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PM Modi makes strong pitch for India’s expanded role in UN

New Delhi (NVI): For how long will India be kept out of the decision-making structures of the United Nations? 

This blunt question was posed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the world community as he addressed the UN General Assembly today, against the backdrop of India’s longstanding bid to be a permanent member of the global organization. 

He said the faith and respect that the UN enjoys among the 1.3 billion people in India is unparalleled.

“India is that country, which in the course of maintaining peace, has lost the maximum number of its brave soldiers. Today every Indian, while seeing the contribution of India in UN, aspires for India’s expanded role in the United Nations,” Modi added.

“When we were strong, we were never a threat to the world. When we were weak, we never become a burden on the world,” he said, adding, “How long would a country have to wait particularly when the transformational changes happening in that country affect a large part of the world?”

The Prime Minister  said the United Nations need to change its reactions, arrangements and appearance to stay relevant. “Today we are in a different era all together… There is a big question in front of the whole world community that whether the institution that was formed under the circumstances of that time is still relevant today,” PM Modi said during his address.

“If we evaluate the achievements of the United Nations in the last 75 years, many achievements are seen. There are also many examples, which raise the need for serious introspection in front of the United Nations,” Modi said.

“Reform in the responses, processes and in the very character of the UN is the need of the hour,” he added.

“Starting from January next year, India will also fulfil its responsibility as a non-permanent member of the Security Council. India will always speak in support of peace, security and prosperity,” he said.

“India will not hesitate in raising its voice against the enemies of humanity, human race and human values these include terrorism, smuggling of illegal weapons, drugs and money-laundering,” the PM added.

COVID-19: 20 patients die, 1,217 fresh cases take tally in J&K to 71,049

Over 3,200 cops COVID positive in J&K and 15 succumbed to virus
File photo

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today recorded 1,217 fresh cases of coronavirus, taking the tally of positive cases to 71,049 in the Union Territory while 20 more patients have died due to the pandemic which has pushed the death toll to 1,125.

Officials said that among 1,217 new cases, 497 belong to Kashmir division while 720 are from Jammu division, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir division have reached 44,215 including 35,540 recoveries and 819 deaths meanwhile the total number of positive cases in Jammu division have reached 26,834 including 15,954 recoveries and 306 deaths.

Officials said that the total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir currently stands at 18,430 including 7,856 from Kashmir division and 10,574 from Jammu division.

With 1,937 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in Jammu and Kashmir has reached 51,494 which is 72.47 per cent of the total cases and was over 78 per cent over three weeks back.

“Cases tested positive in J&K include 180 from Srinagar, 47 from Budgam, 46 from Baramulla, 58 from Pulwama, 28 from Anantnag, 19 from Bandipora, 73 from Kupwara, 26 from Ganderbal, 15 from Kulgam and 05 from Shopian in Kashmir division while as 720 from Jammu division include 301 from Jammu, 63 from Rajouri, 41 from Udhampur,  41 from Kathua, 88 from Doda, 21 from Samba, 64 from Poonch, 16 from Ramban, 32 from Reasi and 53 from Kishtiwar,” officials disclosed.

Pertinently, in the last 24 hours, 20 people who were tested positive for COVID-19 have died which includes 8 from Kashmir division and 12 from Jammu division.

As per the media bulletin, patients who have died include four from Srinagar, two from Bandipora, one each from Budgam and Ganderbal in Kashmir division while 12 are from Jammu division including five from Jammu district, two each from Udhampur and Poonch and one each from Kathua, Doda and Kishtiwar

As per the officials figures, 14,204 positive cases including 283 deaths and 11,761 recoveries are from Srinagar, 4,703 including 81 deaths and 3,239 recoveries are from Budgam, 4,215 including 2,851 recoveries and 121 deaths are from Baramulla, 3,817 including 3,268 recoveries and 67 deaths are from Pulwama, 3,444 including 62 deaths and 2,954 recoveries are from Anantnag, 3,319 including 2,605 recoveries and 36 deaths are from Bandipora, 3,450 cases including 2,577 and 65 deaths are from Kupwara, 2,819 including 2,225 recoveries and 28 deaths are from Ganderbal, 2,244 including 2,066 recoveries and 43 deaths are from Kulgam and 2,000 including 1,785 recoveries and 31 deaths are from Shopian.

In Jammu division, 11,688 including 7,656 recoveries and 164 deaths are from Jammu district, 2,464 including 1,095 recoveries and 30 deaths are from Rajouri, 2,089 including 1,583 recoveries and 14 deaths are from Udhampur, 1,934 including 1,334 recoveries and 21 deaths are from Kathua, 2,107 including 870 recoveries and 26 deaths are from Doda, 1,627 including 834 recoveries and 19 deaths are from Samba, 1,670 including 683 recoveries and 12 deaths are from Poonch, 1,273 including  814 recoveries and 08 deaths are from Ramban, 877 including 530 recoveries and 05 deaths are from Reasi and 1,105 including 555 recoveries and 07 deaths are from Kishtwar.

As per the daily information bulletin, 5,66,602 people in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 16,811 people have been kept under home quarantine. Besides that, 18,430 people are in isolation.

According to the bulletin, 4,80,004 people have completed surveillance period and 50,232 people are under home surveillance. So far, results of 15,39,284 samples have been made available.

-CHK

Relaxation for divorced daughters in claiming family pension

Union Minister Jitendra Singh

New Delhi (NVI): A divorced daughter will also now be entitled to receive family pension even if the divorce process has not been completed.

The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions has made changes to the existing rules that would benefit the divorced women.

The rules surrounding family pension for divorced daughters have been relaxed and now a daughter will be entitled to receive it even if the divorce had not finally taken place but the divorce petition had been filed by her during the lifetime of her deceased parent who was an employee or pensioner.

Minister of State for Personnel, Jitendra Singh said, till now, a divorced daughter could get family pension only if the divorce had taken place during the lifetime of the deceased parent pensioner or his spouse.

“The new circular will not only bring ease in the life of pension-receiving individuals but also ensure respectable and equitable rights for the divorced daughters in the society,” he said while addressing a media briefing.

Similarly, orders have also been issued to grant family pension to a disabled child even if the disability certificate is produced after the death of the pensioner parent but the disability had occurred before the death of the parents.

“To bring ease of living for the disabled pensioners, the Attendant Allowance for the helper has been increased from Rs 4,500 per month to Rs 6,700 per month,” Singh said.

Referring to Digital Life Certificates, he said in view of the difficulty faced by senior citizens who have settled abroad with their children after retirement, a circular has been brought out on Consolidated Instructions on Life Certificate and commencement of family pension for those living abroad vide which the concerned bank branch abroad.

The Indian Embassy/Consulate/High Commission have been instructed to provide Life Certificate and commencement of family pension there itself. At the same time, Singh said, all pension disbursing banks have been instructed to provide doorstep Life Certificate to those pensioners who are unable to visit the bank.

-CHK

J&K: Security forces capture TRF terrorist along with arms, ammo in Anantnag

Terrorist arrested
Representational image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Security forces arrested a terrorist alive along with arms and ammunition at Kapran, Dooru area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, officials said today.

A police official said that a categorised active terrorist, Talib Bhat from Dehruna, Anantnag, was caught alive in a joint operation by Army and police at Kapran, Dooru village of the district.

“Anantnag Police and 19 RR of Army arrested one categorised active terrorist Talib Bhat, a resident of Dehruna village in a joint operation at Kapran, Dooru. He was associated with The Resistance Front (TRF),” official stated.

He added, “On a specific input, a joint operation was launched along with 19 RR. He was arrested along with arms and ammunition which includes one pistol, one pistol magazine with rounds and one grenade.”

“Talib was recruited by TRF commander Abbas Sheikh from Kulgam district,” the police official informed.

-CHK

India’s vaccine production capability will be used to help all humanity: PM at UNGA

New Delhi (NVI): India’s coronavirus vaccine production and delivery capacity will help all humanity in fighting the pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said.

PM Modi while addressing the virtual 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) said, “Even during these very difficult times of the raging pandemic, the pharmaceutical industry of India has sent essential medicines to more than 150 countries.”

The Prime Minister’s address was a pre-recorded video statement which was broadcast at the UNGA hall in New York as it is being conducted mostly virtually amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“As the largest vaccine producing country of the world, I want to give one more assurance to the global community today. India’s vaccine production and delivery capacity will be used to help all humanity in fighting this crisis,” Modi said.

“Today, the people of India are concerned whether this reform process will ever reach its logical conclusion. For how long will India be kept out of the decision-making structures of the United Nations?” PM Modi asked at UNGA.

It is a fact that the faith and respect that the UN enjoys among the 1.3 billion people in India is unparalleled, he pointed out.

“When we were strong, we were never a threat to the world. When we were weak, we never become a burden on the world. How long would a country have to wait particularly when the transformational changes happening in that country affect a large part of the world?” he said.

“India is that country, which in the course of maintaining peace, has lost the maximum number of its brave soldiers. Today every Indian, while seeing the contribution of India in UN, aspires for India’s expanded role in the United Nations,” he added.

He also said that the United Nations need to change its reactions, arrangements and appearance to stay relevant. “Today we are in a different era all together… There is a big question in front of the whole world community that whether the institution that was formed under the circumstances of that time is still relevant today,” PM Modi said during his address.

“If we evaluate the achievements of the United Nations in the last 75 years, many achievements are seen. There are also many examples, which raise the need for serious introspection in front of the United Nations,” Modi said. “Reform in the responses, processes and in the very character of the UN is the need of the hour,” he added.

The Prime Minister added, “Starting from January next year, India will also fulfil its responsibility as a non-permanent member of the Security Council. India will always speak in support of peace, security and prosperity.”

“India will not hesitate in raising its voice against the enemies of humanity, human race and human values these include terrorism, smuggling of illegal weapons, drugs and money-laundering,” the PM added.

In addition to this, PM Modi said, “In the changed circumstances of the post-pandemic era, we are moving forward with the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. A self-reliant India will also be a force multiplier for the global economy.”

The theme of the 75th UNGA is “The future we want, the United Nations we need, reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism – confronting the Covid-19 through effective multilateral action’.

-CHK

Break our chains and let us be free, pleads leader from Pak-occupied J&K

Prof Sajjad Raja

New Delhi (NVI) “We are living in hell. There are no human rights available to us. we are deprived of basic rights. We have no constitutional rights.” This is the desperate voice of a prominent leader of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan (PoJKGB), while talking about the condition of people of the region.

Prof Sajjad Raja, Chairman of National Equality Party of Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir Gilgit Baltistan (PoJKGB), says Pakistan is treating the people of the region as “animals”.

He makes an impassioned plea to the international community, including the UN, to “break our chains” and enable the people of PoJKGB to get freedom from Pakistan.

Raja said Pakistan is an “aggressor” and “illegal occupier” of PoJKGB and wants India to mobilise international opinion to make Islamabad vacate these annexed areas.

PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan, which are parts of undivided Jammu and Kashmir, were annexed by Pakistan through military aggression on October 22, 1947. A resolution passed by the UNSC in 1948 mandates Pakistan to pull out its forces as well as citizens who transgressed into any part of undivided Jammu and Kashmir from October 22, 1947 onwards.

Raja slammed Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi for his recent statement at the UN General Assembly that Kashmir is a “longstanding dispute” and that “people of Kashmir are waiting for a settlement”.

Asserting that Pakistan has “no right to talk about Kashmir”, the leader from PoJK, who lives in exile in London, said in an interview that if there is any issue, it is between people of Kashmir and government India.

“Our point of view is Pakistan is not a party to the dispute. It is none of Pakistan’s business,” Raja said.

He added that in the digital age and information technology era, Pakistan can’t befool anyone anymore. “Everybody knows the facts, the history. UN resolution clearly asks Pakistan to vacate, pull out its forces even its citizens from PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan,” he underlined.

Raja also exposed Pakistan at the UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva recently by highlighting the oppression being carried out against the people of PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan.

“Pakistan has taken (away) our freedom. Pakistan indulges in brute use of tyranny (on people of PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan), suppressing our voice. But we hope our voice shall be heard here. We beg of the peace-loving world to stop what is happening to us, break our chains (which are) keeping us from standing happy,” he said in a choked voice.

“We, the people of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, plead with this august assembly to stop Pakistan from treating us as animals. Our activities, opposing Pakistani occupation, are declared as anti-state and flagrant violations of UNSC resolutions. We are treated as traitors in our own homes,” Raja said at the UNHRC session.

“By declaring our political activities illegal, Pakistani Army gets free hand to assassinate our people through targeted killings and enforced disappearances,” he said.

He also spoke about how Pakistani establishment is using PoJK for terrorism against India.

“Pakistan is brainwashing youth of Jammu and Kashmir on both sides of the border, making them cannon fodder in their proxy war with India. Pakistan continues to run terror camps in so-called ‘Azad Kashmir’ (PoJK),” he told the world body.

In the interview, the leader from PoJK expressed unhappiness with India, saying it has “left us alone” and “left us at the hands of Pakistan”.

He said Pakistan has been exposed on Kashmir and not even the Islamic countries or bodies like OIC listen to it now.

He said Pakistan has only one friend, that is China, and that too for mutual convenience.

“China has own interests. Pakistan has own interests. If China leaves Pakistan, it will not survive even,” he said.

Talking about China’s growing indulgence in PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan, Raja said it was like Pakistan sub-letting the region.

“Pakistan is unable to control the people of PoJK now. People of PoJK have come to the conclusion that they have no future with Pakistan. Pakistan can’t control people of PoJK and that is why it is seeking help from China. China has own global interests. It is using Pakistan for its interests,” he said.

Early procurement of rice in Pb, Hry

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): The Centre allowed early procurement of paddy or rice in the Haryana and Punjab from today, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution said.

“The Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2020-21 for paddy/rice is scheduled to commence in all the procuring states from October 1,” Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution said in a statement.

The state procurement agencies, including the FCI, are in a state of readiness for smoothly undertaking the procurement operations, it added.

However, in view of the early arrival of paddy in the ‘mandis’ of Haryana and Punjab, the Centre has approved the commencement of procurement operations for paddy/rice in both these states from Saturday to ensure that farmers are facilitated in selling their produce at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) expeditiously, said the statement.

The ministry stated, “Orders for commencement of the procurement operations in Haryana and Punjab have been issued.”

-RJV

NPPA caps prices of liquid medical oxygen and oxygen cylinders

oxygen generation plants

New Delhi (NVI): The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has capped the prices of liquid medical oxygen and oxygen cylinders in a bid to stop their black marketing and hoarding due to surging demand amidst covid-19 pandemic.

The NPPA has decided to cap the ex-factory price of liquid medical oxygen (LMO) at manufacturers’ end at Rs 15.22/CUM exclusive of GST, according to a statement by Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.

It has further capped the ex-factory cost of medical oxygen cylinder at fillers’ end at Rs 25.71/CUM exclusive of GST in suppression of the existing ceiling price of ₹17.49/CUM, subject to transportation cost fixation at state level, for six months, the statement added.

However, the existing rate contracts of state governments for oxygen purchase, as applicable, shall continue, in consumer interest.

The ex-factory price cap of LMO and oxygen gas cylinders will be applicable to domestic production, the ministry said, adding that the above measures will ensure availability of medical oxygen for consumers at reasonable price both at hospital level and through oxygen cylinders, especially to distant and interior districts.

The present situation of covid-19 has resulted in increased demand of medical oxygen (MO) in the country. Many of the states/Union territories (UTs) are dependent on the medical oxygen supply from other states/UTs.

The demand of medical oxygen (MO) has gone up almost four times, from 750MT a day to 2,800 MT a day, the government said. This has caused strain at all levels in the value chain of production and supply.

The issue related to availability, including pricing of oxygen has been under the continued consideration of Empowered Group 2, government of India.

The Empowered Group 2 recommended NPPA to consider capping the ex-factory price of liquid oxygen and oxygen cylinders in order to ensure their supply at reasonable prices.

-CHK

21 AYUSH centres launched in J&K

AYUSH minister Shripad Naik

New Delhi (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir has got 21 new AYUSH Health and Wellness Centres to create a holistic wellness model aimed at reducing the disease burden and expenditure on healthcare of the intended beneficiaries.

The AYUSH health centres were inaugurated by AYUSH Minister, Shripad Naik and Union Minister Jitendra Singh under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

The main focus of AYUSH interventions would be to empower the masses for “self-care” so as to prevent diseases through a healthy lifestyle, food, yoga, and medicinal plants.

Jitendra Singh said that the AYUSH Health and Wellness Programme would not only provide services to the needy but also promote AYUSH at the international level.

Furthermore, both the ministers also laid foundation stone for Post Harvest Management Centre for Medicinal Plants at Bhaderwah in Jammu and Kashmir.

‘eSanjeevani’ records 4L consultations

telemedicine
Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): The ‘eSanjeevani’ telemedicine service platform of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has completed the landmark milestone of 4 lakh doctor-to-patient tele-consultations.

“The top performing states, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh have logged in 1,33,167 and 1,00,124 sessions, respectively,” the Ministry of Health said in a statement.

The other states that have registered highest consultations through eSanjeevani and eSanjeevani OPD platforms are Himachal Pradesh (36,527), Kerala (33,340), Andhra Pradesh (31,034), Uttarakhand (11,526), Gujarat (8914), Madhya Pradesh (8904), Karnataka (7684), Maharashtra (7103), it added.

The ministry said the usage trend shows that there has been a quick uptake of this service in smaller districts like Villupuram in Tamil Nadu.

“Over 16,000 consultations have been recorded from Villupuram, which is the topmost district in terms of tele-consultation services availed of by the beneficiaries,” it added.

Nationally eSanjeevani platform is being used by 26 States and over 12,000 practitioners of various state government health departments have been on-boarded on eSanjeevani and their services have been sought by people from 510 districts of the country.

The last 100,000 consultations have come up in 18 days, whereas the first 100,000 consultations had taken around three months.

“eSanjeevani OPD services have enabled patient-to-doctor telemedicine in midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, launched on April 13 of this year owing to the pandemic.This has helped in containing the spread of the virus by ensuring physical distancing and has simultaneously enabled provisions for non-COVID essential healthcare,” the statement said.

Furthermore, around 20 per cent patients have sought health services through eSanjeevani more than once, the ministry noted.

The trend is indicative of the fact that this digital platform for delivery of health services remotely has been adopted by both the service providers as well as the users. A few states have been providing services for 12 hours a day and 7 days a week.

Initially, eSanjeevani OPD was rolled out as an online platform for general OPD service, but considering its utility and the uptake by the public, State Health Departments wished to rolled-out speciality OPDs as well.

Accordingly, eSanjeevani OPD was enhanced to support multiple concurrent speciality and super speciality OPDs. Today eSanjeevani OPD is running 196 online OPDs which include 27 general OPDs and 169 speciality and super-speciality OPDs in 24 States, the ministry stated.

The ministry further stated, “eSanjeevani platform of the Union Health Ministry has been developed by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing in Mohali.”

It is an innovative digital platform globally to be set up by government for delivering health services. The platform supports two types of telemedicine services — Doctor-to-Doctor (eSanjeevani) and Patient-to-Doctor (eSanjeevani OPD) Tele-consultations, the ministry added.

-RJV

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