BPSC Recruitment 2020: Notification issued for 553 posts

Source: financialexpress.com

BPSC Recruitment 2020:The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has come out with a notification for a number of posts. Applications have been invited for the post of Assistant Prosecution Officer (APO) posts. The commission is looking to fill up as many as 553 posts. Those looking to apply may do so at the official website www.bpsc.bih.nic.in.

While the online registration procedure begins tomorrow (Friday), the last date for the same is February 21. The candidates may also submit their application fee by February 26. The last date to file the application is March 6. Those looking to apply for this post must at least have a law degree from any university/institute recognised by the government.

BPSC Recruitment 2020: Age Limit

While the minimum age of candidates must be 18, the maximum age limit is 37. For candidates in General Female/OBC (Male/Female)/BC, the minimum required age is 18 and the maximum age limit is 42 years. The minimum age of SC/ST candidates is 18, while the maximum age should not be more than 42 years.

Those belonging to ST of Bihar /SC of Bihar /Permanent residents of Bihar/Handicapped/Woman of Bihar will have to pay Rs 150, while other candidates will have to pay Rs 600.

How Patna Police Is Working With Women Across Districts To Prevent Violence

Source: outlookindia.com

To mark the seventh anniversary of Nirbhaya gang rape, the Bihar Police has announced a district-wide programme to prevent violence against women and girls.

December 16, 2019 was the seventh anniversary of the gut-wrenching rape and murder of 23-year-old Nirbhaya, the brutality of which still sends chills down our spines. The outrage that followed the gruesome incident compelled the government to recognise the magnitude of the problem and form a committee to look into reforming anti-rape law. A slew of recommendations was also made for prevention of violence against women and children, one of which was to augment the police force by investing in community policing.

To this end, the Bihar Police started a community initiative in 2016 to collaborate with women and girls in 32 police stations in Patna and 20 police stations in Gaya to prevent violence, abuse, and exploitation. The initiative has already yielded benefits as it has instilled a greater confidence in communities that the Police will partner with them to keep them safe.

To mark the seventh anniversary of Nirbhaya gang rape, the Bihar Police has announced a district-wide programme to prevent violence against women and girls. Assistant Director General Vinay Kumar of the Criminal Investigation Department said, “All the police stations across Patna districts will have ‘Women and Girl Safety Panels’ trained by Mumbai-based NGO Aangan Trust. The groups, comprised of women and children from all the police stations in the district, will actively engage with Bihar Police to identify and address threats to the safety of women and children in the region.” These monthly meetings comprise a significant investment in community policing and using local, real-time data from the ground to inform stronger policing in Patna.

Each chowki (police post) will have designated police personnel specialized to deal with cases of violence against women and children and shall be approachable to the community at all times. Police officials will initiate community meetings along with women volunteers to disseminate information on safety and legal mechanisms. Through regular meetings with the safety groups, the Police will leverage this mechanism to identify cases of child harm across the districts, work with community to co-create solutions to threats to child safety and take meaningful action in preventing harm.

Strengthening community policing systems has been shown to have positive effects on the police’s perception and efficacy, according to the Task Force on 21st Century Policing led by former U.S. President Barack Obama. In particular, trust and legitimacy are indicators that are shown to improve through increased interface with the community, and both of these factors have an impact on the police’s ability to do its job to protect the community. “Change begins with listening,” reads the first section of the 21st Century Policing Handbook. It is with this intention that the Bihar Police has set out to meaningfully engage with community members around child safety.

In 32 police stations of Patna, there are already active groups who engage with the police monthly. Police in these police stations have conducted activities like open houses, meet with adolescent girls who have mapped risks, increased patrolling, or carried out school safety campaigns.

Headquarters Inspector General Mr. Nayyar Khan said of the collaboration, “To tackle the grave issue of gender-based violence, it is crucial to incorporate the valuable perspectives of women and girls. Bihar Police has been collaborating with Aangan Trust to bring police and community together since 2016, and we look forward to continuing this engagement.”

As a result of local community data shared with the Bihar Police by women and girls, the police has taken actions such as increasing patrolling on unsafe routes, spreading awareness of legal systems protecting women and children against violence, conducting school safety campaigns, and organising regular community meetings to have a better understanding of risks at the grassroots level.

Once in Spotlight for Laying Foundation of Ram Temple, This Dalit Boy Has Now Been Nominated in Ayodhya Trust

Source: ews18.com

Meghnath Oram had travelled to Ayodhya with small jattha of karsewaks from South Bihar’s Chota Nagpur division. Led by a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) functionary in Gaya region, the group had camped about a mile off the disputed site.

Oram since his arrival had shown signs of unrest. He had vowed to lay the foundation stone for a grand Ram temple at the site where Babri Masjid stood. Else, he would not return to his village.

To avoid any untoward incident, Kameshwar Chaupal, the VHP joint general secretary in-charge of tribal-dominated districts in Bihar, was asked to keep a close watch on Oram.

November 9, 1989 was the ‘auspicious’ day chosen by top Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and VHP leaders to performs shilanyas and lay the foundation for the ‘proposed grand temple’ at Ayodhya. It was to be the culmination of decade-long campaign led by the VHP and nurtured by the RSS.

Early that Wednesday morning, VHP leader Ashok Singhal’s close aide Rameshwar came looking for Chaupal. At the shilanyas site, very close to the disputed structure, Chaupal was accorded the coveted seat beside Singhal.

Swami Chinmayananda, who would go on to become a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, was the master of the ceremony. With Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia, seers and saints in attendance, the puja began.

In a powerful political statement, from a bevy of gurus lined up for the event, the VHP had chosen a Dalit boy from Saharasa in Bihar to lay the foundation stone of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, and of the BJP in national politics.

Once Shilanyas was done, Kameshswar Chaupal left Ayodhya for his village in Bihar.

On his arrival, Chaupal was told Baldev Jha, head of a prosperous Brahmin family had sent a message and wished to see him. “We had lived under centuries of subjugation, and I was reluctant. But my father coaxed me to go and meet Baldev Babu,” Chaupal recalled speaking to News18 in December, 2017.

For a person who had never entered an Upper Caste household in his village, Chaupal was unsure of the reception he would receive. “To my shock, Baldev Babu held my hand, made me sit beside him and asked everyone in the family, young and old, to touch my feet. They had read about me in the newspapers,” he recalled.

Chaupal later contested 1991 Lok Sabha elections from Rosada on BJP ticket, but lost. Chaupal tried his luck for the second time in 1995 Assembly polls. Five years later, he was nominated to the Bihar Legislative Council, where he served for two terms.

Ahead of the 2014 general elections, JD(U) had broken its poll pact with the BJP. It asked him to contest from a general seat. Chaupal lost to Pappu Yadav’s wife and Congress candidate Ranjeet Ranjan.

​

Amit Shah Jharkhand CM, Hemant Soren Has Education Portfolio’: 7th Graders Stun State Minister

Source: news18.com

Jharkhand Minister for School Education and Literacy, Jagarnath Mahto had visited the school at Koiya village in Gola block of Ramgarh district on Wednesday and the incident went viral on social media and was reported in online portals.

Ramgarh (Jharkhand): The Jharkhand Minister for School Education and Literacy, Jagarnath Mahto was in for a shock when he was told by school children that Hemant Soren is the education minister of the state.

The students of class seven of the government school at Ramgarh, to whom he was speaking, had more for him in store.

When Mahto asked them who is the chief minister, they shot back : “Amit Shah”. Soren is the chief minister of the tribal state, while Shah is the union home minister.

Mahto had visited the school at Koiya village in Gola block of Ramgarh district on Wednesday and the incident went viral on social media and was reported in online portals.

The head mistress of the school Kalawati Soni said on Thursday that the students were apparently unaware of Mahto as he had taken charge just about 10 days ago. Soni said she was on leave when the minister visited the school and the students failed to give the correct answers.

The school has 90 teachers, one permanent teacher and three para-teachers, she added. Ramgarh Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Singh told PTI

that a probe has been ordered into the poor education skills of the government school.

He said that the district superintendent of education, Sushil Kumar would enquire into the incident and submit a report to the administration.

Mahato, who took oath as a minister on January 28 and got the portfolio the next day, has said that he will continue to make surprise visits to schools.

VIOLENT THUNDERSTORM, LIGHTNING STRIKES AND HAILSTORM LIKELY IN JHARKHAND, LIGHT SHOWERS IN WEST BENGAL

Source: skymetweather.com

After giving good rains in Central India, the Confluence Zone is expected to shift towards east, due to which scattered rains may commence in Jharkhand by today evening or night. The intensity is expected to increase gradually and many parts of the state may observe violent thunderstorm activities along with lightning strikes for next few days. The strong winds are expected to blow and there are also chances of isolated hailstorm activities until February 8.

Meanwhile, scattered light showers are likely in Gangetic West Bengal, wherein, Kolkata stands a chance to experience patchy showers on February 8 and 9. On the other hand, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, as well as Central West Bengal, may remain dry.

Due to the presence of an Anti-Cyclone over the Bay of Bengal, humid winds from the southeast direction are blowing over East India. These winds are meeting with cold winds from the northwest leading to the formation of a Confluence Zone.

This convergence has led to the development of convective clouds that are capable of giving rain, thundershowers and lightning strikes. The Confluence Zone which has formed over Jharkhand is gradually expected to extend up to Gangetic West Bengal leading to rain.

Bihar Board intermediate exam 2019: 39 expelled on day 3, students find Biology MCQs confusing

Source: hindustantimes.com

Altogether 39 examinees were expelled for using unfair means during exam on the third day of intermediate examination conducted by the Bihar Board of Secondary Education (BSEB) on Wednesday.

The board conducted Biology exam in the first sitting, for which a total of 2,48,698 candidates had registeredwhile Economics and Foundation course examinations were held in the second sitting, for which a total of 96,231 and 569 candidates had registered respectively across the state.

Out of 39, eight were expelled in Rohtas, four each in Patna and Nalanda, three each in Jehanabad and Madhepura, two in Gaya, three in Siwan and one each in Nawada, Vaishali, Madhubani, Supaul, Bhagalpur, Banka, Munger, Khagaria and Begusarai.

BSEB Chairman Anand Kishor visited several exam centres including Gardanibagh Girls’ High School and Kamla Nehru Balika Uchchya Vidyalaya for surprise inspection and checked the security arrangements. Kishor also instructed the deployed magistrates and centre inspectors to maintain tight security for fair and peaceful conduct of examinations.

Students Speak:

Neha Kumari of Patna Collegiate School said, “Biology paper was a bit tough. MCQs had very similar and hence, confusing options. Overall, it was satisfactory.”

Another examinee Pallavi Kumari who took the examination at Bankipur Girls’ High School, said, “Paper was good but I had more expectations. Long-answer type questions were difficult to answer but I have given an attempt. I hope pass with good marks. ”

On February 6, the BSEB will conduct NRB exam in the first shift while Computer Science, Multi-Media and Web Technology, Yoga and Physical Education in the second shift. The examinations will end on February 13.

NIA botched-up investigation labels Ranchi businessman as criminal, wife writes to Governor

source: newsheads.in

Ranchi : The lawyers of Sanjay Jain, the businessman who was booked in terror funding case by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), told the media told the media that Sanjay Jain has spent a year in jail and he was a salaried man. Hence, he didn’t have the sanction authority to issuing funds in such a situation to any Naxal organization or terrorist. 

Advocates Shubham Gupta and Praveen Gupta said that they are putting this matter in the court and are making legal efforts to bringing justice to the victim as they have full faith in the court. Moreover, the lawyers also sent a formal letter requesting the Prime Minister and the Home Minister to look into the grave matter of botched-up investigation by the NIA and raised the issue of injustice done to Sanjay Jain as the man is victim and not criminal.

The letter wrote that the biggest unfortunate thing for a country governed by any law is when its most premier investigating agency fails to nab the terrorists and frames common businessmen and their employees who are already suffering from the heat of terrorism and Naxalism since decades. The case of illegal recovery and extortion has been portrayed as ‘Terror Funding’ and the businessmen working in the national interest are declared as terrorists. 

In this connection, Mrs. Pinky Jain, wife of Sanjay Jain, wrote a letter dated 12-06-2019 to Director General, NIA. A similar letter was also sent to the Honorable Governor of Jharkhand in October last year. 

The Price That Transgender Folk Pay To Accept And Assert Their Identity

Source: youthkiawaaz.com

Trigger Warning: Transphobia, sexual assault, and murder

On 15th January 2019 when 21-years-old Alka left her place to visit the Tattapani festival ground in Balrampur, Chhattisgarh, did she realise that this would be her last day? When she met two men, Saurabh Gupta and Shahshank Gupta there, did she realise that one of them is an alleged rapist and that these two men will mercilessly murder her? Did she realise the kind of danger she was in? Did she realise that she was going to die when they took a huge rock and crushed her genitalia? We can never know the answers to these questions because Alka is no more.

Alka was a young transgender woman, who had left her home at the age of 16 and was living on her own. She was killed allegedly because the two men realised that Alka was not a cisgender woman but a transgender woman. They felt so angry that they decided to punish Alka by mutilating her genitalia and then killing her. How dare she present herself as a ‘woman’? How dare she ‘cheat’ these men who wanted to fulfill their lust? How dare she exist? And thus, they allegedly decided to cease Alka’s existence as a woman, forever.

This had happened in Chhattisgarh, at Tattapani, which is a hot-water spring where tourists throng especially during Makar Sankranti. An eerily similar incident happened just a few days after this incident in the buzzing and modern city of Delhi.

A 21-year-old transgender woman was given a lift by two men in a cab on the midnight of January 20, 2019, from Trilokpuri to Barapullah. The duo allegedly tried to sexually assault her in the car. When she declined the duo, Sagar Kumar and Chandra Kant, were reportedly so enraged that they shot her in the abdomen and threw her out of the moving car. Fortunately, she survived.

Violence against people from the transgender community is not new. The British infamously registered and controlled Indian transgender persons under the guise of The Criminal Tribes Act, 1971 which considered Hijras (called ‘Eunuchs’ in the Act, a derogatory term referring to castrated men) as criminals and barred them from dressing as women or engaging in their traditional activities. Violence was perpetrated against them as they were considered a threat to British culture and polity. However, the Hijras survived the crushing British Rule.

NEW DELHI, INDIA DECEMBER 28: Members and supporters of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community shout slogans during a protest to stop the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, at Jantar Mantar, on December 28, 2018 in New Delhi, India. (Photo by Amal KS/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Cut to 2019, the government of the Republic of India, a constitutional parliamentary, socialist, secular, republic, which is the largest democracy of the world, and which is bound to protect the values of equality, justice, liberty, and fraternity, enacted the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 despite protests against it by the Transgender community.

The Act trivialises sexual abuse and violence against transgender persons and offers a reduced punishment ranging from 6 months to 2 years for offenses against transgender persons, while similar offenses against women are awarded a much higher quantum of punishment up to life imprisonment. How can then one expect the law to act as a deterrent to the violence against the transgender community?

very year across the world numerous transgender persons are murdered simply because of who they are. A much higher number faces sexual and physical violence, which often goes unreported. Most often the violence is done by their own families and partners. This is the price that transgender folk pay to accept and assert their identity. This is the price they pay for simply existing.

As we celebrated the Day of non-violence and peace on January 30, on the occasion of death anniversary of the biggest proponent of non-violence in the 20th century, Mahatma Gandhi, and pledge to carry forward the legacy of Ahimsa, it is time to ponder and reflect upon the violence perpetrated against transgender folk, and how we can create a future where every transgender person feels safe and secure, and doesn’t think of being murdered every single living day of their life.

Bihar: Swachh Bharat in shambles as civic staff strike enters third day

Source: freepressjournal.in

At Patna, where 4500 workers are on strike, the employees dumped carcasses of cows, goats and dogs at Patna Municipal Corporation offices at Maurya Lok complex and Kankarbagh circle.

Patna: With the strike of the 25,000 municipal staff all over Bihar entering its third day on Wednesday, the entire state is stinking as heaps of garbage is scattered on all streets, roads and residential colonies.The daily wage workers of the municipal corporations and municipalities are agitated over state government’s decision to outsource the civic services.

The striking workers dumped carcasses of animals on busy market areas and headquarters of the civic bodies. At Patna, where 4500 workers are on strike, the employees dumped carcasses of cows, goats and dogs at Patna Municipal Corporation offices at Maurya Lok complex and Kankarbagh circle. According to reports received from Gaya, Darbhanga and Ara, the officers abstained from attending their respective offices due to the strike.

The workers had also dumped garbage at the official bungalows of the Urban Development Minister Suresh Sharma on Strand Road and Health Minister Mangal Pandey on Polo road.

Morning walkers at Shivaji park, S K Puri Park and Raj Banshinagar Park also avoided visiting parks due to the carcasses dumped inside them.Urban development Minister on Wednesday claimed the decision to scrap the services of daily wage workers was taken on the orders of the Lokayukta. He said the government would hand over the civic services to non-government agencies next month.

Patna Mayor, Seeta Sahu, met the minister and said the corporators were also in support of the demands of the striking workers. She said daily wage workers should be engaged as regular employees than handing over the services to the outsources agencies.

Chandra Prakash, president of the striking civic staff union said the government was denying its due to the workers who were engaged in civic services for the last 15 years.

Invoking Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s ‘Indigenous’ Dream, PM Modi Says UP Will Become One of the Biggest Hubs of Defence Manufacturing

Source:news18.com

Lucknow: India is eyeing defence export of USD 5 billion in the next five years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday, highlighting the measures taken by his government to boost manufacturing and woo investors to set up a base in the country.

Inaugurating the 11th edition of DefExpo here, Modi said a country of the size of India cannot entirely depend on imports and added the number of defence licenses issued in the last five years has risen to 460 from 210 in 2014, the year he first came to power.

India is building several defence equipment like artillery guns, aircraft carriers, submarines, light-combat aircraft, and combat helicopters, he said. “Today India is capable of manufacturing Artillar guns, Air Craft Carriers, Submarines, Light Combat helicopters and other defence related equipments. Our main aim for next five years is to increase defence export by 5 Bilion Dollars in next five years,” Modi said.

India is not only a major market globally but a vast opportunity for the world as well, he said, asserting that Uttar Pradesh is going to be one of the biggest defence manufacturing hubs in India. Lack of proper policy initiative in last several decades made India the biggest importer of defence platforms, he added.

Modi cited misuse of technology, terrorism and cyber threat as challenges facing the world and said defence forces are eyeing new technology considering new threats. India is not behind others, he added. He said a roadmap had been finalised to use application of artificial intelligence in defence sector.

The prime minister said the creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff and the Department of Military Affairs will boost the overall defence production. “We are going to enhance our presence in the outer space in coming years,” he said, adding that the DRDO is putting up effective protection for India’s assets in outer space created by ISRO.

“Our defence preparedness is not aimed at any country as India is a reliable contributor to world peace. It’s our responsibility to ensure security of not only India but countries in the neighbourhood as well,” he said. He invited foreign defence manufacturers to “come and invest in India.

Modi further said, “This time more than 1000 companies are participating in the Defence Expo from over 150 countries across the world. Also defence ministers from more than 30 countries and hundreds of business leaders have come to participate in this event today.”