Amit Shah defends son Jay Shah, says 'no question of corruption'

48 Pages·2017·53.2 MB·English

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Amit Shah defends son Jay Shah,
Diwali celebrated
at White House
says ‘no question of corruption’
AHMEDABAD - BJP presi-
dent Amit Shah earlier this week
defended his son Jay Shah in the
wake of recent reports that his
Temple Enterprises benefi ted
President Donald Trump lit the
from his political infl uences after
ceremonial lamp and wished ev-
the BJP came to power in 2014.
eryone Happy Diwali. Page 6
Amit Shah said, “There is no
Indian court acquits question of corruption in the
business dealings of Jay (Shah).
dentist couple
The business was of commod-
ity trade which is high value
low profi t venture. If a com-
pany’s turn over becomes Rs 1
crore, its profi t does not become
Rs 1 crore.”
“After achieving a turnover
of Rs 80 crore, his company
suff ered a loss of Rs 1.5 crore.
The couple was in jail for the e
Despite this turnover, he did not av
murder of their teenage daughter D
earn profi t. All the payments mit
and the family servant. Page 9 A
were made through cheques. S/
R
E
FVo‘irBrtaahtdc Kroimnohaintlihg r KFueiil sm There is no question of money UT
E
laundering,” Amit Shah said. R
DsuoRlfhtu abknahilal’ “If you have documents to Amit Shah, President of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), addresses supporters during a public rally at Bhaat
prove your allegations, bring village on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India on October 16, 2017.
them to court,” Amit Shah said, revenues escalated by 16,000 which is refl ected in my tax re- “Please understand this is not
emphasizing that none of his times after the BJP came to pow- cords and are through banking corruption. Many allegations of
son’s companies “did even one er. The report also questioned al- transactions,” Jay said in his corruption were made against
rupee worth of business” with the legedly unsecured loans given to statement which added that he the Congress. Did it ever fi le a
government or “received kick- Jay Shah’s fi rms, including from would press criminal and civil civil suit or defamation suit? No.
backs like in the case of Bofors”. a state-run fi rm that reports to the defamation charges against the Why they lacked such courage?
Jay Shah has sued news Power Ministry. website. Today Jay has fi led a defamation
Rukh is a drama fi lm directed by
website The Wire for 100 crores The report, published in The report triggered demands as well as civil suit and is de-
Atanu Mukherjee starring Manoj
for reporting that his fi rm’s thewire.in, said Shah’s company from rival political parties in- manding a probe himself,” Amit
Bajpayee. Page 24
Temple Enterprises Pvt Lim- cluding the Congress, the Left Shah stressed, responding to
Kuldeep Yadav ited was “engaged in negligible and the Aam Aadmi Party for questions.
activity” in the fi nancial years an investigation into the mat- On Thursday, the BJP’s ideo-
cements his place ending March 2013 and 2014 ter. CPM general secretary Si- logical mentor Rashtriya Sway-
but “jumped to a turnover of taram Yechury claimed that it amsevak Sangh (RSS) said
Rs 80.5 crore in 2015-16”. was the latest in a series of cases there must be enough evidence
Jay Shah issued a statement of corruption under the Modi for the allegations to be worth
saying the article “makes false, government. investigating.
derogatory and defamatory im- According to the Congress From the Congress side, for-
putation against me by creating Party, the allegations are an mer HRD and law minister Kapil
in the minds of right thinking “excellent example” of crony Sibal demanded that Prime Min-
people an impression that my capitalism. ister Narendra Modi institute an
Kuldeep has become a household business owes its ‘success’ to “We fi nally found the only inquiry into the allegations.
name at 22 and with just two my father Sri Amit Bhai Shah’s benefi ciary of Demonetisation. “Today, we want to ask our
Tests and 11 one-day internation- political position.” It’s not the RBI, the poor or the Prime Minister what you now
als to his name. Page 42 “My businesses are fully le- farmers. It’s the Shah-in-Shah of think about crony capital-
gitimate and conducted in a law- Demo. Jai Amit,” Congress vice ism. Will you direct the CBI to
Entertainment...........Page 24 Jay Shah
EXBusiness...................Page 27 son of BJP President Amit Shah ful manner on commercial lines president Rahul Gandhi tweeted. probe?” Sibal said.
DHealth.......................Page 38
Thought of the Week: “Be who you are and say what you feel,
NSports........................P age 42
IAstrology...................Page 46 because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” - Theodore Seuss Giesel
Wishing our Readers and Advertisers a Diwali filled
with joy and a New Year blessed with prosperity!
2 India Bulletin
Saturday, October 21, 2017
ANALYSIS
‘New India’ vision impossible if child sex crimes not tackled
achieved, if the issue of child in brothels. ing events such as plays and con-
sexual abuse - and the other Figures from the National certs or by voicing their support
sensitive crimes against children Crime Records Bureau also show on social media over the last 35
- are not addressed, I think that that almost 15,000 children were days, say organizers.
we miss making this concept pos- victims of sexual violence such as The “Bharat Yatra” also mo-
sible when we celebrate 75 years rape, molestation and exploitation bilized government officials
alla of freedom.” for pornography in 2015 - up 67 and policy makers as well as
h
B Kovind - a veteran politi- percent from the previous year. Bollywood stars, they added.
a
Nit cian and member of a power- But the figures are underesti- Home Minister Rajnath Singh
N/
TIO ful Hindu nationalist movement mates in socially conservative has promised to pass an anti-
A
D - was sworn in as president in India, say activists, where fear of trafficking bill which has pending
N
U
O July. While India’s president being blamed and shamed means for over a year, chief ministers
F
RS is the highest public office in victims often keep quiet and do pledged to take steps to curb child
E
UT the world’s largest democracy, not report abuses. abuse and the judiciary promised
E
N R it is largely a ceremonial role to set up children’s courts.
O
S with the prime minister and his POLITICIANS, The campaign also saw Bol-
M
O cabinet holding executive BOLLYWOOD STARS lywood stars and singers such
H
T
power. Child rights activist Saty- as Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam
Participants stand for the national anthem along with Indian President Ram Nath
Children in India face threats arthi, whose charity Bachpan Kher, Dhanush, Latha Rajini-
Kovind and Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi at an event in the Presidential
Palace in New Delhi on October 16, 2017 marking the end of an over one-month ranging from trafficking, sex- Bachao Andolan (Save the kanth and Vivek Oberoi support
long march across India to raise public awareness about child trafficking and ual violence, forced labor and Childhood Movement) has res- the campaign and take a pledge
sex abuse.
early marriage to a lack of ac- cued over 80,000 enslaved chil- to help end the buying, sell-
By Nita Bhalla march across India by campaign- cess to quality education and dren, launched his India-wide ing and sexual exploitation of
ers led by Nobel laureate Kailash healthcare, say activists. march or “Bharat Yatra” from minors.
NEW DELHI - Prime Minis- Satyarthi to raise public aware- More than 9,000 children the nation’s southern-most tip on Satyarthi told the Thomson
ter Narendra Modi’s vision of a ness about the trafficking and were reported to have been traf- Sept. 11. Reuters Foundation the highlight
“New India” - which promises sexual abuse of children. ficked in 2016, a 27 percent Over the last five weeks, par- of the march - which took him to
housing, electricity, healthcare “The Prime Minister talks rise from the previous year, ticipants traveled over 11,000 km Andhra Pradesh in the south to
and education for all - cannot be about a ‘New India’ referring to according to government data. (7,000) miles) across 22 of In- Jammu and Kashmir in the north
realized unless the issue of sexual improved infrastructure in the Most are from poor rural fami- dia’s 29 states. They held events - was seeing children speak out.
violence against children is ad- country. The concept is good,” lies who are lured to cities by traf- in towns and villages, engaging “In one case, a girl who was
dressed, India’s president said on said Kovind, referring to Modi’s fickers who promise good jobs, politicians, judges, students, re- being raped by her brother-in-
Monday. pledge in August to make a bet- but then sell them into slavery ligious leaders and community law but could not tell anyone as
President Ram Nath Kovind ter country for all by its 75th as domestic workers, to work in members. she felt so ashamed, came onto
made the remarks at an event Independence Day in 2022. small manufacturing units, farm- Over 60 million people across the podium at an event and told
marking the end of month-long “But even if all that is ing or pushed into sexual slavery India took part - either by attend- everyone what happened to her.
India Bulletin
3
Saturday, October 21, 2017
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Saturday, October 21, 2017
NATIONAL NEWS
Hotel owner charged with criminal damage to competing hotel
Point police were called to Country Inn During the course of the investigation, currently on probation for a prostitution
& Suites at 12:25 AM on Sept. 30 after police learned Patel had also allegedly at- charge out of Marathon Co., according to
employees there suspected pipes on the tempted to hire a homeless man to place court records.
hotel’s second and third floors had been bed bugs at another competitor, the Day’s Molepske asked Patel be held on a
intentionally cut, causing water to leak Inn, in an attempt to shut it down, and $2,500 cash bond, but Fluguar ordered
onto the floor. planned to also cause damage at Cobble- a $10,000 signature bond. Patel was or-
The culprit left the pipe cutter behind, stone Hotel in the Downtown District. dered to relinquish his passport and avoid
according to District Attorney Louis Patel previously served jail time for contact with Day’s Inn, Country Inn &
Molepske. fraud, and also has a criminal record of Suites, Cobblestone Hotel and their em-
“It was saturated so badly the drywall fraud, theft and burglary in New Hamp- ployees and guests, as a condition of
was crumbling,” Molepske said, add- shire and Illinois, Molepske said. He is bond.
ing water had also seeped into an eleva-
tor shaft, causing in excess of $5,000 in Father and son robbed at gunpoint in
damages.
Molepske said hotel guests described Lincolnwood; suspects arrested
two men near the ice machines around
the time of the vandalism who identified
Dharmesh Patel
themselves as plumbers. One man was
STEVENS POINT, WI - A local hotel
described as wearing “black shoes with a
owner has been charged with causing sub-
white stripe”.
stantial damage to one of his competitors.
When police questioned Patel - who
Dharmesh Patel, 28, of Stevens Point
was captured on security video at Coun-
was charged on Oct. 5 after police say
try Inn & Suites - they noted he wore the
he cut copper water pipes leading to ice
same shoes identified by witnesses and
machines inside Country Inn & Suites on
visible in the video. The officer stepped
Division St. North.
out of the room momentarily, and upon
According to the complaint, Stevens
return noted Patel had changed his shoes.
LINCOLNWOOD, IL - Four people West Wilson Avenue in Chicago are each
Burglar who targeted Hindu temple
have been arrested for robbing a fa- charged with armed robbery.
ther and son at gunpoint last Sunday The two boys accused in the case are
and churches gets prison time afternoon outside their home in north not identified because of their age, and
suburban Lincolnwood. police said they were turned over to the
NEW YORK (AP) - Authorities say a guilty to burglary as a hate crime and other Sonali Soni helped police catch the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center
homeless man who told police he was “mad charges. four robbers by providing a description in Chicago
at God” is going to prison for burglarizing The break-ins occurred in March and of the suspects who held up her father Soni said her father and brother were
four New York City houses of worship. April at a Hindu temple and three churches. and brother. a bit shaken up, but unharmed after the
Queens District Attorney Richard Woznik pried open donation boxes, ran- “I freaked out, called the cops, and robbery.
A. Brown announced on Monday that sacked church offices, broke windows and then they got caught,” she said. “I’m a little shaken up right now,” she
24-year-old Joseph Woznik has been sen- pawned a church’s digital camera. One Police said Soni’s 60-year old father said. “I’m scared now, because now this
tenced to 1-1/2 to 4-1/2 years after pleading church was hit three times. and her 27-year old brother were get- is just a red flag that something like this
ting into their car outside the house on could possibly happen again.”
the 6600 block of North Drake when An investigation found the group of
MATRIMONIAL
they were confronted by four males, one robbers targeted the first two people
armed with a handgun. The robbers de- they came across, and police described
manded their wallets, cell phones, and a the incident as “an isolated crime of
Brother-in-law Seeks Match for backpack; and the man with the gun also opportunity.”
took their car keys, and the suspects took Lincolnwood Village President Barry
their car and fled the scene. Bass described the incident as “dan-
Punjabi Girl (Visiting Chicago)
The robbers left a knife at the scene. gerous and horrific,” in a letter to
A few minutes later, police spotted residents.
Never married 42 YR/5'3”, beautiful, fair complexion. the stolen car a block away, and took the “Unfortunately, many of our surround-
four men inside into custody. The vic- ing communities are encountering an
Graduate from Delhi University.
tims identified the men as their robbers. uptick in this type of activity which has
Previously worked for International Air Lines. 15 years experience.
Officers also found a gun and additional seeped over the borders from Chicago
Parents are doctors practicing medicine in New Delhi. evidence in a nearby trash can. and other areas into Lincolnwood.”
Boy must be educated and well settled. Two men and a pair of juveniles from “I was also a victim of an armed assault
Chicago all face felony armed robbery last February, in front of my home, ironi-
Call: Mr./Mrs. Saluja [phone]
charges. Ibrahim Lissa, 21, of the 6500 cally within two blocks of this recent in-
or E-mail bio data/photo [email protected] block of North Mozart Street and Ste- cident. No one should ever have to expe-
phon D. Pugh, 20, of the 3700 block of rience a situation like this,” Bass wrote.
India Bulletin encourages its
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India Bulletin
5
Saturday, October 21, 2017
HEALTH & SCIENCE NATIONAL NEWS
Citing lack of money, Ald. Ameya Pawar drops out governor’s race
CHICAGO - Chicago Ald. Speculation abounds that will run again.”
Ameya Pawar (47th) has dropped Pawar’s now-defunct populist A natural alternative for sup-
out of the governor’s race, saying campaign for governor could porters of Pawar’s populist cam-
he simply doesn’t have the mon- be a prelude to a 2019 race for paign is progressive State Sen.
ey to compete statewide against mayor against incumbent Mayor Daniel Biss (D-Evanston). But
wealthy competitors. Rahm Emanuel. Pawar said he is not prepared to
“We raised $828,000 from “Politics today is very fluid. endorse any of his opponents “at
2,600 donors. But we don’t have It’s unpredictable. You never this time.”
enough money to meaningfully know. … I’m never gonna say Pawar knew when he got into
scale our campaign,” Pawar told no. There’s always a chance. But the governor’s race that he would
the Chicago Sun-Times after an- I literally just got off the road be up against a lot of money in
nouncing his decision in an email after 10 months. It’s been really the Democratic primary; billion-
to supporters. hard on all of us. It took a lot of aire J.B. Pritzker and millionaire
“I had two options: Cut staff, sacrifice by my family,” he said. Chris Kennedy also are seeking
which is not an option or, two, “I’m not ruling anything out. the Democratic nomination.
take on personal debt and I’m not I just don’t want to talk about But what he didn’t know and
wealthy. I’m sorry for the people another office or another race had to learn the hard way was
who supported me that I don’t today or any time in the near fu- just how tough it would be to
Alderman Ameya Pawar of the 47th Ward of the City of Chicago
have the wealth or connections ture. But I can tell you I’m not raise enough money to be com-
to keep going.” done in politics. I’m sure that I petitive in a statewide campaign. In his email, Pawar noted that drive for tax increment financ-
“the race for Illinois governor ing reform, mandatory sick days
Ex-postal service supervisor will set a record as the costliest and a council budget analyst. He
race in American history. For even pushed to cut the council in
democracy’s sake, I hope we see half.
admits stealing $15,700 in cash
this as a troubling trend. My do- Pawar, whose parents came
nors did the best they could, I’m from India in the 1970s, can’t be
CAMDEN, NJ (AP) - A for- vestigation that began in July installed inside the Riverside post the one who came up short, but I underestimated. He won his first
mer postal service supervisor 2016, when postal officials no- office captured Patel tearing open am not ashamed.” term at age 30 in an upset against
has admitted stealing more than ticed shortages in cash deposits a sealed deposit bag in January Pawar, 37, said he was start- a candidate handpicked by retir-
$15,000. reported by the Riverside, Delan- 2017, then removing cash de- ing a political action committee, ing Ald. Eugene Schulter. Pawar
Amar Patel pleaded guilty co and Delran post offices. posits and putting them into his called One Illinois, to organize then won re-election in 2015
Tuesday to the theft. The 36-year- Officials say Patel was a su- pocket. young people around progressive with 83 percent of the vote.
old Delran man faces a 10- pervisor at those offices and had Patel admitted stealing $15,700 causes. Last Thursday, Pawar said he
year term when he’s sentenced access to deposit bags contain- overall in 12 separate thefts that Young, gutsy and smart, Pawar has no intention of running for
January 26. ing cash acquired during retail occurred from February 2016 to knows city issues after two terms a third-term and violating his
The charges stem from an in- operations. Surveillance cameras January 2017. on the City Council. He led the self-imposed two-term limit.
6 India Bulletin
Saturday, October 21, 2017
NATIONAL NEWS
President Trump celebrates Diwali at White House
Hindu Festival of Lights.” in distant Lanka, as well as the
“As we do so, we especially culmination of his 14-year-long
remember the People of India, exile. Lord Ram is widely re-
the home of the Hindu faith, who garded as the reincarnation of
have built the world’s largest de- Lord Vishnu.
mocracy. I greatly value my very Diwali is also celebrated to
strong relationship with Prime honor the Goddess Lakshmi,
Minister Modi. Diwali is one the Hindu deity of wealth and
of the most important celebra- prosperity and consort of Lord
tions in the Hindu religion,” he Vishnu. It is believed that the
added. Goddess Lakshmi blesses those
Acknowledging the contribu- homes that are clean and well lit.
tions of the Indian American On Diwali people illuminate
community, Trump said, “Our their houses with colored lights
Indian-American neighbors and and earthen lamps.
friends have made incredible The tradition of Diwali cel-
contributions to our country - ebration at the White House was
and to the world. You have made fi rst started by President George
extraordinary contributions to Bush.
art, science, medicine, business During his term it was cele-
and education. America is espe- brated mostly in the India Treaty
cially thankful for its many Indi- Room of the adjacent executive
an-American citizens who serve offi ce building, which is part of
bravely in our armed forces and the White House complex.
U.S. President Donald Trump celebrated the Hindu festival of lights - Diwali at the White House with Indian Americans
as fi rst responders in communi- Bush never personally partici-
on October 17, 2017.
ties throughout our great land.” pated in the White House Diwali
WASHINGTON, DC - Presi- Verma, administrator of the the Trump administration were However, the Diwali celebra- celebrations.
dent Donald Trump celebrated Centers for Medicare and Med- present during the celebration. tion and diya lighting ceremony In the fi rst year of his presi-
the Hindu festival of lights - Di- icaid Services; Federal Com- Trump’s daughter Ivanka also was closed for the media and the dency, former president Barack
wali at the White House with munications Commission chair- attended the festivities. press. Obama lit the ceremonial Diya
Indian Americans on Tuesday. man Ajit Pai; Vanila Singh, chief Trump on the occasion said, Diwali, which is celebrated in the East Room of the White
Trump lit the ceremonial lamp medical offi cer in the offi ce of “Today, I was deeply honored with great fervor and gaiety House.
on the occasion and wished the assistant secretary of health to be joined by so many admin- across India, marks the return In his last year in offi ce in
everyone Happy Diwali. at the Department of Health istration offi cials and leaders of Lord Ram, the King of Ayodhya 2016, Obama for the fi rst time
Nikki Haley, U.S. Ambassador and Human Services; and other the Indian-American commu- in northern India, after his vic- observed the festival of lights in
to the United Nations; Seema Indian American members of nity - to celebrate Diwali -- the tory over demon king Ravana the Oval Offi ce.
India Bulletin 7
Saturday, October 21, 2017
happy
diwali
wishing you prosperity, enlightenment, and peace during the festival of lights
8 India Bulletin
Saturday, October 21, 2017
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India Bulletin
9
Saturday, October 21, 2017
HEALTH & SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Indian court acquits dentist couple of killing daughter
NEW DELHI - An Indian court her throat slit at the family home Rajesh had murdered his daugh-
last Thursday overturned the con- in the Delhi suburb of Noida in ter and the servant in a rage when
viction of a dentist couple for the 2008. A day later, the body of the he found them in a compromis-
murder of their teenage daughter servant, Hemraj, was found on ing situation. The couple, both
and the family servant for lack of the roof of the house. dentists, were jailed for life.
material evidence, their lawyer A trial court convicted the But a high court overruled the
said. girl’s parents, Rajesh and Nu- decision saying it was not satis-
Aarushi Talwar was found with pur Talwar, after police alleged fi ed with the evidence and or-
Death of 11-year-old in India sparks debate
on tying welfare to identity card
er
g
n
Stri
MUMBAI - The death of an one had helped.” The government made Aadhaar S/
R
E
11-year-old girl in India, who State offi cials in the northern mandatory for welfare, pension T
U
E
campaigners say died of hunger Indian state of Jharkhand said the and employment schemes this year, R
because her family’s ration card girl died of malaria, not starvation, despite a 2014 Supreme Court rul- FILE PHOTO: Dentists Rajesh Talwar (R) and wife Nupur are taken to court
was cancelled, has sparked debate and the chief minister has ordered ing that it cannot be a requirement in Ghaziabad, on the outskirts of New Delhi, India on November 25, 2013.
about linking welfare to identity an investigation. for welfare programmes. dered the couple be freed, their killings” are not uncommon.
cards. “While there could be doubts “These are poor, illiterate people lawyer Tanveer Ahmed Mir said. Every twist in the investigation
Activists say Santoshi Kumari over the cause of death, we have with no knowledge of technol- “The court found no forensic was extensively reported by the
died last month after her family to ensure that no ration card is de- ogy. They are suff ering because or material evidence to prove Indian press, turning the Talwars
was denied subsidised grain be- leted because of non-availability someone did not (link) the card that the Talwars had killed their into household names.
cause their biometric identity card, of Aadhaar,” state welfare minis- properly,” said Kumar. daughter,” Mir told reporters out- “Finally my family can lead a
known as Aadhaar, was not linked ter Saryu Roy told reporters. “If Kumar said more than 1 million side a packed courtroom in the dignifi ed life. The court has up-
to their ration card in government someone has done this, then it is ration cards had been cancelled in northern city of Allahabad. held the facts and truth,” said
records. wrong.” Jharkhand, one of India’s poorest Both parents had denied the Rajesh Talwar’s sister, Vandana,
“The girl’s family told us they More than 1.1 billion Indian states, after a directive in April murder and insisted they were after the decision.
had not eaten for six days when residents have an Aadhaar card, saying they must be linked to victims of botched investiga- In 2015, a journalist who cov-
Santoshi died,” said Dheeraj Ku- which uses fi ngerprints and irin Aadhaar cards. tions and unfair media coverage, ered the murder wrote a book
mar with advocacy group Right to scans to identify them. Last year, funding cuts in wel- damaging their defense. arguing that the couple were in-
Food Campaign. Activists say large numbers of fare schemes contributed to the Aarushi’s case was labeled as nocent. The double murder case
“They had complained to the poor have been denied welfare starvation deaths of about 600 a kind of crime more often as- and faulty probe were used as a
the local offi cials about the benefi ts because of errors in the children in the western state of sociated with rural, conserva- theme for a Bollywood movie the
faulty card several times, but no system. Maharashtra, activists said. tive parts of India where “honor same year.
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10 India Bulletin
Saturday, October 21, 2017
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Disasters make 14 million people homeless each year: U.N.
also feature as countries where reduction. ties struggled to assist millions of
disasters could cause large-scale “Apart from death or severe destitute survivors.
homelessness, unless significant injury in a disaster event, there Refugees and people uprooted
progress is made on managing is no more crushing blow than in their own countries are al-
disaster risk, the study said. the loss of the family home,” he ready at record-high numbers,
“The findings underline the added in a statement. said IDMC director Alexan-
challenge we have to reduce the The most devastating floods to dra Bilak. The new model goes
numbers of people affected by di- hit South Asia in a decade killed some way toward predicting the
sasters,” said Robert Glasser, the more than 1,400 people this year, risk of disaster-related displace-
U.N. secretary-general’s special and focused attention on poor ment, which is an “urgent, global
representative for disaster risk planning for disasters, as authori- priority”, she noted.
New policy could give India’s often exploited
About 14 million people are being made homeless on average each year as a
result of sudden disasters such as floods and storms, new figures show. domestic workers minimum wage and benefits
By Adela Suliman countries in Asia, home to 60 per-
cent of the world’s population, MUMBAI - Domestic work- and schemes to grant domestic en who are often underpaid,
LONDON - About 14 million hit particularly hard, according ers in India will soon be entitled workers rights that are enshrined exploited and abused.
people are being made homeless to modeling by the agencies. to a minimum wage and social in laws,” a labor ministry state- Many are young, largely un-
on average each year as a result Eight of the ten countries with security benefits, according to ment said late on Monday, educated women from poor,
of sudden disasters such as floods the highest levels of displace- a draft proposal that activists without specifying a timeline. rural areas, who live apart from
and storms, new figures show. ment and housing loss are in say does not go far enough to There are at least 67 million their families.
The risk of displacement could South and Southeast Asia. protect these workers and lets domestic workers globally, and In July, a police complaint by
rise as populations swell and the They include India, where an employers off the hook. this number is rising quickly, a maid saying she was beaten up
impacts of climate change be- average of 2.3 million people are The policy proposes to give according to the International and locked up by her employers
come more severe, said a report forced to leave their homes an- domestic workers the right to Labour Organization. About in an upscale neighborhood near
issued last Friday by the United nually, and China with 1.3 mil- register themselves as employ- 80 percent are women. New Delhi triggered days of
Nations Office for Disaster Risk lion people uprooted each year, ees, guarantees a minimum India’s rising affluence, ur- violence.
Reduction (UNISDR) and the found the report, released on the wage, protection from abuse, banization and growing num- Activists have been cam-
Geneva-based Internal Dis- International Day for Disaster and access to health insurance, bers of working women have paigning for years for the pas-
placement Monitoring Centre Reduction. maternity benefits and pension, spurred increasing demand sage of a separate bill to provide
(IDMC). The numbers exclude those as well as an opportunity to add for domestic workers in the domestic workers with a mini-
Earthquakes, tsunamis, floods evacuated ahead of a threat, and skills. country. mum monthly salary of 9,000
and tropical cyclones are the people displaced by drought or The policy will “explicitly and Rights activists estimate there rupees ($140) and benefits in-
main disasters forecast to uproot rising seas. effectively expand the scope of are tens of millions of such cluding social security cover and
large numbers of people, with Russia and the United States applicable legislations, policies workers, most of them wom- mandatory time off.