News Analysis India

Tag: Raksha Bandhan

  • After Deepawali, Shivraj celebrates Raksha Bandhan with COVID orphans

    By Express News Service

    BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan celebrated the festival of Raksha Bandhan at his residence in Bhopal on Friday with children who lost their parents to killer COVID-19 virus.

    After Diwali in 2021, this was the second festival which was celebrated by the CM with the COVID-orphaned children. The memorable meeting where kids performed cultural programmes was titled ‘Meri Rakhi Shivraj Mama ke Ghar.’

    “It’s my resolve that we’ll not allow the word orphan to remain in the state. Children, never consider you’re alone. There have been many great people in the world who lost their parents in their childhood and faced many difficulties, but they did not give up. Facing difficulties in life, they made achievements and established their name, work and thoughts,” Chouhan said while interacting with the children.

    Children being benefited under Mukhya Mantri Covid Bal Kalyan Yojana, Bal Niketan, SOS Village, Aarushi Balika Grih, Paschatvarti Grih and Nitya Seva Society participated in the programme.

    While motivating the children who were waving the national tricolour, the CM said “You can do great things. Let us decide what we have to do. I believe that by making continuous efforts in the direction of what a person decides, he becomes successful in achieving the goal according to his wish. Read and play diligently. Every person must have some talent, recognise it and try to improve it continuously.”

    Referring to the lines from former PM Late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s poem “Koshish Karane Waalon Kee Kabhee Haar Nahin Hotee,” Chouhan said that children should never be discouraged, read, write, move ahead, and bring laurels to the family and the state.

    Children tied Rakhi on the CM’s hand and CM presented gifts to all the children. He had lunch with all the children and posed for group photos. He also motivated the children to participate in ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign from August 13 to 15 August.

    It was told in the programme that Vendatu Group will provide education to 100 needy children of Sehore, Vidisha, Raisen through an online app. Chouhan also interacted virtually with the children of Balaghat, Jabalpur, Indore, Shivpuri districts.

    BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan celebrated the festival of Raksha Bandhan at his residence in Bhopal on Friday with children who lost their parents to killer COVID-19 virus.

    After Diwali in 2021, this was the second festival which was celebrated by the CM with the COVID-orphaned children. The memorable meeting where kids performed cultural programmes was titled ‘Meri Rakhi Shivraj Mama ke Ghar.’

    “It’s my resolve that we’ll not allow the word orphan to remain in the state. Children, never consider you’re alone. There have been many great people in the world who lost their parents in their childhood and faced many difficulties, but they did not give up. Facing difficulties in life, they made achievements and established their name, work and thoughts,” Chouhan said while interacting with the children.

    Children being benefited under Mukhya Mantri Covid Bal Kalyan Yojana, Bal Niketan, SOS Village, Aarushi Balika Grih, Paschatvarti Grih and Nitya Seva Society participated in the programme.

    While motivating the children who were waving the national tricolour, the CM said “You can do great things. Let us decide what we have to do. I believe that by making continuous efforts in the direction of what a person decides, he becomes successful in achieving the goal according to his wish. Read and play diligently. Every person must have some talent, recognise it and try to improve it continuously.”

    Referring to the lines from former PM Late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s poem “Koshish Karane Waalon Kee Kabhee Haar Nahin Hotee,” Chouhan said that children should never be discouraged, read, write, move ahead, and bring laurels to the family and the state.

    Children tied Rakhi on the CM’s hand and CM presented gifts to all the children. He had lunch with all the children and posed for group photos. He also motivated the children to participate in ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign from August 13 to 15 August.

    It was told in the programme that Vendatu Group will provide education to 100 needy children of Sehore, Vidisha, Raisen through an online app. Chouhan also interacted virtually with the children of Balaghat, Jabalpur, Indore, Shivpuri districts.

  • Naga women in Nagaland, Manipur tie rakhis on Assam Rifles troopers, slammed

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: Groups of Naga women in Nagaland and Manipur are in the eye of a storm for tying rakhis on Assam Rifles personnel during the recent Raksha Bandhan celebration.    The Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA), which is Nagaland’s apex Naga women’s body, said it was a shame to witness the “questionable” act of the women when the Nagas are yet to see justice for war crimes and human rights violations allegedly committed by the armed forces.

    “The Naga women have been traumatized by a genocidal history of rapes, molestation, killings, village groupings, inhumane atrocities at the hands of Indian armed forces under the impunity of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). It is a shame and a black day to witness our women tying rakhis and felicitating these very armed forces,” the NMA said in a statement.

    The Raksha Bandhan celebrations in question were held at Dimapur in Nagaland and Tamenglong in Manipur. The BJP took the initiative at Dimapur and a students’ body at Tamenglong.

    “… It is unacceptable and questionable in the continuing violations of human rights as long as Nagas are forced to live under AFSPA in these Naga areas and without justice for the past history of human rights violations. The haunting cries of families of victims for justice in the numerous incidents over the decades are yet to be heard and justice served,” the NMA stated.

    It urged the national secretary of BJP Mahila Morcha Aienla Jamir, party’s Dimapur District Mahila Morcha chief Avi Aomi, their teams and the students’ body and the women in Tamenglong to join the Naga women instead of taking part in such “objectionable programmes”.

    “They must join Naga women if they are true Nagas who love their people and raise their voices to Government of India and central BJP leaders for repeal of the AFSPA and justice for crimes committed by the Indian armed forces, including the Assam Rifles,” it further said.

  • Women persecuted for suspected witchcraft tie rakhi on doctor who stood by them

    By Express News Service

    RAIPUR: A Raipur-based doctor and rationalist, who has been relentlessly raising his voice against the practice of women being beaten ruthlessly and socially boycotted for suspected witchcraft, was thanked by the victims a day after Raksha Bandhan.

    The women came together to tie the sacred thread ‘Raksha Sutra’ on Dr Dinesh Mishra, 56, an ophthalmologist, who also runs an organisation Andhshraddha Nirmoolan Samiti that has been campaigning against social evils for over two decades. 

    “Doctor sahab emerged as the last ray of hope for us. We all prayed for his long prosperous life and extended our gratefulness as he continued his battle against the evil practices. We are delighted to have tied rakhi on him,” the women victims stated.  

    A recipient of the Union Government’s national award for commendable efforts on promoting scientific temper in 2007, Dr Mishra began a crusade against witchcraft (also called tohni) and other inhuman social practices by holding lectures to create awareness at schools, in various social organisations and among the villagers. 

    He raised the issue at a United Nation programme in Geneva. He has not just been fighting again social evils but remains at the forefront in offering treatment and seeking rehabilitation of these victims too.