Mumbai: Ravindra Waikar, Member of Parliament from Mumbai North West, raised a significant issue in the Lok Sabha today under Rule 377, urging the Union Government to frame a special housing scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) for residents living in protected forest areas and Aarey Colony in Mumbai. He also demanded immediate provision of basic civic amenities such as water, electricity, roads, sanitation, and healthcare on humanitarian grounds until the rehabilitation process is completed.

MP Ravindra Waikar Highlights The Plight Of Residents

Highlighting the plight of residents in Aarey Colony, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, and Appa Pada—many of whom belong to tribal communities—Waikar said that numerous informal settlements have existed in these protected forest regions for decades. Despite the large population, residents continue to live without access to essential services.

“The process of rehabilitation is long and uncertain. Until it is completed, it is imperative to improve the living conditions of these citizens. Ensuring access to basic amenities is not just a humanitarian necessity, but also their constitutional right,” Waikar asserted.

He further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi envisions a home and basic facilities for every Indian citizen. “To make this vision a reality, a special housing scheme should be launched under PMAY for forest-dwellers and Aarey residents. Permanent housing should be provided under this scheme, and until then, the government must ensure access to drinking water, electricity, toilets, roads, and healthcare services,” Waikar emphasized.

Navi Mumbai: Rabale police recovered gold jewellery worth Rs19.13 lakh and a mobile phone within 12 hours of them going missing, bringing relief to 58-year-old Shakuntala Gaikar, a vegetable vendor from Panvel.

On July 31, Gaikar visited Ghansoli Market for her daily business. After returning home, she realised her bag – with ornaments and phone – was missing. She promptly filed a complaint.

A swift investigation began combing through CCTV footage from Ghansoli to Talavali and within hours, officials traced a suspect and recovered the valuables. The mobile phone proved crucial in tracking the location. Gaikar had been carrying her gold daily out of fear of home theft. “We are checking the suspect’s claim that he found the bag and didn’t steal it,” said a senior police inspector. An FIR was earlier filed against an unknown person, but the case’s direction could change based on further verification.

Mumbai: The conflict between postgraduate medical students (resident doctors) and senior faculty members at government-run JJ Hospital has intensified, with the transfer order of Dr Bela Verma, head of the pediatrics department, emerging as the latest flashpoint.

The situation had escalated after allegations surfaced that a female resident doctor attempted suicide due to alleged harassment by Dr Verma. Following the incident, authorities ordered her transfer. However, the decision has been met with strong resistance from the Maharashtra State Medical Teachers’ Association (MSMTA), which has accused the administration of repeatedly targeting senior doctors without a fair probe.

In protest, the association recently convened a meeting where teachers at Grant Government Medical College decided not to conduct postgraduate and super-specialty exams for the 2022-23 batch. They also passed a resolution refusing to sign off on students’ research theses. This development has cast a shadow over upcoming PG examinations and created a wave of anxiety among students.

“The uncertainty around exams has left us in a state of panic. Academic progress is being held hostage due to administrative indecision,” said a student concerned.