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PM Modi turns 70, wishes pour in from all around the world

PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi

New Delhi (NVI): As Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated his 70th birthday today, greetings came pouring in from around the world.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Russian President Vladimir Putin among other prominent leaders tweeted their greetings on the occasion.

The Prime Minister was born in Gujarat’s Vadnagar on 17 September 1950.

“PM Modi has devoted each moment of his life towards making India strong, safe and self-reliant. I am lucky to serve the nation under his leadership. I along with all countrymen wish for PM’s healthy and long life,” Amit Shah tweeted in Hindi.

“Prime Minister Modi, Happy birthday and best wishes to you. My best wishes and prayers are that God always keep you healthy and happy and the nation continues to receive your invaluable services,” President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted in Hindi.

S Jaishankar in his greetings said, “Join the nation in felicitating Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 70th birthday. His leadership has enhanced India’s standing on the world stage. Wish him good health and many more years in service of the nation.” he tweeted.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh wished the Prime Minister and appreciated his leadership and said it has benefited India tremendously.

“Greetings and warm wishes to PM Narendra Modi on his birthday. India has benefited tremendously from his astute leadership, firm conviction and decisive action. He has been working assiduously towards empowering the poor & marginalised. Praying for his good health and long life,” he tweeted.

“Wishing PM Narendra Modi ji a happy birthday,” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin extended greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 70th birthday. “I look forward to continue constructive dialogue with you and work closely together on topical issues of the bilateral and international agenda,” says President Putin.

Wishing PM Modi, Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said that Nepal “will continue working closely together to further strengthen relations between the two countries.”

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is celebrating PM Modi’s birthday as Seva Saptah or service week that started on September 14. The party has announced that several social initiatives will be carried out by its leaders across the nation during this week-long period.

PM Modi spent his last birthday in his home state Gujarat and reviewed programmes and projects including the Statue of Unity and the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the river Narmada.

-RJV

Three terrorists, woman killed; CRPF officer injured in Srinagar encounter

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Three unidentified terrorists and a woman were killed in an encounter that broke out early this morning between security forces and terrorists in Batamaloo area of Srinagar, officials said.

A senior police official said that three terrorists were killed in an encounter at Batamaloo area of Srinagar. Batamaloo area is just two kilometers away from Civil Secretariat and the city center, Lal Chowk.

Acting on a tip off, the official said that police and CRPF launched a cordon in Batamaloo area in the wee hours. “When forces zeroed in on the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists opened fire triggering a gunbattle,” he said, adding that after heavy exchange of fire three terrorists were killed.

He, however, said that a woman aged 45 years, was also killed in the gunfight after she was caught in the cross fire, while a CRPF deputy commandant sustained injuries.

The slain woman was identified as Kousar Jan of Batamaloo. “She was taken to SMHS hospital where doctors declared her brought dead,” the official said.

He said that the injured deputy commandant of CRPF was shifted to Army’s 92 base hospital in Srinagar.

A police official said that the firing has stopped and the search operation is underway in the area.

-CHK

Immunization stories from India: Saving children’s lives during pandemic

New Delhi (NVI): With Massive disruption in routine healthcare services due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Indian Government, in collaboration with UNICEF has been trying hard to ensure that immunization coverage for children is not affected by the unprecedented Covid challenges.

In this direction, stories from Maharashtra, that is the worst-affected state due to the pandemic, and various other states in India, are inspiring.

WHERE THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS A WAY

To start with, we have a story of strength from Maharashtra’s Nandurbar district, where a district coordinator left no stone unturned in making the members of local ASHA and SHG (Self Help Group) members aware of the importance of immunisation to children amid the pandemic phase.

Meet Archana Desale, District Coordinator of Nandurbar in Alliance for Immunization and Health (AIH). While sharing her story, Archana says that her organisation Alliance for Immunization and Health is been working to strengthen the CBOs (Community Based Organisations) and and CSOs (Civil Society Organisations) in 5 districts of Maharashtra and district Nandurbar is one of them.

“From the first phase we have been training the SHGs and MAS members of the community on routine immunization and hand washing. And during the second phase, the lockdown due to COVID situation started and we began virtually training the members on COVID-19 prepardness and management along with recapitulation of RI and hand washing.

“During the virtual training I was not able to reach few intervention pockets as the SHG members did not have phones. So I decided to visit two of the intervention pockets (Hariyali gate and Bhedwanall) in Sahada block Nandurbar,” Archana says while sharing one of her experiences during the visit.

When she reached Shahada town in Nandurbar, she was informed by the an ASHA worker that the SHG workers in the area were engaged in other means to earn their livelihood since the Covid-19 situation left many people jobless.

With much effort, Archana was able to reach a muddy field where the ladies engaged in SHG services were toiling hard for at least 8 hours in the fields to get their daily wages. In the first instance, the contractor was adamant to let Archana meet the workers but she somehow managed to reach the road near the field where they were working on an autorickshaw.

She finally met the 11 SHG members in the presence of the contractor at lunchtime with the promise that she will not take more than a few minutes to make them aware of Covid precautionary measures. Archana took more than an hour to take the session and even the contractor did not intervene since he too was moved by her enthusiasm.

Sairabai Padvi (SHG member Hariyali gate) said, “Thank you Madam for caring for us so much and coming so far and giving us the information. This Corona (COVID) has made our life miserable.”

Even the contractor thanked the District Coordinator of Nandurbar for her painstaking effort to come in a muddy field and dispense valuable information on the prevention of Covid-19 pandemic and immunisation.

MY COMMUNITY, MY RESPONSIBILITY

The next story is from Chopan block in Sonebhadra district of Uttar Pradesh. Anju Chuadhary, a Teeka sakhi fo Maa Kaali Self Help Group in village Tapu of Chopan block in the UP district received training on routine immunization and hand washing with soap in November 2019 under the AIH-UNICEF project.

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit the entire nation, routine immunization got effected in Uttar Pradesh as well. At such a time, Anju got trained on COVID-19 interventions through online training on 29th May and received IEC on her WhatsApp. She was told to communicate these COVID-19 messages to as many community members as she can to protect her village, community members and family from getting infected with COVID-19.

Going a step ahead in her pursuit to make her community and village Covid free, Anju did orientation in her village on 1st and 2nd June and oriented 12 women each day on COVID-19, total 24 other women were oriented.

Further, these 24 women reached 79 community members with COVID-19 messages and prepared their community to respond correctly during COVID-19.

I AM A CORONA WARRIOR 

Another story is of Sulekha Devi from lama village of Fatehpur block in Gaya district of Bihar. Sulekha became member of Jeevika group in 2013 and was selected as community mobiliser in 2014. She received training on routine immunization and hand washing with soap in first phase of project and was very active during first phase in her village. She was continuously encouraging parents to get their child immunised.

Phase – II of the project had different programming structure due to COVID-19. Sulekha Devi received her training on 19th May virtually and had active participation in a virtual training.

After receiving training on 22nd May, Sulekha came to know that three migrant labourers from Kolkata and one migrant labourer from Ranchi have arrived into her village. These migrant labourers were not willing to go to quarantine center as their home did not had adequate facility to be home quarantined, and wanted to live with their family.

Then Sulekha Devi with other SHG members went to them and advised them to go to quarantine center to save their family and village from any possibility of getting infected from COVID-19 and also informed in-charge of quarantine center of Nawgawn and those 4 migrant labourers went to quarantine center after understanding the importance of being isolated from the family in adequate facility.

IMMUNIZATION – A basic right of every child

The next case story is from maoist affected area of Dantewada in Chhattisgarh’s, where the team of Alliance for Immunization Health (AIH) met Laxmi Kunjam, an SHG member, in June.

Her residence is at village Koriras of Katekalyan Block of Dantewada district, a project village affected by Maoists. The village was challenging to the Rural Health Organizer (RHO) for immunization coverage because many lactating women were reluctant to get their child immunized despite many efforts of counselling.

The reluctance was due to the prevailing myths and misconceptions that a child gets fever and other health issues, after immunization. However, this trend has reversed now and Laxmi has a significant and vital role in this reversal, as expressed by the RHO and other fellow women SHG members.

During the meeting with AIH members, Laxmi was oriented and mobilized by the district coordinator during AIH interventions and has been actively engaged in tracking the children for immunization, sensitizing the people on COVID-19, supporting the RHO during Village Health and Nutrition Day (VHND) sessions and coordinating with other SHG groups in the village on various activities.

After getting orientation on Routine Immunization (RI), handwashing and COVID-19 from Babita, the district coordinator of AIH, Laxmi was motivated and started associating with the RHO in every VHND session and helped the ASHAs in bringing the children to the session for Immunization. She was linked with the Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) and RHO by Babita and allowed to take sessions in the training programmes.

She met a lactating mother and found that the child is not immunized. She traced the reason and realized that there is a fear amongst some mothers of distant hamlets that the child gets fever and becomes sick after immunization. Tracking system of children, introduced by the AIH team is being updated with the help of Rural Health Officer and Mitanin (ASHA worker) to track every child in the village for ensuring immunization with necessary pre-alert, counselling, sensitization and peripheral support.

When she started updating the register and tracking the children for immunization through the tracking system, she realized that there are many missing children for immunization due to the fear of their mother. She felt that counselling to mothers and clarifying their doubts is the need of the hour.

Immediately she took note of this and started reaching the mothers for counselling, who skipped immunization of their children on account of fear. She faced resistance from   the villages initially because they used to think that Laxmi is getting extra incentives for this and for earning more money, she is unnecessarily pressurizing the mothers for immunization even though it has side effects.

To convince them, she approached other SHG members, the PRI members and Mahila Panch to make home-visits to those mothers and counsel them on the importance of Routine Immunization.

She visited every house having children below 23 months and clarified their doubts and communicated that the fear is not correct and this will increase the risk of the child from diseases. Through the tracking system, she has mapped all the children in the village below 23 months and ensures that every child is immunized during the VHND sessions.

In the month of June, she conducted inter-personal communication with more than 80 mothers in the village and its surrounding villages. In total she has brought back 6 such missing cases in Koriaras village to the VHND sessions. She along with other SHG members contacted every missing child in the village and bring them to the VHND session for immunization.

“Ham nahi chahte ke hamare gaon me ek bhi bachha tikakaran se chut jai. Isliye ham hamesha iske baare me sochte rahenge” ( we don’t want even a single child should be missed for immunization from our village. We will keep thinking on this line always) – says Laxmi.

Today, the entire village is free from the invalid myths and every child is immunized. Lactating mothers became health conscious about their children and the RHO along with PRI are very particular about the VHND sessions. This thinking is influencing the nearby villages and is noticed by the health department. The efforts of Laxmi and the SHG members is recognized and appreciated in the department.

1,590 fresh Covid cases, 18 fresh deaths in J&K takes tally to 58,244

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 another surge of 1,590 fresh coronavirus cases, including 92 travelers, taking the total number of positive cases in the Union Territory to 58,244.

The UT also witnessed 18 fresh deaths related to Covid-19, taking the total number of deaths due to deadly virus in the UT to 932.

Of the total 58,244 cases, 38,446 are from Kashmir and 19,798 from Jammu division.

The UT health officials said that among 1,590 new cases, 758 belong to Kashmir division while 832 are from Jammu division, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir has reached 38,446 including 29,150 recoveries and 747 deaths.

On the other hand, the total number of positive cases in Jammu division has reached 19,798 including 8,659 recoveries and 185 deaths.

The officials said that total number of active cases in J&K is 19,503 including 8,549 from Kashmir division and 10,954 from Jammu division. With 747 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in the UT has reached 37,809 which is 64.91 percent of the total cases which was over 78 percent a few days before.

Interestingly, for the first time since Covid-19 outbreak, active cases has reached over 19,500 in J&K and active cases in Jammu division are more than recovered cases.

“Cases tested positive in J&K include 225 from Srinagar, 119 from Budgam, 92 from Baramulla, 70 from Pulwama, 37 from Anantnag, 74 from Kupwara, 42 from Bandipora, 13 from Kulgam, 86 from Ganderbal and 0 from Shopian in Kashmir division while as 832 from Jammu division include 221 from Jammu, 44 from Udhampur, 147 from Rajouri, 80 from Kathua, 39 from Samba, 92 from Poonch, 39 from Ramban, 114 from Doda, 24 from Reasi and 32 from Kshtiwar,” as per the daily Covid bulletin.

Notably, in last 24 hours, 18 persons who were tested positive for Covid-19 have died which include 7 from Kashmir and 11 from Jammu.

As per media bulletin, patients who have died include 1 each from Srinagar, Budgam, Bandipora, Kulgam and Shopian and two from Kupwara in Kashmir division while 11 from Jammu division include seven from Jammu district, one each from Udhampur, Rajouri, Samba and Ramban.

Apart from that, 5,30,708 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 31,140 persons have been kept under home quarantine. Besides, 19,503 persons are in isolation.

4,15,247 persons have completed surveillance period and 63,886 persons are under home surveillance.

So far, results of 12,97,329 samples are available out of which 12,39,085 while 58,244 have tested positive. Among positive cases, 19,503 are active and 37,809 persons have recovered.

-ARK

47 infiltration bids reported along LoC in last 6 months: MHA in Rajya Sabha

Narco smuggling
Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir (File Pic)

New Delhi (NVI): The Union Home Ministry today said in the Parliament that 47 infiltration bids have been reported along the Indo-Pak border by Pakistan during the last six months with the highest number of attempts made in the month of April.

This was stated by Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

At least 24 infiltration bids were made in April, followed by 11 in July, 8 in May and 4 in March, as per the MHA statement in the Upper House.

“The Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach to contain cross border infiltration, which inter-alia include multi-tiered deployment along the International border/Line of Control, improved intelligence and operational coordination, border fencing, deploying technological solutions and taking pro-active action against infiltrators,” Rai said in a written reply to a question.

The MHA’s written response was to a question from BJP Rajya Sabha member Anil Agrawal, who asked whether cases of infiltration from Pakistan and China had increased in the last six months and what steps were being taken by the government.

However, on infiltration attempts made from China, Rai said: “No infiltration has been reported along Indo-China border during last six months”.

The MHA statement was based on infliltration attempts made by Pakistan and China along their respective borders with India. It comes amid a long stand-off between India and China at LAC in Ladakh and multiple instances of Chinese transgressions at the Line of Actual Control which have been thwarted by the Indian troops deployed in the area.

Indian and Chinese troops are locked in a bitter standoff in eastern Ladakh following provocative actions by China since April this year.

Amid an escalating border row with China, more than 50,000 Indian troops are likely to remain stationed through winter months to deal with any provocation by China’s PLA. With no end in sight to the tense stand-off in Ladakh, Indian troops have also ramped up efforts to boost border infrastructure to deal with any situation.

-ARK

Airports to test international passengers for Covid-19 on pilot basis

New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of Civil Aviation has allowed RT-PCR testing at the entry airport on pilot basis to facilitate the transfer of international passengers.

The announcement was done by Minister of Civil Aviation, Hardeep Singh Puri, in Rajya Sabha today.

Under the new facility at airports, international passengers will have to book an RT-PCR test online through respective websites or other appropriate online platforms.

A well-defined flow will be laid down by airport operators for smooth conduct of testing at airports.

According to the ministry, this will be done on pilot basis. A passenger will be allowed to take the onward domestic flight only if he/she tests negative.

The result will be given within eight hours and until then, the airport operator will make sure that passengers are made to sit in a place with basic facilities, including Wi-Fi, food and washrooms.

Waiting lounge areas will have to prepared by airports in order to commence this facility.

Waiting lounges should be located away from the operational area and follow all sanitization and social distancing related guidelines issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, according to Ministry of Civil Aviation statement.

It should have no unauthorized access, should provide necessary amenities to the passengers like Wifi, F&B options, washrooms etc. and should provide cashless options for making payments with regard to testing and various amenities etc, the statement added.

Airport operator shall provide option to the passengers to either stay at the Waiting Lounge awaiting the test results or to proceed to designated Hotel(s) in order to isolate themselves till the test results are available, meanwhile, the sample collection will be done in strict compliance with the protocols established by ICMR and NABL.

Furthermore, passport of the passenger will be retained by the state authority at the sample collection cum waiting lounge till the test results are available.

If the test result is negative, passenger will be permitted to exit the waiting lounge and proceed to the departures to catch the connecting flight. However, if the result is positive, the passenger will be processed in line with applicable ICMR protocols by the state authorities.

-CHK

Russia to sell 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to India

vaccine
(File/Representational image)

New Delhi (NVI): Russia’s sovereign wealth fund has agreed to supply 100 million doses of its coronavirus vaccine, Sputnik-V, to Indian drug company Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, as Moscow speeds up plans to distribute its shot abroad.

The deal comes after the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) reached agreements with Indian manufacturers to produce 300 million doses of the vaccine in India, which is a major consumer of Russian oil and arms.

India is one of at least 32 countries that have expressed interest in testing and obtaining Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine. Brazil, Mexico and Kazakhstan have signed supply deals with Russia so far, according to The Moscow Times.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said it has partnered with the Hyderabad-based global pharmaceutical company Dr. Reddy’s on clinical trials and distribution of Sputnik V in India.

“Deliveries could potentially begin in late 2020 subject to completion of successful trials and registration of the vaccine by regulatory authorities in India,” it said in a statement on its website.

RDIF has a manufacturing partnership agreement to make 300 million doses of the Russian adenovirus-based vector vaccine, which is administered in two shots, in India.

Russia began post-registration Phase 3 trials of Sputnik V among 40,000 volunteers in Moscow earlier this month amid questions surrounding its long-term safety.

First results are expected either next month or in November, RDIF said.

India’s confirmed Covid-19 cases soared past 5 million Wednesday. The last million infections were reported in the country of 1.3 billion over the past 11 days, with global health officials warning that India is “not even in the middle” of its outbreak.

-CHK

Port Blair airport to have new terminal to handle rising number of passengers

Port Blair is scheduled to be ready by the middle of the next year

New Delhi (NVI): Veer Savarkar International Airport, Port Blair is soon going to have a new terminal building and the airport’s annual passenger handling capacity will also rise from 18 lakhs to 50 lakhs, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said.

The step has been taken in the view of surge in the passenger traffic. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has undertaken the work for construction of New Integrated Terminal Building at a cost of Rs 700 crores.

“With total built up area of 40,837 sq m, the New Terminal Building will be capable to handle 1200 passengers during peak hours and about 50 lakh passengers annually,” the Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a statement.

The new passenger terminal building will have three-levels comprising of lower ground, upper ground and first floor. The lower ground floor will be used as remote arrival, departure and service area, the upper ground floor will have entry gate for departure passengers and exit gate for arrival passengers and the first floor as awaiting lounge for international passengers, the ministry added.

Moreover, the world-class building will be totally air-conditioned and will be equipped with modern passenger’s facilities with 28 check-in counters, three passenger boarding bridges, five conveyor belts with In-line scan system and state-of-the-art Firefighting and Fire Alarm system.

The city side area of the Airport will also be developed with adequate parking facilities for car, taxi and buses along with the landscaping.

Meanwhile, the design of the terminal is a shell shaped structure depicting sea and islands. The New Terminal Building with a span of 240 mtrs having two 120 mtr column less spans supported through periphery steel columns, will facilitate columns less large span arrival and departure hall.

The entire terminal will also have 100 per cent natural lighting through skylights provided at roof level and curved shaped Cable Net Glazing will be provided all around the terminal building.

According to the report, more than 65 per cent of project work is completed and the new terminal building of Port Blair is scheduled to be ready by the middle of the next year.

-RJV

Parliament passes Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill

Lok Sabha

New Delhi (NVI): The Rajya Sabha today passed the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill, 2020, which was moved by Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan in the absence of Ayush Minister Sripad Naik.

The bill seeks to establish an Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), in Jamnagar, Gujarat which will be given the status of an Institution of National Importance (INI).

However, the proposed Institute will be situated on the campus of Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar.

The bill has the provision to merge three Ayurveda institutes situated in Jamnagar, Gujarat into one. The institutes are, the Institute of Post-Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Shree Gulabkunverba Ayurved Mahavidyalaya and the Indian Institute of Ayurvedic Pharmaceutical Sciences, the Ministry of AYUSH said in a statement.

These institutions had come up over the past many decades, and together made a unique family of Ayurveda institutions existing in close proximity, it said.

The ministry said it is expected that the enactment of the proposal will further provide autonomy to the institute to develop patterns of teaching in undergraduate and postgraduate education in Ayurveda and Pharmacy.

The synergies among the different constituent institutions will help ITRA to demonstrate high standards of such education and to emerge as a lighthouse institution to the entire AYUSH Sector, it added.

It is also expected to provide the highest level of training of personnel in all important branches of Ayurveda including Pharmacy, and to take up in-depth study and research in the field of Ayurveda, the ministry said.

Earlier, the Bill was passed in Lok Sabha’s budget session on March 19.

The ministry informed that, ITRA will be the first institution with INI status in the AYUSH Sector, and this will enable the institution to be independent and innovative in the matter deciding course content and pedagogy.

The decision comes at a time when global interest in health solutions based on traditional wisdom is at an unprecedentedly high level and ITRA is poised to take Ayurveda education to new vistas, it added.

-RJV

Indian economy likely to recover gradually amid COVID-19: RBI Guv

Economic growth
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das

New Delhi (NVI): The Indian economy, reeling under the impact of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, will recover gradually, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das today said.

While addressing a virtual meeting of FICCI National Executive Committee, Das said, “Economic recovery is not fully entrenched; it will be gradual.”

The central bank chief also said that the RBI stands battle-ready to take whatever steps that are needed to be taken for the economy.

Persistently large liquidity infusion by RBI has ensured large borrowing by the government at a low rate and in a non-disruptive manner, the RBI governor said.

Referring to the GDP contraction of 23.9 per cent in the first quarter (Q1), Das said that it is the “reflection of the ravages of the Covid-19”.

He further noted that high-frequency indicators like agricultural activity, Purchasing Managers Index for manufacturing, certain private estimates for unemployment, point to some stabilisation of economic activity in the second quarter of the current year.

“Contractions in many other sectors are simultaneously easing,” he added.

He said that the central bank’s efforts have led to the softening of bond yields. Das also said that the RBI is very carefully monitoring the markets and will take further actions as and when required. The RBI governor said that the current bond yields are lowest in the past 10 years due to surplus liquidity.

The government and RBI have been taking measures for mitigating the impact of pandemic on the economy by introducing stimulus packages, reforms, and interest rate cuts.

However, the revival is expected to take time as there is still high uncertainty regarding Covid-19 cases across the country.

-CHK

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