After waiting for more than two months, with no relatives coming to pick even the asthi (Potful ash and bone remnants), Karnataka revenue minister, R. Ashoka has performed last rites of over 1,000 Asthis in triveni sangama in Srirangapattana here. The revenue minister on Wednesday himself took the sankalpam (taking pledge) after hiring services of over a dozen priests led by chief priest Bhanu Prakash Sharma who led the last rites. After performing the last rites, Ashoka tweeted saying that he was content in performing last rites of departed souls. I did this to allay fears of relatives, who do not even come near crematoriums after the body is cremated. I direct deputy commissioners to perform last rites in all districts if the such Asthis have remained unclaimed for while, he said in his tweet.
Kerala has retained the top rank in Niti Aayog s SDG India Index 2020-21, while Bihar has been adjudged as the worst performer, as per a report released on Thursday. The Index for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) evaluates progress of states and union territories on social, economic and environmental parameters.
Kerala retained its rank as the top state with a score of 75. Both Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu took the second spot with a score of 74. Bihar, Jharkhand and Assam were the worst performing states in this year s India index. The third rendition of India s SDG Index was launched by Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar on Thursday.
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A US-based organisation, which was established by an Odia woman, donated nearly Rs 50 lakh to the Odisha Chief Minister s relief fund to support the state in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic, an official release said. Our Biswas , which is managed by Joyasree Mahanti, has been working for women empowerment in different parts of Odisha since 2008, the release said. The organisation provides economic empowerment through a programme of trust, and support for women and girls who live in the dire conditions of extreme poverty around the world, according to its website. It has donated USD 68,500 Rs 49.89 lakh approximately to the relief fund, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sanjeev Chopra said in a statement.
Read more about May gold imports surge, vegetable oil buying hits record high: Report on Business Standard. India s gold imports in May surged more than nine-fold from last year s low base to 12 tonnes, while vegetable oil imports in the month spiked 148% to a record $1.4 billion, a government source