South Asia Citizens Web

archaeological investigations are motivated by a desire to grant Pakistan historical legitimacy

Everything from detergent to popcorn is made in factories dotting the Mumbai Metropolitan Region that store tonnes of hazardous chemicals with scant regard for rules or the safety of workers and the public at large

It was probably late sixties or early seventies – when this pen pusher was a school student - one came across an article by a gentleman called P N Oak in a Marathi magazine called ‘Amrit’. The article made a particular case about Taj Mahal which it termed as ‘Tejo Maha Aalay’ or hindu god Shiva’s abode. It tried to establish through various ‘explanations’ that a Shiva Temple was destroyed to build Taj Mahal and if we dig deep we can find ‘remnants’ of the earlier structure.

The Asian Human Rights Commission wishes to clarify its position regarding the controversy about the government’s proposal for a law to force the registration of non-governmental organisations with a National Secretariat functioning under the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence and Urban Development.

A month ago, on 6 June 2014, more than a thousand workers of 23 hot roller plants in Wazirpur Industrial area in Delhi had struck work. Their demands included only what has been laid down in the law. The demands were enforcement of minimum wages, payment of overtime at double rate, provision of appointment letters, worker identity cards, salary slips, Employee’s State Insurance (ESI), Provident Fund, prescribed bonus amount, safety measures at workplace, provision of government holidays, and payment of salary in the first week of every month. The workers formed a committee by the name of Garam Rolla Mazdoor Ekta Samiti to represent them in putting forth their demands. Today, more than a month later, the workers continue to struggle for basic work conditions. In complete defiance of labour department’s instructions and outright violation of all norms, the factory owners have shown complete indifference to workers’ demands.