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Govt launches online training portal ‘iGOT’ for management of COVID-19

New Delhi (NVI): The Government has launched a training module for management of COVID-19 named ‘Integrated Govt. Online training’ (iGOT) portal on Ministry of HRD’s DIKSHA platform for the capacity building of frontline workers to handle the pandemic efficiently.

“Courses on iGOT have been launched for Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics, Hygiene Workers, Technicians, Auxiliary Nursing Midwives (ANMs), State Government Officers, Civil Defence Officers, Various Police Organisations, National Cadet Corps(NCC), NehruYuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), National Service Scheme, Indian Red Cross Society, Bharat Scouts and Guides and other volunteers at the stage,”the Ministry of Human Resource Development said in a statement.

“India is fighting against covid-19 Pandemic and India’s first line of workers is already engaged in COVID relief and doing commendable job. However, a larger force will be needed to replace the first line and to tackle the exponential or geometric increase in positive COVID cases in the subsequent stages of the pandemic,” the MHRD said while highlighting the crucial role iGOT can play in training healthcare workers or those at the forefront of fighting COVID-19.

“MHRD’s ‘Digital Infrastructure Knowledge Sharing’ (DIKSHA) platform – an initiative for education & training has been leveraged by Government of India to launch iGOT portal to train all frontline healthcare and COVID Warriors of India to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to care for those ‘who care for the nation’,” the ministry added.

DIKSHA’s population scale infrastructure was launched by the Vice President of India on Teacher’s Day in 2017 and is already being used by more than one crore teachers and students across the country in 30+ states & UTs for curriculum-based education and training.

The unique platform already has explanation, practice and assessment content linked to NCERT and state curriculum.

WATCH | Chinar Corps Commander on Rangdori Behak Op in Kupwara

Lt. Gen BS Raju, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Srinagar-based Chinar Corps (15 Corps), has said that the recent ‘Rangdori Behak’ Operation by Indian Army at Keran sector in Kupwara along the Line of Control clearly shows the complicity of Pakistan in aiding and abetting infiltration.

“This operation clearly shows the complicity of Pakistan in aiding and abetting infiltration and as a consequence, terrorism in the Valley. This act of Pakistan is especially reprehensible as when the whole world is fighting COVID-19 and its aftermath, here is Pakistan which is aiding and abetting infiltration,” he said in a video message shared by Chinar Corps on its official Twitter handle.   

“Operation Rangdori Behak was an operation conducted over five days by our formation in which we were successfully able to neutralise five terrorists who had infiltrated from Pak Occupied Kashmir,” he added.

The officer has also complimented the forces for successfully completing the operation in extremely challenging conditions. Five militants were killed and Army lost 5 soldiers of elite Special Forces in the 5-day operation.

COVID-19: UT, state-wise total number of positive cases

New Delhi (NVI): The country is witnessing a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases on a daily basis, as the latest report by Health Ministry shows a total of 5,734 confirmed cases and 166 fatalities so far.

After the first confirmed case in India, which was reported from Kerala on January 30, the virus has tightened its grip over the entire nation.

Here are the number of cases in different states/UTs across the country:

Andhra Pradesh- 348
Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 11
Arunachal Pradesh- 1
Assam- 28
Bihar- 38
Chandigarh- 18
Chhattisgarh- 10
Delhi- 669
Goa- 7
Gujarat- 179
Haryana- 147
Himachal Pradesh- 18
Jammu and Kashmir- 158
Jharkhand- 4
Karnataka- 181
Kerala- 345
Ladakh- 14
Madhya Pradesh- 229
Maharashtra- 1135
Manipur- 1
Mizoram- 1
Odisha- 42
Puducherry- 5
Punjab- 101
Rajasthan- 381
Tamil Nadu- 738
Telangana- 427
Uttarakhand- 33
Uttar Pradesh- 361
West Bengal- 103

A total of 472 people have been cured and discharged from hospitals in India. There are around 5,095 active cases currently.

‘Times like these bring friends closer’: PM replies to Trump over drug export

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today responded to US President Donald Trump who has expressed gratitude for sending anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to America, saying “times like these bring friends closer”.

In his reply to the US President’s tweet, PM Modi also asserted that India-US Partnership is stronger than ever and India will do everything possible to help humanity’s fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

“Fully agree with you President Donald Trump. Times like these bring friends closer. The India-US Partnership is stronger than ever. India shall do everything possible to help humanity,” the Prime Minister tweeted.

 

Earlier on Wednesday, Trump praised PM Modi for his strong leadership, in response to the Indian government’s decision to ease restrictions on the export of hydroxychloroquine.

“Extraordinary times require even closer cooperation between friends. Thank you India and the Indian people for the decision on HCQ. Will not be forgotten! Thank you Prime Minister Narendra Modi for your strong leadership in helping not just India, but humanity, in this fight!” Trump said in a tweet.

Coronavirus cases rise to 1.5 million globally

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases have now reached 1.5 million worldwide, with United States and United Kingdom seeing spike in deaths in a single day, according to John Hopkins University data.

In addition to this, at least 88,538 people have now died globally.

Meanwhile, China reported a slight increase in new coronavirus cases for the second straight day, as the number of infections involving incoming overseas travellers hit a two-week high, according to media reports.

The death toll in the US has also crossed 14,000, after the country recorded the most new virus deaths in a single day.

New York City recorded 806 fatalities. The city has registered more than 4,500 deaths. There are more than 4,00,000 positive cases in the country.

In Italy, the number of infected people increased by 1,195, and the death toll rose by 542.

In another development, the World Trade Organization has forecasted a fall in global trade of up to a third. The suffering caused by the pandemic will be compounded by “unavoidable declines in trade and output”, the WTO’s director general has said.

Brazil Prez thanks PM Modi for helping with Hydroxychroloquine

New Delhi (NVI): President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and people of India in his address to his nation, for helping Brazil with Hydroxychroloquine (HCQ) to treat COVID-19 patients.

Earlier, Jair Bolsonaro, in his letter to PM Narendra Modi, had referred to the Ramayana and likened hydroxychloroquine to the “holy medicine” (Sanjeevani booti) to highlight the importance of ensuring that India supplies the drug to Brazil to fight against the spread of coronavirus.

“Just as Lord Hanuman brought the holy medicine from the Himalayas to save the life of Lord Rama’s brother Lakshmana, and Jesus healed those who were sick and restored the sight to Bartimeu, India and Brazil will overcome the global crisis,” Bolsonaro said in his letter.

India has received similar requests for Hydroxychroloquine (HCQ), from several other countries including its neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka and Nepal.

JK records fourth Covid death as elderly woman succumbs  

Representational image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir witnessed its fourth Covid death late tonight as a 61-year-old woman from Udhampur district of Jammu division succumbed to the disease after she was tested positive for the deadly virus.

In his late-night tweet, the UT Government spokesman Rohit Kansal said: “61yrs old female patient from Udhampur passed away at GMC Jammu; tested positive for Corona; reported to be suffering from Arthritis and bedridden. Contacts being traced”.

This is the first COVID-19 death in Jammu region and fourth in overall J&K UT. Earlier, all three Covid-19 deaths took place in the Kashmir division.

Three persons, all aged above 50, died of the novel caronavirus infection. Two of the deceased were part of Tableeghi Jamaat while the third one, according to doctors, had transmitted the virus within the community.

The Jammu woman died on a day when J&K witnessed 33 positive cases for Covid-19, the highest ever single-day cases since the pandemic gripped UT on March 18.

Amid Covid-19 crisis, UNICEF calls for debt relief for poorest countries

New Delhi (NVI): As the world battles coronavirus pandemic, the fight has been especially tough for some of the poorest countries which are already under a debt burden.

While observing the debilitating impact of this unprecedented situation on some nations, UNICEF has said that debt relief for the poorest countries is critical in the fight against COVID-19.

“COVID-19 is generating an unprecedented global economic crisis. And as we witness in all such crises, this economic destruction is cruelly and unequally distributed,” UNICEF chief Henrietta said in a statement today.

She said that for the world’s poorest countries, the financial fallout caused by the pandemic, combined with debilitating debt-service obligations, is hampering their ability to prevent further transmission and protect citizens.

“And for the families within those countries, with widespread loss of income and limited access to food in environments where social distancing is impossible, soap and water for handwashing a luxury, and quality health services non-existent, the situation is already dire, and it is only going to get worse,” she said.

“While children are largely spared the immediate health consequences of the pandemic, they will suffer the economic destruction left in its wake. More than 200 million children live in debt-distressed countries and those at high risk of debt distress. The burden of debt leaves countries struggling to prevent disease transmission,” she added.

Henrietta further stated that low-income countries, in particular, are being forced to drastically increase spending to respond to the health emergency, while scaling up – or, in some cases, creating – social protection systems including unconditional cash transfers, guarantee of income for those who lose their jobs and employment security.

“The additional spending required must not come at the cost of other critical services for children, such as routine immunization, maternity care, and child protection. At this crucial time, countries need to spend more to protect the future of their children,” she said.

UNICEF has joined The World Bank and IMF in their call for debt relief and debt restructuring for countries in need. Henrietta said that UNICEF took the decision to reduce disease transmission and prevent further economic catastrophe.

“As the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres noted in his recent letter to the G20, debt restructuring is a priority — including immediate waivers on interest payments for 2020. By relaxing the burden of debt financings, countries are more likely to deliver the agile and aggressive response required to reduce the impact of the economic crisis and stop COVID-19 in its tracks,” she said.

Covid-19: ASSOCHAM recommends $200 bn stimulus to support Indian economy

New Delhi (NVI): Industry body ASSOCHAM has recommended a stimulus package of at least USD 200-300 billion, apart from a 16 point agenda, to support the Indian economy amid the coronavirus pandemic and its aftermath.

“With a sentiment that to tackle the unprecedented times, exceptional measures are essential, apex industry body, ASSOCHAM has recommended a 16 point agenda and a stimulus package of at least $200-$300 billion to thwart one of the deepest global recession expected in the world’s history,” said the trade body’s Secretary-General, Deepak Sood.

According to Sood, the ASSOCHAM believes that in keeping up with most economies of the world to institute stimulus measures with 10 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the Indian economy would need a transfusion of over $200 billion with an ability to go up to $300 billion, over the next 12-18 months.

He stated that out of the corpus, $50-100 billion cash needs to be infused in the system over the next three months, to arrest the loss of jobs and compensate for loss of income. Such an infusion would help businesses and workers tide over the challenging situation, he said.

“It will be critical to ensure we proceed with three objectives i.e. immediate assistance to employees and labour through direct transfers and through employers, ensuring that companies have enough cashflow to survive the downturn, and finally stimulating demand and investment to revive the economy through fiscal and tax measures,” he said.

The Secretary-General said that the government also needs to modify the FRBM Act to consider the debt/GDP ratio as a metric and not fiscal deficit.

“The government needs to set an example for other businesses with no bills being unpaid for more than 15 days. This will enormously help the credit cycle and will also bring down tender prices for everything,” he said, adding that with the deflation that is expected in overall demand, the government should implement the National Infrastructure Plan with no loss of time, once the lockdown is completed.

Some of the key recommendations by ASSOCHAM to the Finance Ministry includes, the one-time loan restructuring to all corporates assuming a principal repayment start date moving upwards from March 2021, NCLT provisions to be held in abeyance for 6 months and a further reduction of interest rate/repo-rate by another 100 bps by the Reserve Bank of India.

Apart from that ASSOCHAM has also recommended the reduction in GST across the board by 50% for 3 months and 25% for the fiscal.

“The final GST due should be payable in 6 quarterly installments starting October 2020 with no interest. Final income tax of FY 2019-2020 and advance tax FY 2020-2021 should be payable starting October 2020 in 6 quarterly installments with no interest,” Sood said.

For the real estate sector, ASSOCHAM has recommended that Section 43CA and 23 (5) which deals with selling properties less than 10 percent of the circle rates and taxing of developers inventories for the notional rent be scrapped immediately. Also, the 5 percent GST on under-construction real-estate to be scrapped or to be given a full input tax credit.

Track down absconding travelers on war footing: Div Com Kashmir

Kashmir Div Com

Srinagar (NVI): Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole today directed all the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) in the region to track-down all absconding travelers on war footing basis in their respective districts and put them in administrative quarantine.

An official spokesman said that all DCs were asked to strengthen their ground surveillance teams and trace the absconding recent travelers, of other states and abroad visitors, immediately and put them for proper screening and quarantine.

Additional Deputy Commissioners have been put in-charge of contact tracing and they are following the mechanism as per prescribed Advisory.

He said that the Divisional Commissioner directed the DC’s to set up separate helpline numbers for Cancer, Dialysis patients and other serious patients at all district headquarters immediately so that life-saving treatment be ensured to them at the earliest.

The official spokesman said that Divisional Commissioner directed DCs to constitute teams under CMOs who shall visit Juvenile, old age homes and orphanages alternatively for health checkups of the inmates, besides establishing separate dedicated helpline numbers for their services in each district.

The Divisional Commissioner passed these directions while chairing a meeting to review preparedness and foolproof arrangements to combat Coronavirus disease in the valley.

He also sought detailed feedback from all DCs regarding arrangements against COVID-19 pandemic through video conferencing.

The meeting was informed that samples collected from Baramullah, Kupwara, Bandipora, Gamderbal and Budgam are tested at SKIMS Soura and samples collected from Srinagar, Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag and Kulgam are being tested at CD hospital, Dalgate.

According to the official spokesman, Pole directed the DCs to take employees from non-essential departments and deploy them at Block, Tehsil and District level for COVID-19 related emergency tasks. An adequate number of officials will be earmarked for Red Zones, Hospital Isolation, Administrative and Home quarantines which will monitor their smooth functioning. Officials should submit the daily based report to the concerned Deputy Commissioner for further course of necessary action, he said.

Pole stressed on DCs to enforce lockdown and social distancing in letter & spirit. Concerned should maintain high level of vigil and alertness regarding COVID-19 scare across the valley and take quick action against any emergency, said an official release.

Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal, Divisional Level OSDs,  Owais Ahmad and Aijaz Assad, Director Health Services, Dr. Sameer Matto, Deputy Director, Health Services and other concerned officers were present in the meeting whereas nine Deputy Commissioners participate the meeting through video conferencing mode.

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