According to data submitted by the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) to India's Supreme Court in 2015, the country has at least 31 lakh registered NGOs.

The number is more than double the number of schools in the country and 250 times the number of government hospitals and it means India has one NGO for every 400 people as against one policeman for more than 700 people.

Less than 10 per cent of NGOs have complied with the rules and more than 90 per cent did not submit their balance sheets. They are supposed to submit statements with the registrar of societies but they did not.

There is an urgent need for regulation especially for those which get funds from outside India. According to a report, India has more than 21,000 foreign-funded NGOs. An amendment to India's Foreign Contribution Regulation Act(FCRA) is awaiting presidential nod.

For decades, governments have been trying to knit together balanced rules to check the misuse of foreign funding because there is no such thing as a free lunch. While the role of civil society is crucial to the functioning of a democracy, foreign funding, if unchecked, can hamper the country's sovereignty.

This is where a balanced rule comes in and in its absence, India has had to resort to ad hoc crackdowns. NGOs have always played a big role in India be it in development or disaster relief but many of them have misused their influence to sell foreign narratives, push vested interests and promote religious conversion.

Recently, India suspended FCRA clearance for four Christian NGOs. Since 2014, India has cancelled the FCRA licence of 14,800 NGOs. In 2015 alone, 10,000 licences were cancelled among them were Ford Foundation, Greenpeace and Human Rights Advocacy group - lawyers collective.

In 2017, Michael Bloomberg's NGO Bloomberg Philanthropies was under the government's scanner. The NGO was accused of running a campaign to target Indian tobacco businesses. It was apparently lobbying against the sector.

Critics have often looked at these cases as India's crackdown on dissent. Earlier this year, India's apex court had said that the government of India cannot deprive NGOs of their right to receive foreign money but in the very same ruling, the Supreme Court of India said that organisations with "avowed political objectives in their memorandum of associations or bye-laws, cannot be permitted &nbsp;to access foreign funding."

Between 1993 and 2012, 39 countries enacted laws to restrict funding of foreign NGOs and these were developing countries. Hungary recently approved a law that made foreign-funded NGOs declare their foreign status on websites and promotional material.&nbsp;

Egypt, Russia, Israel and some other countries have similar laws and then we have China which has Gongos which are government organised NGOs which in other words are sitting oxymorons. India cannot have that it is a democracy. So it must regulate actively and balance transparency and internal security with dissent, foreign money cannot be allowed to influence policy and political discourse in India.

According to data submitted by the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) to India's Supreme Court in 2015, the country has at least 31 lakh registered NGOs. The number is more than double the number of schools in the country and 250 times the number of government hospitals and it means India has one NGO for every 400 people as against one policeman for more than 700 people.

According to data submitted by the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) to India's Supreme Court in 2015, the country has at least 31 lakh registered NGOs. The number is more than double the number of schools in the country and 250 times the number of government hospitals and it means India has one NGO for every 400 people as against one policeman for more than 700 people. Less than 10 per cent of NGOs have complied with the rules and more than 90 per cent did not submit their balance sheets. They are supposed to submit statements with the registrar of societies but they did not. There is an urgent need for regulation especially for those which get funds from outside India. According to a report, India has more than 21,000 foreign-funded NGOs. An amendment to India's Foreign Contribution Regulation Act(FCRA) is awaiting presidential nod. For decades, governments have been trying to knit together balanced rules to check the misuse of foreign funding because there is no such thing as a free lunch. While the role of civil society is crucial to the functioning of a democracy, foreign funding, if unchecked, can hamper the country's sovereignty. This is where a balanced rule comes in and in its absence, India has had to resort to ad hoc crackdowns. NGOs have always played a big role in India be it in development or disaster relief but many of them have misused their influence to sell foreign narratives, push vested interests and promote religious conversion. Recently, India suspended FCRA clearance for four Christian NGOs. Since 2014, India has cancelled the FCRA licence of 14,800 NGOs. In 2015 alone, 10,000 licences were cancelled among them were Ford Foundation, Greenpeace and Human Rights Advocacy group - lawyers collective. In 2017, Michael Bloomberg's NGO Bloomberg Philanthropies was under the government's scanner. The NGO was accused of running a campaign to target Indian tobacco businesses. It was apparently lobbying against the sector. Critics have often looked at these cases as India's crackdown on dissent. Earlier this year, India's apex court had said that the government of India cannot deprive NGOs of their right to receive foreign money but in the very same ruling, the Supreme Court of India said that organisations with "avowed political objectives in their memorandum of associations or bye-laws, cannot be permitted to access foreign funding." Between 1993 and 2012, 39 countries enacted laws to restrict funding of foreign NGOs and these were developing countries. Hungary recently approved a law that made foreign-funded NGOs declare their foreign status on websites and promotional material. Egypt, Russia, Israel and some other countries have similar laws and then we have China which has Gongos which are government organised NGOs which in other words are sitting oxymorons. India cannot have that it is a democracy. So it must regulate actively and balance transparency and internal security with dissent, foreign money cannot be allowed to influence policy and political discourse in India.

Why regulation is needed to monitor foreign funding in NGOs

On 5th June or World Environment Day, Hong Kong's NGO recycled the leftover soaps and then distributed them to poor or needy people.

On World Environment Day, Hong Kong's NGO recycles leftover soaps, distributes to poor

Robert Pattinson is all praises for his friend and fans who contributed to raising funds for Go Campaign, a California based NGO that raises awareness and funds to help vulnerable children.

"It's amazing," Pattinson told Variety on the black carpet outside Neuehouse in Hollywood at the Go Campaign's annual gala.&nbsp; 
 
<iframe data-google-container-id="4" data-load-complete="true" frameborder="0" height="1" id="google_ads_iframe_/6516239/outofpage_1x1_desktop_0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="google_ads_iframe_/6516239/outofpage_1x1_desktop_0" scrolling="no" srcdoc="" title="3rd party ad content" width="1"></iframe>"And they've done it every year. It's kind of -- it's so sweet and I think it's a great organisation. That's why I'm kind of trying to promote it," he continued.

The actor on Saturday himself gave away a total of $&nbsp;150,000 for relief of the migrant children and over $&nbsp;200,000 to combat gun violence.&nbsp;The 'Twilight' star joined the Go Campaign back in 2015, after which his fans contributed more than $&nbsp;100,000.

"Two years ago, I brought a dear friend who has since helped fund a vocational trade school for students in Tanzania. 
 
Last year, one of my guests, after learning about an orphanage in Mexico that didn't have heat, built a furnace for the winter," Pattinson said onstage.

"Tonight I've brought a group of friends that I'm very expectant of let's see what they get. One of the most impactful people I brought was Lily Collins who came a few years ago and became the Go campaign's first female ambassador," Pattinson continued while showcasing footage from the Collins who thanked him for the life-changing invite from working on set in Paris.

Robert Pattinson is all praises for his friend and fans who contributed to raising funds for Go Campaign, a California based NGO that raises awareness and funds to help vulnerable children.

Robert Pattinson is all praises for his friend and fans who contributed to raising funds for Go Campaign, a California based NGO that raises awareness and funds to help vulnerable children. "It's amazing," Pattinson told Variety on the black carpet outside Neuehouse in Hollywood at the Go Campaign's annual gala. "And they've done it every year. It's kind of -- it's so sweet and I think it's a great organisation. That's why I'm kind of trying to promote it," he continued. The actor on Saturday himself gave away a total of $ 150,000 for relief of the migrant children and over $ 200,000 to combat gun violence. The 'Twilight' star joined the Go Campaign back in 2015, after which his fans contributed more than $ 100,000. "Two years ago, I brought a dear friend who has since helped fund a vocational trade school for students in Tanzania. Last year, one of my guests, after learning about an orphanage in Mexico that didn't have heat, built a furnace for the winter," Pattinson said onstage. "Tonight I've brought a group of friends that I'm very expectant of let's see what they get. One of the most impactful people I brought was Lily Collins who came a few years ago and became the Go campaign's first female ambassador," Pattinson continued while showcasing footage from the Collins who thanked him for the life-changing invite from working on set in Paris.

Robert Pattinson appreciates fans for raising funds for Go Campaign

What started as a Facebook post during a wave of mass protests in Russia eight years ago has turned into a rights group that helps arrested demonstrators one in increasing demand as police crackdown hard on opposition rallies.

What started as a Facebook post during a wave of mass protests in Russia eight years ago has turned into a rights group that helps arrested demonstrators one in increasing demand as police crackdown hard on opposition rallies. OVD-Info, which has around 27 staff, more than 300 volunteers and a small office in Moscow, is the first port of call for those detained by police at protests. The group has a 24-hour hotline, a large team of lawyers and is seen as a reliable source for the number of overall arrests at events The group started in December 2011, when two young Muscovites were looking for their friends who had been detained at rallies against Vladimir Putin's planned return to the Kremlin after a term as prime minister. The two men, Grigory Okhotin and Daniil Beilinson, scoured police stations and wrote up a list of the detainees that they posted on Facebook. It was the first of many posts by OVD-Info, whose name derives from an abbreviation for the police station. Eight years on, the NGO says it aims to make sure no one faces the vagaries of the Russian criminal justice system alone. The group has been in the spotlight over the last month, as some 3,000 people have been detained at ongoing Moscow protests calling for fair local elections. Out of these, 13 face serious criminal charges for allegedly organising "mass disorder" and violence against police. "All the same, I can assure you that they were protesting peacefully," said 54-year-old Alla Frolova, the group's legal coordinator. Confusing procedures During and after a protest, OVD-Info is the first number to call for those detained. It notes the police stations where those arrested are heading to and sends lawyers. The NGO tries to deploy lawyers promptly, as police stations in the country are known for their confusing procedures and the risk of violence against detainees. "They do hide some things from us because the law gets broken many times," said Frolova, who nevertheless stresses that the group seeks dialogue with police. One of those to receive assistance from the NGO recently was Moscow student Alexander Finiarel, 24, who was detained at demonstrations on July 27 and August 3. OVD-Info provided him with a lawyer free of charge after his friends reported him to the group as among the detained. "OVD-Info gave us some advice on the right way to behave with the police. And they calmed us down, basically," said Finiarel. "We had a sense that they were looking out for us and helping us." The NGO, whose staff are mainly in their 20s and 30s, uses social media and a chat on the Telegram messenger service to gain information on detentions and post updates. The group is part of a "new generation of rights activists," says Frolova even if one of its major donors is a long-running Russian rights group Memorial, which documents Soviet-era persecutions as well as highlighting current abuses. Psychological help Frolova was in court on Wednesday to watch a case against Konstantin Kotov, an activist who risks five years in jail for breaking various laws around holding protests. Kotov has a free lawyer provided by OVD-Info, Maria Eismont. Eismont is a former journalist who retrained as a lawyer. The recent wave of detentions has kept her busy. "As soon as I get home before I have time to drink a glass of wine, they're calling me," she said with a smile. She goes to help detainees at police stations and later represents them in court. "This is a political battle, not a legal one... I'm not naive and I know the verdict isn't decided here (in court). But in any case, all the documents have to be here." "Afterwards there's always the chance of winning at the European Court of Human Rights." When cases have gone through courts in Russia, the NGO says it files as many appeals as possible with the European court. OVD-Info also receives a grant from the rights watchdog Council of Europe which accounted for almost 35 per cent of its budget last year. The rest comes from donations and fundraising. After the protests began this summer, OVD-Info says it received more than 100,000 euros in donations in July, a record. Leonid Drabkin, 27, who is in charge of fundraising, says that such generosity is hardly surprising. "When you're a light in the darkness, people are bound to trust you."

For Russia's detained protesters, rights group is first on the scene

Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said on Tuesday he was working to prevent two rescue ships operated by French and Spanish charities from bringing more than 500 migrants to Italy in the latest Mediterranean stand-off.

Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said on Tuesday he was working to prevent two rescue ships operated by French and Spanish charities from bringing more than 500 migrants to Italy in the latest Mediterranean stand-off. The Ocean Viking, which is run by French non-governmental groups (NGOs) Doctors Without Borders and SOS Mediterranee, has picked up some 356 migrants off the coast of Libya since Friday, while Spanish boat Open Arms has saved some 160 people. Both vessels are in the central Mediterranean, within easy sailing distance of the Italian island of Lampedusa and are seeking a safe port to disembark the mainly African migrants. But Salvini, the leader of the far-right League who has seen his popularity in Italy soar since he took office last year and launched a fierce anti-immigration crackdown, said on Tuesday the boats were not Rome's problem. "I am at work in the ministry this morning to prevent more than 500 migrants from disembarking from two NGO boats, one French and one Spanish," Salvini wrote on Facebook. "I will let you know how this ends. I will not give up." Earlier this month, Salvini introduced a new law hiking fines for ships that enter Italian waters without authorisation to up to 1 million euros ($1.12 million). It also provides for the arrest of captains who ignore orders to stay away and calls on naval authorities to seize their boats automatically. Buoyed by his success in the polls, Salvini is looking to trigger an early election in the autumn by bringing down the Italian government, confident he would emerge as prime minister from any new vote. As such, a high-profile clash with foreign charities will bolster his anti-migrant credentials. UN alarm Salvini said Libya had offered to take back the migrants aboard the Ocean Viking and said Open Arms should go to Spain. Doctors Without Borders has ruled out taking migrants to violence-plagued Libya, saying migrants are routinely tortured and abused there. Open Arms has called for the European Union to coordinate the re-distribution of the migrants around the bloc. The United Nations refugee agency called on European governments to intervene, warning that storms were approaching. "To leave people who have fled war and violence in Libya on the high seas in this weather would be to inflict suffering upon suffering," said Vincent Cochetel, UNHCR Special Envoy for the Central Mediterranean. "They must be immediately allowed to dock, and allowed to receive much-needed humanitarian aid." Spain said Italy should deal with immediate care. "International law states that a rescue takes place in the closest safe port. Without a doubt, right now that means Italy. If it was us, we would do it," Spain's acting development minister Jose Luis Abalos told Telecinco television on Tuesday. However, he also said Europe needed to forge a "wider" policy to handle migrant arrivals from Africa. Italy has taken in more than 600,000 boat migrants since 2014, but new arrivals have fallen sharply over the past two years, with the decline accelerating over the past year. Latest figures say 4,265 migrants have reached Italy so far in 2019, down 78 per cent on the same period in 2018 and down 96 per cent on 2017 levels.

In a new migrant standoff, Italy's Salvini blocks two NGO boats

Forty-two bonded labourers, including children, were rescued from two wood cutting units on the same day from Kancheepuram and Vellore districts of Tamil Nadu. After a tip-off from an NGO, sub collectors of Kancheepuram and Vellore visited the spots and were shocked to see the reality.

Twenty-eight people including nineteen children from eight families were rescued from Kancheepuram after the bonded labourers association informed the district authorities.

Among the pictures and videos that were in circulation from rescue, the most moving was that of a frail-looking senior citizen falling on the feet of the officials, ostensibly for having rescued the labourers and their families.&nbsp;

The families were subjected to bonded labour for allegedly two to 15 years after they borrowed amounts in cash ranging from Rs 9,000 to Rs 25,000 rupees.

The families accused the owner of starving them and their children and fell on the authorities legs to save them.

In one the videos, a rescued woman recounted&nbsp;the inhuman treatment meted out and saying&nbsp;to the officials, "The torture was such that they didn't even provide us food before going for work in the morning. We had to often appease our hunger by drinking water. Our kids aspired to study in schools but they were not allowed to.. the person who is responsible for this inhuman treatment meted out to us is Nataraj. He has his meals on time and takes rest, while we toil hard without food. Few others who were bonded labourers here ran away unable to tolerate the ill-treatment. He barely pays us Rs 100 or 200."&nbsp;

In another video, a lady official is seen questioning the alleged perpetrator of the crime. On being questioned by the district officials the man who held the labourers captive said:&nbsp;"I am taking care of them,&nbsp;they have been working here only for a week or so."

When asked about whose land it is, he declared the&nbsp;"the land belongs to a person in Chennai and we have been asked to take care and cut the wood, the wood is later sold to rice mills and other factories".

All have been rescued and an investigation has been initiated against the owner.

Forty-two bonded labourers, including children, were rescued from two wood cutting units on the same day from Kancheepuram and Vellore districts of Tamil Nadu. After a tip-off from an NGO, sub collectors of Kancheepuram and Vellore visited the spots and were shocked to see the reality.

Forty-two bonded labourers, including children, were rescued from two wood cutting units on the same day from Kancheepuram and Vellore districts of Tamil Nadu. After a tip-off from an NGO, sub collectors of Kancheepuram and Vellore visited the spots and were shocked to see the reality. Twenty-eight people including nineteen children from eight families were rescued from Kancheepuram after the bonded labourers association informed the district authorities. Among the pictures and videos that were in circulation from rescue, the most moving was that of a frail-looking senior citizen falling on the feet of the officials, ostensibly for having rescued the labourers and their families. The families were subjected to bonded labour for allegedly two to 15 years after they borrowed amounts in cash ranging from Rs 9,000 to Rs 25,000 rupees. The families accused the owner of starving them and their children and fell on the authorities legs to save them. In one the videos, a rescued woman recounted the inhuman treatment meted out and saying to the officials, "The torture was such that they didn't even provide us food before going for work in the morning. We had to often appease our hunger by drinking water. Our kids aspired to study in schools but they were not allowed to.. the person who is responsible for this inhuman treatment meted out to us is Nataraj. He has his meals on time and takes rest, while we toil hard without food. Few others who were bonded labourers here ran away unable to tolerate the ill-treatment. He barely pays us Rs 100 or 200." In another video, a lady official is seen questioning the alleged perpetrator of the crime. On being questioned by the district officials the man who held the labourers captive said: "I am taking care of them, they have been working here only for a week or so." When asked about whose land it is, he declared the "the land belongs to a person in Chennai and we have been asked to take care and cut the wood, the wood is later sold to rice mills and other factories". All have been rescued and an investigation has been initiated against the owner.

Bonded labourers rescued from two Tamil Nadu districts; families complain of inhuman treatment, torture

India Sides With Israel & Votes Against Palestinian NGO In UN's ECOSOC. After Decades Of Endorsing The Two-nation Theory In Israel-Palestine Conflict, India Favours Israel Over Palestine At The United Nation's ECOSOC. Is There Merit In India's Decision? What Does This Mean For India? How Has The Indo-Israel Relationship Evolved Under Modi? Is Hugplomacy Working?

Gravitas: India Favours Israel Over Palestine

One school in northeast India has taken a novel approach to address the scourge of plastic waste by making its collection a condition of free attendance. Every week the 110 pupils at the Akshar Forum school outside Dispur in Assam state must bring up to 20 items of plastic gathered from their homes and the local area.

School in Assam demands waste plastic as 'fees'

The Italian interior minister on Tuesday again rejected authorizing the docking of a ship belonging to a German NGO with 33 migrants on board who were recently rescued in the central Mediterranean.

Matteo Salvini said that Italy has previously allowed 700,000 people to land, but now other countries, such as Germany, Spain, the Netherlands or France, should, in turn, contribute to this issue.

The non-profit, Sea-Watch, once again requested a port to dock and appealed for help from the German government, while weather conditions were worsening and the ship was still waiting for a country to take charge of the 33 rescued people, including 3 teenagers, 3 children and 4 women.

The rescued migrants come mostly from Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria and Libya, according to the NGO.

For the time being, the Sea-Watch 3 vessel remained in the rescue zone of Malta, which has yet to authorize the landing.

The Italian interior minister on Tuesday again rejected authorizing the docking of a ship belonging to a German NGO with 33 migrants on board who were recently rescued in the central Mediterranean.

The Italian interior minister on Tuesday again rejected authorizing the docking of a ship belonging to a German NGO with 33 migrants on board who were recently rescued in the central Mediterranean. Matteo Salvini said that Italy has previously allowed 700,000 people to land, but now other countries, such as Germany, Spain, the Netherlands or France, should, in turn, contribute to this issue. The non-profit, Sea-Watch, once again requested a port to dock and appealed for help from the German government, while weather conditions were worsening and the ship was still waiting for a country to take charge of the 33 rescued people, including 3 teenagers, 3 children and 4 women. The rescued migrants come mostly from Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria and Libya, according to the NGO. For the time being, the Sea-Watch 3 vessel remained in the rescue zone of Malta, which has yet to authorize the landing.

Italy refuses port to NGO vessel with 33 rescued migrants on board

At least 13 Nepalese women, who were allegedly being trafficked on the pretext of jobs, were rescued from hotels in India by an NGO and have been brought back to the country.

Maiti India, an NGO has brought eight women from Bangalore and five from Ahmedabad to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-student-bus-plunges-inro-gorge-23-dead-185781">Kathmandu </a>on Tuesday, Balkrishna Pandey, a representative of the organisation, said.

The Nepalese women aged between 17 and 40 were rescued from various places, including hotels in India.&nbsp;

These women were taken by brokers to different parts of Indian cities in the pretext of providing them with attractive jobs, according to Pandey.&nbsp;

The women have been handed over to the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police, Pandey told PTI.

Annually tens of thousands of Nepalese women are being flown mainly to India with the promise of lucrative jobs.&nbsp;

At least 13 Nepalese women, who were allegedly being trafficked on the pretext of jobs, were rescued from hotels in India by an NGO and have been brought back to the country.

At least 13 Nepalese women, who were allegedly being trafficked on the pretext of jobs, were rescued from hotels in India by an NGO and have been brought back to the country. Maiti India, an NGO has brought eight women from Bangalore and five from Ahmedabad to Kathmandu on Tuesday, Balkrishna Pandey, a representative of the organisation, said. The Nepalese women aged between 17 and 40 were rescued from various places, including hotels in India. These women were taken by brokers to different parts of Indian cities in the pretext of providing them with attractive jobs, according to Pandey. The women have been handed over to the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police, Pandey told PTI. Annually tens of thousands of Nepalese women are being flown mainly to India with the promise of lucrative jobs.

At least 13 Nepalese women rescued from India

Pakistan's expulsion of 18 international aid agencies will hurt 11 million aid recipients in a South Asian nation grappling with perilously low standards of education and healthcare, two Western diplomats said on Tuesday.

Affected NGOs include World Vision, Pathfinder, Plan International, Trocaire and Saferworld, while another group, ActionAid, last week said it was closing offices and laying off staff after the government told it to halt operations and leave.

Pakistan's interior ministry confirmed it had rejected the appeals of 18 NGOs that had been allowed to continue operations while their appeals were being reviewed, but declined to give further details.

Aid groups and western diplomats have criticised a lack of transparency in the process of expulsion and the review of appeals by the aid agencies, saying they crimped humanitarian work.

"It is as appalling as it is inexplicable that the government has decided to deprive 11 million of its own people of much-needed support with no apparent reason," a Western diplomat told Reuters, asking not to be identified.

The interior ministry did not immediately respond to the diplomats' comments, instead referring Reuters to a statement by Pakistan's foreign office last month.

In its Nov. 15 statement, the foreign office said policies regarding international aid groups were "fully aligned" with nationally determined development priorities and needs, and that Islamabad appreciated the assistance provided by donor agencies.

"Representatives of all 18 INGOs were given the right to appeal and the opportunity to provide additional details and discuss mutual concerns," it added.

"As for shrinking space, the evidence is contrary to assertions. Out of 141 that applied for registration since October 2015, applications of 74 INGOs have been approved."

A total of 27 international NGOs received expulsion orders late last year, but 18 appealed. Most of the affected groups worked on human rights and advocacy issues.

This week's expulsion orders come amid complaints by Pakistani journalists about growing curbs on media freedom, though Islamabad has clamped down on foreign-funded aid groups for years.

"The international community is disappointed by the recent forced closures of a number of international NGOs," another Western diplomat told Reuters.

"We have consistently expressed our concern to the government and continue to urge a clear and transparent process to ensure INGOs can operate effectively in Pakistan or understand the reasons for their eviction."

Pakistan's expulsion of 18 international aid agencies will hurt 11 million aid recipients in a South Asian nation grappling with perilously low standards of education and healthcare, two Western diplomats said on Tuesday.

Pakistan's expulsion of 18 international aid agencies will hurt 11 million aid recipients in a South Asian nation grappling with perilously low standards of education and healthcare, two Western diplomats said on Tuesday. Affected NGOs include World Vision, Pathfinder, Plan International, Trocaire and Saferworld, while another group, ActionAid, last week said it was closing offices and laying off staff after the government told it to halt operations and leave. Pakistan's interior ministry confirmed it had rejected the appeals of 18 NGOs that had been allowed to continue operations while their appeals were being reviewed, but declined to give further details. Aid groups and western diplomats have criticised a lack of transparency in the process of expulsion and the review of appeals by the aid agencies, saying they crimped humanitarian work. "It is as appalling as it is inexplicable that the government has decided to deprive 11 million of its own people of much-needed support with no apparent reason," a Western diplomat told Reuters, asking not to be identified. The interior ministry did not immediately respond to the diplomats' comments, instead referring Reuters to a statement by Pakistan's foreign office last month. In its Nov. 15 statement, the foreign office said policies regarding international aid groups were "fully aligned" with nationally determined development priorities and needs, and that Islamabad appreciated the assistance provided by donor agencies. "Representatives of all 18 INGOs were given the right to appeal and the opportunity to provide additional details and discuss mutual concerns," it added. "As for shrinking space, the evidence is contrary to assertions. Out of 141 that applied for registration since October 2015, applications of 74 INGOs have been approved." A total of 27 international NGOs received expulsion orders late last year, but 18 appealed. Most of the affected groups worked on human rights and advocacy issues. This week's expulsion orders come amid complaints by Pakistani journalists about growing curbs on media freedom, though Islamabad has clamped down on foreign-funded aid groups for years. "The international community is disappointed by the recent forced closures of a number of international NGOs," another Western diplomat told Reuters. "We have consistently expressed our concern to the government and continue to urge a clear and transparent process to ensure INGOs can operate effectively in Pakistan or understand the reasons for their eviction."

Pakistan's aid group clampdown could hit 11 million people: Diplomats

Italian magistrates on Tuesday accused the Doctors without Borders (MSF) charity of illegally dumping toxic waste at ports in southern Italy in what MSF said was an attempt to halt migrant rescue efforts by other means.

Magistrates ordered the MSF-operated ship Aquarius, which has saved thousands of migrants since 2016, to be impounded but the charity denied any wrongdoing and accused Italy of seeking to criminalise humanitarian search and rescue missions.

The Aquarius has been blocked at the French port of Marseilles since September, after failing to find a country willing to register its trips to the southern Mediterranean.

It was not immediately clear if French authorities would impound the ship.

The public prosecutor's office in Catania, Sicily, said it believed crew on the Aquarius, and its sister ship VOS Prudence, had illegally dumped potentially dangerous medical waste among ordinary rubbish between January, 2017 and May, 2018.

It said in a statement 24,000 kg (52,900 lb) of suspect waste, including potentially hazardous medical matter, was handed over to local authorities at 11 ports in Italy.

By failing to declare possibly dangerous materials, the ships' operators avoided about 460,000 euros (US $526,000) of waste disposal costs, prosecutors said. They ordered that this sum be immediately frozen in the accounts of the charities.

Some 24 people, including two Italian shipping agents, have been placed under preliminary investigation in the case, prosecutors said.

MSF and SOS Mediterranee, which works alongside MSF, said they had always followed standard procedures when disposing of waste after trips looking for migrants off the coast of Libya.

"This is an extreme, worrying effort to stop at all costs our search and rescue activity in the sea," Karline Kleijer, head of emergencies at MSF, said in a statement.

The SOS Mediterranee charity called on France to "show restraint" in the face of the Italian investigation.

The Italian government has led a crackdown against Mediterranean rescue ships since taking office in June, denying them access to local ports following the arrival of almost 650,000 people from North Africa since 2014.

Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, who heads the far-right League party, welcomed Tuesday's move by Catania magistrates.

"I did well to block the NGO ships. I stopped not only the traffic of illegal immigrants but, from what it seems, also that of toxic waste," he added.

Italian magistrates on Tuesday accused the Doctors without Borders (MSF) charity of illegally dumping toxic waste at ports in southern Italy in what MSF said was an attempt to halt migrant rescue efforts by other means.

Italian magistrates on Tuesday accused the Doctors without Borders (MSF) charity of illegally dumping toxic waste at ports in southern Italy in what MSF said was an attempt to halt migrant rescue efforts by other means. Magistrates ordered the MSF-operated ship Aquarius, which has saved thousands of migrants since 2016, to be impounded but the charity denied any wrongdoing and accused Italy of seeking to criminalise humanitarian search and rescue missions. The Aquarius has been blocked at the French port of Marseilles since September, after failing to find a country willing to register its trips to the southern Mediterranean. It was not immediately clear if French authorities would impound the ship. The public prosecutor's office in Catania, Sicily, said it believed crew on the Aquarius, and its sister ship VOS Prudence, had illegally dumped potentially dangerous medical waste among ordinary rubbish between January, 2017 and May, 2018. It said in a statement 24,000 kg (52,900 lb) of suspect waste, including potentially hazardous medical matter, was handed over to local authorities at 11 ports in Italy. By failing to declare possibly dangerous materials, the ships' operators avoided about 460,000 euros (US $526,000) of waste disposal costs, prosecutors said. They ordered that this sum be immediately frozen in the accounts of the charities. Some 24 people, including two Italian shipping agents, have been placed under preliminary investigation in the case, prosecutors said. MSF and SOS Mediterranee, which works alongside MSF, said they had always followed standard procedures when disposing of waste after trips looking for migrants off the coast of Libya. "This is an extreme, worrying effort to stop at all costs our search and rescue activity in the sea," Karline Kleijer, head of emergencies at MSF, said in a statement. The SOS Mediterranee charity called on France to "show restraint" in the face of the Italian investigation. The Italian government has led a crackdown against Mediterranean rescue ships since taking office in June, denying them access to local ports following the arrival of almost 650,000 people from North Africa since 2014. Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, who heads the far-right League party, welcomed Tuesday's move by Catania magistrates. "I did well to block the NGO ships. I stopped not only the traffic of illegal immigrants but, from what it seems, also that of toxic waste," he added.

Italy accuses NGO migrant ship of dumping toxic waste

If you ask a weaver at Avani what her favourite part of her job is, the answer will almost never be the weaving itself. Money is a common response, as there are the various results of having it: making home improvements, paying for a wedding, opening a savings account. More often than not, though, the answer will simply be along the lines of, “I like to spend time with the other weavers.” It’s surprising at first. In a field where organisations trumpet phrases like “economic empowerment” and “reviving traditional arts,” the fact that someone might like their work simply because it allows them to spend time with other people feels strikingly inadequate. Yet in the time I’ve worked with Avani’s women weavers, I have come to believe that this social interaction is perhaps the most important— and most overlooked—aspect of any livelihood generation program. &nbsp;

In development literature, the concept of “safe spaces” has generally been deployed within highly specific contexts: a refugee camp, for example, or a shelter for victims of domestic violence. Within these contexts, the term “safe space” becomes extremely literal: A space where women can safely gather, free from physical harm. In the words of UNFPA, a safe space is defined as, “A formal or informal place where women and girls feel physically and emotionally safe. The term ‘safe’, in the present context, refers to the absence of trauma, excessive stress, violence (or fear of violence), or abuse.”&nbsp;

But this is not the only definition of safe spaces. Seemingly on the opposite end of the spectrum, college campuses across the United States have touted the creation of “safe spaces” in order to protect certain groups from marginalisation or emotional/psychological harm. By this definition, a safe space is far less literal, referring more to an abstract “space” in which dialogue and learning are mediated and monitored. Here, “safe” has less to do with physical safety, and instead largely refers to the absence of emotional or psychological trauma. This definition has come under significant criticism recently, with some theorists pointing out that honest dialogue about social justice issues is rarely “safe,” in the abstract sense of the term. In the words of one group of scholars, “We argue that authentic learning about social justice often requires the very qualities of risk, difficulty, and controversy that are defined as incompatible with safety.”

On one hand, the women in Avani’s community aren’t in any immediate physical danger (or, at least not a danger that is readily apparent). Although domestic violence does occur, women in this community generally live without their husbands, as most men have migrated to urban centers in search of work. And while there are cases of crime and violence, the region is, compared to many other areas in India, relatively secure. On the other hand, the definition of safe spaces put forth in academia, and its accompanying critiques is strikingly inadequate in describing the very real physical, social, and emotional threats these women face, just by virtue of speaking their minds and daring to be independent.&nbsp;

How, then, do I describe the spaces Avani’s weavers have created for themselves? Shortcomings of either definition of safe spaces aside, the weaving centers, where Avani’s weavers gather every day, are unquestionably unlike anywhere else in these women’s lives. Each of Avani’s field centers is a social ecosystem unto itself: a vibrant hub of women who come together not just to weave, but also to sing their favorite songs, dance along to Bollywood videos they find on YouTube, trade stories of philandering husbands and misbehaving children, and discuss the news of the day. In a region where it is exceedingly rare to see women simply “hanging out” with each other in public spaces, this simple act of gathering feels radical and undeniably political. Indeed, the positive effects of being part of a supportive community of women seem to be an unintended, albeit wonderful, outcome of creating a women’s cooperative.&nbsp;

In women’s cooperatives, the term “safe space” takes on a new meaning, in between the formalised, rigid structures put forth by the United Nations and the more abstract, conceptual notions discussed on college campuses. The “space” these women have created is both literal and figurative: a secluded, women-only gathering space and a relational, dialogue-driven community. Defining safe spaces in this way illuminates what we already instinctively know to be true: that work can be more than just a way for people to put food on the table— it can be a source of community, support, inspiration, and empowerment. At their best, cooperatives like Avani can serve as a physical space for a community’s most marginalised members to let their guards down, be themselves, and step away from an outside world that forces them to take up less space than they deserve.&nbsp;

My proposition then, is to not simply accept that such communities will emerge on their own— even if they do— but rather, to intentionally pursue this space building as a goal in and of itself, on par in importance with increasing incomes. Generating incomes can be a powerful source of empowerment for women in Kumaon. But in my view, the social and political empowerment that comes with it, in the form of a vibrant, active community, is even more powerful in changing the lives of women in these underserved regions.&nbsp;

*A previous version of<a href="https://aif.org/when-work-becomes-home-safe-spaces-and-belonging-in-a-womens-cooperative/"> this article</a> was originally published&nbsp;by the American India Foundation.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

If you ask a weaver at Avani what her favourite part of her job is, the answer will almost never be the weaving itself. Money is a common response, as there are the various results of having it: making home improvements, paying for a wedding, opening a savings account.

If you ask a weaver at Avani what her favourite part of her job is, the answer will almost never be the weaving itself. Money is a common response, as there are the various results of having it: making home improvements, paying for a wedding, opening a savings account. More often than not, though, the answer will simply be along the lines of, “I like to spend time with the other weavers.” It’s surprising at first. In a field where organisations trumpet phrases like “economic empowerment” and “reviving traditional arts,” the fact that someone might like their work simply because it allows them to spend time with other people feels strikingly inadequate. Yet in the time I’ve worked with Avani’s women weavers, I have come to believe that this social interaction is perhaps the most important— and most overlooked—aspect of any livelihood generation program. In development literature, the concept of “safe spaces” has generally been deployed within highly specific contexts: a refugee camp, for example, or a shelter for victims of domestic violence. Within these contexts, the term “safe space” becomes extremely literal: A space where women can safely gather, free from physical harm. In the words of UNFPA, a safe space is defined as, “A formal or informal place where women and girls feel physically and emotionally safe. The term ‘safe’, in the present context, refers to the absence of trauma, excessive stress, violence (or fear of violence), or abuse.” But this is not the only definition of safe spaces. Seemingly on the opposite end of the spectrum, college campuses across the United States have touted the creation of “safe spaces” in order to protect certain groups from marginalisation or emotional/psychological harm. By this definition, a safe space is far less literal, referring more to an abstract “space” in which dialogue and learning are mediated and monitored. Here, “safe” has less to do with physical safety, and instead largely refers to the absence of emotional or psychological trauma. This definition has come under significant criticism recently, with some theorists pointing out that honest dialogue about social justice issues is rarely “safe,” in the abstract sense of the term. In the words of one group of scholars, “We argue that authentic learning about social justice often requires the very qualities of risk, difficulty, and controversy that are defined as incompatible with safety.” On one hand, the women in Avani’s community aren’t in any immediate physical danger (or, at least not a danger that is readily apparent). Although domestic violence does occur, women in this community generally live without their husbands, as most men have migrated to urban centers in search of work. And while there are cases of crime and violence, the region is, compared to many other areas in India, relatively secure. On the other hand, the definition of safe spaces put forth in academia, and its accompanying critiques is strikingly inadequate in describing the very real physical, social, and emotional threats these women face, just by virtue of speaking their minds and daring to be independent. How, then, do I describe the spaces Avani’s weavers have created for themselves? Shortcomings of either definition of safe spaces aside, the weaving centers, where Avani’s weavers gather every day, are unquestionably unlike anywhere else in these women’s lives. Each of Avani’s field centers is a social ecosystem unto itself: a vibrant hub of women who come together not just to weave, but also to sing their favorite songs, dance along to Bollywood videos they find on YouTube, trade stories of philandering husbands and misbehaving children, and discuss the news of the day. In a region where it is exceedingly rare to see women simply “hanging out” with each other in public spaces, this simple act of gathering feels radical and undeniably political. Indeed, the positive effects of being part of a supportive community of women seem to be an unintended, albeit wonderful, outcome of creating a women’s cooperative. In women’s cooperatives, the term “safe space” takes on a new meaning, in between the formalised, rigid structures put forth by the United Nations and the more abstract, conceptual notions discussed on college campuses. The “space” these women have created is both literal and figurative: a secluded, women-only gathering space and a relational, dialogue-driven community. Defining safe spaces in this way illuminates what we already instinctively know to be true: that work can be more than just a way for people to put food on the table— it can be a source of community, support, inspiration, and empowerment. At their best, cooperatives like Avani can serve as a physical space for a community’s most marginalised members to let their guards down, be themselves, and step away from an outside world that forces them to take up less space than they deserve. My proposition then, is to not simply accept that such communities will emerge on their own— even if they do— but rather, to intentionally pursue this space building as a goal in and of itself, on par in importance with increasing incomes. Generating incomes can be a powerful source of empowerment for women in Kumaon. But in my view, the social and political empowerment that comes with it, in the form of a vibrant, active community, is even more powerful in changing the lives of women in these underserved regions. *A previous version of this article was originally published by the American India Foundation. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Blog: Safe spaces and belonging in a women's cooperative

Pakistan has ordered international charity ActionAid, which supports a range of development and women's rights projects, to shut down its operations in the country, the aid group said on Thursday.

A letter from Pakistan's interior ministry sent to ActionAid, and shared with AFP by the group, said it must cease its work within 60 days. No representative of the interior ministry was immediately available for comment.

Pakistan first told ActionAid to leave last year after its application to register under new rules for international NGOs was declined, but the group filed an appeal.

That appeal has been denied but ActionAid can apply for registration again in six months, according to the letter, which was delivered to the organisation on Wednesday.

The aid group called the latest notice "a worrying escalation of recent attacks on civil society, academics and journalists".

"We are taking legal advice on potential next steps. In the meantime we are providing support to our staff and partners on the ground," Adriano Campolina, chief executive of ActionAid International, said in a statement.

Seventeen other international aid organisations fear they will face similar action, a senior official of the Pakistan Humanitarian Forum, an alliance of international NGOs, told AFP on condition of anonymity.

In 2015, Pakistan asked all foreign aid and advocacy organisations to re-register with the government in order to enhance the monitoring of their operations.

And last year, a host of international organisations were asked to wrap up operations.

There has been increasing suspicion of foreign aid groups in Pakistan in recent years.

In 2012, a Pakistani intelligence report linked the aid group Save the Children to the CIA's efforts to locate Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.

Save the Children has always denied it had any links with Afridi or the CIA.

But the charity's expat staff were forced to leave Pakistan after the accusations emerged.

Pakistan has since hardened its policies towards international aid groups, accusing them of being covers for spying operations, and has repeatedly warned them to restrict their activities.&nbsp;

Pakistan has ordered international charity ActionAid, which supports a range of development and women's rights projects, to shut down its operations in the country, the aid group said on Thursday.

Pakistan has ordered international charity ActionAid, which supports a range of development and women's rights projects, to shut down its operations in the country, the aid group said on Thursday. A letter from Pakistan's interior ministry sent to ActionAid, and shared with AFP by the group, said it must cease its work within 60 days. No representative of the interior ministry was immediately available for comment. Pakistan first told ActionAid to leave last year after its application to register under new rules for international NGOs was declined, but the group filed an appeal. That appeal has been denied but ActionAid can apply for registration again in six months, according to the letter, which was delivered to the organisation on Wednesday. The aid group called the latest notice "a worrying escalation of recent attacks on civil society, academics and journalists". "We are taking legal advice on potential next steps. In the meantime we are providing support to our staff and partners on the ground," Adriano Campolina, chief executive of ActionAid International, said in a statement. Seventeen other international aid organisations fear they will face similar action, a senior official of the Pakistan Humanitarian Forum, an alliance of international NGOs, told AFP on condition of anonymity. In 2015, Pakistan asked all foreign aid and advocacy organisations to re-register with the government in order to enhance the monitoring of their operations. And last year, a host of international organisations were asked to wrap up operations. There has been increasing suspicion of foreign aid groups in Pakistan in recent years. In 2012, a Pakistani intelligence report linked the aid group Save the Children to the CIA's efforts to locate Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden. Save the Children has always denied it had any links with Afridi or the CIA. But the charity's expat staff were forced to leave Pakistan after the accusations emerged. Pakistan has since hardened its policies towards international aid groups, accusing them of being covers for spying operations, and has repeatedly warned them to restrict their activities.

Pakistan orders international charity ActionAid to leave: NGO

With the hill city staring at its worst water crisis, the World Environment Day would be a low-key affair.&nbsp;

Despite the situation easing a bit, people are still getting water after three to four days for their home-based needs.

Not many programmes have been scheduled even though Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur would attend a function at Sundernagar in Mandi district.

Thakur would launch a tree plantation programme, inaugurate an exhibition on World Environment Day and also launch the Pollution Abating Plants Abhiyan (PAPA) at Sundernagar, officials said.

Education minister Suresh Bharadwaj would participate in a function at the Ridge here in which students and NGOs would take part.

The reckless felling of trees, unplanned and illegal constructions have reduced the queen of hills to a concrete jungle and drying up of water sources have plunged Shimla into severe water crisis.

Despite the situation easing a bit, people are still getting water after three to four days for their home-based needs

With the hill city staring at its worst water crisis, the World Environment Day would be a low-key affair. Despite the situation easing a bit, people are still getting water after three to four days for their home-based needs. Not many programmes have been scheduled even though Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur would attend a function at Sundernagar in Mandi district. Thakur would launch a tree plantation programme, inaugurate an exhibition on World Environment Day and also launch the Pollution Abating Plants Abhiyan (PAPA) at Sundernagar, officials said. Education minister Suresh Bharadwaj would participate in a function at the Ridge here in which students and NGOs would take part. The reckless felling of trees, unplanned and illegal constructions have reduced the queen of hills to a concrete jungle and drying up of water sources have plunged Shimla into severe water crisis.

World Environment Day to be low key in water scarcity hit Shimla

An NGO Akhand Bharat Morcha has filed a petition&nbsp;in the National Green Tribunal seeking a ban on the use of loudspeakers in Mosques.

The NGT has sought a response on the matter from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), police and others by June 26.

The request for the ban has been initiated to put a restriction on the alleged noise pollution caused by the use of loudspeakers in the area.

The NGO said that the illegal use of the loudspeakers at mosques adversely affected the health of people living in the area. It also added that these places of worship were located in silent zones housing schools and hospitals and noise from their loudspeakers surpassed the specified decibel levels.

The plea also said that the &nbsp;activities of some mosques were in violation of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.

It also said that the authorities have not taken any action in the matter despite several complaints.

The petition also referred to the NGT's September 2017 order which directed the Delhi government and the DPCC to ensure that religious places in East Delhi followed the guidelines issued to keep a check on noise pollution.

The NGT has sought a response on the matter from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), police and others by June 26

An NGO Akhand Bharat Morcha has filed a petition in the National Green Tribunal seeking a ban on the use of loudspeakers in Mosques. The NGT has sought a response on the matter from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), police and others by June 26. The request for the ban has been initiated to put a restriction on the alleged noise pollution caused by the use of loudspeakers in the area. The NGO said that the illegal use of the loudspeakers at mosques adversely affected the health of people living in the area. It also added that these places of worship were located in silent zones housing schools and hospitals and noise from their loudspeakers surpassed the specified decibel levels. The plea also said that the activities of some mosques were in violation of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000. It also said that the authorities have not taken any action in the matter despite several complaints. The petition also referred to the NGT's September 2017 order which directed the Delhi government and the DPCC to ensure that religious places in East Delhi followed the guidelines issued to keep a check on noise pollution.

Plea seeking ban on loudspeakers from mosques filed in NGT

As many as 3,292 NGOs and institutes, including some top academic centres like JNU, IGNOU, IIT Delhi and Madras, besides the Infosys Foundation in Bangalore have not disclosed their annual foreign donations and expenditure for the last fiscal or previous years, the Home Ministry has said. 
 
The ministry told the NGOs and institutes in a notice that after scrutiny of records for 2011-12 to 2016-17, it has been observed that the mandatory annual returns/accounts for some of the financial years in the said period have not been found uploaded on the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act portal despite several opportunities were given to them to do so. 
 
Those whose names figure in the Home Ministry list include Infosys Foundation, University of Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Panjab University, University of Rajasthan, Madras Christian College, Indian Council Of Agricultural Research, Indian Council of Medical Research, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi and Madras, besides others. 
 
The ministry said in the notice that those associations which have not filed the annual returns must file it immediately online.

"The status of submission of mandatory annual return will be reviewed after 15 days of issue of this notice (electronically/physically) in respect of your association, being dispatched to your known addresses. If you fail to submit any of the missing return (s) within this period, appropriate action under Section 10 of the FCRA, 2010 would be initiated against your association for the said violation," it said. 
 
No organisation is allowed to receive funds from abroad unless it is registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). 
 
It is mandatory under the law for such organisations to submit income and expenditure statement to the government annually else their registration is cancelled. 
 
According to the FCRA, the renewal of registration for receiving foreign funds cannot be granted unless the annual returns are uploaded on the FCRA website by the organisation. 
 
Executive Vice President of the Infosys and a trustee of Infosys Foundation, Ramadas Kamath, said the Foundation receives donations only from Infosys Ltd and does not come under the purview of the FCRA. 
 
He said the central government had bought in an amendment to the FCRA regulations to say that even though the FII holding in the share capital of a listed Indian company is more than 51 per cent, the donations given by such a listed Indian company to any Indian charitable trust will not be considered as a foreign contribution. 
 
Mr Kamath said this amendment was bought in by the government of India with retrospective effect and pursuant to this amendment, Infosys Foundation has written to the Home Ministry to derecognise Infosys Foundation under the FCRA provisions as it does not recieve any foreign contributions as per the amended act.

"The Home Ministry has to take appropriate administrative measures to derecognise Infosys Foundation from the purview of the FCRA in consequence to the retrospective amendments to the FCRA," he said 
 
A senior IIT Delhi official said, "We have been pointing this out every year that there are procedural lapses in issuing notices on the FCRA licenses as far as IITs are concerned. We are exempted from registration under the FCRA as IITs are set up through an Act of Parliament and are audited by the CAG."

The ministry said in the notice that those associations which have not filed the annual returns must file it immediately online

As many as 3,292 NGOs and institutes, including some top academic centres like JNU, IGNOU, IIT Delhi and Madras, besides the Infosys Foundation in Bangalore have not disclosed their annual foreign donations and expenditure for the last fiscal or previous years, the Home Ministry has said. The ministry told the NGOs and institutes in a notice that after scrutiny of records for 2011-12 to 2016-17, it has been observed that the mandatory annual returns/accounts for some of the financial years in the said period have not been found uploaded on the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act portal despite several opportunities were given to them to do so. Those whose names figure in the Home Ministry list include Infosys Foundation, University of Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Panjab University, University of Rajasthan, Madras Christian College, Indian Council Of Agricultural Research, Indian Council of Medical Research, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi and Madras, besides others. The ministry said in the notice that those associations which have not filed the annual returns must file it immediately online. "The status of submission of mandatory annual return will be reviewed after 15 days of issue of this notice (electronically/physically) in respect of your association, being dispatched to your known addresses. If you fail to submit any of the missing return (s) within this period, appropriate action under Section 10 of the FCRA, 2010 would be initiated against your association for the said violation," it said. No organisation is allowed to receive funds from abroad unless it is registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). It is mandatory under the law for such organisations to submit income and expenditure statement to the government annually else their registration is cancelled. According to the FCRA, the renewal of registration for receiving foreign funds cannot be granted unless the annual returns are uploaded on the FCRA website by the organisation. Executive Vice President of the Infosys and a trustee of Infosys Foundation, Ramadas Kamath, said the Foundation receives donations only from Infosys Ltd and does not come under the purview of the FCRA. He said the central government had bought in an amendment to the FCRA regulations to say that even though the FII holding in the share capital of a listed Indian company is more than 51 per cent, the donations given by such a listed Indian company to any Indian charitable trust will not be considered as a foreign contribution. Mr Kamath said this amendment was bought in by the government of India with retrospective effect and pursuant to this amendment, Infosys Foundation has written to the Home Ministry to derecognise Infosys Foundation under the FCRA provisions as it does not recieve any foreign contributions as per the amended act. "The Home Ministry has to take appropriate administrative measures to derecognise Infosys Foundation from the purview of the FCRA in consequence to the retrospective amendments to the FCRA," he said A senior IIT Delhi official said, "We have been pointing this out every year that there are procedural lapses in issuing notices on the FCRA licenses as far as IITs are concerned. We are exempted from registration under the FCRA as IITs are set up through an Act of Parliament and are audited by the CAG."

3,292 NGOs, institutes yet to disclose foreign donations: Government

An NGO’s plea in the Delhi High Court seeking to make marital rape an offence was on Tuesday opposed by another NGO, run by a group of men, which said that married women have been given adequate protection under the law against sexual violence by their husbands. NGO Men Welfare Trust claimed that exception in Section 375 of the IPC, which says intercourse or a sexual act by a man with his wife is not rape, is “not unconstitutional” and setting it aside will create more injustice.

It was opposing the petitions filed by NGO RIT Foundation and the All India Democratic Women’s Association, which have challenged the constitutionality of Section 375 (which defines rape) of the IPC on the ground that it discriminated against married women being sexually assaulted by their husbands. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar posed various questions to the trust’s representatives, who were made intervenors in the matter, and asked whether their stand was that a husband has a right to perpetrate sexual offence on his wife and could he force sex on his spouse?

To this, NGO Men Welfare Trust’s representatives Amit Lakhani and Ritwik Bisaria replied in the negative and said there were existing provisions, including domestic violence law, harassment to a married woman, unnatural sex, which provide adequate protection to a wife against sexual violence committed by the husband. However, no such protection is given to husbands as laws in India are gender-specific, unlike in most parts of the world, they argued.

When NGO Men Welfare Trust said that rape by a husband and a third person cannot be put on the same pedestal, the bench shot back, saying “a rape is a rape. Is it that if you are married, it is okay but if you are not, then it’s a rape? If an uncle or grandfather sexually assaults a woman or a girl, it is covered under the offence of rape.” The arguments remained inconclusive and will continue on April 16, the next date of hearing.

Earlier, Kolkata-based NGO Hridaya had also opposed the plea to make marital rape an offence, saying consent for physical relations is for all time when a person enters the institution of marriage. The high court had earlier agreed to examine the issue raised in PILs by advocate Karuna Nundy, who represented RIT Foundation and the All India Democratic Women’s Association, and a man and a woman, who have sought striking down the exception in the Indian penal law that does not consider sexual intercourse with a wife, not less than 15 years of age, as rape.

The petitions have also sought setting aside of the exception in the rape law that protects husbands, saying that it violates the right to equality, freedom and to live life with dignity provided under the Constitution. The Delhi government had said that quashing the protection husbands enjoy against prosecution for marital rape would lead to “creation of an offence”, which is a legislative job and courts cannot create or legislate an offence, which would be the inevitable outcome of striking down of the exception in the IPC.

The Centre has opposed the main petitions saying marital rape cannot be made a criminal offence as it could become a phenomenon which may destabilise the institution of marriage and an easy tool for harassing the husbands.

NGO Men Welfare Trust claimed that exception in Section 375 of the IPC, which says intercourse or a sexual act by a man with his wife is not rape, is "not unconstitutional" and setting it aside will create more injustice.

An NGO’s plea in the Delhi High Court seeking to make marital rape an offence was on Tuesday opposed by another NGO, run by a group of men, which said that married women have been given adequate protection under the law against sexual violence by their husbands. NGO Men Welfare Trust claimed that exception in Section 375 of the IPC, which says intercourse or a sexual act by a man with his wife is not rape, is “not unconstitutional” and setting it aside will create more injustice. It was opposing the petitions filed by NGO RIT Foundation and the All India Democratic Women’s Association, which have challenged the constitutionality of Section 375 (which defines rape) of the IPC on the ground that it discriminated against married women being sexually assaulted by their husbands. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar posed various questions to the trust’s representatives, who were made intervenors in the matter, and asked whether their stand was that a husband has a right to perpetrate sexual offence on his wife and could he force sex on his spouse? To this, NGO Men Welfare Trust’s representatives Amit Lakhani and Ritwik Bisaria replied in the negative and said there were existing provisions, including domestic violence law, harassment to a married woman, unnatural sex, which provide adequate protection to a wife against sexual violence committed by the husband. However, no such protection is given to husbands as laws in India are gender-specific, unlike in most parts of the world, they argued. When NGO Men Welfare Trust said that rape by a husband and a third person cannot be put on the same pedestal, the bench shot back, saying “a rape is a rape. Is it that if you are married, it is okay but if you are not, then it’s a rape? If an uncle or grandfather sexually assaults a woman or a girl, it is covered under the offence of rape.” The arguments remained inconclusive and will continue on April 16, the next date of hearing. Earlier, Kolkata-based NGO Hridaya had also opposed the plea to make marital rape an offence, saying consent for physical relations is for all time when a person enters the institution of marriage. The high court had earlier agreed to examine the issue raised in PILs by advocate Karuna Nundy, who represented RIT Foundation and the All India Democratic Women’s Association, and a man and a woman, who have sought striking down the exception in the Indian penal law that does not consider sexual intercourse with a wife, not less than 15 years of age, as rape. The petitions have also sought setting aside of the exception in the rape law that protects husbands, saying that it violates the right to equality, freedom and to live life with dignity provided under the Constitution. The Delhi government had said that quashing the protection husbands enjoy against prosecution for marital rape would lead to “creation of an offence”, which is a legislative job and courts cannot create or legislate an offence, which would be the inevitable outcome of striking down of the exception in the IPC. The Centre has opposed the main petitions saying marital rape cannot be made a criminal offence as it could become a phenomenon which may destabilise the institution of marriage and an easy tool for harassing the husbands.

Men’s NGO opposes plea in Delhi High Court seeking to make marital rape an offence

A monkey got tangled in a telephone line on a tree outside Udyog Bhawan on Wednesday.

However, the animal was rescued by a wildlife conservation NGO, after they received a call from a passerby. 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
In a statement, it stated that the personnel from the fire department aided its rescue team in the operation. Police were also pressed into service to control the crowd that gathered there.

&quot;We are grateful to the fire department and the police for their support in carrying out this rescue,&quot; Kartick Satyanarayan, CEO of Wildlife SOS, said in the statement.

The monkey is currently under treatment and observation.&nbsp;

Upon recovery, it will be released back into its natural habitat.

The animal was rescued by a wildlife conservation NGO

A monkey got tangled in a telephone line on a tree outside Udyog Bhawan on Wednesday. However, the animal was rescued by a wildlife conservation NGO, after they received a call from a passerby. In a statement, it stated that the personnel from the fire department aided its rescue team in the operation. Police were also pressed into service to control the crowd that gathered there. "We are grateful to the fire department and the police for their support in carrying out this rescue," Kartick Satyanarayan, CEO of Wildlife SOS, said in the statement. The monkey is currently under treatment and observation. Upon recovery, it will be released back into its natural habitat.

Monkey caught in wire outside Udyog Bhawan for 72 hours, rescued

Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo appealed for Rohingya refugee children and has shared two contrasting images one image of Rohingya man carrying a baby in his hand and the second image of him with his kids.

The image captioned &quot;One ???? where we all ❤ our children. Please help. #Rohingya #Refugee @SavetheChildren.&quot;

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One ???? where we all ❤ our children. Please help. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rohingya?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Rohingya</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Refugee?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Refugee</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SavetheChildren?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SavetheChildren</a> <a href="https://t.co/t2eJN244Jl">https://t.co/t2eJN244Jl</a> <a href="https://t.co/9ZPwe5olJC">pic.twitter.com/9ZPwe5olJC</a>
&mdash; Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cristiano/status/964093317997826048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/conditions-not-conducive-for-voluntary-repatriation-of-rohingyas-un-high-commissioner-for-refugees-32814">Recently, UN High Commissioner for Refugees</a> Filippo Grandi informed the Security Council on Tuesday that Myanmar has failed to put in place conditions for the safe return of Rohingyas.

&quot;Let me be clear: conditions are not yet conducive to the voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees,&quot; the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said.

Real Madrid star Ronaldo is the brand ambassador of a world&#39;s leading NGO &#39;Save the Children&#39; which aims to provide a better life and creates hope for a brighter future to those children who are in utter need.

The UN predicts over 8,50,000 Rohingyas have crossed over to Bangladesh since August 25th last year ever since the Myanmar Army allegedly started persecuting them.

The Rohingya refugees are currently living in despair, especially the children, their basic needs are not fulfilled, every day they are facing new challenges, the supply of food and medicines are limited and they are dealing with political turmoil.

Bangladesh had reached a deal with Myanmar in December last year to repatriate nearly 700,000 Rohingyas but reports said several refugees did not wish to return without guarantees of safety.

Ronaldo has come up to lend his voice and visibility to spotlight issues faced by Rohingya children.

There are other celebrities also who volunteer&nbsp;for this great cause like Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Garner, Bridgit Mendler and Rachel Zoe.

The foundation is fighting for children&#39;s rights since 1919 and in 2016 they reached more than 157 million children through their global movement.

&nbsp;

Cristiano Ronaldo has come up to lend his voice and visibility to spotlight issues faced by Rohingya children

Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo appealed for Rohingya refugee children and has shared two contrasting images one image of Rohingya man carrying a baby in his hand and the second image of him with his kids. The image captioned "One ???? where we all ❤ our children. Please help. #Rohingya #Refugee @SavetheChildren." One ???? where we all ❤ our children. Please help. #Rohingya #Refugee @SavetheChildren https://t.co/t2eJN244Jl pic.twitter.com/9ZPwe5olJC — Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) February 15, 2018 × Recently, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi informed the Security Council on Tuesday that Myanmar has failed to put in place conditions for the safe return of Rohingyas. "Let me be clear: conditions are not yet conducive to the voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees," the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said. Real Madrid star Ronaldo is the brand ambassador of a world's leading NGO 'Save the Children' which aims to provide a better life and creates hope for a brighter future to those children who are in utter need. The UN predicts over 8,50,000 Rohingyas have crossed over to Bangladesh since August 25th last year ever since the Myanmar Army allegedly started persecuting them. The Rohingya refugees are currently living in despair, especially the children, their basic needs are not fulfilled, every day they are facing new challenges, the supply of food and medicines are limited and they are dealing with political turmoil. Bangladesh had reached a deal with Myanmar in December last year to repatriate nearly 700,000 Rohingyas but reports said several refugees did not wish to return without guarantees of safety. Ronaldo has come up to lend his voice and visibility to spotlight issues faced by Rohingya children. There are other celebrities also who volunteer for this great cause like Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Garner, Bridgit Mendler and Rachel Zoe. The foundation is fighting for children's rights since 1919 and in 2016 they reached more than 157 million children through their global movement.

Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo appeals for Rohingya refugee children

Within hours of arriving in Lucknow, I took off on a scooter with a colleague to a nearby slum area. We were going into the field. Upon arriving at the session site, the kids were called and the facilitator introduced the session. Then the children, in unison, asked &ldquo;Bhaiyya, may we please know your name?&rdquo; &ldquo;My name is Jackson,&rdquo; I replied Urdu. This is going well so far, I thought to myself. I understood today&rsquo;s activity would be football (soccer) and that there would be two groups for the drills.

From there, however, the session seemed to become controlled chaos. Kids ran everywhere, doing drills and kicking the balls in all directions. This continued for almost the entire hour, until we regrouped and discussed how the drills went. The session I observed, a part of Project KHEL&rsquo;s Made in Maidaan life skills-education program for kids aged 7-16, was a jarring and enlightening experience all at once. It was the first of almost 30 sessions I would observe or help facilitate over the next two weeks.

While Project KHEL has other programs, ranging from Ultimate Frisbee to activity-based literacy programs, our main program utilises a Sports For Development method to deliver a self-designed Life Skills Education program for the benefit of underprivileged youth in Lucknow through sessions, hour-long &ldquo;classes&rdquo; delivered twice per week [1]. Life skills are defined as psychosocial abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour that enable individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life [2].

Sports for Development programs and Life Skills Education programs are both widely popular both in India and globally as development methods. Their use also has significant institutional backing, as the United Nations see sport as a crucial method by which to achieve the newest Sustainable Development Goals [3], while the concept of Life Skills Education is itself a product of the World Health Organisation [4]. However, Project KHEL&rsquo;s combination of these philosophies is unique because of the way that sports and games are vehicles to teach life skills.

Rather than discussing life skills and drawing out messages through, Project KHEL has kids playing, working together, and experiencing these life skills as they learn and understand them. Each session has a specific plan of activities aimed at achieving a life skills-oriented outcome through a mix of sports and games.

Despite summers of experience as a summer camp counsellor during high school and college, it was the concept of fieldwork which worried me most about coming to Lucknow to begin work with Project KHEL. At Project KHEL, fieldwork involves working directly with these children, facilitating sessions of sports, games and activities to teach life skills. What if I don&rsquo;t understand their Hindi, or if they don&rsquo;t understand me? What if I don&rsquo;t have the presence to be a facilitator?

I collided with all these concerns in my very first session, meeting fifty children and learning the ropes as the session happened. I spent the entire hour trying to figure out what was happening around me and to understand what the other facilitators and all the children, everyone except me, seemed to understand. By the end of the session, I had realised how the games had been played, what lessons facilitators aimed to draw from them, and what facilitators needed to pay most attention to during the session. Like many things at Project KHEL, learning through participation is the best way to understand both the work itself but also the motivations and intentions of every choice made regarding sessions.

The nature of Project KHEL&rsquo;s programming requires staff to be actively in the field almost every day in some capacity, Being in the field has been an eye-opening experience, as well as a complicated one. Witnessing Project KHEL&rsquo;s programs firsthand, seeing the activities, getting to know the children, understanding the planning process for each session, figuring out how to manage large groups of children, dealing within-session complications like sudden rain or injuries, making sure to deliver effective and meaningful briefings and debriefings for children and staff, all of this is necessary to fully understand both the programs and mission of Project KHEL.

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The Project KHEL team celebrates Diwali (Others)
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Relying on extensive communication and feedback to critique their own work and methods, I have been deeply impressed by their commitment to self-reflection and taking meaningful action based on this. It is this systematic commitment to organisational improvement that made it so easy to share the passion that all of the staff brings to each and every session and every project.

Everyone in the office has helped me feel at home, and our guiding principle, putting our kids first always, is a unifying idea that I connected to immediately. Sharing this is something I have drawn strength from while working in the field.

Six weeks in, I love facilitating sessions. I still make mistakes, all the time in fact, but my colleagues will always help me to do better, knowing that improvement is the aim. Having now facilitated or observed almost 50 sessions across Project KHEL&rsquo;s seven programs, fieldwork has become the highlight of each and every day, and knowing that I have my colleagues and a child-centred methodology for monitoring and evaluation behind me means that no mistake will be in vain.

This is what the kids do as well &ndash; they learn from each others&rsquo; successes and shortcomings as they play collectively. In that sense, a commitment to collective learning could be the unifying principle of Project KHEL&rsquo;s mission.

[1] &ldquo;Made in Maidaan.&rdquo; Project KHEL. 2017. 
[2] &ldquo;Definition of Terms.&rdquo; UNICEF. June 13, 2003. 
[3] &ldquo;Sport and Sustainable Development Goals.&rdquo; United Nations Office of Sport and Development. 2014. 
[4] Partners in Life Skills Education. Report. Geneva: World Health Organisation, 1999.

This <a href="http://aif.org/the-process-of-collective-learning/">article </a>was originally published on 07/11/ 2017 on <a href="http://aif.org/">American India Foundation</a>

'A commitment to collective learning could be the unifying principle of Project KHEL?s mission'

Within hours of arriving in Lucknow, I took off on a scooter with a colleague to a nearby slum area. We were going into the field. Upon arriving at the session site, the kids were called and the facilitator introduced the session. Then the children, in unison, asked “Bhaiyya, may we please know your name?” “My name is Jackson,” I replied Urdu. This is going well so far, I thought to myself. I understood today’s activity would be football (soccer) and that there would be two groups for the drills. From there, however, the session seemed to become controlled chaos. Kids ran everywhere, doing drills and kicking the balls in all directions. This continued for almost the entire hour, until we regrouped and discussed how the drills went. The session I observed, a part of Project KHEL’s Made in Maidaan life skills-education program for kids aged 7-16, was a jarring and enlightening experience all at once. It was the first of almost 30 sessions I would observe or help facilitate over the next two weeks. While Project KHEL has other programs, ranging from Ultimate Frisbee to activity-based literacy programs, our main program utilises a Sports For Development method to deliver a self-designed Life Skills Education program for the benefit of underprivileged youth in Lucknow through sessions, hour-long “classes” delivered twice per week [1]. Life skills are defined as psychosocial abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour that enable individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life [2]. Sports for Development programs and Life Skills Education programs are both widely popular both in India and globally as development methods. Their use also has significant institutional backing, as the United Nations see sport as a crucial method by which to achieve the newest Sustainable Development Goals [3], while the concept of Life Skills Education is itself a product of the World Health Organisation [4]. However, Project KHEL’s combination of these philosophies is unique because of the way that sports and games are vehicles to teach life skills. Rather than discussing life skills and drawing out messages through, Project KHEL has kids playing, working together, and experiencing these life skills as they learn and understand them. Each session has a specific plan of activities aimed at achieving a life skills-oriented outcome through a mix of sports and games. Despite summers of experience as a summer camp counsellor during high school and college, it was the concept of fieldwork which worried me most about coming to Lucknow to begin work with Project KHEL. At Project KHEL, fieldwork involves working directly with these children, facilitating sessions of sports, games and activities to teach life skills. What if I don’t understand their Hindi, or if they don’t understand me? What if I don’t have the presence to be a facilitator? I collided with all these concerns in my very first session, meeting fifty children and learning the ropes as the session happened. I spent the entire hour trying to figure out what was happening around me and to understand what the other facilitators and all the children, everyone except me, seemed to understand. By the end of the session, I had realised how the games had been played, what lessons facilitators aimed to draw from them, and what facilitators needed to pay most attention to during the session. Like many things at Project KHEL, learning through participation is the best way to understand both the work itself but also the motivations and intentions of every choice made regarding sessions. The nature of Project KHEL’s programming requires staff to be actively in the field almost every day in some capacity, Being in the field has been an eye-opening experience, as well as a complicated one. Witnessing Project KHEL’s programs firsthand, seeing the activities, getting to know the children, understanding the planning process for each session, figuring out how to manage large groups of children, dealing within-session complications like sudden rain or injuries, making sure to deliver effective and meaningful briefings and debriefings for children and staff, all of this is necessary to fully understand both the programs and mission of Project KHEL. The Project KHEL team celebrates Diwali (Others) × Relying on extensive communication and feedback to critique their own work and methods, I have been deeply impressed by their commitment to self-reflection and taking meaningful action based on this. It is this systematic commitment to organisational improvement that made it so easy to share the passion that all of the staff brings to each and every session and every project. Everyone in the office has helped me feel at home, and our guiding principle, putting our kids first always, is a unifying idea that I connected to immediately. Sharing this is something I have drawn strength from while working in the field. Six weeks in, I love facilitating sessions. I still make mistakes, all the time in fact, but my colleagues will always help me to do better, knowing that improvement is the aim. Having now facilitated or observed almost 50 sessions across Project KHEL’s seven programs, fieldwork has become the highlight of each and every day, and knowing that I have my colleagues and a child-centred methodology for monitoring and evaluation behind me means that no mistake will be in vain. This is what the kids do as well – they learn from each others’ successes and shortcomings as they play collectively. In that sense, a commitment to collective learning could be the unifying principle of Project KHEL’s mission. [1] “Made in Maidaan.” Project KHEL. 2017. [2] “Definition of Terms.” UNICEF. June 13, 2003. [3] “Sport and Sustainable Development Goals.” United Nations Office of Sport and Development. 2014. [4] Partners in Life Skills Education. Report. Geneva: World Health Organisation, 1999. This article was originally published on 07/11/ 2017 on American India Foundation

The process of collective learning

While we are flooded on social media with quotes of inspiration, hope and dreams--here&rsquo;s a story that is an embodiment&nbsp;of the phrase &ldquo;every little bit goes a long way&rdquo;.

Touching the lives of many, teachers and students from one of the oldest educational institute in the country - Zakir Husain Delhi College of Delhi University - are working to bring a wholesome change in their neighbourhood.

The teachers have adopted a nearby Basti (slum) Khwaja Meer Dard which is just a stone&rsquo;s throw away from the college premises, taking responsibility of children&rsquo;s educational needs.

Outreach Committee,&nbsp;which looks over the workings of these activities, not only imparts teaching lessons to kids on a daily basis but also engages them in co-curricular activities like picnics, educational trips around the city, educational movie marathons and more.

It started on 26th July 2016, when Dr. Devesh Vijay, the founding member along with the supportive staff went inside the basti to understand their problems. Dr. Vijay and a teaching faculty in the college agreed, &ldquo;Teaching has been a big success. When we enquired from the basti seniors, they said &lsquo;not all kids get proper schooling and it is one important area where we could contribute&rsquo;. It&rsquo;s one thing we are good at and we immediately agreed to it.&rdquo;

Beyond teaching in a formal setup of a classroom, volunteering teachers and students find this as a &ldquo;great opportunity to connect with the society, learn about its problems and effectuate&nbsp;the process of change--much beyond the world of classrooms and textbooks.&rdquo;

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<h5>We have poor neighbours nearby and as a college we have proper infrastructure, teaching talent and most importantly student youth power--if not us then who?</h5>
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&nbsp;

I ask him the reason for choosing Basti Khwaja Meer Dard in the first place and he says, &ldquo;Proximity is the key reason as any other place would have included commute. We wanted to start something feasible for all, something we could do everyday in the long run and this Basti was perfect in that sense. Every day after our classes are over, we head to the basti for an hour &nbsp;with teachers in tow who go to teach in batches.&rdquo;

Vijay compassionately adds, &ldquo;We have poor neighbours nearby and as a college we have proper infrastructure, teaching talent and most importantly student youth power--if not us, then who?

All colleges must do this as the change is heartening to see, children&rsquo;s results have improved considerably and nothing makes us more happy.&rdquo;

Shehnaaz Parveen, teaching faculty at college who is also a part of the initiative says, &ldquo;Students of the basti are very diligent.&nbsp;They come to class on time whether teachers are there or not. I was initially very hesitant to come here (basti) but have had a great experience so far. Apart from regular classes, we also give the kids&rsquo; life skills and disaster management training.&rdquo;

In a span of 10 months, these classes have improved grades of students. Vijay says, &ldquo;After their annual results were declared, most students came with their school report cards, and it was a great feeling to see that their results shot up by good margins. As a result many new families have approached to join the regular classes.&rdquo;

Shumayla, a girl student who regularly attends these classes says, &ldquo;Teachers here are very good. Whatever I learn here, it remains with me. Apart from regular course classes, they also pay special emphasis on improving our language and give reading and recitation lessons in English and Hindi. When I was in 8th standard, I was a weak student but with time my grades have improved and now I have been promoted to 10th standard with good grades. My favourite subject is science and maths and I want to pursue it in higher studies.&rdquo;

Sania and Bushra are college students who have been associated with the initiative from the start. They call it an &ldquo;experience in itself&rdquo; as there has been a &ldquo;tremendous change in the behaviour and conduct of these students&rdquo;.

They say, &ldquo;Apart from teaching we also try to imbibe mannerisms in the kids: like how to sit in class, how to answer to a teacher and they are always eager to learn.&rdquo;

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<h5>Basti Khwaja Meer Dard has no playgrounds, so we provide them with a space to play, most have not seen a movie on a big screen and we organise educational movies once every month. When these kids go out with us on educational trips, they learn from us. They have learnt how to walk in a queue or to not litter on the roads</h5>
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&nbsp;

Ajay Kumar is also a college student who teaches the kids twice in a week. He says, &ldquo;I joined in the month of November and &nbsp;have continued ever since. It&rsquo;s a service really and service itself is a reward. I come twice in a week to teach science. I have learnt so much from these little ones--we learn when we come to teach.&rdquo;

He narrates an incident where he pronounced a word wrong in Hindi, altering its meaning and how the kids corrected him. He is currently aiming for Indian Civil Services but if that doesn&rsquo;t go through, he aims to teach for a living.

Running a successful program and bringing a cheer on the faces of many deprived kids, Vijay hopes that &ldquo;this could get replicated everywhere in all colleges&rdquo;.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="430" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lrSZinCLgxY" width="970"></iframe>

He wishes UGC to make it &ldquo;mandatory for all colleges under its purview to include surrounding areas in a dialogue for change&rdquo;.

He says, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not charity but the best way to learn about our vicinity.

&ldquo;In our case, Basti Khwaja Meer Dard has no playgrounds, so we provide them with a space to play, most have not seen a movie on a big screen and we organise educational movies once every month. When these kids go out with us on educational trips, they learn from us. They have learnt how to walk in a queue or to not litter on the roads.&rdquo;

Currently, the Committee is facilitating lessons for students from all class groups and next year plans to start a cleanliness drive in the basti with an aim to extend modern, hygienic way of life in those--for whom it&rsquo;s never even a topic of debate.

(WION)

'They had no playgrounds, had not seen a movie--we wanted to change that', says the Founder-Professor of Delhi University.

While we are flooded on social media with quotes of inspiration, hope and dreams--here’s a story that is an embodiment of the phrase “every little bit goes a long way”. Touching the lives of many, teachers and students from one of the oldest educational institute in the country - Zakir Husain Delhi College of Delhi University - are working to bring a wholesome change in their neighbourhood. The teachers have adopted a nearby Basti (slum) Khwaja Meer Dard which is just a stone’s throw away from the college premises, taking responsibility of children’s educational needs. Outreach Committee, which looks over the workings of these activities, not only imparts teaching lessons to kids on a daily basis but also engages them in co-curricular activities like picnics, educational trips around the city, educational movie marathons and more. It started on 26th July 2016, when Dr. Devesh Vijay, the founding member along with the supportive staff went inside the basti to understand their problems. Dr. Vijay and a teaching faculty in the college agreed, “Teaching has been a big success. When we enquired from the basti seniors, they said ‘not all kids get proper schooling and it is one important area where we could contribute’. It’s one thing we are good at and we immediately agreed to it.” Beyond teaching in a formal setup of a classroom, volunteering teachers and students find this as a “great opportunity to connect with the society, learn about its problems and effectuate the process of change--much beyond the world of classrooms and textbooks.” We have poor neighbours nearby and as a college we have proper infrastructure, teaching talent and most importantly student youth power--if not us then who? × I ask him the reason for choosing Basti Khwaja Meer Dard in the first place and he says, “Proximity is the key reason as any other place would have included commute. We wanted to start something feasible for all, something we could do everyday in the long run and this Basti was perfect in that sense. Every day after our classes are over, we head to the basti for an hour with teachers in tow who go to teach in batches.” Vijay compassionately adds, “We have poor neighbours nearby and as a college we have proper infrastructure, teaching talent and most importantly student youth power--if not us, then who? All colleges must do this as the change is heartening to see, children’s results have improved considerably and nothing makes us more happy.” Shehnaaz Parveen, teaching faculty at college who is also a part of the initiative says, “Students of the basti are very diligent. They come to class on time whether teachers are there or not. I was initially very hesitant to come here (basti) but have had a great experience so far. Apart from regular classes, we also give the kids’ life skills and disaster management training.” In a span of 10 months, these classes have improved grades of students. Vijay says, “After their annual results were declared, most students came with their school report cards, and it was a great feeling to see that their results shot up by good margins. As a result many new families have approached to join the regular classes.” Shumayla, a girl student who regularly attends these classes says, “Teachers here are very good. Whatever I learn here, it remains with me. Apart from regular course classes, they also pay special emphasis on improving our language and give reading and recitation lessons in English and Hindi. When I was in 8th standard, I was a weak student but with time my grades have improved and now I have been promoted to 10th standard with good grades. My favourite subject is science and maths and I want to pursue it in higher studies.” Sania and Bushra are college students who have been associated with the initiative from the start. They call it an “experience in itself” as there has been a “tremendous change in the behaviour and conduct of these students”. They say, “Apart from teaching we also try to imbibe mannerisms in the kids: like how to sit in class, how to answer to a teacher and they are always eager to learn.” Basti Khwaja Meer Dard has no playgrounds, so we provide them with a space to play, most have not seen a movie on a big screen and we organise educational movies once every month. When these kids go out with us on educational trips, they learn from us. They have learnt how to walk in a queue or to not litter on the roads × Ajay Kumar is also a college student who teaches the kids twice in a week. He says, “I joined in the month of November and have continued ever since. It’s a service really and service itself is a reward. I come twice in a week to teach science. I have learnt so much from these little ones--we learn when we come to teach.” He narrates an incident where he pronounced a word wrong in Hindi, altering its meaning and how the kids corrected him. He is currently aiming for Indian Civil Services but if that doesn’t go through, he aims to teach for a living. Running a successful program and bringing a cheer on the faces of many deprived kids, Vijay hopes that “this could get replicated everywhere in all colleges”. He wishes UGC to make it “mandatory for all colleges under its purview to include surrounding areas in a dialogue for change”. He says, “It’s not charity but the best way to learn about our vicinity. “In our case, Basti Khwaja Meer Dard has no playgrounds, so we provide them with a space to play, most have not seen a movie on a big screen and we organise educational movies once every month. When these kids go out with us on educational trips, they learn from us. They have learnt how to walk in a queue or to not litter on the roads.” Currently, the Committee is facilitating lessons for students from all class groups and next year plans to start a cleanliness drive in the basti with an aim to extend modern, hygienic way of life in those--for whom it’s never even a topic of debate. (WION)

Professors and Basti kids: Learning to explore the world together

The Supreme Court of India, India&#39;s top court, today pulled up the Centre for not putting in place a regulatory mechanism to monitor the funds and their utilisation by NGOs, societies and voluntary organisations.

A bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar directed the Rural Development Secretary and Director of Council for Advancement of People&#39;s Action and Rural Technology (CAPART), which comes under Rural Development Ministry, to be present before it this afternoon with all relevant records.

The bench, also comprising Justice N V Ramana and D Y Chandrachud, asked the officials to inform it whether Comptroller and Auditor General&nbsp;(CAG) audit of NGOs post 2009 was carried out or not.

The bench also asked whether General Financial Rules 2005 made by Ministry of Finance were complied with or not.

The court, was hearing a petition filed by advocate M L Sharma, seeking monitoring of funds given to NGOs and their utilisation by them.

(PTI)

The bench headed by the Chief Justice asked the officials to inform it whether the CAG audit of NGOs after 2009 was carried out or not.

The Supreme Court of India, India's top court, today pulled up the Centre for not putting in place a regulatory mechanism to monitor the funds and their utilisation by NGOs, societies and voluntary organisations. A bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar directed the Rural Development Secretary and Director of Council for Advancement of People's Action and Rural Technology (CAPART), which comes under Rural Development Ministry, to be present before it this afternoon with all relevant records. The bench, also comprising Justice N V Ramana and D Y Chandrachud, asked the officials to inform it whether Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit of NGOs post 2009 was carried out or not. The bench also asked whether General Financial Rules 2005 made by Ministry of Finance were complied with or not. The court, was hearing a petition filed by advocate M L Sharma, seeking monitoring of funds given to NGOs and their utilisation by them. (PTI)

India's top court pulls up federal govt for lack of regulatory mechanism to monitor NGO funds

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This thought-provoking statement became the motto of a young man from India.

From chemical imports, mushroom farming, graphic designing to fast food chains,&nbsp;Ramakrishna Iyengar&nbsp;did it all. But his calling was a greater purpose in life, he wanted to address the concerns of depleting natural resources and increasing landfills. He came up with&nbsp;Pass It On, a non-profit platform that promotes the concept of freecycling, or free recycling - an act of giving away usable, unwanted items to others instead of discarding&nbsp;them. He intends to&nbsp;help NGOs, orphanages and old age homes benefit from the process. 
 
The 24-year-old is a hardcore computer gamer and sometimes spends&nbsp;5 hours a day only playing online games to de-stress. Apart from this, he loves to&nbsp;play the guitar and travel.

&nbsp;

<h3>Kazimi: When did you realize that your concerns for the environment were so strong?</h3>

Ram: I have been concerned about the environment right from my childhood. The earth is our home, and we are only dirtying and damaging it. The expanding carbon footprint and uncountable landfills tell us so much about the situation. I wanted to take a&nbsp;stand for the ongoing crisis and raise more awareness.

&nbsp;

<h3>Kazimi: What triggered you to start a venture about freecycling?</h3>

Ram: Eventually, I realized that more than lack of awareness, people have little direction on how to help out in improving the situation. Almost everyone has unwanted but useful items in their homes, like books, clothes, toys, gadgets, etc., and are stuck in a dilemma of whether to throw them away or to give them to someone. However, these days no one has the time to go out and search for people or organizations to donate their items to.

I have seen wealthy people throwing away usable things that could have been freecycled and channeled to someone who could not afford it. I wanted to change the way people get rid of useful but unwanted items.

<h3>Kazimi: So how does your company help to resolve the problem?</h3>

Ram: The idea is for people to donate on one end and help struggling organizations to receive the donations on the other end. The&nbsp;key here is using technology to ease the process. We offer an online platform for people to declutter their house in a meaningful way. We have partnered with several NGOs, orphanages and old-age homes, which will be the direct recipients of these items. This is where we come in - the team does pick-up and delivery of products without levying any charges.

&nbsp;

<h3>Kazimi: Any instance that has stayed with you?</h3>

Ram: From small items like books and clothes people have been putting up high-value items such as televisions, furniture and smartphones on the site for donation. I was really moved when a lady had put big bags of cat food for donation since her cat died recently and she wanted to give it away to anyone who has a cat. You can find so many similar items on our website that would have ended up in a trashcan otherwise.

&nbsp;

<h3>Kazimi: What are the challenging facets of the job?</h3>

Ram: It is quite hard to change the traditional mind-set of people where they would rather throw away their belongings or sell them at dirt cheap prices. Putting human values before profit, applying commercial strategies to maximize human and environmental well-being is not&nbsp;for the weak minded. It&rsquo;s not a regular money-making venture.&nbsp;

<h3>Kazimi: What keeps you motivated when feeling low?</h3>

Ram: I have my own mantras to keep myself going. Don&rsquo;t pay heed to people who try to bring you down. The most important skill a human being needs is that of overcoming failure. Always follow your heart and have the guts to chase your dream. Take risks; even if it doesn&rsquo;t work out, you will still gain experience.

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<h3>Kazimi: What are some issues that need urgent attention?</h3>

Ram: A better waste management system. The world should take inspiration from Sweden. They convert all their garbage into usable energy, so much so, that they run out of garbage and have to import it from other countries. Energy crisis is one of the biggest economic challenges the world is facing right now, and it is linked to all other crises, such as poverty, starvation, etc. A huge chunk of the&nbsp;population doesn&#39;t have basic access to renewable energy.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<h3>Kazimi: What can the common man do to address the ongoing crisis?</h3>

Ram: We collectively have to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels and move on to cleaner energy sources, Global warming is not just a theory anymore. It is happening, ice caps are melting faster than ever. It is the&nbsp;time we all start implementing environment-friendly measures, otherwise nature will take over us. If each individual does their part, such as using energy efficient products, planting a tree or carpooling, the collective impact will be massive. The smallest of things can make a difference.

&nbsp;

(Coordinator and Editor: Devanshi Verma)

Sometimes, the simplest ideas are the greatest

May your trash become someone else’s treasure × This thought-provoking statement became the motto of a young man from India. From chemical imports, mushroom farming, graphic designing to fast food chains, Ramakrishna Iyengar did it all. But his calling was a greater purpose in life, he wanted to address the concerns of depleting natural resources and increasing landfills. He came up with Pass It On, a non-profit platform that promotes the concept of freecycling, or free recycling - an act of giving away usable, unwanted items to others instead of discarding them. He intends to help NGOs, orphanages and old age homes benefit from the process. The 24-year-old is a hardcore computer gamer and sometimes spends 5 hours a day only playing online games to de-stress. Apart from this, he loves to play the guitar and travel. Kazimi: When did you realize that your concerns for the environment were so strong? Ram: I have been concerned about the environment right from my childhood. The earth is our home, and we are only dirtying and damaging it. The expanding carbon footprint and uncountable landfills tell us so much about the situation. I wanted to take a stand for the ongoing crisis and raise more awareness. Kazimi: What triggered you to start a venture about freecycling? Ram: Eventually, I realized that more than lack of awareness, people have little direction on how to help out in improving the situation. Almost everyone has unwanted but useful items in their homes, like books, clothes, toys, gadgets, etc., and are stuck in a dilemma of whether to throw them away or to give them to someone. However, these days no one has the time to go out and search for people or organizations to donate their items to. I have seen wealthy people throwing away usable things that could have been freecycled and channeled to someone who could not afford it. I wanted to change the way people get rid of useful but unwanted items. Kazimi: So how does your company help to resolve the problem? Ram: The idea is for people to donate on one end and help struggling organizations to receive the donations on the other end. The key here is using technology to ease the process. We offer an online platform for people to declutter their house in a meaningful way. We have partnered with several NGOs, orphanages and old-age homes, which will be the direct recipients of these items. This is where we come in - the team does pick-up and delivery of products without levying any charges. Kazimi: Any instance that has stayed with you? Ram: From small items like books and clothes people have been putting up high-value items such as televisions, furniture and smartphones on the site for donation. I was really moved when a lady had put big bags of cat food for donation since her cat died recently and she wanted to give it away to anyone who has a cat. You can find so many similar items on our website that would have ended up in a trashcan otherwise. Kazimi: What are the challenging facets of the job? Ram: It is quite hard to change the traditional mind-set of people where they would rather throw away their belongings or sell them at dirt cheap prices. Putting human values before profit, applying commercial strategies to maximize human and environmental well-being is not for the weak minded. It’s not a regular money-making venture. Kazimi: What keeps you motivated when feeling low? Ram: I have my own mantras to keep myself going. Don’t pay heed to people who try to bring you down. The most important skill a human being needs is that of overcoming failure. Always follow your heart and have the guts to chase your dream. Take risks; even if it doesn’t work out, you will still gain experience. Take risks, even if it doesn’t work out, you will still gain experience. × Kazimi: What are some issues that need urgent attention? Ram: A better waste management system. The world should take inspiration from Sweden. They convert all their garbage into usable energy, so much so, that they run out of garbage and have to import it from other countries. Energy crisis is one of the biggest economic challenges the world is facing right now, and it is linked to all other crises, such as poverty, starvation, etc. A huge chunk of the population doesn't have basic access to renewable energy. Kazimi: What can the common man do to address the ongoing crisis? Ram: We collectively have to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels and move on to cleaner energy sources, Global warming is not just a theory anymore. It is happening, ice caps are melting faster than ever. It is the time we all start implementing environment-friendly measures, otherwise nature will take over us. If each individual does their part, such as using energy efficient products, planting a tree or carpooling, the collective impact will be massive. The smallest of things can make a difference. (Coordinator and Editor: Devanshi Verma)

Konversations: He turns your trash into treasure

The Indian government today decided to declare a non-governmental organisation (NGO) promoted by controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik as an outlawed organisation for five years under the anti-terror law for its alleged terror activities.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The cabinet approved a proposal to declare Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) as an &#39;unlawful association&#39; under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for five years, a government official said.

An investigation by the home ministry has found the NGO having links with Peace TV, an international Islamic channel, accused of propagating terrorism, the official said.

Naik, who heads the IRF, has allegedly made many provocative speeches and engaged in terror propaganda.

The police of India&#39;s western state of Maharashtra have also registered criminal cases against Naik for his alleged involvement in radicalisation of youths and luring them into terror activities, officials said.

Naik also transferred IRF&#39;s foreign funds to Peace TV for making &quot;objectionable&quot; programmes. Most of these made in India and contained alleged hate speeches of Naik, who had reportedly &quot;urged all Muslims to be terrorists&quot; through Peace TV, they claimed.

An educational trust run by Naik have already been prevented from receiving foreign funds and agencies are looking into their activities.

Naik came under the scanner of the security agencies after Bangladeshi newspaper &#39;Daily Star&#39; reported that one of the perpetrators of the July 1 terror attack in Dhaka, Rohan Imtiaz, ran propaganda on Facebook last year quoting Naik.

The Islamic orator is banned in the UK and Canada for his hate speech aimed against other religions. He is among 16 banned Islamic scholars in Malaysia.

He is popular in Bangladesh through his Peace TV, although his preachings often demean other religions and even other Muslim sects. The Mumbai-based preacher has not returned to India ever since the controversy came to light

(WION with inputs from PTI)

An investigation by home ministry found that Naik's 'NGO has links with an international Islamic channel accused of propagating terrorism'

The Indian government today decided to declare a non-governmental organisation (NGO) promoted by controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik as an outlawed organisation for five years under the anti-terror law for its alleged terror activities. The decision was taken at a meeting of the union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The cabinet approved a proposal to declare Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) as an 'unlawful association' under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for five years, a government official said. An investigation by the home ministry has found the NGO having links with Peace TV, an international Islamic channel, accused of propagating terrorism, the official said. Naik, who heads the IRF, has allegedly made many provocative speeches and engaged in terror propaganda. The police of India's western state of Maharashtra have also registered criminal cases against Naik for his alleged involvement in radicalisation of youths and luring them into terror activities, officials said. Naik also transferred IRF's foreign funds to Peace TV for making "objectionable" programmes. Most of these made in India and contained alleged hate speeches of Naik, who had reportedly "urged all Muslims to be terrorists" through Peace TV, they claimed. An educational trust run by Naik have already been prevented from receiving foreign funds and agencies are looking into their activities. Naik came under the scanner of the security agencies after Bangladeshi newspaper 'Daily Star' reported that one of the perpetrators of the July 1 terror attack in Dhaka, Rohan Imtiaz, ran propaganda on Facebook last year quoting Naik. The Islamic orator is banned in the UK and Canada for his hate speech aimed against other religions. He is among 16 banned Islamic scholars in Malaysia. He is popular in Bangladesh through his Peace TV, although his preachings often demean other religions and even other Muslim sects. The Mumbai-based preacher has not returned to India ever since the controversy came to light (WION with inputs from PTI)

Indian government declares Zakir Naik's NGO outlawed body for 5 years

For all those looking to pursue fellowships, here is a list of the most rigorous fellowship programmes available for youth in South Asia, offering young minds a platform to perform and become active changemakers.
<ul>
	<li>Ashoka Fellowship</li>
</ul>
The fellowship is for leading social entrepreneurs who have innovative solutions to social problems and have the potential to change patterns across the society. They have a huge network of fellows working worldwide on social issues and areas of human need.&nbsp; 
? 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/fellow1ashoka-20160923053326.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">&nbsp;</div>

<ul>
	<li>Bhutan Prime Minister Fellowship</li>
</ul>
Under the Gross National Happiness Communication, it lets aspiring young leaders experience first-hand public policy making in the Royal government, Bhutan. The fellowship offers an opportunity to experience the country&rsquo;s culture of governance while participating in developmental policy formulation. It helps to enhance the fellow&#39;s leadership qualities.&nbsp; 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/fellows2-20160923062232.jpg" /> 
&nbsp;
<ul>
	<li>Eisenhower Fellowships Sri Lanka</li>
</ul>
Fellows from selected countries around the world are taken to the&nbsp;United States under the fellowship, every year. They are put in touch with NGO leaders, CEOs, entrepreneurs, journalists, opinion-makers and government officials to get a deeper understanding of the world affairs. The fellowship exposes everyone to different ideas and innovations in their fields of interest. 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/fellows3-20160923063036.jpg" /> 
&nbsp;
<ul>
	<li>Young India Fellowship</li>
</ul>
It is a one-year multidisciplinary postgraduate diploma programme in liberal studies. The fellowship brings together a group of 215 bright young individuals who show exceptional intellectual ability and leadership potential from across the country&nbsp;and trains them to become socially-committed agents of change. The aim is to help fellows become well-rounded individuals who are able to think critically from multiple perspectives, communicate effectively and become leaders with a commitment to public service. 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/fellow4-20160923065733.jpg" /> 
&nbsp;
<ul>
	<li>YLAC Fellowship- Young Leaders For Active Citizenship</li>
</ul>
This one is a four-week project-based engagement for university students and young professionals who are keen to explore the fields of public policy and development. The programme aims at strengthening core skills in public leadership, policy analysis and advocacy campaign design, with the experience of working on a live project for a member of parliament.&nbsp; 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/fellows5-20160923070436.jpg" /> 
&nbsp;
<ul>
	<li>William J Clinton Fellowship</li>
</ul>
The fellowship helps shape the next generation of leaders committed to impactful change while also strengthening civil society to be more efficient. It serves as a bridge between the&nbsp;United States and India by encouraging professionals to work together and pairs them with leading NGOs and social enterprises in India to accelerate impact and create effective projects that are replicable, scalable, and sustainable. 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/fellow6-20160923071324.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">&nbsp;</div>

<ul>
	<li>Gandhi Fellowship</li>
</ul>
The fellowship is a full-time, two-year residential leadership programme awarded to the inspired and inventive youth from top universities and colleges across India. The fellows are those who aspire to bring a large-scale systemic change and resolve the country&rsquo;s pressing problems through their own innovations and social change ideas. 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/fellow7-20160923073741.jpg" /> 
&nbsp;
<ul>
	<li>Daayitwa Fellowship</li>
</ul>
The Daayitwa&nbsp;fellowship fosters a close collaboration, a relationship built on trust and solidarity towards the constituencies and citizens of Nepal. The common goal is to promote leadership and innovation in governance for creating an enabling environment that promotes economic prosperity and inclusive growth by harnessing the values of collaboration, innovation, and service. 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/fellow8-20160923074229.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">&nbsp;</div>

<ul>
	<li>KP Civic Innovation Fellowship</li>
</ul>
It is a six-month programme supported by Code for Pakistan, the KP IT Board, and the World Bank, where a team of &nbsp;researchers, designers, community organisers, and developers collaborate to build apps, inspire citizen engagement, improve governance, and show how to innovate in public services. These apps work towards solving problems in a variety of public domains such as healthcare, crime, disaster management, citizen engagement, transportation, traffic, education, etc. 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/fellow9-20160923074638.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">&nbsp;</div>

<ul>
	<li>The Asia Leadership Fellow Program</li>
</ul>
The programme provides selected leaders in the region with an opportunity to reside for two months at the International House of Japan in Tokyo&nbsp;and engage in collaborative and individual research and exchange activities. Since the initiation of the programme, the ALFP has annually invited six to seven fellows from nearly 17 Asian countries and regions. 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/fellow10-20160923075019.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
(Contributed by&nbsp;Shashwat Mittal and Zeba Khan)
</div>

These fellowships are for community-building and increasing individual participation in societal development

For all those looking to pursue fellowships, here is a list of the most rigorous fellowship programmes available for youth in South Asia, offering young minds a platform to perform and become active changemakers. Ashoka Fellowship The fellowship is for leading social entrepreneurs who have innovative solutions to social problems and have the potential to change patterns across the society. They have a huge network of fellows working worldwide on social issues and areas of human need. ? Bhutan Prime Minister Fellowship Under the Gross National Happiness Communication, it lets aspiring young leaders experience first-hand public policy making in the Royal government, Bhutan. The fellowship offers an opportunity to experience the country’s culture of governance while participating in developmental policy formulation. It helps to enhance the fellow's leadership qualities. Eisenhower Fellowships Sri Lanka Fellows from selected countries around the world are taken to the United States under the fellowship, every year. They are put in touch with NGO leaders, CEOs, entrepreneurs, journalists, opinion-makers and government officials to get a deeper understanding of the world affairs. The fellowship exposes everyone to different ideas and innovations in their fields of interest. Young India Fellowship It is a one-year multidisciplinary postgraduate diploma programme in liberal studies. The fellowship brings together a group of 215 bright young individuals who show exceptional intellectual ability and leadership potential from across the country and trains them to become socially-committed agents of change. The aim is to help fellows become well-rounded individuals who are able to think critically from multiple perspectives, communicate effectively and become leaders with a commitment to public service. YLAC Fellowship- Young Leaders For Active Citizenship This one is a four-week project-based engagement for university students and young professionals who are keen to explore the fields of public policy and development. The programme aims at strengthening core skills in public leadership, policy analysis and advocacy campaign design, with the experience of working on a live project for a member of parliament. William J Clinton Fellowship The fellowship helps shape the next generation of leaders committed to impactful change while also strengthening civil society to be more efficient. It serves as a bridge between the United States and India by encouraging professionals to work together and pairs them with leading NGOs and social enterprises in India to accelerate impact and create effective projects that are replicable, scalable, and sustainable. Gandhi Fellowship The fellowship is a full-time, two-year residential leadership programme awarded to the inspired and inventive youth from top universities and colleges across India. The fellows are those who aspire to bring a large-scale systemic change and resolve the country’s pressing problems through their own innovations and social change ideas. Daayitwa Fellowship The Daayitwa fellowship fosters a close collaboration, a relationship built on trust and solidarity towards the constituencies and citizens of Nepal. The common goal is to promote leadership and innovation in governance for creating an enabling environment that promotes economic prosperity and inclusive growth by harnessing the values of collaboration, innovation, and service. KP Civic Innovation Fellowship It is a six-month programme supported by Code for Pakistan, the KP IT Board, and the World Bank, where a team of researchers, designers, community organisers, and developers collaborate to build apps, inspire citizen engagement, improve governance, and show how to innovate in public services. These apps work towards solving problems in a variety of public domains such as healthcare, crime, disaster management, citizen engagement, transportation, traffic, education, etc. The Asia Leadership Fellow Program The programme provides selected leaders in the region with an opportunity to reside for two months at the International House of Japan in Tokyo and engage in collaborative and individual research and exchange activities. Since the initiation of the programme, the ALFP has annually invited six to seven fellows from nearly 17 Asian countries and regions. (Contributed by Shashwat Mittal and Zeba Khan)

10 fellowships in South Asia you should try getting into

India&#39;s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today alleged that the Congress was playing with the country&#39;s national security and said a clean chit by the Congress leader and home minister of southern Karnataka, G Parameshwara, to rights group Amnesty International makes it obvious that he is working on the orders of his party&#39;s high command. 
 
BJP leader S Prakash said Parameshwara has given a clean chit to Amnesty International in the anti-India sloganeering controversy as per the diktat of the Congress central leadership. 
 
&quot;After a long deliberation, they (Bengaluru Police) decided to file a case on sedition charges. The home ministry I believe comes under G Parameshwara. It is his department, which has filed the case. Now, he has given the clean chit even before the report is submitted. It is very clear that he is acting under the pressure of the high command,&quot; Prakash said. 
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<h5>The clean chit from the home minister came even as the organisation faces sedition charges over an event where anti-India slogans were allegedly raised.</h5>
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Demanding that an impartial investigation must be done into the matter, the BJP leader expressed his disappointment that the clean chit has been given to Amnesty International even before the report was submitted. 
 
&quot;As far I am concerned, the investigation is over because the home minister has himself given a clean chit and no police officer will indict the Amnesty (International) anymore. It is a serious issue, you would have allowed the investigation to go on,&quot; he added. 
 
The Karnataka home minister yesterday said Amnesty India has never involved itself in any kind of anti-national activities. 
 
&quot;Amnesty International is not new to Bengaluru. This organisation has been functioning here for a long time. I don&#39;t know nor I have heard in the past about it or anyone from it involving in any anti-national activities,&quot; Parameshwara said. 
 
&quot;They had organised a programme about the Army&#39;s excesses in Kashmir. They had called a few families (from Kashmir) to console them and give them some sort of mental support, in which certain incidents took place about which an FIR has been registered,&quot; he added. 
 
The clean chit from the home minister came even as the organisation faces sedition charges over an event where anti-India slogans were allegedly raised. 
 
The Amnesty International had earlier on August 13 organised an event as part of a campaign to seek justice for &quot;victims of human rights violations&quot; in Jammu and Kashmir that took an ugly turn with heated exchanges and alleged raising anti-India slogans. 
 
Mounting pressure on the government post the incident, the BJP activists staged protests on the streets demanding that a case of sedition be registered against Amnesty International. 
 
(ANI) 
 
 
&nbsp;

The home minister of Congress-ruled Karnataka yesterday said Amnesty India has never involved itself in any kind of anti-national activities

India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today alleged that the Congress was playing with the country's national security and said a clean chit by the Congress leader and home minister of southern Karnataka, G Parameshwara, to rights group Amnesty International makes it obvious that he is working on the orders of his party's high command. BJP leader S Prakash said Parameshwara has given a clean chit to Amnesty International in the anti-India sloganeering controversy as per the diktat of the Congress central leadership. "After a long deliberation, they (Bengaluru Police) decided to file a case on sedition charges. The home ministry I believe comes under G Parameshwara. It is his department, which has filed the case. Now, he has given the clean chit even before the report is submitted. It is very clear that he is acting under the pressure of the high command," Prakash said. The clean chit from the home minister came even as the organisation faces sedition charges over an event where anti-India slogans were allegedly raised. Demanding that an impartial investigation must be done into the matter, the BJP leader expressed his disappointment that the clean chit has been given to Amnesty International even before the report was submitted. "As far I am concerned, the investigation is over because the home minister has himself given a clean chit and no police officer will indict the Amnesty (International) anymore. It is a serious issue, you would have allowed the investigation to go on," he added. The Karnataka home minister yesterday said Amnesty India has never involved itself in any kind of anti-national activities. "Amnesty International is not new to Bengaluru. This organisation has been functioning here for a long time. I don't know nor I have heard in the past about it or anyone from it involving in any anti-national activities," Parameshwara said. "They had organised a programme about the Army's excesses in Kashmir. They had called a few families (from Kashmir) to console them and give them some sort of mental support, in which certain incidents took place about which an FIR has been registered," he added. The clean chit from the home minister came even as the organisation faces sedition charges over an event where anti-India slogans were allegedly raised. The Amnesty International had earlier on August 13 organised an event as part of a campaign to seek justice for "victims of human rights violations" in Jammu and Kashmir that took an ugly turn with heated exchanges and alleged raising anti-India slogans. Mounting pressure on the government post the incident, the BJP activists staged protests on the streets demanding that a case of sedition be registered against Amnesty International. (ANI)

Amnesty row: India's ruling party accuses Congress of playing with national security

A maternity hospital supported by Save the Children was bombed Friday in an air raid in Idlib province of northwest Syria, causing casualties and heavy damage, the Britain-based charity said. 
 
&quot;Save the Children supported maternity hospital in #Idlib bombed, casualties reported - numbers unconfirmed,&quot; it tweeted. 
 
In a statement, Save the Children said the bomb hit the entrance to the hospital. 
 
&quot;This is the only hospital specialising in maternity and children in the northern western side of rural Idlib,&quot; it said. 
 
&quot;Casualties have been reported and we are awaiting confirmation of numbers,&quot; the statement said. 
 
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also said that the hospital in the rebel-held town of Kafar Takharim was heavily damaged and left barely operational. 
 
Quoting sources on the ground, it said a jihadist from Jabhat Fateh al-Sham who was going to visit his wife in the hospital was killed in the raid. 
 
&quot;It was him that was targeted. He went to visit his wife who had just given birth when the bombing happened,&quot; said the monitoring group&#39;s head, Rami Abdel Rahman. 
 
The bombing came a day after the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda, Al-Nusra Front, said it was breaking ties with the global terror network and changing its name to Jabhat Fateh al-Sham. 
 
Save The Children said the hospital is the biggest in the area, serving over 1,300 women monthly and carrying out over 300 deliveries a month. 
 
&quot;The hospital has six incubators for premature babies, and an outpatient clinic for supporting pregnant women and providing after delivery care,&quot; it said. 
 
The Britain-based Observatory did not specify if the raid was carried out by Syrian regime aircraft or warplanes of its Russian allies.&nbsp;Several clinics and makeshift hospital in rebel-controlled areas have been hit by Syrian regime air strikes, particularly in Aleppo and Idlib provinces. 
 
Last week, air raids struck four makeshift hospitals and a blood bank over a 24-hour period in the regime-besieged eastern sector of the city of Aleppo. 
 
In a separate statement, Sonia Khush, Syria Director for Save the Children, said the situation for an estimated 100,000 children trapped under siege and bombardment in Aleppo is &quot;desperate&quot;. 
 
&quot;The world cannot turn its back while children are bombed and then denied medical treatment,&quot; she said.&nbsp;&quot;We need an end to the indiscriminate attacks on civilians and immediate and unfettered access for humanitarian aid.&quot; 
 
CIA chief not optimistic about Syria 
 
Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan said on Friday he was not optimistic about the future of Syria. 
 
&quot;I don&#39;t know whether or not Syria can be put back together again,&quot; Brennan told the annual Aspen Security Forum. His comments were a rare public acknowledgement by a top US official that Syria may not survive a five-year civil war in its current state. 
 
The twin US goals in Syria have been ending the violence that already has claimed some 400,000 lives, according to United Nations estimates, and seeking a political process to replace Assad, whom President Barack Obama has said &quot;must go.&quot; 
 
(AFP) 
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The bombing hit the entrance to the hospital, the area's biggest, serving over 1,300 women and carrying out over 300 deliveries every month

A maternity hospital supported by Save the Children was bombed Friday in an air raid in Idlib province of northwest Syria, causing casualties and heavy damage, the Britain-based charity said. "Save the Children supported maternity hospital in #Idlib bombed, casualties reported - numbers unconfirmed," it tweeted. In a statement, Save the Children said the bomb hit the entrance to the hospital. "This is the only hospital specialising in maternity and children in the northern western side of rural Idlib," it said. "Casualties have been reported and we are awaiting confirmation of numbers," the statement said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also said that the hospital in the rebel-held town of Kafar Takharim was heavily damaged and left barely operational. Quoting sources on the ground, it said a jihadist from Jabhat Fateh al-Sham who was going to visit his wife in the hospital was killed in the raid. "It was him that was targeted. He went to visit his wife who had just given birth when the bombing happened," said the monitoring group's head, Rami Abdel Rahman. The bombing came a day after the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda, Al-Nusra Front, said it was breaking ties with the global terror network and changing its name to Jabhat Fateh al-Sham. Save The Children said the hospital is the biggest in the area, serving over 1,300 women monthly and carrying out over 300 deliveries a month. "The hospital has six incubators for premature babies, and an outpatient clinic for supporting pregnant women and providing after delivery care," it said. The Britain-based Observatory did not specify if the raid was carried out by Syrian regime aircraft or warplanes of its Russian allies. Several clinics and makeshift hospital in rebel-controlled areas have been hit by Syrian regime air strikes, particularly in Aleppo and Idlib provinces. Last week, air raids struck four makeshift hospitals and a blood bank over a 24-hour period in the regime-besieged eastern sector of the city of Aleppo. In a separate statement, Sonia Khush, Syria Director for Save the Children, said the situation for an estimated 100,000 children trapped under siege and bombardment in Aleppo is "desperate". "The world cannot turn its back while children are bombed and then denied medical treatment," she said. "We need an end to the indiscriminate attacks on civilians and immediate and unfettered access for humanitarian aid." CIA chief not optimistic about Syria Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan said on Friday he was not optimistic about the future of Syria. "I don't know whether or not Syria can be put back together again," Brennan told the annual Aspen Security Forum. His comments were a rare public acknowledgement by a top US official that Syria may not survive a five-year civil war in its current state. The twin US goals in Syria have been ending the violence that already has claimed some 400,000 lives, according to United Nations estimates, and seeking a political process to replace Assad, whom President Barack Obama has said "must go." (AFP)

Save the Children-supported maternity hospital bombed in Syria: NGO

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