Third Scorpene submarine ‘Karanj’ Launched at Mazagon Docks

     New Delhi. The third Scorpene class submarine constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited for the Indian Navy, was launched today, 31 January 2018 by Mrs Reena Lanba, President Navy Wives Welfare Association after the recitation of Sanskrit shlokas from the Atharva Veda and traditional ceremonies associated with the launch of naval platforms. 

  She also named this submarine as ‘Karanj’ and wished her good fortune. Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff was the chief guest on the occasion. VAdm Girish Luthra, FOC-in-C, Western Naval Command and VAdm D M Deshpande, Controller Warship Production & Acquisition (CWP&A), Rear Admiral Guillame de Garidel, Head of Asia Pacific, DGA France and other senior officers and dignitaries from MoD, MDL and state government were also present during the ceremony.

    This historic event reaffirms the giant strides taken by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) in the ongoing ‘Make In India’ programme, which is being actively implemented by the Department of Defence Production (MoD). The submarine was then towed to Mumbai Port Trust, for separation from the pontoon. Karanj will now undergo rigorous trials and tests, both in harbour and at sea before it is commissioned into the Navy.

    The contract for the construction and Transfer-of-Technology for six Scorpene submarines in series, has M/s Naval Group (formerly DCNS) of France as ‘Collaborator’ and are being built by MDL.During his address, Admiral Sunil Lanba, CNS, said that the launch of Karanj marked a significant departure from the manning and training philosophy that was adopted for the first two submarines and added that from third submarine onwards the Navy would be fully self reliant in training and certification processes. 

    He also mentioned that the old Karanj had served the nation for 34 years from 1969 to 2003 including participation in 1971 war.The state-of- the-art technology utilised for construction of the Scorpene class submarines has ensured superior stealth features such as advanced acoustic silencing techniques, low radiated noise levels, hydro-dynamically optimized shape and the ability to launch a crippling attack on the enemy using precision guided weapons. 

   The attack can be launched with both torpedoes and tube launched anti-ship missiles, whilst underwater or on surface. The stealth of this potent platform is enhanced by the special attention given to various signatures. These stealth features give it an invulnerability, unmatched by most submarines. Scorpene submarines can undertake multifarious types of missions i.e Anti-Surface warfare, Anti-Submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, area surveillance etc. 

    The submarine is designed to operate in all theatres, with means provided to ensure interoperability with other components of a Naval Task Force. It is a potent platform, marking a generational shift in submarine operations. 

    Last year, on 14 December 2017, INS Kalvari, the first Scorpene class submarine was commissioned into the Indian Navy, by Prime Minister. Khanderi, the second Scorpene class submarine was launched in January 2017, and is currently undergoing the rigorous phase of sea trials and is also scheduled to be delivered shortly.

Rapid Detection Kits for Adulterants in Fresh Fish

    New Delhi. Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh today launched the Rapid Detection Kits for Adulterants in Fresh Fish, developed by Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), Kochi. Ammonia helps in preventing ice from melting and use of formaldehyde increases the shelf life of fish therefore many people in the fisheries sector are using these chemicals.

   The kit helps in detecting both the chemicals in the fish.Mr. Singh informed that continuous ingestion of ammonia and formaldehyde can lead to many health issues including abdominal pain, vomiting, unconsciousness, and sometimes even cause death. 

  Union Agriculture Minister said it today at the launch of kit in New Delhi.Mr. Singh said that fish consumption is beneficial for health. Since fresh fish is highly perishable in nature, so fish don’t have a long shelf life. India’s domestic fish market is reported to be selling formaldehyde-adulterated fish, especially in markets located far away from landing centres or production sites. 

     According to Indian and International regulations, the fresh fish and shellfish should be preserved only by means of ice and use of substances other than ice to maintain quality is a fraudulent practice. Union Agriculture Minister said that continuous monitoring of these contaminants in a laboratory is time-consuming and requires expertise but some people use toxic chemicals in the form of contaminated substances. 

     Today's consumer is conscious about the food quality and safety issues and they need rapid, sensitive, and portable screening methods. Taking these aspects into consideration, ICAR-CIFT has developed two rapid detection kits for checking adulteration of fresh fish with formaldehyde and ammonia.

    The kits are handy and consist of simple paper strips, reagent solution, and standard chart for comparing results. Formaldehyde is potential cancer-inducing chemical, which is a major health concern, therefore, its use needs to be curbed. For handling, processing, storage, transportation, and display for sale of fish and fish products only cold chain should be used.

PM pays tributes to Guru Ravidas on his Jayanti

   New Delhi. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Guru Ravidas on the occasion of Guru Ravidas Jayanti. 

   “I bow to Guru Ravidas Ji on his Jayanti. Guru Ravidas Ji was one of the greatest Saints to have been born in our land. He stood for a society that is equal, just and compassionate. 

  His teachings are eternal and are relevant for people of all sections of society. Guru Ravidas Ji ushered in several positive changes in our society. 

  He questioned practices that were archaic and regressive, and inspired people to change with the times. This spirit of inquiry and emphasis on moving with the times makes extremely great. Guru Ravidas Ji had unwavering faith in values of harmony and brotherhood.

    He did not believe in any kind of discrimination. When we work with the motto of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ we are deeply motivated by Guru Ravidas Ji’s emphasis on serving every human, especially the poor. Guru Ravidas Ji dreamt of a time when everybody has enough to eat and every person is happy”, the Prime Minister said.

Agricultural Mechanization Picks up Pace

  New Delhi. Indian Farmers are adapting to farm mechanization at a faster rate in comparison to recent past. 

   This was stated in Economic Survey, 2017-18 tabled by the Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Arun Jaitley in Parliament today. The Economic Survey says that, sale of tractors to a great extent it reflects the level of mechanization. 

     Indian tractor industries have emerged as the largest in the world and account for about one-third of total global tractor production, the Survey adds. According to the World Bank estimates, half of the Indian population would be urban by the year 2050. It is estimated that percentage of agricultural workers in total work force would drop to 25.7% by 2050 from 58.2% in 2001.

    Thus, there is a need to enhance the level of farm mechanization in the country. Due to intensive involvement of labour in different farm operations, the cost of production of many crops is quite high. Human power availability in agriculture also increased from about 0.043KW/ ha in 1960-61 to about 0.077 KW/ ha in 2014-15. 

     However, as compared to tractor growth, increase in human power in agriculture is quite slow. Over the year, the shift has been towards the use of mechanical and electrical sources of power. In 1960-61, about 93% farm power was coming from animate sources, which has reduced to about 10% in 2014-15. On the other hand, mechanical and electrical sources of power have increased from 7% to about 90% during the same period. 

  According to the Economic Survey, there is predominance of small operational holding in Indian Agriculture.It is, therefore, needed to consolidate the land holdings to reap the benefits of agricultural mechanization. 

      There is a need to innovate custom service or a rental model by institutionalization for high cost farm machinery such as combine harvester, Sugarcane harvester, potato combine, paddy transplanter, laser guided land leveler, rotavator etc. to reduce the cost of operation and it can be adopted by private players or State or Central Organization in major production hubs.

Postmen Now New Dress

    New Delhi. The Department of Posts has redesigned the uniform for Postmen (both male and female) and MTS cadre in consultation with National Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi (NIFT). 

    The uniform has been redesigned keeping in view the functionality, comfort and durability. The uniform will provide a strong brand identity of the Department of Posts as it provides for easy identification of postmen staff. 

     The Department enjoys credibility and respect through the field operatives that is the postmen. He is the face of the Department as he delivers letters and parcels to every door. 

    Therefore, it is important that the uniform he wears, which identifies him with the Department should be such that he stands out. Khadi being indigenous to our culture and comfortable in all climatic zones of the country was found suitable for the postmen. As per the recommendation of 7th CPC, the Government has decided to provide Rs. 5,000/- as dress allowance per year. Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) under the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises has agreed to provide dresses for the postmen from its outlets in each district of the country. 

   The Postmen can purchase dresses from outlets of KVIC from the dress allowances provided to them. Minister of Communications Manoj Sinha launched the redesigned uniform for postmen/postwomen and MTS in New Delhi in the august presence of Minister of State (I/C), MSME, Giriraj Singh.The 90,000 postmen/postwomen, Mail Guard, Multi Tasking Staff will get benefitted by the redesigned uniform.

FDI Equity Inflows to the Services Sector Grew by 15.0 Percent

    New Delhi. FDI equity inflows to the services sector grew by 15.0 percent during 2017-18 (April-October). It has been possible because the Government has undertaken a number of reforms to ensure that India remains an increasingly attractive investment destination, which include announcement of National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) policy, implementation of GST, reforms for ease of doing business.

     This was brought about in the Economic Survey 2017-18 tabled by the Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Arun Jaitley in Parliament today. The survey points out that the scale of reforms can be gauged from the fact the during this period, 25 sectors also including services activities and covering 100 areas of FDI policy have undergone reforms.
   FDI policy provisions were radically overhauled across sectors such as construction development, broadcasting, retail trading, air transport, insurance and pension. At present, more than 90 per cent of FDI inflows are through automatic route. After the successful implementation of the e-filing and online processing of FDI application by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), the Government announced to phase out the FIPB in the Union Budget 2017-18. Recently, on 10th January 2018, Union Cabinet approved amendments in FDI policy allowing 100 per cent FDI under automatic route for Single Brand Retail Trading.
    Foreign airlines also have been allowed to invest up to 49 per cent in Air India, the survey adds.The survey further states that though there is ambiguity in the classification of FDI in services, it is the combined FDI share of the top 10 service sectors such as financial and non-financial services falling under the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP)’s service sector definition; as well as telecommunications; trading; computer hardware & software; construction; hotels & tourism; hospital & diagnostic centers; consultancy services; sea transport; and information & broadcasting that can be taken as the best estimate of services FDI. However, these could include some non-service elements.
      The share of these services is 56.6 per cent of the cumulative FDI equity inflows during the period April 2000-October 2017 and 65.8 per cent of FDI equity inflows during 2017-18 (April-October). If the shares of another 5 services or service related sectors like retail trading, agriculture services, education, book, printing and air transport are included, then the total share of FDI equity inflows to the services sector would increase to 58.5 per cent and 69.6 per cent respectively for the above two periods. In 2016-17,
    FDI equity inflows to the services sector (top 10 sectors including construction) declined by 0.9 per cent to US$ 26.4 billion, though the overall FDI equity inflows grew by 8.7 per cent. However, during 2017-18 (April-October), the FDI equity inflows to these services sector grew by 15.0 per cent, as compared to 0.8per cent growth in total FDI equity inflows, mainly due to higher FDI in two sectors i.e. Telecommunications and Computer Software and Hardware.

Bharat Parv: Promotes Rich Cultural Diversity of India

      New Delhi. ‘Bharat Parv’ event being organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India  at the Red Fort, Delhi from 26th to 31st January, 2018 is generating a patriotic mood and  promoting the rich cultural diversity of the country. People in large number are visiting it. 

   The entry to the Parv is free and it open for public from 12.00 Noon to 10.00 pm. However, identity proof is to be carried for entry to the event. Today, The Army, Air Force and Navy presented Static Band and Army also displayed Dynamic Band. 

  The classical singing programme was performed by the artists from Chandigarh. Garba Raas was presented by the artists from Gujarat; Parinay Sutra was performed by the artists from Bihar; Badhai was presented by the artists from Madhya Pradesh; and Sehariyas, Gair and Chakri were performed by the artists of Rajasthan. 

   At last, the artists of North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC) presented a Choreographed performance on Pan India Basis. The Ministry of Tourism has been designated as the nodal Ministry for the event, the highlights of which include Display of Republic Day Parade Tableaux, Performances by the Armed Forces Bands (Static as well as dynamic), a Multi-Cuisine Food Court, Crafts Mela, Cultural Performances from different regions of the country and Photo Exhibition by the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP). 

    The Cultural Performances include choreographed Folk/ Tribal Dances and Music arranged through the North Zonal Cultural Centre as well as performances by cultural troupes from the different States / UTs of the country. The Food Court has stalls set up by the States/ UTs, National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) showcasing street food from different regions as well as by the Institutes of Hotel Managements and ITDC.

  The Crafts Mela with 50 stalls showcases the diverse handicrafts of the country, arranged by the State Governments and Ministry of Textiles through the office of the Development Commissioner of Handicrafts.

    There are Theme State Pavilions where each State is showcasing its strength along with its tourism products. DAVP has set up an exhibition on the theme “Naya Bharat Hum Karke Rahenge”. A live ‘Cookery Demonstration Area’ has been set up in the food court to promote cuisines of different States of India.

Woman power achieved extraordinary feats

     New Delhi. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi said My dear countrymen, Namaskar. This is the first episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ in the year 2018. Just a couple of days ago, we celebrated our Republic Day festival with gaiety fervour. This is the very first time in history that heads of 10 Nations attended the ceremony. 

    The Prime Minister said My dear countrymen, Shriman Prakash Tripathi has written a rather long letter on the Narendra Modi App, urging me to touch upon the subjects he has referred to. He writes, “The 1 st of February is the death anniversary of astronaut Kalpana Chawla. She left us in the Columbia space shuttle mishap, but not without becoming a source of inspiration for millions of young people the world over”. 

    The Prime Minister said I am thankful to Bhai Prakash ji for beginning his long letter with the sad departure of Kalpana Chawla. It’s a matter of sorrow for all of us that we lost Kalpana Chawla at that early age, but her life, her work is a message to young women across the world, especially to those in India, that there are no upper limits for Nari Shakti …. the power of women. If one possesses the will; the determination, a firm resolve to achieve something, nothing is impossible. It’s a matter of joy that women in India are taking rapid strides of advancement in all fields, bringing glory to the Nation.

    The Prime Minister said In our country, respect for women, their status in society and their contribution has proved to be awe inspiring to the entire world, since ancient times. There has been a long tradition of Vidushis… women exponents or women champions. Many Vidushis of India have contributed in composing the verses of the Vedas. Lopamudra, Gargi, Maitreyee…it’s a long list of names. 

    Today, we talk about ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’, ‘save the girl child, educate her’. But centuries ago, it has been mentioned in our ancient texts, in the Skand Puran. The Prime Minister said This means, a daughter is the equivalent of ten sons. The ‘Punya’ that you earn through ten sons amounts to the same earned through just one daughter. This underscores the importance that has been given to women in our society. And that is why, in our society, women have been accorded the status of ‘Shakti’. 

    The Prime Minister said This woman power binds closely together society as a whole, the family as a whole, on the axis of unity & oneness. Be it the erudition of the Vidushis of the Vedic Period. Lopamudra, Gargi, Maitreyee; be it the learning & devotion of Akka Mahadevi or Meerabai, be it the governance of Ahilyabai Holkar or the valour of Rani Lakshmibai, woman power has always inspired us. 

   The Prime Minister said They have always brought glory to the Nation.Shriman Prakash Tripathi has further cited some examples. He writes that the flight of our courageous Defence Minister Nirmala Seetharaman in a Sukhoi 30 fighter plane is inspirational for him. He also refers to INSV Tarini, with an all women crew on board under the command of Vartika Joshi, which is currently circumnavigating the globe. Three braveheart women Bhavna Kanth, Mohana Singh and Avani Chaturvedi have become fighter pilots and are undergoing training on the Sukhoi- 30. An Air India Boeing jet with an all woman crew led by Kshamata Vajpayee flew from Delhi to San Francisco, USA and back. 

    The Prime Minister said These are all women achievers. You are absolutely right. Today women are not just advancing in myriad fields; they are leaders. Today there are many sectors where our woman power is playing a pioneering role, establishing milestones. A few days ago, President took an initiative. He met a group of extraordinary women who have achieved something significanty new in their respective fields. Women achievers of our country… the first female Merchant Navy Captain, the first female passenger train driver, the first female fire fighter, the first female Bus Driver, the first woman to set foot on Antarctica, the first woman to reach Mount Everest… 

     The Prime Minister said ‘First Ladies’ in every field. Our woman power achieved extraordinary feats, breaking the age old shackles of social mores, creating new records. They proved that through perseverance, grit and a firm resolve, all kinds of obstacles and barriers can be broken & crossed, to chart out an all new path… a path that could act as a beacon of inspiration not just to their contemporaries, but for generations to come. It will infuse afresh energy, newer enthusiasm into them.

     The Prime Minister said A book has beencompiled on these women achievers, first ladies, so that, the entire country comes to know about the power of these women and derive inspiration from their life work. This is also available as an e-book on the Narendra Modi Website.The Prime Minister said The country’s woman power has contributed a lot in the positive transformation being witnessed in our country; society these days. Today, as we speak of women empowerment, I would like to refer to a railway station. You must be wondering what a railway station has got to do with women empowerment. Matunga station in Mumbai is the first station in India which is run by an all woman staff. 

    The Prime Minister said All departments have women performing duties… the commercial department, Railway Police, Ticket checking, Announcing, Point persons, it’s a staff comprising over 40 women. This time, after watching the Republic Day Parade, many people wrote on Twitter and other social media that a major highlight of the parade was the BSF biker contingent comprising women participants. Daredevil stunts performed by them was awe inspiring for our foreign guests. 

    The Prime Minister said Empowerment is another form of self reliance. Today our Nari Shakti is assuming leadership roles. It is becoming self reliant. By the way, this also reminds me of tribal women of Chattisgarh, who have done something extraordinary and set a remarkable example. When we refer to Adivasi women, a stereotypical image comes to our minds, comprising jungles, pathways in the woods and women carrying kindlewood on their heads.But the woman power of Chattisgarh, the tribal women there broke this stereotype; presented an all new picture of themselves. Dantewada in Chattisgarh is a Maoist infested region. 

    The Prime Minister said Violence, torture, explosives, guns, pistols… the Maoists have created a scary reign of terror. In this dangerous atmosphere, Adivasi women are becoming self reliant by driving e-rickshaws. In a short span of time, a umber of women have become part of this phenomenon. This has three benefits- on the one hand self-employment has empowered them; on the other, the Maoist infested region is witnessing a transformation. And simultaneously as a consequence, it is strengthening efforts towards protecting the environment. 

     The Prime Minister said I laud the efforts of the District Administration which has played a significant role in the successful endeavour of these women by ensuring availability of grants imparting training to them.The Prime Minister said Time and again we keep hearing people utter ‘There is something special that we as a people possess… no threat is big enough to annihilate our existence’. What is that ‘Special Something’? That ‘Something’ is flexibility, the ability of transformation. Leaving out things that are beyond the constraints of time and accepting betterment in things wherever necessary. And this is a salient feature of our society… relentless efforts towards self-improvement, self correction. We have inherited this Indian tradition as a cultural legacy. 

   The benchmark of any living society is its self correcting mechanism. In our country, there have been unending endeavours against social ills and evil practices, both individually; collectively. Just a while ago, Bihar launched an interesting initiative. In order to uproot social ills in the state, the world’s longest human chain spanning over thirteen thousand kilometers was formed.The Prime Minister said This campaign made people aware of social maladies such as child-marriage and the dowry system. The entire state thus resolved to fight against these social evils. Children, the elderly, the youth full of energy and enthusiasm, women, girls turned out to participate in this battle. 

   The Prime Minister said The human chain that commenced formation from Gandhi Maidan in Patna gained momentum, touching the state borders. In order to ensure that the fruits of progress rightly reach all sections of society, it is imperative that our society is freed of these ills. Come, let us pledge to come together to wipe out these evil customs from our social fabric… The Prime Minister said let us build an empowered, capable New India. I appreciate the people of Bihar, the Chief Minister, the administration, in fact every member of the human chain for this massive, special initiative towards social welfare.

    The Prime Minister said My dear countrymen, Shriman Darshan from Mysore, Karnataka has written on My gov. He was undergoing an expenditure of six thousand rupees a month on medicines alone for the treatment of his father. Earlier, he wasn’t aware of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana. But now that he’s come to know of the Jan Aushadhi Kendra, he has begun purchasing medicines from there and his expenses have been reduced by about 75%. 

    He has expressed his wish that I mention this in ‘Mann Ki Baat’, so that it reaches the maximum number of people and they can benefit from it. Over some time lately, many have written on this subject; many of them have been telling me about it. The Prime Minister said I too have seen videos put up on social media by beneficiaries of this scheme. It is a matter of joy learning about happenings like these. It gives you inner satisfaction. I felt good to see Shriman Darshan ji think about sharing with others what he gained from it. 

    The motive behind this scheme is making healthcare affordable and encouraging Ease of Living. Medicines available at the Jan Aushadhi Centres are 50% to 90% cheaper than branded drugs available in the market. The Prime Minister said This is great help for the common man, especially for senior citizens who require medicines on a daily basis and results in a lot of savings. Generic medicines sold under this scheme strictly conform to prescribed standards set by the World Health Organisation. 

     The Prime Minister said That is why good quality medicines are made available at affordable prices. Today, over three thousand Jan Aushadhi Kendras have been set up across the country. This has led to not only availability of cheaper medicines, but also new employment opportunities for individual entrepreneurs. Affordable medicines are now available at ‘Amrit Stores’ at Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Aushadhi Centres & at hospitals. The sole aim behind this step is ensuring availability of Quality & affordable health service to the poorest of the poor, so that a healthy & prosperous India comes into being.

    The Prime Minister said My dear countrymen, Shri Mangesh from Maharashtra has shared a photo on the Narendra Modi Mobile App. It was such a striking photo that my attention was magnetically drawn towards. The photo showed that a grandson was participating in the Clean Morna River along with his grandfather. I came to know that the citizens of Akola had organized a cleanliness campaign to clean the Morna river under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan The Morna river was a perennial river flowing throughout the twelve months of the year but now it has become seasonal. 

    The Prime Minister said The second painful fact was that the river was completely filled with wild grass and hyacinth. A lot of garbage was being dumped into the river and along its banks. An action plan was chalked out and on January 13 th a day before Makar-Sankranti, in the first phase of Mission Clean Morna sanitation of the two sides of the bank of the Morna river at fourteen places spread over an area of four kilometers, was carried out.

    The Prime Minister said This noble and grand task named Mission Clean Morna involved more than six thousand denizens of Akola, more than 100 NGOs, Colleges, Students, children, the elderly, mothers, sisters, almost everybody participated in this task. On January 20 th, 2018, this Sanitation Campaign continued in the same vein and I’ve been told that this campaign will continue every Saturday morning till the Morna river is completely cleaned. Mission Clean Morna shows that if a person is determined to do something, then nothing is impossible. Huge social reforms can be brought about through mass movements. 

  I congratulate the people of Akola, the district and the municipal corporation’s administration, all the citizens who were associated with this mass movement, I laud your efforts which are not only very much appreciated but this will inspire the other citizens of the country.

    The Prime Minister said My dear countrymen, these days you must be hearing a lot about the Padma Awards. These awards also attract attention innewspapers and television also. But if you scrutinize, then you will be proud of the fact that there many loftier personalities amidst us and you will naturally be proud of the very fact that today the common man is being cited for Padma awards without any recommendations. 

     There was a certain methodology of awarding Padma Awards every year, but this entire process has been changed for the past three years. Now any citizen can nominate any person in our country. Transparency has been brought about in the entire process by making it operable online. In a way, the selection of these awards has been transformed completely. You may have noticed that many ordinary people not visible in big cities, in newspapers or on TV are being awarded with Padma citations. Now the identity of the awardee is not the deciding factor of the award, rather the importance of his work is increasing. 

    You must have heard the name of Arvind Gupta ji. It will gladden your heart to know, that Arvind ji, a student of IIT Kanpur, spent all his life creating toys for children. The Prime Minister said He has been making toys from garbage for over four decades so that children can increase their curiosity towards science.

   The Prime Minister said He has been trying to get children inspired to conduct scientific experiments using waste; towards this end he has been encouraging children by showing them films made in 18 languages in three thousand schools across the country. What a wonderful life, what a dedicated mission! A similar story is that of Sitavaa Jodatti from Karnataka. She has not been hailed as Goddess of women empowerment just for nothing! For the past three decades, in Belagavi, she has made a great contribution towards changing the lives of countless women. 

   The Prime Minister said At the age of seven she had dedicated herself as a Devadasi but in a turnaround, for the welfare of the Devdasis, she has spent her entire life. Not only this, she has done unprecedented work for the welfare of Dalit women too. You must have heard the name of Bhajju Shyam of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Bhajju Shyam was born in a very poor tribal family. He was employed in a small job for eking out his living, but he was also fond of painting in the traditional tribal art form. Today, due to this hobby, he garnered respect not only in India but the entire world. 

    The Prime Minister said He has exhibited his paintings in many countries like Netherlands, Germany, England and Italy. The talent of Bhajju Shyam ji, who made India proud in many nations abroad, was also recognized and he was awarded the Padma Shri.The Prime Minister said You will be pleasantly surprised listening to the story of Keralas tribal lady Lakshmikutti. Laxmikutty is a teacher in Kallar and still resides in a hut made of palm leaves in a tribal tract amidst dense forests. The Prime Minister said She has created five hundred herbal medicines relying solely on her memory. She has mastery in synthesizing medicines used for treatment of snake bites. Lakshmi Ji is continuously serving society with her knowledge of herbal medicines. Identifying her anonymous persona, she has been honoured with the Padma Shri for her contribution to society. 

     The Prime Minister said I would like to mention another name today, that of 75 year old Subhasini Mistri, hailing from West Bengal, who was selected for the award. Subhasini Mistri is a woman who, in order to construct a hospital, cleaned utensils in the homes of others and also sold vegetables.

    The Prime Minister said At the age of 23 she lost her husband due to lack of proper treatment, and this incident inspired her to build a hospital for the poor. Today, thousands of poor people are treated free of cost in this hospital that has come up through hard-work. I am convinced that there are many men and women in our land filled with gems, Bahuratna-Vasundhara, many gifted women and men who remain faceless or unknown.The failure to identify such people is also a loss to the society, the Padma awards are only a medium of acknowledgement, but I would also like to tell the countrymen that people serving the society around us, people giving up all that they have got for the sake of society, millions of people who have worked for a life time for us bestowed with one or the other useful attribute should be acknowledged in our midst. They do not labour for any honor, but their work inspires us. 

     The Prime Minister said These people should be invited to schools and colleges to share their experiences. Beyond awards, there should be some more efforts from our society in acknowledging their contribution.The Prime Minister said My dear countrymen, we celebrate Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on January 9 th every year. It was on the 9 th of January, when our revered Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa. On this day, we celebrate the unbreakable bond that exists between Indians in India and Indians living around the globe. 

    This year we organized a program on Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, where all MPs and Mayors of Indian origin were invited. You will be pleased to know that in this programme, Malaysia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Portugal, Mauritius, Fiji, Tanzania, Kenya, Canada, Britain, Surinam, South Africa and America, and many other countries wherever our Mayors or MPs of Indian Origin exist, all of them participated. I am happy that the people of Indian origin who live in different countries continue to serve those countries and at the same time they have maintained their strong relationship with India as well. 

   The Prime Minister said This time, the European Union, has sent me a calendar, in which they have displayed the contributions by Indians in various fields of life living in different countries of Europe; whether working in the field of cyber security, or dedicated to Ayurveda, entertaining the society through music, or through poetry; someone researching on climate change or working on ancient Indian texts, someone driving a truck for livelihood, who went on to construct a Gurudwara or has built a mosque – wherever our people are, they have in their own way embellished or adorned the land of their adoption. 

     The Prime Minister said I would thus like to thank the European Union, for recognizing the people of Indian origin and through them in making people in India and people the world over aware of their exemplary work.

     The Prime Minister said The 30 th of January is the death anniversary of our revered Bapu, who showed us a new path. On that day we also observe martyrs day in solemn memory of the great martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the defense of the country and pay our homage at 11 in the morning. The path of peace and non-violence, is the path of Bapu and this is applicable not only for India or the world, but also for a person or a family or a society. 

      The Prime Minister said The ideals which Bapu practiced in his life, things that he imparted are relevant even today. They were not just mere theories. At present we witness at every step how accurate Bapus words were. What can be a bigger tribute than taking a vow that we shall tread the path of Bapu - and walk, as far as possible?

NCC camps teach every youngster

     New Delhi. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today addressed the NCC rally in New Delhi. He said every young NCC Cadet came to this gathering with his or her own personality and identity.But, he added, that over the course of a month, new friendships would have been forged, and a lot would have been learnt from each other. 

     NCC camps teach every youngster about the different cultures of India, he said. They motivate every youngster to do something good for the nation, he added. 

   The Prime Minister said that this spirit that has been learnt in NCC camps will remain with the Cadets for life. He said that the National Cadet Corps is not about uniform or uniformity, it is about unity. Through NCC we nurture teams that work in mission mode and inspire others, he added. 

     The Prime Minister said that the NCC has completed seven glorious decades, and has given a sense of mission to several people. Today we celebrate what we have achieved and also think about how we can make the NCC experience even more effective in the years to come, the Prime Minister said. He urged all stakeholders to think about the plan of action of the next 5 years, when NCC turns 75. Narendra Modi asserted that the youth of India now refuse to accept corruption. 

    He asserted that the fight against corruption and black money will not stop. He added that this is a fight for the future of India's youth. The Prime Minister appealed to the Cadets to promote digital transactions through the BHIM App, and to motivate others to join that platform. He said that this a step towards transparency and accountability. Once the youth of India decide something, everything is possible, he added. 

     The Prime Minister said that earlier, people believed that nothing happens to the rich and powerful. But, he added that things are different today. People who served as Chief Ministers are in jail for their corruption, he asserted. Speaking on Aadhaar, he said it has added great strength to India's development. What would earlier get into wrong hands is now going to the intended beneficiaries, he added.

Foundation stone laid in Uttar Pradesh worth Rs 6517 crores

    Ghazipur. The Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stone for / inaugurated seven national highways projects worth Rs 6517 crores for a total length of 246 km in Uttar Pradesh today.

    In Maharajganj Gadkari dedicated to the people the newly widened and strengthened  26.9 km long Urka – Ramnagar section and 33 km long Siswa Babu to Kaptanganj section of NH 730. The work for the former section was done at a cost of Rs 146.39 crores and for the latter at a cost of Rs 222.49 crore. 

      The Minister also laid the foundation stone for widening and strengthening 21.12km long Ramnagar- Siswa Babu section of NH 730 at a cost of Rs 193 crores. In Ghazipur Gadkari laid the foundation stone for widening and strengthening of 65.38 km long Ghazipur-Mau section of NH 29 at a cost of Rs 3580 crore, Hridaypur –Tikri Buzurg section of NH 97 and 56.2 km long Ghazipur-Jamania-Sayyadraja section of national highways. 

    In addition to this, the Minister also laid the foundation stone for an Intermodal Terminal on National Waterways –I (River Ganga) at Ghazipur. This terminal is being constructed as part of the World Bank aided Jal Marg Vikas project and will provide intermodal transportation facility for cargo. The terminal will link the NW-I with NH – 31 that is only 650 metres away. 

    The terminal will thus be very important for efficient movement of large and small cargo by providing the options for both land and water transportation or the option for intermodal switching. It will have facilities like berths, storage areas and sheds, terminal building, communications systems and electrical substation. 

    It will have a handling capacity of 12 lac tonnes per annum. In Deoria Gadkari laid the foundation stone for widening of 15 km long Deoria Byepass section of NH 727 A at a cost of Rs 600 crore and 27.75 km long Kaptanganj-Padrauna section of NH 730 at a cost of Rs 275 crore. Gadkari will also review the progress of highways projects in Uttar Pradesh with the state Chief Minister in Lucknow later today.

Several decisions taken to ease business

     Davos. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh has said that over the last three years, the Government led by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a number of decisions to "ease doing of business".

   As a result of this, India has began to attract investors from all over, who are willing to set up ventures even in the hitherto lesser preferred regions like the North Eastern part of country. In other words, Dr Jitendra Singh said, India, including the Northeast, is fast emerging as a preferred destination for business and entrepreneurship. 

  Speaking at a "Luncheon Round-table" meet on the topic "Sustainable Production through Fourth Industrial Revolution Innovations" in Davos, Switzerland yesterday, Dr Jitendra Singh allayed the fears expressed by some of the participants about excessive regulatory controls exercised by certain governments across the world and said, that in the last over three years, the Government of India has made a conscious effort to bring in ease of business through relaxation of avoidable regulations. 

     He said, within a short span of 3 to 4 years, the Government has done away with nearly 1,500 such rules and regulations which had become obsolete and irrelevant in this age. Expressing his views on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robots to promote production and business in the times to come, Dr Jitendra Singh said, while these technological advances can prove an asset by contributing to sustainable development, the challenge, however, would be to ensure that human intelligence does not end up becoming a slave of Artificial Intelligence. 

     He said, since this is the first generation faced with this new phenomenon, it might take another one or two generations to actually evolve a mechanism of healthy synergy between the Human Intelligence and the Artificial Intelligence. The most ideal situation would be when the human and the artificial components supplement each other's resources to accomplish Fourth Industrial Revolution Innovations, he said. 

     Dr Jitendra Singh said, while the international markers indicate that the year 2020 will be a milestone for evaluating progress towards the 2030 agenda, in India, an important milestone would be 2022, the year which marks the completion of 75 years of Independence. Several of the Government's recent initiatives have been targeted to meet their end point by 2022, following which the further journey would be to boost competitiveness and aim at targets beyond.

     Dr Jitendra Singh also referred to the steps taken recently by India to resort to alternative sources of energy with the twin-objective of meeting the growing energy needs of India and at the same time, taking cognizance of the environmental factors. In this regard, he said, when, for example, over 50% of global Greenhouse Gas emissions result from the cradle-to-factory journey of goods, India has already geared itself to astounding levels of innovation in all spheres. In addition, 

     Dr Jitendra Singh also referred to new opportunities for public-private collaboration being facilitated by the Government with least intimidation or interference from the Government. This would also serve as an incentive for small and medium enterprises to stay relevant in future scenario changes, he added.

PM’s Shram Award announced 50 workers to be conferred with Shram Awards

    New Delhi. The Government of India today announced the Prime Minister’s Shram Awards for the year 2016 to be awarded to 50 workers employed in the Departmental undertakings and PSU’s of the Central and State Governments and Private Sector units employing 500 or more workers. 

  Although, the total number of Shram Awards conferred this year are 32 but the number of workers receiving the Awards are 50 including 3 women. 34 workers from Public Sector and 16 workers from Private Sectors have won the Awards. 

     Shram Awards are given in four categories namely ‘Shram Ratna Award’, ‘Shram Bhushan Award’, ‘Shram Vir/Shram Virangana’ and ‘Shram Shree/Shram Devi Awards’. 

   This year no nomination was found suitable for the prestigious ‘Shram Ratna Award’. 12 workers from SAIL, BHEL and TATA Steel Ltd. have been awarded ‘Shram Bhushan’ which carries cash award of Rs. 1,00,000 and a Sanad. 18 workers from Naval Dockyard, Ordinance Factory, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam, TATA Steel, Hindalco Industries, Paradeep Phosphates Ltd., Brahmos Aerospace will receive Rs. 60,000 and a ‘Sanad’ as Shram Vir/Shram Veerangana Award. 20 workers will receive a cash award of Rs. 40, 000 and a ‘Sanad’ as Shram Shree/Shram Devi Award from Cement Corporation of India, Naval Ship Repair Yard, TATA Motors, Surat Lignite Power Plant, Larsen & Toubro Ltd. etc. 

    Ministry of Labour and Employment announces Prime Minister’s Shram Award every year.These awards are given to the workers in the Public Sector Undertakings, Departmental Undertakings of the Central and the State Governments and Private Sector units employing 500 or more workers in recognition of their distinguished performance, innovative ability, outstanding contribution in the field of productivity and exhibition of exceptional courage and presence of mind.

We need rigorous empirical research to make good, people-centric policies

     New Delhi. The Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that we need rigorous empirical research to make good, people-centric policies. 

  He was addressing the gathering after releasing the book ‘Staniya Svasasan Mei Addhi Aabadhi’ authored by Dr. Sadhana Pandey, in New Delhi today. 

 The Vice President quoted a report based on a sample survey of women representatives elected to the position of Sarpanch in gram panchayats: The Vice President said Most of women elected to these positions are in the age group pf 26-36 years, married, living in nuclear families, completed secondary school and are from middle income category.

     The Vice President said All women across all age and income groups have highlighted education as the most important factor for women’s advancement in all fields including politics.The Vice President said The younger generation was much more aware of the need to focus on development issues like health, environment, planned motherhood and economic independence.

    The Vice President said The younger generation showed a greater open-ness to modernity but at the same time were not willing to completely do away with the past. Most of the women still accepted that the society continues to be dominated by men. Most women recognized the importance of radio and television in enhancing awareness but also felt some films to be inappropriate for younger audiences. 

    The Vice President said There was a very clear awareness of the new possibilities for women to grow along with men. There was a general feeling that more should be done for rural areas by both the officials and the political executive. The Vice President said that it is an empirical study that captures the voices of the rural women who are occupying positions of authority at the local level. 

    He further said that It can help the policy makers to understand the perspectives of women representatives and address the key issues of education, health, nutrition, information sharing, economic independence and empowerment.The Vice President commended the author on this valuable effort and hope that she and other researchers will do similar surveys in other parts of India.

India Greatly Values Asean’s Role as a Proponent of Peace

     New Delhi. The President of India Ram Nath Kovind, received the ASEAN Heads of State and Government at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (January 25, 2018) and hosted a lunch in their honour. Speaking on the occasion, the President said that India-ASEAN relations have come a long way since we established our Dialogue Partnership with ASEAN on January 28, 1992. Today, 

    ASEAN is a Strategic Partner for India. We have 30 dialogue mechanisms between India and ASEAN, including Annual Summits and 7 Ministerial Meetings in a wide range of sectors. 

   The President said that India’s “Act East policy” reinforces our ancient links with Southeast Asia through enhanced political, security, economic and cultural ties. In this context, India greatly values ASEAN’s role as a proponent of peace, stability and prosperity in the region. 

 We iterate our support to ASEAN’s unity and centrality. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with ASEAN in pursuit of a rules-based regional architecture that is open, inclusive, balanced and equitable.

   The President said that India and ASEAN are bound by history and by geography. Culture, commerce and connectivity – and ideas and thought - have woven us together in one common fabric. Our partnership is based on our shared heritage and is built on the foundation of strong people-to-people contacts, nurtured through the millennia.The theme of the Commemorative Summit, “Shared Values, Common Destiny”, is reflective of our desire to work for a shared future.

     The 10 ASEAN Heads of State and Government who visited the Rashtrapati Bhavan today are Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah of Brunei; President Joko Widodo of Indonesia; President Rodrigo Roa Duterte of Philippines; Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia; Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore; Prime Minister Dato’Md. Najib Bin Tun Abdul Razak of Malaysia; Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha of Thailand; State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar; Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc of Vietnam; and Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith of Lao PDR. These leaders are in India to attend the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit. 

     They will be Guests of Honour at India’s 69th Republic Day celebrations on January 26.

BHARAT PARV being organized from 26th to 31st January, 2018 at Red Fort

     New Delhi. The ‘Bharat Parv’ event is being organized by the Government of India at the Red Fort, Delhi from 26th to 31st January, 2018 as part of the Republic Day 2018 celebrations. 

    The prime objective of organizing the event is to generate a patriotic mood, promote the rich cultural diversity of the country and to ensure wider participation of the general public.

  The Ministry of Tourism has been designated as the nodal Ministry for the event, the highlights of which include Display of Republic Day Parade Tableaux, Performances by the Armed Forces Bands (Static as well as dynamic), a Multi-Cuisine Food Court, Craft Mela, Cultural Performances from different regions of the country and Photo Exhibition by the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP). 

    The Cultural Performances include choreographed Fork/ Tribal Dances and Music arranged through the North Zonal Cultural Centre as well as performances by cultural troupes from the different States / UTs of the country. The Food Court will have stalls set up by the States/ UTs, National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) showcasing street food from different regions as well as by the Institutes of Hotel Managements and ITDC. 

    The Craft Mela with 50 stalls will showcase the diverse handicrafts of the country, arranged by the State Governments and Ministry of Textiles through the office of the Development Commissioner of Handicrafts. 

 There will be Theme State Pavilions where each State would showcase their strengths along with tourism products. DAVP is also setting up an exhibition on the theme “Naya Bharat Hum Karke Rahenge”. A live ‘Cookery Demonstration Area’ is being set up in the food court to promote cuisines of different States of India.

     The Bharat Parv event will be inaugurated at 5.00 pm on 26th January, 2018 and would be open for public till 10.00 pm. From 27th to 31st January, 2018, the event will be open from 12 Noon to 10.00 pm. The event is open for public and entry is free. However, identity proof is to be carried for entry to the event.

World today looking for ‘global’ roadmap

    Davos. The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the world is looking for a new “global” roadmap with uniform parameters, in spite of the diversity and heterogeneity. 

   He was speaking at a panel discussion on “From Fragile Cities to Renewal” at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on January 23, 2018. 

     He said that it might not be possible to easily visualise the local perspective in different countries because of their diverse characteristics. For example, the population of Switzerland is only 8 million which is less than the population of Delhi, but nevertheless, with an accountable government and citizen participation, maximum problems arising in a growing world could be addressed. Other panellists included Mr David Cameron former Prime Minister of United Kingdom and Mr Berset, President of Switzerland. 

    Dr Jitendra Singh further said that more than 239 cities in the world were classified as “fragile” due to pollution, conflict, terrorism, unemployment and lack of electricity, besides other factors. What was needed, he said, was to upgrade the urban space and offer better facilities to the population. When asked to narrate his experience of fragile cities in the context of insurgency in the North Eastern region of India, 

   Dr Jitendra Singh said, in the last three and half years of the Modi Government, a lot of stability in the region has been established. He asserted that insurgency and “fragility” also have a correlation with lack of development and ineffective political leadership. 

     He said, corruption not only leads to loss of moral authority of the State leadership but also causes a huge pilferage of the State exchequer, which would otherwise be gainfully utilized to address the fragility. 

    Dr Jitendra Singh added that with the growing aspirations among the youth, which is a welcome development, there will always be a certain amount of fragility noticeable even in the most ideal situations because fragility itself is a relative term and what was fragile yesterday may not be fragile today, and what is fragile today may not fragile tomorrow.

Foundation Stone laid for Rs.3618 crore Doubling with Electrification projects in Kanniyakumari

      Nagercoil. Union Minister of State of Railways Rajen Gohain laid the foundation stone for Rs.3618 crore Doubling with Electrification projects covering 349 kms in Kanniyakumari-Nagercoil-Thiruvananthapuram section at a function held in Nagercoil Junction Railway station on 23rd of January, 2018. 

  Besides laying the foundation stone for three infrastructural projects, Rajen Gohain inaugurated/dedicated Escalator facility, Wi-Fi services and 100% LED lighting facilities at Nagercoil Junction Railway station. 

   Union Minister of State for Finance and Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan, Minister for Information & Publicity, Government of Tamilnadu Kadambur Raju, Member of Parliament A. Vijayakumar participated and graced the occasion. Union Minister of State of Railways Rajen Gohain, while addressing the gathering stated that Indian Railways is taking continued efforts to enhance facilities for passengers. 

   He said that more customer-oriented facilities are being implemented. He lauded Southern Railways’ efforts to implement 100% LED at all stations and praised Southern Railways’ initiatives to eliminate Level Crossings thus ensuring safety of rail users. The minister added that the Outlay for Tamilnadu this fiscal year 2017-18 is Rs.2287 crores, which is an increase of about 160% over the financial years from 2009-10 to 2016-17 and the increase in the outlay for Passenger amenities from Rs.33 crore in the fiscal 2016-17 to Rs.38 crore in 2017-18. 

    The minister, on a concluding note stated that he was delighted to visit Kanniyakumari which has seen the footprints of Swami Vivekananda. Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of State for Finance and Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan, expressed his happiness about the sanction accorded by Central Government for the entire Kanniyakumari – Thiruvananthapuram Rs. 4000 crore Rail development project.

     He added that he is thankful to Prime Minister of India and Union Railway Minister in this regard.He said the joint efforts of the Centre and state Governments will bring revolutionary changes in Kanniyakumari Region.General Manager, Southern Railway R. K. Kulshrestha, welcomed the dignitaries and addressed the gathering. DRM, Trivandrum, Prakash Bhutani, DRM, Madurai, Ms. Neenu Ittyerah, Principal Head of Departments, Officers and staff of Southern Railway participated in the function.

3 million cases of cancer In India

     Mumbai. The Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu has asked the medical researchers to come up with path breaking advances in the prevention and treatment of cancer. He was addressing the Graduation Ceremony at Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai today. The Governor of Maharashtra Ch. Vidyasagar Rao and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

  The Vice President said that researchers must explore ancient Indian medical systems like Ayurveda for alternative solutions. We should see if there are some indigenous cost-effective solutions that may be useful to make cancer treatment more affordable, he added. 

  The Vice President said that Cancer is a major public health concern in India and has become one of the 10 leading causes of deaths. He further said that Cancer is one of the dreaded diseases and also a very costly disease in terms of treatment. A better understanding of the likely causes and early detection could help reduce the disease burden in our country, he added. 

    The Vice President asked doctors and students in the medical profession to create awareness on the need to observe personal hygiene and maintain sanitation. Lack of personal hygiene causes infections like HPV, which in turn has the potential to cause cancer of the cervix, he added. The Vice President said that regarding treatment of cancer patients, there is a need to operate more number of palliative care centres or hospices. Such centres are needed to provide relief from pain and emotional distress to suffering patients, he added. 

     The Vice President has appealed government, media and doctors to promote measures that prevent cancer. He also said that there is further need to educate people about available treatment options. The Vice President said that the screening of people will help in early detection of cancer. He also wanted the people to go back to roots, especially the way we live and the way we think. He said awareness must be created, particularly, among youngsters, on the need to lead healthy lifestyles and avoid consumption of junk food. 

   The Vice President said that Yoga training should be imparted to students as part of ensuring healthy lifestyles. Yoga is a holistic approach to healthy living and there is evidence that it enhances the well being and quality of life, he added.The Vice President said “I am happy to be with all of you at the graduation ceremony in which the students of the Tata Memorial Centre are being awarded various degrees.

     The Vice President said It is a day of celebration and an important day in the life of this illustrious institution that was founded almost eighty years ago. It is a memorable day in the life of the students and teachers as they complete an important milestone in the sacred mission of transmission of knowledge and skills. It is a joyous occasion for the parents of the students as they see their wards move on successfully in their educational journey.

    The Vice President said This institution has a long and impressive track record of serving the suffering humanity.Cancer is a major public health concern in India and has become one of the ten leading causes of deaths.The Vice President said In India, it is estimated that there are about 3 million cases of cancer at any particular point of time with 10 lakh new cases occurring every year. About 5 lakh deaths occur annually in the country due to cancer in India.The Vice President said Nearly two-thirds of the patients present themselves in advanced stages that are not amenable to cure. Nearly half of them die within a year of diagnosis.

    The Vice President said Fortunately, nearly two-thirds of the cancers are completely preventable and amenable to early detection. Greater awareness and early detection are therefore very critical for reducing the incidence of cancer.The Vice President said I am pleased to learn that Tata Memorial Centre, a Constituent Institute of Homi Bhabha National Institute (Deemed to be University), which offers super-specialty and PG courses, trains the largest Human Resource for the management of Cancers in India including training of Sub-Saharan African doctors, Nurses and Doctors from Myanmar, Bangladesh and other countries.

    The Vice President said I commend TMC for providing its technical know-how for setting up cancer hospitals and cancer wings at Government Medical Colleges and other Centers. I am told that TMC under Department of Atomic Energy has started setting up new Cancer Care Centres at Mohali, Punjab, Banaras Hindu Campus, Varanasi, Railway Cancer Hospital, Varanasi,Cancer Hospital, Vishakhapatnam and Booraha Cancer Institute, Guwahati, Assam.

   The Vice President said I am also delighted to learn that Tata Memorial Hospital has launched a new programme called "Navigation Program for Patient Care - KEVAT". For the first time in India, Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) has introduced a new specialty in Healthcare. In collaboration with Tata Institute of Social Sciences and support from Tata Trust, a  one year (full time) Advanced Diploma in Patient Navigation(KEVAT) is being offered. I think this is a step in the right direction. Very often, patients and their families don’t understand diagnoses, are not aware of various treatment options and available resources. 

  This course will create a specialized workforce of trained professionals to help patients manage their medical experience. It will assist all sections of society, particularly vulnerable populations, to overcome barriers to health care access.The Vice President said By assisting patients with navigating through complicated and multi-step health care system, the doctors will earn the much-needed trust and goodwill.

      The Vice President said Cancer is one of the dreaded diseases and also a very costly disease in terms of treatment. A better understanding of the likely causes and early detection could help reduce the disease burden in our country. According to projections made by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in 2016, the total number of new cases is expected to touch 17.3 lakh by 2020. It has been estimated that the number of deaths due to cancer is likely to reach 8.8 lakh cases by 2020. The data also showed that only 12.5 per cent of patients come for treatment in the early stages of the disease. Breast cancer was the most common among women, while the incidence of mouth cancer was highest among men. 

   The burden of cancer is expected to further increase due to increase in life expectancy, lifestyle factors, unhealthy dietary habits, growing usage of carcinogenic substances such as tobacco, betel nut and alcohol. Infection with certain virus and obesity are directly attributable to cancers of cervix and breast respectively. 

   The Vice President said In Maharashtra, the leading sites of cancer in men are the cancers of the mouth, throat, lungs, esophagus (food pipe). These cancers are related to use of tobacco, supari and alcohol. Making lifestyle changes by avoiding the cancer-inducing substances can reduce the incidence of these cancers.

   The Vice President said In women, the commonest are cancers of cervix, breast and oral cavity. Cervix cancers can be eliminated by providing basic amenities to women such as running water and privacy of a toilet. Awareness has to be created on the need to observe personal hygiene and maintain sanitation. Lack of personal hygiene causes infections like HPV, which in turn has the potential to cause cancer of the cervix.

     The Vice President said Breast cancer can be controlled by measures for obesity control. Simple interventions such as Visual Examination of Cervix by health worker and regular breast self examination have proven to be beneficial for early detection.

    The Vice President said With non-communicable diseases on the rise, concerted action is need from all stakeholders, including health professionals on creating awareness among the people, particularly youngsters, on the need to lead healthy lifestyles and avoid consumption of junk food, alcohol and tobacco.

   The Vice President said According to Factsheet of Global Adult Tobacco Survey, India 2016-17 (GATS-2), 19.0 per cent of men, 12.8 per cent of women and 21.4 per cent of all adults smoke tobacco; 42. 4 per cent of men, 14.2 per cent of women and 28.6 per cent of all adults either smoke tobacco and/ or use smokeless tobacco.

    The Vice President said Right from school days, Yoga training should be imparted to students as part of ensuring healthy lifestyles. I would like to emphasize that Yoga is a holistic approach to healthy living and there is evidence that it enhances the well being and quality of life.

    The Vice President said As regards treatment of cancer patients, there is a need to operate more number of palliative care centres or hospices. Such centres are needed to provide relief from pain and emotional distress to suffering patients.

    The Vice President said I am glad that Tata Memorial Centre with its mission of “service, education & research”, is one of the largest tertiary cancer centres in India and is serving the needs of a large population with a record of 65,000 new cases registered and five to six lakh cases coming for follow-up at Tata Memorial Hospital.

University to promote quality higher education

  Baroda. The President of India Ram Nath Kovind, graced and addressed the 66th convocation of the Maharaja Sayajirao University in Baroda today.

  Speaking on the occasion, the President said that Maharaja Sayajirao Gaikwad had envisaged this University to promote quality higher education in the region. 

  He had supported and encouraged talented people from underprivileged sections of society, including Dr B.R. Ambedkar. At the time there were very few people with such an expansive vision.

  The President appreciated Maharaja Sayajirao University for institutionalising fellowships for students from economically weaker sections. Contributions of students of this University towards development of those from a deprived and underprivileged background would be consistent with the ideals of Sayajirao.

    Later in the day, the President graced the 150th anniversary of Akshar Deri at Gondal. Speaking on the occasion, The President noted that the Swaminarayan Sanstha is engaged in providing assistance to spread education among weaker sections. Similarly, it is providing health services for the welfare of people. He praised the humanitarian work of the Swaminarayan Sanstha.

Business houses must supplement Government's efforts to achieve equitable growth

     Bengaluru. The Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu has asked builders and contractors to take part in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities in a big way, adding that Government efforts to build an equitable society must be supplemented by Private Industries through CSR. 

   He was addressing the All India Builders’ Convention in Bengaluru today. Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala, Lok Sabha MP PC Mohan and others were present on the occasion. “The efforts of the Government to build an inclusive and equitable society must be supplemented by Private Industries. Organization like yours can play a key, constructive role in eradicating poverty, illiteracy, improving livelihoods and in making this planet a better place to live through environment-friendly measures,” he said. 

  The Vice President said that CSR is not mere charity or philanthropy but a responsibility towards making a difference to the lives of people. There is a huge scope to launch CSR initiative in different areas, including healthcare, education and environment. One important area is vocational training to improve skills and employability of the needy and poor, he said. 

   The Vice President said that builders have a big role to play in developing the country’s Infrastructure, especially the Smart Cities project. “You are the valuable partners in building the Infrastructure of New India and work with the Government in the massive push to improve Infrastructure in the Railways and Roads Development and in boosting the Regional Connectivity through 50 new Airports,” he said.

   The Vice President further said that Flagship Schemes of Housing for All and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation will provide a huge thrust to Housing and Infrastructure growth in the country.

Exporters must focus on new markets

     Chennai. The Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu has asked India’s exporters to focus on new markets and new products including sunrise products which show higher growth in global trade including electric, electronic, Tele-communication equipment. 

    He was addressing the gathering after conferring FIEO Exports Excellence Awards 2018 in Chennai today. With the focus on creating state-of-the-art sea ports, airports and super highways to connect manufacturing centres to ports with best supporting ecosystem, the exports should pick up faster and maintain a steady growth, he said. 

   The Vice President said that Government is giving greater thrust on development of infrastructure, agriculture sector and health sector. These efforts will certainly help Indian economy grow further. The “Make in India” initiative to support India’s Manufacturing sector together with a focus on infrastructure growth and multiple initiatives for boosting domestic demand will further strengthen our economy, he said.

      The Vice President further said that the decisions of the Government including demonetization and GST are expected to have a positive impact in the coming years. I am aware of the initial difficulties that the exporters have been facing due to these steps. However, I am sure that the GST Council and the Government have been quite responsive to such teething troubles and have been taking prompt action to address these concerns,” he said.

Now $ 350 million Solar Development Fund

     New Delhi. India has one of the fastest growing Renewable Energy programmes in the World and would achieve 175 GW target of installed Renewable Energy capacity well before 2020: On receipt of 15 ratifications, the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement entered into force on the 6th December, 2017 thereby making ISA a de jure treaty based international intergovernmental organisation. So far 19 countries have ratified and 48 countries have signed the ISA Framework Agreement.

  In one of its first outreach programmes post-ratification, the ISA hosted a two Day Event ‘International Solar Alliance Forum’ during 17-18th January, 2018 at the Future World Energy Summit (WFES) 2018. WFES is a signature event of a global initiative, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, hosted by Masdar scheduled during 15-18th January, 2018 at Abu Dhabi (UAE). 

 During the ISA event an ISA Pavilion was also set up for dissemination of information about ISA and its activities and programmes. On the first day of the ISA Forum, 17th January, 2018 the Ministerial Plenary of ISA Energy Ministers was held. The ISA Ministerial was attended by seven Energy Ministers of ISA Member countries. They presented their views on benefits of collaboration, synergies, and knowledge sharing at the international level to scale up solar energy for universal energy access and investing in Innovations, Technology and R&D for solar projects followed by breakout sessions. 

   Delivering the keynote address on the occasion, Shri Raj Kumar Singh, Minister of State (IC) for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Government of India congratulated ISA for organising the ISA Forum as its first overseas outreach activity. He stated that over the years the Renewable Energy has become cheaper and is set to replace conventional energy, which is a healthy development, and added that India has one of the fastest growing Renewable Energy programmes in the World and the country would achieve its target of 175 GW of installed Renewable Energy capacity well before 2020. 

     The Minister said that that ISA shall help mobilize sufficient funds for solar energy projects. During his address, Shri Singh announced setting up of a $ 350 million solar development fund by the Government of India for solar projects financing. While formally opening the Ministerial session and welcoming the participants,i Upendra Tripathy, Interim Director General of ISA informed about exchange of LoIs / MoUs of nine solar related projects which various company and bankers signed early in the day. He further stated that ISA shall stand for translating ‘Action into Transaction’. He also informed that over 100 projects shall be signed by April 2018 under ISA umbrella.

    He also thanked member countries and various stakeholders making ISA a reality in a short time. He further informed about and extended invitation for the 2nd RE-INVEST meet to be held in partnership with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India during 19-21th April, 2018. 

   The Ministerial Plenary was followed by three technical panel discussions:  ISA a Trillion Dollar Opportunity; Networking of R&D Institutions in ISA Countries for Solar Innovation, Incubation & Start-Ups; and Best Practices for Solar Capacity Building in ISA Countries. 

    These sessions were attended by Energy Ministers, policymakers, Multilateral Banks & Finance Institutions, R&D Institutions & Innovators, solar project developers and manufacturers, investors and other stakeholders.At the end of the ISA Ministerial session, the YES Bank committed financing solar projects of over $5 Billion. M/s CLP and M/s NTPC Limited announced forging partnership deal with ISA and committed to make voluntary contribution of $1 million each to ISA fund corpus. IEA and GCF also announced entering into partnership with ISA. Being an action-oriented organisation, ISA promotes actual on ground rolling out of solar projects. 

   Therefore, during first half of the day nine companies exchanged LoIs/MoUs for solar related projects in the ISA Pavilion. The companies are: Vyonarc Development Ltd., Greenko Solar, Gensol Group and SOLARIG from Spain, Shakti Pump, Refex Energy, Amplus Solar, TATA Power, Jackson Solar and Zodiac Energy. 

    About ISA : The Paris Declaration establishes ISA as an alliance dedicated to the promotion of solar energy among its member countries. The ISA’s major objectives include global deployment of over 1,000GW of solar generation capacity and mobilisation of investment of over US$ 1000 billion into solar energy by 2030. 

   As an action-oriented organisation, the ISA brings together countries with rich solar potential to aggregate global demand, thereby reducing prices through bulk purchase, facilitating the deployment of existing solar technologies at scale, and promoting collaborative solar R&D and capacity building. When the ISA Framework Agreement entered into force on December 6th, 2017, ISA formally became a de-jure treaty based International Intergovernmental Organization, headquartered at Gurugram, India.

    As of now the ISA Framework Agreement has been signed by 48 countries, with 19 of them also depositing the instruments of ratification with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. For further details please visit ISA website http://isolaralliance.org.