citing the passage of the Constitution Act, 2023 or the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which mandates one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. On the education front, she said schemes like Samagra Shiksha, construction of gender-segregated toilets, and the Vigyan Jyoti initiative are focused on improving enrolment and participation of girls, particularly in STEM fields. Responding specifically to the impact of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme on India's gender ranking, Thakur said it had transformed from a policy into a "national movement." She said the scheme has contributed to behavioural change, with the sex ratio at birth improving from 918 in 2014-15 to 930 in 2023-24 and gross enrolment of girls in secondary education rising from 75.51 per cent to 78 per cent during the same period. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Health
- Time of India
PMCH's new emergency and indoor patient wards likely to open by Aug 15
1 2 P atna: The new state-of-the-art emergency and indoor patient wards of Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) will likely become operational from Independence Day on Aug 15. The PMCH administration is expediting preparations, with Bihar Medical Services and Infrastructure Corporation Ltd (BMSICL) tasked to provide necessary resources, including an oxygen pipeline and other equipment to all beds by Aug 7. The 100-bed emergency ward and 272-bed indoor section for the medicine department will enable patients to access both the facilities at a single location. Hospital superintendent Dr I S Thakur said on Wednesday the construction company will hand over the designated space for the medical emergency and indoor facilities by Aug 7. "The hospital administration is making all preparations to start both the services by Aug 15. We will have the 100-bed emergency ward and a female indoor section with 72 beds on the second floor of the new G+9 building. A 200-bed indoor medicine ward will be there on the fourth floor," he said. The superintendent told this newspaper they need to ensure the availability of oxygen and other essentials in the wards. The newly inaugurated building presently has outdoor patient departments (OPDs) on the third floor, Dr Thakur said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why Your Current Make-Up Routine Might Be Aging You Learn More Undo Around 11 OPDs are operational from the G+9 building, which include ENT, cardiology, medicine, physiotherapy and rehabilitation therapy, preventive and social medicine, paediatrics, gynaecology, dermatology, orthopaedic and ophthalmology. Besides, the new building also has facilities like medical and surgical goods stores, a blood bank, laundry room and multiutility services. "The building was already inaugurated last year. Now we will shift all the facilities to the new building in phases. After shifting the emergency services, we will close the Hathua, Gujri and LS wards, and their old buildings will be demolished. Secondly, we will start the indoor and emergency wards of the paediatric department, along with NICU and PICU, besides the gynaecology and ophthalmology wards," Dr Thakur said. The first phase of the PMCH redevelopment was supposed to be completed by 2024, second by 2026, and the third phase by 2028, but there have been delays due to Covid-19. The first phase included construction of four towers, of which two are completed, the third is under construction and likely to be completed by Dec, while the fourth tower will take two more years. There will be a facility of 5,462 beds — in the first phase, the hospital will get around 2,250 beds, around 1,800 in second, and around 1,400 in the third phase. Funds to the tune of Rs 5,460 crore is being utilised for the redevelopment. Medical equipment worth Rs 764.3 crore will be purchased in all three phases. Equipment worth Rs 329.9 crore will be installed in the first phase, Rs 237.4 crore in second, and Rs 197 crore in the third phase.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Anurag Thakur claims Indira Gandhi sought US help during 1971 Pakistan war
BJP member Anurag Thakur on Wednesday claimed in the Lok Sabha that Indira Gandhi had sought the US' intervention to stop the war with Pakistan in 1971 when she was the prime minister. BJP MP Anurag Thakur wondered whether Indira Gandhi didn't trust the armed forces and chose to plead with the US to halt the war with Pakistan. (Sansad TV/ANI Video Grab) Thakur said Indian soldiers won the 1971 war, but 'someone else' was declared the Iron Lady. He claimed that the war was won on the battlefield but lost at the negotiation table. "If you dig a little deeper in history, the layers start unravelling. The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had written to US President Nixon. It appears as though a supplicant was pleading before the US president," Thakur said, making a Zero Hour mention in the Lok Sabha. Also Read: 'Indira Gandhi rewrote…': Shashi Tharoor dismisses 1971 comparison by Congress amid ceasefire Anurag Thakur read out the letter Gandhi wrote to Nixon He read out a letter from Gandhi to Nixon wherein she urged the US president to persuade Pakistan to desist forthwith from the policy of wanton aggression and military adventurism. "The nation has to decide whether the government of that day was iron or an irony," Thakur said, referring to the letter dated December 5, 1971. Congress members were on their feet, protesting against the reference made by Thakur. Also Read: 'Bol dega': Rahul dares PM Modi to call Trump a 'liar' over ceasefire claims 'Indira Gandhi did not trust the armed forces' The former Union minister wondered whether Gandhi did not trust the armed forces and chose to plead with the US to halt the War. "This family is adept at bending and begging the US to ask Pakistan to end the war," Thakur said, hitting out at Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi's remarks daring the Narendra Modi government to show half the courage shown by Indira Gandhi during the 1971 war. "Why did Indira Gandhi approach the US to end the war?" Thakur said. He said Indira Gandhi had complained that Pakistan had launched a malicious propaganda launched in 1971 against India. "The Congress is indulging in the same malicious propaganda on behalf of Pakistan today," Thakur said.
India Today
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Mrunal Thakur gets a pre-birthday surprise on Dacoit sets, Adivi Sesh shares video
Actor Mrunal Thakur received an unexpected pre-birthday surprise on the sets of her film, 'Dacoit'. The actor is set to turn 33 on July 31. Her co-star Adivi Sesh shared a video of Thakur's pre-birthday celebration on the video shared by Sesh, Thakur can be seen being led into a room where the cast and crew were waiting for a cake-cutting ceremony. She is dressed as her character, Juliet. The occasion turned more joyous when she started dancing as everyone sang 'Happy Birthday'.advertisement"Happy Birthday, Juliet. Celebrating early on the sets of Dacoit (sic)," read the caption of the post. Have a look at the video shared by Adivi Sesh here: Directed by Shaneil Deo, the highly anticipated film 'Dacoit' is slated to hit the theatres on December 25. The film is a blend of romance and action an interview with Sesh earlier described 'Dacoit' as a "passion project". Sesh emphasised the emotional depth of 'Dacoit', remarking, "No Indian story is a true Indian film without heart, without emotion, so we wanted all these heightened emotions in 'Dacoit' set against the backdrop of an angry neo-Western, a 'Sholay' of 2025, if you will." He also expressed admiration for Thakur, describing her as "positive" and "vibrant". He added that because she is constantly travelling and has "figured out a way to make any place home."Along with 'Dacoit', Thakur will also be seen in the upcoming film 'Son of Sardaar 2'. The film stars Ajay Devgn, Ravi Kishan, Neeru Bajwa, Deepak Dobriyal, Kubbra Sait, Chunky Panday, Vindu Dara Singh and Sanjay Mishra, among others. It will be released a day after her birthday, on August 1.- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Mrunal Thakur
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Over 200 women in Maharashtra's Beed underwent hysterectomies between 2022-25: Centre
New Delhi, More than 200 women in Maharashtra's Beed district have undergone hysterectomy surgeries in the last three years, with the Centre attributing the procedures to medical necessity and affirming that they were carried out under strict state supervision. Over 200 women in Maharashtra's Beed underwent hysterectomies between 2022-25: Centre A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the uterus. Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur acknowledged media and research reports suggesting that some women sugarcane workers, particularly in Beed, have undergone hysterectomies. The reports raised concerns that menstruation-related challenges during harvesting may be influencing such decisions. While clarifying that health is a state subject, Thakur said the Maharashtra government has assured the Centre that all hysterectomy procedures in the district are performed only after mandatory pre-approval by the district civil surgeon and the medical superintendent of the respective area. "Surgeries are allowed only after a detailed gynaecological examination and clinical justification, such as uterine fibroids or abnormal bleeding," the minister said in a written response. According to the government, a total of 211 hysterectomies were carried out in Beed from 2022 to March 2025. These included 49 surgeries in 2022, 89 in 2023, 55 in 2024, and 18 up to March 2025. In response to concerns over economic coercion and labour rights, the state government has implemented several initiatives, including biannual health check-ups for migrant sugarcane workers and awareness campaigns on reproductive health and the risks of unnecessary hysterectomies. "The government of Maharashtra has regularly conducted health rights awareness campaigns at village and PHC levels to educate women on reproductive health, risks of unnecessary hysterectomy surgeries, menstrual hygiene and family planning methods," the minister said, adding that screenings for anaemia, reproductive tract infections, and cervical cancer have been included in the outreach. Responding to another question, Thakur said women helplines are operational in 35 states and Union Territories and are also integrated with the Emergency Response Support System ERSS-112. "Government of West Bengal is not implementing Women Helpline. Through WHL, over 88.24 lakh women have been assisted across the country since the inception i.e. 01.04.2015 till 31.05.2025," Thakur said. In another response, she said as of date, 843 one-stop centres are operational in the country, including 55 in Maharashtra. "Since inception, i.e. 1st April, 2015 up to 30th June, 2025, over 11.94 lakh women have been assisted in the country including Maharashtra," she said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
