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POLITICSOct 6Ladli Behna scheme has turned out to be ‘very expensive’, says Madhya Pradesh CMLast month, a petition was also filed before the Gwalior Bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court, seeking closure of the scheme while questioning its financial liability on the exchequer and accusing it to be an election-related freebieThe Hindu
POLITICSOct 6Maharashtra Govt approves to increase scholarship allowance for SC and ST studentsUnder the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Swayam Yojana, the government has approved a revision of allowances for Scheduled Tribe studentsThe Hindu
POLITICSOct 6CEC Gyanesh Kumar postpones 2-day Chhattisgarh visitThe Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar has postponed a two-day visit to Chhattisgarh. This is an administrative decision related to electoral planning.Indian Express
POLITICSOct 6SIR: BLOs being forced to accept Form-7s without signature of applicantsIn a fresh instance, the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) of Goshamahal constituency spoke up against bulk submission of Form-7s and warned the political parties of action if BLOs are pressured into accepting such formsThe Hindu
POLITICSOct 6Case registered against BJP booth-level agent over alleged attempt to delete names of 30 voters in MusheerabadA case has been registered against a BJP booth-level agent for allegedly attempting to remove 30 voters' names from the electoral roll in Musheerabad. This action suggests a potential effort to influence election outcomes.The Hindu
POLITICSOct 6Indian opposition leaders detained during voter lists protestPolice detained Indian opposition leaders during a protest outside the Election Commission in New Delhi where lawmakersAl Jazeera [en]
POLITICSOct 6ASHA workers seek ₹15,000 monthly remunerationAccredited Social Health Activists affiliated to the All India United Trade Union Centre staged a protest in front of the Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer’s office in Karwar on Tuesday as part of a State-wide protest week, demanding a minimum monthly remuneration of ₹15,000 and timely payment of incentives and honorariumThe Hindu
POLITICSOct 6Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi detained after hours-long anti-CEC protest, released laterRahul and Priyanka Gandhi were detained following an hours-long protest against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) before being released. This event highlights political dissent and law enforcement's response to demonstrations.Indian Express
POLITICSOct 6Ganga Water Treaty is ‘flawed’, needs to be updated: Bangladesh river expert“The Ganga Water Treaty is three decades old and flawed as it does not include a guarantee clause. It also does not have ecological flow and environmental flow considerations,” Manjur A. Chowdhury, chairman of Bangladesh River Conservation Commission told The HinduThe Hindu
POLITICSOct 6ECI says Opposition MPs’ Parliament Annexe meet demand ‘could not be accepted’Poll panel says protocol requires meetings with political delegations to be held at its premises; offers to receive memorandum through senior-most officer on dutyThe Hindu
POLITICSOct 6Coimbatore Medical College Hospital changes medicine covers after instructions in Hindi spark controversyThe Hindu
POLITICSOct 6Bypolls held in five Assembly seats, one Lok Sabha constituencyHighest voter turnout of 86% in Madurantakam seat; West Bengal CEO got 97 official complaints on polling day; Congress seeks cancellation of W.B. bypolls due to alleged voter intimidation, booth capturingThe Hindu
POLITICSOct 6The protest that wouldn’t end: Inside Rahul Gandhi’s daylong siege of Akashvani BhawanAfter police appeared to have broken up the Opposition’s march against the Election Commission of India, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi improvised by turning the All India Radio campus in the national capital into the unlikely centre of an all-day sit-in that lasted well past sunsetThe Hindu
POLITICSOct 6Cabinet approves five commissionerates for Bengaluru; former officers express concernFormer senior police officers have questioned whether a civic structure can be directly replicated in policing, arguing that crime, law and order, traffic management and emergency mobilisation do not necessarily follow municipal boundariesThe Hindu
POLITICSOct 6ED detains former KPSC chief Sahukar, KPSC member Geetha after fresh raidThe latest action follows the custodial interrogation of IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, a key accused in the caseThe Hindu
POLITICSOct 6Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde offers prayers at PuttaparthiMaharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde offered prayers at Puttaparthi. This is a public activity of a political leader.The Hindu
POLITICSOct 6ACB flags several irregularities at Transport Department office in KorutlaThe Anti-Corruption Bureau has reported multiple irregularities within the Transport Department office in Korutla. This indicates potential issues with local government operations.The Hindu
POLITICSOct 6Anti-ragging guidelines drawn up, State informs Kerala HCThe Division Bench of Chief Justice had previously directed the State to issue guidelines based on the draft Kerala Prohibition of Ragging (Amendment) Bill, until it was enactedThe Hindu
POLITICSOct 6Roxas Blvd drainage turns into floodwater storageTHE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is expanding drainage systems along Roxas Boulevard in Manila to serve not only as stormwater conduits, but also as underground detention basins, Secretary Vince Dizon said on Tuesday. Dizon said the enlarged drainage system would temporarily store excess rainwater underground while five pumping stations along the Roxas Boulevard corridor draw water away from flood-prone areas. “This is part of our master plan here in Manila, where we are enlarging our drainage systems along Roxas Boulevard,” Dizon said during a project inspection. He said some sections of the new drainage system are about 2 meters wide and would extend through a long stretch of Roxas Boulevard, from the Padre Faura area toward Remedios and Kalaw. Due to limited available space of built-up areas in Metro Manila for large conventional detention basins, Dizon said the expanded drainage system would effectively serve as underground water storage. “The idea is that from Taft Avenue, our pumping stations will draw the water, but to provide additional detention, we are enlarging these drainage systems. Instead of the water remaining on the road, it will go down here and stay underground,” Dizon explained. The DPWH chief said the five pumping stations serving Abad, Remedios, Padre Faura, Harbor and Luneta are operational. The initial drainage expansion along Roxas Boulevard covers about 135 meters and has just started. The section is set for completion by the end of the year, he said. The project costs about P47 million. It said it is also enlarging drainage inlets along Roxas Boulevard so water from the road can enter the system faster. Dizon however warned that even larger drains and inlets would not work effectively if clogged. He said the DPWH was coordinating with residents and communities to keep the enlarged inlets clear. The agency is undertaking similar inlet and drainage improvements in other flood-prone areas of Metro Manila, including Estrella, G. Araneta Avenue, España Boulevard, Mother Ignacia Avenue and EDSA. Dizon said a separate underground detention basin at Rajah Sulayman Park, also in Manila, is expected to be completed by February. He said such facilities would also help the government prepare for periods of both heavy rainfall and water shortage. Meanwhile, Dizon defended the DPWH’s request for an additional P11.49 billion in its proposed 2027 budget, saying projects must meet strict documentary and planning requirements before they are funded. He said proposed projects must have complete program-of-work and planning documents, and must be consistent with local governments’ and river basins’ master plans. About P6 billion of the additional allocation would go to road improvement projects, particularly local roads, according to the top DPWH official.manilatimes · philippines
POLITICSOct 6The low-hanging fruit to address traffic congestionMOTORISTS, transport workers and commuters are in a panic once more as fuel prices increase due to the conflict in the Middle East. And as we enter the “ber” months, we can only expect traffic congestion to worsen. There are many ways we can address our transport crisis, but based on my experience, the best solutions tend to be the simplest ones. Active mobility is low-hanging fruit because it is the most direct and cost-efficient means of reducing congestion and pollution in our cities. What is active transportation? Active transportation is a collective term for all forms of human-powered mobility. This usually refers to walking and cycling, but it also includes public transportation to a certain extent. After all, commuters must walk or cycle to access transit stations. Everyone uses active transportation, even those with private vehicles. That is because walking is the most basic form of mobility; we are all pedestrians first and foremost, which is why we cannot afford to neglect it in the planning and development of cities. The right tool for the right job When planning our transportation system, we must employ the right tool for the right job. This is especially true for cities where space is limited, and people are plentiful. Walking is ideal for short distances, such as moving within central business districts or residential areas, or going to transit hubs. Meanwhile, cycling is suitable for much longer distances, depending on the terrain, weather, and other factors. Active transportation is already ideal for many basic trips that we make in our daily lives, such as going to the convenience store, grocery, bank, restaurant, café and other errands within the neighborhood. If you could walk or ride a bicycle for any of these trips, instead of driving, then you would not have to worry about traffic congestion, parking and fuel expenses. Why make life harder when there are more efficient alternatives? Car-centricism vs transport equity The problem with Metro Manila and many other cities is that our infrastructure and policies are “car-centric,” instinctively prioritizing the movement and convenience of motor vehicles. The consequence of increased automobile usage is that even the most basic of trips become excruciatingly unbearable. What could have been a five-minute drive to the mall could easily end up taking half an hour or longer — and that doesn’t even include finding parking. That is why we must exhaust all modes of transportation, starting with what is most efficient and equitable. Policy as the backbone of infrastructure Design dictates behavior, and so do infrastructure and policy. Despite the cross-cutting benefits of active mobility, such as reduced travel time and transportation expenses, improved health and wellness, and cleaner air, people will not actively choose it over private motoring unless certain conditions are met. The Netherlands-based CROW Design Manual for Bicycle Traffic outlines five core principles for urban design: cohesion, directness, safety, comfort and attractiveness. Moving people is different from transporting cargo because we must prioritize the health, wellness and safety of living beings as they travel around their city. If the global best practices are already known, why don’t more cities adopt them? That is where policy comes into play. Policy is crucial because it serves as the legal mandate and framework for the national and local governments. Without it, there would be no obligation for public officials to promote active transportation. When I was consulted for the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, I made sure this was explicitly stated: “Pedestrians and cyclists will be accorded highest priority in the hierarchy of road users.” In other words, those with less in wheels must have more in roads. Low-hanging fruit Active transportation is low-hanging fruit because of its affordability and plentiful benefits. Compared to building a new rail line or a new expressway, improving sidewalks and bike lanes costs only a fraction in terms of time and money. Local governments can also use tactical urbanism to experiment with different setups before committing to a long-term investment. Maintenance is much cheaper because pedestrians and cyclists inflict little to no wear and tear, compared to motor vehicles. Active transportation also reduces healthcare expenses because regular exercise prevents chronic diseases. In fact, studies show that people who reside in walkable and bikeable neighborhoods live longer than those who live in car-dependent suburban areas. ‘Move people, not just cars’ During a workshop organized by political science students from Paris, I, along with other stakeholders, discussed the policy and infrastructure of cycling in Metro Manila. The findings of that event were that, although we have good policies on paper, they are not apparent in the on-the-ground reality. That is because we have a flawed definition of mobility. The root problem is that we still equate mobility with vehicular traffic, and measure our infrastructure based on the volume and speed of cars. And this is reflected in the priorities and projects of national agencies and transport departments of local government units. We need a paradigm shift, one where we measure mobility, not by vehicular traffic, but by people throughput. Until there is dignity in mobility, “move people, not just cars” remains the battle cry of urbanists, mobility advocates and frustrated commuters alike. Civic participation and government accountability Ultimately, the issue of mobility and transportation boils down to governance and civic participation. The Netherlands is a prime example with the Stop de Kindermoord movement. Long before Amsterdam and other Dutch cities became the cycling paradise they are known for today, they were no different from Metro Manila, with congested and chaotic streets filled with automobiles. However, they realized the deeper cost: If they continued building more roads for more cars, more children would get killed in vehicular collisions. As a result of the protests, the government seriously invested in active transportation to make walking and cycling safe and convenient. The Dutch are among the happiest people in the world because they do not waste their time in traffic jams. In our country, active transportation alone will not eradicate traffic congestion. But it will alleviate the problem by reducing the number of vehicles on the road and by empowering people with an additional means of mobility. Just as Rome wasn’t built overnight, we can’t expect Metro Manila to instantly transform. However, that should not deter us from striving for a better and more livable city. The question is not whether we are trying to fix things, but whether we are willing to adopt proven global practices and fight for it. That is why we need visionary leadership, good governance and strong political will.manilatimes · philippines
POLITICSOct 6Groups Associated With India’s Far-Right Receive Millions Through US Donor-Advised FundsSign up here to receive Bellingcat’s biggest investigations by email as soon as they are published. US non-profits whose founding leaders or organisations have been associated with India’s controversial Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) – or initiatives the Hindu nationalist group has endorsed – received millions of dollars over recent years through grants that allow donors […] The post Groups Associated With India’s Far-Right Receive Millions Through US Donor-Advised Funds appeared first on bellingcat.Bellingcat
POLITICSOct 6Rahul, Priyanka among 260 detained during INDIA bloc march to ECI in Delhi10 MPs among those detained after protesters breach police barricades; Gandhi siblings later removed from Akashvani Bhawan sit-inThe Hindu
POLITICSOct 6October 7 last date for submission of claims and objections for SIR in TelanganaOctober 7 has been set as the final deadline for submitting claims and objections related to SIR in Telangana.The Hindu
POLITICSOct 6Step up pace of Amaravati construction works, Andhra CM Naidu asks contracting agenciesIncrease the monthly execution value to ₹2,000 crore through better planning and coordination, says the Chief MinisterThe Hindu