Latest news with #Vulnerable
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
No ‘major civic issue' in Gurgaon except waterlogging during heavy rain, Lok Sabha told
Despite recurring complaints by residents over the state of Gurgaon's civic amenities — sanitation woes, lack of proper drainage systems — the Lok Sabha was told there are no 'major civic infrastructure-related issues' in the Millennium City, except for waterlogging during episodes of heavy rain. Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister and former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said this while referring to information provided by the Haryana government. It was a written response to a question by Congress leader and Rohtak MP Deepender Singh Hooda on whether Gurgaon continues to suffer from infrastructural problems, specifically waterlogging, despite being a 'key corporate hub'. He sought specifics on steps taken by the government to address these challenges and the amount of funds allocated and utilised toward civic improvements. The Union Ministry stated that water and sanitation fall under the State's jurisdiction. Khattar, citing the government's information, pointed to the city's unique topography: Gurgaon sits between the Aravalli hills to the east and the Najafgarh Drain to the northwest, creating an elevation difference of nearly 78 metres. This created a natural gradient for water flow that was controlled by historical drainage systems which relied on 19th-century bunds and pond networks. These, the minister said, have now been rendered ineffective by rapid urbanisation, leading to frequent flooding during monsoons. 'The rapid urbanisation has rendered many bunds obsolete and reduced pond networks, impacting traditional drainage systems. Around 90 critical waterlogging points were identified in 2019, which were reduced to 30 in 2024,' Khattar said. He said major civil works to tackle waterlogging, as mentioned in the reply, include: construction of master stormwater drains at critical bottlenecks such as Narsinghpur along NH-48, Khandsa Chowk, Tau Devi Lal Stadium, and near Sector 17/18, among others. 'Emergency water-pumping infrastructure has also been scaled up. The Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) and Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) reported deployment of 141 heavy-duty pumps and 77 suction tankers to alleviate crisis points during seasonal flooding. Further, to address systemic drainage issues, a comprehensive drainage plan is reportedly in the works.' The State government's assertion comes at a time when the MCG, in a July 29 office order allowing residents, corporators and contractors to deploy their vehicles for garbage collection, admitted to the sanitation issues in the city. 'In light of the current sanitation challenges in Gurugram, which have escalated to a level posing a potential health disaster for the city, it has been observed that there is no stable door-to-door garbage collection mechanism in place… there has been a significant increase in garbage dumping at designated Garbage Vulnerable Points (GVPs)… Further, lack of required skilled and unskilled manpower worsened the sanitation situation', the MCG had stated. It had added that the order was being issued 'strictly to address the current sanitation emergency in the City'.
Scottish Sun
13-07-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Hundreds of NHS Scotland workers have not been vetted for criminal records amid ‘staff shortage' fears
There was a three-month grace period for staff to get checks sorted NO CHECKS Hundreds of NHS Scotland workers have not been vetted for criminal records amid 'staff shortage' fears Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ONE of Scotland's biggest health boards has hundreds of workers on its books without proper criminal records vetting. NHS Lothian has been scrambling to get overdue background checks in place for staff, such as nurses, after new laws kicked in three months ago. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said it must be rectified Credit: Alamy And there are fears that the delays could lead to workforce shortages this summer, when agency workers tend to fill in for permanent employees. A source told The Scottish Sun: 'Workers are being belatedly told to send in disclosure forms. "They have hundreds of people working for NHS Lothian with no disclosure forms. 'This could mean NHS Lothian facing serious staff shortages in July as staff are removed from bank lists to fill gaps.' The health board said it was working to comply with changes in implementing the Disclosure (Scotland) Act. The law - passed in 2020, but kicking in properly from April 1 - seeks to prevent individuals deemed unsuitable from working with vulnerable children and adults. There was a three-month grace period for staff to get checks sorted. But 200 NHS Lothian bank staff still need to update their Protecting Vulnerable Groups or PVG status. Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: 'NHS Lothian must work with these staff to make sure they have undergone the necessary checks. 'It is vital that patients don't pay the price for this disruption and the health board must take all necessary steps to protect patient care and staffing levels. Junior Doctors Announce Five-Day Strike in July Amid Ongoing Pay Dispute 'Years of failed workforce management by the SNP has left many health boards heavily reliant on bank staff and at risk of staff shortages.' A health board spokesperson told The Scottish Sun that most of the bank workers currently have a standard disclosure, which was previously sufficient. But concerns have been raised over staff shortages this month as many within the NHS will take annual leave during the summer holidays. NHS Lothian said that more than half of the 200 staff without full PVGs have not worked since April. 2 Hundreds of NHS Scotland workers have not been vetted for criminal records Credit: Alamy These workers include a mix of 'registered' workers, including nurses, and 'non-registered', such as domestics, and those in admin and clerical roles. Registered staff have to be logged with a regulatory body to work within the NHS, such as doctors, midwives, nurses and allied health professionals.
New Indian Express
16-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Odisha leads the way in empowering most vulnerable tribes
As India strengthens its resolve for inclusive development, the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) has emerged as a transformative initiative. Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 15, 2023, coinciding with Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, the mission aims to uplift Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), communities historically excluded from the mainstream. PM-JANMAN targets 75 PVTG communities across 18 states and one Union Territory, intending to extend essential services to over 22,000 remote tribal habitations. These groups, often residing in forested and hilly regions, face challenges like low literacy, poor healthcare, and inadequate infrastructure. To address these issues, the mission spans 11 core development areas - housing, drinking water, road connectivity, electrification, mobile access, healthcare, education, nutrition, skill development, community centres and social security. These services are delivered through joint efforts by nine central ministries and corresponding state departments to ensure effective and integrated implementation. With a budget of Rs 24,104 crore - Rs 15,336 crore from the Centre and Rs 8,768 crore from states, the scheme is being implemented from 2023 to 2026, aiming for full saturation in the identified areas. Odisha: A Model State for PM-JANMAN Odisha plays a leading role in this national mission. The state is home to 13 of the 75 recognised PVTGs, including the Bonda, Dongria Kondh, Juang, Kutia Kondh and Lanjia Saora. The programme covers 1,751 habitations across 14 districts, benefiting nearly 68,605 households. What distinguishes Odisha is its convergence of the central scheme with state-level tribal programmes, ensuring saturation across all intervention areas. Each habitation has a tailored micro-plan created with local participation and aided by GIS mapping, drone surveys, and mobile data collection, ensuring development is both relevant and respectful of local contexts.
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
JoJo Siwa breaks down on stage in London; Admits she's exhausted and ‘faking it'
JoJo Siwa, the vibrant performer known for her high-energy shows and colourful personality, recently had an emotional moment on stage in London. During her performance at Colours Hoxton, the 22-year-old singer broke down in tears, revealing to her audience that she has been struggling with exhaustion and the pressure of maintaining her upbeat persona. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A Vulnerable Moment on Stage Siwa, who has been in the spotlight since her early days on Dance Mums, shared a heartfelt confession with her fans. She admitted that since she was nine years old, she has gone through phases where she felt like 'one of the most hated people in the world.' Despite her immense success, she acknowledged that she had been holding onto things beyond her control, particularly during her teenage years. During her emotional speech, Siwa reassured her audience that she now feels 'incredibly loved' but admitted that nights like this make her reflect deeply. She told the crowd, 'I don't cry that often, but nights like this really hit me. I can be up here, sing my songs, and commit to the bit, but I just want you to know that inside, my heart is smiling.' The Toll of a Hectic Schedule Siwa's packed schedule has been relentless in recent months. She performed in Mexico, celebrated her birthday in Florida, flew to London for back-to-back shows, and returned to Los Angeles after her April appearance on Celebrity Big Brother. She obviously suffered from the constant travel and performances, which caused her to lose it on stage. In a recent Instagram Q&A, a fan asked where she gets her energy, to which Siwa responded, 'I try to find happiness in every moment, even when it's hard, or fake it when I am empty. Currently, what's happening hahaha.' Another fan asked if she ever takes a break, and Siwa admitted that she briefly rested around her birthday but plans to take a 'little break' in early June.
The Hindu
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Awareness campaign on tribal welfare schemes to be held in Andhra Pradesh's Palnadu district from June 15
The District Administration of Palnadu, under the guidance of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), Government of India, will launch an intensive awareness campaign from June 15 to 30, 2025 to educate tribal communities about key welfare schemes, especially aimed at Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), such as the Chenchu population. The District Collector P. Arun Babu told The Hindu that these awareness camps would enhance the living standards of the PVTGs in the district, so that they could easily access all the welfare schemes benefits. According to the 2011 census, there is a total of 7,235 PVTG Chenchu population with 2,143 households in 51 habitations, with a literacy rate of 35.1% in the district. The campaign is part of the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN), launched a couple of years back by MoTA, designed to uplift PVTG tribal communities by ensuring access to essential services. In the first phase, 51 Chenchu habitations in Veldurthi, Macherla, Durgi, Karampudi, Bollapalli, and Rentachintala mandals will be covered. With coordination from nine government departments, awareness sessions will highlight 11 essential schemes, including housing, drinking water, electricity, LPG connections, road connectivity, mobile medical units, and Anganwadi centres. The second phase will extend similar benefits to 31 Chenchu habitations in non-PVTG mandals of the district, following Central Government approval. Additionally, under the Dharati Abh-Janjatiya Grama Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA–JGUA), 17 habitations across five mandals — Macherla, Durgi, Dachepalli, Achampet, and Bollapalli — will be surveyed to identify infrastructure gaps. With coordination from 17 departments, awareness sessions will cover 25 welfare schemes to bridge the development divide. The District Administration, under Collector P. Arun Babu, will conduct these sessions through the respective Municipal Planning and Development Offices (MPDOs). Tribal residents are urged to attend with necessary documents such as Aadhaar, bank passbook, health card, job card, electricity bill, gas connection details, and land-related documents to resolve grievances and avail benefits effectively.
