The upcoming G20 anti-corruption working group meeting in Rishikesh, India will provide an opportunity for India to illustrate how its anti-corruption initiatives have positively impacted women’s empowerment. This meeting will discuss a variety of subjects such as the influence of corruption on women, the role of audit institutions, and the development of a universal definition for economic offenders.
India plans to utilize this meeting to showcase its efforts in intertwining gender sensitivity with anti-corruption strategies during a separate event. The country also aspires to strengthen the G20 nations’ determination to fight corruption globally and stop economic offenders from finding haven in countries with relaxed laws.
India’s Prime Minister has proposed a Nine-Point Agenda for Action Against Fugitive Economic Offences and Asset Recovery, which aligns with the concerns of all G20 countries. Moreover, India is putting together a collection of successful strategies regarding auditing’s role in combating corruption. This effort emphasizes collaboration between Supreme Audit Institutions and anti-corruption organizations to increase transparency and accountability in public finance.
Indigenous Tribes Push for Separation of Manipur’s Hill Areas
In Manipur, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) is an assembly representing recognized tribes within Manipur’s Churachandpur district. It has demanded the total separation of hill areas inhabited mainly by the indigenous tribes of Kuki-Chin-Zomi-Mizo group, from the rest of the state.
The ITLF submitted a petition to the former Chief of Central Reserve Police Force, who has been appointed as the security advisor to the Manipur government following recent ethnic clashes. They stated their inability to cohabitate with the dominant Meiteis due to continual atrocities and expressed hatred towards tribal inhabitants.
Initiatives towards Resolving Assam and Meghalaya Border Dispute
A recent meeting between the chief ministers of Assam and Meghalaya marked a significant milestone towards resolving long-standing border disputes between the two states. Assam and Meghalaya share an 884 km-long border that has experienced frequent conflicts.
The meeting signified the onset of resolution procedures for the remaining six disputed regions. The states have been discussing dispute settlements since July 2021 and signed an MoU in March 2022 to address six out of twelve disputed areas. It was also decided to initiate visits to disputed regions by three panels previously established by both states, indicating a renewed commitment to resolving this issue.
The Changathi Project and Migrant Workers Empowerment
The accomplishments of migrant workers in the Malayalam examination underline the success of the Changathi Project under the Kerala Literacy Mission. This program, designed to mitigate social exclusion faced by migrant laborers, aims to teach them to read and write Malayalam and Hindi.
The importance of socio-cultural integration is recognized, and the mission strives to equip migrant workers with necessary skills to understand their residing state’s peculiarities. The Changathi program was launched on August 15, 2017, in Perumbavoor, Kerala. Through initiatives like Changathi, migrant workers are empowered, dismantling obstacles and promoting greater inclusivity in society.
