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Govt to bring quality control order for toys: MoS of WCD

New Delhi (NVI): Government is planning to bring measures for ensuring that toys available to children are of the required safety standards, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Debasree Chaudhuri said today.
Speaking at the event on ‘Value of Play – Importance of Toys and Games for Child Development’ here, Chaudhuri said “I understand that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry is in the process of bringing out Quality Control Order for Toys to check the quality of toys imported and manufactured here.”
She said, “Recently released National Education Policy (NEP) has now recognized the importance of Play amongst children and the need to create a flexible, multifaceted, multilevel, play-based, activity-based, discovery-based education for children from ages 3-8 years.”
Learning through play is relevant throughout the whole early childhood period and beyond, she said, adding “I can see ‘Play’ is an important aspect related to some of our schemes.”
Highlighting the Sustainable Development Goals, she said the SDGs are addressed in the national development agenda of the government which are being implemented through various development schemes/programmes.
“I want to ensure on behalf of the government that development of child is high on the agenda and we would continue to take steps to ensure that our children’s growth is healthy and safe,” she added.
She also urged the industry, schools and civil society to partner with government schemes.
DPIITJoint Secretary Manmeet Nanda said that the government is in the process of coming out with a Quality Control Order (QCO) to check sub-standard imports and manufacturing of toy.
“The draft QCO has been notified to WTO for comments by members countries,” she said.
She also mentioned that they are working with BIS to ensure that conformity assessment scheme for toy sector is not cumbersome for the industry, as majority of the players in the sector are from MSME sector.
FICCI Toy Sector Committee and Director, Pleasantime Products (United Toys) Chairman
Vivek Jhangiani said that FICCI intends to work towards improving learning outcomes with play and robust early childhood development learning systems.
“To ensure that India’s children develop well, adequate investment in early childhood development is essential. This will be our small contribution towards achieving India’s Sustainable Development Goals as envisioned by the United nations,” he said.

Cabinet approves funds for 3 PSGICs

SDRF
Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): The Union Cabinet today approved the immediate release of Rs 2,500 crore in the light of the critical financial position and breach of regulatory solvency requirements of 3 Public Sector General Insurance Companies (PSGIC).

The 3 PSGICs to receive the funds are Oriental Insurance Company Limited (OICL), National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) and United India Insurance Company Limited (UIICL).

The Union Cabinet was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

We are just like tourists in Kashmir: Foreign Envoy Frank

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): One of the 25 foreign envoys, who began visit to Jammu and Kashmir today, said  they were “just as tourists” in the valley.

 “Kashmir is a beautiful place. We are here just as tourists,” Dominican Republic Ambassador Frank Hans Dannenberg told media persons here.

Frank Hans Dannenberg is among 25 diplomats who arrived in Srinagar for on the spot assessment of the situation post abolition of Article 370.

Others in the delegation  include European Union Ambassador Ugo Astutu, German Ambassador Walter Johannes Lindner, French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain,  Czech Republic Ambassador Milan Hovoraka, Austrian Ambassador Brigitte Oppinger Walchshofer and Slovakian Ambassador Ivan Lancaric.

Mexican Ambassador Federico Salas Lotfe, Danish Ambassador Freddy Svana, Italian Ambassador Vincenzo de Luca, Netherlands Ambassador Marten van den Berg, Namibian High Commissioner Gabril Pandureni Sinombo, Kyrgyzstan Ambassador Asein Isaev, Uzbek Ambassador Farhod Arziev, Hungarian Ambassador Gyula Petho and Canadian High Commissioner Nadir Patel are also part of 25 member delegation.

Others who landed in Srinagar include Tajik Ambassador Rahimzoda Sulton, Bulgarian Ambassador Elenora Dimitrova. Guinean Ambassador Fatoumata Balde, Ugandan High Commissioner Akello Dina Grace, Kenyan High Commissioner Wily Kipkorir Bett, Rwandan Charge de Affairs Joseph Kaba Keza, Polish Charge de Affairs Robert Dzie Dzic, Afghan Charge de Affairs Tahir Qadiry and New Zealand Charge de Affairs Graham Morton.

“It is fantastic to come here and see how things are working.  I am happy to be here”, said Danish Ambassador Freddy Svana.

On their arrival, the members of delegation were taken on a Shikara ride in the famed Dal Lake. During their stay, the envoys will be going to North Kashmir’s Baramulla where they would be interacting with fruit growers and students at skill center. The delegation will also meet the civil society members and politicians in Srinagar. The diplomats will also be briefed by the Army about the situation on the LoC and in hinterland

“We are here to get a firsthand account of the situation. While coming here, we came across people who were going to schools. Shops were also open,” said Afghan Charge de Affairs Tahir Qadiry

This is for the second time in the last one month when foreign diplomats were brought to Kashmir.  On January 10, Centre facilitated the visit of over 15 foreign diplomats to the valley for on the spot assessment of situation post abrogation of Article 370.

Last month, envoys of 15 countries including United States Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster and diplomats from Vietnam, South Korea, Brazil, Niger, Nigeria, Morocco, Guyana, Argentina, Philippines, Norway, Maldives, Fiji, Togo, Bangladesh and Peru had visited Jammu and Kashmir.

Cabinet approves amendments in taxation agreement with Lanka

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar

New Delhi (NVI): The Union Cabinet today approved signing of a protocol amending the agreement between India and Sri Lanka for avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income.

The general anti-abuse agreement will result in curbing of tax planning strategies which exploit gaps and mismatches in tax rules under Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA), an official statement said.

The existing DTAA between India and Sri Lanka was signed on January 22, 2013 and entered into force on October 22, 2013.

India and Sri Lanka are members of the Inclusive Framework and as such are required to implement the minimum standards under G-20 OECD BEPS Action Reports in respect of their DTAAs with Inclusive Framework countries.

LPG price hiked by Rs 144.5 per cylinder

New Delhi (NVI): The price of LPG cylinder was today hiked by Rs 144.5 per cylinder, which will come into immediate effect.

The steep increase takes the price to Rs 858.50 per 14.2 kg cylinder from Rs 714 previously.

A non-subsidised 14.2 kg cylinder will now cost Rs 858.50 in New Delhi, Rs 896 in Kolkata, Rs 829.50 in Mumbai and Rs 881 in Chennai.

This is the sixth straight monthly hike in cooking gas rates since September 2019.

The LPG price was last hiked by Rs 19 on January 1 this year.

LPG rates are revised on first of every month based on the average international rate for benchmark fuel and foreign exchange rate in the preceding month.

Conclave on tourism in Gujarat tomorrow

New Delhi (NVI): The central government will host a two-day meet in Gujarat from tomorrow to discuss the importance of destination management and community participation in the tourism sector.

The conclave on Destination Management and Community Participation has been organized by the Ministries of Tourism and Culture in cooperation with the Gujarat government at Rann of Kutch.

It will be inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture (IC) Prahlad Singh Patel and Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

The meeting will involve speaker sessions by government officials, tourism industry, private sector entrepreneurs and showcasing best practices and case studies from various States and Union Territories in the tourism field.

It will aid in understanding the concepts and frameworks, approaches, challenges faced in implementation and impact generated by such initiatives on the society and the overall economy.

The conclave will also highlight on benefits to local communities by way of imparting skill sets necessary for prudent hospitality industry and cross-cultural learning exchanges to improve employability of the local people.

Socio-economic benefits for the community could be enabled by making them lead the development initiatives.

The meeting also aims to encourage constructive discussions and collaboration between various stakeholders for achieving sustainable destination.

Based on recommendations and discussion, a Task Force shall be constituted to document the approach benefits, challenges, recommendations, case studies and proposed way forward action plan to assist in policy formulation and future reference for the stakeholders.

Cabinet approves MoU with Iceland in field of Fisheries

New Delhi (NVI): The Union Cabinet today gave its approval to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Iceland in the field of Sustainable Fisheries Development on September 10, 2019 under which the two countries can exchange scientific literature, research findings, information, expertise to study the prospects of fishing.

The MoU entails exchanging of scientists and technical experts and their proper placement, especially in areas of estimating Total Allowable Catches in off shore and deep sea areas.

The pact, approved at a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, provides for training to fisheries professionals from key fisheries institutions in the various management aspects on areas of modern fisheries management and fish processing.

This will provide processing and marketing of products from high seas fisheries for entrepreneurship development.

The MoU will strengthen the existing friendly relations between India and Iceland and will enhance consultation and cooperation on Fisheries including consultation on bilateral issues, an official statement said.

Kejriwal to take oath as CM on Feb 16

New Delhi (NVI): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal, who led his party to a stunning victory in Delhi Assembly elections, will take oath as the Chief Minister on February 16.

The oath ceremony will be held at Ramlila Maidan.

AAP bagged 62 seats in the 70-member Assembly, making a hat trick.

The party’s tally was, however, 5 less than last time.

Railways’ biggest water treatment plant opened

The new plant at the coaching depot in Bandra Terminus.

New Delhi (NVI): Indian Railways’ biggest effluent treatment facility in the country was recently commissioned as a big step towards reducing its water consumption.

Western Railways has started using treated effluent water from its new plant at the coaching depot in Bandra Terminus for non-potable purposes such as cleaning toilets, platform lines and coaches.

Though it is not yet operating at full capacity, when it starts doing so, the plant will filter and clean one million litres of waste water per day. The move will result in decrease in the use of fresh water that WR buys from municipal authorities.

This is a welcome news in a city like Mumbai, where every drop is precious, as this one of a kind plant will help save millions of litres of water.

The plant has the potential to cut WR’s water bill by Rs 1.9 crore per annum, which is more than its operational cost. The operational cost aggregate stands at Rs 23,000 per day, or Rs 84 lakh per annum, including labour, electricity and other charges, according to officials of the Railway Ministry.

The plant is close to an overhead tank with a capacity of 2.25 lakh litres. A specially laid pipeline – made of anti-bacterial and anti-corrosive substances, which makes it well suited to Mumbai’s climate – takes the treated water to the tank.

This unique initiative will go a long way towards addressing not only water scarcity, but also environmental and ecological issues.

BIMSTEC meet on drug trafficking here tomorrow

New Delhi (NVI): India will host first conference on drug trafficking for BIMSTEC partner nations here tomorrow, providing an opportunity to member nations to deliberate on the increased threats posed by the menace and the collective steps required to negate it.

The two-day ‘Conference on Combating Drug Trafficking’ will be inaugurated by Union Minister Home Minister Amit Shah.

The conference is being organised by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), the federal agency for drug law enforcement.

Delegations from each BIMSTEC nation have been invited to participate in the conference. Further, various central and state drug law enforcement agencies of India and other stakeholders have also been invited, according to an official statement.

In the changing drug trafficking scenario, Asian countries are increasingly being affected by drug trafficking and BIMSTEC, being the key link between South Asian and South East Asian Nations is one of the most effective platforms to tackle this global threat.

The BIMSTEC is a regional organization comprising seven Member States lying in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal that is Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand besides India, constituting a contiguous regional unity.

Regional maritime connectivity and trade through the Bay of Bengal are imperative for the shared prosperity and economic growth of the entire BIMSTEC region.

However, while providing unhindered maritime access, security challenges at sea and coastlines are a threat.

One of the most prominent of such challenges is the drug trafficking through sea. It necessitates collaborative efforts at sea, including further strengthening of effective coordination in operations and information sharing amongst partner nations, to combat this menace.

The recent seizures of Methamphetamine is 1156 kgs and 371 kgs by NCB establish the fact that Bay of Bengal region is impegnerated with the drug trafficking menace.

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