ASSAM
Assam: Expert calls ‘fall’ in fertility rate of Muslim women ‘doubtful’
An expert has questioned the findings of a National Family Health Survey (NFHS) which showed a fall in total fertility rate of Muslim women in Assam.
Speaking at a webinar organised by Janasankhya Samadhan Foundation Uttar Purba Khetra on “Population Explosion and Future of Assam” on the eve of World Population Day on Tuesday in association with Cotton University Students’ Union, professor Kalita said, “Census data and sample survey data vary. While census data is collected from survey of every household, sample survey data is based on located or identified samples. So the data reflected for various parameters with regard to Total Fertility Rate of Muslim Women shown National Family Health Survey (NFHS) as decreasing is doubtful.”
To substantiate, professor Kalita said if person has four wives, each giving birth to four to five children, are not taken into consideration during the sample survey. “Under the sample survey, only one or the last woman is considered,” he said.
He said teenage marriage amongst Muslims is 14.9, whereas, amongst Hindus, it is only 4.5 per cent. In Barpeta district, teenage marriage among Muslims is around 14 per cent, in Bongaigaon district it is 15 per cent while in Dhubri district it is 22 per cent, 16 per cent each in Darrang and Hojai districts, 23 per cent in South salmara district and 15 per cent in Nagaon district.
NORTH-EASTERN STATES
Manipur CM leads first-ever tree plantation drive in reserve forest area
Chief minister N Biren Singh on Monday led other dignitaries in the first-ever tree plantation programme in the state being taken up in a reserve forest area in Kangpoki district.
The mass plantation programme, organized by Manipur forest and department, was taken up at Mangjo village, Kangpokpi Reserve Forest, in connection with the 72nd Van Mahotsav 2021.
Forest minister Awangbow Newmai raised concern on the alarming rate of deforestation in the state.
Newmai informed that about 400 square kilometers of forest had been cleared every year, and with this rate, the state would lose almost all its forest cover in near future.
Biren appealed to the public to co-operate in the development policies and projects taken up by the government and refrain from thinking that their lands independently belong to them, said a statement issued by the CM’s office.
INTERNATIONAL
Tax Inspectors Without Borders – TIWB
Bhutan launched the Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) programme in collaboration with India.
It is a collaborative effort between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (OECD).
The programme has been launched in Bhutan, with India serving as the Partner Jurisdiction.
The Tax Expert for this programme has been provided by India.
This programme, which is expected to last about 24 months, aims to assist Bhutan in strengthening its tax administration by transferring technical know-how and skills to its tax auditors and sharing best audit practises in collaboration with the UNDP and the TIWB Secretariat.
The program’s primary focus will be on international taxation and transfer pricing.
The TIWB Initiative aims to facilitate the sharing of tax audit knowledge and skills with developing-country tax administrations through a targeted, real-time “learning by doing” approach.
Selected experts will work directly with local tax officials on current audits and audit-related issues pertaining to international tax matters as well as general audit practises applicable to specific cases.
NATIONAL
Results of Ganga Quest 2021 – Ganga Dussehra
Ganga Quest, a national online quiz on Ganga, rivers, and the environment, was first conceived in 2019 as an educational programme to sensitise children and youth towards the River Ganga in order to strengthen the Namami Gange programme of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India.
Ganga Quest is a competitive knowledge-building platform, an awareness initiative, and a scientific baseline determination exercise designed to assess knowledge gaps and attitude orientation toward the Ganga and Rivers.
Ganga Quest is an international bilingual (Hindi and English) online quiz about Ganga organised by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and the TREE Craze Foundation (TCF), a non-profit organisation dedicated to Ganga, Rivers, and the Environment.
National Population Register – NPR
According to a Union Home Ministry manual, migrants from six non-Muslim minority communities in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh can also produce National Population Register (NPR) enrolment slips as proof of the duration of their stay in India when applying for long-term visas (LTVs).
The NPR number is one of more than ten documents that could be provided to apply for an LTV, which is a prerequisite to acquiring Indian citizenship either by naturalisation or registration under Sections 5 and 6 of the Citizenship Act, 1955, for the six non-Muslim communities.
These communities are: Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, Christians, Jains, and Buddhists.
For the first time, a special provision for LTVs for Hindus and Sikhs from Pakistan and Afghanistan was made in 2011.
It was also claimed that the awareness campaign has nothing to do with the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, which is intended to help undocumented migrants from the six groups who entered India before the 2014 cut-off date.
The CAA has not yet been implemented.
Launch of ITAT e-DWAR
Union Law Minister launches ITAT e-DWAR.
ITAT e-DWAR is the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal’s e-filing portal (ITAT). The portal would allow parties to electronically file their Appeals, Miscellaneous Applications, documents, paper books, and so on.
The portal will improve accessibility, accountability, and transparency in the ITAT’s day-to-day operations.
It will not only reduce the use of paper, resulting in cost savings, but it will also rationalise case fixation, resulting in faster case disposition.
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