Crime, National, Regional

IJU Condemns Police Brutality Against Journalists in Manipur and Delhi

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KalimNews, PR, New Imphal/Delhi, 6 August 2024: The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) has strongly condemned recent incidents of police brutality against journalists in Manipur and Delhi. On 1 August, Mutum Rameshchandra, a senior reporter with Impact TV News, was assaulted by a sub-inspector while covering a rally by internally displaced people (IDPs) in Imphal East district. Similarly, on 30 July, Poonam Pandey, assistant editor of the Hindi daily Navbharat Times, was detained by police while covering a Mahila Congress demonstration near Kartavya Path in Delhi. The IJU has demanded immediate action against the police officers involved in both cases.

In Delhi, Poonam Pandey reported that police obstructed her from filming the protest by covering her camera with a black cloth and attempting to seize her phone. Despite identifying herself as a journalist and showing her press ID, she was detained and placed on a bus with the protesters. Pandey also noted the absence of female police officers during the incident, although female CRPF personnel were involved in taking her phone and detaining her.

In Manipur, Mutum Rameshchandra recounted being punched and kicked by a sub-inspector, resulting in injuries to his right chin. His phone was destroyed, and he was struck with a service weapon. The All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU), affiliated with the IJU, along with the Editors Guild of Manipur, organized a protest march from the Manipur Press Club to Chief Minister Biren Singh’s residence, demanding an impartial inquiry and appropriate action against the offending police officer.

IJU President and former Press Council of India member, Sabina Inderjit, alongside IJU Secretary General and IFJ Vice President, condemned these incidents. Inderjit emphasized that attacks on journalists are becoming increasingly common and represent a direct threat to press freedom. She stated that targeting journalists indicates a deliberate attempt by governments to suppress the free flow of information, urging the media community to unite against these violations of the fourth pillar of democracy.

Health, National

Rising obesity a concern, healthier lifestyle must: Economic Survey

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 Obesity presents a “concerning situation” and preventive measures must be taken to enable citizens to have a healthier lifestyle, it said
A Higher BMI Makes Individuals Prone To Conditions Such As Heart Disease, Diabetes, And Hypertension. Photo: Shutterstock

PTI, New Delhi : Raising concerns over growing obesity and increase of consumption of highly processed foods laden with sugars and fat, the Economic Survey said 54 per cent of the total disease burden in India is due to unhealthy diets.
Obesity presents a “concerning situation” and preventive measures must be taken to enable citizens to have a healthier lifestyle, it said.
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“Obesity is emerging as a serious concern among India’s adult population,” said the Survey, which was tabled on Monday by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament.
If India needs to “reap the gains of its demographic dividend, it is critical that its population’s health parameters transition towards a balanced and diverse diet”, it said.
Citing a report from the Indian Council for Medical Research, the Economic Survey observed that the rise in consumption of highly processed foods laden with sugars and fat, coupled with reduced physical activity and limited access to diverse foods, exacerbate micronutrient deficiencies and overweight/obesity problems.
Estimates show that the adult obesity rate in India has more than tripled, and the rise in children is the steepest in the world for India, behind Vietnam and Namibia, the survey stated, referring to a World Obesity Federation report.
The survey further said as per National Family Health Survey (NFHS), the incidence of obesity is significantly higher in urban India than in rural India. In urban India, it is 29.8 per cent in men versus 19.3 per cent of rural India.
The percentage of men facing obesity in the 18-69 age bracket has increased to 22.9 per cent in NFHS-5 from 18.9 per cent in NFHS-4. For women, it has increased from 20.6 per cent (NFHS-4) to 24 per cent (NFHS-5).
“Combined with an ageing population in some states, obesity presents a concerning situation. Preventive measures must be taken to enable citizens to have a healthier lifestyle,” the survey said.
In some states, such as in the NCT (Delhi), the proportion of women with obesity is 41.3 per cent, as against 38 per cent for men.
In Tamil Nadu, for men, obesity is 37 per cent and it is 40.4 per cent for women.
In Andhra, it is 36.3 per cent for women while for men it is 31.1 per cent.
Regional, West Bengal

CM doubles down on Teesta: Didi draws attention to water scarcity in North Bengal

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 The Bengal chief minister, while speaking on a resolution demanding the Indo-Bhutan Joint River Commission at the state Assembly, also questioned the Centre’s decision to initiate discussions with the Bangladesh government over the renewal of the Ganga Water Sharing Treaty without involving Bengal
Snehamoy Chakraborty, TT, Calcutta, 30.07.24 : Mamata Banerjee on Monday reiterated her opposition to sharing water from Teesta with Bangladesh, stressing that such an arrangement would result in scarcity of drinking water for the people of north Bengal.

The Bengal chief minister, while speaking on a resolution demanding the Indo-Bhutan Joint River Commission at the state Assembly, also questioned the Centre’s decision to initiate discussions with the Bangladesh government over the renewal of the Ganga Water Sharing Treaty without involving Bengal.

“The central government unilaterally discussed the Teesta water-sharing agreement and the renewal of the Farakka agreement (Ganga Water Sharing Treaty) for 2026 without consulting the matter with Bengal. This is the first time that Bengal, the prime stakeholder in both issues, was not involved in the discussion,” Mamata said in the Assembly.

She said such accords would lead to the suffering of people, especially those in north Bengal who are facing a severe water crisis.

“Is there sufficient water in the Teesta that you (the Union government) want to share? Even in the rainy season, the Teesta remains almost dry as its water is blocked by Sikkim with its 14 hydropower projects in the upstream. Now, if Teesta’s water is shared with Bangladesh, the people of north Bengal will not even get drinking water… I will not allow anything like that,” she said, before underscoring her “love for Bangladesh.”

During Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to New Delhi last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had proposed that India would help the neighbouring country in the conservation and management of the transboundary river. The proposal is part of India’s hydro diplomacy with Bangladesh, which has been waiting for a deal on sharing of Teesta water since 2011 when Mamata put a spanner on it.

A technical team from India is scheduled to visit Bangladesh soon to draw up the modalities of the project, which China is also keen to implement.

Mamata recounted how she was earlier consulted about important bilateral issues such as the exchange of enclaves by sealing the land boundary agreement or launching train and bus services between the two countries.

“But this time they did not involve us,” said Mamata referring to how former chief minister Jyoti Basu was felicitated in Bangladesh after the Ganga Water Treaty.

“When the Farakka agreement was done in 1996, Jyotibabu was invited to the neighbouring country and the Bangladesh government felicitated him. Now they have formed a committee to discuss the Farakka issue and I doubt whether there is a member from Bengal on the panel,” she added.

“Our priority is the people of our state. A discussion on those issues related to Teesta and Farakka without Bengal is a blow to federal unity and I have strong reservations about it. I have already written a letter to the Prime Minister informing the state’s opinion. The Bengal government is not ready to compromise with the issue (sharing of river water) at all,” she went on.

The Bengal chief minister mounted a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi government demanding that the Farakka Barrage Authority — which is under the Union government — has to take responsibility for controlling erosion and flood mitigation along a 120km stretch of the Ganga in keeping with the agreement signed in 1994.

“When the Farakka agreement was signed in 1996, the central government was responsible for taking care of 120km stretch — 80km downstream and 40km upstream — of the Ganga. They have curtailed the jurisdiction to 12.5km now,” she said.

Mamata, who was the key speaker in the discussion of the resolution demanding the Indo-Bhutan Joint River Commission, asked Speaker Biman Banerjee to form a committee comprising the members of the House who would meet the Union irrigation minister.
Career / Jobs, Regional

Darjeeling resident creates miniature toy train replicas for train enthusiasts

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 Anurag Lakandry, a resident of Tindharia in Kurseong subdivision, has been making miniature models of toy trains for 10 years and selling them to clients ranging from hotels to train enthusiasts
Binita Paul, TT, Siliguri, 30.07.24 :  The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) — a Unesco-recognised world heritage site — has become the source of inspiration and income for a 30-year-old man from Darjeeling district.

Anurag Lakandry, a resident of Tindharia in Kurseong subdivision, has been making miniature models of toy trains for 10 years and selling them to clients ranging from hotels to train enthusiasts.

“I grew up with the toy train as my house is near the railway loco shed in Tindharia. Some of my family members have served in the DHR. I have developed a natural interest in the mountain railway,” said Anurag, who has made over 500 mini-models of the toy train.

Anurag uses metal sheets and scrap items. “I started making the models with cardboard and gradually switched to metal sheets. Also, I use nuts and bolts, fuse snips and wires to build the miniatures. I visit different shops to collect scraps and use those in making the models.”

The model trains are priced between ₹3,000 and ₹12,000.

Over the years, his work has earned him appreciation from various quarters. He even gets orders from the UK, Singapore and Russia.

Anurag said he got help from Michael Whitehouse, the chairman of UK-based Vintage Trains. “His help made me build perfect replicas of the toy train. He was the one who had sent me the motor tracks to make the models accurate,” he added.

In 2014, Anurag visited Thailand and Myanmar to attend workshops to improve
his skills.
Crime, West Bengal

Five years rigorous imprisonment for former post office superintendent

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SNS, 28 July 2024 : A special CBI court in Asansol has sent former Senior Superintendent of Post Office, Maloy Pal to five years in jail along with a fine of Rs.40,000 in a case of misappropriation of public money. On 25 July, Rajesh Chakraborty, judge of special CBI court has pronounced him guilty. Maloy Pal has been sent to Asansol Sp[ecial Correctional Home immediately after the judge announced his punishment.

In a post on its ‘X’ handle, the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) stated that on 27 January 2009, a case was registered by CBI, then superintendent of the post office in Asansol after allegations of misappropriation of funds by manipulating savings banks withdrawals and vouchers.

On 18 March the CBI has submitted the charge sheet against him. Specifically he has increased the withdrawal amounts and decreased the deposit amounts in 42 withdrawal vouchers and 2 deposit vouchers ,relat ed to several different savings bank account holders. After trial the court held him guilty and sentenced him to five years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs.40,000. The incident was during 2006.
Regional

स्वतन्त्रता दिवसदेखि माल रोड र चौरास्तालाई पसलमुक्त बनाउने अनित थापाको प्रतिबद्धता

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कालिमन्यूज, दार्जीलिंग, २८ जुलाई २०२४: गोरखाल्याण्ड टेरिटोरियल एडमिनिस्ट्रेसन (GTA) का प्रमुख कार्यकारी अनित थापाले दार्जीलिंगको माल रोड र चौरास्ता स्वतन्त्रता दिवसको अवसरमा १५ अगस्तदेखि पसलमुक्त राख्ने घोषणा गरेका छन्। हालैको प्रेस विज्ञप्तिमा, थापाले भने, “स्वतन्त्रता दिवसको उपहारको रूपमा, म दार्जीलिंगको चौरास्ता र माल रोडलाई तिनीहरूको सफा, खुला, र पसलमुक्त अवस्थामा फर्काउनेछु।”

विज्ञप्तिमा चौरास्ता र माल रोडलाई दार्जीलिंगको हृदय मानिएको र यस क्षेत्रमा महाकाल बाबा मन्दिर रहेको उल्लेख गरिएको छ, जुन स्थानीय विश्वासको महत्वपूर्ण प्रतीक हो। थापाले फुटपाथमा पसलहरू सञ्चालन गर्दा पैदल यातायातमा अवरोध सिर्जना भएको चिन्ता व्यक्त गरे। उनले मन्दिर क्षेत्रको वरिपरि खाना पकाउने र बेच्ने बारेमा भक्तजनबाट आएको गुनासो पनि स्वीकार गरे।

चौरास्ता र माल रोड स्थानीय बासिन्दाहरूको लागि मात्र होइन, देशभरि र विश्वभरका पर्यटकहरूको लागि प्रमुख आकर्षण हुन्। “हामीले यी क्षेत्रहरूलाई सफा, सुन्दर र खुला राख्ने योजना बनाएका थियौं, र यो योजनालाई कार्यान्वयन गर्न हामीले काम गरिरहेका छौं,” थापाले स्पष्ट पारे। उनले पसलधारकहरूलाई विस्थापित गर्ने लक्ष्य नभइ, तिनीहरूको व्यवसायको लागि वैकल्पिक स्थान खोज्न प्राथमिकता रहेको जोड दिए। वैकल्पिक स्थानहरूको माध्यमबाट समस्यालाई समाधान गर्ने प्रयासहरू विगतमा सफल भएका थिएनन्, तर अहिले यो समस्यालाई समाधान गर्ने प्रयासहरू जारी छन्।

थापाले थप आश्वासन दिए, “म दार्जीलिंगका बासिन्दाहरूको लागि माल रोडलाई सफा र खुला अवस्थामा फर्काउने प्रतिबद्धता गर्दछु। स्वतन्त्रता दिवस, १५ अगस्तदेखि चौरास्ता र माल रोडमा कुनै पनि पसलको अनुमति दिइने छैन। यो दार्जीलिंगका जनताको लागि मेरो उपहार हुनेछ। जस्तोसुकै बासिन्दाहरूले माल रोडको सफा र खुला वातावरणमा हिँड्न रमाइलो गरे, म त्यो वातावरण फर्काउन काम गर्नेछु।”

विज्ञप्ति नागरिकहरूलाई फोहोर फाल्ने जिम्मेवारी लिने र सफाइ कायम राख्न आह्वान गर्दै समाप्त भएको छ। थापाले चौरास्ता वरिपरिका व्यापारिक समुदायलाई दार्जीलिंगलाई सफा र सुन्दर राख्न र फुटपाथमा पसल सेट अप गर्नको अभ्यास समाप्त गर्न मद्दत गर्न अपील गरे।

Regional

राष्ट्रिय एकता भ्रमणमा जलढाकाका विद्यार्थीहरूको राष्ट्रपति द्रौपदी मुर्मुसंग भेट

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कालिमन्यूज, कालेबुंग, २७ जुलाई २०२४: कालेबुंग जिल्लाको जलढाका उच्चत्तर माध्यमिक विद्यालयका १८ जना विद्यार्थीहरूले २५ जुलाई २०२४ को दिन राष्ट्रपति द्रौपदी मुर्मुसँग राष्ट्रपति भवनमा भेट गरे।  २०औं माउन्टेन डिभिजन (किरपान डिभिजन), बिन्नागुडीको ५औं राजपुताना राइफल्सद्वारा आयोजित राष्ट्रिय एकता भ्रमणका सहभागी भएर यी विद्यार्थीहरूलाई भारतका राष्ट्रपतिसंग अन्तर्क्रियाको विशेष अवसर प्राप्त गर्न सकेका थिए।

कक्षा नवौ र दशौका ९ जना छात्र अनि  ९ जना छात्राहरू समावेश भएको टोलीमा शिक्षक बिकाश थापा र अरुणध्वती बसु पनि सामेल थिए। २१ जुलाईको दिन जलढाकाबाट सुरु भएको ११-दिने यात्राको चार दिन पछि, २५ जुलाईको दिन राष्ट्रपति मुर्मुसँग भेट गरे पछी विद्यार्थीहरूको  भ्रमण जारी नै रहेको छ। टोलीले राष्ट्रपति मुर्मुलाई एक स्मृति चिन्ह पनि भेट गर्यो।

भेटको समय, विद्यार्थीहरूले राष्ट्रपतिसँग अन्तरक्रिया पनि गरे भने उनीसँग स्मरणीय क्षणहरू पनि साझा गर्ने अवसर प्राप्त गरे। राष्ट्रपति मुर्मुका प्रेरणादायी शब्दहरू र प्रोत्साहनले विद्यार्थीहरूमा गहिरो प्रभाव पारेको छ, जसले उनीहरूलाई उत्कृष्टता प्राप्त गर्न र समाज र राष्ट्रमा सकारात्मक योगदान दिन प्रेरित गरेको छ। दुई विद्यार्थी, अनुराधा शर्मा र विधान रायले पनि राष्ट्रपति मुर्मुसँग आफ्ना यात्रा अनुभवहरू साझा गर्ने अवसर पाए।

जलढाका उच्चत्तर माध्यमिक विद्यालयले यस प्रतिष्ठित राष्ट्रिय एकता भ्रमणका लागि आफ्नो विद्यालयलाई चयन गरेकोमा ५ औं राजपुताना राइफल्स  २०औं पर्वतीय डिभिजनलाई हृदयपूर्वक आभार प्रकट गरेको छ।

स्मरण गराइन्छ  यसवर्षको १८ मार्चमा, जलढाका क्षेत्रको गैरीबास उच्चत्तर माध्यमिक विद्यालयका विद्यार्थीहरूले पनि यसै कार्यक्रममा राष्ट्रपति मुर्मुसँग भेट गर्ने सौभाग्य प्राप्त गरेका थिए।

National, Regional

Son of Darjeeling Martyred 10 days before Kargil Vijay Diwas

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EOI, 16 July 2024: Ten days before Kargil Vijay Diwas Darjeeling lad Captain Brijesh Thapa will be returning home wrapped in tricolor.
His father, a retired Army colonel Bhuwenesh Thapa, and mother Nilima were stunned after hearing their son’s martyrdom on Monday night at their Siliguri’s Sashtri Nagar residence around 11 pm. An unknown phone number rang and informed them that their son died while fighting with militants Mother Nilima could not stop crying since she heard the death of her only son who was about to come on leave this July or else in November and take her for holiday to Tura in Meghalaya.
Brijesh spoke to his parents last on Sunday stating that he was speaking from his basecamp down after trekking five hours journey from the field area where he is deployed with 50 other soldiers. Brijesh was a company commander and leading the troops in one of the toughest peaks of the war zone where no vehicles passed.
Brijesh joined the Indian Army in 2019with his own efforts despite of parent’s suggestion to join in Navy and Airforce.“He wanted to join Indian Army and when we were holidaying in Laddakh, he had worn a jacket with sticker of Indian Army and then he uploaded his pictures in social media stating this will be his real image after one year.
After completing his B.Tech from a college in Mumbai, Brijesh appeared for the Combined Defence Service (CDS) examination. In 2018, he passed the Short Service Commission (SSC) examination of the defense service and joined the Army in2019. He was a music lover and use to play guitar and drum, he had bought two guitars at home and used to play during his leave. His father Bhuwenesh said, “My son had come for 12 days leave in March last year to celebrate my birthday and extended one more week and since then we did not meetup. He was brave and talented and never used to complain about any hurdles he faced in life. Namita Sakya, an aunt of the martyred soldier, said that she still can’t believe that Brijesh is no more.

The chronology of terror attackson army in J&K in July 2024:

JULY 15: Four army personnel, including an officer,killed in a gunfight with terrorists in Doda district.

JULY 8: Five army personnel killed and as manyinjured in a terrorist ambush in Kathua district.

JULY 7: An army personnel injured in a terroristattack on a security post in Rajouri district

National, Politics

Govt convenes all-party meet on July 21 ahead of Monsoon Session, TMC to skip meeting

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PTI, New Delhi, Jul 16, 2024 : The government has convened an all-party meeting on July 21 ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament which will start next Monday, the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry said.

The meeting, which will be held at 11 am on Sunday, has been called by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, the ministry said in a statement.

This will be Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s first time at the customary session-eve meeting of floor leaders from all parties if he attends it.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) said no representatives from the party will attend the meeting as July 21 is observed by the party as Martyrs’ Day.

TMC’s parliamentary party leader in Rajya Sabha Derek O’Brien wrote to Rijiju and informed him that his party will not be able to attend the meet.

“For 30 years now, 21st July has been observed as ‘Martyrs’ Day’ in Bengal in honour of our 13 colleagues who were unlawfully killed in a police firing on the day in 1993.

“In this context, all MPs of the All India Trinamool Congress including myself will be in our home state to mark the day along with other party colleagues. Therefore, no MP will be able to attend the meeting,” he said.

The July 21 Martyrs’ Day is observed in memory of 13 Congress supporters who were shot dead in firing by the Kolkata Police in 1993 during a march to the state secretariat — Writers Buildings — when the CPI(M)-led Left Front was in power in West Bengal.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was the state Youth Congress chief at that time and she continued to mark the day by holding a rally every year even after forming the TMC on January 1, 1998.

The Monsoon Session of Parliament is scheduled to begin on July 22 and will conclude on August 12. The Union Budget will be presented on July 23.

The first Parliament session after the formation of the 18th Lok Sabha witnessed the opposition INDIA bloc raising issues like the recent NEET controversy, Manipur situation, and price rise among others, resulting in uproars and adjournments.

Protests were also witnessed in both Houses during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address. In the Lok Sabha, opposition MPs raised slogans demanding a statement on Manipur during the prime minister’s reply, while in the Rajya Sabha, the opposition had staged a walkout. 
Crime, National

E-notice from govt office? MHA cyber wing says check Internet, call department

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A letter attached to these emails, as per the advisory issued on July 4, made allegations of child pornography, pedophilia, cyber pornography, sexually explicit exhibit etc. against the receivers of the said e-mails
PTI, New Delhi, 14.07.24 : On receiving a suspicious e-notice from a government office on the email, people should check the Internet to authenticate the name of the official named in it and call the mentioned department, the Union home ministry’s cyber crime unit said on Sunday.

Users should be aware of “fake emails” sent in the garb of a government e-notice, said the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) in a public advertisement.
 
This could be a con that can make people “a victim of cyber fraud”, the ad cautioned.

The I4C suggested counter-measures before clicking or responding to such emails: check if the email has originated from an authentic government website that ends with “gov.in”; check the internet for information regarding officials named in the email; and call the mentioned department to verify the email received.

Early this month, the Union finance ministry had issued a public advisory alerting email users about fraudulent e-mails bearing names, signatures, stamps and logos of Delhi Police Cyber Crime and Economic Offence, Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB), the Intelligence Bureau and Cyber Cell of Delhi.

A letter attached to these emails, as per the advisory issued on July 4, made allegations of child pornography, pedophilia, cyber pornography, sexually explicit exhibit etc. against the receivers of the said e-mails.

The fraudsters, it said, use different e-mail addresses for sending such fake e-mails with attachment.

“Receiver of any such email should be aware about this fraudulent attempt. It is informed to the general public that any such e-mails with the attachment should not be responded to and such cases may be reported to the nearest police station/cyber police station,” it said.

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), an organisation under the ministry of home affairs (MHA) to deal with cyber crimes in a comprehensive manner, had issued a similar advisory in August last year cautioning users against such counterfeit emails impersonating the name of its CEO bearing subject titles like ‘urgent notification’ and ‘court notification’.

“These misleading emails are targeted to various government offices, individuals and falsely accuse them of cyber crimes, urging them to respond,” the I4C said.

The logos of I4C, IB and Delhi Police used in these emails are “intentionally fake, deceptive and created with malicious motives,” it said.

Several officers in the national capital’s Central Secretariat received such suspicious emails last week which were falsely stated to have been issued by a person working at “MEA Messaging Team NIC High Commission of India.” The MHA and I4C ad issued on Sunday said such suspicious emails and other types of cyber frauds should be reported immediately to www.cybercrime.gov.in or call the cyber crime helpline no 1930.
Health, Techno/ Science

How cell and gene therapies revolutionising cancer care in India

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 These treatments are becoming increasingly effective, affordable, and accessible
Dr Gaurav Kharya : Our body is made up of cells, and whatever happens to it—good or bad—happens at a cellular level. Cancer, for example, occurs due to a small change in the cell that prompts it to proliferate abnormally. Also, cancer spreads in the body because the immune cells lose their ability to identify the danger cancer cells pose and stop them from growing. We treat cancer by surgically removing the cancer cells from the body or by giving drugs that kill the malignant cells.

The advancement in our capability to manipulate the body’s immune cells to identify and eliminate cancer cells is remarkable, particularly at the cellular level. No wonder, cell and gene therapies, once considered futuristic medicine, are now a reality, offering hope to millions by redefining the battle against cancer.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy and gene editing tools, like CRISPR-Cas9, are two revolutionary innovations that allow us to personalize treatments based on the genetic profiles of both the patient and the cancer. In CAR T-cell therapy, we extract the patient’s T-cells and add a marker to their surface to restore their ability to detect and eradicate malignant cells. And because these are the body’s own cells, the treatment has almost negligible side effects. Moreover, some of these immune cells remain in the memory and prevent cancer relapse. These are also called living drugs because once injected, these cells stay in the body and guard against the relapse of the cancer.

However, the current cost of these therapies is prohibitive. The high cost, along with the need for advanced medical infrastructure and specialised training for healthcare providers, has limited their availability. Yet, the government is making significant investments in biotech innovations through infrastructure development and by offering research grants. This support allows several Indian companies to focus on developing indigenous CAR T-cell therapies. These initiatives will greatly contribute to reducing the cost of these treatments, ensuring that Indian patients have access to them. Moreover, India’s generic pharmaceutical sector is using its expertise to develop biosimilars and gene therapies, which will further contribute to the affordability of these cutting-edge treatments.

Cell and gene therapies have proven to be effective in treating various malignancies such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Numerous clinical trials are currently underway worldwide to assess their efficacy. In India, several hospitals and research centers have also initiated clinical trials to test these therapies against a wider range of cancers, tailoring them to the genetic profiles prevalent in the Indian population.

Furthermore, cutting-edge research in this field will ensure that India will soon have more than one CAR T cell products available for its population. Researchers in India are working on developing third and fourth-generation CARs that will be effective against multiple tumor-associated antigens.

Unlike first-generation CARs, which are mono-specific and target only one type of antigen, these CARs will be able to target two antigens and, hence, be more effective in preventing cancer relapse.

Collaboration between the public and private sectors, as well as foreign alliances, has produced a favorable environment in the country for innovation. Besides, collaborations with global biotech and pharmaceutical giants are facilitating technology transfer and capacity building, enabling India to take a leap into the future of cancer care.

As cell and gene therapies continue to advance, they are poised to redefine cancer care in India and around the world. With ongoing advancements in technology and research, these treatments are becoming increasingly effective, affordable, and accessible, strengthening our fight against cancer.

The significance of these therapies extends beyond the clinical outcomes. They represent a paradigm shift in cancer treatment, moving away from the traditional one-size-fits-all approach to a more personalized and precise form of medicine. For patients, this means medications that are tailored to suit their unique genetic composition, resulting in improved clinical outcomes and fewer side effects.

Undoubtedly, we still need to overcome several hurdles to make these therapies available to all, including addressing regulatory frameworks and ensuring equitable access. Nevertheless, the progress we have made so far serves as a beacon of hope not only for cancer patients in India but worldwide.
Crime, Education, West Bengal

Calcutta High Court sets aside single-bench order in TET case

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The board moved the division bench of Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Prasenjit Biswas contending that the candidate had applied to write the test, held on December 11, 2022, as a general category candidate
Subhankar Chowdhury, Calcutta, 13.07.24 :  A division bench of the high court on Friday set aside an October 2023 order by Justice Abhjit Gangopadhyay that directed the state primary education board to treat a candidate who had failed to clear the teachers’ eligibility test (TET) in the general category as an OBC candidate.

Justice Gangopadhyay had declared the candidate as having passed the test because her score was sufficient for reserved category candidates.

The judge resigned a few months later and won in the Lok Sabha elections as a BJP candidate.

The board moved the division bench of Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Prasenjit Biswas contending that the candidate had applied to write the test, held on December 11, 2022, as a general category candidate.

The board submitted that the petitioner got a copy of the certificate that identified her as an OBC candidate in November 2023, long after the test was held. Hence, the examinee could not be treated as an OBC candidate.

TET is held to shortlist candidates for teaching jobs in government-aided primary schools.

The division bench said in its order on Friday: “The petitioner has not filed the category of certificate before the cut-off date, which means that she had not claimed reservation…. Production of certificate by the writ petitioner at the later stage could not make her entitled to seek reservation. Therefore, on the said date she could not be considered eligible to apply under the OBC-B category, especially when the advertisement notice issued by the appellant/board stipulated that the last date for receipt of applications shall for all purpose be the cut-off date for determining the eligibility.”

The order said the single bench “is not correct” in holding that the petitioner can be considered an OBC-B candidate and she should be declared as passed.

“Therefore, there is illegality and material irregularity in the impugned order dated 09.10.2023 passed by the learned Single Bench…and as such it is liable to be
set aside.”

The president of the board, Gautam Paul, said: “We do not know how Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay considered the petitioner’s prayer. We are happy with the order of the division bench.” 
Sikkim

Sikkim govt declares second, fourth Saturdays holiday for employees

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PTI, GANGTOK, JULY 12, 2024 : The Sikkim government declared the second and fourth Saturdays of every month as a holiday for its employees. In a circular issued by the Department of Personnel on Thursday, the state government said it would give additional time to the employees to rest. 

The government also asked its employees to strictly comply with the working hours, from 10am to 4.30 am. 

“It has been seen that many government employees report for duty very late in the morning and leave office much before the scheduled time in the evening. This hampers the implementation of development-oriented policies and programmes. 

Reporting late also causes undue harassment to the public who visit offices regularly for official works,” it said. 

“Considering this, it is hereby ordered that all government employees should report for duty latest by 10 am and should remain in their respective offices till 4.30 pm,” it added. 

Half-day casual leave would be deducted if an employee is found to have reported after 10.30 am or left the place of duty before 4.30 pm without valid official reasons, the circular said. 

It also asked departmental heads to undertake surprise checking of the attendance of the employees.

National, Politics

Special status demand triggers political slugfest in Bihar

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PTI, Patna, July 12, 2024 : The ruling NDA in Bihar and the opposition Mahagathbandhan on Friday crossed swords over the demand for special status to the state, which seems to have intensified ahead of the Parliament’s budget session.
    
The demand was first made soon after the creation of Jharkhand robbed the state of its mineral wealth, though the Centre has been of the view that the grant of special status was no longer possible since the provision was scrapped by the 14th Finance Commission.

Senior Congress leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, whose party is a part of the opposition coalition in the state, took potshots at the BJP-JD(U) combine.

She said, “There could not be a greater irony that the BJP, which rules the Centre, is not accepting the demand raised by the JD(U) despite being dependent on the ally.”

The allusion was to the JD(U), headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, passing a resolution at its national executive meeting held last month seeking special category status, or, adequate assistance in the form of a special economic package.

The Congress leader also took a swipe at the JD(U) supremo and said, “The PM should show some respect for his ally who has realigned with him after ditching us and making umpteenth volte-face”.

The CM, who had helped the formation of the INDIA bloc, returned to the BJP-led NDA in January this year.

Kumar’s deputy Vijay Kumar Sinha, who belongs to the BJP, was asked about a meeting, in Delhi a day ago, between Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Samrat Choudhary, another Bihar Deputy CM who holds the finance portfolio and is understood to have submitted before her the state’s expectations from the upcoming budget.

Evading a direct reply, Sinha said, “The PM has made it clear that he wants a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (developed India). That is possible only when Bihar, too, is developed. All that is needed for growth of each and every state, will be done.”

Choudhary, who also heads the state BJP, returned from the national capital in the evening, and asserted, “The prime minister has always been concerned about the development of Bihar and we look forward to full cooperation from the PM and the Union finance minister.”

He also ducked pointed queries about the demand for special status raised vehemently by the JD(U), saying “all works that are pending in Bihar will be completed with central help”.

Meanwhile, state minister and senior JD(U) leader Shravan Kumar alleged that the demand for special status was “ignored” by the previous Congress-led UPA government at the Centre and hoped that Modi would give Bihar its due.

Earlier, NDA partner Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) headed by Union minister Chirag Paswan had also come out in support of the demand.

The party’s MP Arun Bharti had told PTI-Video, “Our party has been in support of special status to Bihar since the very beginning. We are confident of some assistance, in the form of either special status or a special package.”

However, the RJD, which helms the Mahagathbandhan, lashed out at the NDA claiming that the ruling coalition was trying to hoodwink the people.

RJD MLA Bhai Virendra said, “The BJP and the JD(U) share power in the Centre as well as in the state. Yet, instead of taking the necessary steps, they are raising demands. Do they think the people are fools?”.

The RJD leader, whose party was ruling Bihar when it was bifurcated in 2000, pointed out that the demand for special status was first raised by the Rabri Devi government.

“I do not wish to create much controversy by taking names. But the NDA was in power, at the Centre, at the time and its leaders deliberately denied Bihar special status fearing that my party would get the credit,” claimed Bhai Virendra.
Health, Regional

NBMCH: State sanctions Rs 1 cr for renovation of super speciality block

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MP, 9 July 2024, Siliguri: The Super specialty block of North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) is not yet fully operational. However, some wards of the block have been damaged even before they have become operational. False ceilings in many wards are damaged. 
Parts of the false ceiling have come loose and have become a potential risk for patients. According to the sources, the Central agency that did the work denied taking further responsibility. 
Hence, the state government has sanctioned Rs 1 crore to renovate the wards. Dr. Sanjay Mallick, the Superintendent of NBMCH said: “The Central agency constructed the building about a year ago. They have already clarified that after the handover, they will not take any responsibility for the building. 
The state government has, therefore sanctioned Rs 1 crore for the renovation work. We will start the indoor wards after the renovation.” In 2014, the Union Ministry of Health sanctioned Rs 150 crore for building the super speciality block in NBMCH premises. The work for which started in 2015. 
In 2018, the government cancelled the contract and blacklisted the company which had been doing the construction work for not completing the work on time. After that, a fresh tender was called. 
The outdoor section of the block was opened in November 2022. Later, the building was handed over to the NBMCH authorities last year. The block is not yet fully operational due to a shortage of equipment. 
Last month, Kaustav Nayek, Director of Medical Education (DME) visited the hospital and had given instructions to shift wards to the new block. It has been decided that the wards will be shifted only after renovation. 
The six-storied building is spread over 15,000 square meters. Different departments will be shifted to this block and the old building will be renovated. 
Courtesy& source- Millennium Post 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/nbmch-state-sanctions-rs-1-cr-for-renovation-of-super-speciality-block-571206
Regional

More rains in forecast for north Bengal: Very heavy rainfall expected till July 11

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PTI, KOLKATA, JULY 9, 2024 : Heavy to very heavy rain is likely till July 11 in northern West Bengal, already affected by torrential downpours over the last several days, the Met Department said on Tuesday. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday asked the administration to ensure round-the-clock monitoring of the situation.
An active monsoon trough and a cyclonic circulation in northeast Assam are very likely to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy downpours over northern West Bengal till July 11, the Met Department said.
The intensity of rain in the region is likely to decrease slightly on July 12 and 13, it said. Gajaldoba in Jalpaiguri district recorded the state’s highest rainfall at 180 mm in 24 hours till 8.30 am on Tuesday, it added.
The other places in northern West Bengal which recorded significantly high rainfall during the period are Sevoke (170mm), Buxaduar (150 mm), Nagrakata (140mm), Jalpaiguri town (130 mm) and Bhutanghat (120 mm), the data said. 
Landslides in the hills, damaging roads, including National Highway 10 that connects West Bengal with Sikkim, and waterlogging at various places in the plains, have occurred owing to the unabated rainfall in the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri , Alipurduar and Cooch Behar.
Politics, West Bengal

Saffron party leadership to revamp state BJP, major reshuffle awaited

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Central BJP leaders are aiming to restructure the saffron party’s organisation at the state and district level ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections in view of the party’s poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections.
RAJIB CHAKRABORTY | SNS  | Kolkata | July 8, 2024 : Saffron party leadership to revamp state BJP, major reshuffle awaited

Central BJP leaders are aiming to restructure the saffron party’s organisation at the state and district level ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections in view of the party’s poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections. According to sources, some central party leaders, who are dealing with organisation affairs are keeping in close touch with some state BJP leaders. The party leadership is said to be planning to replace the presidents of at least 15 out of 43 organisational districts in Bengal. Both winning and losing candidates in the Lok Sabha elections will be utilised for organisational work, said the BJP sources. There is even a possibility of a change in the state BJP president.

On Friday, BJP’s national president J P Nadda assigned new organisational responsibilities in 24 states except West Bengal. Sources said that as the post-election analysis at the grassroots level has revealed several reasons for the BJP’s poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections in Bengal, so the Delhi headquarters are taking stock of the situation. The saffron party leadership is planning a significant organisational overhaul in view of the disappointing election results.Reports indicated that nearly 15 district presidents will be replaced before the Puja. Additionally, recently state president Sukanta Majumdar hinted at a possible change in his position, noting that the party’s principle is “one person, one post”. He had recently stated: “Our party’s policy is one person, one post.

Therefore, since I have become a minister, I may have to step down. However, the final decision will be made by the central leadership. Our party’s structure undergoes changes from the top to the bottom in terms of organisational restructuring.” The focus will primarily be on revamping the district organisations, from the district to the mandal levels. Most district presidents in areas with poor results in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections will be replaced.

Over 300 mandal presidents may also be replaced. Furthermore, the majority of booth committees will be restructured. While Mr Majumdar did not directly comment on the organisational reshuffle, a state BJP leader claimed that any changes in the state BJP’s organisational structure would be on the directives of the central leadership. However, sources within the BJP have confirmed that organisational changes are indeed taking place at various levels within the state BJP.

A few days ago, state BJP leaders met at the Salt Lake party office for a post-election review meeting, where it was decided to gather reports from the district level. Subsequently, review meetings are being held in various districts with mandal presidents, district and zone in-charges, and assembly in-charges. The complete grassroots reports will soon be submitted to the state committee, which will then send the refined reports to the central leadership. The grassroots leaders and workers have identified several issues responsible for the party’s poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections during the review meetings, including that many senior workers were not involved in the election work, booth organisations were quite lax, incorrect booth reports were sent, with optimistic projections that did not match reality.

BJP workers were lax in door-to-door campaigning, and voters were not adequately approached. There was also a lack of coordination between district presidents and party candidates in most Lok Sabha constituencies. Frequent meetings and large gatherings by central leaders resulted in insufficient grassroots voter outreach, said the sources. These issues are being discussed within the party. Organisational reshuffles are expected in several districts, including Howrah, Hooghly, South 24-Parganas, West Midnapore, Jhargram, Bankura, and Burdwan. Both Lok Sabha constituencies in Howrah did not yield satisfactory results, the Hooghly seat was lost, and even though Arambagh was considered a positive seat, it was lost. The Burdwan-Durgapur seat was lost, and even though Asansol was considered positive, it was lost as well.

Additionally, there is internal conflict within the party in Burdwan, necessitating organisational restructuring. South 24-Parganas performed very poorly, and reports of factionalism have surfaced. Organisational changes are also expected in Midnapur, Jhargram, and Ghatal. The Bankura seat was lost, and there was significant internal conflict within the party before the elections. In Bishnupur, BJP won by a very small margin. Consequently, organisational changes are planned in Bankura, Bishnupur, Birbhum, and Bolpur.
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