In Mantralaya — EC to revise electoral rolls

The Maharashtra government has announced a concession of 50 paise per unit in power tariff for newspaper organisations in the state during non-peak hours. Chief Minister Manohar Joshi said after the weekly cabinet meeting that the decision would come into effect from today. The facility would be extended to only those newspaper organisations which have their own meters, the chief minister said. He said it had been a long pending demand of the Indian Newspaper Society (INS).

Panel to prevent atrocities on Dalits

Vigilance Committees will be set up at district levels for the prevention of atrocities against Dalits and other oppressed sections of the state, Chief Minister Manohar Joshi announced here on Monday. He was talking at a high level committee of state officials. He advocated a strong and quick implementation of the Prevention of Atrocities (scheduled castes and tribes) Act. Discussing the various actions being contemplated by the state government, Joshi said members of the vigilance committees going to villages to work on establishing better relations between classes, would be given more powers.

Khaire against six-seater rickshaws

State Minister for Transport, Chandrakant Khaire has shot down a proposal to allow six-seater autorickshaws in the state. He was talking at a meeting with representatives of the Maharashtra Rickshaw Chalak Sena on their various demands. On the issue of stopping the issuance of licenses in the future, Khaire said that he would decide after discussions with the other organisations of rickshaw drivers.