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UK
Sanskruti successfully displays heritage of Tanjore Kingdom
A Bharatnatyam presentation on the compositions authored during the Tanjore Maratha Kingdom was hosted by the Nehru Centre on 11 July. Dancer Ragasudha Vinjamuri presented the classical dance on Sanskrit, Marathi and Telugu compositions authored by King Shahaji Bhonsle 2, the nephew of Chatrapati Shivaji. Director of the Nehru Centre and Culture Minister Sangeeta Bahadur has given an opening message welcoming the audience and outlining the artiste background. A brief audio visual presen-
tation was shown on the rulers and lineage of the Tanjore Kingdom.
Shivaji’s brother Ekoji was the first Tanjore Maratha ruler. His son Shahaji’s reign is termed as the golden period during which music, dance
and literature flourished. Students of Sanskruti
Centre for Cultural Excellence Mugdha, Nikhita, Lochana, Sneha, Anumita, Siya and Sriya under tutelage of the Ragasudha have first performed the invocation to Ganesha, Saraswati, Lakshmi and to Nataraja. This was followed by the composition on Nataraja, the Lord of Dance and Parvatihis consort. The pleasant aspect of Kanchi Kamakshi and her fierce aspect while protecting her devotees from evil were distinctly shown by seasoned Ragasudha to a hall packed with audience. The music was very fresh and engaging, and were presented for the first time in the UK after the compositions were picked from Tanjavur Saraswati Library Mahal recently. An impromptu sketch of the dancer was made by a senior artiste in the audience.
Multi-million pound drive announced to boost diversity in creative industries
Government is joining forces with employers, charities and industry partners to develop new pathways into the creative industries for hundreds of people from underrepresented groups, especially ethnic minorities. The project will open doors for future filmmakers, designers and TV producers. Former Skills and Enterprise Minister Matthew Hancock announced a further £4million of funding to match industry investment, in a major boost to the creative industries. The project will see nearly 300 black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) young people recruited into living wage internships. The interns will gain first-hand experience with 150 employers
from across the sector with opportunities ranging from training on the sets of shows like EastEnders and Holby City to assisting with curating an exhibition at the South Bank Centre. Young people will attend monthly masterclasses where they can meet and learn from industry leaders. The project will help more than 3,000 young people develop CVs, draft applications and prepare for interviews. The project, which will be delivered by the charity Creative Access and skills body Creative Skillset, has been launched as part of the successful bid submitted by Channel 4 on behalf of the creative industries for the Employer Ownership of Skills Pilot. This project will also
provide bespoke bursaries for 900 people to support their progression to senior and influential levels in the creative industries. The news follows the announcement earlier this month of £16m of coinvestment to develop the current and future creative workforce supporting the Creative Industries Council’s new industry strategy. The strategy, outlines a plan for businesses and Government to work together to maintain the UK’s position as a world leader for the creative industries. Other developments in the overall bid such as the delivery of quality apprenticeships and business leadership provision will also hopes to help to progress diversity in the industries.
Arjuna Weerasinghe
who died three days later. But he had to wait another 14 months for hospital chiefs to respond to a coroner’s request for information about the case and an initial internal report was altered to remove a sentence exonerating Weerasinghe of any blame. The decision to sack Weerasinghe was made by Dr Chanaka Karunaratne, the hospital’s clinical director for surgery. He reportedly refused to read a threepage report from Weerasinghe’s GP before
Whistleblower surgeon wins fight against NHS
A surgeon, who worked at Basildon Hospital in Essex, is seeking a sevenfigure compensation payout after an employment tribunal ruled he was unfairly sacked for gross misconduct after blowing the whistle on poor patient care at a hospital. Arjuna Weerasinghe believes he contracted pneumonia in a dirty operating theatre at Basildon Hospital in Essex. He raised his concerns in 2010 after crucial equipment was unavailable when he performed surgery on a man
www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 19th July 2014
Judgement on minimum income threshold for spouses disappoints families The judgment on the long awaited case of MM v Secretary of State for the Home Department that challenged the minimum income threshold for spouses wishing to enter the UK, has led to a heartbreaking result for those families forced apart by the rule. The judgement suggests that applicants who have met all the requirements to enter the UK, apart from the minimum income threshold will now stand to be refused. According to the judgement, the minimum income threshold for British citizens to sponsor a non-EEA spouse or partner or child to come and live in the UK was introduced in July 2012. It aims to ensure that family migrants do not become reliant on the taxpayer for financial support and are able to integrate effectively. The minimum income threshold was set, following advice from the independent Migration Advisory Committee, at £18,600 for sponsoring a spouse or partner, rising to £22,400 for also sponsoring a child and an additional £2,400 for each fur-
ther child. The judgment overturns an earlier High Court judgment from July 2013, which was supportive of the approach but found that the impact of the minimum income threshold on family life could be disproportionate. The judgment now means that, from the 28 July, the 4,000 individuals whose applications are currently on hold, pending this judgment, will now receive a decision. An appeal to the Supreme Court will be attempted, but it will be many months until any outcome is known. Immigration and Security Minister James Brokenshire said: “I am delighted that the Court of Appeal has comprehensively upheld the lawfulness of this important policy. “We welcome those who wish to make a life in the UK with their family, work hard and make a contribution, but family life must not be established in the UK at the taxpayer’s expense and family migrants must be able to integrate. The minimum income
threshold to sponsor family migrants is delivering these objectives and this judgment recognises the important public interest it serves.” Mr. Kanti Nagda of Sangat Advice Centre told Asian Voice that every Government has the right to decide on its Immigration Policy provided it does not discriminate against one section of the community. In the cases of foreign spouses, added Mr. Nagda, the Government has failed to be seen to be doing justice as the minimum wage set by the Government is not in line with the requirement of the £18,600.00 minimum threshold for spouses. He further said that the Prime Minister, when in Opposition said that his Government would be most family friendly Government we have ever had in this country and we would do everything to support families – every sort of family. Mr. Nagda called on the PM to level playing field and assist over 4000 foreign spouses who would now be refused visa to join their husband/wife.
Staff at Muslim school filmed describing how clapping hands is Satanic
Footage obtained for a Channel 4 documentary at The Olive School in Blackburn allegedly shows teachers at the Muslim faith primary school referring to clapping hands as ‘Satanic’, discussing whether music in school might be un-Islamic, how ties could be turned into snakes and that gay people should be stoned to death. The school has 600 pupils in Blackburn and is run by the Tauheedul Islam Faith, Education
and Community Trust. The Trust has reportedly labelled the discussions as ‘staff room gossip’. Channel 4 did not say what footage from the school would be aired. Officials at the Trust contacted the Department for Education after learning of the allegations. The Trust invited inspectors to visit the school, and the DfE ordered an emergency ‘no notice’ Ofsted inspection last week. The Trust later said that
this inspection went ‘very well’. A Tauheedul governor reportedly said: ‘The Trust’s schools provide a first class education for young people in modern-day Britain… We need to look at what these schools have achieved for their pupils.’ Blackburn MP Jack Straw reportedly said: ‘I reserve final judgment until I see the programme. From what I know the allegations are groundless.’
the disciplinary hearing, arguing that it would have taken 30 minutes to do so. In the same year that Weerasinghe raised concern with his bosses over the lack of vital equip-
ment, Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was named by the Care Quality Commission, the health regulator, as one of 25 trusts in need of
urgent investigation over high mortality rates. The tribunal also heard how hospital staff complained in November 2010 that walls in operating theatres had not been cleaned for 16 months.