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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Flaco, the loose Central Park Zoo owl, died with lethal levels of rat poison in his system.</li><li>Rodenticides used in cities like New York also poison other wildlife, especially birds of prey.</li></ul>Flaco, the owl who escaped from the Central Park Zoo last year and transitioned to life as a free New Yorker, had lethal levels of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nyc-new-rat-killing-method-highly-successful-expanding-new-areas-2023-10">rat poison</a> in his system when he died last month — a problem that impacts non-famous birds of prey and other animals as well.The Eurasian eagle-owl got loose in February 2023; the mesh of his enclosure was found tampered with. Police have said the investigation is ongoing, but no information about potential suspects has been released. After over a year flying wild, Flaco collided with a building on the Upper West Side and died on February 23.The <a target="_blank" href="https://newsroom.wcs.org/News-Releases/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/22247/Central-Park-Zoo-Releases-Postmortem-Testing-Results-for-Flaco-the-Eurasian-Eagle-Owl.aspx">Central Park Zoo</a> said in a statement Monday the necropsy showed Flaco had two underlying conditions: severe pigeon virus, from preying on Manhattan pigeons, and exposure to four different kinds of rat poison that the city employs to combat its rodent problem."These factors would have been debilitating and ultimately fatal, even without a traumatic injury, and may have predisposed him to flying into or falling from the building," the zoo said.The zoo noted the contributing factors that caused Flaco's early death "underscore the hazards faced by wild birds, especially in an urban setting."Indeed, many birds and other wildlife are regularly <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nyc-has-rat-czar-could-chicago-and-boston-be-next-2023-4">poisoned by rodenticides</a> that are meant for rats — an occurrence that could become increasingly likely as cities like New York, Chicago, and Boston up the ante on their <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-cities-can-not-get-rid-of-rats-2018-6">rat-fighting efforts</a>.Anticoagulant rodenticides — which prevent blood from clotting and cause animals to bleed to death internally — used to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rattiest-cities-in-the-us-america-pest-control-2023-11">target rats</a> have inadvertently poisoned other species worldwide, with birds of prey being most impacted.A 2018 literature review published in the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6395208/">Journal of Veterinary Medical Science</a> found rat poison was detected in 60% of various raptor species globally, which can include owls, falcons, hawks, and eagles.The birds can be exposed to rat poison in several ways: by directly coming into contact with it or by eating poisoned prey, which could be rats or mice, or even a non-rodent species, like small mammals and reptiles, that were also unintentionally exposed to it. Because the rat poison does not kill the animal for several days, there's time for an owl to prey on it and also injest the poison. Even once the animals are dead, they still maintain levels of poison that can transfer to scavengers.A 2020 <a target="_blank" href="https://setac.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/etc.4853">study</a> authored by Maureen Murray, director of Tufts Wildlife Clinic in Massachusetts, found that 100% of the 43 red-tailed hawks sampled at the clinic between 2017 and 2019 had been exposed to rat poison. Murray told <a target="_blank" href="https://now.tufts.edu/2020/09/16/understanding-risks-rodent-poisons-birds-prey">Tufts Now</a> that the numbers of raptors with rat poison seen by the clinic had steadily increased."The ability of these rodenticides to permeate the food chain and ecosystems is pretty remarkable," Murray said, adding, "Red-tailed hawks eat a lot of small mammals, but they also eat birds, reptiles, or amphibians; they might scavenge. Ultimately, their prey base is very contaminated."Another <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ace-eco.org/vol13/iss1/art2/">study</a> from 2018 conducted in California found 70% of northern spotted owls, a protected threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, tested positive for rat poison, while 40% of barred owls tested positive.But the poisoning is not just an issue for birds of prey. A 2018 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2018/rat-poison-12-12-2018.php#:~:text=SACRAMENTO%2C%20Calif.,or%20ban%20the%20powerful%20toxins.">analysis</a> by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation found 85% of mountain lions, bobcats, and fishers that were tested had been poisoned by rodenticides. Raccoons, foxes, skunks, coyotes, and house pets can also be exposed to rat poison, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.While some cities are amping up the use of rat poison, others are addressing the threat posed to wildlife. The use of rat poison has been <a target="_blank" href="https://wildlife.ca.gov/Living-with-Wildlife/Rodenticides">restricted in California</a> for years, though the rodenticides continued to show up in animals that were not being targeted.In October, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill expanding the moratorium on certain rat poisons."We really needed these protections to ease the needless suffering of pumas, foxes and owls," Tiffany Yap, a senior scientist at the <a target="_blank" href="https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/california-expands-toxic-rat-poison-ban-2023-10-13/#:~:text=The%20California%20Ecosystems%20Protection%20Act,still%20on%20the%20market%20today.">Center for Biological Diversity</a>, said in a press release, adding: "Rat poison indiscriminately harms animals up and down the food chain."

Cities are at war with rats. Flaco the owl and other animals pay the price.

<keyword id="2520139" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Cow-trafficking">Cow trafficking</keyword> and slaughtering are words which don’t exist for many Indians, but visit the east and you would encounter the harsh reality — it (cow trafficking) is a regular affair, and a lucrative business for smugglers and butchers. This is precisely the reason why the country’s total cattle population declined from 20.45 crore in 1992 to 19.90 crore in 2007. 
 It is sad that cows are battling for life in India, a country where they are regarded as sacred and worshipped by the majority population. Our Vedic scriptures, which refer to them as ‘mothers,’ attached great importance to cows, and encouraged people to value as well as preserve them. Even Mughal emperors such as Akbar were against <keyword id="2520140" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Cow-slaughtering">cow slaughtering</keyword> — the fact was highlighted during a hearing on The <keyword id="2520142" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="West-Bengal-Animal-Slaughter-Central-Act">West Bengal Animal Slaughter Central Act</keyword>, 1950. “Mughal Emperor Babar saw the wisdom of prohibiting the slaughter of cows as and by way of religious sacrifice and directed his son Humayun to follow this. Similarly, Emperors Akbar, Jahangir and Ahmad Shah, it is said, prohibited cow slaughter,” the Supreme Court had said. 
 
Cow traffickers spreading their wings across India The network of cow smugglers is spread across different states. According to local estimates, about 20,000 to 30,000 cows are smuggled to Bangladesh every day. The smuggling reaches its peak during <keyword id="6417740" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Eid-ul-Zuha">Eid-ul-Zuha</keyword> (<keyword id="6622052" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bakrid">Bakrid</keyword>). From Bangladesh, they are exported all over the world, especially the Middle East, where beef is in huge demand. The route traffickers take for illegal export of cow is: cows from UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and states as far as Haryana and Punjab are first transported to <keyword id="6357783" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="West-Bengal">West Bengal</keyword> from where they are smuggled to Bangladesh through <keyword id="55201" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Murshidabad">Murshidabad</keyword>, the bordering district of India and Bangladesh. 
 On August 29, about 2000 cows stuffed in 100 trucks were caught in Govindpur (Jharkhand). The trucks, which were carrying cows from the neighbouring states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand for being sacrificed on the occasion of Eid-ul-Zuha (Bakrid), were on their way to West Bengal. These trucks, jam-packed with cows, were found by the volunteers of <keyword id="2520141" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Akhil-Bharatiya-Gau-Raksha-Mission">Akhil Bharatiya Gau Raksha Mission</keyword>, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Bajrang Dal and BJP activists. 
 
Holy cows facing the worst in West Bengal 
In Bihar, export of cows for any purpose is banned. In Muslim-dominated Jammu and Kashmir, there is a punishment of up to 10 years of imprisonment if someone is found guilty of cow slaughter. Even possession of flesh of slaughtered animals is a punishable offence with imprisonment up to one year. Transport of cows outside Jammu and Kashmir for slaughtering is also prohibitted. 
 
Sadly, the West Bengal police and administration isn’t taking any stern action in this regard. The Akhil Bharatiya Gau Raksha Mission activists allege that the West Bengal police behave rudely whenever they approach them to lodge complaint. According to them, when their activists rescued some cows in Kolkata’s Lalbazar, police threatened to arrest them under non-bailable sections. Now, the big question that arises is: Is the state police under some ‘external pressure’ not to act against the perpetrators? 
 
There surely seems to be some connection. The West Bengal government’s sheer apathy towards cow slaughtering has been witnessed on several occasions. For instance, the Bengal government used the provision granted in the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Central Act*, 1950, to allow cow slaughter on Eid-ul-Zuha (Bakrid). After this relaxation, more than one lakh young and healthy cows got slaughtered in Kolkata every year on this occasion. 
 
The Calcutta High Court intervened and struck down the exemption provided by the state government in 1982. The Bengal government and butchers took the matter to the Supreme Court, which upheld the High Court’s judgment. But, in spite of the court order, the West Bengal administration hasn’t taken any concrete measures; except for cosmetic steps like publishing advertisements in local newspapers. 
 
The Animal Husbandry Department of the Government of India says that in West Bengal, the contempt of the Supreme Court's judgment is going on since 1994. “Any amount of follow-up action by the animal welfare organisations to persuade the state administration have not achieved the desired results. On the contrary, some peaceful agitators pleading with the administration for compliance with the Supreme Court order were rounded up and put behind bars on the occasion of Eid-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) in the year 2002.” 
 
Better fate awaits cows 
Except for West Bengal and the northeastern states, other states have been making effort to save cows. In 1982, the erstwhile Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, wrote a letter to chief ministers of 14 states, asking them to enforce the ban in letter and spirit. Sadly, the ban has remained only in ‘letters’ and never in ‘spirit.’ 
 
With the Narendra Modi-led government in power at the Centre, one can hope that stern action would be taken against the smugglers. After all, Modi had talked about the issue during his election campaign and promised to take care of farmers and their cattle. He ruthlessly attacked the UPA government for ‘pink revolution’ and increase in export of meat, including beef, while his supporters chanted Modi ko matdaan, Gai ko jeevandaan slogan. 
 
However, after coming to power, we have not seen any action from the BJP government on this front yet. Agreed, that government has several high-priority tasks at hand, but cow protection is also the need of the hour — not because of the religious sentiments attached, but for maintenance of the ecological balance. If slaughtering of cows goes on rampantly, they may get to the verge of extinction, which would disturb the ecological chain. 
 
* The West Bengal Animal Slaughter Central Act, 1950: The act was passed to “control the slaughter of certain animals with a view to increase the supply of milk and to avoid the wastage of animal power necessary for improvement of agriculture. Section 2 lays down that the Act applies to animals specified in the sched­ule. The schedule to the Act covers bulls, bullocks, cows, calves, male and female buffaloes, buffalo calves and castrated buffaloes.” However, the Act also has a provision for lifting the ban for religious, medicinal or research purposes.

With Cow Trafficking And Slaughtering On Rise, ‘Mother’ Cow Struggles For Existence

New Delhi, Apr 21 ()  The Union Home Ministry on Tuesday said the West Bengal government is not cooperating with the central teams visiting the state to assess the COVID-19 situation and are specifically restraining them from interacting with health workers and touring the affected areas.In a letter to West Bengal Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said it has been brought to the notice of the ministry that both the inter- ministerial central teams, visiting  Kolkata and Jalpaiguri, have not been provided with the requisite cooperation by the state and local authorities."In fact, they have been specifically restrained from making any visits, interacting with health professionals, and assessing the ground level situation. "This amounts to obstructing the implementation of the orders issued by the central government under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and equally binding directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court," Bhalla said.The union home secretary said, therefore, the state government is directed to comply to make all necessary arrangements for the central teams to carry out such responsibilities as have been entrusted to them. Home Ministry Joint Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava also raised the issue at the daily media briefing on the COVID-19 situation in the country.She said the Centre has sent teams under Disaster Management Act to four states -- Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal.While Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are extending full support, the government in West Bengal is not doing so, she added.  ABS ACB  ZMN

Bengal not cooperating with central teams; restraining them from visiting hotspots: MHA

Kolkata, May 9 () The West Bengal circle hasemerged the highest grosser in small savings mobilisationduring the ongoing lockdown in the country, an official of thepostal department said on Saturday.The West Bengal circle also includes Sikkim andAndaman and Nicobar."In this country during the lockdown period which iscontinuing, the West Bengal circle is the highest grosser interms of small savings mobilisation", acting Chief Post MasterGeneral (CPMG) Niraj Kumar said.He said only in one day on May six, the circle grossedRs 361.25 crore only from post offices (PO) which are run onCBS platform.Kumar said the main reason behind this is postoffices having CBS are able to carry out transactions whichare centrally monitored by the circle team and ably supportedby required technical support.Even last year, the West Bengal circle recordedhighest growth in the postal financial services in thecountry, he told .This performance has also been a result of smallsavings agents who mobilise money also from the rural areasusing hand-held devices.Last fiscal, the circle mobilised Rs 792 crore fromsmall savings and cash certificates, Kumar said, adding thatthe target for the current fiscal has not been released yet.Regarding India Post Payments Bank, operated by thepostal department, he said account opening has been thehighest in West Bengal during the lockdown. dcRG RG

West Bengal circle highest grosser in small savings during lockdown

New Delhi, Apr Apr 11 () The Union Home Ministry has objected to what it called was a "gradual dilution" of lockdown in West Bengal and said shops of non-essential goods were allowed to open in the state and the police also gave permission to religious gatherings.In a communication to the Chief Secretary and the DGP of West Bengal, the Union Home Ministry also said there is no regulation in vegetable, fish and mutton markets and social-distancing norms are being violated at these places in the state."As per further reports received from security agencies, gradual dilution of lockdown has been reported from West Bengal, with an increase in the number of exceptions being provided by the state government," the home ministry letter said.For instance, shops relating to non-essential items have been allowed to function, it said. The ministry said there is no regulation in vegetable, fish and mutton markets where people have been thronging in complete violation of social-distancing norms in Rajabazaar, Narkel Danga, Topsia, Metiaburz, Gardenreach, Ikbalpur and Maniktala in Kolkata. Significantly, areas such as Narkel Danga are reportedly witnessing more COVID-19-like cases."It has been reported that police have been allowing religious congregations. Free ration has been distributed not through the institutional delivery system but by political leaders. This may have resulted in spread of COVID-19 infection," the letter said.The ministry said such activities are in violation of the central government's orders issued from time to time under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and are liable for penal action under the Act."It is requested that strict action be taken in the matter and a report in this regard may be furnished to this Ministry urgently."It is further requested to take measures to prevent recurrence of such violations in future," it said. ACB TIRTIR

MHA objects to 'violation' of lockdown in West Bengal, writes to chief secy, DGP

Kolkata, Mar 16 () West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced her government will create a Rs 200 crore fund to tackle the <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> outbreak and ordered closure of all cinema halls, stadiums and auditoriums till March 31 as a precautionary measure. She also extended the closure of all educational institutions till April 15. Banerjee said the state government would invoke the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 so that action could be taken against those who do not follow the safety precautions suggested by the authorities to prevent the spread of coronavirus. "We have decided to create a fund of Rs 200 crore to tackle this crisis. We also decided to offer Rs 5 lakh insurance to 10 lakh people involved in health hazard areas. They include doctors, nurses and personnel of the Army, the CRPF and the CISF," the chief minister said. She held a high-level meeting to review the situation arising out of the coronavirus outbreak. The meeting was attended by government officials and those from railways and chambers of commerce. "Around 3.24 lakh people have been screened in Bengal and we are keeping a close watch on 5,590 of them. A total of 59 people were tested for coronavirus and 58 tested negative. We are waiting for the test result of one person," Banerjee told reporters after the meeting. A call centre set up by the state government in this context has received 5,000 calls so far, she said. As a precautionary measure, the government has also decided to extend the closure of all educational institutes, including Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) centres, till April 15, she added. The state government had on Saturday ordered educational institutions to remain shut till March 30. "Hostels will also be closed so that students can go home," Banerjee said. About invoking the Epidemic Diseases Act, the chief minister said, "We were not implementing this Act thinking that people will understand the situation if they are requested to follow our advice." "However, 10 suspected patients kept at an isolation ward of a hospital (in North 24 Parganas district) today expressed their unwillingness to stay there. So, we are implementing the Act so that people cooperate with the government if it decides to treat them," she said. She, however, added that her government will not be imposing prohibitory orders under Section 144 of Criminal Penal Code (CrPC). Banerjee also asked private hospitals not to refuse any patient approaching them with symptoms of coronavirus. On management at West Bengal's international borders with Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, she said, "We are working together with the central government on this. Most of the borders have been sealed." Asking the media to play a responsible role, Banerjee said the government has nothing to hide. On whether rallies will be disallowed in the city, Banerjee said the advisory of the central government issued in this context will be followed. She appealed to all shrines not to allow large gatherings. "I'm grateful that the Belur Math has decided to stop allowing large gatherings inside the premises.... I appeal to all the authorities of all temples, gurdwaras, mosques, churches to not to allow large gatherings," she said. Banerjee said she cancelled her administrative tour to Bolpur owing to the coronavirus situation. SCH NN DIV DIV See Also : <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/coronavirus-myths-and-facts-here-are-some-rumours-about-covid-19-that-arent-true/articleshow/74487962.cms">Coronavirus myths and facts</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/coronavirus-dos-and-donts-for-protection-against-convid-19/articleshow/74475858.cms">Do’s and Don’ts for protection against COVID-19</a>

West Bengal to create Rs 200 cr fund to tackle coronavirus; theatres, stadiums to remain shut till Mar 31

Islamabad, <keyword id="3001" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pakistan">Pakistan</keyword> and <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> engaged in a heated debate, filled with accusations against each other, over deteriorating <keyword id="4728016" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="minority-rights">minority rights</keyword> in each other's countries at the UN General Assembly (UNGA). The accusations erupted when a resolution, co-sponsored by Pakistan, was presented in the UNGA, condemning damage and destruction to religious sites. Pakistan's contention on the resolution was with reference to the demolition of the <keyword id="43572" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Babri-Masjid">Babri Masjid</keyword> in India. India's assertion against Pakistan on burning down of a Hindu shrine in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa's Karak district, Islamabad termed it "unwarranted assertions", stating that "India should set its own house in order rather than feigning concerns for minority rights elsewhere". "This is not the first time India has tried to feign concern for minority rights elsewhere while being the most egregious and persistent violator of minority rights itself," said Zulqarnain Cheema, the Pakistani delegate at the UNGA. On the other hand, India's representative raised serious questions over Islamabad being the co-sponsor of the resolution. "It was ironic that Pakistan was one of the co-sponsors of the resolution. The attack on the Karak shrine was carried out with the explicit support of law enforcement agencies," said the Indian representative. "The resolution cannot be smokescreen or countries like Pakistan to hide behind," he added. The Pakistani delegate responded by stating that "the clear difference between India and Pakistan with respect to minority rights can be gauged from the fact that the accused in Karak incident were immediately arrested, orders were issued for repairing of temple, the highest level of judiciary took immediate notice, and senior political leadership condemned the incident". "Whereas in India, blatant acts of discrimination against Muslims and other minorities takes place with state complicity," he said. The Pakistani representative highlighted the "the <keyword id="6564012" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="citizenship-amendment-act">Citizenship Amendment Act</keyword> (CAA), the <keyword id="383721" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Register-of-Citizens">National Register of Citizens</keyword> (NRC), the 2002 Gujarat massacre, the 2020 Delhi progrom, blaming the Muslims for spreading the coronavirus, raising the bogey of love jihad, cow vigilantism and terming West Bengal Muslims termites, extra judicial killings of innocent Kashmiris and blatant attempts to turn Muslims into a minority in occupied Kashmir", adding that "the RSS-BJP regime's record is replete with instances of gross and systematic violations of the rights of minorities, in particular Muslims". "As a perennial of state-sponsored discrimination against its minorities, India is in no position to pontificate on the issue of minority rights elsewhere," he added. Islamabad's Permanent Representative to the UN, Munir Akram expressed satisfaction over the adoption of resolution at the UNGA, stating "Pakistan will continue to play a leading role in denouncing violent attacks on religious sites". "I am happy that the UN General Assembly today adopted by consensus a resolution ï¿½ sponsored by &amp; other OIC countries ï¿½ on the protection of religious sites. Pakistan will continue to play a leading role in denouncing violent attacks on religious sites," Akram tweeted. The resolution was proposed by Saudi Arabia and co-sponsored by countries including Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain, Sudan, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Palestine, Bangladesh, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines and Venezuela. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/new-realme-stores-in-india-and-ceo-says-there-is-plan-for-new-devices/articleshow/80443801.cms">EXCLUSIVE: Realme plans to open 500 new stores in 2021⁠— the CEO reveals the company will go beyond smartphones in the 5G era</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/amplify-ai-the-conversational-ai-startup-founded-by-two-south-asians-has-scored-big-with-brands-and-governments/articleshow/80443958.cms">From Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' win to the Modi government's COVID-19 reach out⁠— a startup founded by two South Asians has scored big with brands and governments</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/tcs-surpasses-accenture-to-become-the-worlds-largest-it-company-by-market-value-for-a-short-time/articleshow/80446014.cms">TCS briefly beats Accenture to become the world's largest IT company</a>

India, Pakistan spar over minority rights at the UN General Assembly

(Eds: Collating all stories, additional inputs) Kolkata, May 4 () The West Bengal government announced series of relaxations on Monday in various coronavirus zones, even as reopening of liquors shops witnessed tipplers giving a thumbs down to the social distancing. The state reported 11 deaths in the last 24 hours, pushing the death toll to 61 and number of cases climbed to 1,259, Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha said. Sinha announced a host of relaxations for standalone shops in various zones -- red, green and orange. He added that these concessions might dilute the lockdown for combating the COVID-19 pandemic. Four districts, including Kolkata and Howrah, fall in the red zone, eight are in green and 11 in orange zones in the state. The Union Health Ministry has, however, identified 10 districts in the red zone. Home Secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay announced that the state had added 72 more places to the list of containment zones, taking the total number of such areas in the state to 516. The government has also launched a mobile app in its official website, 'Egiye Bangla', for people from other states who are stranded in West Bengal due to the lockdown and want to return to their native places. Sinha said though the Centre had extended the lockdown by two weeks, it had given liberty to the state governments to allow certain activities after assessing the ground situation. "We are of the opinion that these relaxations allowed by the Union government will dilute lockdown, but we would abide by it," Sinha said, adding: "we want a balance between life and livelihood." "The state government feels that the activities which the central government has asked to recommence will be beneficial for the economy and wages can be paid to workers and employees, but the way the relaxations are being given, it is diluting the lockdown," he said. Sinha said mining activities would be started in green and orange zones, and standalone shops in all the zones would be allowed to open from 10 am to 6 pm, except in the containment areas. Clarifying that those shops that are not situated within shopping malls or market complexes would be considered as standalone shops, Sinha said neighbourhood shops, sweetmeat shops, those selling beetle leaves and tea could open, but people would have to carry the tea back home where they can consume it. Appealing to the private operators to run the buses in intra-district routes, the chief secretary said intra-district private bus services had been allowed with a maximum of 20 passengers in green zones. "I have been told that in many places in green zones, buses are not operating. I would appeal to them to start services as government buses are busy in other duties," he said. Construction activities in rural and urban areas were also allowed with workers being put up at the site, he said. Noting that the private offices would be allowed to operate from 10 am to 6 pm with 25 per cent staff strength outside containment zones, Sinha said all the guidelines had to be followed as a violation of the guidelines would call for legal action under the Disaster Management Act. "Persons willing to go back to their native states can apply online through this 'Exit app' and permission for the same will be practically automatic and extremely easy," Bandopadhyay said. Reacting to state government's order on relaxations, several traders' bodies welcomed the decision, but wondered whether it would be business as usual. The bus operators however have rejected the proposal of running busses with just 20 passengers as "financially unviable". Bus Minibus Coordination Committee general secretary Rahul Chatterjee said it was not at all viable to run buses with only 20 passengers since the amount earned from ticket sale would not be enough for meeting fuel expenses. "We urge the government to requisition the buses as is done during elections for movement of polling personnel and security forces. The government can then run the buses on payment of a daily fee to the owners," he said. Meanwhile, standalone liquor shops were reopened in green, orange and red zones, except in containment areas, after 42 days since the beginning of lockdown in the state on March 23, but the police had a hard time in several areas of the city in ensuring tipplers adhere to social distancing norms. Customers were seen waiting in queues outside liquor shops. But the moment the shops opened the shutters, they started elbowing each other in many places like Dumdum and parts of Kolkata. The police had to rush to these shops to maintain law and order and some of these shops were shut within an hour. "Police had to come to maintain law and order in front of the shop and ultimately closed it down. Several other shops were also shut down by them," an official said. The liquor shop will operate from noon to 7 pm as per the latest government order, which also stated about the do's and don'ts, both for the customers and the shopkeepers. In the past week, a total of 4,042 people have been arrested for violating lockdown in the city and 684 cars have been seized. AMR/SCH/DC/BSM PNT SNSHMB

Lockdown: Bengal announces relaxations, liquor shops reopen

The <keyword id="6355040" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="GST-Council">GST Council</keyword> at a meeting today broadly agreed on the contours of two key legislations - CGST and IGST - but a final approval is likely only by mid-March, according to news agencies. 
 Union <keyword id="6355261" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Finance-minister">Finance Minister</keyword> <keyword id="42575" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Arun-Jaitley">Arun Jaitley</keyword> met with his state counterparts today and discussed the <keyword id="6354679" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="GST">GST</keyword> legislation to be adopted by Union Territories, but there was no discussion with regard to the State GST Bill. 
 "It (GST) looks on track. Subject to <keyword id="6354721" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="parliament">Parliament</keyword> approval, it looks like the possible date of implementation of GST is July 1," <keyword id="6390789" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jaitley">Jaitley</keyword> said after the 11th GST <keyword id="51646" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Council">Council</keyword> meet. 
 "As many as 26 changes sought by the states have been accepted by the Centre. This shows the federalist character of India. CGST and IGST will come up for further discussion at the next meeting of the Council in mid-March," <keyword id="6357783" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="West-Bengal">West Bengal</keyword> <keyword id="25455" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="finance">Finance</keyword> Minister <keyword id="107244" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amit-Mitra">Amit Mitra</keyword> said. 
 <keyword id="2481" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mitra">Mitra</keyword> further said both the Centre and states have agreed to provide a composition scheme to dhabas and small restaurants. 
 
"States were seeking that dhabas and small restaurants can adopt the composite scheme. The Centre has agreed to that and now these small businesses will pay 5 per cent tax (to be shared equally between the Centre and states)," Mitra said. 
 Delhi Deputy Chief Minister <keyword id="6354681" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Manish-Sisodia">Manish Sisodia</keyword> said the central GST and integrated GST legislations have been broadly agreed upon at the Council meeting today. 
 "Real estate should be brought under GST. Everybody knows that a lot of blackmoney finds its way into real estate and bringing real estate under GST will help in curbing black money," <keyword id="6356536" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="sisodia">Sisodia</keyword> said. 
 <keyword id="4251044" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="jammu-kashmir-finance">Jammu &amp; Kashmir Finance</keyword> Minister <keyword id="97187" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Haseeb-Drabu">Haseeb Drabu</keyword> felt that "some minor editorial changes" are required in the legislations and they have to be sent to the legal department again. 
 
Mitra further said IGST, which relates to taxation of inter-state transfer of goods, the legislation will provide for cross empowerment of state and central officers. 
 
"It has been agreed that there will be cross empowerment of states. Also, we did not want this as a notification, we wanted in the Act so that never in future can another council come and say states won't have power," Mitra stressed.

Finally! GST confirmed for July
rollout

Kolkata, Apr 20 () West Bengal Chief MinisterMamata Banerjee on Monday sought to know the rationale behindthe formation of six Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs)to assess the enforcement of lockdown norms in states.She urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union HomeMinister Amit Shah to share criteria for the assessment,without which her government "would not be able to moveahead"."We welcome all constructive support &amp; suggestions,especially from the Central Govt in negating the #Covid19crisis. However, the basis on which Centre is proposing todeploy IMCTs in select districts across India including few inWB under Disaster Mgmt Act 2005 is unclear, Banerjee tweeted."I urge both Honble Prime Minister @NarendraModi Ji &amp;Home Minister @AmitShah Ji to share the criterion used forthis. Until then I am afraid, we would not be able to moveahead on this as without valid reasons this might not beconsistent with the spirit of federalism," she added.The Centre has constituted six IMCTs for on-spotassessment of the COVID-19 situation in Madhya Pradesh,Maharashtra, Rajasthan and West Bengal."The IMCTs will focus on compliance and implementationof the lockdown measures as per guidelines, supply ofessential commodities, social distancing, preparedness ofhealth infrastructure, safety of health professionals andconditions of relief camps for labourers and poor people," ahome ministry spokesperson said.The Centre had recently flagged the "gradual dilution"of the lockdown norms in West Bengal. SCH RMSSK SK

Mamata urges Modi, Shah to share criteria for lockdown assessment by central teams

<ul><li>The 24-hour bandh began at 6 am and is expected to observe participation from over 25 crore workers.</li><li>Banking operations across the country will be hit as some <keyword id="144835" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bank-Unions">bank unions</keyword> would be joining the <keyword id="187037" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nationwide-strike">nationwide strike</keyword>.</li><li>The union representatives say that Tamil Nadu and Kerala have been affected the most so far due to the agitation as unions began a nationwide strike across the country. </li><li>In many states, auto and taxi drivers have decided to keep off the roads.</li></ul><keyword id="418098" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="central-trade-unions">Central trade unions</keyword> are on a nationwide strike today to protest against various policies of the central government, from privatisations of public sector banks to new labour and farm laws. An estimated 25 crore workers are participating in the day-long strike called by ten central trade unions. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Ten central trade unions that are a part of the nationwide strike </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC) </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC) </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Labour Progressive Federation (LPF) </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">United Trade Union Congress (UTUC) </td></tr></tbody></table> “The strike has begun. Kerala and Tamil Nadu are completely shut down. A similar situation is also developing in Odisha, Punjab, Haryana, Telangana and Goa. There is also a good response to the strike in Maharashtra,” AITUC General Secretary Amarjeet Kaur told PTI. What are they demanding? <ul><li>Unions have asked the Centre to provide 200 days’ work in a year at enhanced wages under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme.</li><li>Withdrawal of anti-farmer and anti-worker labour codes.</li><li>Scrapping of the National Pension System (NPS)</li><li>Restoration of the earlier pension scheme with improvement in EPS-95 </li></ul>They are also standing in solidarity with the farmers’ protest that has been gathering attention over the past few months. In a recent development, the Punjab farmers started assembling in large numbers as part of their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march to protest the Centre’s new farm laws. <div type="image" title="Bharat Bandh 2" msid="79423784" hostid="261"></div> Bracing overnight rains and chilly winds, thousands of protesting farmers on Thursday assembled at various places along the Haryana borders in Punjab. A huge contingent of police comprising the Rapid Action Force has been deployed to deal with any untoward situation. Banking operations hindered by the nationwide strike Banking operations across the country were impacted on Thursday with some bank unions joining the nationwide strike. Many lenders, including IDBI Bank and Bank of Maharashtra, in regulatory filings on Wednesday, said their normal working could be affected at the branches and offices. The All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA), All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA) and Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) are participating in the strike. The association represents majority of the banks, except State Bank of India (SBI) and Indian Overseas Bank. It has four lakh bank employees from various public and old private sectors. Tamil Nadu and Kerala have been affected the most The union representatives said that Tamil Nadu and Kerala have been affected the most so far due to the agitation as unions began a nationwide strike across the country. <div type="image" title="Bharat Bandh 3" msid="79423793" hostid="261"></div> “Visakhapatnam steel plant is affected due to the strike. Besides, the majority of workers in coal mines are also on strike. The work at copper plants, port and dock area are also affected. Delhi industrial areas are closed down. Workers would protest at Jantar Mantar,” Kaur said. The strike affects everyday life in West Bengal Normal life was partially affected in parts of West Bengal as mostly activists of CPI(M)- affiliated outfits like CITU and DYFI, brought out rallies in Jadavpur, Garia, Kamalgazi, Lake Town and Dumdum areas in and around Kolkata; disrupting traffic and asking shopkeepers to pull down the shutters of their establishments. A large police contingent was deployed to ensure normal plying of vehicles. Bandh enforcers also blocked roads in Coochbehar and Jhargram districts, burning tyres and breaking the windscreen of buses. The members of the Communist Party of India Liberation, CPI(M), and Congress also blocked the railway tracks in Jadavpur. The strike affects normal life across the country In many states, auto and taxi drivers have decided to keep off the roads. The federations of railway and defence employees have decided to have large mobilisation on Thursday to express solidarity with the striking workers. Workers in the unorganised sector such as domestic workers, construction workers, beedi workers, hawkers, vendors, agricultural workers, self-employed in rural and urban areas have also decided to come on to the streets for ‘chakka jam’,<a href="https://newsgile.com/2020/11/25/trade-unions-to-go-on-nationwide-strike-on-nov-26-25-crore-workers-to-take-part/"> the joint forum</a> of Independent Sectoral Federations and Associations in the central and state government employees said. <div type="image" title="b03b7ab747085dc06477f97db9cdc1dc" msid="79423824" hostid="261"></div> Demonstration across Odisha The Members of Odisha Nirmana Sramik Federation, All India Central Council of Trade Unions and All Orissa Petrol and Diesel Pump Workers Union held demonstrations across Odisha against the centre's new labour laws. (with inputs from agencies) SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/us-stocks-dip-from-record-levels-on-disappointing-economic-data-and-soaring-covid-19-cases/articleshow/79418413.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">US stocks dip from record levels on disappointing economic data and soaring COVID-19 cases</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/diego-maradona-one-of-the-greatest-stars-in-soccer-history-has-died-at-the-age-of-60/articleshow/79414628.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Diego Maradona, one of the greatest stars in soccer history, has died at the age of 60</a>

Bharat Bandh: Here’s how the nationwide strike by trade unions is affecting the daily life of citizens

A<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/A-man-stole-over-1600-pounds-worth-of-pennies-by-wheeling-them-out-of-a-room-and-somehow-no-one-noticed/articleshow/54257350.cms"> Central Intelligence Bureau</a> officer and two retired officers of the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/A-man-stole-over-1600-pounds-worth-of-pennies-by-wheeling-them-out-of-a-room-and-somehow-no-one-noticed/articleshow/54257350.cms">Customs</a> are among the seven people to be arrested for trying to loot gold from a courier employee at Howrah station in <keyword id="6357783" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="West-Bengal">West Bengal</keyword>. 
 
The accused IB officer and two retired Customs officers tried to loot around five kg gold from the employee while he was getting off the Kamrup Express at the Howrah Station this morning, a senior officer of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/A-man-stole-over-1600-pounds-worth-of-pennies-by-wheeling-them-out-of-a-room-and-somehow-no-one-noticed/articleshow/54257350.cms">Howrah Police Commissionerate</a> told a news agency. 
 
Acting on a tip-off, a team of police personnel from Howrah Police reached the spot at the same time when the IB officer and his associates told them that a "raid was on and they would take the person and the gold with them," he said. 
 
"On finding that the officers' statements were discrepant our officers brought them here and on questioning they admitted their crime," the officer said. 
 
(Image : India Times)

​ A CBI officer and two retired officers of customs attempted to loot gold in West Bengal

(Eds: Changes headine, tweaks intro, incorporatesMamata's quote)Kolkata, Apr 15 () Unhappy over the way thelockdown is being enforced in West Bengal, Governor JagdeepDhankhar Wednesday said police and civil officials notfollowing protocol be shown the door and deployment of centralparamilitary forces be considered, drawing a sharp reactionfrom Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who advised Raj Bhavan toeschew politics in times of crisis. "Lockdown protocol has to be thoroughly implementedto ward off #coronavirus. Police and administration@MamataOfficial failing to effect 100% #SocialDistancing orcurbing religious congregations be shown door," Dhankhartweeted. "Lockdown must succeed-examine central para forcesrequisitioning!" the governor added.The governor's remarks did not go down well with thechief minister, who smelt politics in them.Why do we need paramilitary forces? There have beeninstances where military personnel themselves have beeninfected with the virus. Some people are trying to fish introubled waters. I would urge everybody this is not the timefor politics. This is a crisis situation, Banerjee said, butdid not name the governor.The Union Home Ministry had also recently flagged"gradual dilution" of the lockdown in some parts of the state.Most of these localities are minority-dominated, andthe state BJP unit has repeatedly alleged that lockdown wasnot being properly enforced in these areas.The home ministry also said despite the Centre issuingorders from time to time under the Disaster Management Act,2005, these were not being followed.Reacting to the Centre's letter, Banerjee had said theUnion government was only interested in "extra vigilance insome specific areas"."We are not fighting any communal virus, we arefighting a disease spreading through human contact. Whereverwe find any problem, steps will be taken to ensure that thelockdown is imposed there, but that doesn't mean shops wouldremain closed... We are keeping a close watch," she had said.Dhankhar has been at loggerheads with the stategovernment over a host of issues ever since taking office inJuly last year. SCH ACD AQSSK SK

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