MP govt orders probe over allegations of HIV tests on women dancers at fair
Guna (MP) (PTI): A row has erupted over the alleged testing of women dancers for HIV at an annual fair in Madhya Pradesh's Ashok Nagar district by government doctors, prompting authorities to order a probe after the National Commission of Women (NCW) took cognisance and served notice.
Gwalior Divisional Commissioner Deepak Singh, under whose jurisdiction Ashok Nagar falls, has constituted a committee to investigate the alleged incident.
"NCW has taken cognizance. Chairperson @sharmarekha has written to Collector & DM Ashoknagar to tender a written explanation of the allegation against the district administration for taking such unwarranted decision & hurting the sentiments of the women dancers," NCW tweeted.
The commission also cited a Facebook post in its tweet on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Gwalior divisional commissioner in an official communication quoted media reports saying the incident of HIV tests on dancers has tarnished the image of the administration as the NCW has sought a reply.
A three-member panel headed by Regional Director (Health Services) Dr Rakesh Chaturvedi has been constituted, he stated.
The divisional commissioner also informed that the Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) of Ashok Nagar, Dr Neeraj Chhari, has been transferred to the directorate of the Health Department in Bhopal.
An annual fair is organised on the day of Rangpanchmi, which was celebrated on March 12 this year, at Kareela in Ashok Nagar, where the temple of Goddess Seeta is located. A large number of women dancers perform traditional Rai (a Bundelkhandi dance) during this fair.
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Rare Kalyani Chalukya-era stepwell discovered in Karnataka’s Gadag district
Gadag: A centuries-old stepwell from the Kalyani Chalukya period is discovered into public in Sudi, a remote village in Karnataka’s Gadag district. The Nagakunda Pushkarani, dating to the 10th-11th century CE, is undergoing extensive restoration under the Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage’s ‘Adopt a Monument’ scheme.
The stepwell was focal point of community life and craftsmanship under the reign of Akkadevi, sister of Chalukya king Jayasimha II. It shows the dynasty’s mastery of architecture and water management. Its interior walls are carved with the precision of temple façades, setting it apart from most surviving stepwells in southern India, linking it stylistically to examples in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
After centuries of neglect left its sculptures weathered and its waters dry, the site is now being revived by the Deccan Heritage Foundation India in partnership with Heritage Matters, the Gandipet Welfare Society and the Water Literacy Foundation according to a report published by The HIndu. Work includes structural repairs, removal of invasive vegetation, dredging, stone resetting and landscaping, alongside the restoration of an adjacent mantapa with a large Ganesha idol.
Heritage architect B. Sarath Chandra noted, the project is as much about functionality as aesthetics, with water recharge efforts already underway. Funded by Gandipet Welfare Society founder Rajashree Pinnamenni, the restoration is slated for completion by late 2025, followed by a second phase linking the stepwell to the Jodu Kalasadagudi temple through landscaped pathways.
The report mentions that officials say the revival of Nagakunda Pushkarani could not only reintroduce Sudi’s Chalukya heritage to a wider audience but also serve as a model for conserving other lesser-known monuments across Karnataka.
