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Farmer unions Monday announced a countrywide 'chakka jam' on February 6 when they would block national and state highways for three hours in protest against the Internet ban in areas near their agitation sites, harassment allegedly meted out to them by authorities, and other issues. Union leaders told a press conference at the Singhu Border, on the Haryana side, that they will block the roads between 12 pm to 3 pm on February 6. They also alleged that farmers have been "ignored" in the <keyword id="6360189" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="union-budget">Union Budget</keyword> 2021-22, and water and power supply have been curtailed, and mobile toilet blocks being removed, at their protest venues. The Samkyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of protesting unions, also alleged that the Twitter accounts of Kisan Ekta Morcha and a user named 'Tractor2Twitter' have been restricted. <keyword id="2808956" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swaraj-Abhiyan">Swaraj Abhiyan</keyword> leader Yogendra Yadav alleged the action against the Twitter account was taken on the "request of government authorities", adding accounts of some private individuals, who have been very vocal against the movement, have also been restricted. He also claimed that the Union government has "reduced the allocation to agriculture sector" in this budget. Balbir Singh Rajewal, a farmer leader from Punjab, and part of the SKM, told reporters that the modalities of the 'Chakka Jam' on February 6 will be decided after discussing it with various unions unanimously, including those protesting at Ghazipur border site, the new focal point of the farmers movement against the new farm laws. Rajewal claimed during the press conference that scores of people have been "detained by the police" besides FIRs filed against many, including a journalist. "Our February 6 protest would also be against this harassment faced by journalists who are trying to report the truth from the ground, and the Twitter restrictions," he said. Swaraj Abhiyan's Yadav alleged that the Union government has "reduced the allocation to agriculture sector" in this year's budget. And, even percentage of allocation has gone down from "5.1 pc last fiscal to 4.3 pc this year". He asserted that mahapanchayats are happening in the country, while the government is trying to "have its way". These mahapanchayats will "dismantle the arrogance" of the government and the agitation will destroy the "shrewdness of the central government," Yadav said. Asserting that the government is committed towards farmers'' welfare, Finance Minister <keyword id="129243" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> on Monday proposed 10 per cent hike in the farm loan disbursal target to Rs 16.5 lakh crore, and introduced an agri infra and development cess of up to 100 per cent to create post-harvest infrastructure for improving farmers' income. The minister also proposed higher allocation for <keyword id="469889" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rural-Infrastructure-Development-Fund">Rural Infrastructure Development Fund</keyword> and Micro Irrigation Fund, and extended <keyword id="9227507" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="agriculture-infrastructure-fund">Agriculture Infrastructure Fund</keyword> to APMCs for augmenting infrastructure facilities. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/markets-on-fire-post-union-budget-2021-sensex-zooms-over-22000-points-nifty-reclaims-14000-mark/articleshow/80630163.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Markets on fire post Union Budget 2021: Sensex zooms over 2,200 points, Nifty reclaims 14,000 mark</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/india-budget-2021-updates-and-highlights-from-nirmala-sitharaman-speech/articleshow/80624564.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Union Budget 2021 highlights: Pensioners over 75 years need not file IT returns, says FM</a>

Agitating farmers announce nationwide 'chakka jam' on February 6 to protest against the Internet ban

<ul><li>The central government is set to launch <keyword id="7815662" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jal-Shakti-Abhiyan">Jal Shakti Abhiyan</keyword> to fight water crisis problems in the country. </li><li>The campaign will work out measures for <keyword id="6354898" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rainwater-harvesting">rainwater harvesting</keyword> and <keyword id="6362691" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="water-conservation">water conservation</keyword> efforts in 255 districts from July 1 to September 15, in its first phase and would be coordinated by central government IAS officers as decisions relating to water is a state issue. </li><li>The second phase will run from October 1 to November 30 in states that receive rains from the north-east monsoon. </li><li>Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on June 22, wrote letters to village panchayat heads and urged them to undertake rainwater harvesting and water conservation efforts in rural India. </li></ul>The new finance minister <keyword id="129243" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> will present the Union Budget for 2019-20 in the Parliament on July 5. Just days before, Prime Minister Narendra Modi set the tone for the big announcement likely on Friday by initiating the ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan’, a project to conserve water through rainwater harvesting and other efforts to save water. Amid the high temperatures and severe water crisis, the country is going through, it would be among government’s main agenda to tackle the rapidly increasing water issues throughout the country, The major cities of India like Chennai and Bengaluru were recently in the news due to severe water crisis. The story of rural India is more frightening where 80% of rural homes does not have piped water supply. Only 18% of 17.9 million rural homes have tap water. The central government in efforts to deal with water related issues had merged the water resources and drinking water and sanitation ministries and formed the Jal Shakti Ministry. The new ministry, which has the decision making power over all international and interstate water disputes, the Clean Ganga project, and making drinking water accessible, will be hopeful of a handsome budget to deal with the The government is also set to launch the Jal Shakti Abhiyan to workout measures for rainwater harvesting and water conservation from July 1 in a phased manner, under the supervision of central government IAS officers of Joint or Additional Secretary-level in 255 districts. It seeks to work out measures for rainwater harvesting and water conservation efforts in 255 districts of the country starting July 1, 2019. The campaign is planned in a phased manner, where the first phase starts on July 1 and would run till September 15 in states receiving rainfall during the south-west monsoon, and would be coordinated by the IAS officers of Joint or Additional Secretary-rank from the 255 districts. The next phase will kickstart from October 1 and run till November 30 and will cover states that receive rainfall during the north-east monsoon. As water is not central government issue and state governments are free to decide upon policies for usage and water conservation, the officers will be drawn from various ministries of Government of India, including the Department of Space, Petroleum and Defence, <a href="https://dopt.gov.in/sites/default/files/31-16-2019-EOMM-I.pdf">according to the Department of Personnel and Training</a>. Prior to the launch of the campaign, high level teams were constituted in the 255 districts, and engineers and technical staff was designated in 1,539 blocks across the country to measure ground water levels, the state of aquifers, and ponds and water bodies under encroachment. India’s population is 17.74% of the total world population, whereas the water resources account for a mere 4%. This combined with ever increasing demand and depleting water sources due to encroachment, contamination and reduced rainfall, puts India in a grave situation. “As of today, India only conserves 8% of all rainfall, which is among the lowest in the world,” <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/under-jal-shakti-scheme-centre-to-focus-on-replenishing-water-bodies/story-heKzqsW0IzPfY0lwi9OjxI.html">a senior Jal Shakti official said</a>.”we need to change this.” In line with Gram Swaraj Abhiyan The Jal Shakti Abhiyan is in line with last year’s Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, where central government officials monitored the implementation of seven flagship development schemes in 117 districts across the country. To further achieve its target, the ministry will draft block and district level water conservation plans and the Kisan Vigyan Kendras would organise fests to promote better crop choices and more efficient usage of water for irrigation. To spread awareness about the campaign, major communications campaign on TV, radio, social media would be carried out, for which celebrities will also be roped in. The prime minister, on June 22, wrote letters to all village panchayat heads, and urged them to undertake rainwater harvesting and water conservation activities in rural India, <a href="http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=190639">as per PIB release</a>. “In the last four years, nearly 50,000 villages have used MGNREGA [rural income guarantee act] and other state funds to successfully conserve rain water in a big way,” rural development secretary <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/under-jal-shakti-scheme-centre-to-focus-on-replenishing-water-bodies/story-heKzqsW0IzPfY0lwi9OjxI.html">Amarjeet Sinha was quoted saying</a>. The government is also likely to announce a national water conservation policy along with a conservation programme for the 226 highly water stressed districts of the country, an official said. Plans with the MPs to prioritise water storage works under their local area development fund are also underway. “Any national policy on water has to pivot around ground water because “ground water is India’s water lifeline”. Secondly, he said there is a complete policy vacuum on the urban water sector and India urgently needs a programme to regulate its urban-water footprint,” said Himanshu Thakkar of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People.

Nirmala Sitharaman’s budget on Friday may push for water conservation

A government committee headed by external affairs minister <keyword id="6355111" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sushma-Swaraj">Sushma Swaraj</keyword> has decided to frame a national policy that would benefit women. The government is aware of the fact that women in Indian society are often deprived of convenience that men enjoy. Keeping that in mind, the policy may lower income tax for single women, bring in Aadhar-linked health cards for basic health checkups at zero cost and introduce cashless medical facilities for pregnant women. The long standing demand from women to make <keyword id="4503887" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="sanitary-napkins-free">sanitary napkins free</keyword> would be dealt by waiving off taxes over women hygiene products. Another major issue that cripples movement of women on road is lack of proper sanitation. However, this policy would ensure availability of clean public toilets. There have often been incidents where NRI women are affected by matrimony related disputes including domestic violence. The policy is being framed keeping the same in mind. By 2030, each workplace across the country would be asked to have at least 50% of workforce comprising of women. For the women from rural background, the government intends to start <keyword id="251740" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kisan">Kisan</keyword> credit cards, which would have lower interest rates for women. Prime Minister’s pet project <keyword id="6392137" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jan-dhan-Yojana">Jan Dhan Yojana</keyword> and Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan would cover all rural women and aim at making them 100% literate.

A new policy on women to exempt taxes on sanitary napkins soon

Centre closely monitors central funds given to states: TomarNew Delhi, Feb 11 () The government closely monitorsutilisation of central funds given to states under theRashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), Lok Sabha was informedon Tuesday.Union Minister for Panchayati Raj Narendra Singh Tomarsaid under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of RGSA, fundsreleased to states and Union Territories are utilised by themfor undertaking activities sanctioned or permitted under theirannual plans as recommended by Central Empowered Committee(CEC) and finally approved by the competent authority."The progress of implementation of the scheme, includingutilisation of funds, is closely monitored through meetings,video conferences etc. with states," he said during theQuestion Hour.Tomar said for further release of funds to states, thestatus of utilisation of funds released earlier is also takeninto account.In addition to this, an online monitoring and reportingsystem (MIS) for RGSA has been developed and operationalised.Moreover, transaction based Public Financial Management System(PFMS) has been introduced for release and tracking of fundsunder RGSA, he said. ACBDV DV

LS-PANCHAYAT-FUNDS

<ul><li><keyword id="94769" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="drones">Drones</keyword> are monitoring parts of Delhi where there are protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).</li><li>The Delhi Police has been using Netra UAVs — developed by the Defence and Research Organisation and IdeaForge — to surveil the city for over four years.</li><li>They can fly up to 200 meters in the air — 80 meters over the limit prescribed by Indian drone laws.</li></ul>Drones are helping keep the peace in India’s national capital, New Delhi, as nation-wide protests against the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/news/what-is-citizenship-bill-and-how-does-it-affect-religious-freedom-in-india/articleshow/72362487.cms">Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA)</a> are on the rise. 
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="ANI" handlename="ANI" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1497864299/ani_mic_logo_normal.jpg" favoritecount="242" retweetcount="49" status="Delhi: Police use a drone to monitor the situation in Jafrabad area where a clash broke out between police and prot… https://t.co/tWGIgFANvD" createdat="1576576825000" id="1206876795263307776"></div>





 Citizens have been flooding the streets to show their disapproval for the new law ⁠— on that they fear is setting the foundation for excluding Muslims in the upcoming National Registry for Citizens (NRC) ⁠— <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/india-has-seen-atleast-10-instances-of-section-144-ub-the-last-months-of-modi-2-0/articleshow/72884563.cms">despite the enforcement of Section 144</a>, a law which <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/explained-what-is-section-144-of-crpc/articleshow/72884632.cms">prohibits public gatherings</a> in a given jurisdiction. The drones in use ⁠— <a href="https://drdo.gov.in/robotics">Netra UAVs</a> developed by a Mumbai-based company called IdeaForge⁠— are able to fly <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/flying-drones-is-finally-legal-in-india/articleshow/65573434.cms">as high as 200 metres</a>. From that height, they are able to scan a hexagonal grid that extends to around three to four kilometres. And, it has thermal night-vision. 
 
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 "Drones are used to record happenings and in case of massive law and order situations, where things go out of hand, the recordings help to identify those who cause a situation to go out of hand," a senior police officer told <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/anti-caa-stir-delhi-police-use-drone-to-keep-track-of-protesters-1629729-2019-12-19">India Today</a>. Even <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/those-indulging-in-arson-can-be-identified-by-their-clothes-narendra-modi-on-anti-caa-protest/articleshow/72687256.cms">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</a> said that the arsonists can be “identified by their clothes.” This is exactly the kind of ethical violation human rights violation experts have warned against in the past. Especially in a situation like the one in India right now, where mass protests are currently underway, the use of drones by the police falls may lead to the isolation of some protestors and their harassment. 
 
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 Here’s why facial recognition using drones falls in the ethical gray area As the <a href="https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/new-york-city-police-department-surveillance-technology">following excerpt from Brennan Center for Justice</a> in the US pointed out in October 2019, the use of drones for facial recognition may have the following consequences: <ul><li>Race, Gender, and Age Bias: Numerous studies have found that facial recognition performs poorly when analyzing the faces of women, children, and people with darker skin tones. This places communities already subject to over-policing at greater risk of misidentification.</li></ul><ul><li>Privacy: Facial recognition is recognised as extraordinarily intrusive, challenging reasonable expectations of privacy and lacking necessary oversight. This is why a number of groups have called for a moratorium on facial recognition.</li></ul><ul><li>Free Speech: Law enforcement use of facial recognition may expose protesters to persistent <keyword id="6354565" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Surveillance">surveillance</keyword> and identification.</li></ul><ul><li>Regulation: There have been widespread calls for its regulation, and some cities in the US have even banned its use.</li></ul>
 
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 It’s not a new thing What many don’t know is that the Delhi Police has been using these drones for <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/the-us-air-force-may-have-a-stealthy-spy-drone-replacement-for-the-supersonic-sr-71-thats-secretly-been-flying-for-9-years/articleshow/71748537.cms">over four years</a>. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (<a href="https://drdo.gov.in/robotics">DRDO</a>) in collaboration with IdeaForge. In addition to the Delhi Police using drones to surveil Old Delhi, they are also being used to monitor the situation at Shaheed Park near ITO. Drones were also employed two days ago to monitor crowds in <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/seelampur-violence-delhi-police-uses-drones-to-monitor-situation/articleshow/72854463.cms">Seeemalpur areas</a> where there were reports of arson and violence. 
	
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 Earlier this year, drones were also used to carry out surveillance in parts of New Delhi where there was a threat of agitation after the Supreme Court verdict on the Ayodhya land dispute as well to monitors sections of East Delhi and Trilokpuri during the Lok Sabha election. 
 
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 The buzzing drones may further infuriate the crowds Even though the drones are employed as a ‘<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/drone-technology-uses-and-applications-for-commercial-industrial-and-military-drones-in-2020-and-the-future/articleshow/72874958.cms">surveillance</a>’ measure — they only seem to be instigating the crowds in Old Delhi. When one of the drones flew over All India Student’ Association (AISA) and Swaraj Abhiyan protestors looking to reach the Red Fort — the throng got even louder shouting, clearing and clapping at the passer-by in the sky, according to PTI. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/indian-citizenship-bill-challenged-by-iuml-in-supreme-court-one-day-after-passing-rajya-sabha/articleshow/72487481.cms">India's Citizenship Act gets challenged at the Supreme Court barely a day after passing Parliament</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/news/what-is-citizenship-bill-and-how-does-it-affect-religious-freedom-in-india/articleshow/72362487.cms">What is Citizenship Bill and how does it affect religious freedom in India?</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/drone-technology-uses-and-applications-for-commercial-industrial-and-military-drones-in-2020-and-the-future/articleshow/72874958.cms">Drone technology uses and applications for commercial, industrial and military drones in 2020 and the future</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/ril-arm-acquires-51-78-pc-stake-in-asteria-aerospace-for-rs-23-12-cr/articleshow/72528537.cms">Reliance Industries is getting into drones with its new purchase</a>

Police using drones to identify key protestors⁠— and it may lead to harassment in the future

In another internal scuffle in the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=AAP">Aam Aadmi Party</a>, now, the rift between <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Arvind+Kejriwal">Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal </a>and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=yogendra+Yadav">Yogendra Yadav</a> has grown darker. As <keyword id="6358992" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi-Police">Delhi Police</keyword> butt into <keyword id="6356115" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="AAP">AAP</keyword> core committee member <keyword id="6360239" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sanjay-Singh">Sanjay Singh</keyword>’s protest for Yadav’s arrest, his supporters also booed away the AAP leader. 
 
As per the media reports, Yadav, the the founder-member of farmer rights group <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Yogendra-Yadav-arrested-at-Parliament-street-police-station-complains-of-being-beaten-up/articleshow/48438383.cms">Swaraj Abhiyan</a>, was arrested on Tuesday from Jantar Mantar, where he held a protest, demanding adequate compensation for farmers affected by the land bill as well as those hit by crop loss. Singh, still, tried to meet Yadav at <keyword id="2253676" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Central-Delhi-police">Central Delhi police</keyword> station along with other AAP supporters where Yadav supporters shouted slogans like "We don't need your support, go back." 
 
After the episode, Singh told Times Now that the party is not trying to extract mileage from the arrest to push its case against the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Delhi+Police">Delhi Police'</a>s functioning. 
 
Kejriwal has demanded direct control of the Delhi Police for the force's efficient functioning. 
 
The Chief Minister on Tuesday set aside differences with Yadav and tweeted strongly against the Delhi Police action. 
 
"I strongly condemn the treatment meted out to Yogendraji by Delhi Police," Kejriwal tweeted. 
 
"They were protesting peacefully. It is their fundamental right," the chief minister further added. 
 
Yadav claimed Delhi Police manhandled him. "I have been beaten up, manhandled, dragged, pushed and arrested at the parliament street police station," he tweeted early Tuesday along with a picture of himself. 
 
 image: indiatimes

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Agitating farmers announce nationwide 'chakka jam' on February 6 to protest against the Internet ban

PTI

Nirmala Sitharaman’s budget on Friday may push for water conservation

BI India Bureau

A new policy on women to exempt taxes on sanitary napkins soon

BI India Bureau

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PTI

Police using drones to identify key protestors⁠— and it may lead to harassment in the future

Prabhjote Gill

Yogendra Yadav supporters tell AAP leader to “go back home”

BI India Bureau

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