Source: Reserve Bank of India
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On a review of the current and evolving liquidity conditions, it has been decided to conduct a second Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction on October 18, 2024, Friday, as under:
2. The operational guidelines for the auction as given in the Reserve Bank’s Press Release 2019-2020/1947 dated February 13, 2020 will remain the same. (Puneet Pancholy) Press Release: 2024-2025/1331 |
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christine Carson, Senior Research Fellow, School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia
Do you wash your hands every time you use the toilet? How about before you handle food? Be honest.
Australia’s Food Safety Information Council has released its latest report card on the country’s hand washing habits. It found 19% of Australians don’t wash their hands every time they use the toilet. Close to half (42%) admit they don’t always wash hands before handling food.
So who’s doing well when it comes to hand hygiene, who’s not – and why does it matter?
The new report surveyed hand washing practices of 1,229 people. Results were consistent with what we’ve learned from similar surveys.
Once again, women do better than men at washing their hands after using the toilet, although only slightly (80% of men say they do every time, versus 83% of women). Just 55% of men wash their hands before touching food, compared to 62% of women.
Age also seemed to make a difference. Under 34 years old, 69% of people washed their hands every time they used the toilet. Over age 65, that jumped to 86%.
Although some of these differences aren’t completely unexpected – such as the gap between men’s and women’s hand washing habits – the reasons remain unclear.
Public health messaging often focuses on how to wash hands well. But there’s less research that follows up on how widely people actually adopt these practices. And to understand why – if they are skipping the soap and water – those messages might not be getting through effectively.
One study that looked at this question in India asked school children about barriers to hand washing. The vast majority (91%) had low “illness threat perception”. In other words, they simply didn’t perceive a risk of getting sick form not washing their hands after going to the toilet.
Interestingly, the inability to see germs with their own eyes was one of the biggest barriers, cited by 46% of the children. But 72% said they would wash their hands if their friends did.
It’s tempting to speculate these reasons may also apply to other age groups, but we simply haven’t done enough research to know. People’s reasons for hand washing, or not, likely vary across their lifetime and with their circumstances.
Urine and faeces contain millions of germs, especially faeces, which has more than 100 billion germs per gram.
When you use the toilet and touch surfaces in the bathroom, you will pick up germs. People who skip the hand washing step on the way out take those germs with them when they leave, depositing them on each surface they touch afterwards.
You may not get sick yourself, but you’re increasing the spread of bacteria. This can increase the risk of infection and illness for other people, including those with compromised immune systems such as older people and those undergoing common forms of treatment for cancer.
Hand washing before cooking and eating is also important. The risk here goes both ways. If you have disease-causing germs on your hands (maybe because you didn’t wash them after the toilet) you may transfer them to the food where they can multiply and even produce toxins. People who eat the food may then get sick, often involving vomiting and diarrhoea.
In the other direction, some foods naturally carry germs before cooking – such as salmonella and campylobacter bacteria in raw poultry. If you don’t wash your hands after handling these foods you may transfer them to other surfaces and risk spreading infection.
Follow these three simple tips for hand washing correctly:
wet your hands and rub them together well to build up a good lather with soap for at least 20 seconds and don’t forget to wash between your fingers and under your nails. You might have to use a nail brush
rinse well under running water to remove the bugs from your hands
dry your hands thoroughly on a clean towel for at least 20 seconds. Touching surfaces with moist hands encourages bugs to spread from the surface to your hands.
If no running water is available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser. These rapidly inactivate a wide range of germs, rendering them non-infectious. Hand sanitisers are effective against a wide range of bacteria and viruses that can cause many common gastrointesintal and respiratory infections.
However if your hands are soiled with organic matter – such as blood, faeces, meat, sand or soil – they won’t be effective. In that case you should clean your hands with soap and water.
Hand washing is a bit like wearing a seat belt — you do that every time you get in a car, not just on the days you “plan” to be involved in an accident. The bottom line is hand washing is a simple, quick intervention that benefits you and those around you — but only if you do it.
Christine Carson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. 1 in 5 Australians admit they don’t wash their hands every time they use the toilet – https://theconversation.com/1-in-5-australians-admit-they-dont-wash-their-hands-every-time-they-use-the-toilet-241481
Source: Reserve Bank of India
Ajit Prasad Press Release: 2024-2025/1332 |
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A citizen of the Republic of India was sentenced to prison today for stealing more than $20 million from hundreds of victims through the use of fake or “spoofed” websites mimicking the cryptocurrency exchange website Coinbase, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell ordered Chirag Tomar, 31, to serve 60 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release.
Jason Byrnes, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Charlotte Field Office, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, from as early as June 2021, Tomar and his co-conspirators engaged in a spoofing scheme to steal millions in cryptocurrency from hundreds of victims located worldwide and in the United States, including in the Western District of North Carolina. Spoofing, as it pertains to cybercrime, is when a malicious cyber actor disguises an email address, sender name, or website URL to convince victims they are interacting with a trusted source. Court documents show that Tomar and his co-conspirators executed the fraud by spoofing Coinbase, one of the largest virtual currency exchanges in the world, that allows customers to buy, sell or trade cryptocurrencies.
Coinbase operated a “Pro” version of its exchange, which was found at the URL “Pro.Coinbase.Com.” According to court documents, Tomar and his co-conspirators spoofed the Coinbase Pro website by using a similar fake URL, CoinbasePro.Com, and created a fraudulent website to mimic the authentic website. Once victims entered their login credentials into the fake website, an authentication process was triggered. In some instances, victims were tricked into providing their login and authentication information of the real Coinbase website to fraudsters. Other times, victims were tricked into allowing fake Coinbase representatives to execute remote desktop software, which enabled fraudsters to gain control of victims’ computers and access their legitimate Coinbase accounts. The fraudsters also impersonated Coinbase customer service representatives and tricked the users into providing their two-factor authentication codes to the fraudsters over the phone. Once the fraudsters gained access to the victims’ Coinbase accounts, the fraudsters quickly transferred the victims’ Coinbase cryptocurrency holdings to cryptocurrency wallets under the fraudsters’ control.
Court documents show that, in February 2022, a victim located in the Western District of North Carolina attempted to log into his Coinbase account through the fraudulent website. The spoof website immediately notified the victim that his account was locked and prompted the victim to use a number provided to call a fake Coinbase representative. The fake representative tricked the victim into providing his two-factor authentication information, ultimately gaining access into the victim’s real Coinbase account. Using the information, fraudsters stole cryptocurrency from the victim’s Coinbase wallet worth over $240,000.
According to court records, Tomar used the victims’ stolen log-in credentials to access the victim accounts and transfer the victims’ cryptocurrency holdings to wallets controlled by Tomar. After Tomar received the stolen cryptocurrency, he would convert it to other forms of cryptocurrency and move the funds amongst many wallets controlled by Tomar. Ultimately, the cryptocurrency was converted into cash which was then distributed to Tomar and his co-conspirators.
Tomar used the victims’ funds to pay for his lavish lifestyle, including to purchase Audemars Piguet and other expensive watches, to buy luxury vehicles like Lamborghinis and Porsches, and to make trips to Dubai, Thailand and elsewhere.
On December 20, 2023, Tomar was arrested at the Atlanta airport upon entering the United States. On May 20, 2024, Tomar pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy. Tomar remains in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
U.S. Attorney King commended the U.S. Secret Service for their investigation of the case and thanked the FBI in Nashville for their invaluable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Warren of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
Source: Asia Development Bank
Building intellectual capacity and fostering learning partnerships enhance long-term capabilities in organizations and communities. Localized solutions rooted in indigenous knowledge and governance reforms empower societies to achieve resilient, sustainable development.
Through my three decades in international development work from environment management to urban resilience to policy analysis to monitoring and evaluation, if I were to distill one recurring aspect – it is capacity.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines capacity as “the ability to learn or retain knowledge and to make a decision about an issue”. This could be a combination of knowledge, skills, infrastructure, and resources that allow organizations, individuals, and groups to address issues, enhance awareness, solve problems, and learn lessons.
For a person to have capacity for a decision, he or she must be able to “understand information, make choices, and communicate the decision to others.” Capability is defined as “the power or ability to do something.”
Capacity is needed for completing a project successfully, and capability to assure its long-term sustainability. These aspects visibly support communities to thrive, and organizations and systems to innovate and adapt to achieve lasting impact.
Capacity and capability are the critical “invisible infrastructure” that ensures the effectiveness of development interventions through the efficient functioning of public systems to provide the desired quality of services.
However, despite its fundamental importance, capacity remains hidden due to its intangibility and its value is difficult to measure. Unlike projects that deliver physical infrastructure like roads, schools, hospitals and water treatment plants.
Building capacity and capabilities both at an individual and institutional level is now more important than ever as global challenges such as climate change, environment degradation, depleting natural water reserves, communicable diseases and technological advancements rapidly reshape the future.
Building capacity requires sustained investment over time, often without immediate, visible outcomes. This slow, often incremental process may not capture public attention or political will in the same way a new bridge or highway might.
Moreover, capacity-building efforts can be complex, requiring cooperation among organizations, regions, countries and sectors, investment in education and training, and a commitment to long-term, sustained and resilient development. These efforts are not perceived to be fashionable and glamorous compared to visible projects that can be tangibly measured.
Advancing economies have demonstrated that unlocking the potential of capacity and building capable institutions brings systemic improvements over short term project gains.
This also builds resilience in times of crisis due to natural disasters, pandemics, or economic shocks and ensure individuals, communities, and institutions respond and recover; spur innovation to help individuals and organizations experiment, adapt, and scale solutions; enhance governance in institutions to manage resources, deliver services, that benefit citizens ensuring the transparent, accountable, and equitable functioning of society.
Communities and institutions would thereby solve their own problems, reduce reliance on external support making development more effective in the long term.
Capacity is needed for completing a project successfully, and capability to assure its long-term sustainability.
Here are three ways to enhance capacity as the pathway to resilient development and effectiveness:
Build intellectual capacity and capability by strengthening public and private institutions through a combination of financial, technical and learning support that will foster cultural and behavioral change to do things differently and evolve over the long term.
This means designing interventions not only in smart infrastructure design using innovative financing models but also strategic planning, project and data management, leadership training and monitoring and evaluation systems, that allow institutions to deliver relevant and high-quality services over time.
Investments that enable cultural shifts from learning from what works and what can be done differently can create positive domino effects in organizations and societies, enhancing individual and collective capacity and capabilities to deliver solutions in complex situations.
The city of Melaka in Malaysia pioneered the green city action planning process in 2014 using local government participatory processes. This spurred a multiplier effect with city governments continuing to engage and collaborate across sectoral ministries to deliver projects that improve environmental quality and strengthen economic competitiveness.
Foster learning partnerships that not only enhance capacity but also ensure long term capabilities. For example, educational institutions with strong research and teaching capacities generate new knowledge, ideas, and technologies that benefit the wider public.
When infused with experiential knowledge from the development community, these partnerships can become a powerful tool for grooming young learners to deliver interventions with lasting impacts. In the Pacific, the first structured diploma course on monitoring, evaluation and learning at the University of South Pacific has been accredited by the Pacific Board of Education Quality and launched.
Localize solutions and empower communities through investments that harness indigenous knowledge, combine awareness building, local knowhow, and technology. Further, improving governance to empower communities to take ownership of local issues to ensure solutions are rooted in local knowledge for lasting impacts.
In the state of Karnataka in India, a coastal protection and management project includes a specific component on capacity building for shoreline management. Unique community associations such as shoreline management organizations and dune care groups were formed and involved in project monitoring.
Funds were provided by the project and site-specific activities such as beach cleaning and beach festivals turned beneficiaries into project partners. Capacity and capabilities were enhanced both for communities as well as for the executing and implementing agencies.
Learning from the capacity building process to strengthen decision making and understand how economic institutions influence these efforts should be a mantra for development organizations as they prepare for an uncertain future.
As Nobel Laureate Daron Acemoglu, co-author of Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty, writes: “Economic institutions shape economic incentives: the incentives to become educated, to save and invest, to innovate and adopt new technologies.”
MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
Rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev and Vice-Rector of the State University of Management Dmitry Bryukhanov took part in the opening meeting of the BRICS University Rectors’ Forum, which was held on October 17, 2024, in the building of Lomonosov Moscow State University and brought together about 200 university leaders and representatives from 20 countries.
The event was held within the framework of the Russian Federation’s chairmanship of the BRICS association in 2024 under the auspices of the Russian Union of Rectors and is the first such forum with the participation of rectors of leading universities of the BRICS countries, as well as representatives of the scientific and expert communities in an expanded format.
The Forum’s plenary session featured welcoming speeches and speeches by distinguished guests, including Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Konstantin Mogilevsky, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Ryabkov, Deputy Minister of Education of the Federative Republic of Brazil Alexandre Brasil Carvalho da Fonseca, Vice President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Academician Vladislav Panchenko and others.
In his speech, Konstantin Mogilevsky noted that cooperation between BRICS countries in the field of education, science and technology is growing stronger from year to year, transforming from bilateral to multilateral and network forms of interaction.
On the sidelines of the forum, Vladimir Stroev held a number of meetings and discussions with colleagues and partners from various Russian and foreign universities, as well as government and scientific structures.
On the day of the Forum, the Association of Rating Compilers (ARC) prepared a pilot version of the BRICS universities ranking, which included the State University of Management.
The methodology of the BRICS university ranking is based on the approaches to compiling the global list of “Three University Missions” – the first academic ranking. At the same time, changes were made to the ranking model to take into account the national characteristics of educational institutions in the BRICS countries.
The final list included 600 educational institutions from ten Commonwealth countries: Brazil, Egypt, India, Iran, China, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia and South Africa. The largest number of universities in the ranking are located in China (207 universities). The second country by the number of participants in the ranking was Russia (161 universities), and the third place in this parameter was taken by India (93 universities).
On the second day of the Forum, October 18, its participants will discuss issues of forming the ranking of universities in the BRICS countries.
Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 10/18/2024
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Vladimir Stroyev took part in the opening of the Forum of Rectors of BRICS Universities
MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
With the support of Rosneft, the international premiere of Tatyana Navka’s ice show “The Love Story of Scheherazade” will take place in Ahmedabad (Gujarat, India) on Friday, October 18. The ice show will be held in India for the first time.
Musical performances based on the Arabian Nights collection of tales and short stories will be held at the EKA ARENA sports stadium for three days, until Sunday, October 20. An ice rink has been installed at the stadium especially for the show, using more than 100 tons of real ice.
The plot of the ice show “The Love Story of Scheherazade” is written based on the famous Arabian fairy tales and the novels “A Thousand and One Nights” and represents several Eastern cultures at once: India, Egypt, Ancient Babylon and Persia. The history and traditions of each region are intertwined in the production with modern technical solutions and unique special effects.
The performance will feature stars of world figure skating, multiple champions of Russia, Europe and the world, Olympic champions, including the author of the idea, director and general producer of the project Tatyana Navka, as well as Victoria Sinitsina, Nikita Katsalapov, Povilas Vanagas, Ivan Righini, Egor Murashov and other famous figure skaters.
Rosneft actively supports significant cultural projects and contributes to the development of cultural ties between Russia and other countries. Thanks to the Company, large-scale projects aimed at reviving spiritual and national values are being implemented. Among such projects are support for the Sretensky Monastery Choir, the State Hermitage Museum, the White Steamship project, and much more. Earlier, with the participation of Rosneft, Tatyana Navka’s ice show Evenings on a Farm based on the works of N.V. Gogol was shown in Moscow.
Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft October 18, 2024
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: European Parliament
Over the past decade, corridors have occupied an increasingly important place in international connectivity initiatives. They take several forms, ranging from ‘simpler’ transport corridors to more complex economic corridors. For them to be successful, several conditions need to be in place, both relative to the participating countries and to the wider regions they connect. Once operational, they can bring various benefits to participating countries, both economic and societal. India has had a two-pronged policy in recent years. On the one hand, it is investing increasingly in national infrastructure projects, such as the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor. On the other, it is part of several major international infrastructure projects. Three such projects that stand out are the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor, the International North-South Transport Corridor and the more recent India-Middle East-Europe Corridor. According to experts, India’s approach towards international connectivity appears to be driven more by geostrategic sensitivities than purely economic considerations. Broadly, Delhi chooses to participate in projects that help to increase its regional and global footprint. It also takes into consideration the fact that Asia is a region with several nuclear powers, rising nationalism and the absence of a security structure. Its choices are further conditioned by Chinese initiatives in the region, US policy towards China, and developments following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The EU and India have long-standing diplomatic ties. In recent years, owing to both rising trade volumes and geopolitical considerations, they have increased their cooperation further. Aspects of this cooperation are the revival of negotiations on a free trade agreement, the launch of a Trade and Technology Council and the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC). Once completed, these three initiatives could bring significant synergies to the parties involved. IMEC is facing several challenges, however, both logistical and geopolitical, that could delay its implementation.
Source: Government of India (2)
Posted On: 18 OCT 2024 3:56PM by PIB Delhi
Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron (1TS) – INS Tir and ICGS Veera completed their long range training deployment to Manama, Bahrain, on 16 Oct 24. During the port call, Capt Anshul Kishore, Senior Officer, 1TS called on Maj Gen Salman Mubarak Al-Doseri, Royal Command Staff and National Defence College and Cmde Ahmed Ebrahim Buhamood, Commander Flotilla and held discussions on regional maritime security challenges and avenues for future collaboration in training and operations. Senior Officer, 1TS along with CO ICGS Veera also called on Cmde Mark Anderson of Royal Navy, Deputy Commander of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). Interactions at US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) focussed on strengthening maritime cooperation and reinforcing strategic partnership between the Indian Navy and other maritime forces in the region. Further, visits were organised onboard 1TS ships for Bahrain Defence Forces, CMF and Naval personnel from other friendly foreign nations, enabling understanding of common operating procedures paving way for collaborative exercises in the future. A delegation from 1TS including sea trainees visited Naval Support Facility, Bahrain gaining insights into Task Force 59, USNAVCENT and CMF operations.
In a spirit of camaraderie and goodwill, Naval personnel from USNAVCENT and Indian Navy participated in a friendly football match. In another event, the Indian Navy band delivered a captivating performance at Manama. A community outreach activity was undertaken at ‘Tree of Life Social Charity Society’. Besides this, an official reception was hosted onboard 1TS for the delegates of Embassy of India, Bahrain Defence Forces and other military & civilian dignitaries and members of the Indian diaspora.
The visit concluded with a MPX between INS Tir, ICGS Veera and RBNS Al Farooq. The successful completion of the visit by ships of 1TS reaffirms strong maritime ties between the two Navies.
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(Release ID: 2066073) Visitor Counter : 67
Source: Government of India
Very warm good morning to all of you.
Distinguished audience, excellencies and friends in the cause of human rights. I had a tenure which I will not be able to forget, because it is reminded on every platform, my tenure as Governor State of West Bengal. That makes me resonate about state of human rights but ladies and gentlemen, post-poll violence in West Bengal does not define the scene in the country it is in isolation but whenever someone calls me former-Governor of the State of West Bengal, I am reminded of the great contribution by the National Human Rights Commission and law of the ruler rather than the rule of law defined the situation. It emanated from a report rendered by the former member of the National Human Rights Commission Shri Rajiv Jain, a thorough report that addressed all issues and also indicated the way ahead.
Friends, I am happy to be here today to mark the 31st Foundation Day of the National Human Rights Commission of India. Today, we are not only commemorating an institution but the fundamental value that is integral to this institution, integral to the Constitution of India, and integral to our society and culture.
This year the World Human Rights Day theme is Equality – Reducing inequalities and advancing human rights. Equality has to be understood as it is beyond definition as such. However at its core is that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and in rights. Religion, race, colour, sex, status, or other facets are surficial. Discrimination in any form is challenging to core aspects of human rights. Human rights are best secured and nurtured with public response. There can be no greater custodian of human rights than the public at large. We need to stand firm when such violations occur.
To respect others’ human rights is divine duty. These rights are inviolable. Preamble of our Constitution seeking justice, liberty, equality to all citizens is essence of human rights. There is need to have fraternal feelings with respect for different perceptions and views.
Human rights can be defined in two ways. First is the narrow, legal way of defining human rights at the drop of a hat, we jump to it make a very small isolated instance systemic that’s a legal way. The notion grants certain rights to individuals by their inherent being. No law is needed. We are born with human rights. We are born with basic rights, we are inalienable to humanity, inalienable to the individual and therefore, according to me, in all humility, we must see human rights from this prism that that is our way, that is the Indian way, that is the way we have lived for over 5,000 years. No country in the world can lay such a claim.
When we go into the evolution of these rights, they primarily started with political rights, including the right to life and liberty. There was a gradual accretion of other rights. Judiciary in this country has added many dimensions to these rights but there is another way, and that is the civilisational way of thinking about human rights. That is organicist way. It looks at human beings as part of an organic whole, including society and Prakriti or nature. And the system as a whole has to live in peace. It is encapsulated ‘Sarvam Shanti’. We have dictated our lives over centuries in spite of various difficulties by this dictum. For us as a nation nurturing of human rights is a way of life.
The civilizational way of thinking of rights did not evolve from political rights to economic rights and then adding other rights such as the freedom of conscious. The basic, the pristine, the organic, the original can be looked into our Vedas and our functioning over the ages, this defined sukha for all, well-being of all, happiness for all. This defines that we come to the planet as trustees, not as exploiters. We live not for us, but for all, we know for sure that we can be happy only with everyone being happy in as much as we have in togetherness to save this planet, because this existential challenge is not to an individual.
It is beyond any element of race, caste, creed, colour, or geographic boundaries. Similar is the situation with respect to human rights. Sarve sukhina bhavantu, the Chairman focused it. This is the motto of NHRC. What a grandiose motto! A motto emanating from our civilisational ethos, emanating from what we have lived through. We have, all through history exemplified it, and in the face of very daunting circumstances, some of which were ruthless, reckless, trampling our civilisation yet the nation stood firm. That’s what India is, that’s what Bharat is.
Our scriptures were and are our charters, they are repositories of knowledge and wisdom, they are repositories of the human way of life. One will have to strive for years to come to add to them. That is the ultimate when it comes to knowledge and these scriptures were loud, every day proclamation of these rights that society and the civilization granted.
Our civilization created institutions to ensure that these rights were honoured. In any governance in this country, at any point in time, those who governed had to listen to the voice of the people. Our sages, our seers, they were the real controllers of morality, property, and all that constitutes the welfare of humanity at large.
Our temples ran open kitchens so that there was freedom from hunger. Temples ran open kitchens so there was freedom from hunger. Education was free, so there was right to education. Friends, if you look at the Indian Constitution it has 22 paintings. The first one is the Gurukul, It defines our society is concerned that everyone would have access to education. You gave dakshina according to your ability, but there was no tuition fee. Guru dakshina if you got education, you can reward your teacher, you can honour your teacher but it did not have a compulsory element; it had an optional element. It had to emanate not from your fiduciary strength, but from the call of your soul that was the sublimity. We practised and are on our way to it. Everyone was allowed to practise their faith. Look at our country who came? They came, they were received, they were absorbed, they were in oneness, and they felt at home in this country in the same manner as they felt at home in other countries.
A country where they had to live under circumstances which are indescribable that was the scenario, friends. So on and so forth, I can keep on going, but the list is endless. In a way, human rights are very much part of our moral fabric, our way of life, and why only just the past? Our contemporaneous governance look at it.cIt underlines this very philosophy in several ways.
Policies are driven by the idea of human rights. When COVID hit us and hit the world, it was a non-discriminatory challenge to the entire planet. High and mighty and great nations suffered. In that scenario, the government ensured in this country that no one sleeps hungry, regardless of access to their means of livelihood. Free grains were given, friends, to 850 million people, empowering them to face the challenge. What started on 1st April 2020 continues till date and I wonder still in the world people talk of hunger crisis in this country? 850 million people are getting support of free ration in this country, and that is irrespective of their colour, caste, creed, religion, geographical location, or other aspects. All I can say is, those who think about India’s hunger situation need to reflect and get into a repentance mode. This moral fibre is driving governance in this country. I don’t want to reflect all on this so much attention has been bestowed on human rights in this country that what was unthinkable is now a ground reality.
If a widow has to stand in queue for two hours and suffer to get a pension for the service her late husband rendered, this was a loss of dignity. Not any longer, she gets it sitting at home, and this makes Bharat accounting for more than 50% of global direct digital transfers. Which indicates promptness, no leakage, no liasioning. The world needs to know it. I am not seeking recognition, just to be informed. Direct benefit transfers hit at the corrupt and you will be happy to note, friends, that corruption has been neutralised from power corridors in this country. Corruption is no longer a password to a contract to employment.
Corruption leads you to be attendant to law, gone are the days when some thought they were above the law. The equality before the law in this country has been demonstrated to such a wholesome level that human rights are flourishing and blossoming is taking place, such a large country, with such diversity, the world needs to know about it.
Another serious issue is that they know it, they seek to undermine it. I’ll come to that later.
Not long ago, in our country and in the world it still happens in major parts of the world states. Ignominy of women defecating in public, a huge challenge for a country like ours 1.4 billion people, to take care of this significant human rights aspect, which occurs minimum twice a day, and look at now our scene is dotted by the areas that are 100% free of this menace. The work is ongoing and the world has to see it to believe.
What a transformative change it was. Wealth out of policies has ensured toilets in every home a fundamental right not required to be scripted by any constitutional prescription or law. A ground reality at the moment, imparting to our women, and others also, dignity, which is the most precious facet of human rights. Friends, these are just illustrative.
Technological penetration has created an equalising situation and helps curb iniquitous practices, making everyone equal before the law. No country in the world can claim the kind of equality before law ecosystem we have. Those who thought they were above the law, beyond the reach of the law, enjoyed immunity from the law are suffering at the hands of the law and everyone in this country is accountable only and only in accordance with the law. A big change the world has to notice, we are perhaps a country in a single-digit situation on this score.
The strong arm of the law in our country curtails the environment of impunity. Friends, do you think a country that had such a holistic idea of rights takes care of everyone? Do we require sermonising? Do we require lecturing about human rights? We are open to all ideas, we are resilient but we don’t need lecturing or sermonising on the human rights aspect, certainly not. I must, friends, compulsively advert to an unfortunate aspect as well. Unfortunately, this great civilisation suffered a taint on its otherwise unblemished record. I must record it, you see. Not that we have not had air pockets or strong headwinds that traumatised people on the plank of human rights.
Bharat, long championed as a guardian of human rights, faced three stark transgressions that scarred generations: the brutal Partition, the oppressive Emergency, and the horrific 1984 riots. These traumatic events stand as sombre reminders of the fragility of civil liberties and the imperative to vigilantly safeguard human dignity. But then we are a nation quick to fix situations, to learn our lessons.
As a tribute to our deep commitment to human rights, laudable steps have been taken by way of celebrating Constitution Day from 2015 onwards on November 26. This will remind us all to fervently work towards realisation of noble values emanating from our preamble. Thereby nurturing human rights and creating an atmosphere for their blossoming.
Another significant step was taken this year- June 25 to be observed as year as ‘Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas’ to mark imposition of draconian Emergency. This intended to honour the spirit of millions who struggled to revive democracy despite facing inexplicable persecution at the hands of an oppressive government then. This will help keep the eternal flame of individual freedom and the defence of the democracy alive in every Indian.
The nation and its youth in particular must be informed that on June 25, 1975, the then PM Indira Gandhi, in a brazen display of a dictatorial mindset, strangled the soul of our democracy by imposing the emergency on the nation resulting in violation of human rights. Lakhs of people were thrown behind bars for no fault of their own and the voice of the media was silenced and the judiciary at the apex level failed as never before therefore, this step has been taken. These are not being looked at in this country from a partisan angle. In this country, we look at events and situations only from one angle, and that is the angle of nationalism, the angle of the Constitution.
Friends, Constitution is our north star for human rights. Celebration every year of Constitution Day on November 26 is reminder of our duty to nurture human rights. Every person in this country, particularly the youth, will be reminded of this solemn obligation, solemn duty to be performed for democracy and for the nation. Constitution Hatya Diwas, similarly, on June 25th every year will act as a reminder of the dangers and challenges to human rights while the record of Bharat as a nation and as custodian of human rights is singularly remarkable, and I am saying this with utmost restraint, I am using minimum words. In this scenario, there are pernicious forces within and without that in a structured manner, seek to unfairly tempt us. These forces are overzealously in overdrive. They have an agenda that is far distanced from human values or concern for human rights. Friends, such is the sinister design that, on all conceivable occasions, these forces that are inimical to Bharat avail national and international fora to tarnish our fair human rights record, arrogating for themselves the right to calibrate. I pose a question to myself. Who has imparted this right to them? And it is most opaque, hardly any due diligence. Ground reality is very different, as I indicated about the hunger situation. Some of these think and that is a colonial mindset. They think they are ordained to enjoy such a right, a right to harangue civilisations like ours, to doctor situations, to impede our growth. These forces have to be neutralised by actions that exemplify, if I may say so, in the Indian context, ‘Pratighaat’.
They also think they are entitled to create indices and rank everyone in the world. This exercise smacks of imperial hubris. To show a nation in bad colour, they have a list of nations. I dare them to come to this country if there is a heavenly spirit, heavenly ecosystem, it exists more here than in any part of the globe. We are a nation of saints and sages, culture and civilisation, empathy and sympathy.
During COVID, facing a challenge, we supported hundred other countries. Wherever there has been a crisis in the globe by way of evacuation requirement or earthquake, this country has always gone ahead.
Expansion is the worst form of human rights transgression, this country has never believed in expansion has been a victim of expansion. The Prime Minister of this country has unequivocally stated on a global platform “We are not living in an era of expansion, we have to address issues and conflagrations by discussion and diplomacy.” This is Bharat. These sinister forces are driven by an agenda that is fiscally fuelled by people who seek to make a name for themselves, time to shame them. They try to create havoc with the economic system of this country and made no bones about it, no secret of it. First one partly successful, second one collapsed, the balloon was punctured.
Human rights, friends, as a concept should ignite us to look inwards. There are occasions in your life, day in and day out when you can serve human rights by hand-holding people the aged, the challenged, the needy and also you can do it by counselling, people need counselling. Every country in the world should measure human rights on a yardstick of the well-being of their country’s body politic overall economy.
In the last decade, India’s economic growth, which is exponential, incremental, and now unstoppable, is not pyramidical; it is plateau. Everyone is getting the benefit, who is in the last row affordable housing, gas connections, tap water, internet connectivity, road connectivity and this is non-discriminatory progress.
Never in this country a developmental project been dictated by circumstances that are not sublime, serving the ultimate cause of human rights. A country where, even for a single person to exercise their right to vote, arrangements have been made. Steps have been taken by the government to ensure that those in hilly areas or difficulty, challenged areas get electricity in their house such is the track record and concern for human rights. Friends, look around the world, look around the globe. You’ll find Bharat way ahead of other nations when it comes to the preservation of human rights, particularly for minorities, the marginalised, and vulnerable sections of society.
Tell me, which country in the world treats its minorities the way Bharat does? We have seen condition of minorities in several nations. Geographically, several nations’ names have been totally eradicated when it comes to their demographic composition. Surprisingly, the small segment left behind had to seek refuge in this country. Human rights cannot and should not be used as a tool of foreign policy to exert power and influence over others.
Naming and shaming the wrong is a degraded form of diplomacy. You have to preach only what you practise. Friends, if one incident happens, it is disproportionately blown out, fast-tracked, and the narrative gets wings. Voices rise all over, fuelled by fiscal power. That is the time when our youth and media must be vigilant. We have to be vigilant of every aspect of human rights. We have to remember we are a nation of 1.4 billion people, an isolated incident cannot define us but their incidents just go unnoticed. Nielsen has never been remembered more when I think of those nations that turned Nielsen’s eye to such horrendous transgressions of human rights, I do not wish to dwell more on it, but catalogue the events in Europe alone. You’ll find it. Look at our school system, we don’t have the kind of shootings that some countries, which claim to be very developed, experience on a regular basis.
Friends, with those who are closely aligned, the approach turns from clinical analysis to blissful ignorance, which allows us to draw conclusions about the political nature of the approach to human rights and let me remind you of one recent incident, an incident that defines what human rights ought not to be. That is virtually a crucible of decimating human rights. The world has seen it, some have suffered in this country.
The most disheartening aspect of the plight of Hindus in our neighbourhood is the deepening silence of so-called moral preachers, custodians of human rights. They are totally exposed. They are mercenaries of something which is totally antithetical to human rights. Look at the kind of barbarity, torture, traumatised experiences of boys, girls, and women. Look at our religious places being sacrilege. We are too tolerant and have been too tolerant of such transgressions. This is not appropriate. I call upon everyone in the country to seriously reflect, think if you were one of those.
Evidence, episode after episode, is piling up that the deep state is engaging in lawfare against rising powers. Somehow, it seems they are unable to digest the rise of civilisational states in the international system who assert their own identity.
Let me reflect little away from the issue. Does the United Nations Security Council reflect a sense of human rights when it keeps one-sixth of humanity away from it? There has to be auditing of its performance. Friends, the discourse of human rights is calibrated for political projects. Get a project, get money, get some people employed. You are applauded only when you talk negative of this country. I know of an institution in the world that claims to be at the peak. They call them Ivy League institutions. A book has been written, Snakes in Ganges over it.
A celebrated figure, world-renowned, Dalai Lama ji, was invited. The invitation was cancelled. The one who took the call to invite was shown the door and we got preachings from there that in our premier institutions, admissions are accorded by a privileged pedigree system, not by merit. I went to a school on foot, travelling six-kilometres got educated by scholarship, come from a farmer’s family, I am before you.
Droupadi Murmu, a tribal woman who faced all kinds of challenges, is the First Lady and first tribal President of this country and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for historic third term after six-decades, and the first term with a full majority after three-decades, one who has changed the landscape of this country is an OBC from backward community. The only memory he has of his youth is serving tea while the train came that too in a hurry to make money.
I am defining these three top posts in this country of 1.4 billion if this change is not pro-human rights, if this change is not transformative, well, I fail to understand how to define it. People-centric governance is our mantra, our philosophy. Last-mile delivery, welfare of the weakest. You see our civil services, you will be amazed, particularly the people outside the country who get into there, the marginalised.
I was so happy to find that the father was a painter in a police station, and the girl came there as superintendent of police and these instances are not isolated, there are many. My mother was not educated formally, my father did not go beyond class five, I am before you. This defines the great change in human rights this country has.
Friends, when you ignore these developments and artificial issues are inputted to portray Bharat in a bad light, I can only lament the intellect of those heaviness who are distanced from a rational approach. It is painful to find such realities when you scratch the surface of those who claim to champion and advocate human rights. We have a system, and institutions are being used, including the judiciary. We have to be on guard. Those trying to challenge are inspired by ill motivations to destabilise this country. They find our growth indigestible, they are not acting as per their soul or mind, they are being financially manipulated. Much of it has been contained. It shall not be allowed to happen in this country. We are a nation to us belongs this century. And we’ll be a developed nation by 2047, making our people, in every respect, enjoy human rights.
Domestically, we should be wary of elements that use human rights to advance their political agenda. I am addressing the community of politicians. Citizen Amendment Act—how can this be an issue? The act does not deprive any citizen of this country of his or her citizenship. The act does not handicap any person on the globe to take recourse to taking citizenship of this country. The act is an affirmative step to give citizenship to those who are being hunted, persecuted and this is not limited to one religion, many religions. Even such a soothing aspect is to be challenged. Well, we have a situation deep state takes shape only in this way. Therefore, nip it ruthlessly in the bud when it is seen.
Look at the prime example I indicated, there couldn’t be a better gesture of social magnanimity collectively expressed by an act of parliament in CAA. Stateless refugees were to flee from Bharat under severe repression for committing the “sin” of choosing to follow their conscience from our neighbourhood. They had the option to be here, they committed the “sin” of conscience when they were suffering day in and day out and this is being opposed. This balm is soothing medicine is being opposed on the plank of human rights. How sharper the serpent’s tooth could it be?
Friends, this duality exposes a sinister political agenda that includes another aspect which is germane to human rights blossoming and flourishing and that is, demographic balance in this country. History is testimony that nations have completely lost their identity by not addressing this issue. It has as a matter of fact global repercussions from the perspective of human rights.
The tremors are being felt nearly all over, more in countries that have espoused this menace. They are getting the heat of it. The demographic climate change in the world and particularly in the nation is an issue that calls for urgent systemic addressing. I emphasise, friends, demographic climate change is a challenge that is required to be addressed.
If the world has to live in peace and harmony, nations have to believe in their nationalism and preserve their identity. I have no doubt you’ll appreciate and be one with me. It is already taking shape as an existential challenge. Let’s defuse this, thereby sublimely serving human rights.
Another aspect human rights should not be sealed for those who take law into their own hands who challenge the law, who use firearms, who create terror. When you deal with them in accordance with the law, they have easy friends on the point of human rights. पुलिस ने कहां गोली मारी, कैसे मारी यह नहीं देखेते किसको मारी, किस हालत में मारी, क्यों मारी।
The Society can’t be held as a hostage or captive to these violators of the law. Law-enforcing agencies have to come and play on the front foot to deal with these rogue elements who are not only loose cannons to society but a severe threat to human rights. Fortunately, this is being done in this country effectively. Violators of law threaten attitudes, challenge law and order, there can be no worse enemies of human rights than these sections. But painfully, what a travesty these rogue elements of society, these violators of the law, who are a threat to society at large, are afforded cover by human rights plank institutions.
On this occasion, I want to leave you with two ideas, friends. First, if you are a practitioner of law, some of you are, and I have been one myself for decades fight for the rights and dignity of the weaker sections of society. Also, fight against those who seemingly seek to fight for them but are fighting for someone else, expose those. Never let anyone appropriate the discourse and guaranteed rights for sinister political designs. This is happening. I want to look only through the political prism. What then is it for me? And then I moderate my response. Please don’t do this when it comes to nationalism, when it comes to the nation, when it comes to development, when it comes to human rights. Play your politics. Be partisan, but on these issues, please be bipartisan.
Second, if you have legal education or are interested in research, take time to focus on those who seek to teach us but are ignorant, who seek to teach us not the subject but indoctrination. Overcome them, expose them. Pick up any part of the globe, and you’ll find they have to take many lessons from Bharat that has nurtured human rights since ages.
Friends, we have heard great stories about the care of the last-mile individual, but we want to find the precise governance model that enables this execution of human rights. Study it, evolve one, contribute to policymaking, and that has to be translated into politics also.
Friends, as we celebrate the establishment of the NHRC, let us renew our commitment to the idea of human rights, the rights of our fellow citizens, the idea inherent to us for generations and centuries, praying for the good of all ‘Sarve Sukhinah Santu’.
I conclude, always remember, human rights preservation, blossoming and sustainability is in our hands. It is our collective and societal duty that we must unfailingly perform.
Thank you for your time.
Source: Government of India (2)
Posted On: 18 OCT 2024 10:57AM by PIB Delhi
The Minister of Communications; and Minister of Development of North Eastern Region Shri. Jyotiraditya M Scindia yesterday visited the vibrant Cultural Corridorwhich has been set up at Bharat Mandapam to share a glimpse of India’s rich heritage with thousands of international delegates participating in the ITU-WTSA 2024. The corridor features exquisite handlooms and handicrafts from various corners of the country, displayed and available for display and purchase at 14 stalls organized by the Ministry of Textiles and Ministry of Development of North eastern Region DONER.
The corridor also highlights technological advancements in the handloom sector, particularly by the Northeastern Region (NER). Delegates can experience India’s technological leadership through its Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), which facilitates cashless transactions for goods and services during the event via UPI services.
Another notable highlight of technology adoption is a demonstration of NEHHDC’s (North Eastern Handicrafts & Handlooms Development Corporation Ltd) case study on the application of Blockchain for the Traceability of Eri cocoon “fibre to fashion” value chain. NEHHDC is working with LW3 to design and develop Digital Product Passport for handloom sector that uses blockchain technology and unique non cloneable QR codes to create a digital passport for handloom and handicraft products using Eri silk cocoon as sustainable fibre. This passport provides transparency, traceability, and authenticity, ensuring fair trade practices and protecting the intellectual property of artisans and weavers. By recording the product’s journey, chain of custody, and consumer interaction with the artisan and weaverd, LW3 empowers consumers to make informed choices and supports a more ethical and sustainable market for handcrafted goods. The platform also allows artisans to gain social recognition through positive consumer feedback.
Additionally, the corridor features three stalls dedicated to NEHHDC under MoDONER, showcasing handlooms and handicrafts from the Northeastern states. Highlights include the Shaphee Lanphee from Manipur, at the Handlooms of North Eastern Region stall. The Handicrafts of North Eastern Region stall features items like cane sling bags and coin purses by artist Mrs. Keisham Babita Devi from Manipur. Additionally, the Technology Adoption in Handlooms of NER stall showcases Manipuri home textiles by National Awardee Smt. Indira Chirom and provides insight into traditional Manipuri weaving techniques passed down through generations. Textiles crafted on loin looms, throw shuttles, and fly shuttle looms, including Enaphees and Moirangphees, are also on display.
Overall, The Cultural Corridor includes artisans who are National Awardees and skilled craftspeople, presenting a diverse array of handloom and handicraft products from various states, including Kutch shawls and Tangaliya weaves from Gujarat, Manipuri home textiles, Kullu shawls from Himachal Pradesh, and Pochampally Ikat from Telangana.
The visit was a part of the side events of the ongoing WTSA 24 & IMC24 being held in New Delhi. The event marks the beginning of a new chapter in India’s digital journey, reinforcing the country’s commitment to becoming a global leader in advanced communication technologies.
About WTSA 2024:
WTSA 2024, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), serves as a platform for the development and implementation of global telecommunications standards, uniting regulators, industry leaders, and policymakers to shape the future of communications worldwide.
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SB/DP/ARJ
(Release ID: 2065979) Visitor Counter : 62
Source: Government of India
Posted On: 18 OCT 2024 11:21AM by PIB Delhi
As part of National Green Hydrogen Mission, the Union Government has sanctioned three pilot projects for use of Hydrogen in steel production. Earlier the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy had issued guidelines for Implementation of Pilot projects in Steel Sector under this Mission.
The objectives of the scheme were to identify advance technologies for utilizing green hydrogen in steelmaking, through pilot projects. These pilot projects can demonstrate safe and secure operations of green hydrogen-based steel making processes, validating technical feasibility and performance, evaluating their economic viability thereby leading to low-carbon iron and steel production. Accordingly, the proposals were invited for three components (i) Pilot project to produce DRI using 100 % Hydrogen using vertical shaft, (ii) Use of Hydrogen in Blast Furnace to reduce coal/ coke consumption and (iii) Injection of Hydrogen in vertical shaft based DRI making unit.
Based on the evaluations of the proposals received, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has sanctioned total three pilot projects in the steel sector, (a) Matrix Gas and Renewables Ltd (Consortium members: Gensol Engineering Ltd, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Metsol AB, Sweden) with pilot plant capacity 50 ton-per-day (TPD), (b) Simplex Castings Ltd (Consortium member: BSBK Pvt. Ltd., Ten Eight Investment, IIT Bhilai) with pilot plant capacity 40 TPD and (c) Steel Authority of India Ltd (Ranchi) with plant capacity 3200 TPD.
The total financial support made available will be Rs. 347 Crore from the Government of India. These pilot projects are likely to be commissioned in next 3 years, paving way to the scaleup of such technologies in India.
The Scheme Guidelines can be accessed here.
The National Green Hydrogen Mission was launched on 04th January 2023 with an outlay of Rs. 19,744 crores up to FY 2029-30. It will contribute to India’s goal to become Aatmanirbhar (self-reliant) through clean energy and serve as an inspiration for the global Clean Energy Transition. The Mission will lead to significant decarbonization of the economy, reduced dependence on fossil fuel imports, and enable India to assume technology and market leadership in Green Hydrogen.
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Navin Sreejith
RELATED:
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https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2002034
(Release ID: 2065985) Visitor Counter : 140
Source: Government of India
Ministries and Departments to organise workshops and seminars to enhance domain-specific competencies
Posted On: 18 OCT 2024 11:42AM by PIB Delhi
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will launch the ‘Karmayogi Saptah’ – National Learning Week on 19th October at around 10:30 AM at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.
Mission Karmayogi was launched in September 2020 and it has made substantial progress since then. It envisions a future-ready civil service rooted in Indian ethos, with a global perspective.
The National Learning Week (NLW) will be the largest event of its kind providing fresh impetus towards individual and organisational capacity development for Civil Servants. This initiative will stimulate a renewed commitment to learning and development. NLW aims to create a “One Government” message, align everyone with national goals and promote lifelong learning.
NLW will be dedicated to learning through various forms of engagement by individual participants and Ministries, Departments, and Organizations. During NLW, each Karmayogi will commit to achieving a target of at least 4 hours of competency-linked learning. The participants may complete the targeted hours through a mix of individual role-based modules on iGOT, webinars (public lectures/policy masterclasses) by eminent persons. During the week, eminent speakers will deliver talks on their areas of prominence and help them work towards citizen-centric delivery in a much more effective manner. During the week, the Ministries, Departments and Organisations will also organise seminars and workshops to enhance domain specific competencies.
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MJPS/SR/SKS
(Release ID: 2065991) Visitor Counter : 84
Source: Government of India
Boosting women’s participation in standards development is not just about numbers—it’s about ensuring that women’s voices are heard, empowering future leaders, and fostering inclusion: Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary General of the ITU
Posted On: 18 OCT 2024 11:44AM by PIB Delhi
The ITU-WTSA 24 which is being held in Delhi in collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, saw a landmark event yesterday, focused on promoting gender diversity in the field of telecommunication standardization. The special event, The Network of Womenin Standards (NoW), led by the Telecommunication Standardization Sector of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T), underscored the commitment to advancing women’s leadership roles in STEM and standardisation.This topic is particularly significant for India as the government is implementing various measures to create an inclusive technology sector and empower women through technology platforms, in line with the vision of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, who advocates for women-led development. India is making progress in this area, with an increasing number of women co-founders in startups and over 40% of participants in STEM education being women. Initiatives such as Namo Drone Didi, Bank Sakhi, and Mahila E-Haat are empowering women to take on leadership roles in technology.
The Network of Women (NoW) in ITU-T, aligned with WTSA Resolution 55 (Rev. Geneva, 2022), is dedicated to fostering active female participation in standardization activities and ensuring a gender-inclusive approach across all ITU-T processes. This initiative is critical as the global push for digital inclusion accelerates, with women playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of technology.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary General of the ITU, emphasized the importance of addressing gender imbalances in the field. She stated, “We can, and we must, increase the number of women in leadership roles, especially in our standards study groups. It’s crucial for women to step up, take the floor, and make their voices heard. This is what the Network of Women stands for—creating an environment where women feel empowered and supported. Mentorship plays a vital role in this transformation. It’s through mentoring, creating opportunities, and sharing our knowledge that we can truly progress. If there is no seat at the table, we must bring our own chair—and bring one more for those who will follow. Let’s continue pushing forward, lifting each other up, and ensuring that the digital future is shaped by all of humanity. Together, we can and will make real progress toward digital inclusion.”
Dr. Rim Belhassine-Cherif, Chair of NoW, ITU-T, and Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer responsible for Digital Transformation at Tunisie Télécom, highlighted the progress made in achieving gender balance at ITU-WTSA 2024. She noted, “One of the key objectives of ITU-WTSA 2024 was to promote gender-balanced delegations and increase the number of women in leadership roles, particularly as heads of delegations. Through various initiatives such as panel discussions, training sessions, tutorials, and the support of regional preparatory groups, we have achieved the highest-ever participation rate of women in ITU-WTSAhistory.”
The increasing involvement of women in ICT standardization is crucial as disruptive technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerge. Women’s contributions can help ensure the development of inclusive, equitable, and sustainable standards that will drive technological progress for the benefit of all humanity.
The event featured a dynamic fireside chat, moderated by Doreen Bogdan-Martin, with Dr. Aminata Zerbo/Sabane, Minister of Digital Transition, Posts and Electronic Communications, Burkina Faso, and Neha Satak, Founder & CEO of Astrome. The discussion focused on closing the gender gap in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and in standardization. Panelists stressed the importance of a supportive environment and early capacity building to encourage more girls to pursue careers in tech.
Expert panelists examined and discussed the challenges surrounding gender equality in AI and shed light on incentives and opportunities for technical standards to support inclusive AI during panel discussion on “Standards for inclusive AI”. Also discussed were the ways to explore how standards could help address gender bias and ensure an equitable future. The session was moderated by Ms Susan Ferguson, UN Women India Representative and panelists were Prof Sandra Maximiano, Chair of the Board, Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações (Portugal’s national regulatory authority for the communications sector), Mr Vishnu Ram, AI expert, Vice Chair of ITU Focus Group on Autonomous Networks, Dr Alessandra Sala, Sr. Director of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Shutterstock, Global President of Women in AI, Dr Ebtesam Almazrouei, Founder and CEO of AIE3, Expert AI Executive and Tech Visionary Leader and MsPico Velazquez, founder & CEO at VIIRA, Computational Architect & Multiverse Thought Leader.
The session also recognised the leading women in ITU Standardisation. Mr. Seizo Onoe, Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau and Ms. Madhu Arora, Member, Technology/Digital Communication Commission, Department of Telecommunication, Ministry of Communications, Government of India felicitated Dr. Rim Belhassine-Cherif, Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer, TunisieTélécom, Tunisia; Dr. Hyoung Jun Kim, Vice Chair, NoW, Chair of ITU-T;Ms. Rebecca MukiteNoW in ITU-T Regional Representatives, Africa; Ms. Tania Villa, Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT), Mexico; Ms Basma Tawfik, International Organizations Manager National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA), Egypt; Ms Miho Naganuma, TSAG Vice Chair, Senior Executive professional, NEC Corporation, Japan; Ms Maria Bolshakova, Acting Deputy Director General, Regional Commonwealth in the field of Communications (RCC), Russia; Ms Izabela Iglewska, Minister Advisor, Ministry of Digital Affairs, Poland; Additionally, member states from Cameroon, the Dominican Republic, Ghana and Europe were also felicitated for their high female participation rates in delegations.
ITU-WTSA 2024 continues to drive pivotal conversations on gender equality in telecommunications, addressing both statistical and stereotypical biases, mitigating biases, and promoting active participation of women in the telecom and tech sector.
WTSA 2024, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), serves as a platform for the development and implementation of global telecommunications standards, uniting regulators, industry leaders, and policymakers to shape the future of communications worldwide.
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SB/DP/ARJ
(Release ID: 2065992) Visitor Counter : 51
Source: Government of India (2)
Posted On: 18 OCT 2024 1:17PM by PIB Delhi
Department of Fisheries, under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is organizing a Workshop on Application and Demonstration of Drone Technology in Fisheries and Aquaculture on 19th October 2024 at Gyan Bhawan, Patna, Bihar. The event will be graced by Shri Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister, Bihar along with Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh, alias Lalan Singh Union Minister, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAH&D) and Ministry of Panchayat Raj, Smt. Renu Devi, Minister Animal & Fisheries Resource Department, Bihar, Shri Vijay Kumar Sinha, Deputy Chief Minister, Bihar, Shri Samrat Choudhary, Deputy Chief Minister, Bihar and other esteemed dignitaries. The workshop will bring together scientists, state fisheries officials, fishermen and fisherwomen on one platform to showcase innovative drone technology for advancing fisheries and aquaculture practices.
Chief Minister, Bihar, Union Minister of MoFAH&D and other key dignitaries will address the gathering during the inaugural session. Cheques to the beneficiaries of PMMSY and various State schemes along with fish feed and fish seeds will be distributed to the farmers during the event.
The workshop also features technical sessions on the transformative potential of drone technology in the fisheries sector. ICAR-CIFRI Director along with innovative startups will present and share about their work, on-ground experiences, findings practical applications of drones’ technology and way forward during the event.
The workshop will conclude with the river ranching program in the Ganga River at Digha Ghat, Patna, led by Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh. This initiative aims to enhance fish stock in the river and promote ecological balance for sustainable fisheries management.
This workshop will provide a unique platform to showcase technological advancements emphasizing the transformative role of drone technology in revolutionizing the fisheries sector and unlocking its full potential. As the technology continues to evolve, the Department of Fisheries is committed to embrace these advancements for boosting sustainable fisheries, fostering greater innovation and productivity throughout the entire fisheries value chain.
Drone Technology is expected to play a crucial role in transportation of fish and fish products by delivering fish and fish products to remote locations by overcoming access barriers and enabling faster delivery. To further explore the potential of drone technology in the fisheries sector, the Department of Fisheries has allocated a pilot project with an investment of Rs 1.16 Cr to ICAR-CIFRI for developing drone technology for live fish transport.
Background :
The fisheries and aquaculture sector, often referred to as the ‘sunrise sector,’ has played a vital role in providing livelihood and employment opportunities to around 3 crore fishers and fish farmers at the primary level, as well as many more along the fisheries value chain. Recognizing the potential for focused development in this sector, the Government of India (GoI) established a dedicated Department of Fisheries (DoF, GoI) in February 2019, followed by the creation of the Ministry for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying (MoFAH&D) in June 2019.
Since 2015, investments have been stepped up in the fisheries sector to a total of Rs 38,572 crore through initiatives such as the Blue Revolution Scheme, Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY), a Central Sector sub-scheme under PMMSY. These initiatives by the GoI have significantly advanced the sector, improving the welfare of fish farmers, as well as marginalized and tribal communities engaged in fisheries.
Drone technology, with its rapid advancements, has many innovative applications in various sectors for activities such as agriculture, environmental monitoring, and disaster relief. Recognizing its transformative potential, the Department of Fisheries is actively exploring how drones can revolutionize fisheries and aquaculture operations such as enhancing monitoring and surveillance, improving resource & farm management, fish transportation and a wide range of other applications.
Key activities such as surveillance, stock assessment, environmental monitoring, disease detection, dispensing feed in aquaculture farms, water sampling and precision fishing are promising technological advance. To safeguard the marine ecosystems, drones can help in monitoring water quality, detect pollutants, identifying harmful algal blooms etc. In emergency situations, drones prove invaluable by. To aid disaster response scope of drones extends further, assessing damage to fisheries infrastructure during natural disasters like floods or hurricane, assisting in search and rescue operations, locating missing persons or vessels quickly and efficiently etc. Underwater drones can monitor fish behaviour in their natural habitats that can help in identifying signs of distress such as erratic swimming patterns or surface gulping that can aid in early disease detection. High-resolution drone imagery can detect visible symptoms of diseases, like ulcers or haemorrhages on fish bodies, facilitating timely intervention and management.
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AA
(Release ID: 2066010) Visitor Counter : 32
Source: Government of India (2)
Posted On: 18 OCT 2024 1:12PM by PIB Delhi
Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) is conducting ‘Special Campaign 4.0’ from 2ndto 31stOctober, 2024 for institutionalizing Swachhata and minimizing pendency.
The targets identified by the Department for disposal of VIP References and Public Grievances have been achieved fully and pendency brought to Zero. Out of 274 physical files identified for review, 62 files have been reviewed and weeded out so far. The remaining files are being reviewed. Apart from this, the disposal of obsolete/ unserviceable items is actively in progress.
DIPAM has no Attached or Subordinate officers or Autonomous Bodies etc.
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NB/AD
(Release ID: 2066007) Visitor Counter : 52
Source: Government of India (2)
Exhibition displays the Conservation Wisdom of Tribal Communities
Posted On: 18 OCT 2024 1:49PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar inaugurated the second edition of the art exhibition “Silent Conversation: From Margins to the Centre” in New Delhi on 17 October, 2024. The four-day exhibition has been organized by the National Tiger Conservation Authority in collaboration with the Sankala Foundation, the National Human Rights Commission and the International Big Cat Alliance .
While inaugurating the exhibition, Dr. S Jaishankar emphasized that India’s development journey is deeply connected with environmental conservation. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the welfare of Scheduled Tribes through various initiatives, highlighting that the Antyodaya scheme is rooted in the principle of uplifting marginalized communities and ensuring that no one is left behind.
Union Minister Dr. Jaishankar said India had achieved remarkable progress in environmental conservation under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. He highlighted that the 2022 amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act aim to balance environmental conservation with development needs. He credited the success of the National Tiger Conservation Authority to tribal communities and forest dwellers, whose guardianship has helped forests thrive and who actively combat poaching. He emphasized that policies are most effective when embraced by all citizens, referring to the concept of Janbhagidari
Union Minister for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, Shri Bhupendra Yadav, emphasized in the video message, that the spirit of coexistence reflects how communities live in harmony with, protect, and respect nature. He praised this approach, especially as the world faces critical challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and soil desertification.
On the occasion, a book titled “Hidden Treasures: India’s Heritage in Tiger Reserves” and a magazine called “Big Cats” were also released.
A cultural program was also organized in the evening, that was attended by Dr. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism.
Background
The exhibition aims to recognize the conservation ethos of tribal communities and highlight the symbiotic relationship between these communities and the environment. It seeks to inspire future generations to appreciate this connection and provides tribal artists an opportunity to engage with visitors.
The exhibition features over 200 paintings and 100 art pieces from 22 tiger reserves across India. Tribal art forms such as Gond, Warli, Pata Chitra, Bhil, and Sohrai are showcased and available for sale, with proceeds directly benefiting the artisans. All artworks are crafted using sustainable materials, reflecting the eco-friendly lifestyle of indigenous communities.
Of the 49 participating artists, 10 hail from tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh, with others from Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Telangana, Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Mizoram.
According to the 2011 Census, over 1,70,000 villages in India are located near forested areas, and the India State of Forest Report 2021 indicates that more than 300 million people rely on forests for their livelihoods. On the tiger conservation front, India is home to 75% of the global tiger population, with an estimated 3,682 big cats in 55 tiger reserves as of 2023.
Shri Jitendra Kumar, Director General (Forests) and Special Secretary, Dr Gobind Sagar Bhardwaj, Member Secretary, NTCA and Shri Bharat Lal, Member Secretary, NHRC and senior officers of the ministry were present.
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VM/GS
(Release ID: 2066018) Visitor Counter : 120
Source: Government of India
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, we are strengthening Ayurveda’s global recognition today: Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Ayush
Posted On: 17 OCT 2024 10:00PM by PIB Delhi
The first-ever International conference of All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA)- Advancements of Research & Global Opportunities for Holistic Ayurveda – AROHA-2024 was inaugurated today by Dr. Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud, Hon’ble Chief Justice of India in the august presence of Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Ayush and Health & Family Welfare.
Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush; Dr. Shyama Kuruvilla, Director, Global Traditional Medicine Centre, WHO, Jamnagar, Gujarat was also present on the occasion. Additionally, Lt. Gen. Madhuri Kanitkar, Vice Chancellor, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS); Padma Bhushan Prof. Shiv Kumar Sarin, Director, ILBS; and AIIA Director Prof (Dr) Tanuja Nesari also graced the event.
The three-day International conference – Advancements of Research & Global Opportunities for Holistic Ayurveda – AROHA-2024 is scheduled to be held from today 17th October to 19th October 2024.
Hon’ble Chief Justice of India Dr. Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud during his inaugural address said “ I am privileged to be a part of AROHA 2024; the day also marks the 8th foundation day of All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA). I am truly delighted to see how AIIA has made remarkable progress in just eight years, founded with a mandate to foster research based Ayurveda. The institute focuses on three key pillars tertiary care, research and academics. I am an ardent follower of Ayurveda. Beyond addressing specific ailments, Ayurveda promotes holistic wellness through medicine, nutrition, meditation, yoga and lifestyle balance. Rooted in generational family wisdom, Ayurveda offers valuable insights into integrated well-being. The launch of the Ayush Research Portal marks a significant advancement for Ayurvedic research and education,”
Speaking at this event, the Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Ayush and Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav said “As we gather to explore the vast potential of Ayurveda, I applaud your dedication to integrating traditional wisdom with modern science, which is the need of the hour. This conference represents a significant step forward in our pursuit of holistic healthcare solutions. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, we are strengthening Ayurveda’s global recognition today. His encouragement has led to Ayurveda being adopted more than any other medical practice. After the Prime Minister’s efforts, Ayurveda’s credibility has also increased, and I am deeply grateful to him for entrusting me with the Ministry of Ayurveda to serve millions. I am fully committed to fulfilling all the aspirations related to the Ministry of Ayurveda under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision.’ The Ministry of Ayush remains committed to promoting and supporting research, innovation, and the integration of Ayurveda into mainstream healthcare.”
Speaking at the occasion Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush said “The Ministry of Ayush is committed to developing 5 key botanicals of Ayurveda in the next five years. We are developing a benchmark at par with globally accepted traditional medicine for these botanicals. so we have already started working on it, and this is something very new and it is, we are committed to the effort”.
“We really want to thank the Government of India, Ministry of Ayush, for the extreme generosity, the leadership and the vision to make traditional medicine a global good that can benefit all people in the world. Already, this leadership is having global impact. We have seen the leadership at the G20 at the BRICS and other regional conferences. Note traditional medicine and its contribution for the health and well being of all people. It’s also having a technical impact with the research collaborations, with the advancements of methods and guidelines.” Said Dr. Shyama Kuruvilla, Director, Global Traditional Medicine Centre, WHO, Jamnagar, Gujarat.
AROHA-2024 will feature both in-person and virtual participation, offering an unparalleled opportunity for participants. The discourse will be centered on the theme- Advancements in Research and Global Opportunities for Holistic Ayurveda” in this global event. The conference agenda covers a wide range of topics, including Ayurveda, ethnomedicine, quality control, standardization, diagnosis, drug delivery, evidence-based understanding, and globalization. It also features an exhibition showcasing stalls from leading brands and institutions, offering insights into herbal products, wellness solutions, Ayurvedic treatments, research innovations, and educational opportunities.
The conference features three-day workshops and 15 scientific sessions, with over 400 research papers presented. The All India Institute of Ayurveda has a global presence in over 74 countries through academic and scientific collaborations with prominent organizations like the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, FIGZ Germany, AIST Japan, Western Sydney University Australia, UHN Canada, and national institutions like IGIB, AIIMS, CSIR, IIT, and others.
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MV/AKS
(Release ID: 2066015) Visitor Counter : 32
Source: Government of India (2)
Posted On: 18 OCT 2024 2:58PM by PIB Delhi
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has today issued the Consultation Paper on ‘Regulatory framework for Ground-based Broadcasters’.
The Guidelines issued by MIB from time to time for Uplinking and Down linking of Satellite Television channels in India, containing the terms and conditions for TV broadcasting services, make it mandatory for the broadcasters to use satellite medium i.e. uplinking and down linking of television channels through satellite, for providing their channels to the Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs).
The advancement of technology has made it feasible for the broadcasters to provide their television channels to DPOs terrestrially also i.e. using ground-based technologies. Like traditional TV channels, which are uplinked and downlinked through satellite, the terrestrially transmitted channels may also be carried on multiple DPO networks simultaneously and the DPOs can retransmit them on commercial terms to the subscribers. Therefore, there is a need to have a regulatory framework enabling use of ground-based technologies.
TRAI had forwarded its recommendations on Regulatory Framework for Platform Services to MIB on 19.11.2014, which included certain recommendations related to ‘Regulatory framework for Ground-based broadcasters’.
In this regard, vide its letter dated 22.5.2024, MIB has, inter-alia stated that the recommendations in relation to regulation of platform services have been examined and the guidelines for the same have been issued with the approval of the Competent Authority on 30.11.2022. MIB has further mentioned that during the course of the examination of the recommendations of TRAI for the Ground Based Broadcasters in the Ministry, it was felt that the context in which the recommendations were made by TRAI may have changed since the year 2014 and there may be a need to look into the matter afresh. Vide the aforesaid letter, MIB has requested TRAI for fresh review and recommendations on “Regulatory Framework for Ground Based Broadcasters” under Section 11(1)(a) of TRAI Act, 1997.
Accordingly, the Consultation Paper on ‘Regulatory framework for Ground-based Broadcasters ‘is being released for seeking comments from stakeholders. The consultation paper may be accessed on TRAI’s website, http://www.trai.gov. Written comments on the consultation paper are invited from the stakeholders by 15.11.2024. Counter comments, if any, may be submitted by 29.11.2024. The stakeholders are requested to submit their comments and counter-comments, preferably in electronic form, on the email- IDadvbcs-2@trai.gov.in and jtadv-bcs@trai.gov.in.
For any clarification/information, Shri Deepak Sharma, Advisor (B&CS) may be contacted at Tel. No.: +91-11-20907774.
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SB/DP/ARJ
(Release ID: 2066034) Visitor Counter : 48
Source: Government of India (2)
Posted On: 18 OCT 2024 3:05PM by PIB Delhi
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY NRLM) under Ministry of Rural Development signed Memorandum of Understanding with nine Public Sector Banks and one Private Bank. These Banks are Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Punjab National Bank, UCO Bank and IDBI Bank Limited.
These Banks have designed specific products for financing individual women entrepreneurs under the fold of DAY-NRLM. The loan products so designed will help women avail bigger ticket size loans for scaling up their enterprises. This move is in lines with the realisation of goal of making Lakhpati Didi, as announced by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
Secretary, Rural Development Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh advised Banks to leverage this opportunity to fund women SHG members with improved assets to start their economic activities in rural areas. This initiative will go a long way in providing employment in the rural areas and a number of women SHG members will be benefitted.
Additional Secretary, Rural Development Shri Charanjit Singh said that banks to make their branch officials aware about the specific products designed by them so that the rural women do not face difficulty in getting finance at the branch level.
DAY NRLM has witnessed SHG Bank linkage grow leaps and bounds as the programme evolved. More than Rs. 9.5 crore loans have been extended by Banks to the self-help groups since the start of the Mission. The move of extending individual loans is a strategic shift in the programme indicating how women have graduated from small enterprises and are aspiring to scale up higher order enterprises.
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SS
(Release ID: 2066039) Visitor Counter : 85
Source: Government of India (2)
Deep-Tech challenges unveiled to drive major advancements in areas critical to defence infrastructure
“Need to achieve advancements in both incremental and disruptive tech through out-of-the-box thinking & latest innovations”
Cutting-edge indigenous technologies developed under TDF scheme handed over to users
Posted On: 18 OCT 2024 3:00PM by PIB Delhi
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has called upon the private sector to move forward from ‘participation’ to ‘taking lead’ in the defence sector, assuring the Government’s full support to make India an innovation & technology hub and one of the strongest countries in the world. He was addressing scientists, industry leaders, academia, start-ups, MSMEs and young entrepreneurs during Twaral, a DRDO-Industry Workshop on Defence Technology Acceleration organised at DRDO Bhawan in New Delhi on October 18, 2024.
Sharing insights on the transformation of the defence sector in the recent past, Raksha Mantri stated that, today, technology has transformed conventional warfare into unconventional warfare. “New dimensions have been added to modern-day warfare such as drones, cyber warfare, bio-weapons and space defence. In this transformative phase, R&D in defence will definitely make the defence sector stronger. It is heartening to witness our scientists, industrialists, academia, start-ups, MSMEs and young entrepreneurs working together in this endeavour. It is time for the private sector to take lead as it has the ability to absorb rapid changes and create new innovations,” he said.
Shri Rajnath Singh termed the adoption of unconventional ideas, not yet known to the world, as the only way to progress in unconventional warfare. Acknowledging it as a tough task, he stated that the Government, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, will continue providing all necessary support to the youth, scientists, industrialists and MSMEs in this endeavour.
Raksha Mantri reiterated the Government’s commitment to make the defence sector more innovative and technology-oriented. Highlighting the consistent efforts being made by DRDO to strengthen the R&D environment and promote scientific temperament, he said: “Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme is providing up to 90% of the total project cost as grant support to eligible industries. The total support is up to Rs 50 crore, a good amount for any MSME and start-up to invest in defence R&D. Since its launch six years ago, 79 projects have been sanctioned, of which, technology has successfully been developed in 18 projects.”
As part of the event, Shri Rajnath Singh launched ‘Dare to Dream 5.0’ to encourage next generation of innovators & start-ups to come forward with transformative ideas for defence applications. The fifth edition of DRDO’s innovation contest aims to generate cutting-edge solutions for India to progress further in its pursuit to achieve ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence technologies.
Raksha Mantri also felicitated the winners of ‘Dare to Dream 4.0’, recognising individual innovators, start-ups and MSMEs for disruptive solutions and innovations in the fields of countermeasures for drones and swarm of drones; advanced acoustic system to locate gunfire, directed energy technologies, cognitive listening device, target seeking & proximity sensing, free-space laser communication system, multi-terrain multi-utility robot among others.
Shri Rajnath Singh described the challenges as a testament to the commitment of the industrial ecosystem of the country to protect the future of the defence sector. “Like our brave soldiers, scientists, industry leaders, academia, start-ups, MSMEs and entrepreneurs too are the warriors of the country, prepared to complete every assigned task,” he said.
Raksha Mantri laid emphasis on the need to achieve advancements in both incremental and disruptive technologies within the defence sector. The solutions to challenges obtained through initiatives such as ‘Dare to Dream’ bridge the critical gap between the two types of technologies, he said. He called upon the scientists, start-ups & young entrepreneurs to think out-of-the-box and come out with latest innovations as if it were their habit to accept & overcome challenges.
Shri Rajnath Singh exhorted the private sector to move in line with the unprecedented speed with which the technological changes are taking place across the globe. He urged them to ensure, through timely assessment, that a technology does not become outdated when it is rolled out. He also called for development of projects, under TDF, based on cutting edge tech, and devising a system of comprehensive scan within the scheme to avoid duplication of technologies.
Deep-Tech Challenges
Several challenges on Disruptive, Emerging, Enabling and Pioneering Technologies (Deep-Tech) were also launched to drive major advancements in areas critical to the country’s defence infrastructure. The focus on Deep-Tech emphasises the need for India to develop and harness breakthrough technologies to stay at the forefront of defence innovation. The challenges are:
Tech handed over to end-users
Several cutting-edge indigenous technologies developed under the TDF scheme were also handed over to the users, including DRDO and Armed Forces, in the presence of Shri Rajnath Singh. These innovations, created by startups and MSMEs with DRDO, mark a significant step in the country’s journey towards self-reliance, enhancing national security. The technologies are:
Twaral
The DRDO-Industry Workshop on Defence Technology Acceleration brought together all the stakeholders of the innovation ecosystem to explore strategies for expediting the development of critical defence technologies. The discussions were centered on bridging the gap between research efforts and real-world application, with a strong focus on collaboration across sectors. Setting the foundation for future innovations, the workshop underscored the critical role of DeepTech (R&D) in advancing national security capabilities.
The Amended Standard Operating Procedures for TDF, aimed at simplifying the process for start-ups and MSMEs to collaborate with DRDO, was also released. These updated procedures are designed to foster a more transparent and streamlined approach for innovators, enabling easier access to opportunities for contributing to national defense projects.
Two in-depth panel discussions were also held. The first, on Critical and Emerging Tech Collaboration, explored the potential for international R&D partnerships and the sharing of Intellectual Property in military technology. The second discussion addressed the theme of self-reliance in defence technology and manufacturing, focusing on the need for innovation and strong R&D to build a sustainable and robust domestic ecosystem.
Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat praised the winners of ‘Dare to Dream 4.0’, emphasising the importance of fostering homegrown talent in building a stronger and self-reliant defence sector. The winners’ contributions serve as a testament to India’s burgeoning innovation ecosystem, he said.
Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Lt Gen JP Mathew and other senior civil & military officials of Ministry of Defence were present on the occasion.
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VK/SR/Savvy
(Release ID: 2066036) Visitor Counter : 25
Source: Government of India (2)
Posted On: 18 OCT 2024 3:07PM by PIB Delhi
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission under Ministry of Rural Development organised a National Conclave on Women led Entrepreneurship yesterday in New Delhi. Secretary, Rural Development Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh presented awards to the Banks. Additional Secretary, Rural Development Shri Charanjit Singh exchanged MoU with Banks. Joint Secretary, Ms. Smriti Sharan and other officers were also present in the conclave. The conclave was organised to give a push to women entrepreneurship by engaging Banks for extending loans for individual women entrepreneurs.
Twenty banks were facilitated for their outstanding performance in SHG Bank linkage for the financial year 2023-24. Online integration with Jansamarth portal for SHG was launched during the conclave. Financial Literacy initiative with the support of Reserve Bank of India under the Depositors’ Education and Awareness Fund was also commenced
Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, Rural Development presenting awards to the Banks
Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh said that women show high degree of empathy, ownership, commitment, honesty, transparency and invest substantial time and energy to implement an intervention of their interest. Banks have a crucial role to play in advancement of women led enterprises.
Shri Charanjit Singh advised Banks to make their branch officials aware about the specific products designed by them, so that the rural women do not face difficulty in getting finance at the branch level.
Shri Charanjit Singh, Additional Secretary, Rural Development exchanging MoU with Banks.
Ms. Smriti Sharan said that there is a need to create and nurture an ecosystem which instils confidence among women to pursue entrepreneurship. She urged all stakeholders including Banks, Regulator and other partners present to create a platform for these women entrepreneurs to address the challenges faced by them.
The conclave witnessed a vibrant panel discussion on “Pathways from Financial Inclusion to Economic Prosperity- Vikshit Bharat@2047”. Esteemed panelists from Banks, IIM Kolkata, Fintech, State Rural Livelihoods Mission and IFMR (a research organisation) deliberated on ways to conceptualise a framework for creating an enabling ecosystem for nurturing women led enterprises in the rural areas. Active deliberations were made on demand side and supply side issues and the possible ways to bridge the gaps.
DAY NRLM has made substantial strides in the area of financial inclusion. The conclave emphasised on the need to make a shift from group lending to individual lending in order to meet the aspirations of women entrepreneurs and helping them upscale their enterprises. In order to realise the vision of Prime Minister on creation of 3 crore lakhpati didis, Bank financing has a significant role.
The conclave had participation from Reserve Bank of India, NABARD, Public Sector Banks, Private Banks, Regional Rural Banks, State Co-operative Banks, State Rural Livelihood Missions, various Ministries/Departments of Government of India and CSO partners.
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SS
(Release ID: 2066041) Visitor Counter : 66
Source: Government of India (2)
Posted On: 18 OCT 2024 3:12PM by PIB Delhi
In a significant advancement for the semiconductor industry, researchers have unveiled novel insights into the mechanisms that limit electron mobility in semiconductors. The study which represents a major leap forward in understanding the electronic properties of semiconductors, holds promise for developing more efficient electronic devices.
Semiconductors form the backbone of modern electronics, powering everything from smartphones and computers to advanced medical devices and space technologies. The search for new semiconductor materials has intensified as the demand for faster, more efficient, and more reliable electronic devices continues to grow. Scandium Nitride (ScN), a rocksalt semiconductor, has emerged as a promising candidate for next-generation electronics due to its high thermal stability, robustness, and electronic properties. However, despite its potential, the practical application of ScN in electronic devices has been hindered due to its relatively lower electron mobility. This key factor influences the speed and efficiency of semiconductor devices and researchers had been curious to unravel why the mobility of the electrons are limited.
Scientists from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) explored the factors that limit electron mobility in ScN. Their research spearheaded by Associate Professor Bivas Saha focused on identifying and analysing the dominant scattering mechanisms that impeded the flow of electrons and reduced their mobility. Through a combination of theoretical analysis and experimental validation, the researchers were able to pinpoint the specific scattering mechanisms at play. Their results showed that though interactions between electrons and longitudinal optical phonon modes, often described as the Fröhlich interactions set an intrinsic upper bound for ScN’s electron mobility, ionized-impurity and grain-boundary scatterings significantly reduced mobility. Therefore, depositing single-crystalline ScN that are devoid of impurities and defects is expected to increase its mobility significantly.
“The findings from this study have far-reaching implications for the global semiconductor industry. As manufacturers seek to push the boundaries of electronic device performance, the insights provided by our research could lead to significant advancements in the design and fabrication of ScN-based components,” said Prof. Bivas Saha. “By addressing the identified scattering mechanisms, it may be possible to engineer ScN materials with improved electron mobility, making them more suitable for a wide range of high-performance applications. These could include thermoelectricity, neuromorphic computing, high mobility electron transistor, and Schottky diode devices,” Sourav Rudra, the lead author of this study pointed out.
As the semiconductor industry continues to evolve, the findings from this study are expected to serve as a foundation for future research into scandium nitride and other semiconductors. Moreover, JNCASR’s work in the field of semiconductor materials is poised to have a lasting impact on the development of future technologies, contributing to India’s vision of becoming a global leader in science and innovation. Apart from JNCASR, Prof. Samuel Poncé, a researcher from the Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium also participated in this study.
The research findings have been published in the journal Nano Letters under the title “Dominant Scattering Mechanisms in Limiting the Electron Mobility of Scandium Nitride.”
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NKR/AG
(Release ID: 2066046) Visitor Counter : 42
Source: Government of India (2)
Posted On: 18 OCT 2024 3:09PM by PIB Delhi
The National Innovation Foundation (NIF) – India, an autonomous Institution of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India organized an India International Science Festival (IISF) outreach event in Amarapur, Gandhinagar on October 17, 2024. Nearly 500 students of varying age groups (14-18 years) participated in this outreach program.
The IISF celebrates the country’s scientific achievements every year and creates opportunities for collaboration and innovation. A series of outreach activities of the 10th edition of the India International Science Festival (IISF) across the country are being scheduled by Public Institutions.
The 10th Edition of IISF will bring together scientists, industry leaders, students, and the public to explore the transformative power of science. The event will fuel discussions that will shape India’s future as a global leader in science and technology.
The students who participated in the outreach programme were made aware of the genesis of IISF, its journey since the year 2015, the various accomplishments on its way and details of the upcoming IISF 2024.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Arvind C Ranade, Director, NIF, exhorted the students to explore various resources related to IISF like the web portal (www.iisf2024.in), news articles in print, electronic and social media and gain familiarity with its various programs which are being organized.
He further elaborated about the Mission of IISF 2024– A Prosperous Bharat in Harmony with Modern Infrastructure and Nature, Giving Opportunities for All Citizens of All Regions to Reach Their Potential through Science and Technology. The idea and underlying rationale towards Transforming India into a Science and Technology driven global manufacturing hub was touched upon as well.
He encouraged students to reach out to NIF for their queries and facilitation of participation in programs like Student Science Village and requested media to help in disseminating the message.
Dr. Madhvi Joshi, Joint Director, Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of Gujarat (GoG) also urged the students to actively take part in the upcoming IISF. Shri Jignesh Borisagar, Prant Secretary, VIBHA and Shri Amrutbhai Patel, Director – Trustee, Grambharti Sanstha were also present on this occasion.
An exhibition demonstrating NIF’s latest innovations was also organized on the occasion.
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NKR/AG
(Release ID: 2066043) Visitor Counter : 45
Source: Reserve Bank of India
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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated October 10, 2024, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹1.00 lakh (Rupees One Lakh only) on Andhra Pragathi Grameena Bank, Andhra Pradesh (the bank) for non-compliance with certain directions issued by RBI on ‘Strengthening of Prudential Norms- Provisioning Asset Classification and Exposure Limit’ read with ‘Income Recognition, Asset Classification and Provisioning Norms-Guidelines (IRAC norms)’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers vested in RBI, conferred under section 47A(1)(c) read with sections 46(4)(i) and 51(1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. The statutory inspection of the bank was conducted by NABARD with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2023. Based on supervisory findings of non-compliance with RBI directions and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for its failure to comply with the said directions. After considering the bank’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made by it during the personal hearing, RBI found, inter alia, that the following charge against the bank was sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty. The bank had not classified certain loan accounts as non-performing assets in accordance with the IRAC norms. This action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers. Further, imposition of this monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the bank. (Puneet Pancholy) Press Release: 2024-2025/1335 |
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on October 16, 2024, Tierra Lynn Scott, age 30 from Tokio, ND, made her initial appearance and was arraigned in federal court. The United States District Court for the District of North Dakota unsealed an Indictment revealing that a federal grand jury indicted Scott for Involuntary Manslaughter and three counts of Child Neglect in Indian country. Scott was detained and trial has been scheduled for December 10, 2024.
The Indictment in this case is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
On August 17, 2024, law enforcement responded to a residence in Fort Totten, North Dakota, where an adult male was later pronounced dead. The investigation revealed the man had been struck and run over by a motor vehicle driven by Scott. The indictment alleges Scott was under the influence of intoxicating liquor and in possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia and Scott was backing and otherwise driving recklessly, and without due care for the rights and safety of others. The investigation further revealed Scott had three minor children in the vehicle with her at the time.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lori H. Conroy.
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Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
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SIOUX FALLS – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced four individuals convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. Nathan Johnson, age 39, from Denver, Colorado, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments on June 17, 2024. He was sentenced to 36 years and eight months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200. Johnson was sentenced in September of 2024. Michele Johnson, age 48, from Steen, Minnesota, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments on July 29, 2024. She was sentenced to 31 years and eight months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200. She was sentenced in October of 2024. Jesse Richmond, age 51, from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments on June 18, 2024. He was sentenced to 24 years and four months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200. Richmond was sentenced in September of 2024. Tony Hunter, age 53, from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance on May 29, 2024. He was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Hunter was sentenced in September of 2024. Nathan Johnson, Michele Johnson, Matthew Thomas, Jesse Richmond, and Tony Hunter were originally indicted by a federal grand jury in August of 2023. A third superseding indictment was filed in May of 2024 adding defendant, Alfred Siani. From December of 2022 to July of 2023, the above-mentioned defendants alongside numerous other co-conspirators transported large loads of methamphetamine from California to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Nathan Johnson, acting as the leader of the conspiracy, would travel from his home in Denver, Colorado to meet with his source of supply in Southern California. While there, Nathan Johnson would receive approximately 150-pounds worth of methamphetamine which would go on to be further distributed in Denver, Colorado, as well as South Dakota. While in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Nathan Johnson would distribute bulk amounts of methamphetamine to his co-conspirators: Jesse Richmond, Tony Hunter, and Michele Johnson. Richmond, Hunter, and Michele Johnson would go on to further distribute the methamphetamine throughout the Sioux Falls community and into southwest Minnesota. The amount of methamphetamine involved was in excess of 300 pounds and over $450,000 in drug proceeds were laundered during the existence of this conspiracy. “The multi-decade sentences obtained thus far illustrate the seriousness of the crimes and the dogged commitment of every agency involved to focus our resources on those criminals who choose to distribute dangerous substances in our state,” said United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “We are grateful for the collaboration of more than a dozen federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and joint task forces, as well as out-of-state agencies, which resulted in the takedown of a network of drug dealers responsible for bringing hundreds of pounds of illegal narcotics into South Dakota. We are fortunate to have such dedicated men and women doing the difficult investigative and prosecutorial work required to keep our communities safe.” “These sentences should serve as a wake-up call to anyone transporting or distributing methamphetamine into South Dakota communities,” Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Steve Bell said. “These four people are facing a combined 119 years in federal prison. Each sentence should provide the offender with ample time to reflect on the damage and destruction they’ve inflicted on so many lives.” This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (including the Rocky Mountain Field Division, Omaha Field Division, Mexico City Country Office, Los Angeles Field Division, Special Operations Division), as well as South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, FBI, South Dakota Highway Patrol, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigation team, El Paso Intelligence Center, and collaboration received from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Marshals Service, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, Sioux Falls Police Department, Mitchell Police Department, Denver Police Department, Las Vegas Metro Police Department, Worthington Police Department, Brookings Police Department, Rock County Sheriff’s Office, Lake Superior Violent Offender Task Force, Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force, Minnesota River Valley Drug Task Forde, and the Colorado Department of Corrections. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen prosecuted the case. All four defendants were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. |
MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
The BRICS University Rectors’ Forum has started at Moscow State University. It is attended by 250 heads and representatives of universities from 20 countries – all BRICS countries (Russia, Brazil, Egypt, India, Iran, China, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia and South Africa), as well as Belarus, Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Palestine and Sudan.
It is important for us to work together to prepare new generations of personnel who are capable of not only achieving outstanding scientific results, but also increasingly feeling their responsibility for the future of science and humanity. The modern university community, as we see it, is open to equal, mutually beneficial partnership and cooperation, to mutual enrichment with the experience of developing universities in different countries, – the President of the Russian Union of Rectors, Rector of Moscow State University Viktor Sadovnichy greeted the participants.
Deputy Minister of Science and Education of the Russian Federation Konstantin Mogilevsky emphasized: Education and science are becoming the most important tools for finding joint answers to global challenges such as climate change, economic inequality and global pandemics. It is thanks to the unification of the BRICS countries that we can implement practical initiatives of mutual interest.
In his welcoming speech, the Vice Minister of Education of Brazil, Alexandre Brasil Carvalho da Fonseca, noted: The internationalization of education is a global perspective, and we aim to involve all BRICS countries in this process. We understand that the experience of all participants is a valuable resource for creating structures aimed at the internationalization of our activities. Our goal is to ensure access to higher education for Brazilians of different social classes, regardless of their status. We are confident that this cooperation will contribute to the improvement of research activities in universities and the improvement of the quality of life of the population within the BRICS.
Welcoming speeches on the importance of inter-university cooperation were delivered by the Rector of Ain Shams University Saleh Hasem Mustafa Abdelrazek from Egypt, the Rector of the University of Sharjah Hamid Midwil Al-Naimi from the UAE and the President of the Association of Arab Universities Amr Ezzat Salama.
Special Representative of the President of Russia for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy noted that the mechanism of regular dialogue at the level of ministers of education and enlightenment, ministers of science, technology and innovation, heads of academies of sciences of the BRICS countries is currently functioning effectively. Interaction is ongoing through the alliance of cooperation in the field of technical and vocational education and training.
We are confident that this event, unprecedented in its scale and nature, will open a new chapter in the development of scientific and educational cooperation in BRICS, which will be supplemented by creative innovative solutions and joint achievements, he added.
Vice President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vladislav Panchenko emphasized the importance of the BRICS association: Cooperation between the academies of sciences and universities of the BRICS countries opens up enormous prospects for us. The exchange of young scientists and students allows us not only to solve modern scientific and social problems, but also to achieve significant success within the framework of our association. We pay great attention to this process, discussing the importance of the inextricable link between science and education, which was emphasized at the recent meeting of the heads of the academies of sciences of the BRICS countries in Moscow, timed to coincide with the three hundredth anniversary of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
The Polytechnic delegation at the forum was headed by Vice-Rector for International Affairs Dmitry Arsenyev. The busy program between business sessions included negotiations with partner universities and national associations. Following the forum, agreements were signed with leading universities of the BRICS countries – Indore Institute of Technology (India), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, State University of Campinas, State University of Sao Paulo “Julio de Mesquita Filho” (Brazil), Isfahan University of Technology (Iran), Gomel State Technical University named after P. O. Sukhoi (Belarus).
We see significant interest from Brazil, India, and the Arab world in establishing strong long-term relations with Russia. It is gratifying that the Polytechnic University is known in these countries. This means that we are pursuing the right policy of forming our international reputation and promoting the university on the world stage. The agreements reached today create space for opportunities and development potential for us in the BRICS countries, – commented Dmitry Arsenyev.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: China State Council Information Office
Chinese Premier Li Qiang attends the 23rd Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Islamabad, Pakistan, Oct. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Tao)
At the just-concluded meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan, government leaders from Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members called for deepening cooperation in a range of areas including economy and trade, security, connectivity, energy, finance and green development.
Participants to the 23rd Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Member States of the SCO agreed that in the face of a complex and volatile international environment, all parties need to actively implement the outcomes of the Astana Summit, work closely in solidarity and coordination.
Since its inception in 2001, the SCO has been committed to strengthening mutual trust, dialogue and cooperation, with its ever-increasing role in bolstering security cooperation and economic integration for its members.
ENHANCING SECURITY, STABILITY
“From the very beginning, the SCO Charter was signed based on the fundamental principle of cooperation in countering the types of threats that are still relevant today — terrorism, separatism and extremism, as well as drug trafficking, transnational crime and illegal migration,” said Evgenia Makhmutova, associate professor at the department of political science of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation.
The member states work on the basis of a list of principles, among which are mutual respect for sovereignty, and non-interference in internal affairs, the scholar told Xinhua.
With effective multilateral cooperation and coordination, the SCO has been playing a positive role in improving security situation of the region over the past more than two decades.
Through its Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure, SCO member countries have been able to enhance intelligence sharing and operational coordination, hence more effective efforts in combating terrorism.
Another important aspect of security cooperation is the exchange of experience and best practices in law enforcement, which encompasses training programs, staff exchanges and technical assistance among member states.
Energy security also holds an important place on the SCO agenda. In recent years, efforts have been directed toward creating a unified energy market and developing joint projects in the energy field.
Under evolving circumstances featuring new geopolitical factors and technological advancements, the SCO is also adapting its activities to new challenges, such as protectionism, cybersecurity and climate change, making the organization more flexible and capable of effectively responding to modern-day threats.
TOWARD ECONOMIC INTEGRATION
Over the years, the SCO has made remarkable achievements in boosting trade and facilitating economic integration among member states.
Sohail Mahmood, former foreign secretary of Pakistan and director general of think tank the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, said that trade among SCO members had grown significantly since its founding, reflecting the organization’s growing influence and global relevance.
As a member state, Pakistan values the SCO mechanism for securing economic cooperation. Amina Masood, professor of the faculty of social sciences of International Islamic University Islamabad, said it’s important to take advantage of the SCO meeting in Islamabad to increase the country’s trade and technical partnership with Central Asian and South Asian countries.
Economic cooperation has “not only greatly supported socio-economic development in the SCO community, but also contributed to regional and global economic growth and development,” the professor said.
The 10-member SCO, which covers over half of the Eurasian landmass, has maintained trade growth and closer economic interactions thanks to better connectivity provided by enhanced infrastructure.
In the region, landmark projects, notably the China-Central Asia Gas Pipeline, the Chinese-built new North-South highway in Kyrgyzstan, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor and the Eurasian transport corridor, have greatly facilitated economic exchanges.
At the same time, with a large combined population, the SCO represents vast market potential. Collective economic development of all members helps fuel demand for goods and services, which in turn drives vigorous growth of the region’s economies.
GROWING INFLUENCE, VITALITY
Over the past two decades, the SCO has maintained its vitality and become an influential regional and international organization in an international landscape fraught with changes and turbulence.
The Shanghai Spirit ensures that every member state has an equal voice, regardless of economic scale, military potential, or international influence, setting an example of multilateral cooperation.
“As the world today is going through a phase of disintegration of the Western-centred system of international security, and the countries of the Global South are striving for the status of equal and sovereign world players, the potential for the SCO to become a platform for the integration of non-Western forces is noticeably expanding,” Makhmutova told Xinhua.
“The growing number of countries interested in this format undoubtedly enhances the status and credibility of the organization,” said the Russian scholar.
As its influence grows, the scope of cooperation for SCO, which currently groups China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus, with two observer countries and 14 dialogue partners, is also expanding, thereby adding more vitality to the organization.
China, the SCO rotating presidency for 2024-2025, has put forward a central theme of “SCO Year of Sustainable Development.”
Under this theme, closer cooperation will be fostered in a wide range of areas, such as poverty alleviation, food security, public health, development financing, climate change and green development, industrialization, digital economy and connectivity.
Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI
Radio Pakistan
Lahore (Agenzia Fides) – “It is really shocking for us that the controversial Indian Islamic preacher Zakir Naik has been invited by the Pakistani government and is appearing in the main Pakistani cities to sow religious hatred,” said to Fides the Dominican Father James Channan, who directs the “Peace Center” in Lahore, which organizes numerous conferences, dialogue forums and interreligious meetings. Father Channan is very concerned about “the denigrations that are being made against Christianity, Judaism and Hinduism, which are very painful”. “We do not understand why Naik is given so much space: he has also preached in the Royal Mosque in Lahore, in front of 150,000 people and hundreds of thousands of Muslim believers connected via the Internet, insulting and ridiculing various religions, causing resentment even among Shiites and Ahmadis.” “His words are causing religious tension and polarization in Pakistan that can turn into violence,” warns the Dominican priest, noting that Naik’s speeches “have caused concern among Christians, Hindus and Sikhs.” “He has uttered words of contempt towards the Trinity, Jesus Christ, the Bible, the Torah and the sacred texts of the Hindus… We are very bitter because these interventions are destroying the constant work of dialogue and peaceful relations that we have patiently built in Pakistan,” laments Father Channan. Leaders of various religious communities condemned Zakir Naik’s hate speech and derogatory remarks and expressed their deep concern and disappointment: “His presence os detrimental to efforts to promote harmony and interfaith coexistence. The Pakistani government has the duty to prevent hatred and violence and ensure the safety and security of minority communities. The Ministry of Harmony should promote tolerance, understanding and respect among different faith communities. We believe that dialogue and cooperation between religions are essential for building a peaceful and harmonious society. Therefore, inviting a controversial leader is an unclear step,” the priest said. Zakir Naik is known for his sectarian speeches and his appearances have already been banned from countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the United Kingdom. “So why not invite the Imam of the Kaaba in Mecca, who always proclaims a message of peace and tolerance?” asks Father Channan, pointing to the deep disappointment of many Sunni Muslim believers and religious leaders who also do not appreciate Zakir Naik’s approach. Meanwhile, Christian, Hindu and Sikh leaders boycotted an interreligious conference organized by the Ministry of Harmony in Lahore in recent days. “We wanted to send a signal. The state and religions must work together to promote dialogue and peace and not sow hatred. We are and will always be ready to work together with good will and make our contribution to dialogue, respect, tolerance, peace and harmony,” he concluded. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 18/10/2024)
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