Healthcare initiatives of last six years play crucial role in containing Covid-19 pandemic

The government has taken several steps to provide affordable and quality healthcare to the people and build a robust health infrastructure in the country during the last six years. These initiatives played an important role in containing the Covid-19 pandemic.

Exclusively speaking with AIR News, CEO of Ayushman Bharat Scheme, Dr. Indu Bhushan said, India has shown accelerated direction to the health facilities in the last six year and public health infrastructure has been strengthened in these years.

Expect free and fair probe in Sushant Singh Rajput case: Prakash Javadekar

Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar has said that he expects a free and fair probe into the actor Sushant Singh Rajput death case to ensure the truth comes out. He was speaking at the Vision Maharashtra event organised by a Marathi news channel in Mumbai. He said that talent should get scope in the film industry.

Meanwhile, amid growing demand for a CBI probe into the actor’s death, Maharashtra minister Jayant Patil said the Mumbai police are investigating the Sushant Singh Rajput suicide case and it is expected they will arrive at a conclusion soon.

On the other hand, actor Shekhar Suman met Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari yesterday to demand a CBI inquiry in the matter.

Actor Rhea Chakraborty, who has been accused by Sushant Singh Rajput’s family of abetting the actor’s suicide, has broken her silence in the case. In a video statement released through her lawyers, Chakraborty said she has faith in the judiciary and said that the truth shall prevail.

Rajput, who was dating Chakraborty, was found dead at his Bandra residence on June 14. Over a month after the 34-year-old actor’s death, his father lodged a police complaint in Patna on Tuesday against Chakraborty.

The Mumbai police have so far recorded statements of around 40 people, including those of Rajput’s family, his cook and several Bollywood personalities.

PM Modi congratulates telecom industry for completing 25 years of mobile telephony in country

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated the telecom industry for completing 25 years of mobile telephony in the country. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) organised a special online event “Desh Ki Digital Udaan” to commemorate the event.

In his letter, the prime minister appreciated the contribution made by DoT, telecom companies, and COAI in the growth of the telecom sector. He said while 25 years ago connectivity was a privilege, today, it is a tool of empowerment.

The letter also mentions digital mobility as an enabler of multiple kinds of mobility – social, economic and informational. He said the telecom sector’s achievements also fit in with the government’s Digital India initiative and the JAM (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobility) programme.

Prez Kovind, VP Naidu greet people on Idu’l Zuha today

President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu have greeted the people on the occasion of Idu’l Zuha. In his message, Mr Kovind said, Idu’l Zuha symbolizes the spirit of sacrifice and amity which inspires people to work for the well-being of one and all. On this festive occasion, the President asked people to share their happiness with others and promote mutual harmony. He urged people to follow all the rules and guidelines prescribed in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said, Id-ul-Zuha is a celebration of unswerving devotion to God and the boundless compassion and love the Almighty has for his creation. He said, the festival inspires us to inculcate empathy, practice sacrifice and promote peace and universal brotherhood.

Eid-ul-Azha being celebrated across country today

The festival of sacrifice, Eid-ul-Azha or Bakrid is being celebrated with religious fervour and due reverence across the country today. There will be no mass congregations prayers in Eidgahs and Grand mosques in most of the places in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

The faithfuls will offer Eid prayers in local mosques and in their homes in compliance with lockdown norms and guidelines issued to contain covid-19

Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated to commemorate the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his only son in obedience of God’s command.

In Kerala, Eid- ul- Azha was celebrated yesterday.

Fifth phase of Vande Bharat Mission to repatriate Indians from 23 countries begins today

Fifth phase of Vande Bharat Mission to repatriate Indians from 23 countries begins today

File PicThe fifth phase of the Vande Bharat Mission begins today to rescue Indians stranded abroad. This phase will continue till 31st August 2020.

In an interview to DD NEWS, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri said, that under various phases of Vande Bharat Mission, more than 8 lakh 45 thousand Indians have been repatriated. He said upto 1200 flights are likely to be added in Phase 5 of Vande Bharat Mission. In total, Air India and Air India Express have airlifted 2 lakh 67 thousand 436 stranded passengers and other charters have brought home 4 lakh 86 thousand 811 stranded passengers between 6th of May and 30th of July this year.

The Ministry of External Affairs has said that a total of 792 flights (692 international and 100 domestic feeders) have been scheduled to repatriate Indians from 23 countries in Phase 5 of the Vande Bharat Mission. These include Gulf countries, US, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, China, Israel, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan. 

The flights will cater to 21 different airports across India and repatriate an estimated 1 lakh 30 thousand Indians stranded abroad.

Govt extends ban on international flights till August 31

The government has extended the ban on international flights till 31st of August amid the coronavirus pandemic. However, this restriction will not be applicable for international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by the DGCA.

India had first suspended international flights on March 22, just before the national lockdown was announced.

As part of allowing gradual movement of passenger traffic amid the pandemic situation, ‘Transport Bubble’ agreements have been signed with the US, France, and Germany.

Such bilateral agreements allow operation of flights between the two countries subject to a set of regulations.

International flight services to and from India remain suspended since March 23 due to the pandemic.

New guidelines for opening up more activities in areas outside Containment Zones come into force today

The new guidelines for opening up of more activities in areas outside the Containment Zones will come into effect from today. The process of phased re-opening of activities has been extended further in Unlock 3. The new guidelines issued by the Home Ministry on Wednesday are based on feedback received from States and UTs, and extensive consultations held with related Central Ministries and Departments.

Restrictions on movement of individuals during night have been removed. Yoga institutes and gymnasiums will be allowed to open from 5th of August. Independence Day functions will be allowed with social distancing and by following other health protocols. Schools, colleges and coaching institutions will remain closed till 31st August.

International air travel of passengers has been permitted in a limited manner under the Vande Bharat mission.  Further opening up will take place in a calibrated manner. All activities except Metro Rail, Cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars shall be permitted outside containment zones. Social, political,  sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions and other large congregations will not be permitted.  

Activities in the Containment Zones shall be monitored strictly by State and UT authorities, and the guidelines relating to containment measures in these zones shall be strictly implemented. The Health Ministry will monitor the proper delineation of Containment Zones and implementation of the containment measures.

States and UTs, based on their assessment of the situation, may prohibit certain activities outside the Containment zones, or impose such restrictions as deemed necessary. However, there shall be no restriction on inter-State and intra-State movement of persons and goods.

Prime Minister Modi to address Smart India Hackathon this evening

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the Smart India Hackathon of All India Council for Technical Education at 4:30 PM today. He will also interact with students on the occasion. Human Resource Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said that the Grand Finale of Smart India Hackathon-2020 (Software) will be held till 3rd of August.
           
AIR correspondent reports that this is the fourth edition of the hackathon organised by HRD Ministry and it has proved to be extremely successful in promoting out-of-the-box thinking in young minds.
         
Smart India Hackathon is a nationwide initiative to provide students with a platform to solve some of the pressing problems we face in our daily lives. The first edition of Smart India Hackathon 2017 saw participation of 42 thousand students which increased to one lakh in 2018 and to two lakh in 2019. The first round of Smart India Hackathon 2020 saw participation of more than four lakh 50 thousand students.

The Grand Finale will be organized online by connecting all the participants throughout the nation together over a specially-built advanced platform. Over ten thousand students will compete to solve 243 problem statements from 37 Central Government departments, 17 State Governments and 20 industries.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister will also speak on the new National Education Policy 2020. Recently, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the National Education Policy 2020 making way for large scale, transformational reforms in both school and higher education sectors. This new policy will replace the thirty four year old National Policy on Education 1986. 
 

NAXALISM

Since India set its foot in the world, by becoming the fastest growing democracy in the world, it has faced many challenges that have threatened its advancements, development and national unity. One such problem is of NAXALISM. The term Naxalism is derived from the village of Naxalbari in West Bengal. The village became the centre of a tribal peasant uprising against local landlords in 1967. The rebellion was under the leadership of Kanu Santhal and Jagan Sanyal with the aim of rightful distribution of the land to the working peasants. Even though the rebellion was suppressed, it became the focus for the communist led separatist movements that began in the remote and tribal areas in India.
It is considered that the Naxalites are far-left radical communists and support the Maoist political sentiment and ideology. It started in West Bengal and slowly spread across the less developed areas of rural central and eastern India, such as Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh. The movement found its roots among the displaced tribes and the natives who fight against the exploitation they face at the hands of major Indian corporations and local officers who are corrupt.
The Naxalites claim to represent the poor and socially marginalized members of the Indian society and stick to the Maoist doctrine of sustained peasant led revolution. For decades, the Naxalites waged guerilla warfare against the landlords, businesses, politicians, and security forces; they have also damaged transportation, communication, and power lines. They have often been able to set up their base in remote forest areas.

Participation of the Tribal in the Naxalite Movements

Due to the structural violence by the state, which includes land theft for the purpose of mineral extraction; tribal communities are more likely to participate in the naxal movements. Areas with no electricity, running water, or healthcare may accept social services from the Naxalite groups, and in return give their support to them. There are also some arguments that state’s absence has given a chance to the Naxalites to become a legitimate authority and perform state like functions such as enacting policies of redistribution and building infrastructure for irrigation. Health care services like malaria vaccination drives and medical units, in areas that have no doctors or hospitals, have also been documented. 

Causes of Naxalism
The causes for the growth of Naxalism are:
1.     Forest mismanagement was one of the main reasons as when the government began the exploitation of the forest resources, the traditional dwellers began fighting the government with the use of violence which led to the evolution of Naxalism.
2. Marginalization, displacement of the tribal communities, and haphazard implementation of the tribal policy worsened the situation of Naxalism.
3.    As naxal groups consisted mostly of the poor and the deprived like the daily wage laborers, small farmers, etc., it led to the increase of the inter-regional differences and inequalities that made people choose the Naxalites over the government.
4.  As the forest is one of the main areas for the operation of these groups, the government finds it difficult to deal with the groups due to the lack of accessibility to these areas.
5.     As the rural areas have poor infrastructure, unemployment, and lack of industries, it is creating disparity among the people which in turn is creating an anti-government mindset in the people.

RESPONSE OF THE GOVERNMENT
The response of the state governments to the Naxalite movements has evolved over the years, taking into consideration the increasing intensity of the threat and political decisions at the centre and the state. As the law and order has been shifted to the state list, the initiatives for the counter insurgency come under the jurisdiction of the state government. The centre helps to provide support for the efforts of the state through joint strategies, providing intelligence, resources, and coordination, whenever needed.
The central government has accelerated the effectiveness of the Counter-Insurgency (COIN) Strategy. These strategies combine the population-centric and enemy-centric approaches, combination of law and order mechanisms. Centre has led the COIN strategy mainly from behind by providing resources like security and finance, paramilitary, intelligence, and strategic direction.

OUTCOMES OF THE RESPONSE
Coordinated efforts from the centre and the state governments have brought a decrease in the naxal movements as well as the elimination of the important leaders of these groups. The Naxalite movement is also facing a vacuum in the leadership which is leading to the decrease in the support and coordination of the individual militants. This in turn has worsened the situations of the naxal groups. Demonetization has also played an important role in reducing the insurgent’s financial resources that had been saved to buy arms and equipments, or to lure recruits. With the combined efforts of the state actions, welfare programmes and security measures, a serious damaged has been created on the Naxalites operations.

Netflix Movie Suggestions – Hindi and English

Amidst the pandemic, I found it hard to be productive. Being thankful for my privilege, I spent times exploring movies.

Here’s a list of Hindi and English movies on Netflix.

Hindi:

  • Rock On – “Four musician friends fail to make it big as a band due to a misunderstanding. Years later, they reignite their dream by forgetting their woes and embark on a journey they had left incomplete.”
  • Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na – “Best friends Jai and Aditi make for a perfect couple but refuse to consider a romantic relationship. However, when they start dating other people, they realise that they are actually in love.”
  • Main Hoon Na – “Major Ram is given orders to go undercover as a college student to protect a general’s daughter from a rogue soldier. He even has to fulfil his dying father’s desire to reconcile with his family.”
  • The Sky is Pink – “Based on the life of motivational speaker Aisha Chaudhary, who died in 2015 when she was 18. Aisha tells the love story of her parents over a period of 25 years.”
  • Kai Po Che – “Three friends start an academy to train budding cricketers. But to realise their goals in a turbulent city, they must face earthquakes, religious disparities, politics and riots.”
  • Tanu Weds Manu – “Manu, an NRI doctor, comes to India in search of a bride and falls in love with Tanu. Poles apart from her suitor, Tanu, a fun-loving girl, rather enlists his help in eloping with her lover.”
  • Rang de Basanti – “When Sue selects a few students to portray various Indian freedom fighters in her film, she unwittingly awakens their patriotism. The emotional and mental process turns them into rebels for a cause.”
  • Taare Zameen Par – “Ishaan is criticised by his parents for his poor academic performance and is sent away to a boarding school. Ram, an art teacher, however, realises he has dyslexia and helps him uncover his potential.”
  • Bulbbul – “A child bride grows into an enigmatic woman ruling over her household, hiding her painful past, as supernatural murders of men plague her village.”

English:

  • The Kissing Booth – “The Kissing Booth is a 2018 American teen romantic comedy film written and directed by Vince Marcello, based on the novel of the same name by Beth Reekles.”
  • The Perfect Date – “A high school student creates an app to offer his services as a fake date to make money for college. When he develops feelings for someone, his plan gets complicated.”
  • Sleepless in Seattle – “Realising that Sam has still not come to terms with his wife Maggie’s death, his eight-year-old son Jonah forces him to call a national radio talk show, with the hopes of finding him a companion.”
  • We’re the Millers – “David, a drug dealer, is forced by his boss to smuggle drugs from Mexico. He hires a stripper, a petty thief and a teenage neighbour and forms a fake family to help him smuggle the drugs.”
  • Five Feet Apart – “Seventeen-year-old Stella spends most of her time in the hospital as a cystic fibrosis patient. Her life is full of routines, boundaries and self-control — all of which get put to the test when she meets Will, an impossibly charming teen who has the same illness. There’s an instant flirtation, though restrictions dictate that they must maintain a safe distance between them. As their connection intensifies, so does the temptation to throw the rules out the window and embrace that attraction.”
  • Set It Up – “Two overworked and underpaid assistants come up with a plan to get their bosses off their backs by setting them up with each other.”
  • Bridget Jones Diary – “Bridget, a single woman, writes a diary which focuses on the things she wishes to happen in her life. However, her life changes when two men vie for her affection.”
  • Flipped – “Bryce wants nothing to do with his neighbour Juli, who is outspoken about her attraction to him. But, just as Bryce starts to look at Juli differently, she decides she wants nothing to do with him.”
  • Miss Congeniality – “Gracie Hart, a tomboyish detective, is made to infiltrate the Miss United States beauty pageant as a contestant after her department learns that the event is under threat from an anonymous bomber.”

Feminism in India – History and Present Times

The term Feminism is misunderstood as an ideology that aims to uplift only the women by bashing the male in the society. However, it is not true as the word Feminism means an ideology that fights for the upliftment for women and getting them the same political, social, and economic rights as the men in the society. The concept of feminism is not new but can be seen in the history of the world where women had fought for getting the political rights as well as have proven to be as great of a ruler for their empire as a man could have been.

Feminism is separated into three waves:
  • First wave feminism – beginning in the mid 19th century – when reformists began to speak in favor of women’s rights and making reforms in education and customs involving women.
  • Second wave feminism – from 1915 to Indian Independence, when Gandhi incorporated women’s movement into Quit India Movement and independent women’s organisation began emerging.
  • Third wave feminism – started post independence, which focuses on fair treatment of women at workplace, home, allowing them political rights etc.

Another misconception regarding feminism is that a feminist is only a woman. However, it is also not true as many of the men also identify themselves as feminist and it is evident in the history that many of the social reformists, fighting for the rights of the women, are male. Men like Raja Ram Mohan Roy who fought against the social evils like Sati, Polygamy and Child Marriage; Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar who championed the cause of Widow Remarriage; DD Karve who worked to eradicate the bias against widows are considered to be feminists as they worked for the social and cultural upliftment for the women. Mahadev Govind Ranade founded the Widow Marriage Association in 1861while Behram Malabari started a campaign against Child Marriage and asked the legislation to prevent it.

Even though the concept is debatable, but is believed that a Fourth Wave of Feminism began around 2012, with the focus on issues like sexual harassment, body-shaming, rape culture, etc. After the Nirbhaya case, there was a spark of protest in the country seeking for stronger laws against rapes and to ensure the safety of women in the society. Around the world, women are at a greater risk of sexual harassment at work or at home. There is also a constant debate about the fact that most of the times women are not subjected to equal pay, even though they have the same position in the company, as compared to their male colleagues.

Indira Jaisingh, the first woman to be appointed as the Additional Solicitor General of India, played an instrumental role in the framing of the Domestic Violence Act (2005). Meenakshi Arora’s led to the framing of The Vishakha Guidelines which were later included in the Sexual Harassment of Women at Work Place Act (2013).The movement to secure women’s rights in India has come a long way and thanks to the fierce personalities throughout the history as well as the in the present times the fight against the patriarchal notions is seeing a lot of success.

A lot of scholars have claimed that western influence has paved the way for the growth of feminism in India. However, it is not true as women of different countries had different needs. The Indians did not have to borrow the concept of feminism from the west as our own history has given the evidence that women have asserted themselves in various ways and broke free from the existing notions that did not allow them the freedom in the society. However, the patriarchal documentations ignored the rebellions by the women and there is no record found for the same; but it cannot not be ignored that they were present and it is our duty to remember those rebellions.

PRESENT DAY TRENDS

The present day feminism in India has the following trends –
  • There is a genuine partnership and collaboration among women and men, especially youth, to fight for gender equality.
  • As there is an increase in the economic liberty for women, it is becoming easy to fight the existing stereotypes.
  • The wants of the women are also changing – from economic and political rights to social and sexual rights.
  • Women are negotiating harder for their space to expand and are not leaving it without a tough fight.
  • At last, the internet and the revolution of information sharing is also helping women from various communities as it gives them a bigger platform to voice out their opinions and demand for equal rights.

There will not be IPL in the empty stadium:

Emirates Cricket Board said- If the approval from the government, the league will be in the presence of 50% of the audience

The IPL is going to be held in UAE from 19 September this year. Earlier, there were reports that the competition would be held in an empty stadium. But Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) has said that if they get the approval from the government, then IPL matches will take place in the presence of 30-50% viewers.

ECB Secretary Mubashir Usmani told the news agency over phone that once we get the official information about the approval of the Government of India from the BCCI, then we take the proposal and the BCCI’s standard operating procedure (SOP) prepared with the help of the BCCI. Will go Here, the IPL Governing Council will meet on Sunday. The logistics related arrangements and SOP will be finalized in this.

We will make our people experience IPL: ECB,He said that we would definitely like the people of the UAE to experience the world’s largest cricket league, but it would be entirely the government’s decision. In most tournaments here, the number of spectators varies from 30 to 50 per cent, we are hoping to bring this same number of spectators in IPL as well.

‘6 thousand active corona patients in UAE’,Usmani further said that for this we have full expectation from our government. There are currently more than 6 thousand active corona patients in the UAE and the epidemic has been controlled to a great extent here. However, the 2020 Dubai Rugby Sevens tournament, to be held in November, had to be canceled for the first time since 1970 due to Corona.

UAE government overcomes Corona to a great extent,He said about the concern about the safety of the IPL that the UAE government has been successful to a large extent in reducing the number of infected. Here people are leading a normal life by following certain rules and protocols. Usmani said that there is still some time in the IPL, I am sure the situation will get better by then.
There is no problem in training IPL teams here: ECB,The ECB Secretary said that we are fully prepared to host the IPL.

Only the approval of the Government of India is awaited. We have plug and play facility. We have already told the officials of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah Stadium and they have started their preparations. Therefore, the teams will not have any problem in training.
IPL will help UAE’s economy,When Usmani was asked how difficult it would be to manage the training of 8 teams. To this he said that we have private infrastructure. We are able to do such events easily. We have done such events earlier also. Last year itself, we made the table of 14 teams T-20 World Cup qualifiers.

In 2014 also we have held the IPL opening matches in UAE. Our economy also benefited from this. This time the whole league is happening here, so our economy will get a boost from it.
Here, the Sports Ministry has approved the proposal of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to get the IPL to UAE. However, BCCI is still waiting for approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs and External Affairs to make an official announcement.

Dal Baati Special


This is one of my favourite dish Dal Baati Churma has been an important part of Rajasthani cuisine since time immemorial but the exact root of its origin is not known. It’s believed that the dish originated during the reign of Bappa Rawal, the founder of the Mewar Kingdom in Rajasthan. Bafla and baati are always eaten with hot dal with pure ghee and chutney. Churma is a popular delicacy usually served with baatis and dal. … Traditionally it is made by mashing up wheat flour baatis or leftover rotis in ghee and jaggery, optionally mixed with dry fruits and flavours. It can be eaten alone or with dal.

the Gupta Empire settled in Mewar, that the combination of dal and baati became popular – panchmel dal was a much-loved favourite in the royal court of the Guptas. The panchmel dal is a simple and nuritious mix of five lentils – moong dal, chana dal, toor dal, masoor dal and urad dal – prepared with a fragrant tempering of cumin, cloves and other spices.

Churma, on the other hand, is believed to have been invented when a cook of Mewar’s Guhilot clan accidentally poured sugarcane juice into some baatis. Realising that it had made the baatisofter, the women of the clan started dunking the battis in sweet water (made from sugarcane or jaggery) in an attempt to keep the baatis soft and fresh for their husbands. This eventually evolved into churma, a sweetened and cardamom-flavoured mix of crushed baati.

Litti Chokha which originates from Bihar and looks similar to Baati, is a wheat ball stuffed with sattu (roasted chickpea and barley flour), mixed with herbs and spices and then roasted over coal or cow dung cakes or wood after which it is tossed with lots of ghee. … People fighting over Dal Bati and litti Chokha

India has a very rich culture, that is of course well known all over the world. However I think how rich and diverse our food is not really known. Indian food in the west is synonyms with curry and naan. And that actually is just a fraction of our food. Each state in India has it’s own cuisine, which is totally different from one another. It’s so different that growing up in North, I would have hardly even eaten anything from say Gujarat or Assam or Rajasthan.

Indian cuisine has always been a paradise for vegetarians. It’s amazing the variety of vegetarian recipes we have. Rajasthani food is one of my favorite and I have mentioned this before when I shared the recipe for Gatte ki sabzi. I am always amazed by all the delicious vegetarian food people created in Rajasthan without any fresh produce. i think everyone should try ones in their life because seriously it’s delicious specially Rajasthani Dal baati.