The Supreme Court has asked states and the central government to urgently identify and repeal all obsolete provisions that continue to contain discriminatory references to people with leprosy. According to the National Human Rights Commission, there are nearly 100 laws that limit the rights and access to services of even those who have been cured.
More than 2.3 million Sri Lankans have been affected by the natural disaster that struck the country on 28 November. An estimated three million livestock died in the disaster, while flood-damaged rice still ended up for sale. About 20 per cent of the country's rice fields were destroyed by the floods.
India is preparing its first entirely digital census after 15 years of delays. Caste will once again be included, as well as details on internal migration. However, in the poorest and most remote regions, millions of people are at risk of not being counted, with repercussions on federal funds and welfare programmes
The NGO Minority Concern calls for "concrete and measurable steps”. Despite some commitments made by the authorities, major gaps persist. Minorities are still victims of discrimination, violence, and socioeconomic marginalisation. Naveed Walter laments the growing use of blasphemy legislation to target Christians, Ahmadis, and Hindus.
The CBCI has filed an appeal pointing out that the legislation grants arbitrary powers to the authorities, vaguely defines the modalities of unlawful conversion and obliges citizens to reveal their personal faith choices to the state. The Supreme Court has asked the Rajasthan government to submit its response. The case could also have national implications.
Nepal's anti-corruption commission has indicted 55 former politicians and officials and the state-owned China CAMC Engineering of inflating the costs of Pokhara International Airport, built with a Chinese loan as part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, but currently without regular international flights. The investigation is testing the new caretaker government, which does not want to jeopardise ties with Beijing.
