Chennai, July 26 (IANS ) The Madras High Court on Friday came out strongly against the continued use of caste-based terms in the names of government schools, saying the practice may end up causing stigma to the students.

A division bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and C. Kumarappan suggested to the state government that names such as Government Kallar Reclamation School and Government Tribal Residential School should be avoided.

“It is painful that even in the 21st century, such words are used in the names of schools. Tamil Nadu being a forerunner in social justice, such stigmatic words cannot be added as prefixes or suffixes,” it held, as it heard a suo moto public interest litigation (PIL) petition taken up for improving the lives of the tribals living in and around the Kalvarayan hills in Salem and Kallakurichi districts.

The judges disapproved of the use of the word ‘tribal’ in the names of government schools.

Justice Subramanian observed: “Caste names, once found in street name boards, were abolished. Now we don’t have streets with caste names. Then, why should they continue to find a place in government schools.” He also said that when he was serving as Portfolio Judge for Theni district, he had come across children of Government Kallar Reclamation schools being branded.

“The Tamil Nadu government claims to be the champion of social justice. You have brought in so many changes. Even Madras was changed to Chennai. Then, why retain caste names in government schools?” he asked.

The division bench later adjourned the PIL petition for filing of a further status report by the state government.

–IANS

aal/vd

Lucknow, July 26 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath On Friday announced that Agniveers will receive preference in recruitment for the UP Police and PAC force after completing their service.

He emphasised that the country would benefit from having trained and disciplined young soldiers like Agniveers. The Chief Minister made these comments to the media at his official residence in the evening, before heading to New Delhi for the NITI Aayog meeting.

Chief Minister Adityanath slammed the opposition’s position on the Agniveer issue, asserting, “The opponents’ role is to obstruct progress and spread rumours about every effort toward reform and advancement.”

He highlighted that, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India has risen to become the world’s fifth-largest economy.

“Significant reforms have been implemented over the last 10 years,” the CM noted, adding that the country is progressing towards self-reliance in modernising the Indian Army and its equipment.

Emphasising the importance of periodic reforms for setting new standards of progress and prosperity, CM Adityanath stated, “Over the past decade, significant reforms have been implemented across various sectors. Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, efforts have been made to elevate India’s economy to a leading position, making it the fifth-largest economy in the world.”

He added: “As we achieve new levels of prosperity, we must also prioritise national security. Whether it’s advancing self-reliance in the military and its equipment or making prompt decisions for modernisation, India now possesses some of the most advanced fighter planes.”

The Chief Minister noted that the Defence Industrial Corridor is being developed in both Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, with investments amounting to thousands of crores in the six nodes of the UP Defence Industrial Corridor.

He highlighted notable advancements, such as the efforts of Bharat Dynamics Limited and progress in developing the BrahMos missile, which represents a significant leap forward. The army is also making rapid advancements.

He added: “The Agniveer scheme has been introduced in the Indian Army with this vision. There is considerable enthusiasm among the youth for this initiative, with 10 lakh Agniveers preparing to serve as formidable soldiers in the Indian Army.”

Further criticising the opposition, he remarked, “Unfortunately, some political parties prioritise their own interests over the country’s welfare. They engage in politics at the nation’s expense, continuously interfering, misleading, and making statements against every reform and advancement. The opposition is persistently misleading the youth on this issue.”

The Chief Minister noted that today’s youth are enthusiastically joining the Agniveer program, and plans are in place to integrate them into paramilitary and civil police roles. He assured that the UP government is committed to providing facilities and giving preference to their recruitment into the UP Police and PAC forces upon their return.

“We will gain from having trained and disciplined youth as Agniveers. Our government is fully committed to this initiative. We should support Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign for military reform, recognising its importance for national security,” the Chief Minister said.

–IANS

brt/dan

Aizawl, July 26 (IANS) Due to the renewed fierce battles between the Myanmar Army and the alliance of three ethnic insurgent groups, including the Chin National Army (CNA), over 1,500 Myanmarese took shelter in Mizoram, sources said on Friday.

Sources said that the Tatmadaw, as the Myanmar military is known, engaged in fresh armed conflict with an alliance of three ethnic insurgent outfits including CAN in Chin and Rakhine State.

Mizoram Home Department officials said that around 1,500 fresh Myanmar refugees entered Mizoram during the past week and sheltered in the five districts – Champhai, Serchhip, Lawngtlai, Siaha, and Aizawl.

With the fresh arrival of refugees, the total number of refugees from Myanmar taking shelter in Mizoram has risen to over 35,120.

The Myanmarese took shelter in Mizoram in different phases after the military takeover in the conflict-ridden country in February 2021.

Besides the Myanmar nationals, over 2,000 Bangladeshi tribals, belonging to the Bawm community, took shelter in Mizoram since November 2022. The Bangladeshi refugees from Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of southeast Bangladesh fled from their villages and sought refuge in Mizoram after an offensive by the Bangladeshi Army against the insurgent group Kuki-Chin National Army (KNA).

The Kuki-Zomi-Chin- Bawm tribes in Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Manipur share ethnic ties, and cultural and linguistic similarities with the Mizo people. Most refugees stay in rented accommodation and the homes of their relatives or friends, while others live in relief camps across the border state, which shares a 510-km-long unfenced border with Myanmar and 318 km with Bangladesh.

–IANS

sc/vd

Kolkata, July 26 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s decision to attend the NITI Aayog meeting in New Delhi to be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday has attracted scathing criticisms from the CPI-M and the Congress’ state unit.

CPI-M Rajya Sabha member and senior advocate of Calcutta High Court, Bikas Ranjan Bhattacharya said that this development once against proves that Trinamool Congress is the clandestine agent of the BJP.

“When the Chief Ministers of all the non-BJP ruled states have announced their decision to stay away from the meeting, Mamata Banerjee stood out as the exception. In the past also she has expressed her weakness towards the BJP. She had earlier described the BJP as her natural ally. So this is nothing new on her part,” he said.

Echoing the CPI-M leader, state Congress leader Manoj Bhattacharya said that since the formation of the opposition INDIA bloc with Trinamool being officially a part of it, Banerjee had been trying to create a division there.

“This she had been doing to benefit the BJP indirectly. Her latest decision to join the NITI Aayog meeting simply justifies her stand,” he said.

However, Trinamool leaders claimed that such criticism of the opposition parties is baseless since the Chief Minister has already clarified that she is attending the meeting not just to raise her voice of protest against financial deprivation of West Bengal but also of the other non-BJP-ruled states.

“The Chief Minister has already cleared her stand on why she is attending the meeting. There was not any specific agenda of the INDIA. bloc about attending the meeting. Trinamool Congress will surely be a part of the opposition bloc. But surely it has its own identity. So the decision taken by the Chief Minister in the interest of West Bengal is totally justified,” Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh said.

–IANS

src/vd

Bhubaneswar, July 26 (IANS) Amidst the sudden spike in prices of potatoes across Odisha due to a halt in supply from West Bengal, the state Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department Minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Friday assured that the problem will be resolved within two days.

“We had discussions with the officials of West Bengal and they said the strike by potato farmers in West Bengal which had started on July 21 ended on July 24. It will take two to three more days to solve all the related problems. The vehicles carrying potatoes will reach Odisha within a day or two and the situation will soon return to normalcy,” said Patra following a high-level meeting of the department.

The minister also stated that Odisha has sufficient stock of potatoes to cater to the demands of consumers for the next seven to eight days and the officials have been instructed to take stringent action against if the traders are found selling potatoes above Rs 32 per kg.

Earlier, Patra had also asserted that if the need arises then the government would import potatoes from Uttar Pradesh to meet the demand and control the price rise.

He also criticized former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik over his letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee requesting her intervention to ensure a smooth supply of potatoes.

“Pleases stop playing these cheap politics. You failed to solve any problem despite remaining in power for 24 years. Your potato and onion missions failed. Odisha couldn’t become self-sufficient in potatoes, onion, egg, fish or any other food items in your 24-year rule. Nothing is going to be achieved through these dramas,” added Patra.

Earlier, Patnaik sought the West Bengal Chief Minister’s intervention in the matter to ensure a smooth supply of potatoes. He said due to rain there has been a short supply of potatoes in the Odisha market, resulting in a price hike.

“Learnt from media reports that long queues of trucks loaded with potatoes are waiting at the West Bengal border. Requested Honourable Chief Minister of West Bengal @MamataOfficialji to kindly intervene in the matter and ensure smooth supply of potatoes to #Odisha,” Patnaik on Friday posted on his ‘X’ handle.

–IANS

gyan/dan