Indian Embassy in Beijing started India@75 celebrations with belated Vishwa Hindi Diwas celebrations yesterday which was attended by the Chinese students studying Hindi in different Chinese universities, their Hindi teachers and members of the Indian community in Beijing.

Ambassador Vikram Misri read Prime Minister’s message on Vishwa Hindi Diwas. He said that Hindi is one of the top spoken languages in the world and Vishwa Hindi Diwas is an occasion to promote Hindi and celebrate its popularity at global level.

A video celebrating India’s achievements since Independence was played on the occasion to celebrate the 75 years of India’s Independence – “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav”. AIR Correspondent in Beijing reports that the celebrations of 75 years of India’s independence – Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav could not have got a better start when Chinese academicians and students joined embassy officials and Indian community to celebrate Vishwa Hindi Diwas.

Chinese teachers and students termed Hindi as an important medium to understand India’s culture and emphasised on its role in building bridges between India and China.

Professor Jiang Jingkui, a renowned Chinese authority on Hindi language and spearheading the efforts to promote and popularize Hindi in China told Prasar Bharati, Beijing that efforts are underway to establish 4 more national level centres for studies related to India, specially Hindi by the end of this year in addition to existing two centres at Peking University and Shenchen University.

At present, around 500 Chinese students are studying hindi in around 17 universities in China. The Indian community, students from Peking University and Chinese friends presented cultural performances in Hindi language highlighting the role of language in enhancing people-to-people exchanges.

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has brought 80 plus medicines under Price Regulation. NPPA has fixed the price of 81 medicines including off-patent anti-diabetic drugs allowing due benefits of patent expiry to the patients. 

NPPA has fixed the Retail Price of Insulin Human Injection, 200IU/ml and 70 per cent Isophane Insulin Human Suspension 30 per cent Insulin Human Injection 200IU/ml for M/s Wockhardt Ltd at 106.65 rupees per ml each excluding GST and Prasugrel Hydrochloride 10 mg as film-coated Aspirin 75 mg as enteric-coated Capsule’for M/s Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd. at 20.16 rupees per Capsule excluding GST with effect from 17th March 2021. 

Both the medicines were being sold at MRP of 132.50 rupees per ml and at 27.26 rupees per capsule. With this price regulation, NPPA has re-assured availability of medicines at fair prices to public at large.

NPPA had granted price exemption for above-mentioned formulations to the companies under Para 32 of the Drug Prices Control Order (DPCO), 2013 for a period of five years due to new drug delivery system developed through indigenous Research and Development. Price regulation was not applicable during the exemption period. NPPA in its meeting on 10th of this month decided to regulate the price of these formulations as per provisions of DPCO, 2013 as the exemption period has been over.

This has resulted in reduction of the prices of Insulin Human Injection, 200IU/ml and 70 per cent Isophane Insulin Human Suspension 30 per cent Insulin Human Injection 200IU/ml’, causing sizeable reduction over the existing prices. Now, these medicines have become more affordable to the public.

NPPA also fixed retail price of 76 new drugs in the meeting dated 10th of this month to be launched by existing manufacturers including off-patent Anti-diabetic drugs allowing due benefit of patent expiry to the patients.

In addition, NPPA fixed ceiling price of 2 scheduled formulation namely Povidone Iodine 7.5 per cent Scrub an anti-infective formulation and Levo-Thyroxine 37.5 mg tablet used for treatment of Thyroid related diseases, causing considerable reduction to their present prices.

Revision in existing ceiling prices of scheduled formulations based on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) was also approved by the Authority. The revised prices will be effective from next month.

Maharashtra chief minister’s office has informed that it is authenticating the unsigned letter said to be sent by Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Parambir Singh. In a statement, CMO has informed that today, it has received an unsigned letter with the name of Param Bir Singh at 4.37 PM. It was sent from email ID paramirs3@gmail.com. But Parambir singh has given parimbirs@hotmail.com as a personal email ID for the list of IPS officers. Hence email ID is being checked and home department is trying to contact Param Bir singh.

AIR correspondent reports that sources have said that the letter said to be sent by Singh is addressed to the Chief Minister and copied to the Deputy Chief Minister, Additional Chief Secretary of Home ministry and Principal Secretary of the Governor of Maharashtra. Letter claims that, Home minister has given target to collect 100 Crores a month to Sachin Waze, former head of Crime Intelligence Unit and recently suspended API of Mumbai Police.

The Said letter also contains some messages exchanged between Parambir Singh and ACP Sanjay Patil, Social Service Branch. In a letter it is also claimed that  Parambir singh has already pointed out several misdeeds and malpractices being indulged into by Home minister to Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Letter also claims that the Home minister desired a case of abetment of suicide to be registered at Mumbai in a death case of Dadra & Nagar Haveli MP Mohan Delkar.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) will now investigate the death case of Mansukh Hiren. The NIA spokesperson has said that, Home ministry has issued an order in this regard.

At present, Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad is investigating the case. Mansukh Hiren is reported to be the owner of an explosive-laden vehicle found outside the house of Industrialist Mukesh Ambani. He was found dead in Thane creek on the 5th of March. 

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has said that Rapid Antigen Testing for Covid-19 infections will be done at a random at crowded places in Mumbai in the wake of the surge in Covid-19 cases in the city.

The tests will be done at malls, railway stations, bus depots, markets, tourist places, and government offices. BMC also said, if a citizen refuses to get tested, they will be booked under Epidemic Act.

On Friday, India’s financial capital logged the highest spike of 3,062 new COVID-19 cases taking its caseload to 3,55,897.

Currently, Mumbai has 34 containment zones in slums and chawls and 305 sealed buildings where COVID-19 cases have been found.

More than four crore 36 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the country so far. These include over 77 lakh  Health Care Workers who have taken the first dose, over 48 lakh Health Care Workers who have taken the 2nd dose, over 80 lakh Front Line Workers with 1st dose and over 25 lakh Front Line Workers with 2nd dose.

Over 1.69 crore beneficiaries more than 60 years old and over 35 lakh beneficiaries aged 45 and above with specific co-morbidities have been vaccinated so far.

Yesterday, over 16.12 lakh vaccine doses were inoculated under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive.

Meanwhile, the country’s COVID-19 recovery rate stands at 96.12 per cent with a total recovery of 23 thousand 653 patients within 24 hours.

The Health Ministry said more than one crore 11 lakh people have already recovered from this disease. However, the active caseload is continuously rising in the country due to a sudden spike in the cases reported from various States.

Telugu Association of North America (popularly known as TANA) is the oldest and largest Indo-American organisation in North America. TANA was established in New York in 1977 by the people of Telugu people across North America and was incorporated in 1978 as a non- profit organisation. Development of the people particularly poor and needy echelons of the society is the main objective of TANA vis-à-vis it takes up welfare activities. In view of these, members of the organisation identify and address social, cultural and educational needs of Telugu people in general and North American Telugu Community in particular. Because of TANA’s laudable role, Indian ethnic organisations in the world feel TANA is a role model in promoting culture and serving the community, an innovative method.

 TANA has penetrated its roots through its wings in North America and India by carrying out many development and welfare activities as more than four decades over after its set up. It is pertinent to mention that TANA plays an important role in developing, nurturing, preserving and propagating Telugu arts also.  There is a saying in Telugu, “Desha Vasha Landu Telugu Lessa” meaning Telugu is the beautiful language. In order to promote Telugu language, TANA has established and supported many teaching programmes in Telugu language  in many US universities and instituted educational scholarships for the needy  students.  To inspire the young generation, TANA organises biannual novel and short story competitions in Telugu language. Moreover, TANA helps to publish rare and important works of Telugu culture/activities so that new and present generation can know about these. TANA facilitated the introduction of modern Telugu poetry as well as the Telugu classics like Kanyasulkam to non-Telugu persons through its subvention of English translations.

  As welfare activities, TANA Foundation, the charitable wing of TANA, spends millions of US dollars each year in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for the needy persons for education, sanitation, disease prevention, health promotion, rehabilitation, building of libraries, schools, roads, protected water supply systems etc. It is heartening to mention that TANA’s other activities inter alia are assisting orphanages, scholarships to the needy students, organising eye camp, cancer camp etc.

TANA’s activities are like ‘water in the ocean’ but few recent activities for the benefit of readers are presented: i) all know when a baby is born ‘mother offers milk’ as food is sine qua non for all living beings.  Keeping this in mind, TANA arranges meals to the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank to feed 2000 poor kids every weekend, ii) also it  arranges food for 200 kids every day throughout the year at Tulluru of Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh in collaboration with Akshaya Patra Foundation, India, iii) During COVID-19, TANA provided grocery items to Indian students in remote areas and also arranged flight tickets to 2500 parents who were stranded in USA during lock down, iii) TANA arranged USA made reusable sanitary napkins among the girl children of Gurukulam Pathsala in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh, iv)  to cater the health needs, it arranged 26 paediatric cardiac surgeries for the poor kids in Andhra Pradesh, also v)   TANA, donated free Hepatitis B Vaccine to more than 4500 rural kids of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, vi) to promote art and craft activities , TANA organised Villu Vidya programme in 11 major cities across USA with the objective of promoting Telugu ancient art, vii) with the help of local leadership in the State of Ohio successfully organised carrom competition, ladies cricket, free Yoga workshop, bone marrow drives etc. 

It is worthy to mention that TANA has been doing praiseworthy activities in the USA also. Every year, TANA presents backpacks and other school items to the children of low income earners/below poverty line (BPL) families in various cities/districts of North America. Also members help to conduct health camps and take part in disaster relief activities across the world. Recently , TANA donated 10,000 US Dollar to the Northern Ohio Golf Charities Foundation with the objective of funding the local organisations. 

   As a result of TANA’s activities many leading persons in the USA appreciated TANA, although list is huge but some of these are mentioned here: a) Proclamation from Mayor of Akron, Ohio recognised 2 December 2016 as “TANA Service Day” in Akron, Ohio, b) In 2017 both Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Ohio State praised TANA, c) special recognition received from the Senator Mr Sherwood Brown in 2016 d) special recognition received from the Governor of Kentucky for “Be the Change” programme etc.

 As an Indian I am proud of TANA’s activities as when I was in some countries as a resource person many appreciated the activities of TANA. LONG LIVE TANA.  

The following websites have been consulted while writing the article:

(The author is grateful to Mr. Ashok Babu Kolla, a member of TANA, for providing necessary information to write the article)

Dr Shankar Chatterjee

1)     file:///C:/Users/HP/Desktop/TANA%20Many%20points.html

2)      https://tana.org/foundation/whatWeDo

Former Professor & Head (CPME), NIRD & PR (Govt. of India), 

Hyderabad,  India

PRESENT ADDRESS

Prof. Shankar Chatterjee 
Lidom Villa, No.13
Perancheruvu, Bandlaguda(Jagir), Hyderabad-500 091

India

India’s Badminton Queen PV Sindhu defeated Japanese Akane Yamaguchi in Women’s Singles quarter-finals to book her place in the semi-finals of the All England Open. Sindhu came back brilliantly after losing the first set 16-21. In a nail-biting event, Sindhu kept her composure and won the last 2 sets 21-16 and 21-19. She will now face Pornpawee Chochuwong from Thailand today.
 
Earlier, Lakshya Sen was knocked out in the quarter-finals of the Men’s Singles after losing to Netherlands’ Mark Caljouw.

Nepal has given emergency authorisation to India’s COVID-19 vaccine COVAXIN. It has become the third country to approve the shot, developed by Bharat Biotech and a state research institute.

The vaccine was approved for emergency use in India in January and Zimbabwe cleared it early this month.
 
Nepal’s Department of Drug Administration said, conditional permission has been granted for emergency use authorisation. The Himalayan country has already received more than 2.3 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from India, including one million doses as a gift.
 
The latest approval comes as authorities in Nepal said they were suspending their vaccination campaign because of a lack of supply. Nepal has reported 275,750 cases and 3,016 deaths so far, according to government data.
 
Bharat Biotech says it has received interest in COVAXIN from 40 countries. It has sought or is in the process of seeking emergency approvals in Brazil, the Philippines and Thailand.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd J Austin met with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval last night. In a tweet today, Mr. Austin said, the breadth of collaboration between United States and India reflects the significance of major defense partnership. He added that both the countries are working together to address the most pressing challenges faced by Indo-Pacific region.

Central Bureau of Investigation has conducted nationwide joint surprise checks at premises of Central government Department and Organisations in more than 25 States and Union Territories.
 
The joint surprise checks were conducted in the premises of around 30 Departments and Organizations of the Government of India. These joint surprise checks were conducted to unearth any wrong-doing at places which are prone to corruptible practices while rendering services or implementing projects of the Government of India, at the cutting edge level.
 
Various cities and towns where the surprise checks were conducted include Shillong, Agartala,  Guwahati,  Imphal, Agra, Allahabad, Ahmedabad,  Gandhi Nagar, Goa,  Coimbatore, Manali, Mumbai, Howrah,  Delhi, Bangalore; Hyderabad; Jaipur,  Vishakhapatnam,  Patna, Ranchi,  Dhanbad and Cochin.
 
The Departments where surprise checks were conducted by the CBI include Food Corporation of India, Railways, BSNL, GST, Postal Department, CSD Godown, North Coal Fields Ltd, Indian Oil Corporation, CPWD and Military Engineering Service.

Political parties have intensified campaigning in poll bounds states and Union Territory. Senior BJP leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in West Bengal and Assam today and tomorrow. He will address rallies in Kharagpur in West Bengal and Chabua in Assam today. In a tweet, Mr Modi said, in his speeches he will elaborate on BJP’s development agenda. He said, it is clear that both states West Bengal and Assam want to elect NDA in the upcoming polls.

US Secretary of Defence Lloyd James Austin III, who is on an official visit to India, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi yesterday. During the meeting, Prime Minister outlined his vision for the strategic partnership between both countries and emphasized the important role of bilateral defence cooperation in India-US ties. Mr Modi welcomed the warm and close relationship between the two countries, which is rooted in shared values of democracy, pluralism and commitment to a rules-based order. He requested Secretary Austin to convey his best wishes to President Biden.
 
Secretary Austin reiterated the US Government’s continued commitment towards strengthening the bilateral defence relations between the two countries. He expressed US’ strong desire to further enhance the strategic partnership for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. Secretary Austin conveyed greetings of President Biden to the Prime Minister.

The Home Ministry has instructed all the States and Union Territories to take necessary steps to promote COVID-19 appropriate behaviour among people and ensure strict enforcement of safety measures to curb the rising cases of COVID-19 in the country.
 
In a letter written to all the Chief Secretaries of States and Administrators of Union Territories by the Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, it is stressed that guidelines for surveillance, containment and caution must be strictly followed. It is also asked to ensure wearing of masks, hand hygiene and social distancing.
 
The Home Ministry has urged all the States and Union Territories to take necessary measures for creating awareness among people to follow COVID-19 appropriate behaviour. This order came in the wake of rising cases of COVID-19 in some of the States and Union Territories.