Youth accused of raping deaf-mute

07.12.2017
Basirhat: Family members of a deaf-and-mute woman in her late 20s have alleged that a neighbour they identified as Biswajit Ghosh raped her after gagging her and tying her hands and legs on Tuesday night.

The accused is absconding, an officer of Basirhat police station said.

"We have raided his relatives' houses in adjoining areas in search of him but our efforts drew a blank. We are working on some leads and scanning the call records of Biswajit's cellphone," the officer said.

The woman's mother and sister-in-law told the police that they were in the kitchen when they were alerted by the sound of someone groaning.

As they rushed to the room from where the sound came, they spotted Biswajit.

"The two grabbed Biswajit's hands but he pushed them aside and fled. They said the victim was lying gagged, her hands and legs tied," an officer of the police station who is probing the alleged rape said.

The house of the alleged victim stands on a four-cottah plot. The kitchen is in one corner of the courtyard and the living rooms are on the far side of the plot.

"The woman lives with her parents, elder brother and her sister-in-law. According to the complaint, the woman was raped around 9pm," the officer said.

A preliminary investigation revealed that Biswajit, a next-door neighbour of the family of the alleged victim, entered the room after seeing her alone.

"He took advantage of the fact that the kitchen, where he knew the other women of the family would be around that time, was on the other side of the plot," the officer said.

The woman was taken to Basirhat Sub-divisional Hospital for a medical test.

Special schools for children with disability needed: Supreme Court to UP

04.12.2017
The Supreme Court sought a reply from the Uttar Pradesh government on how it would work out the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, by providing inclusive education in the state.

The Supreme Court today asked Uttar Pradesh to come up a mechanism for promotion and facilitation of inclusive education, so that students suffering from disability are not kept away from mainstream education. The court sought a reply from the state government on how it would work out the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, by providing inclusive education in the state.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said an affidavit should be filed by secretary of UP’s department of education, while keeping in mind the provisions of the Act dealing with equality and non-discrimination.

“The affidavit shall also contain the number of disabled children in the State of UP and the categories of the disability,” it said.

Additional Advocate General Aishwarya Bhati filed an affidavit in the apex court in pursuance of its earlier order and said the state government was keen to have special schools with special teachers to impart education to the disabled children who cannot be taught in normal schools. She said 16 special schools have already been established, which are functional, and teachers have been appointed there.

These schools were imparting education to visually impaired, hearing and speech impaired, mentally disabled and physically disabled children, she said, adding that these schools have residential facilities and admit students in the non-residential category also.

The state government also said that seven schools for visually impaired were located in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Banda, Saharanpur and Meerut cities while five schools for hearing and speech impaired are in Gorakhpur, Bareilly, Agra, Farukhabad and Lucknow cities.

With regard to mental disability, it said there were two schools running at Allahabad and Lucknow, while two special schools for the physically disabled were functioning in Lucknow and Pratapgarh.

Bhati said 17 more schools were under construction for children with special needs. The top court also constituted a two member committee of advocates Rishi Malhotra and Gopal Shankaranarayanan to visit the schools and file a report in six weeks. It listed the matter for further hearing in the third week of January.

Earlier, the top court had questioned the lack of separate schools and distinctly trained teachers for students who suffer from autism, blindness and deafness. It had observed that it is “impossible to think” that children, who are disabled or suffer from any kind of disability or are mentally challenged, can be imparted education in mainstream schools along with normal children.

Emphasising the need for a separate system, the court had said “the students who suffer from blindness, deafness and autism or such types of disorder may be required to have separate schools with distinctly trained teachers”.

The bench was hearing a plea filed by Rajneesh Kumar Pandey, through advocate Prashant Shukla, claiming lack of sufficient number of special educators in Uttar Pradesh and other states to teach the Children With Special Needs (CWSN).

The petition by 17 teachers, who claim to have undertaken the training required to teach CWSN, has contended that to make Right to Education a success, it is necessary that qualified special educators are there in each school to help disabled kids prepare to face the challenges of life.

Association of Deaf protests on occasion of World Disabled Day

JAMMU, Dec 3: A protest demonstration was held by Jammu and Kashmir Association of the Deaf in the Exhibition Ground near Press Club here, today on the occasion of World Disabled Day.

The protest was led by Vijay Kumar Gupta president of the Association and its general secretary, Bushan Kesar.
The protesters with banners in their hands were raising their arms in support of their demands. The banners they took in their hands were reading “we can’t speak but we can express”, “we are differently abled but not disabled” etc.
The Association later submitted a memorandum to the authorities which said that it is hurting that the world’s largest minority that of disable people which is about 15 percent of total population of world do not have equal access to society or service, including education, employment, health care, transportation, political participation or justice.
It further said on one side there are many a nations who are trying their every bit to initiate various actions which will remove barriers that limit accessibility and participation by persons with disabilities in all aspects of society and development, on the other hand there are a few who choose to close their eyes rather than be part of this sanctimonious mission.
They said today when whole world is observing World Disable Day “let us peep into the steps initiated by the State Government towards eradicating miseries of these special people”. In 1995 Government of India passed an act in favour of person with disabilities . In 1998 it was ratified by State Government and the Act titled as “The Jammu & Kashmir Persons with Disabilities, Equal Opportunities and Full Participation Act of 1998” under which three percent reservation in Government jobs was kept intact and also emphasis was laid on the opening of special schools, at least one in each district for the deaf and dub. But it is disgusting that the J&K Government has not been able to open schools instate Capitals, the memorandum added.
In the memorandum the Association has put seven questions to the Government and sought their answers also from the society which too has uptil now failed to show solidarity with these differently abled persons and advocated for their cause vigorously.
They wanted to know why educational institutions were not set up for these people and why there is no rehabilitation policy for them. Moreover, they wanted to know why there is no special recruitment drive for middle pass deaf and dumb persons, why no rehabilitation for over aged deaf and dumb etc.

Sports officials wake up to Hotwar horrors

03.12.2017
Ranchi: The ordeal of the over 1,000 participants of the 22nd National Games of the Deaf at the Hotwar mega sports complex seems to have finally ended with the state sports department taking over the management of the meet.

The event, jointly organised by All India Sports Council of the Deaf along with Jharkhand Association of the Deaf and Jharkhand Sports Council of the Deaf, had grabbed headlines for utter mismanagement and the ill-treatment meted out to visiting players.

"The organisers did not discuss with us the logistic arrangements made by them. We came to know about the poor situation on Friday evening. By then, the organisers had left the complex. On Saturday, we found players carrying out an agitation. They requested us to make arrangements for their return journey. We have taken over the management of the game now. The state government doesn't want Jharkhand to earn a bad name," said Ved Ratna Mohan, undersecretary of the sports department, who visited the sports complex on Sunday afternoon.

The sports department has hired Ranchi-based Subham Caterer to provide breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea to the participants. Additional beds have been brought in and the existing beds cleaned.

Six security in-charges of the complex have been put on special duty to take care of the players.

"We have 139 private guards out of which we have roped in around 70 solely for this sports meet. They will be on duty from 7am till 10pm and have been asked to ensure that the players and coaches don't face any inconvenience," security in-charge S.K. Pandey said.

An ambulance and a team of doctors from CCL Gandhinagar hospital have also been pressed into service.

"We had stocked mineral water yesterday (Saturday). Besides, Ranchi Municipal Corporation is supplying water through tankers. From today (Sunday), we are getting additional supply of water from Rukka dam," said Sanjeev Modak, manager of the Subham Caterer.

The players seemed satisfied too.

"The organisers left us in the lurch just because we are deaf and mute. We don't demand luxurious treatment. We just wanted basic facilities such as food, lodging, accommodation and sanitation. The situation has improved from last (Saturday) evening," conveyed Manohar JV, a national-level volleyball player from Telangana, in sign language.

Coach Kamlesh Sharma from Rajasthan said the mismanagement had spoiled the mood of the players.

ரயில் மோதி காது கேளாத இளம்பெண் சாவு

01.12.2017

மங்கலம்பேட்டை: மங்கலம்பேட்டை அருகே, காது கேளாத இளம் பெண், ரயில் மோதி இறந்தார்.மங்கலம்பேட்டை அடுத்த விஜயமாநகரம் புதுவிளாங்குளத்தைச் சேர்ந்த செல்வராஜ் மகள் சசசிகலா, 20; காதுகேளாதவர். இவர், நேற்று அதிகாலை 5:00 மணி யளவில், விருத்தாசலம் - சென்னை ரயில்பாதையை கடந்து, இயற்கை உபாதைகளை கழிக்க சென்றார்.அப்போது, அந்த வழியாக வந்த ரயில் மோதியதில், சம்பவ இடத்திலேயே இறந்தார். தகவலறிந்த விருத்தாசலம் ரயில்வே போலீசார், சசிகலா உடலை கைப்பற்றி, விருத்தாசலம் அரசு மருத்துவமனைக்கு பிரேத பரிசோதனைக்காக அனுப்பி வைத்தனர்.

World's first IT campus for Persons With Disabilities to come up in Hyderabad

03.12.2017
HYDERABAD: On the eve of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Telangana government has announced that it would set up the world's first IT Campus for Persons With Disabilities.

On Saturday, the government of Telangana entered into an agreement with Vindhya E-Infomedia Private Limited to setup the Information Technology campus which will focus on creating employment opportunities for Persons With Disabilities.

The campus will be spread over 10 acres and will come up near at the IT Park near Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. It will have all amenities like training, residential facility and delivery centers that will cater to various clients both domestic and International. The campus will create jobs for 2000 people in the next five years by providing apt training and jobs.

Vindhya E-Infomedia private limited which is said to be a pioneer in creating inclusive workspace employs PWD's as its major workforce and currently has more than 1600 employees working out of Hyderabad and Bangalore.

Majority of their workforce comprises of Physically Challenged, Hearing Impaired and Visually Impaired. The company provides back office operations (BPO) support to various BFSI, Telecom and e-commerce companies since 2006.

IT Principal Secretary Shri Jayesh Ranjan while handing out appointment letters to the new joinees, advised them to continue working harder and break the perception of disability being a barrier.

Speaking at the event Pavithra Y S, CMD of Vindya, said through the unique initiative, the government of Telangana had created history by helping an organization to setup an IT Campus exclusively for the Persons with Disabilities which does not exist anywhere in the world. "This campus will create an immense advantage for the Person with Disabilities, especially those with severe disabilities but still deserve an opportunity to lead life with dignity and self-respect," Pavithra said.

Special players take to streets

03.12.2017
Ranchi: The ill-treatment and apathy meted out to around 1,000 deaf and mute participants of the week-long national meet that kicked off on Friday at the Hotwar mega sports complex compelled hundreds of visiting players to resort to blockades on Saturday, exposing the utter unpreparedness of the state that aspires to be a world-class sports destination.

Special athletes from Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh blocked the main gate of the sports complex and sat on the road in front of it from 7am to demand basic amenities such as proper food, bed and bedrolls and clean toilets.

The blockade was lifted around four hours later after police intervention.

Officials of Jharkhand Sports Council of the Deaf were conspicuous by their absence. Visitors alleged that even the authorities of Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL), which manages the mega sports complex, remained indifferent.

Fazal Pasha, a coach of Kerala, dubbed the mismanagement as "criminal". "These are poor athletes who can't speak but have come to play and pursue their dreams. This is not how these talented players should be treated."

The games will end on December 6.

Another official from Andhra Pradesh said only four slices of bread were being offered in the breakfast.

"Last night (Friday), several players didn't get food. This morning (Saturday), the toilets were stinking," he said.

Some have already shifted to hotels. Anthony Gomes, father of 20-year-old table tennis player Shiny, said. "I can afford to pay the hotel rooms rent for six days, but there are many who can't."

Sports director Ranendra Kumar said they were planning to take over the meet.

"Our priority is to help the participants. I have pressed our men into service to set things right," he said.

Around 3pm, state sports minister Amar Kumar Bauri visited the mega sports complex to take stock of the situation and promised to set things right.

Another official said the entire fiasco has exposed the poor maintenance of the stadiums by CCL. "On paper, we knew there existed 40 cleaners but now we know there is only one. How can he clean so many toilets?" he said on the condition of anonymity.

Later at forenoon, state sports minister Amar Kumar Bauri visited mega sports complex to take stock of the situation. He also inaugurated badminton event and promised to set things right at the earliest.

Senior official of Jharkhand State Sports Promotion Society and CCL, Alok Kumar, said they weren't directly involved in hosting this meet.

The sporting events that were to supposed to begin on Saturday hadn't started till noon.

The swimming competition couldn't be held in the morning as the central heater to regulate pool temperature conked out.

S.K.Tiwari, an official of Jharkhand Swimming Association, who was called in to conduct the event, said, "I realised the heater wasn't working. So I told them I will only conduct the game when sun is at its peak and after receiving a no-objection in writing not. There isn't any medical provision for the participants," he said.

Moiz Anwar, a key official of Jharkhand Council of Deaf, couldn't be contacted.

On Friday, he told The Telegraph that agencies who were given contracts for beds and tents had failed to deliver them on time.

Senior official of Jharkhand State Sports Promotion Society and CCL, Alok Kumar, said they weren't directly involved in hosting this meet.

"The organisers had requested us to offer the venue for free. We had asked them to bring an undertaking from the government. We didn't know this would happen. It is a matter of shame for everyone," he said.

Geeta says couple from Bihar not her parents

03.12.2017

Several couples in the recent past have visited Geeta in the institute claiming that she is their daughter. But, Geeta did not recognise them.

Bhopal: A couple from Bihar on Saturday claimed Geeta, the deaf and mute Indian girl brought back from Pakistan in 2015, as their daughter and met her at an institute for speech and hearing impaired in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, where she has currently been lodged, requesting for their reunion.

However, Geeta failed to recognise them, in-charge of the institute J.D. Jain told this newspaper.

“The couple hailing from Alinagar village under Nalanda district in Bihar approached the institute authorities claiming that Geeta is their daughter. They claimed that their daughter had gone missing around nine years back,” Mr Jain said

The couple — Ram Swarup Choudhury and his wife Chinta Devi — claimed they saw Geeta in news channels and recognised her as their missing daughter and decided to come to the institute to see her. But, Geeta was apparently separated from her family 14 years ago. Besides, Geeta also refused to recognise the couple.

“Geeta said her mother was a literate person. But, Chinta Devi is an illiterate woman and hence cannot be her mother,” Mr Jain said.

However, the couple has been asked to approach the ministry of external affairs (MEA), the appropriate authority to take a decision on the matter, he added.

According to him, the Bihar couple directly approached the institute to stake claim for Geeta as their daughter without following the official procedure of moving the MEA first.

Several couples in the recent past have visited Geeta in the institute claiming that she is their daughter. But, Geeta did not recognise them.

Geeta was reportedly just 7 to 8 years old when she was found sitting alone on the Samjhauta Express by a Pakistan Rangers at the Lahore railway station.

She was adopted by Bilquis Edhi, a Pakistani philanthropist attached to Edhi Foundation, and lived with her in Karachi until October 2015, when she was brought back to India at the initiative of foreign minister Sushma Swaraj.

Ms Swaraj has even announced a reward of `1 lakh to the person who can find Geeta’s parents.

Shame game at Hotwar mega sports complex - Bad food & no bed for special athletes, but complaints fall on deaf ears

1.12.2017
Ranchi: Match Friday may have been flawless in Jamshedpur, which is hosting its maiden Indian Super League (ISL) and has a debutant home team in the fray, but a national meet that commenced in the capital for the deaf and mute is high on mismanagement, higher on ill-treatment and highest on shame for a state that is promoting itself as a world-class sports destination.

Some of the 800-plus athletes - participating in the week-long National Games of the Deaf at the mega sports complex in Hotwar - are feeling so humiliated and disillusioned that they have promised themselves never to return to such an "unwelcome state".

Champa Chakraborty of Siliguri whose 17-year-old son Dilip is representing Bengal in table tennis was in tears as she spoke to this correspondent.

"Only rice and dal has been served since last (Thursday) night. The food is also half-cooked. There are no beds or bedrolls where players can sleep in this cold weather. Toilets have no water or are unusable," Chakraborty said, adding that there was no facilitator who could answer queries. "Why such step-motherly attitude towards special athletes?"

The games, being sponsored by the All India Sports Council of the Deaf, which is recognised by the Union ministry of sports and youth affairs, will end on December 6. The children are aged between seven and 17 years, and are participating in various disciplines such as athletics, football, badminton and table tennis.

A coach of Madhya Pradesh said he had vowed never to come to Jharkhand, particularly Ranchi, for any games.

"Our contingent has around 60 kids of different age groups. We arrived last (Thursday) night, but there was no one to receive us at the station. After we managed to reach Hotwar, there was no one to escort us to proper rooms. We slept without food and bed," he said.

According to the coach, Friday morning went by without any breakfast on the table or water in the bathrooms to freshen up. "You shall feel sick if you see the condition of the toilets," he said, adding that several attempts to contact the organisers went in vain. "Nobody seems to know who is in charge!"

Another MP official, Shailendra, said lunch was served at 2pm and was of terrible quality. "Even dogs won't eat such food. The cook claimed he didn't get the ration on time or in sufficient quantity," he added.

President of Jharkhand Sports Council of the Deaf Moiz Anwar insisted that all arrangements were made, but suppliers goofed up. "We have ordered for beds and blankets, among other things. Gaps (in management) will be plugged soon," he said.