Sting Exposes Congress Corruption in Uttarakhand, Claims BJP
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NEW DELHI: Under attack over the alleged corruption of three of its top leaders, the BJP claimed it has accessed a sting that establishes a scam in Uttarakhand, where the Congress is in power with Harish Rawat as Chief Minister.
Mr Rawat must resign immediately, said the BJP's Nirmala Sitharaman. "The Uttarakhand Chief Minister and his Personal Secretary (PS) were involved in a liquor scam and loot during Uttarakhand floods," she said, referring to the flashfloods which lashed the hill state in 2013, killing close to 6,000 people and leaving hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to the region's famous temples stranded.
"We need to check if the sting is authentic," said Mr Rawat. NDTV cannot independently verify the contents of the sting.
The BJP says that the sting shows the Chief Minister's personal secretary negotiating bribes for changes to the state's policy on the sale of alcohol.
Mr Rawat said, "The cabinet sets the liquor policy and we have not given any license to private players. There is no change in liquor license policy. When we have not changed the policy, how can they (BJP) accuse us?"
In Parliament, the government led by the BJP is confronting a united attack from the opposition, which is demanding the resignation of Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje for extending favours to tainted cricket mogul Lalit Modi; the Congress is adamant that it will disrupt proceedings unless they are removed, along with Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, whose government is engulfed by the Vyapam or job recruitment scam.
The government has ruled out their resignations. The stand-off has meant that Parliament has been adjourned early for the first two days of its Monsoon Session.
NEW DELHI: Under attack over the alleged corruption of three of its top leaders, the BJP claimed it has accessed a sting that establishes a scam in Uttarakhand, where the Congress is in power with Harish Rawat as Chief Minister.Mr Rawat must resign immediately, said the BJP's Nirmala Sitharaman. "The Uttarakhand Chief Minister and his Personal Secretary (PS) were involved in a liquor scam and loot during Uttarakhand floods," she said, referring to the flashfloods which lashed the hill state in 2013, killing close to 6,000 people and leaving hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to the region's famous temples stranded.
"We need to check if the sting is authentic," said Mr Rawat. NDTV cannot independently verify the contents of the sting.
The BJP says that the sting shows the Chief Minister's personal secretary negotiating bribes for changes to the state's policy on the sale of alcohol.
Mr Rawat said, "The cabinet sets the liquor policy and we have not given any license to private players. There is no change in liquor license policy. When we have not changed the policy, how can they (BJP) accuse us?"
In Parliament, the government led by the BJP is confronting a united attack from the opposition, which is demanding the resignation of Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje for extending favours to tainted cricket mogul Lalit Modi; the Congress is adamant that it will disrupt proceedings unless they are removed, along with Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, whose government is engulfed by the Vyapam or job recruitment scam.
The government has ruled out their resignations. The stand-off has meant that Parliament has been adjourned early for the first two days of its Monsoon Session.
Majority of Provisions of GST Bill Endorsed by Rajya Sabha Panel
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NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha's Select Committee on Goods and Services Tax (GST) has endorsed almost all of the 21 clauses in the GST Constitution Amendment Bill, which seeks to create a pan-India tax regime and a common market, ending the multiplicity of central and state taxes.
The report on the Bill was sent presented to the Upper House this morning. The 21 member Committee is headed by BJP leader Bhupendra Yadav.
"GST Select Committee examined all aspects including listening to views of over over 58 organizations, the Committee feels that the Bill earlier passed by the Lok Sabha is the right Bill. We have given only one suggestion, and that is on the compensation to be given to the states for five years," Mr Yadav told reporters in Parliament.
The Committee also said that one per cent additional tax over GST rate will have cascading effect on taxes; suggests change in definition of supply.
It rejected the demand of opposition parties for lowering Centre's say in the GST Council, the current representation of Centre having one-third and states having two-thirds representation will continue. Congress had been demanding that the share of states in voting in the GST council should be 75 per cent and the Centre should be 25 per cent in the interest of co-operative federalism.
Union Finance minister, Arun Jaitley, has accused the Congress of opposing the Bill that it was supporting earlier. Mr Jaitley said, "We are hopeful that Cong will reconsider its irresponsible stand on GST, it is dissent against its own bill and chief ministers."
Earlier on Monday, the Rajya Sabha Select Committee had adopted a report endorsing a majority of provisions of the GST Bill after the Centre agreed to compensate states for revenue loss for 5 years.
In the Budget session of Parliament earlier this year, the constitutional amendment bill for GST was passed by the lower house (Lok Sabha) with a two-thirds majority and was subsequently sent to the select committee of the upper house.
The Centre hopes to roll out GST by April 1, next year.
NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha's Select Committee on Goods and Services Tax (GST) has endorsed almost all of the 21 clauses in the GST Constitution Amendment Bill, which seeks to create a pan-India tax regime and a common market, ending the multiplicity of central and state taxes.The report on the Bill was sent presented to the Upper House this morning. The 21 member Committee is headed by BJP leader Bhupendra Yadav.
"GST Select Committee examined all aspects including listening to views of over over 58 organizations, the Committee feels that the Bill earlier passed by the Lok Sabha is the right Bill. We have given only one suggestion, and that is on the compensation to be given to the states for five years," Mr Yadav told reporters in Parliament.
The Committee also said that one per cent additional tax over GST rate will have cascading effect on taxes; suggests change in definition of supply.
It rejected the demand of opposition parties for lowering Centre's say in the GST Council, the current representation of Centre having one-third and states having two-thirds representation will continue. Congress had been demanding that the share of states in voting in the GST council should be 75 per cent and the Centre should be 25 per cent in the interest of co-operative federalism.
Union Finance minister, Arun Jaitley, has accused the Congress of opposing the Bill that it was supporting earlier. Mr Jaitley said, "We are hopeful that Cong will reconsider its irresponsible stand on GST, it is dissent against its own bill and chief ministers."
Earlier on Monday, the Rajya Sabha Select Committee had adopted a report endorsing a majority of provisions of the GST Bill after the Centre agreed to compensate states for revenue loss for 5 years.
In the Budget session of Parliament earlier this year, the constitutional amendment bill for GST was passed by the lower house (Lok Sabha) with a two-thirds majority and was subsequently sent to the select committee of the upper house.
The Centre hopes to roll out GST by April 1, next year.
Jharkhand Minister 'Pays Respect' To Former President APJ Abdul Kalam
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RANCHI: A Jharkhand minister found herself at the receiving end of jokes after being seen paying tribute to a garlanded photo of former President APJ Abdul Kalam in images that surfaced on social media.
The pictures were reportedly taken at a school function where Neera Yadav, the state's Human Resource Development minister, was chief guest. The pictures were published in a newspaper.
People on social networking sites pulled no punches as they criticised the minister for seemingly paying tributes to Dr Kalam, who is alive and well.
According to media reports, BJP MLA Manish Jaiswal, school teacher Umesh Prasad and others were also present there.
Ms Yadav denies that she had paid posthumous tributes to the former President and missile scientist. The garland was placed by someone else and she only put the tilak, the minister was quoted as saying.
RANCHI: A Jharkhand minister found herself at the receiving end of jokes after being seen paying tribute to a garlanded photo of former President APJ Abdul Kalam in images that surfaced on social media.The pictures were reportedly taken at a school function where Neera Yadav, the state's Human Resource Development minister, was chief guest. The pictures were published in a newspaper.
People on social networking sites pulled no punches as they criticised the minister for seemingly paying tributes to Dr Kalam, who is alive and well.
According to media reports, BJP MLA Manish Jaiswal, school teacher Umesh Prasad and others were also present there.
Ms Yadav denies that she had paid posthumous tributes to the former President and missile scientist. The garland was placed by someone else and she only put the tilak, the minister was quoted as saying.
Nitish Kumar, in Full Election Mode, Will Set Out Soon to Woo the Non-Resident Bihari
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PATNA: The effort will take the Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader to Delhi and Mumbai, where meetings of the Bihar Foundation are being planned. At these meetings, said sources, Mr Kumar is expected to interact with prominent people from Bihar in the two mega cities.
Efforts are also on, said sources, to organise big Nitish Kumar rallies in both metros, where millions of Biharis live.
The rally in Delhi could have Mr Kumar share stage with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The two Chief Minsters have met frequently in recent days and Mr Kejriwal has said his Aam Aadmi Party or AAP will not put up any candidates in Bihar to help consolidate the anti-BJP vote in favour of Mr Kumar's coalition.
AAP had won a large chunk of the substantial Bihari vote in Delhi in Assembly elections held in February this year and the new friendship is seen as mutually beneficial. Mr Kumar has reiterated his support for Mr Kejriwal in his battle for turf with the BJP-led Centre.
Mr Kumar also hopes to leverage the appeal of Mr Kejriwal among young voters and there has been talk that the Aam Aadmi Party chief could address a rally in Bihar for him.
At the proposed Mumbai rally, Mr Kumar could share stage with Sharad Pawar, who heads the Nationalist Congress Party, an ally in Bihar.
The JD(U) leader's new-look election strategy is being crafted by strategist Pravin Kishor, who introduced high-tech blitz into Prime Minister Narendra Modi's national campaign. For Mr Kumar, he has created a back-to-basics approach that will see him conduct major outreach programmes.
Mr Kumar is contesting the Assembly elections in partnership with Lalu Prasad's RJD and the Congress and its allies from a national coalition.
Efforts are also on, said sources, to organise big Nitish Kumar rallies in both metros, where millions of Biharis live.
The rally in Delhi could have Mr Kumar share stage with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The two Chief Minsters have met frequently in recent days and Mr Kejriwal has said his Aam Aadmi Party or AAP will not put up any candidates in Bihar to help consolidate the anti-BJP vote in favour of Mr Kumar's coalition.
AAP had won a large chunk of the substantial Bihari vote in Delhi in Assembly elections held in February this year and the new friendship is seen as mutually beneficial. Mr Kumar has reiterated his support for Mr Kejriwal in his battle for turf with the BJP-led Centre.
Mr Kumar also hopes to leverage the appeal of Mr Kejriwal among young voters and there has been talk that the Aam Aadmi Party chief could address a rally in Bihar for him.
At the proposed Mumbai rally, Mr Kumar could share stage with Sharad Pawar, who heads the Nationalist Congress Party, an ally in Bihar.
The JD(U) leader's new-look election strategy is being crafted by strategist Pravin Kishor, who introduced high-tech blitz into Prime Minister Narendra Modi's national campaign. For Mr Kumar, he has created a back-to-basics approach that will see him conduct major outreach programmes.
Mr Kumar is contesting the Assembly elections in partnership with Lalu Prasad's RJD and the Congress and its allies from a national coalition.
Suicide Bomber Kills 15 in Afghanistan Market: Officials
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MAZAR-I-SHARIF, AFGHANISTAN: A suicide bomber killed 15 people including women and children in a northern Afghan market today, as militants intensify their annual summer offensive despite nascent peace talks.
The attack in Almar district of Faryab province, bordering Turkmenistan, highlights the heavy toll of such attacks on civilians after 13 years of war.
No group claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing, which comes just before another round of peace negotiations between the government and Taliban militants are due to start.
"This morning a suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden vest in a market in Almar," Faryab governor Abdul Sattar Barez told AFP.
"Our information shows at least 15 people were killed in the attack, including women and children and at least one Afghan army soldier," he said, adding that around 38 others were wounded.
Almar district chief Saleh Mohammad Saleh confirmed the death toll.
Taliban insurgents, who launched their annual summer offensive in late April, have stepped up attacks on government and foreign targets despite official efforts to jumpstart peace talks.
Civilians often fall victim to insurgent attacks, with almost 1,000 Afghan civilians killed during the first four months of the year, according to the UN mission in Afghanistan.
Ghani's government has drawn criticism for failing to end an increasing number of insurgent attacks, which critics partly blame on the protracted delay in the appointment of a defence minister.
The crucial post has not been filled since Ghani came to power last September.
US-led NATO forces ended their combat mission in Afghanistan in December, leaving local forces to battle the Taliban alone, but a 13,000-strong residual force remains for training and counter-terrorism operations.
Afghan officials sat down with Taliban cadres this month in Murree, a tourist town in the hills north of Islamabad, Pakistan, for their first face-to-face talks aimed at ending the bloody insurgency.
They agreed to meet again in the coming weeks, drawing praise from Islamabad, Beijing, Washington and the United Nations.
Afghan officials have not said when and where the next round of negotiations will take place, but they are widely expected to be conducted in the coming days.
But despite the willingness to engage in peace talks there has been no letup in militant attacks on foreign and government targets, leaving Afghan forces stretched on multiple fronts and inflicting a heavy blow on civilians.
Earlier this month 33 people were killed in a suicide attack at a military base in the eastern province of Khost and a few days later 25 civilians were wounded in a bombing inside a mosque in northern Baghlan province.
The attack in Almar district of Faryab province, bordering Turkmenistan, highlights the heavy toll of such attacks on civilians after 13 years of war.
No group claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing, which comes just before another round of peace negotiations between the government and Taliban militants are due to start.
"This morning a suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden vest in a market in Almar," Faryab governor Abdul Sattar Barez told AFP.
"Our information shows at least 15 people were killed in the attack, including women and children and at least one Afghan army soldier," he said, adding that around 38 others were wounded.
Almar district chief Saleh Mohammad Saleh confirmed the death toll.
Taliban insurgents, who launched their annual summer offensive in late April, have stepped up attacks on government and foreign targets despite official efforts to jumpstart peace talks.
Civilians often fall victim to insurgent attacks, with almost 1,000 Afghan civilians killed during the first four months of the year, according to the UN mission in Afghanistan.
Ghani's government has drawn criticism for failing to end an increasing number of insurgent attacks, which critics partly blame on the protracted delay in the appointment of a defence minister.
The crucial post has not been filled since Ghani came to power last September.
US-led NATO forces ended their combat mission in Afghanistan in December, leaving local forces to battle the Taliban alone, but a 13,000-strong residual force remains for training and counter-terrorism operations.
Afghan officials sat down with Taliban cadres this month in Murree, a tourist town in the hills north of Islamabad, Pakistan, for their first face-to-face talks aimed at ending the bloody insurgency.
They agreed to meet again in the coming weeks, drawing praise from Islamabad, Beijing, Washington and the United Nations.
Afghan officials have not said when and where the next round of negotiations will take place, but they are widely expected to be conducted in the coming days.
But despite the willingness to engage in peace talks there has been no letup in militant attacks on foreign and government targets, leaving Afghan forces stretched on multiple fronts and inflicting a heavy blow on civilians.
Earlier this month 33 people were killed in a suicide attack at a military base in the eastern province of Khost and a few days later 25 civilians were wounded in a bombing inside a mosque in northern Baghlan province.
MAZAR-I-SHARIF, AFGHANISTAN: A suicide bomber killed 15 people including women and children in a northern Afghan market today, as militants intensify their annual summer offensive despite nascent peace talks.The attack in Almar district of Faryab province, bordering Turkmenistan, highlights the heavy toll of such attacks on civilians after 13 years of war.
No group claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing, which comes just before another round of peace negotiations between the government and Taliban militants are due to start.
"This morning a suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden vest in a market in Almar," Faryab governor Abdul Sattar Barez told AFP.
"Our information shows at least 15 people were killed in the attack, including women and children and at least one Afghan army soldier," he said, adding that around 38 others were wounded.
Almar district chief Saleh Mohammad Saleh confirmed the death toll.
Taliban insurgents, who launched their annual summer offensive in late April, have stepped up attacks on government and foreign targets despite official efforts to jumpstart peace talks.
Civilians often fall victim to insurgent attacks, with almost 1,000 Afghan civilians killed during the first four months of the year, according to the UN mission in Afghanistan.
Ghani's government has drawn criticism for failing to end an increasing number of insurgent attacks, which critics partly blame on the protracted delay in the appointment of a defence minister.
The crucial post has not been filled since Ghani came to power last September.
US-led NATO forces ended their combat mission in Afghanistan in December, leaving local forces to battle the Taliban alone, but a 13,000-strong residual force remains for training and counter-terrorism operations.
Afghan officials sat down with Taliban cadres this month in Murree, a tourist town in the hills north of Islamabad, Pakistan, for their first face-to-face talks aimed at ending the bloody insurgency.
They agreed to meet again in the coming weeks, drawing praise from Islamabad, Beijing, Washington and the United Nations.
Afghan officials have not said when and where the next round of negotiations will take place, but they are widely expected to be conducted in the coming days.
But despite the willingness to engage in peace talks there has been no letup in militant attacks on foreign and government targets, leaving Afghan forces stretched on multiple fronts and inflicting a heavy blow on civilians.
Earlier this month 33 people were killed in a suicide attack at a military base in the eastern province of Khost and a few days later 25 civilians were wounded in a bombing inside a mosque in northern Baghlan province.
The attack in Almar district of Faryab province, bordering Turkmenistan, highlights the heavy toll of such attacks on civilians after 13 years of war.
No group claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing, which comes just before another round of peace negotiations between the government and Taliban militants are due to start.
"This morning a suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden vest in a market in Almar," Faryab governor Abdul Sattar Barez told AFP.
"Our information shows at least 15 people were killed in the attack, including women and children and at least one Afghan army soldier," he said, adding that around 38 others were wounded.
Almar district chief Saleh Mohammad Saleh confirmed the death toll.
Taliban insurgents, who launched their annual summer offensive in late April, have stepped up attacks on government and foreign targets despite official efforts to jumpstart peace talks.
Civilians often fall victim to insurgent attacks, with almost 1,000 Afghan civilians killed during the first four months of the year, according to the UN mission in Afghanistan.
Ghani's government has drawn criticism for failing to end an increasing number of insurgent attacks, which critics partly blame on the protracted delay in the appointment of a defence minister.
The crucial post has not been filled since Ghani came to power last September.
US-led NATO forces ended their combat mission in Afghanistan in December, leaving local forces to battle the Taliban alone, but a 13,000-strong residual force remains for training and counter-terrorism operations.
Afghan officials sat down with Taliban cadres this month in Murree, a tourist town in the hills north of Islamabad, Pakistan, for their first face-to-face talks aimed at ending the bloody insurgency.
They agreed to meet again in the coming weeks, drawing praise from Islamabad, Beijing, Washington and the United Nations.
Afghan officials have not said when and where the next round of negotiations will take place, but they are widely expected to be conducted in the coming days.
But despite the willingness to engage in peace talks there has been no letup in militant attacks on foreign and government targets, leaving Afghan forces stretched on multiple fronts and inflicting a heavy blow on civilians.
Earlier this month 33 people were killed in a suicide attack at a military base in the eastern province of Khost and a few days later 25 civilians were wounded in a bombing inside a mosque in northern Baghlan province.
President Pranab Mukherjee Greets Egypt on National Day
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NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee today greeted the government and people of Egypt on the country's National Day on July 23. He expressed confidence that friendship and cooperation between the two countries would continue to strengthen and diversify.
In a message to his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the president said: "On behalf of the government, the people of India and on my own behalf, it gives me a great pleasure to extend warm greetings and felicitations to you and the people of Egypt on the occasion of National Day."
He added that India and Egypt have traditionally enjoyed warm and friendly relations.
The houses were constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 82.78 crore in Tiruchirappalli and Tiruvannamalai among others.
"I take this opportunity to emphasize the importance that India attaches to its relations with Egypt. I remain confident that Egypt will continue to move ahead on the path of political stability and economic revival under your able leadership and that the bonds of friendship and cooperation between India and Egypt will continue to strengthen and diversify in the years to come," he said.
"I take this opportunity to extend to Your Excellency my best wishes for your good health and for the continued progress and prosperity of the friendly people of Egypt," he added.
Egypt celebrates its national day on July 23 to commemorate the Egyptian revolution of 1952.
NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee today greeted the government and people of Egypt on the country's National Day on July 23. He expressed confidence that friendship and cooperation between the two countries would continue to strengthen and diversify.In a message to his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the president said: "On behalf of the government, the people of India and on my own behalf, it gives me a great pleasure to extend warm greetings and felicitations to you and the people of Egypt on the occasion of National Day."
He added that India and Egypt have traditionally enjoyed warm and friendly relations.
The houses were constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 82.78 crore in Tiruchirappalli and Tiruvannamalai among others.
"I take this opportunity to emphasize the importance that India attaches to its relations with Egypt. I remain confident that Egypt will continue to move ahead on the path of political stability and economic revival under your able leadership and that the bonds of friendship and cooperation between India and Egypt will continue to strengthen and diversify in the years to come," he said.
"I take this opportunity to extend to Your Excellency my best wishes for your good health and for the continued progress and prosperity of the friendly people of Egypt," he added.
Egypt celebrates its national day on July 23 to commemorate the Egyptian revolution of 1952.
Lieutenant Governor Claims He's Delhi Government. What About Arvind Kejriwal?
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NEW DELHI: Arvind Kejriwal's latest confrontation with Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung is likely to spiral considerably, courtesy a letter that declares Mr Jung is meant to function as the "government" of Delhi.
The letter - issued by Mr Jung's office to cancel the appointment of the new head of the Delhi Commission for Women, Swati Maliwal - says the "constitutionally valid and consistent definition of 'Government' is the Lieutenant Governor".
Mr Jung's missive says Mr Kejriwal cannot appoint the DCW head without his sanction.
The letter will escalate the bitter turf war between Mr Jung, who represents the Centre in Delhi and Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party government. It refers to precedents in the appointment of DCW chiefs in the past, but makes no mention of the elected Delhi government.
Ms Maliwal, 30, the wife of Aam Aadmi Party leader Navin Jaihind, was appointed by Mr Kejriwal four days ago.
She took charge on Monday and had said earlier today about her appointment being cancelled, "I have no official communication so I can't talk about it. I am doing my work. The Delhi Government has appointed me and if the Delhi Government takes back the appointment, I will abide by it."
AAP has rejected allegations of nepotism made by the BJP and the Congress, saying its government picked the person best suited for the job.
Ms Maliwal replaced Barkha Singh, a member of the Congress, whose term ended this month.
Swati Maliwal serves as an advisor to Chief Minister Kejriwal on public grievances and handled his Janta Samwad or interaction with the people.
Delhi does not have the status of a full state and important functions are controlled by the Centre through Mr Jung.
Mr Kejriwal accuses the BJP-led central government of trying to scuttle his efforts at governing Delhi after his AAP wiped the rival party out in the February Assembly elections.
NEW DELHI: Arvind Kejriwal's latest confrontation with Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung is likely to spiral considerably, courtesy a letter that declares Mr Jung is meant to function as the "government" of Delhi.The letter - issued by Mr Jung's office to cancel the appointment of the new head of the Delhi Commission for Women, Swati Maliwal - says the "constitutionally valid and consistent definition of 'Government' is the Lieutenant Governor".
Mr Jung's missive says Mr Kejriwal cannot appoint the DCW head without his sanction.
The letter will escalate the bitter turf war between Mr Jung, who represents the Centre in Delhi and Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party government. It refers to precedents in the appointment of DCW chiefs in the past, but makes no mention of the elected Delhi government.
Ms Maliwal, 30, the wife of Aam Aadmi Party leader Navin Jaihind, was appointed by Mr Kejriwal four days ago.
She took charge on Monday and had said earlier today about her appointment being cancelled, "I have no official communication so I can't talk about it. I am doing my work. The Delhi Government has appointed me and if the Delhi Government takes back the appointment, I will abide by it."
AAP has rejected allegations of nepotism made by the BJP and the Congress, saying its government picked the person best suited for the job.
Ms Maliwal replaced Barkha Singh, a member of the Congress, whose term ended this month.
Swati Maliwal serves as an advisor to Chief Minister Kejriwal on public grievances and handled his Janta Samwad or interaction with the people.
Delhi does not have the status of a full state and important functions are controlled by the Centre through Mr Jung.
Mr Kejriwal accuses the BJP-led central government of trying to scuttle his efforts at governing Delhi after his AAP wiped the rival party out in the February Assembly elections.
Students Protest in Taiwan Over 'China-Centric' Education
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TAIPEI: Around 200 students protested outside Taiwan's education ministry today against what they say are "China-centric" changes to the school curriculum.
Increasing fears in Taiwan over Beijing's influence sparked a three-week occupation of parliament last year by student-led protesters opposing a trade pact with China.
Several of the groups that took part in the occupation joined protesters at the ministry in the capital Taipei, piling up school textbooks at the main gate and shouting protests against "brainwashing education".
The students say changes to the high school curriculum, due to be introduced in September, undermine the island's sovereignty and have been introduced without proper consultation.
"We strongly oppose using the new curriculum which is aimed to indoctrinate students with the thinking of 'greater China'. This is totally unacceptable," student leader Chu Chen, 18, told AFP.
Taiwan split from China in 1949 after a civil war and is self-ruling, but Beijing still sees the island as part of its territory awaiting reunification -- by force if necessary.
Relations have improved under current president Ma Ying-jeou of the Beijing-friendly Kuomintang party, leading to a number of trade deals but triggering growing public unease.
Curriculum changes disputed by protesters include a reference to Taiwan being "recovered by China" instead of "given to China" after the end of Japanese occupation in 1945.
The 50-year period of Japanese rule is also referred to as an era when "Japan occupied" the island, replacing the previous phrase "Japan governed".
"It's biased towards the China ideology," said protester Gina Wang, 17.
"We want our curriculum to be neutral, diversified and objective."
University student Wu Chang-an, 21, added: "For me, Taiwan is Taiwan. It feels like they are trying to sneak pro-unification ideology into our education."
The scholars who devised the changes said they were seeking to fix what they saw as distortions under the rule of the Democratic Progressive Party, which had a pro-independence platform.
There have been small-scale student protests for weeks over the adjustments.
The demonstrations have echoes of a mass campaign in semi-autonomous Hong Kong in 2012, which saw tens of thousands take to the streets against a bill to introduce mandatory Chinese patriotism classes into schools.
Taiwanese protesters also said they would arrange candles in the shape of an umbrella -- symbol of the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement -- outside the ministry today evening, adding it would reflect being "kept in the dark".
The education ministry told AFP it would give schools the option of following either the old or the new curriculum.
"The curriculum has been adjusted since the late 1990s with different governments in power," spokesman Wu Ching-shan told AFP.
He said there had been public consultation over the changes and they were part of a wider update to the school curriculum to reflect "social changes" and at the request of some teachers.
Increasing fears in Taiwan over Beijing's influence sparked a three-week occupation of parliament last year by student-led protesters opposing a trade pact with China.
Several of the groups that took part in the occupation joined protesters at the ministry in the capital Taipei, piling up school textbooks at the main gate and shouting protests against "brainwashing education".
The students say changes to the high school curriculum, due to be introduced in September, undermine the island's sovereignty and have been introduced without proper consultation.
"We strongly oppose using the new curriculum which is aimed to indoctrinate students with the thinking of 'greater China'. This is totally unacceptable," student leader Chu Chen, 18, told AFP.
Taiwan split from China in 1949 after a civil war and is self-ruling, but Beijing still sees the island as part of its territory awaiting reunification -- by force if necessary.
Relations have improved under current president Ma Ying-jeou of the Beijing-friendly Kuomintang party, leading to a number of trade deals but triggering growing public unease.
Curriculum changes disputed by protesters include a reference to Taiwan being "recovered by China" instead of "given to China" after the end of Japanese occupation in 1945.
The 50-year period of Japanese rule is also referred to as an era when "Japan occupied" the island, replacing the previous phrase "Japan governed".
"It's biased towards the China ideology," said protester Gina Wang, 17.
"We want our curriculum to be neutral, diversified and objective."
University student Wu Chang-an, 21, added: "For me, Taiwan is Taiwan. It feels like they are trying to sneak pro-unification ideology into our education."
The scholars who devised the changes said they were seeking to fix what they saw as distortions under the rule of the Democratic Progressive Party, which had a pro-independence platform.
There have been small-scale student protests for weeks over the adjustments.
The demonstrations have echoes of a mass campaign in semi-autonomous Hong Kong in 2012, which saw tens of thousands take to the streets against a bill to introduce mandatory Chinese patriotism classes into schools.
Taiwanese protesters also said they would arrange candles in the shape of an umbrella -- symbol of the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement -- outside the ministry today evening, adding it would reflect being "kept in the dark".
The education ministry told AFP it would give schools the option of following either the old or the new curriculum.
"The curriculum has been adjusted since the late 1990s with different governments in power," spokesman Wu Ching-shan told AFP.
He said there had been public consultation over the changes and they were part of a wider update to the school curriculum to reflect "social changes" and at the request of some teachers.
"We strongly oppose using the new curriculum which is aimed to indoctrinate students with the thinking of 'greater China'. This is totally unacceptable," student leader Chu Chen, 18, told AFP.
Taiwan split from China in 1949 after a civil war and is self-ruling, but Beijing still sees the island as part of its territory awaiting reunification -- by force if necessary.
Relations have improved under current president Ma Ying-jeou of the Beijing-friendly Kuomintang party, leading to a number of trade deals but triggering growing public unease.
Curriculum changes disputed by protesters include a reference to Taiwan being "recovered by China" instead of "given to China" after the end of Japanese occupation in 1945.
The 50-year period of Japanese rule is also referred to as an era when "Japan occupied" the island, replacing the previous phrase "Japan governed".
"It's biased towards the China ideology," said protester Gina Wang, 17.
"We want our curriculum to be neutral, diversified and objective."
University student Wu Chang-an, 21, added: "For me, Taiwan is Taiwan. It feels like they are trying to sneak pro-unification ideology into our education."
The scholars who devised the changes said they were seeking to fix what they saw as distortions under the rule of the Democratic Progressive Party, which had a pro-independence platform.
There have been small-scale student protests for weeks over the adjustments.
The demonstrations have echoes of a mass campaign in semi-autonomous Hong Kong in 2012, which saw tens of thousands take to the streets against a bill to introduce mandatory Chinese patriotism classes into schools.
Taiwanese protesters also said they would arrange candles in the shape of an umbrella -- symbol of the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement -- outside the ministry today evening, adding it would reflect being "kept in the dark".
The education ministry told AFP it would give schools the option of following either the old or the new curriculum.
"The curriculum has been adjusted since the late 1990s with different governments in power," spokesman Wu Ching-shan told AFP.
He said there had been public consultation over the changes and they were part of a wider update to the school curriculum to reflect "social changes" and at the request of some teachers.
Modi Schemes: Child and Women Empowerment Part 5
-
Dear Readers & Aspirants, We collected Modi Schemes in Child and Women Empowerment and make it in PDF format. We Hope it will definitely help you for your SBI PO,IBPS,RBI assistant and many more upcoming Exams. All the Best My Dear Aspirants & Readers.
- Modi Schemes: Banking & Insurance Part 1
- Modi Schemes: Agriculture & Irrigation – Part 2
- Modi Schemes: Technology Part 3
- Modi Schemes: Environmental and Health Part 4
1 Beti padao beti bacho yojana
Introduction
Women and children constitute around 70 % of India‟s people and are the critical foundation fornational development – at present and in the future. More inclusive growth must begin with children and women- breaking an intergenerational cycle of inequity and multiple deprivations faced by women and girls, as related to poverty, social exclusion, gender discrimination and undernutrition. This intergenerational cycle of multiple deprivation and violence faced by girls and women is reflected in the adverse and steeply declining child sex ratio in children under 6 years of age which reached an all time low of 918 girls for every 1000 boys in 2011.
These commitments are embodied in the Constitution and in several enabling legislations, policies (such as the National Policy For the Empowerment of Women 2001, National Policy For Children 2013 and the National Nutrition Policy 1993), Five Year and Annual Plans and programmes. Despite this there are several challenges that remain and key issues which need to be addressed urgently. These include ensuring Women‟s Safety, Protection and Empowerment, improving the Child Sex Ratio, ensuring Child Protection and preventing and reducing Maternal and Child Undernutrition and controlling anemia across the life cycle.
- Women’s Safety, Protection and Empowerment
Despite some recent positive momentum, the pace of progress in realizing women‟s safety, protection and empowerment has not been adequate. This is reflected in the National Crime Records Bureau data, which highlighted that 3,09,546 incidents of crime against women (both under Indian Penal Code and other laws) were reported during the year 2013, as against the 2,44,270 cases reported during 2012, showing an increase of 26.7% (despite the fact that not all crimes against women are reported). The policy commitment to ensuring the safety, security and dignity of women NAVDISHA- National Thematic Workshop on Best Practices for Women and Child Development 20-21 January 2015 Panipat, Haryana Organised by Ministry of Women and Child Development Government of India and Government of Haryana
Ministry of Women and Child Development and girls in public and private spaces was reaffirmed – including through the Twelfth Plan provisions, the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013.
Ensuring women’s social, economic and political empowerment, fulfillment of their rights, promoting their participation and leadership requires comprehensive gender-responsive measures at different levels, including through legal, policy and institutional frameworks. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act has given a new dimension to the process of women‟s empowerment, with women panchayat members emerging in many settings as change leaders. Now progressively, many states are earmarking 50% reservation for women in panchayati raj institutions. A major thrust for economic empowerment has been through the formation of thrift and credit based self-help groups (SHGs) formed by women – with states such as Andhra Pradesh demonstrating effective ways of making this a mass movement. Increased support for women SHGs in the National Rural Livelihood Mission and in MGNREGA with women having a share of 115.54 (53%) crore person days in 2013-14 have been positive developments. Successful linkages between SHGs and Micro-Finance institutions such as RMK, NABARD, SIDBI besides private microfinance institutions have helped in generating additional income, jobs and in creating small enterprises for women
III. Child Rights
Fulfilling the rights of India‟s children – around one fifth of the world‟s children – to survival, development, protection and participation remains a continuing challenge.
–>The recently formulated Draft Nation Action Plan for children (NPAC), critical for achieving monitorable targets for Child Survival, Development, Protection and Participation, is a major step in this direction.
–>ICDS is today the world‟s largest community based outreach programme for early child development. It reaches out to over 8.5 crore young children below 6 years of age (around half of the total of 16.45 crore, as per Census 2011), around 1.9 crore pregnant and breastfeeding mothers through 7066 projects and a network of 13.4 lakh operational anganwadi centres across the country.ICDS was strengthened and restructured in 2012, seeking to enhance both nutrition and early development outcomes.
–>The recently adopted National Early Childhood Care and Education Policy 2013 also emphasizes the criticality of the first few years of life as the foundation for cumulative Ministry of Women and Child Development lifelong learning and human development.
–> The effective implementation of The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE), 2009 (effective 1 April 2010) has contributed to improved outcomes in elementary education, progressively closing the gender gap in school enrolment and retention and also providing a protective environment to children.Addressing trafficking, missing children, sexual abuse, tackling juvenile crimes and strengthening child protection systems are priority areas for action.
–>Juvenile Justice Bill, 2014; revision of the Adoption guidelines with simplified and online processes and with fixed timelines and revamp of the CARINGS web portal.
–>(POCSO) Act 2012, enacted to protect children from sexual violence, abuse and exploitation and the launch of Khoya Paya, complementing TrackChild
The Ministry of Home Affairs has also set up an Anti Trafficking nodal cell to act as focal point for enabling follow up on action taken by States, to combat the crime of human trafficking. These initiatives will be consolidated and taken forward.
IV Nutrition
Adolescent girls, negatively impacting upon women‟s nutrition. highlighted that 43 per cent of currently married women in the age-group 20-24 years were married before attaining the age of 18 years. Adolescent girls married before the attainment of the age of 18 years, often go through early and frequent pregnancies.
NFHS 3 (2005-06) highlighted that nearly every
- second young child in India was undernourished (42.5 % of children under 5 years were underweight)
- seven out of ten children were anemic; every third woman in India was undernourished (35.6 % with low Body Mass Index)
- every second woman (15-49 years) was anemic (55.3%). Reinforcing legislative, policy, plan and programme commitments that address the multidimensional nature of the nutrition challenges, nutrition focus in relevant sectoral .
Based on these policy directions, a new National Nutrition Mission is being formulated. This is informed by innovative initiatives that have been taken up in several states
The strategies also address the criticality of ensuring the prevention and management of diseases, through universal access to health care in the National Health Mission and ensuring hygiene, sanitation and universal access to safe drinking water through Swachh Bharat, in convergence with ICDS and with greater community ownership, for improved nutrition outcomes.
V Improving the Child Sex Ratio: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
Breaking an intergenerational cycle of multiple deprivations faced by girls and women is critical for more inclusive and sustainable growth.
This cycle is epitomized by the adverse sex ratio in young children in the 0-6 years age group, denying the girl child her right to be born and her right to life. It is also evident in other forms of gender based violence.
- The Census 2011 data was a call for urgent action, because this highlighted that the girl child is increasingly being excluded – not only from economic development and growth– but from life itself. If not reversed urgently, the steeply declining Child Sex Ratio will alter demography; erode gender justice, social cohesion and human development. The findings highlighted the need to urgently address the unabated decline in the CSR (0-6 years) in India, which has fallen from 927 in 2001 to an all time low of 918 females per 1000 males in 2011. It is also clear that this problem is becoming more widespread – with this decline being seen in 18 states and 3 UTs. The absolute levels of the CSR still continue to be very low, even in some of the states where improvement is seen between Census 2001 and Census 2011. To highlight best practices for key themes related to Women, Child Rights, the Girl Child and
- Nutrition from different States, Union Territories and districts.
- To enable inter state sharing and learning from these models through thematic presentations,dialogue, state poster sessions and cluster/interest group interactions.
- To evolve a strategy framework that synthesizes learning from these models for adaptation/replication and enables innovation and new approaches.
- To encourage mentoring support between states and continued learning, through the formation of state interest groups, field based learning hubs and thematic e- networks.
- To develop a shared commitment for addressing key themes – especially as related to ensuring
- Care and Protection of the Girl Child – Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
2 INDRADANUSH
Objective of the programme
To achieve full immunization coverage for all children in the country by 2020.BackgroundIt has been reported that during the period between 2009 and 2013, the coverage of immunization in the country increased from 61% to 65%. This meant that there was an increase of only 1% immunization in each year during the last seven years, which is very less, considering the increase in population, every year. Also it is seen that there are certain diseases, which have become the main cause of deaths of a large number of children in the country, could be prevented by immunization. Mission Indradhanush was launched to speed up the process of immunization . The target of full coverage is set to be achieved by the year 2020.
Diseases to be covered
The plan aims at providing immunization for seven diseases which can be prevented by vaccination:
- Whooping cough
- Hepatitis B
- Diphtheria
- Tetanus
- Polio
- Tuberculosis
- Measles
ProcessMission Indradhanush covers seven diseases like Indradhanush or Rainbow has seven colours. The programme will provide vaccination to children who are either not vaccinated at all or partially vaccinated against these seven diseases. These diseases are dangerous and affect the lives of many children but can be prevented by vaccination. The plan is to cover all children by 2020 and achieve full immunization. The programme will be implemented phase-wise, firstly covering those districts where half of the children are not vaccinated at all. Between January and June 2015, four special vaccination campaigns will be conducted under the mission. Around 201 districts will be covered in the first phase and 297 will be targeted in the second phase.Districts to be coveredThere are 201 high focus districts which have been identified in the country to be covered in the mission in the first phase. Of the majority of the districts in this first phase, around 82 districts are in the States of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. These four States have at least 25% of the children not vaccinated or partially vaccinated.
Mission guidelines
- Immunization will be speeded up and improved in all the districts that are to be covered.
- This immunization drive will emphasise on “catch-up” campaign, which means that all children who have missed vaccination or were left out will be targeted for immunization.
- The procedure used in the successful implementation of the pulse polio programme will be applied in this mission.
- The Union Health & Family Welfare Ministry will be supported by UNICEF, WHO, Rotary International and other donor partners for the successful implementation of the Indradhanush Mission.
3 Pharma Jan Samadhan Scheme to address Consumers Grievances
Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Ananth Kumar in New Delhi has launched Pharma Jan Samadhan scheme, for redressal of grievances of consumers related to drug pricing and availability of medicines. The scheme is a web-enabled system created by National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA).The scheme will provide consumers with an online facility to redress their complaints related to over-pricing of medicines, non-availability of medicines, sale of new medicines without prior price approval of NPPA and refusal of supply for sale of any medicine without sufficient reason. NPPA will initiate action on any complaint within 48 hrs of its receipt.
National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)
NPPA is an organization of the Government of India was established under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995 to regulate the prices of controlled bulk drugs and formulations and to enforce prices and availability of the medicines in the country.The organization is also entrusted with the task of recovery of amounts overcharged by manufacturers for controlled drugs from the consumers & also monitors the prices of decontrolled drugs.
Functions of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)
- Implementation and enforcement of the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order and also Deal with all legal matters arising out of the decisions of the Authority
- Provide assistance to the Central Government in the parliamentary matters relating to the drug pricing.
- Monitoring the availability of drugs, identify shortages, if any, and to take remedial steps
- Maintaining data on production, exports and imports, market share of individual companies, profitability of companies etc, for bulk drugs and formulations
- Rendering advice to the Central Government on changes/ revisions in the drug policy
Dear Readers & Aspirants, We collected Modi Schemes in Child and Women Empowerment and make it in PDF format. We Hope it will definitely help you for your SBI PO,IBPS,RBI assistant and many more upcoming Exams. All the Best My Dear Aspirants & Readers.
- Modi Schemes: Banking & Insurance Part 1
- Modi Schemes: Agriculture & Irrigation – Part 2
- Modi Schemes: Technology Part 3
- Modi Schemes: Environmental and Health Part 4
1 Beti padao beti bacho yojana
Introduction
Women and children constitute around 70 % of India‟s people and are the critical foundation fornational development – at present and in the future. More inclusive growth must begin with children and women- breaking an intergenerational cycle of inequity and multiple deprivations faced by women and girls, as related to poverty, social exclusion, gender discrimination and undernutrition. This intergenerational cycle of multiple deprivation and violence faced by girls and women is reflected in the adverse and steeply declining child sex ratio in children under 6 years of age which reached an all time low of 918 girls for every 1000 boys in 2011.
These commitments are embodied in the Constitution and in several enabling legislations, policies (such as the National Policy For the Empowerment of Women 2001, National Policy For Children 2013 and the National Nutrition Policy 1993), Five Year and Annual Plans and programmes. Despite this there are several challenges that remain and key issues which need to be addressed urgently. These include ensuring Women‟s Safety, Protection and Empowerment, improving the Child Sex Ratio, ensuring Child Protection and preventing and reducing Maternal and Child Undernutrition and controlling anemia across the life cycle.
- Women’s Safety, Protection and Empowerment
Despite some recent positive momentum, the pace of progress in realizing women‟s safety, protection and empowerment has not been adequate. This is reflected in the National Crime Records Bureau data, which highlighted that 3,09,546 incidents of crime against women (both under Indian Penal Code and other laws) were reported during the year 2013, as against the 2,44,270 cases reported during 2012, showing an increase of 26.7% (despite the fact that not all crimes against women are reported). The policy commitment to ensuring the safety, security and dignity of women NAVDISHA- National Thematic Workshop on Best Practices for Women and Child Development 20-21 January 2015 Panipat, Haryana Organised by Ministry of Women and Child Development Government of India and Government of Haryana
Ministry of Women and Child Development and girls in public and private spaces was reaffirmed – including through the Twelfth Plan provisions, the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013.
Ensuring women’s social, economic and political empowerment, fulfillment of their rights, promoting their participation and leadership requires comprehensive gender-responsive measures at different levels, including through legal, policy and institutional frameworks. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act has given a new dimension to the process of women‟s empowerment, with women panchayat members emerging in many settings as change leaders. Now progressively, many states are earmarking 50% reservation for women in panchayati raj institutions. A major thrust for economic empowerment has been through the formation of thrift and credit based self-help groups (SHGs) formed by women – with states such as Andhra Pradesh demonstrating effective ways of making this a mass movement. Increased support for women SHGs in the National Rural Livelihood Mission and in MGNREGA with women having a share of 115.54 (53%) crore person days in 2013-14 have been positive developments. Successful linkages between SHGs and Micro-Finance institutions such as RMK, NABARD, SIDBI besides private microfinance institutions have helped in generating additional income, jobs and in creating small enterprises for women
III. Child Rights
Fulfilling the rights of India‟s children – around one fifth of the world‟s children – to survival, development, protection and participation remains a continuing challenge.
–>The recently formulated Draft Nation Action Plan for children (NPAC), critical for achieving monitorable targets for Child Survival, Development, Protection and Participation, is a major step in this direction.
–>ICDS is today the world‟s largest community based outreach programme for early child development. It reaches out to over 8.5 crore young children below 6 years of age (around half of the total of 16.45 crore, as per Census 2011), around 1.9 crore pregnant and breastfeeding mothers through 7066 projects and a network of 13.4 lakh operational anganwadi centres across the country.ICDS was strengthened and restructured in 2012, seeking to enhance both nutrition and early development outcomes.
–>The recently adopted National Early Childhood Care and Education Policy 2013 also emphasizes the criticality of the first few years of life as the foundation for cumulative Ministry of Women and Child Development lifelong learning and human development.
–> The effective implementation of The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE), 2009 (effective 1 April 2010) has contributed to improved outcomes in elementary education, progressively closing the gender gap in school enrolment and retention and also providing a protective environment to children.Addressing trafficking, missing children, sexual abuse, tackling juvenile crimes and strengthening child protection systems are priority areas for action.
–>Juvenile Justice Bill, 2014; revision of the Adoption guidelines with simplified and online processes and with fixed timelines and revamp of the CARINGS web portal.
–>(POCSO) Act 2012, enacted to protect children from sexual violence, abuse and exploitation and the launch of Khoya Paya, complementing TrackChild
The Ministry of Home Affairs has also set up an Anti Trafficking nodal cell to act as focal point for enabling follow up on action taken by States, to combat the crime of human trafficking. These initiatives will be consolidated and taken forward.
IV Nutrition
Adolescent girls, negatively impacting upon women‟s nutrition. highlighted that 43 per cent of currently married women in the age-group 20-24 years were married before attaining the age of 18 years. Adolescent girls married before the attainment of the age of 18 years, often go through early and frequent pregnancies.
NFHS 3 (2005-06) highlighted that nearly every
- second young child in India was undernourished (42.5 % of children under 5 years were underweight)
- seven out of ten children were anemic; every third woman in India was undernourished (35.6 % with low Body Mass Index)
- every second woman (15-49 years) was anemic (55.3%). Reinforcing legislative, policy, plan and programme commitments that address the multidimensional nature of the nutrition challenges, nutrition focus in relevant sectoral .
Based on these policy directions, a new National Nutrition Mission is being formulated. This is informed by innovative initiatives that have been taken up in several states
The strategies also address the criticality of ensuring the prevention and management of diseases, through universal access to health care in the National Health Mission and ensuring hygiene, sanitation and universal access to safe drinking water through Swachh Bharat, in convergence with ICDS and with greater community ownership, for improved nutrition outcomes.
V Improving the Child Sex Ratio: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
Breaking an intergenerational cycle of multiple deprivations faced by girls and women is critical for more inclusive and sustainable growth.
This cycle is epitomized by the adverse sex ratio in young children in the 0-6 years age group, denying the girl child her right to be born and her right to life. It is also evident in other forms of gender based violence.
- The Census 2011 data was a call for urgent action, because this highlighted that the girl child is increasingly being excluded – not only from economic development and growth– but from life itself. If not reversed urgently, the steeply declining Child Sex Ratio will alter demography; erode gender justice, social cohesion and human development. The findings highlighted the need to urgently address the unabated decline in the CSR (0-6 years) in India, which has fallen from 927 in 2001 to an all time low of 918 females per 1000 males in 2011. It is also clear that this problem is becoming more widespread – with this decline being seen in 18 states and 3 UTs. The absolute levels of the CSR still continue to be very low, even in some of the states where improvement is seen between Census 2001 and Census 2011. To highlight best practices for key themes related to Women, Child Rights, the Girl Child and
- Nutrition from different States, Union Territories and districts.
- To enable inter state sharing and learning from these models through thematic presentations,dialogue, state poster sessions and cluster/interest group interactions.
- To evolve a strategy framework that synthesizes learning from these models for adaptation/replication and enables innovation and new approaches.
- To encourage mentoring support between states and continued learning, through the formation of state interest groups, field based learning hubs and thematic e- networks.
- To develop a shared commitment for addressing key themes – especially as related to ensuring
- Care and Protection of the Girl Child – Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
2 INDRADANUSH
Objective of the programme
To achieve full immunization coverage for all children in the country by 2020.BackgroundIt has been reported that during the period between 2009 and 2013, the coverage of immunization in the country increased from 61% to 65%. This meant that there was an increase of only 1% immunization in each year during the last seven years, which is very less, considering the increase in population, every year. Also it is seen that there are certain diseases, which have become the main cause of deaths of a large number of children in the country, could be prevented by immunization. Mission Indradhanush was launched to speed up the process of immunization . The target of full coverage is set to be achieved by the year 2020.
Diseases to be covered
The plan aims at providing immunization for seven diseases which can be prevented by vaccination:
- Whooping cough
- Hepatitis B
- Diphtheria
- Tetanus
- Polio
- Tuberculosis
- Measles
ProcessMission Indradhanush covers seven diseases like Indradhanush or Rainbow has seven colours. The programme will provide vaccination to children who are either not vaccinated at all or partially vaccinated against these seven diseases. These diseases are dangerous and affect the lives of many children but can be prevented by vaccination. The plan is to cover all children by 2020 and achieve full immunization. The programme will be implemented phase-wise, firstly covering those districts where half of the children are not vaccinated at all. Between January and June 2015, four special vaccination campaigns will be conducted under the mission. Around 201 districts will be covered in the first phase and 297 will be targeted in the second phase.Districts to be coveredThere are 201 high focus districts which have been identified in the country to be covered in the mission in the first phase. Of the majority of the districts in this first phase, around 82 districts are in the States of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. These four States have at least 25% of the children not vaccinated or partially vaccinated.
Mission guidelines
- Immunization will be speeded up and improved in all the districts that are to be covered.
- This immunization drive will emphasise on “catch-up” campaign, which means that all children who have missed vaccination or were left out will be targeted for immunization.
- The procedure used in the successful implementation of the pulse polio programme will be applied in this mission.
- The Union Health & Family Welfare Ministry will be supported by UNICEF, WHO, Rotary International and other donor partners for the successful implementation of the Indradhanush Mission.
3 Pharma Jan Samadhan Scheme to address Consumers Grievances
Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Ananth Kumar in New Delhi has launched Pharma Jan Samadhan scheme, for redressal of grievances of consumers related to drug pricing and availability of medicines. The scheme is a web-enabled system created by National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA).The scheme will provide consumers with an online facility to redress their complaints related to over-pricing of medicines, non-availability of medicines, sale of new medicines without prior price approval of NPPA and refusal of supply for sale of any medicine without sufficient reason. NPPA will initiate action on any complaint within 48 hrs of its receipt.
National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)
NPPA is an organization of the Government of India was established under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995 to regulate the prices of controlled bulk drugs and formulations and to enforce prices and availability of the medicines in the country.The organization is also entrusted with the task of recovery of amounts overcharged by manufacturers for controlled drugs from the consumers & also monitors the prices of decontrolled drugs.
Functions of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)
- Implementation and enforcement of the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order and also Deal with all legal matters arising out of the decisions of the Authority
- Provide assistance to the Central Government in the parliamentary matters relating to the drug pricing.
- Monitoring the availability of drugs, identify shortages, if any, and to take remedial steps
- Maintaining data on production, exports and imports, market share of individual companies, profitability of companies etc, for bulk drugs and formulations
- Rendering advice to the Central Government on changes/ revisions in the drug policy
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