Month: May 2023

National Convention of Modi Samaj in Ahmedabad

 Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah inaugurated the National Convention of Modi Samaj in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, today

 

In his address, Shri Amit Shah said that efforts are being made to unite the dispersed community, and it is a good sign for both the community and the nation. He said that this community has progressed ahead due to its continuous efforts and strength and it will get the representation. Shri Shah said that this society is blessed by Lord Shiva himself.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that Shri Narendra Modi has visited every village in Gujarat and inspired the youth and by forming an organization provided a unparalleled structure for bringing change in Gujarat. He said that on the basis of his public welfare works during his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of the country, and now as a Prime Minister, he is increasing India’s pride across the world.

Shri Amit Shah said that the previous governments always harassed and humiliated the OBC community and ignored them, Prime Minister Modi took many initiatives for giving respect to the OBC community and took many steps for the welfare of the OBC community in last 9 years. He said that many OBCs have been made Chief Ministers from our party, the constitutional status has been provided to the OBC commission by the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and for the first time 27 ministers from the OBC community have been included in the Union cabinet.

 

Union Home Minister said that earlier there was no reservation for OBCs in Kendriya Vidyalaya, Navodaya Vidyalaya and NEET exam, but it has now been ensured by the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He said that a venture capital fund for OBC young entrepreneurs has been set up. The amendment process in the OBC list was also initiated by the government under the guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.Shri Shah said that during the last 56 years rule of the previous governments, not a single initiative was takenfor ensuring respect for the OBC community, but Shri Narendra Modi has taken countless measures in the past 9 years, through which the OBC community is rising and achieving its due place.

Shri Amit Shah said that the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has made efforts to provide all kinds of facilities to the poor because Shri Modi, himself was born in a poor household and became the Prime Minister of the country through the democratic process. For the first time, a person who came has seen such poverty became the Prime Minister of the country and Shri Modi, who understood the suffering of the poor, provided gas cylinders to the homes of about 13 crore people of the country, built toilets in 10 crore houses, gave houses to 3 crore people, more than 3 crore houses were provided electricity, all health facilities up to Rs. 5 lakh were given free of cost to 70 crore people and 5 kg food grains per person per month free of cost were provided to 80 crore people for two and a half years. ShriShah said that during the Covid-19 pandemic, considering everyone equal, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi provided the Corona vaccine to 130 crore people. He said that Prime Minister Modi has shown how technology can be used for every section of the society. He said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is using technology to provide facilities to the poorest of the poor. He said that Prime Minister Modi has eliminated corruption by linking many public welfare schemes of the government with DBT and sending their benefits directly to the bank accounts of the poor.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Minister said that Rathore, Teli, Sahu community has made a huge contribution for the country and given the country such a Prime Minister who has worked to establish India’s pride in the world.When the President of America says that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, you are very popular in America, and he wants your autograph, then every Indian feels proud. He said that the Indian economy which was earlier ranked 11th in the world, has moved up to the 5th position today and Prime Minister Modi has set a target that the Indian economy will become a $5 trillion economy by 2025. Shri Shah said that India ranks second in the world in smartphone usage and production, third in aviation market, third in automobile market, third in start-ups and ranks third in the world in renewable energy.He said that after the independence of the country, in comparison to the 50 years of opposition governments, the 9 years of government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has many significant achievements.

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reports of rising cases of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in livestock of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts

 Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying under the Ministry of Fisheries, AH and Dairying acts promptly to address concerns of livestock farmers of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts of West Bengal today, as suspected cases of LSD (Lumpy Skin Disease), a devastating disease of Cattle and Buffaloes are reported.

Union Cabinet Minister for the FAHD Shri Parshottam Rupala directed for prompt action on the letter of the Member of Parliament from Darjeeling Raju Bista about his concerns on the reports of rising cases of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in Kalimpong and Darjeeling districts of West Bengal.

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, GoI responded swiftly and has taken all necessary steps for providing technical and financial support in close co-ordination with State and district officials of AHD.

As per the verifications from the field, there are no deaths of cattle due to LSD in Darjeeling and Kalimpong. Around 400 unvaccinated cattle in Darjeeling and 2000 in Kalimpong were infected out of which 200 and 1200 respectively have already recovered. Treatment of other infected cattle is underway including ring vaccination of cattle in affected areas to check the spread of the disease. There are no reports of LSD in sheep/goats In both the districts and the infection is reported mainly in unvaccinated cattle. However, the situation is under control.

The Department has been implementing various measures for control of the disease which are as under:

  • Surveillance: The Department has already formulated the surveillance strategy through Exit Plan and circulated to all the states. Diagnostic facilities are readily available in the region and Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RDDL), Kolkatta has been authorized and financially supported for surveillance of cattle through PCR testing of LSD and the same was communicated to the state.
  • Vaccination programme: States have been advised regularly to undertake vaccination as per the controlled and preventive strategy. Uniform rates for purchase of the vaccines have been communicated to the state. Financial assistance under ASCAD with 60: 40 share is provided to the states including West Bengal.
  • Visit of RDDL officers to Kalimpong and Darjeeling: The central team consisting of one officer each from North Eastern Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (NERDDL), Guwahati and Eastern Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ERDDL), Kolkata has been constituted to visit the affected area to assess the ground situation and to support the state AHD for control and containment of LSD in definite time line.

The Department of Animal Husbandry & dairying is taking all necessary steps including funding and technical support for timely control and prevention of LSD in the country. However, the field implementation lies with the state government as Animal Husbandry is the state subject.

 

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Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala

 Kesavananda Bharati Sripadagalvaru & Ors. v. State of Kerala & Anr. (Writ Petition (Civil) 135 of 1970), also known as the Kesavananda Bharati judgement, was a landmark decision of the Supreme Court of India that outlined the basic structure doctrine of the Indian Constitution.[1] The case is also known as the Fundamental Rights Case. The court in a 7-6 decision asserted its right to strike down amendments to the constitution that were in violation of the fundamental architecture of the constitution.[2]

Justice Hans Raj Khanna asserted through the Basic Structure doctrine that the constitution possesses a basic structure of constitutional principles and values. The Court partially cemented the prior precedent Golaknath v. State of Punjab, which held that constitutional amendments through Article 368 were subject to fundamental rights review, but only if they could affect the ‘basic structure of the Constitution’. At the same time, the Court also upheld the constitutionality of the first provision of Article 31-C, which implied that amendments seeking to implement the Directive Principles, which do not affect the ‘Basic Structure,’ shall not be subjected to judicial review.

The doctrine forms the basis of power of the Indian judiciary to review and override amendments to the Constitution of India enacted by the Indian parliament.

The 13-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court deliberated on the limitations, if any, of the powers of the elected representatives of the people and the nature of fundamental rights of an individual. In a verdict divided 7–6, the court held that while the Parliament has ‘wide’ powers, it did not have the power to destroy or emasculate the basic elements or fundamental features of the constitution.[3]

When this case was decided, the underlying apprehension of the majority bench that elected representatives could not be trusted to act responsibly was unprecedented. The Kesavananda judgment also defined the extent to which Parliament could restrict property rights, in pursuit of land reform and the redistribution of large landholdings to cultivators, overruling previous decisions that suggested that the right to property could not be restricted. The case was a culmination of a series of cases relating to limitations to the power to amend the Constitution.

  1.  “Kesavananda Bharati … vs State Of Kerala And Anr on 24 April, 1973”. Indian Kanoon. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  2. ^ Keane, Debasish Roy Chowdhury & John (21 December 2021). “From checks and balances to compliance: How the judiciary has responded to government pressure”. Scroll.in.
  3. ^ “Kesavananda Bharati … vs State Of Kerala And Anr on 24 April, 1973”. Indian Kanoon. para. 787. Retrieved 24 June 2012.

76th Session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland

 The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the 76th Session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland today via video message today.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister extended warm greetings to everyone present and congratulated the World Health Organization on completing the historic milestone of serving the world for 75 years. He expressed confidence that WHO would be setting goals for the next 25 years when it reaches 100 years of service.

Stressing for greater collaboration in healthcare, the Prime Minister highlighted the gaps in the global health architecture which were exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasized the need for a collective effort in building resilient global systems and boosting global health equity. Shri Modi highlighted India’s commitment to international cooperation and informed that the country shipped almost 300 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to over 100 countries including many countries from the Global South. The Prime Minister expressed confidence that supporting equal access to resources will be a top priority for the WHO in the coming years.

“India’s traditional wisdom says that the absence of illness is not the same as good health”, the Prime Minister said as he noted that one must not only be free from ailments but also take a step towards wellness. Highlighting the benefits of traditional systems such as Yoga, Ayurveda and meditation, the Prime Minister explained that it addresses physical, mental and social aspects of health and expressed delight that WHO’s first Global Centre for Traditional Medicine is being established in India. He also expressed happiness that the International Year of Millets is playing a crucial role in creating awareness about the importance of millets.

“Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, the Prime Minister said as he mentioned the ancient scriptures from India that teach us to see the world as one family. He touched upon the G20 theme of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ and said that India’s vision for good health is ‘One Earth One Health’. Shri Modi emphasized that India’s vision is not restricted to just humans, but extends to the entire ecosystem including animals, plants and the environment. He said that We can be healthy only when our whole ecosystem is healthy.

Highlighting India’s achievements in the last few years regarding the availability, accessibility & affordability of healthcare, the Prime Minister gave examples of the world’s largest health insurance scheme – Ayushman Bharat, the massive ramping up of health infrastructure, and the drive to provide sanitation and drinking water to millions of families in the country. Underlining that many of India’s efforts are aimed at boosting health at the last mile in the country, the Prime Minister suggested that an approach which works with the scale of India’s diversity can also become a framework for other nations. Shri Modi expressed keenness in supporting the WHO for similar efforts in low and middle-income countries.

Concluding the address, the Prime Minister commended the WHO on 75 years of efforts in advancing Health for All. He remarked that the role of global institutions like the WHO will be even more important for the challenges that lie ahead in the future. “India is committed to helping every effort to build a healthier world”, the Prime Minister concluded.

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DS/TS

India is an invited country at the 49th G-7 Summit.: A Few Facts

The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi is in Hiroshima, Japan, from May 19 to 21 where he represents India as an invited country at the 49th G-7 Summit. The G-7 Summit is a platform for India to take its many multilateral engagements forward. A few facts about G-7 may be mentioned here for the benefit of readers. The points have been collected from the website, http://www.g7hiroshima.go.jp/en/summit.
The G7 Summit is an international forum held every year for the leaders of the G7 member States viz., France, the USA, the U.K., Germany, Japan, Italy, and Canada (in order of rotating presidency), and the European Union (EU) and India is an invited country at the 49th G-7 Summit.
At the G7 Summit, the leaders share fundamental values such as freedom, democracy, and human rights, exchange views on important challenges the international community is facing at that time, such as the global economy, regional affairs, and various global issues, and issue a document as an outcome of such discussions.　
It may be mentioned here that in the 1970s, developed countries that faced various challenges such as the Nixon shock (1971) and the first oil crisis (1973) began recognizing the need to create a forum to comprehensively discuss policy coordination of macro economy, currency, trade, and energy, among others, at a leader’s level. Against this backdrop, proposed by then-French President Giscard d’Estaing, the first Summit was held in November 1975 at the Chateau de Rambouillet (located on the outskirts of Paris), with participation from six countries—France, the U.S.A., the U.K., Germany, Japan, and Italy. Since then, Summits have been taking place annually with rotating Presidencies. In 2023, as the G7 Presidency, Japan is hosting the G7 Hiroshima Summit. It has significant implications that the leaders of the G7 gather for discussions in Hiroshima, a city that has recovered from the catastrophic damage by an atomic bomb and which continues to seek lasting world peace.
According to the Prime Minister of Japan Kishida, the world is facing an unprecedented crisis by aggression against Ukraine and the growing risk of use of weapons of mass destruction, at the G7 Hiroshima Summit in 2023, Japan would like to demonstrate G7’s strong determination to categorically deny military aggressions, any threats of nuclear weapons, as well as attempts to overthrow the international order with historical significance. From such viewpoints, the Government of Japan decided to host the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, considering Hiroshima as the most fitting location to express its commitment to peace. I visited Hiroshima in the month of March 2023 and I was very distressed to watch the awful effects of Atom Bomb. We all know the first Atom Bomb was dropped in Hiroshima depicting the most cruelty of human suffering. I visited many countries in the world and across India but I was in pain and ‘my eyes filled with tears’ after visiting Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (Park) in March 2023. During the Second World War, the USA on August 6, 1945, dropped the first Atom Bomb on Hiroshima, and then on August 9, 1945, another Atom Bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. When I visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (Park word was used), I observed the worst suffering of human beings through photographs, documentary films, terrifying photographs of survivors, the awful effects of explosions, and artifacts such as melted glass, deformed bicycles, charred clothes, etc., portrayed the unimaginable, unbelievable cruelty created by human beings against innocent human beings.
Anyway, for the G-7, engaging with India is imperative for several reasons (thediplomat.com/2023/05). First, with a GDP of $2.66 trillion, India’s economy is larger than the three member countries of the G-7 – France, Italy, and Canada. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and is expected to grow at 5.9 percent in 2023-2024. The World Bank has mentioned that India’s growth rate is the highest among the seven largest emerging-market and developing economies. It is pertinent o mention that India surpassed China as the most populous country in the world. With 68 percent of the population of working age (15-64 years) and 65 percent of the population under the age of 35, India offers a young and abundant skilled and semi-skilled workforce. Hope, G-7 and G-20 will help the people of the world to develop economically with good and sustainable earning of per capita income vis-à-vis world should be free from War.

Prof Shankar Chatterjee, Hyderabad

India is an invited country at the 49th G-7 Summit.: A Few Facts

The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi is in Hiroshima, Japan, from May 19 to 21 where he represents India as an invited country at the 49th G-7 Summit. The G-7 Summit is a platform for India to take its many multilateral engagements forward. A few facts about G-7 may be mentioned here for the benefit of readers. The points have been collected from the website, http://www.g7hiroshima.go.jp/en/summit.
The G7 Summit is an international forum held every year for the leaders of the G7 member States viz., France, the USA, the U.K., Germany, Japan, Italy, and Canada (in order of rotating presidency), and the European Union (EU) and India is an invited country at the 49th G-7 Summit.
At the G7 Summit, the leaders share fundamental values such as freedom, democracy, and human rights, exchange views on important challenges the international community is facing at that time, such as the global economy, regional affairs, and various global issues, and issue a document as an outcome of such discussions.　
It may be mentioned here that in the 1970s, developed countries that faced various challenges such as the Nixon shock (1971) and the first oil crisis (1973) began recognizing the need to create a forum to comprehensively discuss policy coordination of macro economy, currency, trade, and energy, among others, at a leader’s level. Against this backdrop, proposed by then-French President Giscard d’Estaing, the first Summit was held in November 1975 at the Chateau de Rambouillet (located on the outskirts of Paris), with participation from six countries—France, the U.S.A., the U.K., Germany, Japan, and Italy. Since then, Summits have been taking place annually with rotating Presidencies. In 2023, as the G7 Presidency, Japan is hosting the G7 Hiroshima Summit. It has significant implications that the leaders of the G7 gather for discussions in Hiroshima, a city that has recovered from the catastrophic damage by an atomic bomb and which continues to seek lasting world peace.
According to the Prime Minister of Japan Kishida, the world is facing an unprecedented crisis by aggression against Ukraine and the growing risk of use of weapons of mass destruction, at the G7 Hiroshima Summit in 2023, Japan would like to demonstrate G7’s strong determination to categorically deny military aggressions, any threats of nuclear weapons, as well as attempts to overthrow the international order with historical significance. From such viewpoints, the Government of Japan decided to host the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, considering Hiroshima as the most fitting location to express its commitment to peace. I visited Hiroshima in the month of March 2023 and I was very distressed to watch the awful effects of Atom Bomb. We all know the first Atom Bomb was dropped in Hiroshima depicting the most cruelty of human suffering. I visited many countries in the world and across India but I was in pain and ‘my eyes filled with tears’ after visiting Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (Park) in March 2023. During the Second World War, the USA on August 6, 1945, dropped the first Atom Bomb on Hiroshima, and then on August 9, 1945, another Atom Bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. When I visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (Park word was used), I observed the worst suffering of human beings through photographs, documentary films, terrifying photographs of survivors, the awful effects of explosions, and artifacts such as melted glass, deformed bicycles, charred clothes, etc., portrayed the unimaginable, unbelievable cruelty created by human beings against innocent human beings.
Anyway, for the G-7, engaging with India is imperative for several reasons (thediplomat.com/2023/05). First, with a GDP of $2.66 trillion, India’s economy is larger than the three member countries of the G-7 – France, Italy, and Canada. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and is expected to grow at 5.9 percent in 2023-2024. The World Bank has mentioned that India’s growth rate is the highest among the seven largest emerging-market and developing economies. It is pertinent o mention that India surpassed China as the most populous country in the world. With 68 percent of the population of working age (15-64 years) and 65 percent of the population under the age of 35, India offers a young and abundant skilled and semi-skilled workforce. Hope, G-7 and G-20 will help the people of the world to develop economically with good and sustainable earning of per capita income vis-à-vis world should be free from War.

Prof Shankar Chatterjee, Hyderabad

Clean energy transition ambitions

 As part of the third Energy Transition Working Group (ETWG) meeting under India’s G20 Presidency, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, in collaboration with the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) convened a high-level event “Harnessing Offshore Wind for Accelerating Energy Transition: The Way Forward” on 16th May, 2023 in Mumbai. The event brought saw a gathering of government representatives, financial institutions and senior domestic and international industry representatives. The event emerged as a platform for the exchange of urgent priorities for bolstering offshore wind deployment in India and globally ­- permits and clearances, supply chain resilience, low-cost financing, capacity building and business volumes to boost market attractiveness.

Mr Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, attributed offshore wind as a solution to air pollution and climate change mitigation. He emphasized the jobs creations opportunity through the flourishment of the offshore wind value chain. He outlined India’s strides in harnessing offshore wind given its role in balancing the grid. He further added that India’s G20 Presidency is an opportunity for offshore wind countries, businesses, and financial institutions to work together and build on mutual strengths to support national, regional, and global offshore wind and clean energy transition ambitions.

 

Mr Alok Kumar, ETWG Chair and Secretary Ministry of Power, Government of India emphasized the ever-growing role of offshore wind in India’s power mix. He outlined how India’s offshore potential is almost comparable to hydro and nuclear capacities that India may add in the future. In addition, he suggested how having an offshore wind horizon, beyond 2030, emerges as an opportunity for the country and a mission mode approach may give even further force to the country’s aspirations that may lead to the development of a robust value chain and attract more enthusiastic participation of the industry.

Mr Dinesh Dayanand Jagdale, Joint Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, outlined the country’s progress on various facets of offshore wind – including proposed business models, upcoming plans of rolling out tender, international collaborations, and extensive engagements between government and the industry to facilitate a robust enabling environment.  

Mr Sumant Sinha, Chairperson of GWEC India collaboration between government and industry and partnership between Indian and international offshore wind companies, as well as power generators and original equipment manufacturers, and finally the role of multilateral development banks. He also pressed for long-term PPAs and necessary infrastructure. He also added on supply chain resilience- availability of customized equipment, ships, cables, and trained people among others.

There were two high-level panel discussions moderated by Ms Rebecca Williams, Global Head of Offshore Wind, GWEC and Mr Chintan Shah, former Director of IREDA, respectively.  The session titled “Role of Global Offshore Wind Sector in Reaching Net Zero Targets” focussed on deliberations around global offshore wind experience, international best practices, supply chain priorities, and expectations of the industry from the emerging Indian offshore wind market.

The panel discussion on “Financing and Capacity Building for Offshore” presented a comprehensive view of available instruments to feed the need for the development of an offshore wind ecosystem. Senior representatives of ADB, World Bank, Corio Generation, Aon, NTPC REL Limited, NIWE, ReNew, IREDA, Center of Excellence on Offshore Wind and Renewable Energy, IEA, O2 Power and SGRE among others spoke in these panels.

In his concluding remarks, Mr Dinesh Dayanand Jagdale, Joint Secretary, MNRE, summarized the enriching discourse as part of the event and thanked distinguished speakers and esteemed participants for their enthusiastic participation.  

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World Hypertension Day

 The Union Health Ministry launched an ambitious initiative of screening and putting 75 million people with hypertension and diabetes on Standard Care by 2025, to mark the World Hypertension Day, here today. This was announced at the G20 co-branded event “Accelerating the Prevention and Management of Hypertension and Diabetes”, organized by Union Health Ministry and WHO by Dr. V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog in the presence of Shri Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary and Shri S Gopalakrishnan, Special Secretary, Health Ministry. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, WHO and Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Director, WHO SEARO virtually addressed the event.

Highlighting the innovative scheme, Dr Paul stated that this will be the largest expansion of NCDs in primary health care programme in the world with a community based approach starting at the primary healthcare level. This indicates clear resolve of the Govt to address NCDs by allocating resources, capacity enhancement, mobilization and multi-sectoral collaboration, he said. “Under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister, India is determined to become a developed nation in the next 25 years in the Amrit Kaal. Towards this goal, India is making efforts to achieve results in social indicators like life expectancy, maternal mortality rate, NCDs at par with developed nations”, he stressed. The Outcome Budget document of Union Budget 2023-2024 has for the first time introduced hypertension and diabetes treatment as output indicators reflecting reflects the government’s commitment to scale-up hypertension and diabetes coverage services.

Dr Paul mentioned that the battle against NCDs have to be fought through the primary healthcare level and pointed out that India has created a platform to fight the menace through the creation of more than 1.5 lakh HWCs and operationalization of telemedicine and digital health services.

To accelerate the prevention and management of Hypertension, Dr V K Paul urged State teams to adhere to all SOPs especially the screening SOPs correctly at the grassroots since screening is the bedrock of successful management of any disease. However, he noted that only screening is not enough. Detection should lead to outcomes. He therefore urged all stakeholders to ensure that at least 80% of the diagnosed people are under treatment. The need for private sector engagement in this effort and the contribution of academic and research sector in creating models and different building blocks for achieving the ambitious targets were also emphasized.

Dr Paul also emphasized that greater effort should be put in prevention which includes lifestyle changes through eating good food, exercising and other wellness practices. He highlighted the need for a Jan Andolan to make this effort more visible through community participation; and on the need for countries to work together and share each other’s successes in the spirit of “One Earth, One Health”.

Congratulating India on this stupendous initiative, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the “Indian Government’s ambitious target of reaching 75 million people with Hypertension under standard care in primary healthcare by 2025 is the largest cover of NCDs in the world for primary healthcare”.

In her virtual address, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh also congratulated the Govt of India for launching ambitious healthcare initiatives. She applauded India’s commitment to primary healthcare and highlighted the operationalization of more than 1.5 lakh Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres as a significant achievement. She also urged countries in the Southeast Asia region to create a new and effective regional roadmap to accelerate NCD control.

Union Health Secretary, Shri Rajesh Bhushan highlighted the interplay between economy, societal forces and epidemiological forces. He stated that with over 7% economic growth in the last two decades, the average life expectancy of people in India has risen significantly to around 70 today. Lifestyle of a large section of population has become more sedentary than before. The Union Health Secretary noted that the solution to the problem of NCDs lies in a societal approach where awareness, prevention, health promotion and wellness are looked at in an integrated manner. He also stressed “on the need for inter-sectoral efforts and collaboration of public and private sectors to address the growing burden of NCDs in the country”.

In addition to the 75/25 initiative, the Shashakt Portal was launched for training of 40,000 Primary Health Care Medical Officers on Standard Treatment Workflow for NCDs initiated to realize health care services closer to the community. The Revised operational guidelines of National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) were also released with the aim of much wider coverage.  The programme is now providing services for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Asthma, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases NAFLD), ST Elevation of Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) apart from Hypertension, Diabetes and three common Cancers including Oral, Breast and Cervical. 

Shri Vishal Chauhan, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry, Dr Roderico H. Ofrin Offrin, WHO Representative to India, G-20 representatives, participants from WHO-SEARO countries, international partners working on hypertension and diabetes from WHO, UN and other organizations, senior state officials from states, national NCD partners and senior officials from the Union Govt were present in the event.

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G-20 Culture group at Bhubaneswar

 The 2nd Culture Working Group (CWG) meeting’s discussion sessions came to a close on  May 16, 2023. The delegates participated in the discussion sessions focusing on the 3rd and 4th priority areas outlined by the CWG: ‘Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries and Creative Economy’ and ‘Leveraging Digital Technologies for the Protection and Promotion of Culture’. The discussions offered valuable insights, which are expected to culminate into tangible and action-oriented recommendations that have the potential to shape the cultural sector and concerning policy frameworks globally.

The first two sessions of the CWG meeting witnessed the delivery of statements by the delegates, followed by an open discussion on the third and fourth priority areas. Minister of State for Culture and External Affairs Smt Meenakashi Lekhi concluded the second session of the day with a special address. The concluding session outlined details and the timeline concerning the working process of the Culture Working Group going forward.

In her interaction with the media, Echoing Prime Minister’s desire to take India to greater heights during the Amrit Kaal i.e. 25 years from now, the Minister said, India has to work really had to regain the position it once used to be in. Underlining the cohesive nature of culture, the Minister said, “Culture can be a way of engagement to bring everyone together especially at a time when a lot of stress and strain are showing up. Stating “Culture Connects”, the Minister said that for the first time in G-20 Culture working group has been created as a separate group. She said when G-20 talks about harmony and peace, culture is something one needs to look at. She expressed happiness that the second culture working group meeting was held in the state of Odisha or Utkal, which transliterates into ‘Utkarsh Kala ki Bhumi’, which means the land of glorious art and culture.

On 16th May, 2023, the delegates were taken for a specially curated visit to the Konark Sun Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site which is located in the Puri district of Odisha. The Temple, dedicated to the Hindu sun god, Surya, was built in the 13th century and is considered a masterpiece of Kalinga architecture. Later, in the evening the G-20 delegates were feted with the Gotipua dance performance by local artists, which is one of the ancient dance forms associated with the temple tradition of Shree Jagannath temple, Puri. Union Minister Smt. Lekhi felicitated the artists who gave their best in creating a fine piece of Odisha’s cultural treasure to the immense pleasure of the visiting dignitaries and delegates.

With this the four days long activities and brainstorming sessions under the G-20 second culture group meeting came to a close. The 2nd Culture Working Group Meeting attended by delegates from G20 members, guest nations, and several international organizations, provided a platform to discuss pressing issues faced by the culture sector to further deliberation towards tangible, action-oriented recommendations. The meetings of the Culture Working Group that spread over six sessions and two days, focused on 4 key priority areas articulated under Culture Track of India’s G20 Presidency. The 4 priority areas are: Protection and Restitution of Cultural Property; Harnessing Living Heritage for a Sustainable Future; Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries and Creative Economy; and Leveraging Digital Technologies for the Protection and Promotion of Culture.

On concluding day, the Minister along with the delegates visited famous caves at Udaygiri, which dates back to more than 2000 years. They also visited the museum at the Gandhi peace centre at Bhubaneswar which is dedicated to the life and vision of Mahatma Gandhi.

On being asked about the opinion of the delegates who were taken on a visit to the ancient rock-cut caves of Udaygiri at the outskirt of capital Bhubaneswar, the Minister said that it was a knowledge sharing experience for the delegates. She said they were very amazed at the super craftsmanship and the culture of Odisha.

The CWG meetings aim to promote an inclusive and collaborative forum to deliberate on key issues concerning the cultural sector and its pivotal role in sustainable development. The meeting seeks to promote a global dialogue on cultural diversity and its role in fostering inclusivity and sustainability.

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Mission Amrit Sarovar

 The Secretary Ministry of  Rural Development, Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh chaired a high-level meeting to review the progress, monitor, and ensure the quality of Mission Amrit Sarovar here yesterday. Additional Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary, and Secretary, Rural Developmentof all States/Union Territories (UTs), State Nodal officer for the Mission Amrit Sarovar, DM/DC/CEOs of over 700 districts along with District Nodal officers of the Mission took part were also present on the occasion.

The Secretary Rural Development has emphasized conducting a final check of quality by every Stakeholder to ensure the sustainability of all the completed Amrit Sarovars. Further, he has also emphasised that the authorised functionaries should preferably be from a different Block of the District. Social audit team will be deployed for all such completed Amrit Sarovars wherein the Sarovar has been constructed/rejuvenated through Mahatma Gandhi NREGS funds or through the scheme wherein social audit is applicable. Sample checks of inspected sites will be done by the state/UTs teams.Apart from this, National Level Monitors (NLM) will be deployed for inspection of selected Amrit Sarovar. Further, an app for inspection reporting has been developed.

All State/ UTs to take the appropriate necessary action by making an action plan for physical inspection of all the completed Amrit Sarovars before the onset of monsoon latest by 10th June 2023 and do the necessary course correction for improvement of work and in case of lapses appropriate action should be ensured.

Mission Amrit Sarovar has been launched by Prime Minister on 24th April 2022 with an objective to provide sustainable water sources wherein every district is expected to construct/ rejuvenate a minimum of 75 Amrit Sarovar. The National target of 50,000 Amrit Sarovars has been achieved by following due guidelines of the Mission.

This Mission is being implemented with a whole of Government Approach in which 8 Central Ministries/Department namely Department of Rural Development, Department of Land Resources, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Department of Water Resources, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate changes, Ministry of Railway, Ministry of Road, Transport & Highways are participating. Also Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Application and Geo-informatics(BISAG-N)has been engaged as Technical partner for the Mission. The Mission works through the States and Districts, through refocusing of various schemes such as Mahatma Gandhi NREGS, XV Finance Commission Grants, PMKSY sub schemes such as Watershed Development Component, Har Khet Ko Pani besides States’ own schemes. It may also be mentioned that the Mission encourages mobilization of citizen and non-govt resources for supplementing these efforts.

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India EU Trade and Technology Council

 Union Minister for Commerce & Industry, Textiles, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Sh. Piyush Goyal held a bilateral meeting with the European Commissioner for Internal Trade, Mr. Thierry Breton on the sidelines of the 1st Ministerial meeting of India EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC). During the meeting, both sides underscored the importance of shared democratic values and complementary nature of both India and EU going forward. Both sides agreed that appropriate political commitment can be made to strengthen our bilateral relations taking to new heights.

Sh. Piyush Goyal informed that India has undertaken an ambitious growth trajectory for the next 25 years and has achieved many of the sustainable development goals. The target of having about 40% source of energy from renewables has already been achieved much before the committed timeline of 2030. India has set a further target of creating 500GW of renewable resources to be achieved by 2030. He noted that both our economies have different basis and this provides an opportunity for greater engagement given the current geopolitical scenario. On the suggestion of Mr. Breton for exploring engagement in the space sector, Sh. Goyal informed that India is amongst the major powers in the space sector and that both sides can have deeper engagements in the sector.

Further, the Minister informed that India has become a global leader in respect of fintech with UPI and Rupay. India has also come out with an open network for digital commerce (ONDC) which has capability to integrate all the buyers and sellers across networks. Mr Breton informed that EU is working on new Digital Services Act to which Sh. Goyal said that both sides can collaborate further given India’s status as an IT giant. He further informed that India has the world’s third largest startup ecosystem and has included B20 track in G20 meetings. This provides for greater engagements in digital space and other areas.

On the issue of carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), Sh. Goyal informed that further study needs to be undertaken as to how this could impact enterprises on both sides, impact on trade and the effect on consumers due to increased price of goods and services.

Memorandum of Understanding between Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and The Chartered Accountants of the Maldives

 The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and The Chartered Accountants of the Maldives (CA Maldives).

Details:

ICAI and CA Maldives aim to establish mutual co-operation for the advancement of Accounting Knowledge, Professional and Intellectual Development, Advancing the interests of their respective members and positively contributing to the development of the Accountancy Profession in the Maldives and India.

Impact:

This MoU besides aiding CA Maldives will provide an additional impetus to prospects of the ICAI Members to get professional opportunities in Maldives in short to long term future. With this MoU, ICAI would be able to help strengthen the partnership with Maldives by providing the export of services in accountancy profession, ICAI members are holding middle to top level positions in various organisations across the countries and can influence the decision/policy making strategies of respective organisations of a country

Benefits:

The MoU will provide an opportunity to ICAI members to expand their professional horizon and provide impetus to ICAI to aid in the strengthening the capacity building of local nationals. The MoU will foster strong working relations between India and Maldives. The agreement would increase mobility of professionals at either end and also would herald a
new dimension for business globally.

Implementation Strategy and Targets:

The MoU aims to strengthen cooperation between ICAI and CA Maldives in the matters of accountancy profession through exchange of views, information in respect of Professional Accountancy Training, Professional Ethics, Technical Research, Professional Development of Accountants. It is also intended to promote mutual cooperation through linkages to each others’ website, seminars, conferences, students exchange programmes and other joint activities mutually beneficial to both the institutes. This MoU will also provide updates on the development of the accountancy profession in India and Maldives to promote the profession in the world. Further, CA Maldives intends to become the member of International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), the global voice of accountancy profession with more than 180 members in 135 countries. ICAI will do technical due diligence for CA Maldives to make CA Maldives the member of IFAC.

Background:

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a statutory body established under the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 for the regulation of the profession of Chartered Accountants in India. ICAI has contributed immensely in the field of education, professional development, maintenance of high accounting, auditing and ethical standards in furtherance of the profession of Chartered Accountants, which is recognized globally.

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Navodaya Vidyalayas

 Navodaya Vidyalayas are a system of co-educational residential schools in India, established and managed by the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. These schools aim to provide quality education, primarily to rural children, with an emphasis on promoting talent and enhancing the intellectual capabilities of students.

Key Features of Navodaya Vidyalayas:

  1. Rural Focus: Navodaya Vidyalayas primarily target talented children from rural areas, ensuring that quality education is accessible to those residing in remote and rural regions.

  2. Admission through Selection Test: Admissions to Navodaya Vidyalayas are based on an entrance examination called the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test (JNVST). This merit-based selection process aims to identify talented students from various districts.

  3. Free Education: Navodaya Vidyalayas provide tuition-free education, including boarding and lodging, to all students. This enables students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to access quality education without financial constraints.

  4. Multilingual Environment: While the medium of instruction is primarily in the regional language, Navodaya Vidyalayas also emphasize the learning of English and Hindi, fostering a multilingual environment.

  5. Holistic Development: Alongside academics, these schools focus on extracurricular activities such as sports, arts, music, and cultural programs to ensure the holistic development of students.

  6. Innovative Teaching Methods: Navodaya Vidyalayas often adopt modern teaching methodologies, educational technology, and interactive learning tools to enhance the learning experience.

  7. Quality Infrastructure: The schools typically have well-equipped classrooms, laboratories, libraries, sports facilities, and residential accommodations to provide a conducive learning environment.

  8. Community Engagement: Navodaya Vidyalayas encourage the involvement of local communities, parents, and alumni in various school activities and initiatives.

  9. Emphasis on Values: Besides academic excellence, these schools promote values like integrity, leadership, social responsibility, and respect for diversity.

  10. Success Stories: Many alumni from Navodaya Vidyalayas have excelled in diverse fields, contributing significantly to various professions and sectors across the country.

Navodaya Vidyalayas play a pivotal role in identifying and nurturing the talents of rural students, providing them with opportunities for quality education, personal growth, and future success. They aim to bridge the gap between rural and urban educational standards and create a brighter future for talented children from rural areas.

Top Ten Performing Arts in India

 

Top Ten Performing Arts in India

India is known for its rich tradition of performing arts that reflect the country’s diverse cultural heritage. Here are the top ten performing arts in India:
Classical Dance – India has several classical dance forms, including Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam, Odissi, and Kathakali, each with its unique style and technique.
Folk Dance – India has a rich tradition of folk dances, with each region having its unique styles and techniques, including Bhangra, Garba, Dandiya, Lavani, and Chhau.
Bollywood Dance – Bollywood dance is a fusion of traditional Indian dance forms with modern Western styles, characterized by its energetic movements and colorful costumes.
Theatre – India has a rich tradition of theatre, with ancient Sanskrit plays, street theatre, and modern theatre productions.
Music – India has a rich tradition of classical and folk music, with each region having its unique styles and instruments, including sitar, tabla, veena, and sarod.
Ghazal – Ghazal is a form of Urdu poetry set to music, characterized by its emotional depth and lyrical beauty.
Qawwali – Qawwali is a form of devotional music performed by Sufi musicians, characterized by its powerful vocals and rhythmic beats.
Puppetry – India has a rich tradition of puppetry, with different regions having their unique styles and techniques, including Kathputli, Bommalattam, and Togalu Gombeyaata.
Martial Arts – India has several traditional martial arts forms, including Kalaripayattu, Gatka, and Thang-Ta.
Street Performances – India’s streets are often filled with performers showcasing their talents, including acrobats, fire-eaters, magicians, and musicians.
These top ten performing arts of India showcase the country’s rich cultural heritage and are a testament to the creativity and skill of its people. They are a must-see for anyone interested in the performing arts and are a source of inspiration for performers and artists around the world.

An Innovative Project of Belur Math, Gadadhar Abhyudaya Prakalpa (GAP): A Case from Shillong Ramkrishna Mission

According to UNICEF, in India “High levels of malnutrition (38.4 percent children are stunted), poor learning outcomes (only 42.5 percent of children in grade three can read a grade one text), vaccine-preventable diseases and child labour persist”. Lack of nutritious food, medical care, good education, basic facilities, etc., are commonly observed among the children living in slums, footpaths, and many rural areas. Keeping these conditions in mind, the Gadadhar Abhyudaya Prakalpa (GAP) was launched in October 2010, as a part of the 4-year long 150th Birth Anniversary Celebration of Swami Vivekananda, for the 3-fold development of the needy and backward children — physical, mental and intellectual, and since then it has been running up till now in different parts of our country. The project ‘Gadadhar Abhyudaya Prakalpa’ (GAP), named after the childhood name of Sri Ramakrishna, i.e., ‘Gadadhar’, is being implemented for the betterment of the neglected slum and rural children who are often brought from the roadside huts and highly unhygienic garbage-dumping areas (belurmath.org/gadadhar-abhyudaya-prakalpa).
The objectives of GAP are:
• To instill moral and cultural values in the aforesaid targeted children
• To educate them with special coaching on their school subjects
• To inculcate a sense of cleanliness and hygiene in them
• To nourish them for their physical development
• To prepare them to be good citizens of India
For the benefit of readers, a case of GAP from Shillong Ramakrishna Mission is presented here. Ramakrishna Mission Shillong was established in 1937. It has three centers. One is a dispensary; the second is Vivekananda Cultural Centre and the other one is Ashram. In the dispensary, all sorts of tests are carried out by the medical team and doctors, in addition to giving medicines to the patients. In the Vivekananda Cultural Centre computer training is imparted to the children. Also, a spoken English language class is held. Here one library with a reading room (13,459 books and 38 newspapers and periodicals), an auditorium, and a meditation hall exist. Also, drawing and painting classes and training programs in Indian culture are held. In the Ashram, every Sunday discourses are held where Secretary Maharaj takes classes. Further in the Shillong Ashram under the guidance of Belur Math, the project GAP in three places is continuing. One is in the Ashram itself, the second one is in RR Colony and another one is at Waken Village. In each center 50 children who are from poor echelons of society attend. They come after the completion of school. And they are taught different types of crafts for skill development, yoga, prayer songs, patriotic songs, etc.
Every month each child is given hair oil, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, etc. free of cost. As food, they are provided with Horlicks, egg, loaf, pounded rice, vegetables curry, etc. from Monday to Saturday. Of course, only on Saturday rice is given along with curry and egg. From nursery to class VI, children are included under the GAP project but all belong to economically backward. In each center, there are four staff – one for cooking and the others are teachers. All are provided with the minimum honorarium as they serve here selflessly. Wishing GAP great success and I offer my heartfelt regards to the Maharajas of Belur Math for conceiving such a project in the name of a great soul ‘Gadadhar’.

Prof Shankar Chatterjee, Hyderabad