New Delhi Mar 26 PTI The Delhi Commission for Women DCW has issued a notice to the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board DUSIB over serious lapses being found in a shelter home for mentally challenged women in Subzi Mandi area here A notice has also been issued to the Delhi Police over the rape of an inmate and a former staffer of the shelter home DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal and some members of the panel visited the shelter home being run by NGO Ashray Adhikar Abhiyan The commission found that the shelter housed nine mentally challenged women and girls the DCW said It was seen that no restoration efforts were being undertaken by the shelter for the women some of whom had been living in the shelter since 2014 It was found that proper case files were not maintained and there were no file notings or official records in any of the files it said The DCW also found that no steps were taken to initiate police action in the cases involving inmates The panel also said that proper health records of inmates were not being maintained even though all of them were prescribed medicines by the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences IHBAS The commission also observed that the shelter was being run by untrained staff and no SoPs were there to deal with the women and any emergencies arising at any time It also found that the facility had no guard during the day When the commission entered the shelter at 6 pm there was no one at the gate and no visitor registers were being maintained it said The commission also noted lack of training or recreational activities for the residents who remained inside throughout the day A former staffer of the home also told DCW that she and a 25-year-old resident of the shelter were raped by two men The Delhi Police has registered an FIR in the matter and is investigating the allegations However no arrests have been made till now the staffer alleged The commission has issued a notice to the DUSIB seeking a detailed action taken report on its observations The commission has asked the DUSIB to provide file noting of the decisions under which this shelter home for mentally challenged persons was set up along with SoPs It has sought copies of reports of inspections conducted by DUSIB officials of this shelter It has also asked for details of action taken against officials and NGO in the matter The commission has also issued a notice to the Delhi Police seeking urgent arrests in the matter along with protection for the survivors The authorities have been given time till 4 pm on March 28 for submission of the replies PTI SLB SMN

New Delhi [India], March 23 (ANI): After two years, the Government of India revoked provisions of the Disaster Management Act for COVID containment measures, as per the order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday.

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], January 8 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Saturday instructed the authorities to enhance COVID-19 testing, effective monitoring of clusters in view of rising COVID-19 cases in the state.

Islamabad [Pakistan], January 7 (ANI): Pakistan President Arif Alvi has said that he tested positive for COVID-19 for the second time, calling on people to follow precautionary measures and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

New Delhi [India], December 27 (ANI): Delhi Gym Association has written a letter to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal regarding Graded Response Action Plan for COVID-19 wherein the gymnasiums are asked to be closed in the yellow zone with 0.5 per cent positivity rate.

Chennai [Tamil Nadu], November 1 (ANI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday distributed books among students in Chennai as schools reopened for students from classes 1 to 8.

Mumbai Oct 22 PTI Cinema halls drama theatres and auditoriums reopened in Maharashtra after several months on Friday with 50 per cent seating capacity and COVID-19 protocols as the second wave of the pandemic appears to be ebbing in the state These establishments shut after the second wave hit the state have reopened just ahead of Diwali in line with the state governments policy to ease coronavirus-related curbs Earlier the state government had allowed reopening of religious places and schools for Classes 8 t 12 However according to sources in the entertainment industry at least 70 per cent of single screen movie halls in the state did not reopen while a majority of multiplexes commenced operations during the day The state government had last week issued guidelines for reopening cinema halls drama theatres and auditoriums by allowing them to operate with 50 per cent seating capacity As per the guidelines only people who have taken both doses of the COVID-19 vaccines and those showing safe status on Aarogya Setu app will be allowed entry at these establishments Nitin Datar who heads the Single Screen Cinema Exhibitors Association said 70 per cent of the single screens in the state did not open on Friday This was primarily because there was no picture flow and the SoPs are not ready Most of the theatre owners wish to wait and watch Some movies that released in multiplex screens had only 10 per cent occupancy Datar said Exhibitors hope that by Diwali cinema halls will be allowed to operate with full capacity he said If the occupancy is not good we will have more expenditure and less income Datar said Speaking in Pune Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said a decision on allowing 100 per cent occupancy in drama theatres cinema halls and auditoriums will be taken after assessing the situation post-Diwali Meanwhile Prakash Chaphalkar a top office-bearer of the Multiplex Association of India said a majority of the multiplexes have opened in the state Cinema halls drama theatres and auditoriums had downed their shutters following the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020 but reopened briefly in November before the onslaught of the second wave and had stayed shut sinceWith these new guidelines the state government has made the use of mask and social distancing compulsoryAs per the norms show timings will have to be staggered and sale of only packaged food items and beverages will be allowedMoviegoers will be required to wear masks and hand sanitisers will be made available at the establishments and washrooms it was statedSpitting will not be allowed and thermal screening at entry points will be mandatory the guidelines state PTI MR SPK ARU KRK RSY RSY

New Delhi [India], October 13 (ANI): There are no separate standard operating procedures (SoP) for specific festivals, even for Chhath, and the existing policy to prevent the spread of COVID-19 will continue, stated government sources.

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 30 (ANI): Amidst ongoing preparation of reopening schools in the state, 23 Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) students of Mumbai's KEM hospital found Covid-19 positive with mild symptoms on Thursday.

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 30 (ANI): Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar on Thursday announced strict standard operation procedures (SoPs) for reopening of school for classes 5 to 12 from October 4.