Panel suggests single window system for green nods
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NEW DELHI: Observing that corporates seek "short cuts" to get clearance for their environment projects, a high level committee has suggested setting up of a 'single window' clearance system for green projects to significantly reduce the processing time.
After studying six environment laws, the four-member panel - headed by former Cabinet Secretary T S R Subramanian - has recommended setting up of a full-time expert body, National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), at the Centre, and State Environmental Management Authority (SEMA) to evaluate project clearance in a time bound manner.
A 'fast track' procedure for 'linear' projects which provide benefit to community at large, as well as power and mining projects, as also projects of national importance has also been recommended by the committee.
"It should also be added that our businessmen and entrepreneurs are not all imbued in principles of rectitude - most are not reluctant, indeed actively seek short-cuts, and are happy to collaboratively pay a 'price' to get their projects going; in many instances, arbitrariness means that those who don't fall in line have to stay out," the panel said in its latest report.
Recommending a "single window clearance mechanism", the panel said: "This is not a new suggestion. Admittedly, an operational mechanism for this would require some effort in the beginning but it would certainly pay dividends."
It has proposed setting up of NEMA and SEMA as the pivotal authorities to process applications for green clearance. It has also suggested subsuming of the existing Central Pollution Control Board and corresponding State agencies under these agencies.
Observing that the provisions of the environment acts do not pose any great difficulty, the panel said, "It is the operative instructions which need to be reviewed because of the inordinate time taken in clearing project proposals especially when composite approvals are required."
To fasten the clearance of green projects, the panel further recommended use of national GIS enabled environmental information data base which would assist both the project proponent and the scrutinising agency in obtaining authentic data vital for decision making on an application.
After studying six environment laws, the four-member panel - headed by former Cabinet Secretary T S R Subramanian - has recommended setting up of a full-time expert body, National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), at the Centre, and State Environmental Management Authority (SEMA) to evaluate project clearance in a time bound manner.
A 'fast track' procedure for 'linear' projects which provide benefit to community at large, as well as power and mining projects, as also projects of national importance has also been recommended by the committee.
"It should also be added that our businessmen and entrepreneurs are not all imbued in principles of rectitude - most are not reluctant, indeed actively seek short-cuts, and are happy to collaboratively pay a 'price' to get their projects going; in many instances, arbitrariness means that those who don't fall in line have to stay out," the panel said in its latest report.
Recommending a "single window clearance mechanism", the panel said: "This is not a new suggestion. Admittedly, an operational mechanism for this would require some effort in the beginning but it would certainly pay dividends."
It has proposed setting up of NEMA and SEMA as the pivotal authorities to process applications for green clearance. It has also suggested subsuming of the existing Central Pollution Control Board and corresponding State agencies under these agencies.
Observing that the provisions of the environment acts do not pose any great difficulty, the panel said, "It is the operative instructions which need to be reviewed because of the inordinate time taken in clearing project proposals especially when composite approvals are required."
To fasten the clearance of green projects, the panel further recommended use of national GIS enabled environmental information data base which would assist both the project proponent and the scrutinising agency in obtaining authentic data vital for decision making on an application.
ISRO gears up to launch IRNSS 1D
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After completing an eventful year, ISRO is gearing up for some satellite launches this year, with the IRNSS 1D being the first, which would put in place India's own navigation system on par with the Global Positioning System of the US.
"The launch campaign for IRNSS 1D has come, which starts on January 16. Within two months, all components from other ISRO labs have to reach Sriharikota. The launch is likely after March 15," a senior ISRO official told PTI.
IRNSS 1D is the fourth in the series of seven satellites, the national space agency is planning to launch to put in place the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
While four satellites would be sufficient to start operations of the system, the remaining three satellites would make it more accurate and efficient.
The other launches also relate to the IRNSS series with the IRNSS1E and IRNSS1-F satellites to be launched before the year end, he said.
The first three satellites in the IRNSS series were launched from Sriharikota on July 1, 2013, April 4 and October 16 last year respectively.
The fully deployed IRNSS would consist of three and four satellites in GEO stationary and in inclined geosynchronous orbits respectively, about 36,000 km above the Earth.
The system would provide two types of services -- Standard Positioning Service, which is provided to all the users and Restricted Service, which is an encrypted service provided only to the authorised users.
The IRNSS system was targeted to be completed by this year at a total cost of Rs 1420 crore.
IRNSS is designed to provide accurate position information service to users in the country as well as the region extending up to 1,500 km from its boundary, which is its primary service area.
A select group of countries have their own navigation systems --Russia's Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), United States' Global Positioning System (GPS), European Union's Galileo (GNSS), China's BeiDou satellite navigation system and the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System.
ISRO not only launched a GLSV rocket, a GSLV Mk III, besides two PSLVs during 2014 but also successfully inserted its Mars orbiter into the Martian atmosphere and tested the re-entry of unmanned crew module from space.
"The launch campaign for IRNSS 1D has come, which starts on January 16. Within two months, all components from other ISRO labs have to reach Sriharikota. The launch is likely after March 15," a senior ISRO official told PTI.
IRNSS 1D is the fourth in the series of seven satellites, the national space agency is planning to launch to put in place the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
While four satellites would be sufficient to start operations of the system, the remaining three satellites would make it more accurate and efficient.
The other launches also relate to the IRNSS series with the IRNSS1E and IRNSS1-F satellites to be launched before the year end, he said.
The first three satellites in the IRNSS series were launched from Sriharikota on July 1, 2013, April 4 and October 16 last year respectively.
The fully deployed IRNSS would consist of three and four satellites in GEO stationary and in inclined geosynchronous orbits respectively, about 36,000 km above the Earth.
The system would provide two types of services -- Standard Positioning Service, which is provided to all the users and Restricted Service, which is an encrypted service provided only to the authorised users.
The IRNSS system was targeted to be completed by this year at a total cost of Rs 1420 crore.
IRNSS is designed to provide accurate position information service to users in the country as well as the region extending up to 1,500 km from its boundary, which is its primary service area.
A select group of countries have their own navigation systems --Russia's Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), United States' Global Positioning System (GPS), European Union's Galileo (GNSS), China's BeiDou satellite navigation system and the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System.
ISRO not only launched a GLSV rocket, a GSLV Mk III, besides two PSLVs during 2014 but also successfully inserted its Mars orbiter into the Martian atmosphere and tested the re-entry of unmanned crew module from space.
Indian Neutrino Observatory (INO)
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An underground experimental physics facility in Tamil Nadu will be ready within five years after the Cabinet gave its nod for setting up the Indian Neutrino Observatory (INO).
“The Cabinet approved the INO on December 24. The budgetary approval is for Rs 1,500 crore to complete the observatory in five years,” Naba Kumar Mandal, a physicist at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, and spokesperson of the INO told Deccan Herald.
Though the project took off in 2005, the delay was largely due to the fact that the first choice site was cancelled at the last moment.
The INO will be located in the Bodi-West Hills region of Theni district. The underground facility will try to detect an elementary particle named neutrino. The project has received environmental clearance.
The department of atomic energy will now select a consultant for construction. “The construction can start anytime in 2015,” Shekhar Basu, director, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, said at the ongoing Indian Science Congress, here. An Inter-institutional Centre for High Energy Physics, too, will be established at Madurai for operationalising the underground laboratory, for carrying out research on the detector and readying the manpower.
“The inter-university centre is currently functioning from a rented premise. We will have our building once the Tamil Nadu government completes the process,” Mandal said.
“This is India's largest project in basic science. There is tremendous potential for engaging science students across the country in basic research through this project,” said R K Sinha, secretary, department of atomic energy.
Though India carried out pioneering research in particle physics in the 1960s and 1970s using the underground laboratory at the Kolar gold mine, the studies were abandoned after the government decided to shut down the mine.
The Cabinet also approved the construction of a 50 kilo ton magnetised Iron Calorimeter detector – a scientific instrument to study the properties of neutrinos.
A consortium of 21 research institutes, universities and IITs are working on the instrument.
“The Cabinet approved the INO on December 24. The budgetary approval is for Rs 1,500 crore to complete the observatory in five years,” Naba Kumar Mandal, a physicist at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, and spokesperson of the INO told Deccan Herald.
Though the project took off in 2005, the delay was largely due to the fact that the first choice site was cancelled at the last moment.
The INO will be located in the Bodi-West Hills region of Theni district. The underground facility will try to detect an elementary particle named neutrino. The project has received environmental clearance.
The department of atomic energy will now select a consultant for construction. “The construction can start anytime in 2015,” Shekhar Basu, director, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, said at the ongoing Indian Science Congress, here. An Inter-institutional Centre for High Energy Physics, too, will be established at Madurai for operationalising the underground laboratory, for carrying out research on the detector and readying the manpower.
“The inter-university centre is currently functioning from a rented premise. We will have our building once the Tamil Nadu government completes the process,” Mandal said.
“This is India's largest project in basic science. There is tremendous potential for engaging science students across the country in basic research through this project,” said R K Sinha, secretary, department of atomic energy.
Though India carried out pioneering research in particle physics in the 1960s and 1970s using the underground laboratory at the Kolar gold mine, the studies were abandoned after the government decided to shut down the mine.
The Cabinet also approved the construction of a 50 kilo ton magnetised Iron Calorimeter detector – a scientific instrument to study the properties of neutrinos.
A consortium of 21 research institutes, universities and IITs are working on the instrument.
'Big bang' in bird evolution revealed
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A massive genetics project has produced the most comprehensive bird family tree ever, an embarrassment of scientific riches for studying everything from how birds evolved so quickly after dinosaurs disappeared to the ways in which birds and people learn.
The biggest takeaway from the eight studies published in the journal Science is the way genetic codes can be used to answer wide-ranging questions. Scientists are using birds’ DNA, for instance, both for research on the brain and learning and to reconstruct what an ancient ancestor of birds and dinosaurs might have looked like.
Researchers mapped the complete set of DNA instructions, or genomes, of 45 bird species representing every group of living birds, as well as representatives of all three groups of crocodilians – the closest living bird relatives. To produce the new family tree, scientists combined this information with previously published sequences for zebra finches and domestic turkeys and chickens.
Most of our notions of how DNA evolves over time come from studying the genetic instruction books of mammals, says Ed Green, a genome scientist at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Adding the genomes of birds and crocodilians – the American alligator, saltwater crocodile and Indian gharial – now allows scientists to better understand how these groups are related, he says.
The new study finds the rate of change in birds’ DNA took off 66 million years ago when most dinosaurs went extinct. The surviving dinosaurs then radiated into a constellation of species that led to about 95 percent of birds on the planet today, says Erich Jarvis, a neurobiologist at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.
An odd duck
That accelerated rate of change in birds – as compared with the rate in “living fossils” like crocodilians and the common ancestor of birds and crocodilians – makes them the odd ducks on this branch of the family tree, says David Ray, a biologist at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.
The biggest takeaway from the eight studies published in the journal Science is the way genetic codes can be used to answer wide-ranging questions. Scientists are using birds’ DNA, for instance, both for research on the brain and learning and to reconstruct what an ancient ancestor of birds and dinosaurs might have looked like.
Researchers mapped the complete set of DNA instructions, or genomes, of 45 bird species representing every group of living birds, as well as representatives of all three groups of crocodilians – the closest living bird relatives. To produce the new family tree, scientists combined this information with previously published sequences for zebra finches and domestic turkeys and chickens.
Most of our notions of how DNA evolves over time come from studying the genetic instruction books of mammals, says Ed Green, a genome scientist at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Adding the genomes of birds and crocodilians – the American alligator, saltwater crocodile and Indian gharial – now allows scientists to better understand how these groups are related, he says.
The new study finds the rate of change in birds’ DNA took off 66 million years ago when most dinosaurs went extinct. The surviving dinosaurs then radiated into a constellation of species that led to about 95 percent of birds on the planet today, says Erich Jarvis, a neurobiologist at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.
An odd duck
That accelerated rate of change in birds – as compared with the rate in “living fossils” like crocodilians and the common ancestor of birds and crocodilians – makes them the odd ducks on this branch of the family tree, says David Ray, a biologist at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.
Plasma waves responsible for particle fallout in Earth's atmosphere
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show for the first time that plasma waves buffeting the planet's radiation belts are responsible for scattering charged particles into the atmosphere.
The study is the most detailed analysis so far of the link between these waves and the fallout of electrons from the planet's radiation belts. The belts are impacted by fluctuations in "space weather" caused by solar activity that can disrupt GPS satellites, communication systems, power grids and manned space exploration.
The NASA-sponsored team studies the Van Allen radiation belts, which are donut-shaped belts of charged particles held in place by the Earth's magnetosphere, the magnetic field surrounding our planet. In a quest to better predict space weather, the Dartmouth researchers study the radiation belts from above and below in complementary approaches - through satellites (the twin NASA Van Allen Probes) high over the Earth and through dozens of instrument-laden balloons (BARREL, or Balloon Array for Radiation belt Relativistic Electron Losses) at lower altitudes to assess the particles that rain down.
The Van Allen Probes measure particle, electric and magnetic fields, or basically everything in the radiation belt environment, including the electrons, which descend following the Earth's magnetic field lines that converge at the poles. This is why the balloons are launched from Antarctica, where some of the best observations can be made. As the falling electrons collide with the atmosphere, they produce X-rays and that is what the balloon instruments are actually recording.
"We are measuring those atmospheric losses and trying to understand how the particles are getting kicked into the atmosphere," says co-author Robyn Millan, an associate professor in Dartmouth's Department of Physics and Astronomy and the principal investigator of BARREL. "Our main focus has been really on the processes that are occurring out in space. Particles in the Van Allen belts never reach the ground, so they don't constitute a health threat. Even the X-rays get absorbed, which is why we have to go to balloon altitudes to see them."
The study is the most detailed analysis so far of the link between these waves and the fallout of electrons from the planet's radiation belts. The belts are impacted by fluctuations in "space weather" caused by solar activity that can disrupt GPS satellites, communication systems, power grids and manned space exploration.
The NASA-sponsored team studies the Van Allen radiation belts, which are donut-shaped belts of charged particles held in place by the Earth's magnetosphere, the magnetic field surrounding our planet. In a quest to better predict space weather, the Dartmouth researchers study the radiation belts from above and below in complementary approaches - through satellites (the twin NASA Van Allen Probes) high over the Earth and through dozens of instrument-laden balloons (BARREL, or Balloon Array for Radiation belt Relativistic Electron Losses) at lower altitudes to assess the particles that rain down.
The Van Allen Probes measure particle, electric and magnetic fields, or basically everything in the radiation belt environment, including the electrons, which descend following the Earth's magnetic field lines that converge at the poles. This is why the balloons are launched from Antarctica, where some of the best observations can be made. As the falling electrons collide with the atmosphere, they produce X-rays and that is what the balloon instruments are actually recording.
"We are measuring those atmospheric losses and trying to understand how the particles are getting kicked into the atmosphere," says co-author Robyn Millan, an associate professor in Dartmouth's Department of Physics and Astronomy and the principal investigator of BARREL. "Our main focus has been really on the processes that are occurring out in space. Particles in the Van Allen belts never reach the ground, so they don't constitute a health threat. Even the X-rays get absorbed, which is why we have to go to balloon altitudes to see them."
National Seminar on Tribal Health Issues
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Ministry of Tribal Affairs in association with ICMR has organized a national level seminar to discuss all tribal health issues covering thematic areas i.e, malaria, nutrition, sickle cell anaemia and maternal and child health. The daylong seminar will be held here tomorrow. Statistics says that the tribal health issues are different from the mainstream health issues as a result of which they are in the bottom line of indication.
The main objective of this seminar is to share good case studies and researches done by ICMR and RMRC to eradicate burning health problems of the tribals and to find out how the findings from these case studies can be replicated by other states.
More than a decade of research has shown that small and affordable measures can significantly reduce the health risks that women face when they become pregnant. Most maternal deaths could be prevented if women had access to quality Antenatal care (ANC) during pregnancy, childbirth, and immediately afterwards. Quality ANC includes minimum of at least 4 ANCs including early registration of pregnant mother and first ANC in first trimester along with physical and abdominal examinations, Hb estimation and urine investigation, two doses of T.T Immunization and consumption of IFA tablets for 100 days.
Web Enabled Mother and Child Tracking System (MCTS) is being implemented by Department of Health as a mission mode project under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) to register and track every pregnant woman. Having said so, till date significant percentage of ST women do not fall under the radar of MCTS registration mechanism and hence being deprived of quality ANC service. As per NFHS-3 estimates, the likelihood of having received care from a doctor is lowest for scheduled tribe mothers (only 32.8% compared to all India total of 50.2 % and 42% for Scheduled Caste).
In spite of providing facility for free immunization to the pregnant mothers, only 32.4% of ST mothers (lowest among all social groups) received advice about where to go if they experienced pregnancy complications. The seminar would discuss the reasons attributing to this and interventions required to achieve 100% coverage of immunisation of pregnant mothers amongst tribals. Role of various Ministries and agencies including NGOs will also be discussed. More than a dozen experts from all over the country will be participating in the seminar.
The main objective of this seminar is to share good case studies and researches done by ICMR and RMRC to eradicate burning health problems of the tribals and to find out how the findings from these case studies can be replicated by other states.
More than a decade of research has shown that small and affordable measures can significantly reduce the health risks that women face when they become pregnant. Most maternal deaths could be prevented if women had access to quality Antenatal care (ANC) during pregnancy, childbirth, and immediately afterwards. Quality ANC includes minimum of at least 4 ANCs including early registration of pregnant mother and first ANC in first trimester along with physical and abdominal examinations, Hb estimation and urine investigation, two doses of T.T Immunization and consumption of IFA tablets for 100 days.
Web Enabled Mother and Child Tracking System (MCTS) is being implemented by Department of Health as a mission mode project under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) to register and track every pregnant woman. Having said so, till date significant percentage of ST women do not fall under the radar of MCTS registration mechanism and hence being deprived of quality ANC service. As per NFHS-3 estimates, the likelihood of having received care from a doctor is lowest for scheduled tribe mothers (only 32.8% compared to all India total of 50.2 % and 42% for Scheduled Caste).
In spite of providing facility for free immunization to the pregnant mothers, only 32.4% of ST mothers (lowest among all social groups) received advice about where to go if they experienced pregnancy complications. The seminar would discuss the reasons attributing to this and interventions required to achieve 100% coverage of immunisation of pregnant mothers amongst tribals. Role of various Ministries and agencies including NGOs will also be discussed. More than a dozen experts from all over the country will be participating in the seminar.
How to make a new earth
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The same basic ingredients and mixing process that went to make Earth could go in to building exoplanets around distant stars, astronomers have found.
The “test kitchen” of Earth has given us a detailed recipe, but it was not clear whether other planetary systems would follow the same formula, researchers said.
“Our solar system is not as unique as we might have thought,” said lead author Courtney Dressing of the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics (CfA).
“It looks like rocky exoplanets use the same basic ingredients,” said Dressing.
The key to the discovery was the HARPS-North instrument on the 3.6-meter Telescopio Nazionale Galileo in the Canary Islands.
HARPS is designed to accurately measure the masses of small, Earth-sized worlds. Those measurements are crucial to determine densities and therefore compositions.
“Our strategy for using HARPS-North over the past year has been to focus on planets less than two times the diameter of Earth and to study a few planets really well,” said Harvard astronomer David Charbonneau, who currently heads up the HARPS-North Science Team.
Most recently the team targeted Kepler-93b, a planet 1.5 times the size of Earth in a tight, 4.7-day orbit around its star.
The mass and composition of this world were uncertain. HARPS-North nailed the mass at 4.02 times Earth, meaning that the planet has a rocky composition.
The researchers then compared all ten known exoplanets with a diameter less than 2.7 times Earth’s that had accurately measured masses.
They found that the five planets with diameters smaller than 1.6 times Earth showed a tight relationship between mass and size.
Moreover, Venus and Earth fit onto the same line, suggesting that all these worlds have similar rock-iron compositions, researchers said.
The “test kitchen” of Earth has given us a detailed recipe, but it was not clear whether other planetary systems would follow the same formula, researchers said.
“Our solar system is not as unique as we might have thought,” said lead author Courtney Dressing of the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics (CfA).
“It looks like rocky exoplanets use the same basic ingredients,” said Dressing.
The key to the discovery was the HARPS-North instrument on the 3.6-meter Telescopio Nazionale Galileo in the Canary Islands.
HARPS is designed to accurately measure the masses of small, Earth-sized worlds. Those measurements are crucial to determine densities and therefore compositions.
“Our strategy for using HARPS-North over the past year has been to focus on planets less than two times the diameter of Earth and to study a few planets really well,” said Harvard astronomer David Charbonneau, who currently heads up the HARPS-North Science Team.
Most recently the team targeted Kepler-93b, a planet 1.5 times the size of Earth in a tight, 4.7-day orbit around its star.
The mass and composition of this world were uncertain. HARPS-North nailed the mass at 4.02 times Earth, meaning that the planet has a rocky composition.
The researchers then compared all ten known exoplanets with a diameter less than 2.7 times Earth’s that had accurately measured masses.
They found that the five planets with diameters smaller than 1.6 times Earth showed a tight relationship between mass and size.
Moreover, Venus and Earth fit onto the same line, suggesting that all these worlds have similar rock-iron compositions, researchers said.
Cold virus replicates better in cooler temperatures
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The common cold virus can reproduce itself more efficiently in the cooler temperatures found inside the nose than at core body temperature, according to a new Yale-led study. This finding may confirm the popular yet contested notion that people are more likely to catch a cold in cool-weather conditions.
Researchers have long known that the most frequent cause of the common cold, the rhinovirus, replicates more readily in the slightly cooler environment of the nasal cavity than in the warmer lungs. However, the focus of prior studies has been on how body temperature influenced the virus as opposed to the immune system, said study senior author and Yale professor of immunobiology Akiko Iwasaki.
To investigate the relationship between temperature and immune response, Iwasaki and an interdisciplinary team of Yale researchers spearheaded by Ellen Foxman, a postdoctoral fellow in Iwasaki's lab, examined the cells taken from the airways of mice. They compared the immune response to rhinovirus when cells were incubated at 37 degrees Celsius, or core body temperature, and at the cooler 33 degrees Celsius. "We found that the innate immune response to the rhinovirus is impaired at the lower body temperature compared to the core body temperature," Iwasaki said.
The study also strongly suggested that the varying temperatures influenced the immune response rather than the virus itself. Researchers observed viral replication in airway cells from mice with genetic deficiencies in the immune system sensors that detect virus and in the antiviral response. They found that with these immune deficiencies, the virus was able to replicate at the higher temperature. "That proves it's not just virus intrinsic, but it's the host's response that's the major contributor," Iwasaki explained.
Researchers have long known that the most frequent cause of the common cold, the rhinovirus, replicates more readily in the slightly cooler environment of the nasal cavity than in the warmer lungs. However, the focus of prior studies has been on how body temperature influenced the virus as opposed to the immune system, said study senior author and Yale professor of immunobiology Akiko Iwasaki.
To investigate the relationship between temperature and immune response, Iwasaki and an interdisciplinary team of Yale researchers spearheaded by Ellen Foxman, a postdoctoral fellow in Iwasaki's lab, examined the cells taken from the airways of mice. They compared the immune response to rhinovirus when cells were incubated at 37 degrees Celsius, or core body temperature, and at the cooler 33 degrees Celsius. "We found that the innate immune response to the rhinovirus is impaired at the lower body temperature compared to the core body temperature," Iwasaki said.
The study also strongly suggested that the varying temperatures influenced the immune response rather than the virus itself. Researchers observed viral replication in airway cells from mice with genetic deficiencies in the immune system sensors that detect virus and in the antiviral response. They found that with these immune deficiencies, the virus was able to replicate at the higher temperature. "That proves it's not just virus intrinsic, but it's the host's response that's the major contributor," Iwasaki explained.
IIM Admissions 2015-17: New IIMs await HRD Ministry’s nod for mentoring
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Nagpur: Ever since the CAT 2014 scores has been announced, candidates are waiting for the list of shortlisted candidates to be admitted at different IIMs. However, the six new proposed IIMs are still under question, there is no hint about how admissions will take place, at the newly minted IIMs.
Location of some new IIMs are yet to be finalized. With the selection criteria, the number of seats to be allotted at each new IIM remains unclear.
It was pre planned that each new IIM would be mentored by an existing IIM. The mentoring would include from designing the curriculum to appointing the faculty.
According to reports the selection of mentors would be according to the geographical proximity. According that IIM-Bangalore would guide IIM-Visakhapatnam, IIM-Ahmedabad ws to mentor IIM-Nagpur and IIM-Calcutta would assist for Odisha.
A spokesperson from IIM-Bangalore has informed that the nod from HRD ministry remains awaited, so as to decide which IIM to mentor. IIM-B has earlier guided the IIM-Trichy.
Location of some new IIMs are yet to be finalized. With the selection criteria, the number of seats to be allotted at each new IIM remains unclear.
It was pre planned that each new IIM would be mentored by an existing IIM. The mentoring would include from designing the curriculum to appointing the faculty.
According to reports the selection of mentors would be according to the geographical proximity. According that IIM-Bangalore would guide IIM-Visakhapatnam, IIM-Ahmedabad ws to mentor IIM-Nagpur and IIM-Calcutta would assist for Odisha.
A spokesperson from IIM-Bangalore has informed that the nod from HRD ministry remains awaited, so as to decide which IIM to mentor. IIM-B has earlier guided the IIM-Trichy.
Achievements of Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs during 2014-15
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The Ministry has launched a software module for Transportation of Mortal Remains (TMR) of Indian Workers in Emigration Check Required (ECR) Countries. This software module can be accessed from the website of the Ministry www.moia.gov.in and www.e-migrate.gov.in.
· The Ministry, in coordination with other ministries/agencies prepared an action plan for facilitating the departure of the stranded Indians in Iraq, Libya to their respective destination. Repatriation of stranded Indian nationals in Iraq was started in the month of July, 2014 and continued during August, 2014. A total of 6,977 workers have been evacuated from Iraq and 3,200 workers have been evacuated from Libya.
· From 1st April to 31st November 2014, Emigration clearance was granted to 497424 emigrants going for overseas employment to 18 Emigration Check Required countries.
· Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre (OIFC) held two Diaspora Engagement Meets in 2014 one in Manama, Bahrain and other in London, United Kingdom
· OIFC signed four MoUs - two with Bahrain and two with United Kingdom.
· UP has become Partner State of OIFC.
· Plan Scheme on Skill Development for overseas employment was introduced during this year. Seven states namely Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, Punjab and Tamil Nadu have been identified for implementation of the Plan Scheme.
· One Social Security Agreement with Australia has been signed on 18th November, 2014 in Canberra (Australia)
· Fresh registration certificate were issued to 24 Recruiting Agents under the Emigration Act, 1983,
· Emigration clearance process had been completely computerized. Process of ISO certification of all 10 offices of Protector of Emigrants is under way.
· Ministry of Overseas India Affairs has rolled out eMigrate project in all 10 POE offices in last six months in a phased manner. eMigrate is a comprehensive on-line web-based system covering entire spectrum of emigration ecosystem, i.e., Emigrants, MOIA, Indian Mission, OWRC, Recruiting Agents and Foreign Employers. Till date more than 1.90 lakh Emigration Clearances have been granted under eMigrate system.
DIASPORA SERVICES
The Diaspora Services Division deals with all matters relating to Overseas Indians comprising Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizenship of India matters, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards, Scholarships to NRI/PIO students in India and new initiatives to promote interaction of overseas Indians with India in tourism, media, youth affairs, education, culture among other areas.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD)
To connect India to its vast overseas diaspora and bring their knowledge, expertise and skills on a common platform, the PBD Convention – the annual flagship event of MOIA is organized from 7th-9th January every year since 2003.
Twelve PBDs have been held earlier in various places of India so far since 2013.
The 12thedition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention was held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi in January, 2014 with the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports as the Partner Ministry. The theme was ‘Engaging Diaspora: Connecting Aacross Generations’. The 13th edition of PBD being held at Gandhinagar, Gujarat from 7 January, 2015, coinciding with the 100th Anniversary of return of the Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India.
Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (RPBD)
This Ministry organizes Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (RPBD) to engage with the Indian diaspora who are unable to attend annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in India. So far, 8 successful RPBD have been held at New York, Singapore, The Hague, Durban, Toronto, Mauritius, Sydney and London respectively eliciting enthusiastic support from the Indian diaspora and the local Government. 8th Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (RPBD) Convention was organized in London, in October, 2014. Compared with the past several RPBDs, RPBD London marked a significant and positive departure in attendance and the variety of subjects on which the Diaspora was engaged. The Government’s initiatives – Mission to Clean Ganga, Smart Cities, Skill Development, Solid Waste Management and overall infrastructure development were also discussed. RPBD London has set the stage for enhancing the engagement to renew partnership with the Diaspora .
Know India Programme (KIP)
The objective of the Ministry's Know India Programme is to help familiarize Indian Diaspora youth, in the age group of 18-26 years, project the developments and achievements made by the country and strengthening their bonds with their homeland. KIP provides a unique forum for students and young professionals of Indian origin to visit India, share their views, expectations and experiences and to know contemporary India. The Ministry has conducted 29 editions of KIPs so far and a total of 903 overseas Indian youth participated in these programmes. The 30th KIP was held in 2014. The participants are selected based on nominations received from Indian Missions/Posts abroad. They are provided hospitality and reimbursed 90% of their economy class return airfare from their respective countries to India.
Study India Programme (SIP)
Like KIP, Study India Programme (SIP) connects with the youth of Indian diaspora through educational institutions. Its enables Overseas Indian youth to undergo short term courses in an Indian University to familiarize them with the history, heritage, art, culture, socio-political, economic developments etc. of India. The focus of the programme is on academic orientation and research. Cost of boarding, lodging, local transportation, course fee during the programme and 90% of the cost of air-ticket by economy class is borne by Govt. of India. Gratis Visas by Indian Missions are granted to the participants.
While this University the first (SIP) was organized in October, 2012 in Symbiosis University, Pune, Maharashtra with participation of 9 youths of Indian origin from four countries like Trinidad & Tobago, Malaysia, Fiji and South Africa. Conducted 2nd SIP in November, 2013, 14 youths of Indian origin.
Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC)
Launched in 2006-07 the 'Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC)' grants 100 scholarships upto US$ 4000 per annum to PIO and NRI students for undergraduate courses. The scheme is being implemented by Educational Consultants India Limited (Ed. CIL), a Government of India Enterprise under the Ministry of Human Resource Development. The scheme is open to NRIs / PIOs/OCIs from 40 countries. A total of 760 candidates have availed the scholarship since the inception of the scheme.
SPDC has been modified to do away with the "Common Entrance Test (CET)" for selecting PIO/OCI and NRI students for award of scholarships.
Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card Scheme
The Scheme provides for issue of OCI documents consisting of OCI registration certificate and universal visa sticker to PIOs. Ministry of Home Affairs has proposed merger of PIO card and OCI card schemes. A Bill is likely to be introduced in Parliament.
Voting Rights for NRIs
As per the electoral roll data 2014 published by the Election Commission of India, the total number of overseas Indian electors registered is 11,846.
Tracing the Roots
The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs is running a scheme since October 2008 known as "Tracing the Roots" to facilitate PIOs in tracing their roots in India.
Scheme for Legal/ Financial Assistance to Indian Women Deserted / Divorced by their NRI Husbands
Issues related to desertion of Indian women by their overseas spouses are complex and sensitive. They also fall within the purview of private international law. To address this issue Ministry is creating awareness amongst prospective brides and their families regarding their rights and responsibilities and the safeguards to be adopted while entering into matrimonial alliances with grooms residing overseas.
Migration Management
Social Security Agreements (SSAs)
India has signed 20 SSAs with 18 countries. These Agreements provide for avoidance of payment of double social security contribution by Indian workers, totalization of contribution and exportability of benefits.
Human Resource Mobility Partnership (HRMP)
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Human Resource Mobility partnership has been signed with Denmark. Negotiation on HRMP with the Netherlands has been concluded and it will be signed after the approval of PMO
India-EU Mobility Partnership:
An International conference on India-EU partnership in mobility was organized by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs in New Delhi from 21-23 February, 2009 to facilitate legal migration, combat irregular migration and proactively pursue bilateral and multilateral cooperation for maximizing benefits and minimizing risks from migration. To take the official engagement forward, EU has proposed a Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility (CAMM) with India. The draft CAMM is under examination in consultation with Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion and Department of Commerce.
Major activities during 2014
An Indian delegation visited Tokyo (Japan) from 21-23 April, 2014 for the 5th round of negotiation to finalize the Forms and procedure for implementation of Social Security Agreement between India and Japan.
Social Security Agreements between India and Sweden; and between India and Finland came into force with effect from 1st August, 2014. While it came into force with effect from 1st September, 2014 between India and the Czech Republic.
Delegations from Japan, Norweg, Canada and Quebec visited India in 2014regarding social security issue.
Social Security Agreement between India and Australia was signed on 18 November, 2014 in Canberra (Australia).
India Centre for Migration
India Centre for Migration (ICM) was set up as the Centre for Promotion of Overseas Employment (CPOE) and later rechristened as the Indian Council for Overseas Employment (ICOE). ICM is a ‘not for profit’ society established by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) in July, 2008 to serve as a “think tank” on all matters relating to international migration.
The India – EU II Project (Developing Evidence-based Management and Operations (DEMO) in the India-EU Migration Partnership) is currently under implementation. ICM organised a national workshop on international migration trade: Linkages & implications for India – EU Migrate in December, 2014 as part of the Project.
Annual Conference of the Heads of Missions (HoMs)
The 8th Annual Conference of the Heads of Missions of Emigration Check Required countries was held on 10th January, 2014 in New Delhi.
Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana
The Ministry had introduced a Pension and Life Insurance Fund scheme called “Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana (MGPSY) for Overseas Indian workers having Emigration Check Required (ECR) passports. Launched in UAE on 27th October, 2013 to encourage and enable overseas Indian workers and by giving government contribution to save for their Return and Resettlement (R&R), save for their old age, the scheme obtains a Life Insurance cover against natural death during the period of coverage.
e-Migrate Project
The Ministry is implementing a comprehensive e-governance project on migration “e-Migrate” which aims to transform emigration into a simple, transparent, orderly and humane process. The Project is aimed at improving the quality of services to emigrant workers and will help reduce the access cost of service.
Bilateral Memoranda of Understanding on Labour
Since the largest number of Indian expatriates are working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, an Agreement on Labour Co-operation for Domestic Service Workers (DSWs) Recruitment between the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and the Ministry of Labour of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has been signed on 2nd January, 2014. The Agreement paves the way for a comprehensive MOU on manpower.
Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF)
Overseas Indian Workers are estimated at over 6 million. The Indian Community Welfare Fund was set up in the year 2009 and is applicable to all Indian missions. The fund aims to provide the following services on means tested basis in deserving cases:
· Boarding and lodging for distressed Overseas Indian workers in Household / domestic sectors and unskilled labourers;
· Extending emergency medical care to the Overseas Indians in need;
· Providing air passage to stranded Overseas Indians in need;
· Providing initial legal assistance to the Overseas Indians in deserving cases;
· Expenditure on incidentals and for airlifting the mortal remains to India or local cremation/burial of the deceased Overseas Indians in such cases where the sponsor is unable or unwilling to do so as per the contract and the family is unable to meet the cost;
· Providing the payment of penalties in respect of Indian nationals for illegal stay in the host country where prima facie the worker is not at fault;
· Providing the payment of small fines/penalties for the release of Indian nationals in jail/detention centre;
· Providing support to local Overseas Indian Associations to establish Overseas Indian Community Centers in countries that have population of Overseas Indians exceeding 1,00,000; and
· Providing support to start and run overseas Indian Community-based student welfare centers in Countries that have more than 20,000 Indian students’ presence.
The funds are also available for any other purpose considered necessary with prior approval of the Ministry. The Ministry is in the process of further amending the ICWF guidelines keeping in view the needs of the Missions.
Information Dissemination on Legal Migration
The intending emigrants face the difficulty in accessing authentic and timely information relating to overseas employment, role of Recruiting Agencies and emigration procedures etc. Non-availability of such information makes the emigrants vulnerable to exploitation.
Ministry launched the Overseas Workers Resource Centre (OWRC) to provide information and assistance to intending emigrants, overseas workers as well as their family members relating to all aspects of overseas employment. The OWRC is operating round the clock a toll free helpline (1XXX XX 3090) to provide need-based information to emigrants and their families. Helpline from anywhere in the world at +91-11-40503090 in eleven languages is also available. To extend the services to support the Indian emigrants, an international toll-free line (8 000 911 913) has been established for calls from UAE. The total calls attended during 2014 (upto 8th December, 2014) is 1,27,216.
Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra (PBK)
To commemorate the trials and tribulations as well as the subsequent evolution and achievements of the Indian Diaspora, Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra (PBK) is being established at Chankayapuri, New Delhi, at an estimated cost of Rs.94 crore. The Kendra, over time, is expected to become the focal point for social, cultural and economic interaction with and among all Overseas Indians. It will also serve as a research and documentation centre and host a permanent exhibition.
The project started in, 2011, It is likely to be completed by early 2015. The Ministry is in the process of establishing a society which will be responsible for the day to day functioning of the Kendra.
Prime Minister’s Global Advisory Council of Overseas Indians (PMGAC-OI)
The Ministry has constituted the Prime Minister’s Global Advisory Council of People of Indian Origin (PMGAC-OI) to draw upon the experience and knowledge of eminent people of Indian origin in diverse fields from across the world. The Council is chaired by the Prime Minister. The advice of the council is recommendatory in nature and serves as a valuable input for policy formulation and programme planning.
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh presided over the fifth meeting of the Global Advisory Council of Overseas Indian on January 8, 2014 at New Delhi.
Protector General of Emigrants (PGE)
Operational matters relating to emigration, the provision of emigration services to emigrants and the enforcement of Emigration Act, 1983 are under the Protector General of Emigrants (PGE). The PGE is the statutory authority under the Emigration Act who is responsible for the welfare and protection of emigrant workers. He also oversees the ten field offices of the Protectors of Emigrants.
Registration of Recruiting Agents
The Emigration Act, 1983 (Section 10) requires that those who wish to recruit Indian citizens for employment abroad shall register themselves with the registering authority, i.e. the Protector General of Emigration (PGE). As on 30-10-2014, there were 1347 existing recruiting agents.
Trends in Emigration
There are about five million overseas Indian workers all over the world, more than 90% of whom are in the Gulf countries and South East Asia. There are 10 POE Offices working in the country including Rae Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh), which was inaugurated on 15th May, 2013. POE, Office at Guwahati will be operationalize as soon as the Government of Assam provides office space.
Enforcement and Grievance Redressal
During the last three years, 85 Registration Certificates were suspended and 77 Registration Certificate had been cancelled. Prosecution sanctions were issued in 05 and 08 cases in 2013 and 2014 respectively based on police reports. Prosecution sanction from the Central Government is not required if the complaint against the unregistered agent is by an emigrant/intending emigrant or his relatives. 510 foreign employers have been blacklisted till date.
Simplification of Procedures
Emigration clearance process had been computerized. During the year one POE office Kolkata, was declared ISO certified Six POE offices at Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai, Hyderabad, Cochin and Chandigarh have already been ISO certified. Permission has been granted for ISO certificates for the office of Jaipur, Trivandrum and Rae Bareilly during the current year.
Protection and Welfare of Emigrants
Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting with Kuwait and Oman for welfare and safeguarding the interest of emigrants were held during the year 2014.
A total of 6977 Workers from Iraq and 3200 Workers from Libya have been evacuated during 2014.
The Swarnapravas Yojana – New Plan Scheme
The Plan scheme of MOIA, namely the Swarnapravas Yojana will adhere to the broad objectives of skill development in India, as envisioned by the National Skill Development Policy 2009 and achieve the target of training 5 Million people by 2022 as laid down under this policy. The total project cost envisaged is Rs137 crore. A new budget head for the scheme has been introduced with a provision of Rs.20 crore for 2014-15.
The main objective is to position India as a preferred source country for skilled and trained workers in select sectors that face skill shortages in the international labour market, and in which India enjoys competitive advantage.
While emigration to other countries occurs from all parts of India, ten major states have been identified as origin of migrant workers. These are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. These ten states will be covered under the Swarnapravas Yojana during the 12thPlan period.
· The Ministry, in coordination with other ministries/agencies prepared an action plan for facilitating the departure of the stranded Indians in Iraq, Libya to their respective destination. Repatriation of stranded Indian nationals in Iraq was started in the month of July, 2014 and continued during August, 2014. A total of 6,977 workers have been evacuated from Iraq and 3,200 workers have been evacuated from Libya.
· From 1st April to 31st November 2014, Emigration clearance was granted to 497424 emigrants going for overseas employment to 18 Emigration Check Required countries.
· Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre (OIFC) held two Diaspora Engagement Meets in 2014 one in Manama, Bahrain and other in London, United Kingdom
· OIFC signed four MoUs - two with Bahrain and two with United Kingdom.
· UP has become Partner State of OIFC.
· Plan Scheme on Skill Development for overseas employment was introduced during this year. Seven states namely Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, Punjab and Tamil Nadu have been identified for implementation of the Plan Scheme.
· One Social Security Agreement with Australia has been signed on 18th November, 2014 in Canberra (Australia)
· Fresh registration certificate were issued to 24 Recruiting Agents under the Emigration Act, 1983,
· Emigration clearance process had been completely computerized. Process of ISO certification of all 10 offices of Protector of Emigrants is under way.
· Ministry of Overseas India Affairs has rolled out eMigrate project in all 10 POE offices in last six months in a phased manner. eMigrate is a comprehensive on-line web-based system covering entire spectrum of emigration ecosystem, i.e., Emigrants, MOIA, Indian Mission, OWRC, Recruiting Agents and Foreign Employers. Till date more than 1.90 lakh Emigration Clearances have been granted under eMigrate system.
DIASPORA SERVICES
The Diaspora Services Division deals with all matters relating to Overseas Indians comprising Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizenship of India matters, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards, Scholarships to NRI/PIO students in India and new initiatives to promote interaction of overseas Indians with India in tourism, media, youth affairs, education, culture among other areas.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD)
To connect India to its vast overseas diaspora and bring their knowledge, expertise and skills on a common platform, the PBD Convention – the annual flagship event of MOIA is organized from 7th-9th January every year since 2003.
Twelve PBDs have been held earlier in various places of India so far since 2013.
The 12thedition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention was held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi in January, 2014 with the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports as the Partner Ministry. The theme was ‘Engaging Diaspora: Connecting Aacross Generations’. The 13th edition of PBD being held at Gandhinagar, Gujarat from 7 January, 2015, coinciding with the 100th Anniversary of return of the Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India.
Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (RPBD)
This Ministry organizes Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (RPBD) to engage with the Indian diaspora who are unable to attend annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in India. So far, 8 successful RPBD have been held at New York, Singapore, The Hague, Durban, Toronto, Mauritius, Sydney and London respectively eliciting enthusiastic support from the Indian diaspora and the local Government. 8th Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (RPBD) Convention was organized in London, in October, 2014. Compared with the past several RPBDs, RPBD London marked a significant and positive departure in attendance and the variety of subjects on which the Diaspora was engaged. The Government’s initiatives – Mission to Clean Ganga, Smart Cities, Skill Development, Solid Waste Management and overall infrastructure development were also discussed. RPBD London has set the stage for enhancing the engagement to renew partnership with the Diaspora .
Know India Programme (KIP)
The objective of the Ministry's Know India Programme is to help familiarize Indian Diaspora youth, in the age group of 18-26 years, project the developments and achievements made by the country and strengthening their bonds with their homeland. KIP provides a unique forum for students and young professionals of Indian origin to visit India, share their views, expectations and experiences and to know contemporary India. The Ministry has conducted 29 editions of KIPs so far and a total of 903 overseas Indian youth participated in these programmes. The 30th KIP was held in 2014. The participants are selected based on nominations received from Indian Missions/Posts abroad. They are provided hospitality and reimbursed 90% of their economy class return airfare from their respective countries to India.
Study India Programme (SIP)
Like KIP, Study India Programme (SIP) connects with the youth of Indian diaspora through educational institutions. Its enables Overseas Indian youth to undergo short term courses in an Indian University to familiarize them with the history, heritage, art, culture, socio-political, economic developments etc. of India. The focus of the programme is on academic orientation and research. Cost of boarding, lodging, local transportation, course fee during the programme and 90% of the cost of air-ticket by economy class is borne by Govt. of India. Gratis Visas by Indian Missions are granted to the participants.
While this University the first (SIP) was organized in October, 2012 in Symbiosis University, Pune, Maharashtra with participation of 9 youths of Indian origin from four countries like Trinidad & Tobago, Malaysia, Fiji and South Africa. Conducted 2nd SIP in November, 2013, 14 youths of Indian origin.
Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC)
Launched in 2006-07 the 'Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC)' grants 100 scholarships upto US$ 4000 per annum to PIO and NRI students for undergraduate courses. The scheme is being implemented by Educational Consultants India Limited (Ed. CIL), a Government of India Enterprise under the Ministry of Human Resource Development. The scheme is open to NRIs / PIOs/OCIs from 40 countries. A total of 760 candidates have availed the scholarship since the inception of the scheme.
SPDC has been modified to do away with the "Common Entrance Test (CET)" for selecting PIO/OCI and NRI students for award of scholarships.
Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card Scheme
The Scheme provides for issue of OCI documents consisting of OCI registration certificate and universal visa sticker to PIOs. Ministry of Home Affairs has proposed merger of PIO card and OCI card schemes. A Bill is likely to be introduced in Parliament.
Voting Rights for NRIs
As per the electoral roll data 2014 published by the Election Commission of India, the total number of overseas Indian electors registered is 11,846.
Tracing the Roots
The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs is running a scheme since October 2008 known as "Tracing the Roots" to facilitate PIOs in tracing their roots in India.
Scheme for Legal/ Financial Assistance to Indian Women Deserted / Divorced by their NRI Husbands
Issues related to desertion of Indian women by their overseas spouses are complex and sensitive. They also fall within the purview of private international law. To address this issue Ministry is creating awareness amongst prospective brides and their families regarding their rights and responsibilities and the safeguards to be adopted while entering into matrimonial alliances with grooms residing overseas.
Migration Management
Social Security Agreements (SSAs)
India has signed 20 SSAs with 18 countries. These Agreements provide for avoidance of payment of double social security contribution by Indian workers, totalization of contribution and exportability of benefits.
Human Resource Mobility Partnership (HRMP)
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Human Resource Mobility partnership has been signed with Denmark. Negotiation on HRMP with the Netherlands has been concluded and it will be signed after the approval of PMO
India-EU Mobility Partnership:
An International conference on India-EU partnership in mobility was organized by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs in New Delhi from 21-23 February, 2009 to facilitate legal migration, combat irregular migration and proactively pursue bilateral and multilateral cooperation for maximizing benefits and minimizing risks from migration. To take the official engagement forward, EU has proposed a Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility (CAMM) with India. The draft CAMM is under examination in consultation with Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion and Department of Commerce.
Major activities during 2014
An Indian delegation visited Tokyo (Japan) from 21-23 April, 2014 for the 5th round of negotiation to finalize the Forms and procedure for implementation of Social Security Agreement between India and Japan.
Social Security Agreements between India and Sweden; and between India and Finland came into force with effect from 1st August, 2014. While it came into force with effect from 1st September, 2014 between India and the Czech Republic.
Delegations from Japan, Norweg, Canada and Quebec visited India in 2014regarding social security issue.
Social Security Agreement between India and Australia was signed on 18 November, 2014 in Canberra (Australia).
India Centre for Migration
India Centre for Migration (ICM) was set up as the Centre for Promotion of Overseas Employment (CPOE) and later rechristened as the Indian Council for Overseas Employment (ICOE). ICM is a ‘not for profit’ society established by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) in July, 2008 to serve as a “think tank” on all matters relating to international migration.
The India – EU II Project (Developing Evidence-based Management and Operations (DEMO) in the India-EU Migration Partnership) is currently under implementation. ICM organised a national workshop on international migration trade: Linkages & implications for India – EU Migrate in December, 2014 as part of the Project.
Annual Conference of the Heads of Missions (HoMs)
The 8th Annual Conference of the Heads of Missions of Emigration Check Required countries was held on 10th January, 2014 in New Delhi.
Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana
The Ministry had introduced a Pension and Life Insurance Fund scheme called “Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana (MGPSY) for Overseas Indian workers having Emigration Check Required (ECR) passports. Launched in UAE on 27th October, 2013 to encourage and enable overseas Indian workers and by giving government contribution to save for their Return and Resettlement (R&R), save for their old age, the scheme obtains a Life Insurance cover against natural death during the period of coverage.
e-Migrate Project
The Ministry is implementing a comprehensive e-governance project on migration “e-Migrate” which aims to transform emigration into a simple, transparent, orderly and humane process. The Project is aimed at improving the quality of services to emigrant workers and will help reduce the access cost of service.
Bilateral Memoranda of Understanding on Labour
Since the largest number of Indian expatriates are working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, an Agreement on Labour Co-operation for Domestic Service Workers (DSWs) Recruitment between the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and the Ministry of Labour of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has been signed on 2nd January, 2014. The Agreement paves the way for a comprehensive MOU on manpower.
Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF)
Overseas Indian Workers are estimated at over 6 million. The Indian Community Welfare Fund was set up in the year 2009 and is applicable to all Indian missions. The fund aims to provide the following services on means tested basis in deserving cases:
· Boarding and lodging for distressed Overseas Indian workers in Household / domestic sectors and unskilled labourers;
· Extending emergency medical care to the Overseas Indians in need;
· Providing air passage to stranded Overseas Indians in need;
· Providing initial legal assistance to the Overseas Indians in deserving cases;
· Expenditure on incidentals and for airlifting the mortal remains to India or local cremation/burial of the deceased Overseas Indians in such cases where the sponsor is unable or unwilling to do so as per the contract and the family is unable to meet the cost;
· Providing the payment of penalties in respect of Indian nationals for illegal stay in the host country where prima facie the worker is not at fault;
· Providing the payment of small fines/penalties for the release of Indian nationals in jail/detention centre;
· Providing support to local Overseas Indian Associations to establish Overseas Indian Community Centers in countries that have population of Overseas Indians exceeding 1,00,000; and
· Providing support to start and run overseas Indian Community-based student welfare centers in Countries that have more than 20,000 Indian students’ presence.
The funds are also available for any other purpose considered necessary with prior approval of the Ministry. The Ministry is in the process of further amending the ICWF guidelines keeping in view the needs of the Missions.
Information Dissemination on Legal Migration
The intending emigrants face the difficulty in accessing authentic and timely information relating to overseas employment, role of Recruiting Agencies and emigration procedures etc. Non-availability of such information makes the emigrants vulnerable to exploitation.
Ministry launched the Overseas Workers Resource Centre (OWRC) to provide information and assistance to intending emigrants, overseas workers as well as their family members relating to all aspects of overseas employment. The OWRC is operating round the clock a toll free helpline (1XXX XX 3090) to provide need-based information to emigrants and their families. Helpline from anywhere in the world at +91-11-40503090 in eleven languages is also available. To extend the services to support the Indian emigrants, an international toll-free line (8 000 911 913) has been established for calls from UAE. The total calls attended during 2014 (upto 8th December, 2014) is 1,27,216.
Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra (PBK)
To commemorate the trials and tribulations as well as the subsequent evolution and achievements of the Indian Diaspora, Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra (PBK) is being established at Chankayapuri, New Delhi, at an estimated cost of Rs.94 crore. The Kendra, over time, is expected to become the focal point for social, cultural and economic interaction with and among all Overseas Indians. It will also serve as a research and documentation centre and host a permanent exhibition.
The project started in, 2011, It is likely to be completed by early 2015. The Ministry is in the process of establishing a society which will be responsible for the day to day functioning of the Kendra.
Prime Minister’s Global Advisory Council of Overseas Indians (PMGAC-OI)
The Ministry has constituted the Prime Minister’s Global Advisory Council of People of Indian Origin (PMGAC-OI) to draw upon the experience and knowledge of eminent people of Indian origin in diverse fields from across the world. The Council is chaired by the Prime Minister. The advice of the council is recommendatory in nature and serves as a valuable input for policy formulation and programme planning.
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh presided over the fifth meeting of the Global Advisory Council of Overseas Indian on January 8, 2014 at New Delhi.
Protector General of Emigrants (PGE)
Operational matters relating to emigration, the provision of emigration services to emigrants and the enforcement of Emigration Act, 1983 are under the Protector General of Emigrants (PGE). The PGE is the statutory authority under the Emigration Act who is responsible for the welfare and protection of emigrant workers. He also oversees the ten field offices of the Protectors of Emigrants.
Registration of Recruiting Agents
The Emigration Act, 1983 (Section 10) requires that those who wish to recruit Indian citizens for employment abroad shall register themselves with the registering authority, i.e. the Protector General of Emigration (PGE). As on 30-10-2014, there were 1347 existing recruiting agents.
Trends in Emigration
There are about five million overseas Indian workers all over the world, more than 90% of whom are in the Gulf countries and South East Asia. There are 10 POE Offices working in the country including Rae Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh), which was inaugurated on 15th May, 2013. POE, Office at Guwahati will be operationalize as soon as the Government of Assam provides office space.
Enforcement and Grievance Redressal
During the last three years, 85 Registration Certificates were suspended and 77 Registration Certificate had been cancelled. Prosecution sanctions were issued in 05 and 08 cases in 2013 and 2014 respectively based on police reports. Prosecution sanction from the Central Government is not required if the complaint against the unregistered agent is by an emigrant/intending emigrant or his relatives. 510 foreign employers have been blacklisted till date.
Simplification of Procedures
Emigration clearance process had been computerized. During the year one POE office Kolkata, was declared ISO certified Six POE offices at Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai, Hyderabad, Cochin and Chandigarh have already been ISO certified. Permission has been granted for ISO certificates for the office of Jaipur, Trivandrum and Rae Bareilly during the current year.
Protection and Welfare of Emigrants
Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting with Kuwait and Oman for welfare and safeguarding the interest of emigrants were held during the year 2014.
A total of 6977 Workers from Iraq and 3200 Workers from Libya have been evacuated during 2014.
The Swarnapravas Yojana – New Plan Scheme
The Plan scheme of MOIA, namely the Swarnapravas Yojana will adhere to the broad objectives of skill development in India, as envisioned by the National Skill Development Policy 2009 and achieve the target of training 5 Million people by 2022 as laid down under this policy. The total project cost envisaged is Rs137 crore. A new budget head for the scheme has been introduced with a provision of Rs.20 crore for 2014-15.
The main objective is to position India as a preferred source country for skilled and trained workers in select sectors that face skill shortages in the international labour market, and in which India enjoys competitive advantage.
While emigration to other countries occurs from all parts of India, ten major states have been identified as origin of migrant workers. These are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. These ten states will be covered under the Swarnapravas Yojana during the 12thPlan period.
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