Moushumi Das Gupta
Moushumi Das Gupta writes on infrastructure, urban development, water, and gender issues.
Articles by Moushumi Das Gupta
Law should back future directives on Aadhaar linking, says UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey
By Moushumi Das Gupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON SEP 26, 2018 11:00 PM IST
UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey said the Supreme Court has accepted that there is a legitimate state aim in Aadhaar and it ensures dignity and empowers marginalised sections of the society.
Show how key infrastructure projects impact lives: PMO tells ministries
By Moushumi Das Gupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON SEP 24, 2018 08:49 AM IST
Ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha elections, PMO wants officials to find out if programmes have benefitted people.
Bimstec to launch ambitious land, air, sea transport plan
By Moushumi Das Gupta & Jayanth Jacob | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON SEP 17, 2018 08:50 AM IST
The draft connectivity master plan has been arrived at after over a decade of discussions at various levels.
After abuse, girls rescued from Deoria shelter kept at boys’ home: Report
By Moushumi Das Gupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON SEP 16, 2018 07:53 AM IST
Immediately after the rescue, the victims were housed in a children’s home for boys, called Rajkiya Bal Grih, in Deoria, and were forced to share the facility with its inmates for a week
Fewer teen marriages in India over a decade: Govt
By Moushumi Das Gupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON SEP 11, 2018 11:34 PM IST
Murshidabad in West Bengal shows the highest prevalence (39.9%) of marriage among 15-19-years-old followed by Gandhinagar (39.3 %) in Gujarat and Bhilwara (36.4%) in Rajasthan.
Govt panel wants RBI to relax norms to help stalled housing projects in Noida, Greater Noida
By Moushumi Das Gupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON SEP 08, 2018 02:57 AM IST
Though the RBI circular on “Revised Framework for Resolution of Stressed Assets” provides certain conditions to the banks for additional funding in stalled projects, presently they are wary to come forward as these loans get classified as NPAs.
Next in BJP’s operation 2019: ‘Surgical Strike Day’
By Moushumi Das Gupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON SEP 06, 2018 07:33 AM IST
The government’s move to celebrate ‘Surgical Strike Day’ is significant in the run up to the 2019 general elections; it has been showcasing the surgical strike as an embodiment of its resolve to do whatever it takes when it comes to national security.
New SOP lays probe norm for abuse at child shelters
By Moushumi Das Gupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON AUG 30, 2018 11:25 PM IST
The government has tightened the norms for conducting inquiry into cases of escape, sexual abuse or death of any child living in child care homes
Inspection by ministry of women and child development reveals sorry state of child adoption agencies
By Moushumi Das Gupta | New Delhi, Hindustan Times
UPDATED ON AUG 28, 2018 09:50 AM IST
An inspection of 15 specialised adoption agencies by the ministry of women and child development and the Central Adoption Resource Authority, carried out in January and February, has discovered glaring irregularities.
Proposed law reforms how India treats human trafficking victims, gives them care
PUBLISHED ON AUG 27, 2018 03:42 PM IST
A proposed law frames a comprehensive framework for rehabilitating victims of human trafficking.
Central govt panel to take call on 123 wakf properties in Delhi
By Moushumi Das Gupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON AUG 22, 2018 02:50 AM IST
The previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government had de-notified the properties two months before its tenure ended in March 2014 and handed over their ownership rights to the Delhi Wakf Board.
Explain delay in dealing with sexual harassment cases: Govt to Air India chief
By Moushumi Das Gupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON AUG 17, 2018 11:26 PM IST
At least two air hostesses have written to the Union WCD minister Maneka Gandhi in the last six months complaining about sexual harassment at work and alleging delay on the part of internal committee investigating the matter, a senior officials said.
Liveability ranking will drive up investments in cities, improve infrastructure: Hardeep Singh Puri
By Moushumi Das Gupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON AUG 14, 2018 07:51 AM IST
The rankings for ‘Ease of Living Index’ were released on Monday with Pune, Navi Mumbai and Greater Mumbai being the top three liveable places in the country. National capital Delhi ranked a measly 65th.
The best city to live in India isn’t Delhi or Mumbai. It’s in Maharashtra
By Moushumi Das Gupta | Pune
UPDATED ON AUG 13, 2018 10:08 PM IST
The rankings for ‘Ease of Living Index’ were released on Monday with Pune, Navi Mumbai and Greater Mumbai being the top three liveable places in the country. National capital Delhi ranked a measly 65th.
Will not be surprised if more cases like Muzaffarpur, Deoria come out: Maneka Gandhi
By Moushumi Das Gupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON AUG 07, 2018 08:01 AM IST
There are 9000 government run child care institutions and shelter homes for women and girls across the country.
Opposition demands overhaul in Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, Gadkari may convene meet next week
By Moushumi Das Gupta | New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON JUL 26, 2018 11:06 PM IST
Opposition parties have alleged that the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill affects the federal structure of the Constitution and could jeopardise the states’ transport sector.
BJP’s old Ashoka Road headquarters to be new poll ‘war room’
By Moushumi Das Gupta & Kumar Uttam | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JUL 26, 2018 08:31 AM IST
A BJP leader, on condition of anonymity, said that there is a feeling among some members of the party that the new HQ has not been lucky for it and that the war room for 2019 shouldn’t be located there.
Government’s plan to scrap old, polluting vehicles runs into roadblock
By Moushumi Das Gupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JUL 25, 2018 11:40 PM IST
The vehicle scrapping policy, which was aimed at reducing pollution, was welcomed by vehicle makers because it meant more sales for them.
Panel formed to pick Lokpal as Mallikarjun Kharge boycotts meeting
By Moushumi Das Gupta and Bhadra Sinha | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JUL 19, 2018 11:14 PM IST
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge boycotted the meeting on the grounds that he was being invited as a “special invitee” without any right of participation, recording an opinion or voting.
Want finance ministry approval for scheme? Child welfare component essential, says govt
By Moushumi Das Gupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JUL 16, 2018 08:12 AM IST
The new measure is aimed at ensuring that concerns related to children, who account for 40% of India’s population, are not overlooked in policy planning and implementation.
Govt child rights body to recommend 10% cap on fee hike in private schools
By Moushumi Das Gupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JUL 13, 2018 08:31 AM IST
Inundated with complaints from parents, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), the country’s apex child rights body, has drafted regulations to put in place a uniform fee framework for unaided private schools.
How the December 16, 2012 incident changed discourse around women’s safety in India
By Moushumi Das Gupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JUL 10, 2018 10:09 AM IST
Activists and legal experts say the December 16, 2012 gangrape incident in Delhi in which six men, one of them a juvenile, brutally assaulted a student in a bus, was a tipping point.
Govt decision to introduce conditional cash transfers in place of ration hits roadblock
By Moushumi Das Gupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JUL 09, 2018 12:00 AM IST
Citing the adverse feedback from beneficiaries in the state to the cash-transfer scheme, the Union women and child development ministry has decided to seek PMO’s views on whether the ministry should go ahead with the pilot.
Snubbed twice, Modi govt reaches out to Congress on Lokpal selection meeting
By Moushumi Das Gupta and Aurangzeb Naqshbandi | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JUL 07, 2018 09:56 AM IST
The government reached out to Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge asking him to suggest a date for meeting to discuss appointment of Lokpal.
Give option to drop father’s name in PAN form, Maneka Gandhi writes to finance ministry
By Moushumi Das Gupta | New Delhi, Hindustan Times
UPDATED ON JUL 06, 2018 07:49 AM IST
At present, it is mandatory to mention the father’s name in PAN (Permanent Account Number) card, which also serves as an identity proof. It is a unique ten digit alphanumeric identity that the Income Tax department allots to each tax payer.
Bureaucrats wary of lateral entry in govt service as deadline for applications looms
By Moushumi Das Gupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JUN 30, 2018 12:10 PM IST
The Union government had advertised and sought applications for a Joint Secretary (JS) rank, a mid-ranking position usually filled by officers selected through Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams.
78% of new accounts booked in 2017-18 were home loans under Rs 25 lakh category: NHB
By Moushumi Das Gupta | Hindustan Times, Delhi
UPDATED ON JUN 28, 2018 07:54 AM IST
Under PMAY, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 to provide housing for all by 2022, the Centre provides an interest subsidy on housing loans to the Economically Weaker Section/Low Income group and Middle Income group. The increased numbers point to a revival in the housing sector, clearly showing that the scheme is working, says NHB official.
Finance ministry approves Metro rail projects in Bhopal, Indore, Kanpur, Agra and Delhi
By Moushumi Das Gupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JUN 27, 2018 08:27 AM IST
Besides the five metro projects, the Rs 32,000 crore Delhi-Meerut corridor of the proposed Rapid Rail Transit System also got the in-principle nod from the finance ministry.
PM Modi allows setting up panel to lay down standards for metro rail systems
By Moushumi Das Gupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JUN 24, 2018 11:38 PM IST
The committee to lay down standards for metro rail systems in the country will be headed by E Sreedharan.
IIT Delhi metro station’s name to remain FIITJEE-IIT, but signage has a disclaimer
By Moushumi Das Gupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JUN 23, 2018 08:02 AM IST
A controversy erupted recently after the IIT-Delhi metro station, located just outside the institute’s campus, was named as “FIITJEE-IIT” after DMRC auctioned the naming right of the station to the coaching institute.