Archives for 2020

On March 27, the Centre had permitted EPFO subscribers to withdraw non-refundable advance not exceeding the basic wages and dearness allowances for three months.

NEW DELHI: Around 78 per cent of the total Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) claims during the lockdown period were made by those earning less than Rs 15,000 a month, data from the Union Labour Ministry has revealed.

According to the data, a total of 1.04 crore claims were settled during the lockdown of which around 81 lakh were of those subscribers whose monthly wage was below Rs 15,000.

On March 27, the Centre had permitted EPFO subscribers to withdraw non-refundable advance not exceeding the basic wages and dearness allowances for three months or up to 75 per cent of the amount in the members’ EPF account, whichever is less. The concession was granted due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“The subscribers were facilitated to submit online claims and the services of EPFO also has been integrated and offered through UMANG app. The entire payment to subscribers is done electronically through Nation Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT) system,” a statement from the ministry stated.

China, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, got only 27 votes and could not even cross the half-way mark and also failed to get the required majority of 28 votes.

UNITED NATIONS: In a significant victory, India got elected as Member of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, the principal global body focussed on gender equality and women empowerment, beating China in a hotly-contested election.

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is a functional commission of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

The 54-member ECOSOC, holding the first plenary meeting of its 2021 session in the General Assembly Hall on Monday, held elections for two seats in the Asia-Pacific States category with Afghanistan, India and China in the fray.

Afghanistan, which is led by Ambassador Adela Raz at the UN, garnered 39 votes and India got 38 votes of the 54 ballots cast.

China, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, got only 27 votes and could not even cross the half-way mark and also failed to get the required majority of 28 votes.

India beat China in the hotly-contested election to the prestigious UN body in the year when the 25th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, that was held in Beijing in 1995, is being commemorated around the world.

It is highly notable and telling that China lost the election to the UN’s principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and women empowerment when the silver jubilee anniversary of the landmark Beijing conference on women is being commemorated and of which China takes a lot of ownership on.

The election result is being seen as sending a strong signal about China’s own record of women’s equality and empowerment.

India’s Permanent Mission to the UN worked tirelessly for the hard-fought election, reaching out and sensitising all Member States, sources said.

India and Afghanistan will join Argentina, Austria, Dominican Republic, Israel, Latvia, Nigeria, Turkey and Zambia, which were elected by acclamation, to the Commission on the Status of Women for a four-year term beginning from 2021-2025.

India’s election win at the CSW is highly significant as it comes on the eve of India gearing up to sit at the UN Security Council high table as non-permanent member for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2021.

Former UN Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director of UN Women Lakshmi Puri congratulated the Indian Mission and Ambassador Tirumurti on the election win.

The Commission on the Status of Women is instrumental in promoting women’s rights, documenting the reality of women’s lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women.

In 1996, ECOSOC expanded the Commission’s mandate and decided that it should take a leading role in monitoring and reviewing progress and problems in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and in mainstreaming a gender perspective in UN activities.

Bachchan demanded the government to provide protection and put a ban on the unending bashing being faced by members of the film industry.

NEW DELHI: Veteran actor and Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bachchan on Tuesday charged that the film industry was being defamed and slammed those from the entertainment industry indulging in it, saying they are biting the hands that feed them.

Though Bachchan did not take any names, her remarks come a day after BJP’s Lok Sabha MP and Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishan said there was problem of drug addiction in the film industry and also actor Kangana Ranaut’s recent remarks calling Bollywood a “gutter”.

Through a Zero Hour mention in Rajya Sabha, Bachchan said the entertainment industry was being flogged by social media and asked the government to protect and support it.

Without taking names, the Samajwadi Party MP said she completely disagrees with those who called the entertainment industry a “gutter”.

“People who have made a name in this industry have called it a gutter. I completely disagree and I really disassociate,” she said.

In a reference to Kishan’s statement in Lok Sabha on the alleged Bollywood drug cartel, Bachchan said she was “really embarrassed and ashamed.”

“Jis thali mein khate hai Usme chhed karte hai. Galat baat hai,” she said referring to a popular Hindi proverb that means to bite the hands that feed you.

“I was really embarrassed and ashamed that yesterday (September 14) one of our members in the Lok Sabha, who is from the industry, spoke. I am not taking names. It is a shame,” she said.

She said the entertainment industry in the country provides direct employment to 5 lakh people daily and indirect employment to 5 million people.

“At a time when the financial situation is in a depressing state and employment rate at the worst levels, in order to divert the attention of people, we are being flogged by social media” and there is no support from the government, she said.

Bachchan said the government should come forward and support the entertainment industry.

“I hope the government tells these people who have made their earning, name and fame in this industry to stop using such language,” she said.

“There are people in the entertainment industry who are some of the highest taxpayers (in the country). They are still being harassed,” she said.

The government, she said, must stand by the entertainment industry.

“I think the government must stand by the entertainment industry because it always comes forward to help the government in whatever good work it takes up. They come and speak for them, they support them. If there is a national calamity, they come forward, they give money and their services,” she said.

“I think it is very very important that the government must support this industry and not kill it.

Just because there are few people, you cannot tarnish the image of the entire industry,” she said, adding the industry brings international name and recognition besides a base for political ambitions.

She went on to say that all kinds of promises are made to the entertainment industry but it has never got its due.

“Sir, I get very worked up and very emotional. I have too many things to say but you are not giving me enough time and opportunity,” she told Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu.

“I need protection, the industry needs the protection and support of the government,” she added.