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PMO-litterateur Dr Rajat Kumar passes away

PM condoles the passing away of eminent litterateur Dr. Rajat Kumar Kar

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the passing away of eminent litterateur Dr. Rajat Kumar Kar.

In a tweet, the Prime Minister said;

"Dr. Rajat Kumar Kar was a doyen of the cultural world. His multifaceted persona was seen in the manner in which he chronicled the Rath Yatra, wrote on diverse topics and worked to revive Pala art. Saddened by his passing away. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti."


VISIT OF INS KOLKATA TO DJIBOUTI

VISIT OF INS KOLKATA TO DJIBOUTI тАУ Odisha Diary

Visit of INS Kolkata to Djibouti

INS Kolkata visited┬аDjibouti┬аfrom 04 тАУ 07 May 22, ┬аas part of the anti-piracy patrol being undertaken by the┬аIndian Navy┬аto ensure safe transit of merchant vessels in the┬аGulf of Aden.

Why is it in news?

Captain Prashant Handu, the Commanding Officer called on Colonel Ahmed Daher Djama, Commander of the National Navy of Djibouti and Colonel Wais Omar Bogoreh, Commander-in-Chief of Djibouti Coast Guard during the visit. Both dignitaries also visited INS Kolkata, along with personnel from the Djibouti Navy and Coast Guard.

Highlights

The courtesy and camaraderie exhibited by the Djibouti Coast Guard and Navy to INS Kolkata reflects the strong friendship they share with the Indian Navy.


Ministry of Fisheries Animal Husbandry and Dairying-MVUs

Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying inaugurates Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs) to provide veterinary services at the farmerтАЩs doorstep

тАЬIn order to increase accessibility of veterinary services at farmerтАЩs doorsteps, funds for MVUs will be provided to the States/UTs under this scheme @ 1 MVU for every one lakh livestock populationтАЭ, says Shri Rupala

Toll free Animal Helpline Number 1962 to be used by farmers and dairy owners to utilize 290 Mobile veterinary vehicles for all veterinary services

Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying inaugurated┬аMobile Veterinary Units (MVUs) in Karnataka to provide veterinary services at the farmerтАЩs doorstep based on the phone calls received at the Call Centre from the farmers. Shri Basavaraj Bommai, Karnataka Chief Minister and Shri Prabhu B Chavan, Karnataka Minister for Animal Husbandry also graced the inauguration event.

Why is it in news?

The overall aim of the тАШLivestock Health & Disease Control programmeтАЩ of Government of India is to improve the animal health by way of implementation of prophylactic vaccination programmes against various diseases of livestock and poultry, capacity building, disease surveillance and strengthening of veterinary infrastructure.

Highlights

┬╖┬а┬а┬а┬а┬а┬а Shri Rupala during the inauguration event yesterday announced that┬аin order to increase accessibility of veterinary services at farmerтАЩs doorsteps, funds for Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs) will be provided to the States/UTs under this scheme @ 1 MVU for every one lakh livestock population. These MVUs will be customized fabricated vehicles for veterinary healthcare with equipment for diagnosis, treatment & minor surgery, audio visual aids and other basic requirements for treatment of animals.

┬╖┬а┬а┬а┬а┬а┬а The Minister said that this is┬аthe best programme to assist farmers and dairy owners to take care of the health of their dairy animals at the right time and to double the farmers income thereby uplifting their economic status┬а┬а by utilizing these Mobile Veterinary Vehicles in the right manner. ┬а┬а

┬╖┬а┬а┬а┬а┬а┬а The Minister urged the┬аfarmerтАЩs community and dairy owners and each and every one who involved in dairy activities to utilize the 290 Mobile veterinary vehicles for all the veterinary services by calling Toll free Animal Helpline Number 1962.

┬╖┬а┬а┬а┬а┬а┬а The Call Centre would function as the pivot whilst rendering the mobile veterinary services. It should receive calls from livestock rearers / animal owners and transmit them to the Veterinary doctor at the Call Centre. The decision of directing the MVU would be on the emergent nature of the veterinary case as decided by the Veterinary doctor at the Call Centre. The Call Centre should also confirm actual services through the UID and mobile number of the animal owner and share the data with the State concerned.

┬╖┬а┬а┬а┬а┬а┬а Karnataka State has been sanctioned with 290 Mobile veterinary vehicles against 289 lakh number of animal population,┬аwhich will operate throughout the State by Public Private Partnership. Rs 44.00 crores has been sanctioned to procure 275 new veterinary services fabricated vehicles @ Rs 16.00lakhs per vehicle. Remaining 15 already existing Pashu sanjivini vans will be utilized to match up 290 required vehicles.

┬╖┬а┬а┬а┬а┬а┬а The operationalization cost per vehicle is 18.72 lakhs per year which is about Rs 54.75 crore will be borne by the Central and state government in 60:40 ratio. Each vehicle has a Veterinary Doctor, Livestock Inspector and Driver cum┬аattendant┬аand having the facility of medicines, audio visual screen for extension activities, siren and many more as for the need. Government of India will release Rs 32.57 crore for operationalization cost for 290 vehicles and remaining Rs 28.15 crore has to be borne by State Government.┬а

Information about the scheme:

Establishment & Strengthening of Veterinary Hospitals & Dispensaries тАУ Mobile Veterinary Units (ESVHD-MVUs):┬а┬аThe component тАЬESVHFD-MVUтАЭ under Central Sector Scheme тАЬLivestock Health & Disease ControlтАЭ provides veterinary health services at farmersтАЩ door-steps through Mobile Veterinary Units. The services are to be operated through Call Centers in the State/UTs, the farmers in case of any emergency will make call to these call centers and after prioritizing the emergencies, the services for diagnosis and treatment will be provided by a team of Veterinarian & Para-veterinarian in these Mobile Veterinary Units.

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Vice President Secretariate-Police Reforms

Vice President calls for renewed thrust to implementing reforms in police forces

Centre and State must work with Team India spirit to usher in police reforms: Vice President

Shri Naidu stresses the need to upgrade skills of policemen to effectively tackle cybercrimes, economic offences and online frauds

VP urges policemen to be friendly, courteous towards the common man

Shri Naidu calls for filling up vacancies in police departments

Vice President releases book titled тАЬThe Struggle for Police Reforms in IndiaтАЭ


The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu today emphasised that тАЬa progressive, modern India must have a police force which meets the democratic aspirations of the peopleтАЭ and called for a renewed thrust to implementing reforms in the police forces.

Why is it in news?

Addressing a gathering after releasing the book titled тАЬThe Struggle for Police Reforms in IndiaтАЭ written by former IPS officer, Shri Prakash Singh, the Vice President stressed the need to upgrade the skills of our policemen to effectively tackle 21st century crimes such as cybercrimes and economic offences which require special investigative expertise due to their sophisticated and often transboundary nature.

 

 

 

 

 

Highlights

┬╖       The Vice President specifically highlighted issues that need to be addressed on a war footing, including filling up of the huge number of vacancies in police departments and strengthening the police infrastructure in tune with the requirements of modern age policing. He called for particularly strengthening the police force at the grassroots, who are the first responders in most cases. Shri Naidu also wanted the housing facilities of police personnel to be improved.

┬╖       Stressing that the behaviour of policemen towards the common man should be courteous and friendly, the Vice President called upon the senior police officers to lead by example in this regard. тАЬA visit to a police station should be a hassle-free experience for a person who goes there seeking help. The first thing to reform for this is the attitude of the police тАУ they must be open-minded, sensitive and receptive to each individual citizenтАЩs concernsтАЭ, he further said.

┬╖       Noting that police reforms is a highly important and sensitive subject, the Vice President said that although there have been various attempts at introducing reforms over the years, progress has not been made to the desired extent. He called for a political will in the states to properly implement the reforms, according to the Supreme Court guidelines.

┬╖       Shri Naidu also reiterated the need for police reforms to uphold law and order in the country and to sustain IndiaтАЩs economic growth. тАЬPeace is the prerequisite for progressтАЭ, he said.

┬╖       Recalling the history of policing in India, the Vice President said that after the revolt of 1857, the British created a police force with the prime aim of upholding their imperial interests, and during the freedom struggle, used the police to mainly suppress and oppress our freedom fighters and revolutionaries. тАЬAfter independence, sweeping reforms were needed in policing. Unfortunately, we have lagged behind in this crucial area,тАЭ he said.

┬╖       Shri Naidu said that over the years following Independence, the police force was perceived to be increasingly politicised with significant erosion in values and practices. Instead of being seen as a people-friendly force, it was seen as being elitist and power-friendly, he observed.

┬╖       Referring to the instances of misuse of police force during the infamous Emergency, Shri Naidu said it was used with impunity to suppress human rights and imprison thousands of people, including all the political opponents of the ruling dispensation. Subsequently, a National Police Commission was set up in 1977, which submitted reports with detailed multi-dimensional proposals for police reforms, he recalled.

┬╖       However, the Vice President noted that not much headway has been made in bringing reforms in our police forces at the individual and institutional level.

┬╖       Taking note of disappointment over the non-implementation of Supreme CourtтАЩs directions on Police Reforms of 2006, Shri Naidu said that policing is a state subject and it is the states that have to lead this drive towards police reforms. тАЬI hope all the states and the Centre would come together in the true spirit of тАШTeam IndiaтАЩ to implement the much-needed police reforms in the country,тАЭ he said.

┬╖       Shri Naidu expressed happiness over a number of initiatives taken by the Government of India toward better policing, including a project to decriminalize minor offences and violations and the move for amending the Identification of the Prisoners Act, 1920, a legislation that was passed more than a 100 years ago. He also appreciated the Prime MinisterтАЩs call for making the police a SMART forceтАФstanding for a force which is Strict and Sensitive, Modern and Mobile, Alert and Accountable, Reliable and Responsive, Tech-savvy and Trained.

┬╖       Underlining the importance of policing to maintain peace and order in society, Shri Naidu commended the Government for giving high priority to greater use of technology in the day-to-day working of police. He also praised the Indian Police Foundation for its efforts to realise the vision of a SMART Indian Police, especially by bringing internal reforms, technology adaptation, digital transformation and training to improve the professional and ethical standards of the police.

┬╖       Calling for reforms in all walks of public life, including politics, legislatures and judiciary, Shri Naidu stressed the need for speedy disposal of criminal cases against politicians and civil servants to retain peopleтАЩs trust in the system. He also called for reforms in the anti-defection law to discourage unethical defections among elected representatives.

┬╖       Praising the author, Shri Singh for championing the cause of police reforms in the county, the Vice President called his book a remarkable account of what an individual officer can achieve through his single-handed efforts. He expressed confidence that, in course of time, a people-friendly police force would emerge in the country, which would give the highest importance to upholding the rule of law.

┬╖       On this occasion, Shri Naidu also paid homage to the policemen who laid their lives in the line of duty battling criminals, terrorists, extremists and all shades of lawless elements in different parts of the country.

┬╖       Shri Prakash Singh, Former Director General, BSF, Shri Kaushik Deka, Executive Editor, India Today, Shri Vipul Mudgal, Director, Common Cause,  Shri N. Ramachandran, President, Indian Police Foundation, Shri Kapish Mehra, Managing Director, Rupa Publications, Shri N.K Singh, Retd. IPS and other dignitaries were present during the event.


Ministry of Commerce and Industry-export of tissue culture plants

Business Dunia тАУ Business, Industry Commerce & MSME News Portal

Centre pushes for increased exports of tissue culture plants; offers help to exporters to access new markets

DBT-accredited tissue culture labs encouraged to enhance quality standards to meet norms of importing countries

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In order to boost exports of tissue culture plants, Centre, through the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), conducted a webinar on тАЬExport Promotion of Tissue Culture Plants such as Foliage, Live Plants, Cut Flowers, and Planting MaterialтАЭ with Department of Biotechnology (DBT) accredited tissue culture laboratories spread across India.┬а

Why is it in news?

The top ten countries importing tissue culture plants from India are the Netherlands, USA, Italy, Australia, Canada, Japan, Kenya, Senegal, Ethiopia and Nepal. In 2020-2021, IndiaтАЩs exports of tissue culture plants stood at US$17.17 million, with the Netherlands accounting for around 50% of the shipments.┬а

Highlights

┬╖┬а┬а┬а┬а┬а┬а APEDA officials informed participants about the latest demand trends for tissue culture plants in these countries and how the apex export promotion body could help Indian exporters/ tissue culture laboratories in accessing these markets. As this was the first interaction programme with these laboratories, APEDA explained about its function, mandate and other financial assistance extended to export oriented plant tissue culture laboratories to improve efficiency, quality of plants, and how the latter could meet the phyto-sanitary norms of the importing countries and enhance their competence in the international market. In order to expand the range of tissue culture plants grown in India, APEDA has asked the exporters to provide a list of germplasms for particular plants/crops which can be imported from producing countries.

┬╖┬а┬а┬а┬а┬а┬а The exporters, in turn, also suggested that APEDA organize an international exhibition in India to showcase the various kinds of flora such as tissue cultured plants, forest plants, potted plants, ornamental and landscaping planting material available in India. They have also suggested that APEDA take the lead in sending a trade delegation abroad to identify new markets for tissue culture plants from India and finalize deals with importers.

┬╖┬а┬а┬а┬а┬а┬а Tissue culture plant laboratories highlighted the issues and challenges faced by them in tissue cultured planting material production and its exports. Exporters drew the attention of APEDA officials to issues such as increasing power costs, low efficiency levels of the skilled workforce in the laboratories, contamination issues in the laboratories, cost of transportation of micro-propagated planting material, lack of harmonization in the HS code of Indian planting material with other nations and objections raised by the forest and quarantine departments which were posing challenges in the export of live planting material.

┬╖┬а┬а┬а┬а┬а┬а The tissue culture experts suggested that APEDA take up these issues with the concerned departments. APEDA has assured round-the-clock service to tissue culture plant laboratories so as to address all hardships faced by them.┬а

┬╖┬а┬а┬а┬а┬а┬а APEDA is running a Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) to help laboratories upgrade themselves so as to produce export quality tissue culture planting material. It also facilitates exports of tissue culture planting material to diversified countries through market development, market analysis and promotion and exhibition of tissue culture plants at international exhibitions and by participating in buyer-seller meets at different international forums.┬а

┬╖┬а┬а┬а┬а┬а┬а India is bestowed with knowledge, biotech experts with vast tissue culture experience as well as with a low-cost labour force to help produce export-oriented quality planting material. All these factors make India a potential global supplier of an extended and diversified range of quality flora to the international market and, in turn, earn foreign exchange.

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