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Lt Gen BS Raju is new Chinar Corps commader

Srinagar (NVI): Lieutenant General BS Raju assumed the charge of strategic Kashmir-based Chinar Corps as the 49th Corps Commander today.

Lt Gen Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon handed over the command of 15 Corps to Lt Gen Raju, yesterday.

After taking over the command, Raju paid homage to martyrs. He also conveyed his greetings and best wishes to the ‘Awam’ (people) of Kashmir. “I am happy for being posted to Kashmir once again and that this tenure would be a wonderful opportunity to interact closely with the Awam at many levels,” he said.

“I am sanguine that this is a momentous time in the history of the Valley and is optimistic that together with the Awam, we will usher in an era of peace and stability,” BS Raju said.

Lt Gen BS Raju

He also interacted with the troops of Chinar Corps and enthused them to continue to work with unflinching dedication and perseverance.

Lieutenant General BS Raju, an alumni of Sainik School, Bijapur and National Defence Academy, Pune was commissioned in December 1984 and has an illustrious military career spanning 36 years during which he has held varied prestigious commands, staff and instructional appointments.

The General Officer has an incisive understanding of Jammu & Kashmir, having served here for five tenures since 1984, notable being Force Commander of Rashtriya Rifles and Brigade Commander of an Infantry Brigade on the Line of Control.

A graduate of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington (TN) & Royal College of Defence College, United Kingdom, Lieutenant General Raju is credited with important appointments at Army Headquarters and instructional appointments at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and leading the Indian Army Training Team abroad. Before taking over as the Chinar Corps Commander, the General was tenanting the prestigious appointment of Director General Staff Duties at Army Headquarters.

HRD Min to celebrate International Women’s Day with week-long campaign

Quality education
Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’

New Delhi (NVI): To take forward the momentum of empowerment of girls and women through education, the Ministry of HRD will celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) in schools and colleges across the country.

Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhrial Nishank said that the government has launched a special campaign in this regard.

The week-long campaign begins with effect from today in the run-up to International Women’s Day on March 8, Ministry of Human Resource Development said in a statement today.

“The Government has launched a special theme-based focused campaign from 1st-7th March in the run up to the International Women’s Day on 8th March this year with Education being the theme on 1st March,” Pokhriyal said adding that as a tribute to women, the celebration by HRD Ministry will continue throughout the year.

The HRD Minister also said that the Government has taken several game-changing initiatives since 2014 for the education of the girl child.

“This is one of the reasons for the success of the scheme of Beti Bachao Padhao whereby the Gross Enrolment Ratio of girls across all levels of education is now higher than boys. At elementary level, GER is 94.32 % as against 89.28% for boys. At Secondary level, it is 81.32 % as compared to 78 %,” he said.

The minister further said that a Self-Defence Olympiad will be organised for girls at school level on the lines of Yoga Olympiad. “To ensure safety and security of girls, Self defence training is imparted to girls of class VI to XII belonging to Government Schools,” he said.

Nishank added that to motivate girl students, special morning assemblies will be organised once a week in schools throughout the year. He said that in these assemblies, talks on women achievers in different fields, role play, thought of the day, group songs on women empowerment, awards/recognition to the girl students who have performed well in different fields such as academics, sports, dance, music, arts, social service and novel areas will be included.

Section 144 imposed in Shaheen Bagh

File

New Delhi (NVI): A heavy police force was deployed and section 144 was clamped in Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh area today even as the Hindu Sena called off a protest proposed to be held against blocking of the road.

Police has advised people not to assemble in the area where anti Citizenship Acts have been going on for some time. A large number of people, mainly women have been holding a sit-in protest in Shaheen Bagh area since Mid-December last year in protest against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Population Register (NPR) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

A stretch of road at Shaheen Bagh remains blocked. Commuters said they have been facing inconvenience due to the protest as they have to take a long detour.

Apart from that, some shopkeepers in the area who have had their shutters down for over two months have said they are running in losses.

Temperature falls in Delhi after fresh spell of rain

Light rains in Delhi
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New Delhi (NVI): The day temperature in Delhi has dipped due to a fresh spell of rain as the minimum temperature was recorded today at 16 degrees Celsius and the maximum at 25 degrees Celsius.

Rains and thundershowers have also lashed several parts of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, leading to a dip in mercury in these areas as well, according to SkymetWeather.

The Western Disturbance is over Jammu and Kashmir at present. It’s induced Cyclonic Circulation is over Punjab and Haryana. A Trough is extending from this system up to West Uttar Pradesh across Haryana, the weather monitor says.

Day before yesterday, Punjab and Haryana received rains. Yesterday, Delhi and parts of western Uttar Pradesh witnessed rains. The rain activity in Delhi took place in the afternoon and evening hours yesterday.

However, only isolated rains are expected in Delhi NCR and southern districts of Haryana today. Moderate rains might appear over northern districts of Punjab, Haryana, and Northwest Uttar Pradesh. The weather over all these areas will start clearing up by noon.

Air Quality Index (AQI) in ‘satisfactory’ category in RK Puram, Mundka, Ashok Vihar and Patparganj, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. AQI is in ‘satisfactory’ and ‘moderate’ category in all the stations for which data has been computed.

WHO issues safety guidelines on coronavirus

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New Delhi (NVI): World Health Organization today issued guidelines for reduction of risk of contracting coronavirus.

According to the WHO if a person is sick, they should stay at home and should eat and sleep separately from their kin. They should use different utensils and cutlery to eat.

If the shortness of breath develops then the person should call on doctor and seek immediate care.

Underlying the guidance for senior citizens, WHO says that if a person is 60+ or suffering from cardiovascular disease, a respiratory condition or diabetes, then they have a higher risk of developing severe COVID 19.

It urged people to avoid crowded areas, or places where they might interact with people who are sick.

It added that if a person is having fever and cough, they should avoid traveling.

If they become sick while on a flight, they should inform the crew immediately.

Avoid touching face after touching contaminated surfaces; should clean hands regularly and clean surfaces regularly with disinfectant.

Guidelines for making workplace safe from coronavirus: WHO

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New Delhi (NVI): The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued guidelines for businesses and employers, outlining simple ways to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus and means that can help prevent the spread of infections at the workplace.

WHO has stated that there is a high risk of the COVID-19 of spreading. Despite this, it has not declared it a pandemic yet but is taking action to contain the disease.

These low-cost measures can help prevent the spread of infections in a workplace, such as colds, flu and stomach bugs, and protect the customers, contractors and employees.

Employers should start following these steps, even if COVID-19 has not arrived in the communities where they operate.They can already reduce working days lost due to illness and stop or slow the spread of the virus if it arrives at one of the workplaces.

Simple ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are:

– Make sure the workplaces are clean and hygienic like surfaces and objects need to be wiped with disinfectant regularly. This is because contamination on surfaces touched by employees and customers is one of the main ways that the coronavirus spreads

– Promote regular and thorough hand-washing by employees, contractors and customers which can be enhanced by putting sanitising hand rub dispensers in prominent places and making sure the dispensers are filled regularly.

– Promote good respiratory hygiene in the workplace. This could be done by providing face masks for those who develop a runny nose or cough at work, along with closed bins for its hygienic disposal. Paper tissues should also be readily available.

– Advise employees and contractors to consult national travel advice before going on business trips

– It should be explained, as a precaution, that if COVID-19 starts spreading among anyone with even a mild cough or low-grade fever needs to stay at home.

Government to launch campaign for Women’s Day

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New Delhi (NVI): A campaign for contribution of women in all fields will be launched by the government tomorrow in run up to the International Women’s Day on March 8.

The campaign has 7 themes for each day, beginning from tomorrow, when the Ministry of HRD, in collaboration with the University Grants Commission (UGC), will conduct round tables on women empowerment in about 40 central universities around the nation.

Doordarshan is organising special programmes to honour the contribution of women members of the Indian Constituent Assembly.

A special program by celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor and hindi films will also be telecast.

DD Kisan will telecast programs on women agriculturists, the role of women in animal husbandry and food processing. The regional units of the News Services Division of All India Radio will also conduct programmes from tommorow.

Roadshows are being organised by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs during this period to educate and inform women on the (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana )PMAY scheme.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is organising camps for women on health and wellness and Anaemia.

India can fill up global market space vacated by China due to Coronavirus: ASSOCHAM

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New Delhi (NVI): India can increase its export shipments to the global market and fill up the space vacated by China due to the outbreak of Coronavirus, according to an ASSOCHAM analysis.

China’s economy, the second largest in the world, has been severely impaired due to the novel coronavirus.

Although, India’s exporters of electronics, pharmaceuticals, speciality chemicals and to an extent automobile depend on China for raw material and are facing supply constraints, but there are several areas where there are increased opportunities as well, according to ASSOCHAM.

“A large number of engineering exports from India can fill up the market vacated by China; so is the case with products like leather and leather goods. Besides, there are several agri-related products and highly employment-intensive sectors like carpets which can be ramped up to meet the global shortfalls caused due to disruptions in China,” ASSOCHAM secretary general, Deepak Sood said.

“We also need to scale up several of our sectors to compete effectively with China even when the Chinese exporters are able to normalise their global supply chain,” Deepak Sood added.

He added that while the health emergency of the scale of Coronavirus, which has been placed in the category of ‘Very High’ risk by the World Health Organisation (WHO), is a matter of grave concern for the entire world, “it is incumbent on larger economies like India to fill up the gaps in the global market of merchandise and we need to approach the issue with a clear strategy.”

According to the latest PMI (Purchase Managers’ Index), China’s factory output in February, has plummeted to levels which are the worst in the past two decades and; the consequences are bound to be felt in the global market.

The ASSOCHAM analysis found that while India’s merchandise exports have contracted by 1.93 per cent between April-January period of the current fiscal year, the coming few months can provide our exporters greater market access in the absence of usually aggressive and competitive Chinese suppliers.

“However, since some of our export segments like pharmaceuticals do get impacted due to raw material shortage, advantage in other segments will not accrue in an auto-mode. It has to be acquired by a strategy; and the good thing is that the Commerce and Industry Ministry is seized of the issue and would be engaged with the exporters to assess the ground situation,” the ASSOCHAM secretary general further said.

Indian ports should be more energy-efficient: VP

The Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu with the Chairmen of various Port Trusts

New Delhi (NVI): Indian ports should be made more energy-efficient and environment-friendly to counter climate change, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu said today.

Interacting with the chairpersons of major port trusts, during ‘Chintan Baithak’ held by the Ministry of Shipping today, the Vice President appreciated the contributions of India’s 7516 km long coast, its 12 major ports and 200 non-major ports to the nation’s growth.

“India has an excellent opportunity for port-led development as ports were inevitable for exports and imports,” he added.

Naidu also appreciated the Sagarmala port-led development. “It was the best step towards creating greenfield ports, modernizing the existing ports, and also for empowering the coastal community by generating employment opportunities.”

He called upon for developing all Indian ports and said that the creation of world-class infrastructure at ports was important for India become 5 trillion dollar economy.

Govt’s priority to protect interests of all: PM

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asserted that his government’s first priority is to protect the interests of 130 crore citizens and ensure justice for everyone.

He was addressing a rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj after distributing rehabilitative devices to nearly 27,000 senior citizens and specially-abled people at the ‘Samajik Adhikarta Shivir’.

“This is the basis for the philosophy of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas Sabka Vishwaas’. Our government is working for the welfare & development of each and every person in the society. It is my government’s first priority to protect the interests of 130 crore Indians, be it senior citizens, divyangjan, tribals or the downtrodden,” Modi said.

Referring to the mega camp organised for distribution of medical devices, the Prime Minister said it is a part of the government’s effort to provide better living to all.

“In the last five years, the government has set up about 9,000 camps in different parts of the country,” he added.

“This is the first government which has enacted the ‘Rights of Persons with the Disabilities Act’, through which the categories of disabilities from 7 to 21 have been extended. The quota of reservation for higher education has also been increased for the Divyangjan from 3 per cent to 5 per cent,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that in the last five years, many buildings in the country and more than 700 railway stations and airports have been made accessible to the disabled. The remaining ones will also be made accessible by linking to the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, he added.

In the mega camp, over 56,000 Assistive Aid and Devices of different types will be distributed free of cost to over 26,000 beneficiaries. The cost of these devices is over Rs 19 crore.

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