Page 3 - Jharkhand

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2 doctors among 5 killed in nursing home fire in Jharkhand's Dhanbad

At least five people, including two doctors, were killed in a fire in a private nursing home in Jharkhand's Dhanbad on Saturday, an official said. The deceased include the medical establishment's owner Dr Vikas Hazra, his wife Dr Prema Hazra, the owner's nephew Sohan Khamari and domestic help Tara Devi. A fire broke out at the store room of the nursing home-cum-private house in Bank More area of Dhanbad, around 170 km from Ranchi, around 2 am, he said. Dhanbad Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM) Prem Kumar Tiwary told PTI, At least five people, including the owner and his wife, died due to suffocation following a fire in the store room. One person is also injured. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained and further investigation is underway. Four deceased have been identified, while the fifth person is yet to be identified, he added.

Soren becomes first J'khand CM to visit former Maoist hotbed 'Budha Pahad'

Hemant Soren on Friday became the first Jharkhand chief minister to visit the Budha Pahad' once a Maoist hotbed that was freed from the red rebels' control by security forces after over three decades situated near the border with Chhattisgarh, officials said. Soren arrived at the hilltop a little after noon, where the CRPF has now set up a camp, they said. He is expected to launch a slew of welfare schemes in Budha Pahad', located around 150 km from state capital Ranchi, along the Latehar and Garhwa districts. Security forces managed to free the area from the grip of Maoists through three special operations that were launched since the beginning of April 2022. A total of 14 Maoists were killed, while 590 others were either apprehended or had surrendered during these operations, the officials said. Earlier attempts to drive out the red rebels from Budha Pahad' did not materialise due to its difficult terrain, they added.

Realising dreams of leaders, common people: J'khand CM Soren on R-day

Listing the welfare measures he has initiated for Jharkhand thus far, Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday said he is committed to "realising the dreams of leaders and common people who had fought for the creation of a separate state". Unfurling the Tricolour at Dumka Police Line, on the occasion of the 74th Republic Day, Soren said his government has received more than 55 lakh applications under its ambitious 'Aapki Sarkar Aapke Dwar' outreach scheme. Governor Ramesh Bais, who unfurled the national flag at Ranchi's Morabadi ground, urged people to take a pledge to build such a Jharkhand, which is free from social discrimination and inequality. If both the government and the citizens discharge their duties and responsibilities honestly, we will certainly succeed in building a strong and prosperous Jharkhand, Bais said. In Dumka, the chief minister described the adoption of the 1932 Khatiyan-based domicile policy by his government, for defining locals, as a major step taken to ..

Committed to fulfilling dreams of those who sacrificed for J'khand: Soren

Listing the welfare measures he has initiated for Jharkhand thus far, Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday said he is committed to "realising the dreams of leaders and common people who had fought for the creation of a separate state". Unfurling the Tricolour at Dumka Police Line, on the occasion of the 74th Republic Day, Soren said his government has received more than 55 lakh applications under its ambitious 'Aapki Sarkar Aapke Dwar' outreach scheme. He described the adoption of 1932 Khatiyan-based domicile policy by his government, for defining locals, as a major step taken to protect the interests of the state's indigenous population. "Let us take a pledge to build a state, which is in line with the dreams and hopes of those who made sacrifices for the creation of Jharkhand," Soren said. He noted that the poor and the needy in the state have been benefitting from schemes such as Green Ration Card, Birsa Harit Gram Yojana, Sarvajan Pension Yojana and Chief Minister Employment

Asha workers' indefinite strike enters 3rd day in J'khand over salary hike

The indefinite strike by 'Asha' workers in Jharkhand entered the third day on Wednesday as they stuck to their charter of demands, including a hike in their remuneration. Health services, such as immunisation, antenatal and post-natal check-ups in rural areas, have been adversely impacted as more than 42,000 Accredited Social Health Activists (Ashas) joined the agitation, an official said. Sahiyas, who help mobilise the community and facilitate access to health and health-related services in rural areas, warned of intensifying the stir if their demands are not met. The 'Asha' workers have been staging demonstrations at primary and community health centres of the state and participated in rallies at block levels. Jharkhand Pradesh Swasthya Sahiya Sangh (JPSSS) secretary Maya Singh said, We will not have any alternative option but to intensify the agitation if no one pays attention to our demands." She said the association has been demanding that the remuneration be increased to at

J'khand govt launches water conservation scheme with over Rs 467 cr outlay

Jharkhand Agriculture Minister Badal Patralekh launched a water conservation scheme with an outlay of Rs 467.32 crore to provide benefits to farmers in the state that experienced drought last year

Over 28% rural households covered under 'Jal Jeevan Mission' in Jharkhand

Altogether 28.73 per cent of rural households in Jharkhand have been provided with piped water connections under the Centre's 'Jal Jeevan Mission', an official said on Thursday

Soren accuses BJP of 'exploiting' people, promises to revive mica industry

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday accused the BJP of 'exploiting' the people of the state and promised them to expedite development schemes including revival of the mica industry

Gunfight between security forces, Naxals on outskirts of Jharkhand's Ranchi

A gunfight broke out between security forces and Naxals on the outskirts of Ranchi city on Thursday, police said. Acting on a tip-off that five members of the banned Tritiya Sammelan Prastuti Committee (TSPC) were in a forest in the Budmu police station area, a search operation was started around 3.30 pm, they said. Soon, a gunfight broke out between the Naxals and the forces, they added. "However, the extremists escaped taking advantage of the forest," Superintendent of Police (Ranchi-Rural) Naushad Alam told PTI. A rifle and live bullets were seized from the area, he said. Alam said they have received information that some of the extremists were injured in the gunfight. "We are verifying it," he said.

Tribals to hold fast on Jan 30 for Parasnath hills movement in Jharkhand

Tribals will observe a day's fast on January 30 at Ulihatu in Khunti district, the birthplace of tribal icon Birsa Munda, in solidarity with their movement to save the Parasnath hills, a member of a joint forum of Adiva bodies said. A large number of tribals on Tuesday assembled near the Parasnath hills in Giridih district, urging the state government and the Centre to free their holy site from the clutches of the Jain community. They also warned of severe agitation if their demand was not met. Hundreds of tribals from Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha demonstrated in the hill area, carrying traditional weapons and beating drums. "Marang Buru' (Parasnath) is the birthright of Jharkhand's tribals, and no power in the world can deprive them of this right," a member of the Jharkhand Bachao Morcha', which claims to be an outfit of over 50 bodies, asserted on Tuesday. Tribals will observe a day's fast on January 30 at Ulihatu in Khunti, the birthplace of tribal icon Birsa Munda, in ...

Jharkhand extends winter vacation till Jan 14 amid cold for primary schools

All primary schools in Jharkhand will remain closed till January 14 amid the cold wave conditions prevailing in the state, according to a government notification. Teachers will, however, attend schools to update all student records online, it said. "In view of continuing extreme cold wave conditions in Jharkhand, the state department of school education and literacy has decided that teaching in all government and private schools from KG to class 5 will remain suspended till January 14," the notification said. Earlier on January 3, the department had ordered the closure of schools from class 1 to class 5 till January 8. Midday meals would also be made available to students in government schools, it added. The lowest temperature in some districts varied between 4.1 and 10 degrees Celsius in the last 24 hours.

Lawyers meet Jharkhand CM over court fee hike; Soren promises review

A section of lawyers met Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday over the court fee hike, as the JMM leader assured them of a review. As many as 500 advocates were present at the residence of the chief minister where he assured them that his government will review the provisions of the Advocates Protection Act and do a comparative study with other states. The state government had last year hiked court fees by passing the Court Fees Amendment Bill in the assembly. Soren said the increase in court fees was not directly concerned with the welfare of lawyers but still, the government will look into the matter and review the amendments. The delegation was led by Advocate General Rajiv Ranjan, and he was accompanied by Jharkhand State Bar Council members Manoj Singh, Ram Subhag Singh, Anil Tiwary and Rinku Bhakat, among others. Council chairman Rajendra Krishna and other members stayed away from the meeting. Bhakat told PTI that they interacted with the CM and he promised ...

J'khand must check infiltrators who grab land by marrying tribal women: HM

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said the Hemant Soren government must check infiltrators, out to grab land in Jharkhand, by marrying tribal women. Accusing Soren of "destroying Jharkhand", Shah claimed that the JMM dispensation has indulged in "looting" mineral resources and "betrayed" tribals in the name of 'khatiyan'. The Hemant Soren government, which has also accused the BJP of "plundering" the state's wealth, wants to prepare a list of original residents of the state based on the 1932 land records which would implicitly identify a large number of non-tribals as later migrants. "The Hemant Soren government must check infiltrators, out to grab land, by marrying tribal women," Shah said while addressing 'Vijay Sankalp Maha-rally' in West Singhbhum district's Chaibasa, around 150-km away from the state's capital Ranchi. The programme is being viewed as the beginning of the campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Claiming that corruption has peaked under the JMM-led .

Centre bars tourists at Shri Sammed Shikharji in Jharkhand, amid protests

In view of a series of protests by the Jain community, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupendra Yadav has asked the state to forbid all eco-tourism activities

Centre stays all tourism activities at Sammed Shikharji in Jharkhand

Place falls in eco-sensitive zone, says Union Environment Minister

12 with respiratory issues die in 2 days as air quality worsens in Dhanbad

At least 12 people with respiratory issues who were undergoing treatment have died in the last 48 hours here, as the air quality declined to "alarming" levels, officials said on Wednesday

Primary schools in Jharkhand to remain closed till Jan 8 amid cold wave

All primary schools in Jharkhand will remain closed till January 8 amid the cold wave that gripped the state, according to a government notification. The minimum temperature in Ranchi will be hovering between 7 and 10 degrees Celsius till January 8 with fog and cloudy sky. The mercury will rise from January 9, the weather office said. "In view of extreme cold wave conditions in the first week of January, the state department of school education and literacy has decided that teaching in all government and private schools from class 1 to class 5 will remain suspended," the notification said. Teachers will, however, attend schools to update all student records online, it said. Midday meals would also be made available to students from the government schools, it added.

Target to facilitate education of 900,000 adolescent girls: Jharkhand govt

The Jharkhand government on Tuesday said it aims at facilitating the education of nine lakh adolescent girls in the state under the Savitribai Phule Kishori Samriddhi Yojana (SPKSY). The welfare programme was launched by Chief Minister Hemant Soren in October last year from Giridih along with the 'Aapki Yojana Aapki Sarkar Aapke Dwar' campaign, an initiative to take the benefits of various government schemes at the doorsteps of villagers. "The Savitribai Phule Kishori Samriddhi Yojana is an effort of the state government to facilitate the education of adolescent girls and a step towards women empowerment and gender justice...Nine lakh adolescent girls of the state shall be covered by this scheme," a statement issued by the government said. Under the 'Aapki Yojana' campaign, which went on for a month, three lakh adolescent girls were linked to the scheme. "In a programme organised on the completion of three years of the government, the chief minister transferred a total amount of Rs

Suspended Jharkhand IAS officer gets interim bail in money laundering case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted interim bail to suspended Jharkhand cadre IAS officer Pooja Singhal in a money laundering case to look after her ailing daughter. A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Abhay S Oka also directed the Enforcement Directorate to respond in three weeks to Singhal's main bail plea. Appearing for the anti-money laundering probe agency, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju said the plea was incorrect and devoid of merits. I will be the last person to oppose such pleas, the law officer said. The top court, which has now listed the suspended IAS officer's plea for hearing on February 6, has imposed some conditions, including that she will not visit Ranchi unless a court case is listed for hearing in the city. Singhal has been in custody since May 11 after raids were conducted at properties linked to her. The ED has accused Singhal, a former state mines department secretary, of money laundering and said its team seized more than Rs 36 crore