Sensitise male staff on female colleagues' dignity: Maneka to Air India
New Delhi, Aug 24 : Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi on Friday requested Air India (AI) to sensitize its male employees so that the women employees do not feel threatened or insecure in any manner.
Gandhi's reaction came after she reviewed the progress of cases of sexual harassment in Air India.
In May this year, an Air India employee wrote to Union Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu alleging sexual harassment by a senior executive. Later, Gandhi also stepped in and asked the AI head of Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) to complete the inquiry.
The Minister also met officials from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Civil Aviation Ministry and the airline's CMD, and urged the staff of various airlines, both public and private, to remain sensitive to the dignity of women colleagues.
The Ministry further added that many more cases of sexual harassment pertaining to private airlines too have emerged which have been forwarded to the Civil Aviation Ministry.
"Along with the cases of sexual harassment, some women employees also tend to file complaints of administrative nature under the garb of sexual harassment. It is important for the ICC to very quickly dispose of these cases," Gandhi said.
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Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
