Job opportunities for sexual minorities
Manufacturing unit at Krishi Vignana Kendra: Dr Shivakumar Magada
Mangaluru, June 6: Krishi Vignana Kendra (KVK) head Dr Shivakumar Magada said that steps would be taken to set up manufacturing unit on the premises of KVK to help the sexual minorities build a respectful life by taking up agriculture related self employment opportunities.
Speaking at a workshop on conducting skills development training programme under the Parivarthana Trust for the sexual minorities, at the zilla panchayat hall here on Wednesday, he said that people could take up dairy farming, mushroom farming, manufacturing of agriculture related products, bakery products, fishiculture and other self employments without any investment and education qualification.
At this moment, sexual minority community member Sanjana said that they were finding it difficult to given even the rent for the houses. Moreover, they were not getting the rented houses in the city because of some social stigma. Then how can they start self employment, the member asked.
Responding to it, Shivakumar said that if the sexual minorities came forward, he would make arrangement for manufacturing unit on the premises of the KVK. They could also stay there during their training. The KVK would make arrangement for capital investment required for some raw materials. They could make their products in their own ‘Parivarthan’ brand and sell them, he said.
He said that the state government has introduced Saviruchi Kaituttu Canteen exclusively for women and it has good demand. Sexual minorities who are interested in cooking could involve themselves in it, he said.
But another sexual minority member said that “We can prepare good and tasty food. But who will take our food. When the society is still keeping us away from the mainstream, what is the use of preparing tasty food”, the member said.
Saviruchi canteen
Shivakumar said that the state government had introduced Saviruchi canteen which has good demand. Sexual minorities could involve and take up the responsibility of the canteens, he said.
But a member from the sexual minority community said that “we can prepare good and tasty food with cleanliness. Who will take our food? When the society is not in a position to accept us, who will take our food and what is the use of preparing food”, the member asked.
But Zilla Panchayat project officer Lokesh said that the food prepared by the sexual minorities could be taken for government sponsored programmes. Let the change begin from the government side, he advised.
Rudseti director James D’Souza, Lead Bank manager Francis, woman and child welfare department deputy director Sundara Poojary, KGTTI staff Megha and Priya explained about the various employment schemes.
‘Treat us like others’
“Everybody talks that the society has changed, perception of the people is changed towards us and we should come to the mainstream of the society. I have learnt beautician course and working as a beautician. But a few days ago, when I was with my friends in one night, police have come and forced me to become nude and assaulted me”, another member said.
“We like to live with you people. Even then, we are being separated as sexual minorities. Are we not looking like women? If the same assault was happened on a woman, what would be the response of the society? Why do you separate us? Treat us like you people and allow us to live like others in the society”, she said.
Parivarthana Trust head Violet Pereira, and more than 20 sexual minorities participated in the workshop.
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HC dismisses Abu Salem’s plea seeking immediate release after completing '25 years' in jail
Mumbai (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Wednesday dismissed gangster Abu Salem’s plea for immediate release, claiming he had served 25 years in jail in India mandated under the terms of his extradition from Portugal.
In his plea, Salem had contended that if remission for good behaviour is included, then his 25-year jail term is complete and hence he ought to be freed.
A bench of Justices A S Gadkari and Kamal Khata said it cannot hold that the 25-year jail term is complete, as it would be premature to say anything at this stage on the point of remission.
The court relied on a Supreme Court judgment wherein it was held that remission of a prisoner would need to be calculated a month before the applicant’s release.
“Therefore, the present petition (filed by Salem) is dismissed,” the court said.
A copy of the detailed order is yet to be made available.
Salem’s plea, filed through advocate Farhana Shah, had said that when he was extradited from Portugal in 2005, India had assured that he would not be handed over the death penalty in any case and that he would not be imprisoned for more than 25 years.
The government had opposed his plea, noting that Salem has spent only 19 years in jail and that a decision on his premature release was pending.
Salem was convicted in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts case and sentenced to life imprisonment.
