The secretary B Indira and sarpanch Rayapudi Mallaiah have drawn funds worth Rs 6,44,490 against the provisions using the digital key without the knowledge of deputy sarpanch A Krishnaiah
Published Date – 1 February 2024, 08:16 PM
Representational Image
Khammam: The secretary of Karralapadu gram panchayat of Penuballi mandal in the district has been suspended for misappropriation of funds and an order was issued to recover the said funds from the secretary along with the local sarpanch.
In an order issued by district Collector VP Gautham on January 30 it was said that the secretary B Indira and sarpanch Rayapudi Mallaiah have drawn funds worth Rs 6,44,490 against the provisions using the digital key without the knowledge of deputy sarpanch A Krishnaiah.
They credited Rs 1.40 lakh back to the gram panchayat (GP) account. The deputy sarpanch made a complaint to the concerned authorities. Based on the complaint, the divisional panchayat officer, Kallur conducted an enquiry into the issue and submitted a report on January 9, at the directions of the Collector.
The secretary and sarpanch were told to remit the misappropriated amount Rs 5.04 lakh to the GP account within seven days of receipt of the orders, failing which action would be initiated against them to recover the amount.
Penuballi mandal parishad development officer and the MPP president were directed to recover the said amount immediately. The secretary was also accused of not following norms in ensuring proper sanitation, compost preparation, Haritha Haram planting and nursery maintenance in the village.
“The immediate cessation of the Zionist regime’s crimes against the homeless people of Gaza is the key to establishing stability and peace in the entire region” َAmir-Abdollahian said in phone call with Haniyeh.
Admiring the Palestinian nation for their heroic resistance over the past 4 months since the Zionist Israeli regime’s aggression on Gaza, Amir-Abdollahian emphasized that “only the Palestinian nation, as the main owners of the Palestine land, have the right to decide their future, and no party can impose their will and political plans on them.”
The head of the political bureau of Hamas, for his part, presented a report on the indescribable stability of the Palestinian nation and Resistance groups in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and the plans and political initiatives proposed to stop the crimes of the Zionist regime in the Gaza Strip and the exchange of prisoners, and emphasized that the Resistance groups maintain unity and integration abd only if the highest interests of the Palestinian nation are secured, they will pay attention to the proposed initiatives.
In the phone call with Nakhala, the Iranian foreign minister also stressed the necessity of continuing Palestinian, regional and international efforts and actions to immediately stop the Zionist regime’s crimes against the homeless people of Gaza, provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people, and oppose the forced displacement of Palestinians.
He also praised the Palestinian people’s resistance and stressed again that the Palestinian people must decide their own future.
Appreciating the support of the Islamic Revolution Leader, the president, the government and the people of Iran for the cause of freedom for Palestine and the holy Quds, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad secretary general, for his part, presented a report on the heroic resistance of the Palestinian people and groups in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and emphasized that the Palestinian people and Resistance will be the final winners of the current battle, and the Zionist occupation will have no choice but to surrender to the resolve of the Palestinian people.
Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the leader of Yemen’s Ansarullah movement
The leader of Yemen’s Ansarullah movement says Washington sought China’s mediation to stop strikes by the Yemeni armed forces on Israeli-bound ships in the Red Sea.
Speaking in a televised speech broadcast from the Yemeni capital of Sana’a on Thursday, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said today the United States sees its power waning at home and overseas.
Houthi also renewed his pledge that Yemen’s anti-Israel operations will continue until the regime’s campaign of genocide in Gaza ends.
“One sign of its failure is Washington’s attempt to seek assistance from Beijing in order to mediate and persuade us to stop our operations in support of the Palestinians against Israeli ships and those associated with the Israeli enemy.”
“China knows what America is doing in Taiwan, and it knows what America has done in targeting China and imposing economic sanctions and seeking to limit its economic growth. China knows America’s hostile policies against it, and it is well aware of the extent of the American conspiracy through the Taiwan issue. Therefore, China will not involve itself in serving America or working for its interests.”
Houthi also said Israel and its Western backers must realize that they cannot break the resolve of the Yemeni people by repeated airstrikes on the Yemeni territory.
Houthi touched upon Israel’s ongoing campaign in Gaza in the wake of the January 26 ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). He said international institutions cannot make just and effective decisions regarding the crimes of Israel due to the US influence.
Houthi said the West’s moral bankruptcy is evident in their recent move to cut funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
He also slammed Arab countries for exporting goods to Israel, calling it an act of betrayal as the Palestinians are starving to death in the besieged Gaza Strip.
US and British warplanes have recently conducted several airstrikes on Yemen, targeting the capital Sana’a and several other cities in response to the pro-Palestinian strikes by the Yemeni armed forces in the Red Sea.
Since the start of the Israeli hostilities in early October, the United States and its Western allies have been providing financial and logistical support to Israel in its campaign.
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Delhi Police will tighten security in the central part of the city and adjoining areas (Representational)
New Delhi:
The Delhi Police will tighten security in the central parts of the national capital today as hundreds of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers and supporters gather to protest after its shock defeat in Chandigarh Mayoral polls. The party will protest the alleged cheating in the key polls, news agency PTI reported.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann will reportedly join the protesters.
The police, which said they have not allowed the demonstrations, have called for nearly a thousand Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel to manage the protesting AAP workers and supporters.
Personnel of the Delhi Police have been called in from three districts, including senior officials, who will be deployed. Eight companies of paramilitary forces have also been called.
The AAP said the protests have been planned outside the BJP’s headquarters on DDU Marg, near central Delhi’s ITO area. The BJP said it will launch a counter-offensive outside the AAP headquarters, also in the same area. The police may even block the road to avoid any incidents, causing major blocks and traffic snarls in the area, reported news agency PTI.
According to the police, traffic will be diverted from Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg today.
On Tuesday, in a major setback to the Congress and the AAP, the BJP swept the Chandigarh Mayoral polls.
Sky high expectations of the unemployed aspirants in Telangana fell flat on Thursday with the newly formed Congress government failed to honour its electoral promise of issuing the Group – I notification on February 1
Updated On – 1 February 2024, 08:46 PM
Hyderabad: Sky high expectations of the unemployed aspirants in Telangana fell flat on Thursday with the newly formed Congress government failed to honour its electoral promise of issuing the Group – I notification on February 1.
The Congress party in its election manifesto had promised filling up two lakh jobs within a year of coming to power. It also rolled out a ‘guaranteed’ job calendar with the Group – I notification scheduled for February 1. However, with the State government failing to meet its own deadline, there is a sense of betrayal, as prospective job aspirants now feel that the promises to fill-up Group-I posts were just props employed by the Congress party to win the assembly elections.
Fifty days after the formation of the Congress government, on January 30, the Finance department in a bit of a haste issued memo seeking vacancy status under the Group – I services from different departments. The full status of the availability of vacant posts was made available only on Wednesday evening, a day before “guaranteed” notification issuance.
According to informed sources, the Finance department, as per the details furnished by different departments, arrived at around 97 new vacancies under the Group – I category. It is expected that the Finance department would permit recruitment of these new vacancies, in addition to 503 vacancies that have already been notified by the previous BRS government.
While the TSPSC, after a nod from the Finance department, is likely to issue an addendum adding new posts to existing notification. This process, however, is quite cumbersome and a time consuming process.
In general, following a green signal from the Finance department for recruitment to recruiting agencies like the TSPSC, departments concerned place indents detailing the number of posts, qualifications, syllabus, and roster points among others details. This process takes at least 10 days to two weeks. Given the lengthy process involved, the Group – I notification might take more time.
The previous BRS government had notified 503 Group – I posts in 2022. As many as 2.33 lakh candidates registered for the examination that was held but cancelled due to paper leakage and over not taking biometric details in the exam.
Officials were directed to make preparations for the implementation of two more guarantees.
Published Date – 1 February 2024, 08:45 PM
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said on Thursday that two more of the six guarantees would be implemented soon ensuring that all the eligible people who applied in the Praja Palana programme would benefit. Officials were directed to make preparations for the implementation of two more guarantees.
Holding a review meeting with Cabinet Sub-Committee ministers and senior officials on the Praja Palana programme at the Secretariat here, the Chief Minister discussed implementation of the distribution of LPG cylinders at the subsidized price of Rs.500 to the poor, construction of Indiramma houses and the scheme for supply of 200 units of free electricity. Officials were asked to be ready with an action plan for implementation of the three guarantees, two of which were to be implemented immediately.
Enquiring about the financial requirement for implementation of each guarantee and the details of the number of beneficiaries under each scheme, the Chief Minister asked the Finance Department to allocate necessary funds for these in the budget. Another meeting would be held with the Cabinet sub-committee before the Assembly session for a final decision, he said.
The Praja Palana programme, conducted from December 28 to January 6 across the State, saw submission of 1,09,01,255 applications, witih the data entry being completed by January 12, according to an official statement. Officials said some applicants had submitted multiple applications while some did not furnish details of Aadhar and ration card numbers, following which the Chief Minister asked for a review of such applications and a field visit, if necessary, to verify the details.
Arrangements were to be made to rectify errors in the applications at MPDO offices or in the next Praja Palana programme, he said, stating that a mechanism would be developed to ensure that every eligible applicant got benefits of the schemes. He also wanted officials to make arrangements to receive applications as a continuous process. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Ministers N Uttam Kumar Reddy, D Sridhar Babu and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Chief Secretary A Santhi Kumari, DGP Ravi Gupta, Finance Special Chief Secretary Ramakrishna Rao and other senior officials were present.
It further alleged that the “innovative” methods to annihilate the peasantry invented by the Modi government are sought to be ‘hidden in the larger framework of the nationalist narrative’.
Published Date – 1 February 2024, 11:39 PM
Photo: ANI
New Delhi: The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) has criticised Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman‘s interim Budget and said that the Budget for 2024-25 has nothing substantial to offer for the rural economy and the agricultural sector.
In an official statement, the agricultural body has also called upon all its units to rise up in protest against the Budget on February 16 and mark it as ‘Grameen Bharat Bandh’.
“The Narendra Modi-led BJP Government is trying to create a fake narrative that the Union Budget 2024-25 (Interim) is “innovative and inclusive”, while the hard reality is that 2023-24 and 2024-25 would be the years with the lowest spending on agriculture and allied activities in the last five years. Even in the election year, the Union Budget 2024-25 (Interim) has nothing substantial to offer for the rural economy and the agricultural sector… Record tenth anti-farmer, anti-people Budget in a row,” it said.
AIKS further said that when compared with 2022-23, the allocation for agriculture and allied activities in the 2024-25 budget has been cut by a whopping 81 thousand crores.
“In overall allocations for agriculture and allied activities there is a decline of 22.3 per cent compared to actual expenditure in 2022-23 and 6 per cent decline vis a vis the 2023-24 revised budget,” it said.
It further alleged that the “innovative” methods to annihilate the peasantry invented by the Modi government are sought to be ‘hidden in the larger framework of the nationalist narrative’.
It also said that the budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman shows massive cuts in rural development, MGNREGA, rural employment, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, cooperation, food storage and warehousing, plantations, crop husbandry, flood control and drainage, land reforms, fertilizer subsidy, food subsidy, dairy development, soil and water conservation, irrigation, nutrition, rural roads, housing, education and health.
It also claimed that the allocation of resources for women and children, and for Scheduled Castes and Tribes, has also been cut drastically.
“There has been no allocation to ensure that the long-standing demand of the farmers for ensuring Minimum Support Prices as per the C2+50 per cent becomes a reality. The allocation for fertilizer subsidy in 2024-25 is Rs. 87339 crores less than the actual expenditure in 2022-23. The allocation for food subsidy is 67552 crores less than the actual expenditure in 2022-23,” it said.
“The anti-farmer attitude of the Modi government is seen in the fact that year after year, budgetary allocations in key areas such as fertilizer and food subsidies, as well as for important schemes such as MGNREGA, reflect the intent of the government to massively cut allocations to these crucial sectors,” AIKS added.
Taking a swipe at the BJP-led government, the All India Kisan Sabha said, “The Finance Minister has also reiterated the NDA regime’s loyalty to International Finance Capital by promising an unhindered path for finance, in the form of FDI etc.
To give it a nationalist colour and manipulate people, the Finance Minister has defined FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) as “First Develop India”; it is rather a project to Fast Drain India.
The proposal to promote private and public investment in post-harvest activities including storage, processing, and marketing is a blatant attempt to bring back the draconian Farm Acts and the rapacious corporates through the back door, which they were forced to withdraw after the historic farmers’ struggle.”
However, the government said that the Budget was presented with a focus on economic policies that foster growth, facilitate inclusive development, improve productivity, and create opportunities for various sections while noting that it will pay utmost attention to the eastern region including the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and West Bengal to make them growth engines as part of a goal to make India a developed country by 2047.
No change was proposed in the tax rates in the interim budget with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announcing that the government will form a high-powered committee for an extensive consideration of the challenges arising from fast population and that it will present a white paper on the economic performance of 10 years of BJP-led government compared to previous 10 years of Congress-led UPA government.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced on Thursday that the total number of martyrs in Gaza since the beginning of the aggression on the territory have risen to 27,019 and the number of wounded to 66,139.
The ministry further noted that the occupying Zionist regime committed 15 mass killings and other crimes in the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours, killing 118 people and injuring 190 others.
The Israeli regime waged a bloody war against the Gaza Strip on October 7 after the Palestinian Resistance movement Hamas carried out a retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity for its atrocities against Palestinians.
Tens of thousands of passengers have been grounded as airport security personnel throughout Germany, including the international hub Frankfurt, have walked off the job to demand better wages.
At least 1,100 flights were cancelled across 11 airports throughout the country Thursday after a 24-hour walk-out was called by the labor union Verdi which affected more than 200,000 passengers, marking an industrial action which adds to the ongoing challenges faced by Europe’s largest economy.
So far, in Frankfurt, Germany’s largest airport, 310 out of around 1,120 scheduled flights have been canceled, and have advised passengers to not come to the airport as the security checkpoints were closed.
The other affected airports by the walkout called by the union included Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen, Hanover, Cologne, Duesseldorf, Leipzig, Dresden, Erfurt and Stuttgart.
Verdi stated that it aims to reimburse its members for the decline in purchasing power caused by the significant inflation.
The labor union has demanded a pay increase of 2.80 euros ($3.04) per hour along with improved compensation for overtime throughout 12 months, representing the interests of 25,000 employees in the industry.
The strike warning was declared by Verdi earlier this week following the unsuccessful outcome of the third round of collective bargaining negotiations with the Federal Association of Aviation Security Companies (BDLS).
According to Frank Haindl, the lead negotiator for the employers association BDLS, the demands put forth by Verdi would result in an additional expenditure of approximately 250 million euros for the companies involved, solely in the year 2024.
Germany, the fourth largest economy in the world after the United States, China and Japan and the largest economy in Europe, has been hit by a wave of strikes in recent weeks.
The association of German airport operators ADV also flagged the strikes’ detrimental effect on the economy.
The detrimental impact of the strikes on the economy was also highlighted by the Association of German Airport Operators, ADV.
“In Germany, we see strike announcements almost daily to the detriment of mobility and the economy. This must be stopped,” ADV general manager, Ralph Beisel said.
Last week, German train drivers staged a five-day strike following a week-long nationwide protest by German farmers who had blocked the country’s roads.
The upcoming industrial action on Friday is expected to bring public transport to a standstill throughout the country.
