Latest news with #VirendraKumar
The Hindu
2 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Government to bring new national policy on senior citizens
A new national policy on senior citizens is in the draft stages with the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, government officials said, adding that some details of it were discussed on Monday (May 2, 2025) at a meeting of the National Council for Senior Citizens, chaired by Social Justice Minister Virendra Kumar. The Social Justice Ministry said discussions focused on how the draft policy should 'reflect the demographic realities' of India as it heads into the future. A statement from the Ministry said population projections estimated that 20% of the country would be senior citizens by 2047. According to the 2011 Census, senior citizens accounted for 8.23% of the nation's population at the time. According to the government's projections, they will account for about 12.16% of the country's population in 2026. The government on Wednesday (May 4, 2025) said the forthcoming Census' reference period for a headcount would be March of 2027. A government official told The Hindu, 'The policy is in a draft stage now. Suggestions have already come in from relevant stakeholders and some of these suggestions were put forth at the meeting on Wednesday.' They added that one of the suggestions was to consider that India will have a higher proportion of senior citizens by 2047. This was the fourth meeting of the National Council for Senior Citizens, the government said in its statement. Digital inclusion At the meeting, the council also deliberated on 'digital inclusion' of senior citizens, the government said. It further discussed institutionalising NGOs and senior citizen associations in policy formulation, implementation, and feedback mechanisms. Deliberations also went into areas of trying to establish a grievance redress mechanism to address elder abuse and neglect; implementing minimum standards for 'old age homes' and senior care institutions; and 'promoting community engagement and intergenerational bonding'. The council also undertook a detailed review of the progress under the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) and Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC), Senior Citizen Portal in terms of enhancing quality and post-distribution follow-up of assisted living devices, the statement added. The government said that under the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana, more than five lakh senior citizens had been given 'free assisted living devices'. Through the IPSrC, the Ministry is currently supporting 708 NGOs that are operating 'continuous care homes, physiotherapy centres, old age homes, and mobile medicare units'. These schemes are covered under the Social Justice Ministry's umbrella programme known as 'National Action Plan for Welfare of Senior Citizens'. This National Action Plan was formulated and put out in April 2020. The National Policy on Older Persons was first announced by the Government of India in 1999. Following that a Commission headed by Mohini Giri had in 2011 put out a National Policy for Senior Citizens, which was in place till the National Action Plan of the Union government came out in April 2020.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Time of India
Two exp trains to halt regularly at Orchha rly station
Prayagraj: In a significant move to enhance regional connectivity and promote tourism, the North Central Railway under the Jhansi Division announced the introduction of regular halts for two express trains at Orchha Railway Station. Starting May 30, the Khajuraho–Udaipur Intercity Express and Gwalior–Varanasi Bundelkhand Express will stop at Orchha, much to the benefit of local passengers and tourists alike. The inauguration ceremony for this facility is scheduled to take place on May 30 at Orchha station. The event will be graced by cabinet minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Virendra Kumar who is expected to flag off the new halts. With this development, passengers from Orchha will now have direct and convenient rail access to major destinations, including Gwalior, Khajuraho, Varanasi, and Udaipur. This improved connectivity is expected to significantly boost tourism to Orchha, a town known for its rich historical and cultural heritage. Easier access for tourists will enhance the town's visibility as a prime travel destination. Moreover, the increased passenger flow is likely to stimulate local businesses, especially those related to hospitality, handicrafts, and other service sectors. Due to the inclusion of Orchha in the route, the timings of train number 11107 at several other stations have been revised, including Niwari, Teharka, Mauranipur, Harpalpur, Belatal, Kul Pahad, and Mahoba.
The Hindu
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Over 60 SC scholars lose NFSC fellowship after NSFDC publishes revised list
A section of Scheduled Caste students, who were awarded the National Fellowship for Scheduled Castes (NFSC) in March, have approached the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) for reinstatement of this fellowship after a revised list was released with their names removed. Their complaint is currently under process with the commission. Students say their financial and mental well-being has been affected due to the last-minute cancellation of the award. Some 60 students from the UGC-NET June 2024 batch have been affected after the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) published a revised list citing 'discrepancies in the (earlier) list and candidates' representations'. In March, the NSFDC published a list of 865 students on its website and issued award letters to them. However, in a letter dated May 2, 2025, the NSFDC said that due to discrepancies in the list and candidates' representations, the NTА has provided the rectified/revised list of 805 Students. 'In this regard, in pursuance of MoSJ&E's directives, the earlier list of 865 students stands cancelled, and the award letters issued on 18.03.2025 are withdrawn', the notice by NSFDC said. A candidate whose name did not appear on the revised list says that many students like him took admissions for Ph.D. programmes based on the first list, which assured their selection for the fellowship. 'After almost two months, we are told that we are no longer receiving the fellowship', he said. The notice by NSFDC says that the NTA has been providing the list of students (up to the slots allowed annually under the NFSC Scheme) from the UGC NET and CSIR UGC NET examinations for the NFSC Scheme. In March 2025, the NTA provided the list of 865 students selected from the UGC NET June 2024 examination. After due approval of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the NSFDC published the list of 865 Students on its website and issued award letters. R. Sachithanantham, MP, Dindigul Lokshabha Constituency, in a letter to Virendra Kumar, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Department, urged for his intervention to ensure the implementation of the first selection list which was released in March. 'I am concerned to note that the Country's highest Testing Agency is so casual and depresses the aspirations of poor and downtrodden SC candidates without any reason', said Mr. Sachithanantham in the, letter. The Hindu reached out to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for comments, but didn't receive a reply.
India Gazette
17-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"We want our country, world to be safe from terrorism": Union Minister Virendra Kumar on India's global campaign against Pakistan
Chhatarpur (Madhya Pradesh) [India], May 17 (ANI): Stressing that terrorism is a challenge for the world, Union Minister Virendra Kumar on Saturday said that MPs from the ruling NDA, along with members of other national parties, will unite to present India's stance in front of the international community amid recent tensions with Pakistan. India is planning a large-scale diplomatic initiative aimed at exposing Pakistan's continued support for terrorism on the global stage. According to reliable sources, around 40 multi-party parliamentarians will form seven groups and travel to various regions of the world. The goal of this initiative is to inform the international community about Pakistan's ongoing support for terrorism and highlight India's recently launched Operation Sindoor. Speaking to ANI, Union Minister Virendra Kumar stated that the government's priority is to ensure the safety of both India and the world from the threat of terrorism. '...To prepare the people against terrorism, the NDA MPs and the MPs of other national parties will together present India's side in front of the world... Terrorism is a challenge for the world, and it only wants destruction. The world wants development and not destruction... We want our country to be safe from terrorism and the world to be safe...' said Virenda Kumar. The tour is expected to span 10 days, commencing on May 23. The groups of parliamentarians are likely to visit several key world capitals, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, and Japan. This will be the first time that the Centre will depute MPs from multiple parties to present India's stance on Kashmir and cross-border terrorism originating from Pakistan. While the government has not officially announced the initiative, it is understood that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, and other agencies are currently preparing documents containing facts and instances to substantiate the allegations against Pakistan. An official from the MEA is expected to accompany the delegations. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju is leading the coordination efforts for this international tour, marking a significant step in India's diplomatic outreach. Several opposition MPs, including Manish Tewari, Shashi Tharoor, Priyanka Chaturvedi, and Sasmit Patra, have reportedly been approached to participate in the campaign. JDU MP Sanjay Jha, former Minister of External Affairs Salman Khurshid, and BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi are also likely to participate. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. India's precision strikes in Pakistan and PoJK on May 7 killed over 100 terrorists. (ANI)
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Over 650K calls received on SC, ST atrocities helpline since 2021; UP leads
Over 6.5 lakh calls have been received by the National Helpline Against Atrocities (NHAA) regarding the atrocities against SCs and STs since the launch of the helpline in December 2021, with nearly half of the total calls originating from Uttar Pradesh, official data showed. Of the calls, 7,135 grievances have been officially registered, and 4,314 have been resolved. The helpline, aimed at empowering members of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), is operational round the clock in Hindi, English and regional languages to ensure proper implementation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. These complaints range from incidents of assault, social boycotts, caste-based abuse, land grabbing and denial of access to public spaces to allegations of police inaction in atrocity cases. "Many of the calls received on the helpline are related to inquiries, requests for legal guidance or reports lacking sufficient details to be registered formally as grievances. Only those calls that pertain to specific incidents of atrocities under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and meet the criteria for legal action are converted into official grievances," a senior official said. Uttar Pradesh alone accounted for 3,33,516 calls, of which 1,825 were formally registered as grievances and 1,515 have been resolved, according to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Bihar followed with 58,112 calls, with 718 grievances registered and 707 resolved. Rajasthan reported 38,570 calls and 750 complaints, with 506 redressed. In Maharashtra, 268 complaints were registered but with zero resolution, while Goa saw only one grievance and no resolution. Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Haryana and Karnataka also saw significant call volumes with varying levels of grievance registration and redress. Madhya Pradesh, for instance, had 1,630 registered grievances, but only 282 were resolved. In contrast, Haryana showed a high resolution rate, resolving 379 of the 392 complaints it received. Launched by Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar in 2021, the helpline is part of the government's effort to curb caste-based atrocities and ensure timely justice. The NHAA also operates as a web-based portal and mobile app. It provides features like grievance tracking, feedback, and a dashboard for state-level performance. Every complaint is assigned a docket number, and officials are mandated to follow up for FIR registration, relief provision and timely prosecution as per legal timelines. The system is also designed to send automated reminders and compliance alerts to authorities to ensure accountability, and it aims to generate awareness about legal rights under both the SC/ST Act and the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955.
