Govt focus on reducing road construction costs without compromising on quality: Nitin Gadkari

Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways and MSME Shri Nitin Gadkari has said that the policy of the government is to ensure reduction in road construction costs and improve its quality. Addressing the two-day Virtual Conference and Exhibition for the Bitumen and Road Construction – ‘BITU-CON 2020’, organized by FICCI today, Shri Gadkari said, the government is working on it but more needs to be done.

The Minister urged the industry to increase the use of plastic and rubber wastes in road construction, which also helps the environment. Apart from this, the use of waste products like oil slags from steel plants and flash should also be encouraged. He suggested use of local produce, like jute or coir, and waste products in road construction, which not only increases the life of the road but also gives a better riding experience. He said, the government will come up with a pattern design system for precast.

Elaborating on the use of technology, Shri Gadkari asked the industry to adopt world-class technologies in road construction. He called upon the industry to come up with a plan with a 10-year Defect Liability period for constructing bitumen roads, which currently is for 5 years.

Assuring the industry of full support, Shri Gadkari said, the government is open-minded, transparent, time-bound, result-oriented, and committed to quality. He called up the industry to come and cconvince the government, as it is ready to give permissions. He emphasized that if the quality od roads is improve, the share of bitumen roads will increase from gram panchayats to district roads, state highways, and national highways.

Shri Gadkari further stated that despite COVID-19, the government has been constructing roads at a fast pace and is speedily awarding the contracts. He said, the construction speed has not diminished even during this difficult period.

Applauding the pace of road construction, Dr Sangita Reddy, President, FICCI said that despite the challenges faced by COVID-19, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has surpassed its target for the construction of highways in the country.

Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah inaugurates and dedicates to the people development schemes in Gandhinagar district and city worth Rs. 15.01 crores via video conferencing

Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah inaugurated and dedicated to the people development schemes in Gandhinagar district and city worth Rs. 15.01 crores via video conferencing today. He also laid the foundation stone of various developmental projects worth Rs. 119.63 crores. This includes Smart City projects, upgradation of gardens, road widening and new classrooms in Girls School. These development projects will give a boost to the development of Gandhinagar. Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Nitin Patel also attended the function via video conferencing from Rupaal village.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Amit Shah said, “I am confident that under the leadership of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, we all will endeavour to make Gandhinagar a model Lok Sabha constituency.” The Union Home Minister also said that “the nation is fighting a battle against Corona epidemic under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji”. Besides, the fight against Corona is being waged in Gujarat under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vijay Rupani. As a result of these continuous efforts, there has been a decline in Casualty Rate and the Recovery rate has also improved.

The Union Home Minister said that “public awareness is the only solution in the fight against Corona”. He also appealed to the people to strictly observe Social Distancing. Shri Amit Shah expressed gratitude to the volunteers in Gandhinagar who are serving humanity by providing rations, mask, sanitizers and medicines to the needy under the leadership of PM Shri Narendra Modi.

Expert committee to assist Government for assessment of relief to bank borrowers

Various concerns have been raised during the proceedings of the ongoing hearing in Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, in the matter of Gajendra Sharma Vs. UoI and Others, of the matter regarding the relief sought in terms of waiver of interest and waiver of interest on interest and other related issues.

Government has accordingly constituted an Expert Committee for making an overall assessment so that its decisions in this regard are better informed.

The Expert Committee shall be as under:

(i) Shri Rajiv Mehrishi, former CAG of India – Chairperson

(ii) Dr. Ravindra H. Dholakia, former Professor, IIM Ahmedabad & ex- Member, Monetary Policy Committee of Reserve Bank of India

(iii) Shri B. Sriram, Former Managing Director, State Bank of India & IDBI Bank

The terms of reference of the committee shall be as under:

(i) Measuring the impact on the national economy and financial stability of waiving of interest and waiving of interest on interest on the COVID-19 related moratorium

(ii) Suggestions to mitigate financial constraints of various sections of society in this respect and measures to be adopted in this regard

(iii) Any other suggestions/observations that may be necessary given the current situation.

The committee will submit its report within one week. State Bank of India will provide secretarial support to the committee. The Committee may consult banks or other stakeholders, as deemed necessary, for the purpose.

Role of Trainers are Essential & Crucial in Skilling, Reskilling and Upskilling: Shri NarendraModi

Honorable Prime Minister ShriNarendraModishares his written address to the nation’s trainers for their remarkable efforts in building the skilling ecosystem during the second edition of KaushalacharyaSamadar 2020 (Kaushalacharya Awards)

92 skill trainers awarded under the five categories- Long term training, short term training, Jan ShikshaSansthan, apprenticeship and entrepreneurship training

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) today organized a digital conclave for the second edition of KaushalacharyaSamadar 2020 (Awards). The trainers across different sectors were felicitated for their exceptional contribution in building country’s skilling ecosystem and preparing a future-ready workforce. The occasion had a written address shared by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s message for the country’s trainers, appreciating their persistent hard work and the tenacity in ensuring that the aspirations of today’s youth are kept alive, with apt skill training for their bright tomorrow.

Shri Piyush Goyal says the Government is working with states & local bodies to make it easier to start a business;

The Government is working with states & local bodies to deregulate and make it easier to start a business. Addressing the students of Indian Institute of Foreign Trade through virtual interaction today,Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri PiyushGoyalsaid that India’s own ease of doing business ranking has improved significantly in the five years.

Talking about India’s mammoth potential, Shri Goyal said that the real unique selling point of India should be around High Quality, Good Service and Good Pricing. “India should get recognised the world over for its quality & competitiveness. Quality will have to be integral for the planning of our future. We believe in Transparent pricing, Transparent trade, Free Market, No price controls, and No hidden subsidies”, he said

Explaining the concept of AatmaNirbharBharat, Shri Goyal said that it is not about closing India’s doors to international trade & engagement.“In fact, it is about opening it wider looking for greater engagement in global trade. Now India has to engage with global economies from a position of strength with highly cost-competitive products of high quality”, he said

On India being a huge and much-sought after market, the Minister said “It’s a market that businesses around the world want to engage with. The businesses will not only get a large Indian market but can also leverage this market to get economies of scale. Trading relations between 2 countries rest on the pedestal of high reciprocity & equilibrium. More & more countries are moving towards balanced trade. India also will have to engage with other countries to expand our trading relationships but on the strength of our own competitiveness.” He said that if other countries want access to the market of 130 crore Indians then they will have to give us equal access to their market. India is not going to be a patient receiver of unfair trade practices.

Stating that India had not been a gainer from the past FTA’s, the Minister said that historical wrong will have to be corrected by our generation.Lauding the strong and decisive leadership of the Prime Minister Shri NarendraModi, Shri Goyal said that RCEP deal was not signed as it was not properly addressing India’s concern. He said that India, Japan and Australia, all three true democracies, trusted partners and believers in rule-based trading, have recently agreed to have a supply chain initiative.

Quoting His Holiness Dalai Lama who said, “Open your arms to change but don’t let go of your values”, he said that this is the spirit in which India wishes to engage with the rest of the world. Shri Goyalsaid that India wants to do FTAs with developed countries like the US, the UK and EU. He said that India is ready to sign a limited trade deal with the US at the earliest. He assured that deal will entail substantive gains for the country. All the forthcoming trade deals will be undertaken after discussions with all the stakeholders, and the interests of dairy, agriculture, MSMEs and indigenous manufacturers will be properly safeguarded, he said. The Minister said that the trade with the US is increasing rapidly, and the withdrawal of GSP by the US has not made much impact.

Calling upon active partnership between the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and IIFT, Shri Goyal called upon the students of IIFT to help in identification of new products and areas of export. He asked them to do research, analysis and mine data so that policymakers can learn from the world’s best practices, and work in the spirit of providing better future for India and its citizens. He said, “Our trade policies are up for debate, discussion, review, relook & consideration by students.I hope all of you will deliberate on the future of Indian trade policy and how we can sail through the COVID pandemic & come out resilient:

On the question of promoting indigenous production of toys, Shri Goyal said “We have introduced quality control order on toys, and BIS has come up with standards. As we improve local toys’ quality & increase scale of production, automatically people will prefer local toys, suited to the country.” He said that the Government is helping the industry with enablers, to make them competitive, which include setting up clusters, anchor investors. With digital technologies & startups bringing newer ways of entertainment & creating new toys, India will be able to compete with any country.

Talking about India’s resilience, Shri Goyal said that Indian exports have started showing upward trajectory recently. “In the first week of September, our exports were 13% more than the corresponding period of last year, despite lockdowns and covid related issues.” He said that our services exports have done well, but now we have to ensure that merchandise exports also flourish. The Minister said that for promoting domestic production and exports of goods, the government has identified sectors, and working with the industry to help them overcome the bottlenecks.

Lauding the Indian industry’s hardwork and tenacity, Shri Goyal said that from nowhere, in just 5 months, India has evolved in terms of becoming self-reliant in the production of PPE kits & masks. He said that India has not only become self-sufficient in these items, but is exporting them in large numbers.

An Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away- Fact or Fiction?

Remember the classic theory of the law of gravity that Sir Issac Newton came up with when an apple fell upon his from the tree. This lead to the unfolding of a whole new dimension of Physics. Apple is also supposed to be the forbidden fruit of Eden. This English proverb is of Welsh origin.

Apples originated in the mountainous region of present-day Kazakhstan. They are a symbolism of health, love & fertility. It is the national fruit of Austria & its scientific name is Malus domestica. Apples are a part of the rose family just like pears & plums. This deciduous tree is widely grown that takes 4-5 years to produce its first fruit. The tree prospers by bee pollination & is considered to have a life expectancy of 30-35 years.

Often called a “miracle food” & “nutritional powerhouse,” an apple a day really may keep the doctor away. As one is quite aware of this well-known expression, have you ever really given a thought as to why it is said so? A 2015 study found no evidence that the proverb was true. The study only found that people who ate an apple a day used fewer medications. The proverb basically persuades for the intake of this nutritious fruit that will make one healthier.

Apples are found to be loaded with Vitamin C, especially in the skins accompanied by a low content of micronutrients. Pectin, a soluble fiber is found to be present in this fruit that can help reduce cholesterol levels. A medium-sized apple is considered to have an average of 80-95 calories.

Below mentioned are some key health benefits that might push to pick one daily:

1. Aids Weight Loss

As apples contain a bulk of fibers, this makes it difficult & takes a rather long time to be digested in the stomach. Therefore this keeps one satiated and prevents from binging on other junks.

2. Smoothens the Digestion process

Pectin a soluble fiber draws water from the digestive tract and forms a gel, thus helping to lag digestion and pushing stool through the intestines. The apples are also said to contain malic acid, which is again a useful digestive aid.

3. Boost Brain Power

Apples fasten up acetylcholine production, which helps in strengthening the communication between nerve cells and the brain that further improves memory and lower the chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

4. Stronger Gums & Healthy Teeth

The malic acid that boosts saliva production, hence removing bacteria from the mouth. Additionally packed with vitamins and minerals that promote healthy teeth.

5. Bone Strengthening

Certain flavonoid phlorizin, found in apple skin, may help prevent bone loss during menopause.

6. Beneficial for Diabetic patients

The fructose and antioxidant polyphenols in apples improve the metabolic balance thus the lagging rate at which sugar is absorbed in the body making it especially effective for Diabetic patients.

7. Relieves from Constipation and Diarrhoea

The high concentration of pectin fiber not only aids digestion but also causes to regulate smooth bowel movements.

One may recall days from his childhood when people mocked that eating the apple seeds may cause one to develop a tree in his stomach. Funny right?! But scientifically it’s dreadful. This is because apple seeds are poisonous. Unaware of the fact, people don’t mind gulping down these pips down their esophagus.

These seeds contain a chemical compound called amygdalin, which can release cyanide, a powerful poison when it comes into contact with digestive enzymes. It’s unharmed if the whole seeds pass through the digestive system relatively untouched, but if one chews the seeds then it may cause to be exposed to the toxins.

Apples typically have about eight pips. One or two will not be harmful, as the body can handle small doses of cyanide. So one would have to eat seeds of 18 apples in one sitting to get a fatal dose.

So don’t forget to grab a fruit every day if not an apple. This shall ensure introduction & a perfect regulation of all elements in the body. Since more or less every fruit has health benefits that can knowingly or unknowingly aid to fight against diseases. One can happily opt to have it in breakfast or post midday meal. And probably the best way to have it is to make a mixed fruit salad as this shall ensure all benefits to clog in the body.

Insights after 19th anniversary of 9/11 attack

The terror attack in 2001 on one of the then iconic sites in New York, the World Trade Centre, shook the United States and had a huge impact globally. 9/11 terror attacks, also called the September 11 attacks, were a series of four coordinated suicide attacks by the terrorist group al-Qaeda. “Nineteen years ago, under clear blue skies, 102 minutes changed our lives forever. On Fri., Sept. 11

At 8:46 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001, an American Airlines Boeing 767 flew into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York. As images of the stricken building claimed the attention of TV news channels around the globe, it seemed possible that the tower, an iconic symbol of America, had been the victim of a tragic accident.

But 17 minutes later, when another Boeing 767 struck the South Tower as the world looked on, it became shockingly clear that America was under attack. The tower collapsed at 9:59 a.m., followed 29 minutes later by the North Tower. Two more aircraft had been hijacked. One was flown into the Pentagon; the other crashed in a Pennsylvania field after passengers fought back and foiled the hijackers’ plan to attack Washington.

The attacks left 2,996 dead, including the 19 Al-Qaeda terrorists responsible, but the true cost is still being counted today. In under a month, America had invaded Afghanistan, embarking on the longest war in its history, and in March 2003 a US-led coalition invaded Iraq.

At the time, President George W Bush gave an immediate, simple explanation of why the attacks had been made: “America was targeted for attack because we’re the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.”

Health Affects

The collapse of the twin towers on Sept. 11, 2001, released a plume containing 400 tons of pulverized asbestos and other hazardous materials across lower Manhattan.

An estimated 410,000 to 525,000 people, including more than 90,000 workers, were exposed to the toxic dust during the rescue, recovery and cleanup efforts that followed the attack.

But there has been growing awareness in recent years of the suffering of another group of people tied to the tragedy – firefighters, police and others who died or fell ill after exposure to the wreckage and the toxins unleashed in it.

While research continues into whether those illnesses are tied to 9/11 toxins, a victim’s compensation fund for people with potentially 11 September-related health problems has awarded more than $5.5 billion so far. Over 51,000 people have applied.

Aniverssary

With crime on the rise, shops and apartments increasingly vacant and homeless people on the sidewalks, New York on Friday will mark the 19th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic and a bitter fight with the White House.

The city will hold its annual ceremony in memory of the nearly 3,000 people who died in the bloodiest terrorist attack in US history, punctuated by a minute’s silence at the exact moments that Al-Qaeda jihadists crashed two hijacked airplanes into the World Trade Center towers.

Instead of reading out the roll call of the dead, the families of victims have recorded themselves in 2020. But they will still be present at the “Ground Zero” memorial.

The site museum will also open for the first time since the novel coronavirus brought the city to a standstill in March.

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Health Affects

Aniverssary

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