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The CPI, a key partner in the CPI(M)-led LDF, on Tuesday announced its nominees to be inducted in the second <keyword id="160686" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pinarayi">Pinarayi</keyword> Vijayan-led <keyword id="26362" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Government">government</keyword> in Kerala. CPI state secretary <keyword id="1003253" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kanam-Rajendran">Kanam Rajendran</keyword> said the party has decided to nominate its newly elected MLAs, K Rajan, P Prasad, J Chinchu Rani and G R Anil as ministers in the new government, while senior party leader and <keyword id="6390828" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="adoor">Adoor</keyword> MLA Chittayam Gopakumar as the deputy speaker. The decision was taken at the party's state council meeting held here on Tuesday, he said. The meeting also decided to appoint senior party leader and minister in the outgoing ministry, E Chandrasekharan, as its <keyword id="268015" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="legislature-party">legislature party</keyword> leader. The swearing-in ceremony of the new government would be held on May 20 at the central stadium here by adhering to COVID-19 protocol. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/facebooks-mark-zuckerberg-has-six-months-to-answer-these-five-questions/articleshow/82729482.cms">Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg has six months to answer these five questions</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/indian-cryptocurrency-exchange-wazirx-has-listed-shiba-inu-tokens-for-trading-in-indian-rupees/articleshow/82731429.cms">WazirX has listed Shiba Inu — here's everything you need to know about the said Dogecoin killer</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/maharashtra-to-consider-staggered-reopening-depending-on-the-covid-19-cases-in-the-state/articleshow/82735056.cms">Maharashtra to consider staggered reopening depending on the COVID-19 cases in the state</a>

CPI announces its list of cabinet nominees in the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left government in Kerala

With the state Assembly polls round the corner, the ruling LDF in Kerala on Wednesday got a shot in the arm as Kerala Congress(M) faction led by Jose K Mani decided to severe its decades old ties with the Congress-led UDF and work with the CPI(M)-led front in the state. Party leader Jose K Mani also said he would quit his Rajya Sabha membership, won with the support of the UDF. Announcing his faction's political position at a press conference here, Jose expressed hope that the LDF leadership will take a decision on his party's entry into the ruling front. Jose, son of veteran Kerala Congress (M) leader <keyword id="10105448" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="late-k-m-mani">late K M Mani</keyword>, hailed the CPI(M)-led front's efforts to safeguard the secularism in the country. He also said the LDF government in the state was keen to work towards the welfare of the farming community, which is the core base of his party. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and leadership of the LDF were quick to welcome Jose faction's decision to cooperate with the front. In a statement, Vijayan said the KC(M) has taken a stand that LDF is the politically correct formation, ending its 38- year-old association with the UDF. The matters related to the party's LDF entry will be decided at the front's meeting, he said. Meanwhile, the UDF leadership flayed the move, saying Jose faction "backstabbed" the Congress-led front, which made him Rajya Sabha member. UDF convenor M M Hassan also said the Jose faction should quit all the parliamentary positions including <keyword id="10105447" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="kottayam-lok-sabha">Kottayam Lok Sabha</keyword> seat won with the support of the Congress-led front. Justifying his decision to work with the LDF, he said the front has been relentlessly fighting against the growing communal forces in the country. Attacking the UDF leadership and a rival Kerala Congress (M) faction led by P J Joseph, Jose said a section in the Congress-led front "expelled" his faction from the UDF after a dispute arose over a post in a local body. The UDF humiliated the MLAs and leaders who stood by his late father K Mani, who built the UDF 38 years ago, he said. He also alleged that P J Joseph faction engaged in character assassination of the leaders of his faction. "The UDF leadership supported Joseph's bid to hijack the Kerala Congress (M). They (UDF leadership) did injustice to us," Jose alleged. Jose faction's issues with the UDF leadership aggravated in June this year after it was "ousted" from the Congress-led <keyword id="204591" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="United-Democratic-Front">United Democratic Front</keyword> (UDF) in connection with the tussle over the Kottayam district panchayat chief post. The UDF leadership had later rectified it saying the Jose group was not ousted from the front and it was only temporarily barred from the UDF meeting for refusing to honour an agreement made in public with the coalition front over sharing the Kottayam district panchayat president's post. "Technically Jose K Mani group is part of the UDF," UDF chairman and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Ramesh Chennithala had said in <keyword id="6357416" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="thiruvananthapuram">Thiruvananthapuram</keyword> recently. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/top-stocks-to-watch-wipro-infosys-future-retail-airtel-irctc-srf-and-others/articleshow/78651966.cms">Top stocks to watch — Wipro, Infosys, Future Retail, Airtel, IRCTC, SRF, and others</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/apple-new-iphone-12-series-with-5g-launched-starting-at-rs-69999-along-with-side-homepod-mini-debut/articleshow/78647779.cms">Apple's new iPhone 12 series with 5G launched starting at ₹ 69,999 along with HomePod Mini debut</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/news/a-spacecraft-flying-by-venus-on-wednesday-night-could-confirm-recently-found-signs-of-alien-life/articleshow/78646790.cms">A spacecraft flying by Venus on Wednesday night could confirm recently found signs of alien life</a>

Jose K Mani-led Kerala Congress (M) faction parts ways with UDF ahead of State Assembly polls

<ul><li>The <keyword id="6357505" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kerala-high-court">Kerala High Court</keyword> has issued a notice to the central government over the validity of its new <keyword id="10904369" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="it-rules-for-digital-news">IT Rules for digital news</keyword> publications.</li><li>The single bench of Justice PV Asha also provided the petitioner, an online publication called <keyword id="5908459" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="livelaw">LiveLaw</keyword>, with interim protection.</li><li>The plea filed by LiveLaw argues that the new IT Rules are unconstitutional and have a ‘chilling effect’ on the entire digital new media industry.</li></ul>The Kerala High Court has issued a notice to the central government questioning the validity of its new IT rules for digital news organisations. The plea was filed by <a href="https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/kerala-high-court-new-it-rules-orders-no-coercive-action-issues-notice-on-livelaws-plea-170983?infinitescroll=1">LiveLaw</a>, which claims that the new guidelines cause a ‘chilling effect’ on the entire digital news media industry. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="81209053" title="Indian government assumes the right to block digital news content along with a new set of regulations" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> Justice PV Asha also provided interim protection to LiveLaw, restricting the central government from taking any action against the publication under Part II of the new rules until the case comes to a close. “Respondents shall not take any coercive action against petitioners with reference to provision contained in Part 3 of the IT Rules,” said the interim order passed by Justice Asha of the Kerala High Court. India’s new IT rules are in violation of the constitution According to LiveLaw’s petition, the Information Technology (Guidelines of Intermediaries and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 are in violation of Articles 13, 14, 19(1), 19(1)(g) and 21 of the Indian Constitution. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; table-layout: fixed; width: 468pt;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Article </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Description </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Article 13 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Fundamental rights are considered to be on the level of God thus no one cannot amend them. </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Article 14 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India. </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Article 19(1) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">All citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Article 19(1)(g) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Allows citizens “to practise any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business.” </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Article 21 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to a procedure established by law. </td></tr></tbody></table> Advocate Santhosh Mathew, representing LiveLaw, argued that the regulatory mechanism in the new rules are “invasive, disproportionate and arbitrary.” He emphasised that “reasonable restrictions” on the fundamental rights offered under Article 19 can only be imposed through a law enacted by the legislature. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="81341289" title="OPINION: Regulating digital news is important but freedom of press is precious" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> And, for a publication like LiveLaw who reports on court judgements — where not everyone may agree with the verdict — it could be an expensive endeavour. Mathew emphasized the urgency of the matter stating that the laws have already come in play starting February 25, which means if any person files a complaint against LiveLaw, the publication is obligated to reply within a span of 24 hours. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/whatsapp-signal-and-telegram-face-a-catch-22-situation-as-indias-new-social-media-rules-threaten-encryption/articleshow/81221070.cms">WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram face a catch-22 situation as India’s new social media rules threaten encryption</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/facebook-and-twitter-have-a-ton-of-new-rules-to-abide-by-in-india-whatsapp-may-find-itself-in-the-toughest-spot-of-all/articleshow/81208643.cms">Facebook and Twitter have a ton of new rules to abide by in India ⁠— WhatsApp may find itself in the toughest spot of all</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/news/indias-new-rules-for-facebook-whatsapp-and-other-social-media-platforms-explained-in-five-points/articleshow/81285658.cms">India’s new rules for Facebook, WhatsApp and other social media platforms explained in five points</a>

Kerala High Court issues notice to central government over the ‘chilling effects’ of India’s new IT Rules for digital news

The All India Garment Manufacturers &amp; Vendors Association (AIGMVA) has demanded that <keyword id="44949" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="future-group" source="Orion">Future Group</keyword> owner <keyword id="44950" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="kishore-biyani" source="Orion">Kishore Biyani</keyword> should pay up their dues of over Rs 200 crore pending since 2019, here on Wednesday. The AIGMVA, comprising around 350 members from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala, has warned <keyword id="49454" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="biyani" source="Orion">Biyani</keyword> of legal action if he fails to clear their dues. In a statement, the AIGMVA advisor and Trade Union Joint Action Committee (TUJAC) Convenor Vishwas <keyword id="313080" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="utagi" source="Orion">Utagi</keyword> said that the producers and suppliers had supplied the garments as ordered by Biyani's group of companies between 2019-2022. "Each manufacturer-vendor has dues of between Rs 70 crore to over Rs One crore and the total amount plus interest would be around Rs 500 crore. We want the union government and all the concerned state governments also to intervene and get the huge amount cleared immediately," Utagi demanded. A garment producer from Thane said that a majority of them had availed bank loans to fulfil the Future Group's orders then but since Biyani did not pay up their bills, now the banks are hounding the manufacturers and suppliers for default and refusing to give more loans. "Due to this, over 100,000 are directly hit and along with their families and other stakeholders, more than five lakh people are on the verge of joblessness and starvation due to Future Group, explained Utagi. He said that the Future Group was last year sold to the Reliance Group and in this deal, the poor vendors comprising the backbone MSME sector of the Indian economy have been left in the lurch. A vendor from Gujarat said that their profit margins are very thin, they have no cash surplus and they survive on a cash-credit facility with regular payments to their suppliers, employees, establishment costs, EMIs, etc. "Owing to Future Group, our 100 per cent working capital is blocked, totally paralysing our operations, and now banks are hounding us with notices of loan defaults, some members have sold off family gold, saving or even their shops or homes to clear their dues and are now practically homeless," he said. The AIGMVA and TUJAC also plan to file cases against the Future Group in different states, write to Members of Parliament and Members of Legislatures to highlight their plight and urge the government's intervention to compel Biyani to pay up the entire dues and end the matter. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/meta-alphabet-amazon-among-companies-that-laid-off-most-employees-in-2023/slidelist/98656731.cms">Meta, Alphabet, Amazon among companies that laid off most employees in 2023</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/most-polluted-cities-in-india/slidelist/98657500.cms">39 out of 50 most polluted cities are in India; here are some key facts</a>

Garment producers demand ₹200 crore dues from Kishore Biyani's Future Group

In a major development, <keyword id="67441" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="karnataka-chief-minister">Karnataka chief minister</keyword>, B. S. Yediyurappa effected a minor reshuffle of his cabinet on Monday by divesting B. Sreeramulu from health and <keyword id="10095021" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="family-welfare-portfolio">family welfare portfolio</keyword> and assigning <keyword id="5384" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Medical-education-minister">Medical Education Minister</keyword>, Dr K. Sudhakar as his Health Minister. According to party insiders, Sreeramulu had faced numerous embarrassments ever since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out in March, as since then, Dr Sudhakar had always been in the forefront to brief the media as well as the opposition over Covid-related issues. Sreeramulu was nowhere to be seen, even during just concluded truncated six-day legislature session too it was Dr Sudhakar who single handedly defended the state government on the floor of the house. Since then, there has been speculation that Sreeramulu would be replaced with Dr Sudhakar. Currently, deputy chief minister Govind Karjol who held the social welfare portfolio as well as Public Works Development portfolio was asked to give up the Social Welfare portfolio and the same was given to Sreeramulu. Reacting to the development, Deputy Chief Minister, Govind Karjol said, "That was in anyway given to me as an additional responsibility, so now it is taken away. I am deeply hurt for the fact that though I was the Social Welfare minister for more than a year but could not do much work due to the outbreak of pandemic." While visibly elated, Medical Education minister reacting to his appointment, after seeking blessings from Vokkaliga pontiff, <keyword id="10095022" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="shri-nirmalanandanatha-swamiji">Shri Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji</keyword> of Adichunchanagiri Matha, Dr Sudhakar said, "I want to emulate the Kerala model in tackling the pandemic. There is no need for me or Sreeramulu to be happy or sad about this development. This is just an administrative issue. He has worked earnestly to tackle the pandemic but technically, the medical education and health ministry should always be vested with one person especially during such pandemic." Meanwhile, newly appointed social welfare minister, B. Sreeramulu has refrained from issuing any comments on this development, although he was trying hectically to reach party central leaders and Yediyurppa, signalling that he was unhappy over his removal from Health ministry.

Karnataka cabinet reshuffle: Yediyurappa replaces health minister in minor reshuffle

state, tally rises to 197(Eds: Adds details)Bengaluru, Apr 9 () A 80-year old woman from Gadagdistrict became the sixth COVID-19 related fatality inKarnataka, where 16 new positive cases were confirmed, pushingthe tally in the state to 197, the Health department said onThursday.Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa onThursday said all his cabinet colleagues are of the unanimousopinion to extend the lockdown for about 15 days after April14 and a final decision in this regard will be taken afterconsulting the Prime Minister on Saturday.The elderly woman who died in Gadag, had a history ofSevere Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI), officials said."The patient got admitted at Gadag hospital on April4, on 6th her test results came out as positive, investigationis on to find the source of infection to her," Primary andSecondary Education Minister Suresh Kumar told reportersbriefing about the bulletin.He said about 42 contacts of the deceased patient haveundergone test and all results were negative, results ofeleven more contacts were still awaited.According to bulletin as of 5 pm on April 9,cumulatively 197 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmedin the state, it includes sixth deaths and 30 discharges.Among the 16 positive cases, two from Bengaluru cityand one from Dharwad had attended Tablighi-Jamaat congregationat Delhi from March 13-18; while 10 are contacts of patientswho have already tested positive- one each from Mandya andChikkaballapura, two from Mysuru, and three from Bagalkote andBelagavi.Three others from Bengaluru city are with a history ofSevere Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI).Out of 16 cases, three from Bagalkote are children-two boys aged 4 and 13 and the girl is 9 years old.Contact tracing has been initiated and is in progressfor all the cases, the department said.Citing progression of cases, Kumar said, it some whereshows the containment measures were yielding results to anextent.Out of 161 active cases, 159 patients (including 1pregnant woman) are in isolation at designated hospitals andare stable, while 2 are in ICU (one each on oxygen andventilator).Out of total 197 cases detected and confirmed in thestate so far, 6 cases are transit passengers of Kerala whohave landed in airports in Karnataka and were being treated.From across the state most number of infections havebeen reported in Bengaluru with 68 cases, followed by Mysuru37 and Dakshina Kannada (12).Those discharged include seventeen patients fromBengaluru, four from Dakshina Kannada, three from Davangere,two each from Kalaburagi and Uttara Kannada, and one each fromBengaluru Rural and Kodagu; while among those dead are twofrom Kalaburagi and one each from Bengaluru, Bagalkote, Gadagand Tumakuru.Sharing details about Tablighi-Jamaat cases, Kumarsaid out of total 1,176 samples tested, 976 are negative, and40 are positive, while results of 160 are still awaited.Asked whether all Jamaat related people in Karnatakahave been traced, he said, about 581 people are still outsidethe state, we have informed those states.Also these are dynamic figures, it will keep changing.The Minister said COVID-19 task force of Karnatakathat met on Thursday has decided that all the secondarycontacts will be tested for the infection.He also said, list of COVID-19 hotspots is the statewill be out probably by tomorrow.A committee of health experts tasked with devising anexit strategy for coronavirus lockdown in Karnataka haverecommended its continuation in "hotspots" along with somerelaxations.Several members of the cabinet had also supportedthese recommendations.Meanwhile, stating that all his cabinet colleagueshave unanimously opined that the lockdown should be extendedfor about 15 days, after April 14 to check COVID-19,Yediyurappa after the cabinet meet said, "we will take a finalcall on whether to relax the lockdown after April 14,following discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Moditomorrow (April 11)."Ministers and Members of Legislature in Karnataka willtake a 30 per cent cut each in their salaries and allowancesto fund the fight against coronavirus in the state, for ayear.An ordinance to reduce the salaries of Ministers andLegislators by 30 per cent for one year to meet the exigenciesarising out of COVID-19 pandemic was approved by the statecabinet headed by Yediyurappa on Thursday. KSU SS

Sixth COVID-19 death in Karnataka; 16 new cases reported in

<ul><li>The world's biggest democracy will vote for the next government from April 11 to May 19.</li><li>The voting will be held in seven phases through 29 states and seven union territories.</li><li>In 2019, Nearly 900 million people are expected to vote to send 543 representatives Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament. Elections to four state assemblies will be held simultaneously with the Parliament elections </li></ul>Indians will go to vote in 2019 for the seventeenth time since the first election in 1951-52. The <keyword id="65281" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Election-Commission-of-India">Election Commission of India</keyword> announced on March 10 (Sunday) that the polling will be held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19. The results will be counted on May 23. In a first for the country, voting for the four state legislatures, as well as bypolls, will be held alongside with the election for the Parliament. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been pushing for simultaneous elections for both state and central legislatures, but the proposal has faced severe political opposition. Nearly 900 million voters are expected to turn out this year, compared to 814.5 million in 2014. The number of polling stations will be increased from 900,000 in 2014 to 1 million this year. 16 million new voters will be between the age of 18 and 19, compared to 23.1 million in 2014. 1.7 million voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines will be in use after a <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/story/the-many-claims-of-evm-tampering-in-india-1435638-2019-01-21" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">series</a> of allegations of foul play in many state polls in the run up to the general elections in 2019. VVPAT is a second line of independent verification via a printer machine, which is attached to electronic voting machines. When a voter presses the button against the party symbol of their choice on the electronic voting machine (EVM), a paper slip is printed through VVPAT. The slip would contain the poll symbol and name of the candidate and allows voters to verify if their vote has gone to the intended candidate. After the voter views the slip, that slip will be dropped inside a sealed box linked to the EVM. "The Model Code of Conduct comes into effect from today itself in the entire country. Any violation will be dealt with in the strictest manner," <keyword id="50926" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chief-election-commissioner">Chief Election Commissioner</keyword> <keyword id="251670" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sunil-Arora">Sunil Arora</keyword> said. <table style="width: 268pt;"> </colgroup></colgroup></colgroup></colgroup> <tbody><tr> <td class="xl63" style="height:15.0pt;width:74pt">Date of polling</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; width: 75pt;">Constituencies</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; width: 119pt;">States/Union Territories</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl64" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">11-Apr</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">91</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">20</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl64" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">18-Apr</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">97</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">13</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl64" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">23-Apr</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">115</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">14</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl64" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">29-Apr</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">71</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">9</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl64" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">6-May</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">51</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">7</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl64" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">12-May</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">59</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">7</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl64" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">19-May</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">59</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">8</td> </tr></tbody></table> The big question in front of the election watchdog is the campaigning by political parties on social media, which has been difficult to regulate especially after the deadlines set by the Commission. However, the election commissioner did not have a clear answer on how it plans to ensure that vote seeking does not continue on social media in the last 48 hours before the polling begins. Physical campaigning is allowed during this period. Strife-torn Jammu and Kashmir, the northern state that shares the border with Pakistan, will witness polling in five phases amidst heightened security. The armies of the two countries have been trading fire, a lot more than usual in the last few weeks ever since the terror attack in Pulwama, Kashmir that killed over 40 Indian security personnel in February. <table style="width: 341pt;"> </colgroup></colgroup></colgroup></colgroup> <tbody><tr> <td class="xl65" style="height:15.0pt;width:145pt">States</td> <td class="xl65" style="border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; width: 196pt;">Polling Dates</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Andaman and Nicobar Islands</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Andhra Pradesh</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Arunachal</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Assam</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11, 18, 23</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Bihar</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11, 18, 23, 29 &amp; May 6, 12, 19</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Chandigarh</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">May 12</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Chhatisgarh</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11, 18, 23</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Dadra and Nagar Haveli</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 23</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Daman and Diu</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 23</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Delhi</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">May 12</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Goa </td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 23</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Gujarat</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 23</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Haryana</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">May 12</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Himachal Pradesh</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">May 19</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Jammu Kashmir</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11, 18, 23, 29, &amp; May 6</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Jharkhand</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 29 &amp; May 6, 12, 19</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Karnataka</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 18, 23</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Kerala</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 23</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Lakshadweep</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Madhya Pradesh</td> <td class="xl68" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11, &amp; May 6, 12, 19</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Maharashtra</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11, 18, 23, 29,</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Manipur</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11, 18,</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Meghalaya</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Mizoram</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Nagaland</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Odisha</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11, 18, 23, 29,</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Puducherry</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 18 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Punjab</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">May 19</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Rajasthan</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 29 &amp; May 6</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Sikkim</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Tamil Nadu</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 18 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Telengana</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Tripura</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11, 18</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Uttar Pradesh</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11, 18, 23, 29 &amp; May 6, 12</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Uttarakhand</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">West Bengal</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">April 11, 18, 23, 29 &amp; May 6, 12, 19</td> </tr></tbody></table> See also : <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/facebooks-ad-archive-report-50-facebook-ads-by-bjp/articleshow/68304281.cms">BJP spends too much on political advertising on Facebook as Congress spends too little — yet again</a>

Voting in India's 2019 elections will run from April 11  to May 19 and the results will be counted on May 23

<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=EPFO&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">EPFO</a> top boss VP Joy, a Kerala cadre IAS officer, has vexed the Employee <keyword id="45028" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Provident-Fund">Provident Fund</keyword> Appellate Tribunal (<keyword id="2732118" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="EPFAT">EPFAT</keyword>), which has issued an arrest warrant against him. 
 
The matter snowballed when the EPFAT was hearing an appeal filed by Dentsu Marcom Pvt Limited against the assessment order passed by a regional <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=provident+fund&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">provident fund</a> commissioner in Delhi. 
 
The tribunal had asked Joy to be present in person before it on many occasions - March 1, 30 and then April 14. 
 
However, Joy, instead, filed an appeal through his deputy stating that "judiciary (tribunal) must have respect for the executive and the legislature. Further, judges should realise that officials like chief secretary, secretary to government, commissioners, district magistrates, senior police officials etc are extremely busy persons who are working morning till night and if they are summoned by the court, then lot of public money and time may be unnecessarily wasted". 
 
The EPFAT presiding officer Harish Gupta fumed over his remarks and stated, “He is showing his ignorance; about his own casual and lackadaisical approach, considering himself as privileged person who is over and above the entire legal system". 
 
This is probably the first time when such as order has been passed but the tribunal defended that this move was necessary as "despite attachment of Joy's salary for not appearing before it, his presence seems to be an impossible job". 
 
Meanwhile, Joy told TOI, "These are legal proceedings, which will be handled legally. This keeps on happening". 
 
TOI reported that the tribunal order observed it is supposed to decide appeals filed by people/companies expeditiously, if possible within six months but appeals more than 10 years old were pending before it and whenever an appeal is heard ex-parte, then ex-parte orders are always challenged by either party before several high courts. 
 
READ ALSO: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/The-Provident-Fund-Office-going-in-for-a-change-of-image-will-also-hire-a-brand-ambassador/articleshow/51994118.cms">The Provident Fund Office going in for a change of image, will also hire a brand ambassador</a> 
 
(Image: Thinkstock)

Arrest warrant issued against EPFO top boss as tribunal fumes over his “high-handedness” for not appearing despite multiple orders

I take the Delhi Metro to work every morning. The subway system allocates one out of six or eight carriages exclusively for the use of <keyword id="624" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Women">women</keyword>, in the interest of safety. The remaining carriages are mostly occupied by men - I would venture to say anywhere between 80% and 90%, based on rudimentary calculations. This is usually the case all the time. It’s a stark and daily reminder of just how far India has to go in terms of solving its gender inequality problem. A recent<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/McKinsey/Global%20Themes/Gender%20Equality/The%20power%20of%20parity%20Advancing%20womens%20equality%20in%20Asia%20Pacific/MGI_Power-of-Parity-Asia-Pacific_Report_April-2018.ashx"> report on gender equality </a>by the Mckinsey Global Institute (MGI), the consultancy’s research division, shows that India is one of the lowest-ranked countries in the Asia-Pacific in terms of labour force participation by females and the contribution of women to GDP, based on figures from 2016. Around 18% of India’s GDP is accounted for by women, while the share of females in the country’s labour force is 25%. Only Pakistan ranks lower than India on both counts- with women contributing a mere 11% to GDP and comprising 22% of its labour force. It has a lot to gain by unleashing the productive potential of its women- who have, up until this point, been a underused resource. MGI estimates that India’s GDP, if everything were to carry on as usual, could increase by $770 billion, or 18%, by 2025 by giving women access to equal work opportunities as men. Around $550bn, or 70% of this increase, would come by just increasing the share of females in the workforce by 10%. The remaining portion of the increase in GDP would be achieved by improving the quality of work given to women and the hours worked. Too often, the report notes, women are engaged in unpaid care work or low-quality, low-paying work like cleaning. A staggering 97% of all female workers are engaged in informal sector work that isn’t regulated and doesn’t offer adequate remuneration based on hours put in. Additionally, the amount of time spent doing unpaid, household chores is lengthened by a lack of easy access to amenities such as cooking fuel and clean water. A lot of women find themselves unable to enter the formal sector due to a low level of <keyword id="6355445" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="education">education</keyword>. A <a href="https://thewire.in/economy/ten-charts-gender-inequality">report last year in the Wire</a> showed that despite achieving strong enrolment rates for females in primary schools, as a result of the Right to Education Act, the government was not able to translate this into improved rates for secondary and tertiary enrolment. A girl’s higher education is looked at as an opportunity cost. Why send her to school when she can start helping her mother take care of the house or drawing an income from manual work? Inequality in formal sector The lack of female representation in the formal sector also has a lot to do with how upper classes in Indian society function. The MGI report explained that women’s workforce participation follows a “U-shaped curve”. While women from low-income families are forced to work out of necessity, the level of female employment gets progressively lower the wealthier a family gets, owing to the fact that there is a lower need for a woman to work for pay. MGI says that this effect can be reversed if companies step up their hiring of women and give women more leadership opportunities. In most cases, the hiring practices of Indian companies reinforce the <keyword id="6484133" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="labour-participation">labour participation</keyword> gap. According to <a href="http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/548581522089881652/pdf/WPS8379.pdf">a working paper by the World Bank, </a>an analysis of over 800,000 Indian job postings showed that there was an explicit bias towards men, especially in blue-collar sectors. Further still, professions that have greater representation by women - such as teaching, health and business process outsourcing - actually paid men significantly more. A lack of legal protection and political representation India does not have any laws in place to ensure equal pay for men and women. While the government passed a law mandating 26 months paid maternity leave in April last year, it made no provision for financial support to small-and-medium sized businesses. At the time, experts felt that the law would only serve to exacerbate <a href="https://qz.com/943639/proof-that-indias-new-maternity-leave-law-could-make-it-even-harder-for-women-to-get-a-job/">discriminatory hiring practices against women.</a> The government also excluded the unorganised sector from the purview of the law, thereby offering no protection to women in temporary, self-employed or contractual roles. Worse still, the law did not make any mention of paternity leave, deciding once and for all that child-rearing was the sole responsibility of the mother. The percentage of women in India’s lower house of Parliament is tragically low, at 11%. The Women’s Reservation Bill, which reserves 33% of the seats in both houses of Parliament and state legislatures for women, has been languishing for 22 years, despite being passed in the upper house in 2010. No surprise there. Why would the leaders of a male-dominated legislature be okay with ceding their seat to a woman? The Northern states fare a lot worse There seems to be a regional aspect to India’s <keyword id="6372584" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="gender-equality">gender equality</keyword> problem. While states in the northeast and south of India, like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Sikkim, report strong female workforce participation rates, Northern states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jammu &amp; Kashmir, fall significantly behind. Unsurprisingly, the level of female workforce participation was lowest in states with lower levels of adult literacy. This highlights the problem as primarily one of access to good education. In mapping out a strategy to improve gender equality in India, the government would do well to focus on states in the North first. Some progress has been made, however This is not to say that India hasn’t made any progress in curbing gender inequality. Over the past decade, it has reduced maternal mortality rates from 280 for every 100,000 births to 174. The female-to-male adult literacy ratio has also increased by 0.10 points to 0.87 while the prevalence of child marriage has declined. Financial inclusion is also being achieved, gradually, through the Jan Dhan Yojana Scheme, which has given around 300 million women access to bank accounts and savings schemes, and the Mudra Yojana microcredit programme, under which more than 6 million female entrepreneurs have received loans. But a lot more needs to be done So what does that India needs to do to unlock the potential of its women and achieve the aforementioned increase in GDP? Firstly, according to the MGI, the government needs to leverage the digital inclusion and internet penetration wave. Greater access to computer skilling and by extension, to the internet means greater access to information - educational courses, learning resources, job postings and networking opportunities. It also means access to online banking, which in turn, means access to credit and savings instruments. Secondly, there need to be skilling and vocational training programmes tailored to industries where women have the highest potential for greater participation- healthcare, hospitality, textiles and electronics assembly. Thirdly, the government needs to encourage gender diversity-focused hiring policies in the companies. Fourth, given that women do ten times more unpaid work than men, the government can help reduce the time spent on unpaid work by providing households in rural area with electricity, closer access to clean water and subsidised childcare services. Fifth, increasing the level of women in legislative bodies in India will set a good example for other industries and could kickstart a shift in societal norms. Women are an <a href="https://www.livemint.com/Politics/PyQ7hlxIkiyXlsUqq7JbOL/The-growing-importance-of-women-as-an-electoral-constituency.html">increasingly influential electoral group</a> and deserve adequate representation. Last, but most important, it needs to stimulate private investment and create enough jobs in the economy to accommodate the increase in female workers - an issue that merits its own feature story. The increase in the female labour participation rate is not low-hanging fruit that the government can pluck and qualify as a win. It transcends election cycles and requires long-term, structural reform and a broad shift in societal attitudes. It’s a massive undertaking, but with a worthy payoff. Wouldn’t it be great if there were two compartments for women in the Delhi subway? Or better yet, each compartment was equally comprised of men and women?

You Searched For "Kerala Legislature" and got 9 results

CPI announces its list of cabinet nominees in the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left government in Kerala

PTI

Jose K Mani-led Kerala Congress (M) faction parts ways with UDF ahead of State Assembly polls

PTI

Kerala High Court issues notice to central government over the ‘chilling effects’ of India’s new IT Rules for digital news

Prabhjote Gill

Garment producers demand ₹200 crore dues from Kishore Biyani's Future Group

IANS

Karnataka cabinet reshuffle: Yediyurappa replaces health minister in minor reshuffle

IANS

Sixth COVID-19 death in Karnataka; 16 new cases reported in

PTI

Voting in India's 2019 elections will run from April 11 to May 19 and the results will be counted on May 23

Sriram Iyer

Arrest warrant issued against EPFO top boss as tribunal fumes over his “high-handedness” for not appearing despite multiple orders

BI India Bureau

India would be US$550 billion richer if it just increased its share of women in the labor force by 10%

Dilsher Dhillon

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