Tag: Education

Renaissance of our Education System to make it World class

The Vice President, Shri. M. Venkaiah Naidu, today said that religious harmony and unity in diversity are cherished values of our civilization and asked every citizen of the nation to strive to preserve our values of national integration.
He was addressing the Second Convocation ceremony of Shri Vaishnav Vidyapeeth Vishwavidyalaya in Indore, Madhya Pradesh today.
The Vice President commended the efforts of 135-year-old Shri Vaishnav Committee and the Group of Trusts, Indore in establishing Shri Vaishnav Vidyapeeth Vishwavidyalaya (SVVV) to impart quality education.

Stating that there was a need for rejuvenation and renaissance in our education system to make it world class, Shri. Naidu said that educational institutions must focus on academic excellence, physical fitness, mental alertness, moral uprightness and social conscience.
He urged universities to strive to overcome challenges of quality, equity and access in education through the creation of knowledge networks, research and innovation centres, skill development programs and support for faculty development.
The Vice President said that, with technology making deep inroads in our day-to-day lives, there is a greater need today to align academic curriculum in accordance with changing technological developments and to stay ahead of the curve for the country to reach greater heights.
He spoke of the need for India to upscale research facilities to produce world class publications in reputed international journals. ‘Research is an area where we are lagging behind and serious efforts are needed to bolster the culture of research and innovation in the country’, he said.
Highlighting the importance of preserving our rich culture, especially our languages, the Vice President also opined that mother tongue should be the primary medium of instruction in schools till the high school level.
Shri. Naidu also called for enhanced collaboration between academia and industry and urged the industry to earmark CSR funds for promoting collaboration with the academia and research activities.
Referring to India’s impending demographic dividend, Shri. Naidu said that India had the potential to become the human resource centre of the world. He said that quality education, skills, knowledge and creative thinking are essential to realize the demographic dividend and to make India a 21st century innovation hub.
The Vice President said that we must turn our educational institutions into centres of excellence with global standards. ‘’Our universities and educational institutional institutions must attain great heights and figure in top-ranking global academic institutions’, he added.
Observing that the majority of students who win awards for merit and excellence in universities are women, the Vice President said that women’s education and empowerment must become people’s movements.
Shri. Naidu emphasized that there is a need for inculcating the qualities of sharing and caring among youngsters. ‘They need to have empathy for others, particularly for the vulnerable and marginalized sections of the society’, he said.
He urged the students to continuously update themselves with the latest technologies, innovations and the changes in the world. He advised them to think of the nation first and to work hard with determination to realize their dreams and the aspirations of more than a billion people.
He advised students to firmly adhere to the path of righteousness and remain committed to upholding ethics and morals at all times.
The Governor of Madhya Pradesh, Shri. Lal Ji Tandon, the Minister of Public Health and Family Welfare, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Shri. Tulsiram Silawat, the Minister of Higher Education, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Shri. Jitu Patwari, former Speaker, Lok Sabha, Smt. Sumitra Mahajan and others were present at the occasion.
The following is the full text of the speech:
I am indeed delighted to address all of you on the occasion of Second Convocation of Shri Vaishnav Vidyapeeth Vishwavidyalaya.
At the outset, let me congratulate all the degree and medal recipients. I also convey my greetings to all the parents on this memorable occasion.
The efforts of 135-year-old Shri Vaishnav Committee and the Group of Trusts, Indore in establishing Shri Vaishnav Vidyapeeth Vishwavidyalaya (SVVV) to impart quality education are worthy of appreciation.
Over the years, the role of the private sector in Indian higher education has increased significantly and many outstanding private institutions across the country have contributed towards providing quality education to people.
However, higher education in the country continues to face many fundamental challenges of access, equity, affordability and quality. Although India’s higher education system is the third largest in the world in terms of enrollment, next only to China and the United States, its Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) at 25.4% significantly lags behind other countries like China, which, currently, has an enrollment ratio of 43.39% and USA, which has 85.8%.
Also, there is a wide disparity in GERs across states, urban and rural areas and gender. We need to address this issue on a war footing. Quality of faculty and infrastructure need to be further enhanced.
I am confident that the private universities and institutions will play an instrumental role in overcoming these challenges through the creation of knowledge networks, research and innovation centres, skill development programs and support for faculty development.
With technology making deep inroads in our day-to-day lives, there is a greater need today than ever before to align academic curriculum in accordance with changing technological developments. As a matter-of-fact, we not only need to keep abreast of the latest technological trends, but strive to stay ahead of the curve for the country to reach greater heights.
To this effect, I would like to impress upon all academic establishments and the UGC, AICTE to completely revamp the curricula and teaching methods, utilize latest IT tools and promote the culture of research in a big way. We need to upscale the research facilities to produce world class publications in reputed international journals. Research is an area where we are lagging behind and serious efforts are needed to bolster the culture of research and innovation in the country.
Another area that needs a huge boost is the collaboration between academia and industry. In fact, the industry must earmark CSR funds for promoting collaboration with the academia and research activities. The students coming out of our institutions should be innovative and creative to meet the requirements of the technology-driven world. In essence, a stronger collaboration between academic institutions and industry must evolve.
India is very soon going to have the largest population of youth in the world. This is India’s demographic dividend. India can become the human resource centre of the world. We cannot any longer continue with status quo. We must turn our educational institutions into centres of excellence with global standards.
As we all are aware, India was once known as ‘Vishwaguru’ and was home to the world’s best universities. Our universities and educational institutional institutions must again attain such heights and figure in top-ranking global academic institutions. For that to happen, all stakeholders in the educational field must make relentless and dedicated efforts.
The potential of demographic dividend can be realized if every segment contributes in its capacity to the fullest. In order to benefit from the capabilities of our youth, educational institutions must also involve them in community development activities. There is a need for inculcating the qualities of sharing and caring among youngsters. They need to have empathy for others, particularly for the vulnerable and marginalized sections of the society.
My dear students, your hard work of years has today culminated into an academic degree. Don’t look at this degree as an end to your education. Rather, it should serve as a catalyst for further pursuits of knowledge. Education is the most powerful weapon to change the world. Change is the only constant.
And to keep up with this change, learning should not be seen as an end but as a means to achieve greater heights in life. You should continuously update yourself with the latest technologies, innovations and the changes in the world. Belief is one of the most powerful tools behind the success of a person—be it personal or professional.
Dear students,
My advice to all of you is to think of the nation first. No doubt, you must all be dreaming of building a great career ahead. Work hard with determination to realize your dreams and strive dedicatedly to build a New India. Let us collectively fulfill the aspirations of more than a billion people.
India today stands at the cusp of a tremendous demographic opportunity. 65% of India’s population is under 35 years of age. For this demographic dividend to be effectively realized, quality education with necessary skills, knowledge and creative thinking is essential to build India into a 21st century innovation hub.
Education is not just the accumulation of knowledge from textbooks. Albert Einstein once said that education is not the learning of facts but the training of the mind to think something that cannot be learned from text books. Sometimes, asking the right questions is more important than having the right answers.
Dear students, you must not deviate from the righteous path and remain committed to upholding ethics and morals at all times. As you step out of the portals of this institution, many of you might look for employment and many others might decide to pursue further studies. Irrespective of what you intend to do, one thing is clear—opportunities are aplenty and make yourself capable of utilizing these opportunities to the fullest possible extent.
At the same time, I must remind you that the society expects a lot from today’s young generation. The scope and opportunities are unlimited. You would find a very different sense of accomplishment and contentment, when you make a difference in someone else’s life, especially if that person is not as fortunate as you. Above all, the interest of the nation must remain uppermost in your minds.
With these words, I once again congratulate the graduates who have received medals and degrees and call upon them to serve the humanity to the best of their capabilities and strive for the growth of our nation and welfare of our countrymen.
Jai Hind!

President of India Presents Bharat Ratna Awards 2019

The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, presented Bharat Ratna Awards to Shri Nanaji Deshmukh (posthumously), Dr Bhupendra Kumar Hazarika (posthumously) and Shri Pranab Mukherjee at an Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (August 8, 2019).

‘One Nation One Ration Card’, Inter-State portability in two clusters of adjoining States of Andhra Pradesh & Telangana and Gujarat & Maharashtra

In a major step towards achieving the objective of ‘One Nation One Ration Card’, the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Shri Ram Vilas Paswan today inaugurated the inter-State portability in two clusters of adjoining States of Andhra Pradesh & Telangana and Gujarat & Maharashtra. This will enable beneficiaries from either States’ cluster to avail the benefits accruing to them under the National Food Security Act from any of the two States.

Addressing the media after inaugurating the inter-State portability Shri Ram Vilas Paswan said that today marks the beginning of National level portability of Ration Cards which has begun with the two States’ clusters.Shri Paswan further stated that after leveraging the progress under Computerization scheme, 11 States/UT of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana and Tripura have implemented the intra-State portability of ration card holders to lift the entitled foodgrains from any Fair Price Shop within their State.Further, it is envisaged that the inter-State portability shall be introduced in the 11 States having already implemented intra-State portability by 1stJanuary 2020. 
Shri Paswan further added that all other States/UTs having attained requisite readiness for inter-State portability, shall be integrated in a phased manner. Thereby, enabling nation-wide portability of ration card holders to receive subsidized foodgrains under NFSA from anywhere in the country by 1st June 2020. The Union Minister said that this initiative shall be very helpful for the large migratory population of the country who migrate from one part of the country to other in search of job/employment, marriage, or any other reason and find difficulty in accessing subsidized foodgrains in the present system.
To sustain the reforms brought in by the ongoing scheme of ‘End-to-End Computerization of TPDS Operations’ and to introduce new reforms, the Department of Food & Public Distribution, is targeting implementation of nation-wide portability in distribution of subsidised foodgrains to the beneficiaries without the need of obtaining a new ration card under ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ System.
Installation of electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices at Fair Price Shops (FPSs) is the main enabler of portability of ration card holders, supported by the biometric/Aadhaar authentication.More than 4.1 lakh (77%) ePoS devices are already operational across the country. 25 States/UTs have either completed the installation in all FPSs or having significant progress in this area. Further, more than 85% ration cards (at least one member) in the country have been seeded with the Aadhaar numbers of the beneficiaries.        

‘Samagra Shiksha-Jal Suraksha’ Drive for School Students

Union HRD Minister Sh. Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ and Union Minister for Jal Shakti Sh. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launched ‘Samagra Shiksha-Jal Suraksha’ drive at KV no. 2 Delhi Cantt today. The dignitaries planted more than 350 saplings along with School Students and inaugurated Drip Irrigation System in the School campus. In order to create awareness about water conservation among school students, this mega drive targets to connect more than 10 crore students with this programme.
Union HRD Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ while launching the Drive asked School Students to take pledge for saving one litre water every day. 10 Crore Students together can save 10 Cr. Litres of water per day, he said. He appealed all School Students to become brand ambassador of water conservation. Students shall spread awareness about water conservation in their School, home and locality on the lines of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
Union Minister for Jal Shakti Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat expressed his deep concern on water scarcity in the Country and discussed various methods of water conservation. Quoting the example of Israel he explained how a small country with very limited sources of water generated innovative methods of water conservation and became a water exporting country. He also appreciated the efforts of Ministry of HRD and Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan towards water conservation.
Shri ‘Nishank’ and Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also launched a booklet prepared by Department of School Education and Literacy, titled- ‘How I am going to save 1 litre water every day?’ This booklet discusses those small efforts which can save a lot of water.
Inspired by Prime Minister’s impetus on Jal Sanchay, Government of India has launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA). It is a time bound campaign with a mission mode approach. This concept of water conservation is essential for students so that they can understand the importance of water and how it is shaping their lives meaningfully, thereby enabling them to participate in water conservation activities in their day to day lives.
The Department of School Education & Literacy, MHRD has launched the ‘Samagra Shiksha-Jal Suraksha’ drive to promote water conservation activities for School Students, so that they can become competent, conscientious and committed water citizens of our nation. The Department has prepared a detailed outline to implement this programme in all the schools of the country.
Five Major Objectives:
  1. To educate Students learn about conservation of water
  2. To sensitize Students about the impact of scarcity of water
  3. To empower Students to learn to protect the natural sources of water
  4. To help every Student to save at least one litre of water per day
  5. To encourage Students towards judicious use and minimum wastage of water at home and school level

Union Home Minister Amit Shah to release Vice President’s book on two years in office

A book chronicling two years in the office of the Vice President Shri M Venkaiah Naidu will be released at the Kalaivanar Arrangam, Chennai on August 11, 2019, by Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah.
The function is being hosted by Shri Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister of Environment & Forests & Climate Change and Information and Broadcasting. The book titled “LISTENING, LEARNING & LEADING” captures a few glimpses of the Vice President’s 330 public engagements in all the States and Union Territories of our country during the last two years.

Crisscrossing the length and breadth of our vast country, the Vice President has delivered 61 convocation addresses, interacted with students on 35 occasions, visited 97 scientific and technological research institutions and delivered 25 special lectures.
The book contains Shri Naidu’s important diplomatic engagements including his visits to 19 countries in 4 continents. He was the first Indian Vice President to visit Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Malta.
The book will showcase his achievements as Rajya Sabha Chairman and his initiatives to enhance effectiveness, and promote the efficiency of Rajya Sabha.
Shri Banwarilal Purohit, the Governor of Tamil Nadu, Shri Edappadi K. Palaniswami Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Shri O. Panneerselvam, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu will be attending the event.
Eminent Agriculture Scientist Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, Former Director ISRO, Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan, Former Attorney General of India Shri K. Parasaran, Editor of Tughlak Shri Swaminathan Gurumurthy, Chairman of Apollo Hospitals Group Dr Pratap C Reddy, Founder & Chancellor of VIT Dr.G.Viswanathan, Chief National Coach of Indian Badminton Team Shri Pullela Gopichand and several other dignitaries and eminent personalities will also attend the event.

People must participate actively in governance process to fast-track development

The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that people of the country must be active participants in governance to fast-track the process of development. He said that merely enacting legislations would not create solutions to problems and stressed that laws must be backed by political skill and administrative will.
 
The Vice President was addressing the gathering at the 117th Birth Anniversary celebrations of Shri Gujar Mal Modi, after presenting the Gujar Mal Modi Innovative Science and Technology Awards 2019 to Prof. S.K. Satheesh and Dr. Maharaj Kishan Bhan (Padma Bhushan) at Vigyan Bhawan, here today. Shri. Naidu lauded the Gujar Mal Modi Science Foundation for their initiative of encouraging scientists and innovators and said that we must preserve the age old Indian tradition of honouring excellence, to motivate the younger generations to do well.
Shri Naidu called for innovative and out-of-box solutions to formidable challenges like poverty, pollution, climate change, diseases, not-so-profitable agriculture and low-efficiency industrial processes.
Calling for a culture of innovation, the Vice President said that innovation was imperative to address these challenges and take India forward on the path to inclusive and sustainable development at a faster pace.
The Vice President called for a reorientation of the education system to promote creativity. Asserting that foundations for the culture of innovation must be laid in our schools and colleges, he observed that a ‘new model of education’ was needed.
“We must build on the ‘best practices’ we have developed over centuries as learners, and create ‘next practices’ that would suit our vision for our future,” he added.
Saying that research in basic sciences forms the bedrock of all technological advancement, Shri Naidu said that it was crucial to create an environment where the government, universities, corporate houses, and others come together to propel the entire science eco-system forward with special emphasis on sustainability.
Expressing his desire to develop Indian universities into centers of excellence in basic sciences as well as cutting edge technology, Shri Naidu said that our universities must become the power houses of research and development.
Observing that innovation and entrepreneurship must hand in hand, the Vice President said that universities must serve as safe spaces for entrepreneurship to flourish.
The Vice President presented Gujar Mal Modi Innovative Science and Technology Awards to Prof. S.K. Satheesh and Dr. Maharaj Kishan Bhan (Padma Bhushan). The President of the Gujar Mal Modi Science Foundation, Shri. Satish Kumar Modi, trustees of the foundation, Shri. Krishan Kumar Modi, Shri. Umesh Kumar Modi and others were present on the occasion.
Following is the text of Vice President’s address:
“I am delighted to be with the Modi family and all of you to participate in the 117th Birth Anniversary celebrations of late Shri Gujar Mal Modi, and to felicitate Prof. S.K. Satheesh and Dr. Maharaj Kishan Bhan (Padma Bhushan) with the ‘Gujar Mal Modi Award-2019’.
On this occasion, I pay tribute to Shri Gujar Mal Modi, the founder of the Modi Group of Industries, who was a great humanitarian. He was one of the prominent architects of modern industrial India
I am told that Bahadur Gujar Mal Modi undertook several welfare initiatives for his employees and their families. He built schools, educational institutions, hospitals, temples and residential complexes for them. He believed in taking peoples’ wealth back to people and made conscious efforts to plough back a large part of the profit made by his business undertakings for social good.
Shri Gujar Mal Modi was presented the prestigious Padma Bhushan by the Government of India, in recognition of his achievements as an enterprising industrialist and for his immense philanthropic work.
Today, the Modi Family is celebrating the 117th birth anniversary of this great philanthrope.
I am glad to know that, since 1988, the Foundation has already recognized thirty three personalities of the country who have excelled in their respective fields. The list includes Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Prof. M.G.K. Menon and Dr. Kasturirangan.
I am happy to know that the Jury, under the chairmanship of Dr. K. Kasturirangan, former Member, Planning Commission, has decided to honour Prof. S.K. Satheesh and Dr. Maharaj Kishan Bhan this year.
Prof. S.K. Satheesh, the Chairman of Divecha Centre for Climate Change and Professor of Centre for Atmosperic and Oceanic Sciences at Indian Institute of Science (IISc), has made outstanding contributions to understanding the significant impact of light – absorbing atmospheric aerosol particles on the radiation balance of the Earth-atmosphere system and regional climate.
Prof. Satheesh’s efforts in the assessment of the radiative impact of aerosols, which is widely used in climate models to study monsoon, are indeed praiseworthy. I extend my hearty congratulations to him for the honour that he received today.
  1. Bhushan Dr. Maharaj Kishan Bhan from Kashmir, is currently the Chair of the Health Systems Transformation Platform, established by the Tata Trusts and of the Technical Advisory Group of the National Biopharma Mission.
I am glad to note that his pioneering research lead to development of a Rotavirus vaccine from a novel virus strain he isolated at AIIMS, New Delhi. The vaccine developed through a decade long effort is now delivered through the country’s immunization program and used in other developing countries. Over 100 million of this vaccine doses given to children in last few years has saved countless lives. His efforts have inspired translational biomedical science and innovation by Indian academia and industry.
He is globally recognized as an innovation leader in medical research and technology development. I congratulate Dr. Bhan on his outstanding achievements.
It is common knowledge that research in basic sciences form the bedrock of all technological advancement. It is crucial to create an environment where the government, universities, corporate houses and others come together to propel the entire science eco-system forward with special emphasis on sustainability.
One way to motivate and encourage talented youngsters is by recognizing and applauding the accomplishments of our researchers and scientists, a step taken by the G.M. Modi Foundation years ago. My congratulations to this Foundation for encouraging scientists in the way you have been doing for the past 31years.
My dear brothers and sisters,     
I am sure that all of you are aware of the tremendous progress that our country is making on several fronts. We have a stable democracy and a vibrant economy. We have huge potential in our demography with 65% of the population being below 35 years of age.
I strongly believe that for India to move ahead on the path of inclusive and sustainable development, at a faster pace, innovation is an imperative. Today, we face a number of formidable challenges like poverty, pollution, climate change, diseases, not-so-profitable agriculture, and low-efficiency industrial processes.
We have to find solutions to these problems using the limited resources that are available to us.
Innovation and out-of-box solutions are the only way forward.
Innovation is a culture, a mindset.
Once you have an innovation culture, even those who are not scientists or engineers would also embrace innovation and scientific literacy. Thus innovation would get embedded as one of the core values of a society, promoting economic growth and development.
This culture of constant innovation is what India needs today, it is what will make India a global leader.
Investing in innovation is investing in a bright future.
The foundation for this culture of innovation must be laid in our schools and colleges.
Children are born with a natural curiosity about the world around us. This curiosity is the foundation of all invention. We must encourage our children to ask questions, to critique and to reject the irrational.
Our education system must be overhauled to inspire creativity and curiosity. It must seek to turn this native curiosity among children into knowledge that gives us the power to invent, to find solutions to problems.
We must build a new model of education together, a model that does not resist change but remains forever open and adaptable. We must build on the ‘best practices’ we have developed over centuries as learners, and create ‘next practices’ that would suit our vision for our future.
A start has been made through initiatives like ‘Atal Tinkering labs’ set up in more than 5500 schools in India, under the Atal Innovation Mission, to foster curiosity, creativity, and imagination in young minds and inculcate skills such as design mindset, computational thinking, adaptive learning, physical computing etc.. Many more such initiatives which serve as platforms for innovation, should come up.
Our universities must serve as centres for excellence in basic sciences as well as cutting edge technology. They must be power houses of research and development.
To meet this objective, the research projects that are undertaken by our universities must live up to international standards and benchmarks. It has very often been said that a major weakness of Indian education and research is the relatively very small part played by the universities in the sum total of Indian research.
At the institutional level, there is a need to link teaching with research. The government needs to invest in faculty development, provide incentives for research, promote collaborative efforts between institutions in research.
Our universities must move beyond adopting technology to embracing it.
Initiatives such as outcome based research financing, setting up of Incubation Centers for innovative research and setting up Research Parks in central educational institutions can go a long way in making our universities thriving knowledge-creation centres.
Unlike in the past, tight boundaries between various disciplines have almost disappeared. Today’s researchers cannot confine themselves to compartmentalized silos and must have a basic understanding of other related disciplines. The issues are also no longer discipline-specific and cut across several disciplines. A holistic research approach needs to be adopted in an inter-disciplinary manner.
For example, health, education and environment are of immense concern to all and cannot be confined to particular disciplines.
The canvas of new research both in science and social science is vast and will definitely help young researchers to get a wider perspective on various phenomena. The emerging areas in bio-technology, genetic engineering, biodiversity, new materials, micro-machines, bio-medical simulations and equipment, new dominions in space research and technology including permanent human habitat in space, and similar new frontiers in oceans, are some of the examples.
I urge our educational institutions to come together for creating new knowledge at the intersections of existing disciplines.
My dear sisters and brothers,
Much is being said about promoting entrepreneurship. The priority accorded by the government to innovation is clearly reflected in missions such as ‘start-up India’ and Stand-up India’.
I strongly believe that innovation and entrepreneurship go hand in hand. Our universities must serve as safe spaces for entrepreneurship to flourish. We must encourage our brilliant youngsters to collaborate and work together in teams to come up with business ideas that are feasible, sustainable and most importantly, socially relevant.
The ultimate aim of all innovation is the betterment of the human condition, the alleviation of suffering and the promotion of stability, peace and harmony.
I urge all of you, especially young innovators to have a big vision and then take small steps to realize your vision. Sometimes, innovation is not about cutting edge technology, it is about simple solutions to complex problems. India is a country that is well known for its frugal innovations. We must keep this competitive advantage of ours alive and use it to the best possible extent to defeat challenges.
Let me also caution you that every single cutting edge technology brings with it its own disruptive interventions. We as a society must be mature and prudent enough to manage these disruptions which are very often paradigm altering.
Let me impress upon you that Science is a moving target, forever advancing and progressing. We need to keep ourselves updated and be ready to work hard.
I once again congratulate Prof. S.K. Satheesh and Dr. Maharaj Kishan Bhan. I hope that the legacy of philanthropic activities left behind by Bahadur Gujar Mal Modi will be carried forward by his family in the times to come. I wish all of you all the very best in your future endeavours.
Thank You!
Jai Hind!”

5375 Persons Rescued And More Than 42,000 Evacuated By NDRF

5375 people rescued & more than 42,000 stranded persons & 268 livestock have been evacuated and taken to safer locations by National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) across the country since operation commenced. The NDRF is engaged in rescue & evacuation work with full zeal & commitment at various districts of flood affected states viz. Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Total 173flood rescue teams are deployed by Force across the country for rescue & relief work during the recent monsoon season.
In Kerala the incessant rainfall across the region has affected most of the districts of the state viz. Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Malappuram, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kozhikode and Kannur. Bridges, roads are vulnerable to flood which has affected the normal life of the populace. Yesterday, incessant rainfall triggered a major landslide at Ipadi, Puttupala, Wayanad in Kerala, which trapped several people under the debris. NDRF team immediately rushed to the incident site. However, heavy rains and debris on the way obstructed the movement of NDRF team. Despite all odds, NDRF team managed to reach incident site and immediately started the operation with other agencies. In a joint operation, rescue agencies evacuated 194 persons. In addition, NDRF team operational at Mallapuram evacuated 27 person from flood affected areas, today. 13NDRF teams are deployed in Kerala.
In Karnataka, 09 additional teams (05 from Kolkata & 04 from Ghaziabad) are in the State to expedite operations. Presently, 20 NDRF teams are engaged in rescue & relief work with full zeal & commitment at Kodagu, Raichur, Belagavi, Bagalkot & Dharwad districts. Today, teams evacuated 374 persons at Belagavi and 12 at Dharwad . Till Now, NDRF has evacuated over 3400 persons & 24 live Stocks to safer places in Karnataka.

In Maharashtra,  32 NDRF teams are present in the flood affected areas of the State for quick response. Today, NDRF has rescued 2750 persons & evacuated 883 persons at Sangli whereas 300 persons rescued and 246evacuated to safer locations at Kolhapur by NDRF teams. So far, NDRF has rescued 5292 persons and also evacuated more than 18,000 persons & 40 livestock’s in Maharashtra. Besides, team also retrieved 07 dead bodies. The operations are still on.
In Andhra Pradesh, 05 NDRF teams are deployed in Andhra Pradesh. NDRF team deployed at East Godavari commenced rescue operation and evacuated36 people to safer places, today. Total 76 persons evacuated in Andhra Pradesh, till now.
In Madhya Pradesh, 03 NDRF teams are deployed in the State. Today, team evacuated 86 persons at Badwani. So far, 115 persons & 17 livestock have been evacuated by NDRF in Madhya Pradesh.
And In Gujarat today, NDRF team evacuated 150 persons from flooded areas of Chota Udaipur where a total of 4245 persons and 57 livestock have been evacuated by NDRF. 18 teams are deployed in Gujarat.
A 24×7, NDRF Control Room in New Delhi is functioning round the clock to keep the close vizil over the development of situation and is in touch with other agencies & stakeholder. DG, NDRF is personally monitoring the rescue & relief operations by NDRF and additional teams are on standby at various NDRF locations.

NITI Aayog launches Fourth Edition of Women Transforming India Awards; invites nominations for the Awards

NITI Aayog, the premier think tank of the Government of India, has launched the Fourth Edition of Women Transforming India (WTI) Awards, in collaboration with the United Nations in New Delhi today. UN Resident Coordinator in India, Ms. Renata Lok-Dessallien, opened the nomination process for WTI Awards 2019, in the presence of CEO NITI Aayog, Mr. Amitabh Kant, senior government officials and partners of Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP).
The applications for the awards are now live, and nominations can be filed on behalf of individuals or by the individual themselves at https://wep.gov.in.
The WTI Awards, since its inception in 2016, has been recognising and celebrating stories of exemplary women from across India. The theme for WTI Awards 2019 is “Women and Entrepreneurship”, in continuation with last edition’s theme that recognizes women entrepreneurs who are breaking the glass ceiling and challenging stereotypes, through businesses and enterprises and are providing innovative developmental solutions to building a dynamic New India.
Whatsapp has collaborated with the WEP for the WTI Awards of 2019, and will be providing support equivalent toUS$100,000 to the winners.
The campaign builds on the success of the WTI Awards for the past three years. WTI Awards 2018 received more than 2,300 nominations. Through a highly objective and rigorous selection process, 15 women entrepreneurs doing inspirational work from diverse sectors viz. Renewable Energy, Education, Sanitation, Art and Culture, Social Innovation and Impact, were recognised. The first two editions of the WTI Awards felicitated 12 phenomenal stories each of women undertaking phenomenal work to transform societies across India’s cities, towns and villages; and empowering themselves and their communities.
Addressing on the occasion, Mr. Amitabh Kant CEO NITI Aayog said,“WTI Awards is a flagship initiative of NITI Aayog. For the past three years, we have been celebrating the power of women and recognising their efforts in championing the cause of their societies. The next wave of disruption in India’s start-up ecosystem would be led by women-led enterprises. I am personally invested in ensuring the success of winners of the WTI Awards”.
 
Calling Women Transforming a movement, Ms Dessallien said, “We chose women’s entrepreneurship as our theme because at the heart of these Awards, this movement rather, is the idea that women lead change. I believe that if there is any one group, which can decisively accelerate India, and the world’s, achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, it is India’s women. The over half a billion women are not a target audience. They are not the recipients of development. They are stakeholders. Their full and equal participation changes conversations, the way we talk about development; it transforms politics and decision making; it improves policy.”
About WEP
WEP is one of its kind facilitation platform, which enables convergence of multiple stakeholders on a single platform, work in collaboration with these stakeholders to bridge the gap in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, host relevant information about several schemes and partner organizations on WEP website to connect women entrepreneurs with relevant partners.
Established under the leadership of Ms. Anna Roy, Sr. Adviser of NITI Aayog, WEP focuses on both reaching out to the community through online means as well as increasing interaction of stakeholders with grass root women entrepreneur community through offline activities so that the benefits can reach the bottom-most of the pyramid. WEP, through its partners, in various verticals such as Finance, Marketing and Networking, Entrepreneurship Development, Mentoring, Incubation and Acceleration aims at providing services such as free credit ratings, skill development, local support, corporate partnerships, funding support etc. to women entrepreneurs.
WEP also works to enable sharing of best practices amongst women entrepreneurs and partner organizations and act as a facilitation platform through which relevant data can be collected and research activities can be undertaken, in association with partner organizations to understand and provide solution to women centric problems in entrepreneurial space.
In the span of past 15 months, WEP has seen several success stories emerging. WEP has more than 5,000 women entrepreneurs registered on the platform, more than 30 partners and has committed funding of more than US$10mn for these startups.

Is Education Overrated?


Importance of Literacy Rate

When discussing the well-being of any country or state of human development of a country; literacy rate is considered to be one of the key parameters. Disparity between literacy rates across genders, geographies, communities tells government where she needs to focus most. Literacy rate is perfect litmus test of a country’s human development.

But why literacy rate is so important?

One of the key requirements for modern societies to function is our abilities to coordinate and communicate effectively. For example, Government launches a new scheme to provide free polio shots for kids.

Unless the general public understands and appreciates this, the rupees spent on this will not yield anything. The citizens need to be able to read on and understand about the government’s role responsibility and actions. Especially when we talk about democracy, it becomes even more important for the citizens to understand various sides of the argument and choose the best alternative.

Literate vs Educated

Literacy is basically understood as ability to read and write. But is it sufficient? Can a person who can read constitution, understand it?
There is a huge gap between being literate and being educated. The third world countries are often blamed for portraying incorrect picture about literacy rates. As they do not take into account the kind of education the person has received.

Formal Education in India

The formal education in India is divided in 10+2+3 followed by specializations. The first 10 years formal education is common for all, before in +2 students are allowed to choose a stream. +2 does not offer lot of options to diverge, but after 2 years of Intermediate, students are ready to take up specialization course- The Graduation. Graduation normally takes 3 years, but for more technically complex courses like Engineering or medicine, it may take little longer. Post graduation, students are free to choose super-specialization courses- the master’s degree. After Masters, student can go for doctorate (PhD) and so on.

Purpose of Education

For a long time, Indian education system was very formal and people studied on as needed basis. Unless someone had deeper interests in literature or another particular field, the purpose of education was very limited. People learned for their interests, there was no burden.
But then came the British. With Merlo-Minto reforms in early 20th century, the Britishers changed the purpose of education from just education to making people job-ready. While this may sound good, it also made the education just a rat race. People read nowadays just to get a job without exploring their interests or even pursuing their interests.
As a result, such students perform very mediocrely in their jobs, with no passion at all, they just go with the flow without attaining their true potential.

The Indian education system believed in
सा विद्या या विमुक्तये|
This means education is the one that sets us free. In other words, if it is does not set us free, it is not education. And this is where the modern education is failing the humanity. It does not set us free from our doubts, our misbeliefs- it does not make us human.
A concentration camp survivor once said that education does not make the world a better place. The concentration camps and the nuclear bombs were built by some of the brightest minds the world has ever seen. Being a better human being is far too important than anything else.
Role of a “good” education becomes more important in today’s world when it is more fragmented than ever. Democratization of media has created so much noise that differentiating black from white is more difficult and more necessary than ever before. We are using our “education” as a weapon. Such type of education does not set us free; it makes us prisoners of our own devise. If the world has to survive, if the world has to be a happy place we need an education system that frees us, that liberates us. Afterall,
सा विद्या या विमुक्तये|

Mobile Phones and Its Evolution

Introduction

A
mobile phone is a portable mode of telephone that can make and receive calls.
What makes it different from telephone is its wireless mode of communication as
it allows the user to move while communicating.  Phones have come a long way since Bell made the first call. Now we have
cellphones which need no wires. The early cellphones were bulky, hard to use
and could do only calling. However with evolution of technology, we have now
camera, music and even internet in mobiles. While the radiations from mobile
have not been proved to be substantially harmful, judicious use of mobiles is
only wise.

The First Phone

 The first
cellular mobile [1] that came in practice was invented in 1980s by Motorola.
This device was named Motorola DynaTAC 8000X. it was the first commercialized
phone that was developed by efforts begun at Bell Labs, which first proposed
the idea of a cellular system in 1947. A series of phone was manufactured in US
from 1983 to 1994 under the name in United States of America. It was first
introduced in market on September 21, 1983.
It was having normal feature of receiving and
sending messages but it was a revolution then as it took communication to a new
height. Undoubtedly it was a revolution then as it changes the concept of
interaction accelerating development at an amazing scale.  Early Cellular phones used analog CDMA technology.
The first commercially available handheld cellular
phone, Motorola DynaTAC 8000x, which hit the market in 1983 weighed in at 2
pounds. It was priced at $3,995 and offered a half-hour of talk per batter
charge.

2G, GSM, mobile internet

CDMA technique of mobile continued its regime for
almost a decade and was later replaced by Global System for Mobile
Communications (GSM) in original termed as Group Special Mobile). It was the forerunner
of the mobile data bloom. It made its first debut in Finland and termed as 2G
network [2].
Phones like the 5110 and 3300 from NOKIA became
iconic and dominated the market during 1992. Till 90s Nokia was supreme leader
in the market. Primarily internet service was availed via GPRS (General Packet
Radio Service) and moving to the faster EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM
Evolution, or EGPRS).

Camera phone

Cell phone later introduced a special feature in
2000 having tiny 0.11-0.35 megapixel resolutions cameras fitted in back cover
of the mobile. In India, the earliest camera phone was the Nokia 7650.

Bluetooth, WiFi

Bluetooth was another unique feature that is still popular.
With the help of Bluetooth user can send receive text and files, photos and videos?
There is no wire needed; only devices must interconnect across short distance.
The first Bluetooth-enabled phone became available in 2000 was Ericsson T36.

3G

 3G is termed
as the third-generation of mobile phone technology standards. The main service
that 3G is associated with wireless voice telephony and broadband wireless
data, all in a mobile environment. Initially introduced in japan, in 2001 [3],
it- is very fast, efficient mobile network. 
With its varying level of speed it allowed addition of numerous applications
on mobile phone making it multitasking device.
 For example,
using 2g to download a 10 MB video or song takes usually 10 to 12 minutes but
with 3G it can be done in a minute. This made the cellphone a utility device.

 Android

It’s an operating system owned by Google and came
into existence in 2005. It runs on majority of phone these days with its
upgraded version. The first Android touchscreen device (G1) came out in 2008
for the US market. It is the modified version of Linux [4].

4G or LTE

The first 4G network, made its début in 2009 in
Sweden based on the LTE standard. Airtel, a cellular company introduced 4G
network in India. 4g relies heavily on internet as most Indian have their
strong focus on music, video and social media.

The Present of Cellular Phones

Cellular phone is now the part and partial of our life.
With upcoming features and high focus on internet availability, gave a massive
boost to mobile usage. From android phone to I phone, the significant change in
cellphones has made it a strong utility device. From keypad to smartphone,
people have witnessed a considerable change in, appearance and efficacy of cell
phones.

The Criticism

Cellular phones work on high
frequency radio waves, which essentially are radiations. These radiations are
non-ionizing. And though it has not been substantially proved, the radiations
of mobile phones have been blamed to cause many diseases including cancer.
While these claims can be neither
accepted nor rejected [5], it is wise to use mobile phones
carefully. Avoid unnecessary usage, keep it at safe distance from body, use
hands-free whenever possible- are some best practices of cellphone use.

PM pays tributes to former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj

Prime
Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid tributes to former External Affairs
Minister Sushma Swaraj, at her residence in New Delhi today.

Expressing
condolence over her demise, Prime Minister said, “A glorious chapter in
Indian politics comes to an end. India grieves the demise of a
remarkable leader who devoted her life to public service and bettering
lives of the poor. Sushma Swaraj Ji was one of her kind, who was a
source of inspiration for crores of people.
Sushma
Ji was a prolific orator and outstanding Parliamentarian. She was
admired and revered across party lines. She was uncompromising when it
came to matters of ideology and interests of the BJP, whose growth she
immensely contributed to.
An
excellent administrator, Sushma Ji set high standards in every Ministry
she handled. She played a key role in bettering India’s ties with
various nations. As a Minister we also saw her compassionate side,
helping fellow Indians who were in distress in any part of the world.
I
can’t forget the manner in which Sushma Ji worked tirelessly as EAM in
the last 5 years. Even when her health was not good, she would do
everything possible to do justice to her work and remain up to date with
matters of her Ministry. The spirit and commitment was unparalleled.
Sushma
Ji’s demise is a personal loss. She will be remembered fondly for
everything that she’s done for India. My thoughts are with her family,
supporters and admirers in this very unfortunate hour. Om Shanti”.
Former External Affairs Minister Ms. Sushma Swaraj passed away last night in New Delhi.

Passing of the landmark Bills on Jammu and Kashmir a momentous occasion in Parliamentary Democracy

Prime
Minister Narendra Modi today welcomed the passing of bills pertaining
to Jammu and Kashmir as “a momentous occasion in our Parliamentary
democracy”.
In
a series of tweets Prime Minister was hopeful that “Together we shall
rise and together we fulfil the dreams of 130 Crore Indians!”
He Said, “I salute my sisters and brothers of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh for their courage and resilience.”
The
Prime Minister further said “For years, vested interest groups who
believed in emotional blackmail never cared for people’s empowerment.
J&K is now free from their shackles. A new dawn, better tomorrow
awaits!”

Mr
Narendra Modi said, “The Bills pertaining to Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh
will ensure integration and empowerment. These steps will bring the
youth into the mainstream and give them innumerable opportunities to
showcase their skills and talents. Local infrastructure will
significantly improve.”
He
specially congratulated the people of Ladakh. “It is a matter of great
joy that their long-standing demand of being declared a Union Territory
has been fulfilled. This decision will give impetus to the overall
prosperity of the region and ensure better developmental facilities” he
said.
The
Prime Minister said, “The passage of key Bills pertaining to Jammu,
Kashmir and Ladakh are a fitting tribute to the great Sardar Patel, who
worked for India’s unity, Dr.BabasahebAmbedkar, whose views are well
known and Dr. SP Mookerjee who devoted his life for India’s unity and
integrity.”
He
said, “In Parliament, political parties rose to the occasion, overcame
ideological differences and took part in a rich debate that increased
the pride of our Parliamentary democracy. For that, I congratulate all
MPs, various political parties and their leaders.”
The
prime minister in a separate tweet said “People of Jammu, Kashmir and
Ladakh would be proud that MPs overcame differences and discussed the
future of these regions as well as ensuring peace, progress and
prosperity there. The widespread support can be clearly seen in the
final numbers, 125:61 in RS and 370:70 in LS.”
He
said, “India’s Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, M
Venkaiah Naidu Garu as well as Speaker Om Birla Kota Ji conducted
proceedings of both Houses in an excellent manner, for which they
deserve praise from the entire nation.“
He
specially congratulated Home Minister Amit Shah. “Our Home Minister
Amit Shah Ji has been continuously working towards ensuring a better
life for the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. His commitment and
diligence is clearly visible in the passage of these Bills. I would like
to specially congratulate Amit Bhai!”

WCD Minister to Felicitate States and Districts under BBBP Scheme in New Delhi

The
Union Ministry of Women and Child Developments organizing a
felicitation and award function for those Districts and States who have
successfully implemented the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP)scheme in the country. The function will be held on 7thAugust, 2019 in New Delhi.

The
objective of the programme is to felicitate States and Districts which
are performing well in improving Sex Ratio at Birth as per Health
Management Information System (HMIS) of Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare data and excellent performance in awareness generation and
outreach.Union Ministerof Women and Child Development, Smriti Zubin
Irani will grace the occasion as chief guest and Minister of State,
Debasree Chaudhuri,will be guest of honour at the event.
The BBBP scheme launched on 22ndJanuary,
2015 has been implemented in phases. Currently, it is being implemented
in 640 districts (as per census 2011). All 640 districts are covered
through advocacy and media campaign. Moreover, out of these 640
districts, 405 districts are covered under Multi- Sectoral Intervention
in which 100% Centrally Sponsored Schemes grant is provided directly to
DM/DC for BBBP.
On
this occasion,Union Minister of WCD will be felicitating Principal
Secretaries/ Commissioners of the 5 States and District
Magistrates/Deputy Commissioners of 10 Districts (covering 9 States)
forconsistent improvement inSex Ratio at Birth. District
Magistrates/Deputy Commissioners of 10additional districts (covering 8
States)will also be felicitated for outstanding performance under
awareness generation and outreach activities.
Another
important activity on the occasion will be aslide show of innovations
by States/ Districts under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao followed by short
videos of innovative interventions undertaken by the winning States and
Districts.
The
latest reports on State/UT-wise Sex Ratio at Birth data for the period
2014-15 and 2018-19, reveal that SRB increased from 918 to 931 showing
improving trends at the national level.

PMAY(U) Awards for Beneficiaries instituted

Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has instituted PMAY(U) Awards for Beneficiariesfor
the first time to recognise the contribution of States/UTs, Urban Local
Bodies and Beneficiaries. This special award for beneficiaries is
likely to enthuse the States / UTs to fulfil the dream of house for
millions, a reality, and also encourage beneficiaries to build their
house aesthetically using sustainable methods. The winners will be
awarded during a National level Event. The procedure of selection for
these awards has been made transparent by linking it with the progress
being uploaded in MIS system by States/UTs.  This award is in addition
to CLSS Award for recognising the contribution of PMAY (U) Banks and
Housing Finance Companies.

The
Pradhan MantriAwasYojana(Urban)- PMAY(U)- Mission has achieved a
significant milestone of approving more than85 Lakh houses against a
demand of about 112 Lakh houses in urban areas. Out of these, around 50
Lakh houses are at various stages of construction and more than 26 Lakh
houses have already been completed.
The
highlight of the PMAY(U) awards is that it will also recognise and
reward the selected beneficiaries from each State/UT under
‘Beneficiary-led Construction’ component for building their house in a
most aesthetic and innovative manner. To facilitate this, a PMAY(U)
mobile application was launched by ShriHardeep S Puri, Minister of State
(I/C)for Housing and Urban Affairs,in February this year for direct
interface of beneficiaries with the PMAY(U) mission.The mobile app has
been designed for beneficiaries to upload high-resolution photographs
and videos clips highlighting their success stories of owning a house
under PMAY (U). These stories are an emotional recount of experiences
such as increased self-esteem, social upliftment, sense of pride and
dignity, safety and security for the family, protected environment for
girl child and children’s education. The mobile app has marked its reach
to more than 50 thousand beneficiaries so far across all States/ UTs.
The last date to participate in the Awards is 20th August ‘2019.

Landmark Consumer Protection Bill, 2019 gets Parliamentary approval

The
Parliament today gave its nod to the landmark Consumer Protection Bill,
2019 which aims to protect the rights of consumers by establishing
authorities for timely and effective administration and settlement of
consumers’ dispute. The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on 30th
July, 2019 and was passed by Rajya Sabha today through a voice vote.
The Bill will replace the more than three decades old Consumer
Protection Act, 1986.
Moving
the bill for consideration and passing in Rajya Sabha, Union Minister
of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Shri Ramvilas Paswan
said that the new legislation would ease the overall process of consumer
grievance redressal. Shri Paswan said that this new bill will provide a
better mechanism to dispose consumer complaints in a speedy manner and
will help in disposal of large number of pending cases in consumer
courts across the nation. Shri Paswan stated that this bill was a long
pending legislation and all the recommendations of the Parliamentary
Standing Committee were incorporated in the bill except for five
recommendations.  Shri Paswan also assured all the members of Parliament
that their suggestions would be incorporated in the rules to the extent
possible within the legal framework.
The
bill, among other things, proposes setting up of a Central Consumer
Protection Authority (CCPA) to promote, protect and enforce the rights
of consumers as a class. The CCPA would make interventions to prevent
consumer detriment arising from unfair trade practices. The agency can
also initiate class action, including enforcing recall, refund and
return of products.
The
Bill also envisages simplified dispute resolution process, has
provision for Mediation and e-filing of cases.  The Consumer will be
able to file cases in the nearest commission under the jurisdiction of
which he resides.
For
the first time there will be an exclusive law dealing with Product
Liability. A manufacturer or product service provider or product seller
will now be responsible to compensate for injury or damage caused by
defective product or deficiency in services.
Additional
swift executive remedies are proposed in the bill through CCPA. There
are provisions for deterrent punishment to check misleading
advertisements and adulteration of products. Product liability provision
to deter manufacturers and service providers from delivering defective
products or deficient services. The Bill also enables regulations to be
notified on E-commerce and direct selling with focus on protection of
interest of consumers.