Bill to be in parliament to ensure implementation of Namami Gange Mission: Uma Bharati
Union Minister for water resources Uma Bharti has said that the government will bring a bill in the parliament under consultation with the concerned five states to ensure the implementation of Namami Gange Mission and to keep river Ganga clean and pollution free.
Addressing a Open Defection Free (ODF) viallge Convention in Allahabad today, she said that people’s participation is essential to achieve the objectives of a clean and ever-flowing river. She said that government has adopted policy of zero liquid discharge to keep Ganga pollution free.
Ms Bharti said, government has also sought cooperation of Mathura Refinery, Railways, and Power Ministry for reuse and recycle of treated water from sewage treatment plants.
Representatives of 1651 village panchayats of 52 districts from five states are taking part in this conference. These panchayats are situated along Ganga River.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister for drinking water and sanitation Narendra Singh Tomar said that more than four thousand villages will become open defection free by the end of this year. These villages come under the Ganga river area in fifty two districts.
Earlier, after leading pledge taking ceremony at Chandrasekhar Azad park, Ms Uma Bharti reiterated her commitment for clean Ganga and hoped that targets for ODF villages will be met in these gram panchayats as per the programme.
Ms Bharti said that government is working to make sure that Ganga river remains clean from its source uptill its last merging point at Gangasagar.
In the convention district collectors and senior officials of 52 districts, panchayat representatives, senior government officials of concerned ministries and departments also took art in this convention.
President Xi Jinping assures China-Myanmar comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership
President Xi Jinping Friday pledged to promote the China-Myanmar comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and bring more tangible benefits to the people of both countries. Xi made the remarks during a meeting with Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, who began a five-day official visit to China on Wednesday.
Xi welcomed Suu Kyi’s visit and praised her efforts to advance the China-Myanmar friendship, saying that China stands ready to work with Myanmar to ensure the two peoples will always be good neighbours, friends, brothers and partners.
BRICS women Parliamentarian’s forum begins in Jaipur
A two-day meeting of BRICS women parliamentarian’s forum began today in Jaipur. In her inaugural address Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said, government has chosen the path of removing poverty by empowering the poor. She said women are most vulnerable and therefore are most at risk from climate change. She said the BRICS countries need to strengthen cooperative mechanisms and to innovate new institutional means for meeting the needs of the member countries.
Earlier, T R Modise, the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, South Africa said, this forum will help to have one voice as women Parliamentarians to organise, mobilise, motivate and advance women.
AIR correspondent reports that total 43 Parliamentarians from BRICS countries including 28 MPs from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, are participating in the meeting where sustainable development goals are being discussed.
Mr. Dmitry Rogozin, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia calls on Prime Minister
Mr. Dmitry Rogozin, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today.
He conveyed President Putin’s greetings to Prime Minister and briefed him on the progress in ongoing projects between India and Russia.
Prime Minister described Russia as a time-tested and reliable friend and reaffirmed the shared commitment with President Putin to expand, strengthen and deepen bilateral engagement across all domains. He recalled his recent meeting with President Putin in Tashkent in June and via video-link for dedication of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 at the beginning of this month. Prime Minister conveyed that India is eagerly awaiting President Putin’s visit to India.
Mr. Bimalendra Nidhi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs of Nepal calls on PM
Mr. Bimalendra Nidhi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs of Nepal calls on PM
Mr. Bimalendra Nidhi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs of Nepal called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today.
The Prime Minister congratulated Mr. Bimalendra Nidhi on assuming office as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs of Nepal. The Prime Minister also conveyed his greetings and best wishes to the new Government of Nepal, led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.
Mr. Bimalendra Nidhi briefed the Prime Minister about developments in Nepal.
Stating that the relations between India and Nepal were not merely between the two Governments, but between the people of both countries, the Prime Minister reiterated that India is committed to strengthening these traditional bonds of friendship and kinship with the people of Nepal.
The Prime Minister said that India is fully committed to support the Government and the people of Nepal in the post-earthquake reconstruction efforts.
The Prime Minister also conveyed an invitation to the Prime Minister of Nepal to visit India at his earliest convenience.
60 UNICEF and Radio converge to improve Routine Immunisation
Bhubaneshwar, 20thAugust, 2016:Over 60 radio professionals from Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and New Delhi participated in a two-day brainstorming workshop focussing on increased awareness on Routine Immunisation. The radio personnel represented All India Radio, Private FM and district radio. The workshop was organised by UNICEF in partnership with Government of India, All India Radio and Association of Radio Operators of India in the backdrop of the Mission Indradhanush Phase III.
In his opening message, Dr. M.K. Aggarwal, Deputy Commissioner, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India said, “Mission Indradhanush (MI) Phase III aims to reach partially vaccinated children or completely unvaccinated (missed) children in 216 high focus districts across the country.” In his telephonic message, he highlighted the need for more innovative and nuanced programming in local dialects from the high focus MI districts
The participants created over 200 messages and slogans and more than 20 short radio clips reflecting key barriers that impede progress in achieving full immunization, i.e. lack of awareness among mothers and caregivers to complete full immunisation of children under five years; fear of vaccinations following side effects; geographical barriers and impact of migration on getting children fully immunized.
Speaking at the closing function, Ms Yumi Bae, Chief, UNICEF Odisha said, “I sincerely appreciate the efforts made by radio professionals in crafting messages to create awareness on routine immunization for the most hard-to-reach communities. More efforts are needed to link parents and caregivers with health services. Radio can play an important role in increasing the demand for services that help reduce child mortality in states like Odisha.”
The workshop also encourages radio professionals from across the country to submit entries for the second series of theRadio4Child Awards, instituted by UNICEF in 2014 around the importance of routine immunization. The last date for entries for this year is September 15, 2016.
Background:
Immunization is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions that currently averts an estimated 2 to 3 million deaths every year1 globally. India has one of the largest immunization programmes in the world, in terms of number of beneficiaries, geographical coverage and quantities of vaccine used, with nearly 27 million new born babies targeted for immunization each year. Over 9 million immunization sessions are held every year across the country. However, despite this extensive coverage, only 65% of the children in India received all vaccines during the first year of their life. To tackle the issue, the Government of India has launched Mission Indradhanush, a focused RI campaign, in pre-identified 216 districts (phase 3) from across the country which account for majority of all unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children.
UNICEF has leveraged its strategic partnerships to organize interactions and round table conferences with radio professionals in 2014-15, over 12 capacity building workshops have been conducted which have drawn participation of nearly 180 district and state level RJs from the nine priority Routine Immunization states. This has resulted in tapping the medium for free airtime, with over 50 radio jockey mentions and 21 innovative jingles on the need for complete immunization.
Station Head, All India radio, Cuttack, Ms. Nirmala Dei, Director, Family Welfare, Government of Odisha, Ms. Anupam Nidhi, Head, CSR, Reliance, Mr. Padhi, veteran radio broadcaster, Mr. Uday Chawla, Secretary General, Association of Radio Operators India were present as panelists.
Dy Governor RBI Urjit R Patel,to be Next RBI Governor
Urjit R Patel, the deputy governor of Reserve Bank of India, will succeed Raghuram Rajan as the central bank chief in September. 52-year old Patel, an eminent economist, looks after Monetary Policy, Economic Policy Research, Statistics and Information Management, Deposit Insurance, Communication and Right to Information at RBI.He was also advisor of the Boston Consulting Group.
