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CBIC launches e-Office in over 500 CGST and custom offices

New Delhi (NVI): The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) today launched e-Office application in over 500 CGST and custom offices all over India to automate internal file handling.

The e-Office application has been launched to help improve governance by automating the internal processes of handling files.

The application was launched remotely in the presence of over 800 senior officers of CBIC.

Over 50,000 officers and staff will use this application making CBIC one of the largest Government departments to automate its internal office procedures, an official release said.

The launch of e-Office marks a fundamental change in internal office procedures which is so far based on manual handling of files and paper movement, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement. The CBIC expects e-Office would complement its many other IT led reforms which are directly aimed at enhancing the ease of doing business for the trade and industry, it said.

The e-Office is a Mission Mode Project (MMP) under the National e-Governance of India.

This launch is one more measure taken by the CBIC in leveraging technology for providing a ‘Faceless, Contactless and Paperless’ indirect Tax administration.

The e-Office application is developed by the NIC and is supported by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG). E-Office aims to improve governance by automating the internal processes of handling files and taking decisions within Government.

The use of e-Office by the rank and file of the CGST and Customs officers in their day to day work would lead to speedier decision making, transparency, accountability, and positive impact on the environment by cutting down the use of paper and printing.

Of particular relevance in the present-day challenging situation arising due to COVID-19 is that e-Office would help avoid contact with physical files thereby preventing possible transmission of any virus, the Finance Ministry said.

Also, e-Office ensures enhanced security as no file or document can be altered or destroyed or backdated. An in-built monitoring mechanism would identify where the files are held up enabling quick disposal and faster decision making, it added.

Ethiopia has inspired more and more countries to plant billions of trees

Representational Image

New Delhi (NVI): Around 18 million hectares of forest are lost worldwide each year – an area roughly the size of Panama, according to a report.

Destruction of tropical rainforest, which stores 210 gigatons of carbon, is the second biggest global contributor to climate change, says the report published by Global Center on Adaptation and World Economic Forum.

At the current rate, up to 28,000 species will go extinct in the next 25 years thanks to deforestation.

In the past 50 years, Ethiopia has lost 98% of its forested areas. To mediate this, it planted an estimated 350 million trees in just a single day in 2019, according to the report. The country has set an example and its success has inspired other countries, like Pakistan, India and China to do the same.

Developing countries from Ethiopia to Senegal to Pakistan are busy demonstrating how humanity can turn over a new leaf, says the report.

Pakistan’s Billion-Tree Tsunami project added 350,000 hectares of trees to the country’s landscape in just three years, while India and China – at one time Asia’s chief deforestation culprits – are leading the way in re-greening efforts, with the former planting 66m trees in 12 hours in 2017 and the latter deploying its army to plant an Ireland-sized area of forest in 2018, the report said.

The west African nation, Senegal, is home to some 1,85,000 hectares of mangrove swamps, but around 45,000 have been lost since the 1970s due to drought and deforestation. To combat this, a public- and private-funded effort run by the environment agency Océanium has seen 1,00,000 people from 350 villages perform a mass-planting scheme which has replaced a total of 79 million trees.

However, besides eye-catching headlines and interesting numbers, the forest and green cover actually plays a great role in the fight against climate change. Besides sequestering carbon, boosting biodiversity and pollinators, promoting rainfall and providing firewood, fodder, jobs and shelter, forests are increasingly being recognised for the crucial infrastructure tasks they perform.

Forests protect priceless arable land from extreme weather events, prevent soil erosion, bind soil together to prevent flash floods, provide natural water filtration systems and even, in snowy areas far from east Africa, shield human settlements from avalanches.

Increasingly, this ‘green infrastructure’ is expected to play a vital role in climate change adaptation and as humanity works to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, according to the report.

Natural infrastructure responses to climate change – known as ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) – are increasingly finding favour as an alternative to human-engineered ‘grey’ infrastructure, which relies on concrete and steel, two of the most environmentally destructive materials on the planet, says the report.

J&K border residents mulling moving to safer places due to ceasefire violations by Pak

Smoke billowing from a house under fire due to intense shelling by Pakistan in Chowkibal area of Kupwara on April 12. (Photo via arrangement)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): With this year’s first quarter witnessing a record number of ceasefire violations along LoC in Kashmir, many people living in the villages close to India Pakistan border in north Kashmir’s twin districts of Kupwara and Baramulla are considering going to safer places.

According to the villagers living in these border areas, the frequent ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops have taken a serious toll on their livestock and property.

Given the intensity of exchange of firing and heavy shelling with weapon systems including artillery by the armies of both the countries, people living close to the LoC in Uri, Keran and Tangdhar are considering moving to safer places for the safety of themselves and their livestock. The majority of people who spoke to NVI over the phone from the villages close to LoC are sensing trouble in the days ahead given the nature of aggression on both sides of the fence.

“I have not seen such an aggression between the two sides ever before. The armies of India and Pakistan are using massive artillery as if there is a war already between them. The only thing on my lips is sacred verses (kalimah), when I see mortar shells raining on trees and pastures,” said Abdur Aziz Khatana (75) a resident of Nambla village of Uri.

Khatana said that he feels that things can go from bad to worse in the coming days given the nature of heavy firing and shelling from both sides. “Don’t know when this would end. It may go worse in the days ahead. This is my gut feeling,” he said, adding that he and his relatives have decided to migrate to town in case the situation turns ugly. “If things remain the same, we will go and camp in Srinagar along with our livestock. If we stay here, we will die along with our cattle.”

Shahzada Bano, a widow in Charunda village of Uri said that since the past one week, LoC is very hot as there is a heavy exchange of fire. “It is hard to judge who violates the ceasefire. We don’t get time to judge who resorts to firing first. But the fact is that intense shelling from both sides and their deafening sound breaks the morning silence and triggers a wave of fear among us all,” she said.

A mother of three children, including two daughters, she said that the first thing she does when there is an exchange of fire is taking all her three children in a “self-made underground bunker for safety.”

“I tell my kids not to come out. My second priority is my livestock which is our source of living. I have two buffaloes and three cows beside a dozen sheep. I lock them in the shed and pray for the safety of my children and my livestock when shelling intensifies,” she said.

She said if things remain the same in the coming days, she will travel along with her children and livestock to the Chenab valley in Jammu where her relatives live.

Many residents of Uri villages close to LoC are seriously planning to migrate if things deteriorate in the days and weeks ahead. “Things seem to be turning worse. We are considering options where to migrate—Srinagar or Jammu,” one such resident told NVI.

As per official records, since January this year, 1,630 ceasefire violations have taken place in J&K, majority of them in  Poonch, Rajouri, RS Pura, Keran and Uri sectors. An army official said that it is the Pakistan army that violates the 2003 CF pact every time. “We are always giving them a befitting response. There have been casualties on both sides,” he said, adding that “this year so far, there is a surge in CFV from across the LoC.”

Covid-19 cases in Afghanistan cross 25,500 as 761 more test positive

New Delhi (NVI): At least 761 new coronavirus positive cases have been reported in Afghanistan in the past 24 hours, taking the total to 25,527 across the country, according to Afghan media reports.

According to country’s Ministry of Public Health, seven people lost their lives over the past 24 hours and 365 more recovered.

Among the new COVID-19 reported in last 24 hour cases, Kabul once again was on top of the list with 237 cases followed by Logar with 103 cases.

In addition, 113 cases were reported in Kunduz , 93 in Takhar, 25 in Kandahar, 22 in Nangarhar, 15 in Paktia, 14 in Baghlan, 15 in Bamiyan, 37 in Parwan, 30 in Wardak, 8 in Kunar, 16 in Panjshir, 11 in Badakhshan, 10 in Daikund, 4 in Nuristan and 12 in Uruzgan.

At least, 57,532 people have been tested for coronavirus in the country, the ministry said.

So far, 5,090 patients have been cured or discharged, while 478 died from the pandemic.

Virtual camp for free distribution of aids & devices for divyangjans in Punjab

New Delhi (NVI): Amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, first ever distribution of assistive aids and devices to divyangjan (Persons with Disabilities) through virtual platform under ADIP Scheme was organised in Firozpur district of Punjab today.

“Special measures have been taken by Government of India so that the benefit of welfare scheme for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) continue uninterrupted,” the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said in a statement.

A virtual ADIP Camp for free distribution of assistive aids and devices at Block level for Divyangjans under the ADIP ( Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purschase/Fitting of Aids/Appliances) scheme of Government of India was organized at Talwandi Bhai Block of Firozpur District in Punjab today, it said.

This is the first camp being organized by the ALIMCO under DEPwD, M/o Social Justice and Empowerment under the ADIP Scheme of the Government of India after opening of lockdown with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) as per the GOI directives, the ministry said.

Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot took part as the Chief Guest through online video streaming.

On the occasion, Gehlot said that the ministry under the able guidance of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is fully committed to the welfare of Divyangjan in the country through various measures and schemes.

In view the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has decided that now Virtual ADIP Camps will be organized nationwide for distribution of aids and assistive devices to divyangjan, Gehlot said.

He also said that several schemes have been initiated by his ministry to provide financial assistance and scholarships to Divyangjan students to pursue their education to become self-reliant and dwelt upon many important schemes and programs of his ministry to facilitate and help Divyangjan.

Gehlot called upon the persons with disabilities and their family members to get enrolled for Unique ID Cards for Divyangjan which are valid all over India. 31 lakh Unique ID Cards have been delivered to Divyangjan so far in the country, he added.

Satnam Kaur, MLA, Firozpur in her address thanked the Ministry in arranging the Virtual camp for Divyangjan in her Constituency during the pandemic.

She suggested that the eligibility of Divyangjan for Motorized Tricycle should be relaxed further to facilitate more such people.

Total 95 beneficiaries of Block Talwandi were provided with 166 different categories of assistive appliances valuing over Rs.12 Lakh. 11 Motorized Tricycle were also distributed among the beneficiaries in the camp. However, in all, 962 beneficiaries of Firozpur District are being provided with 1667 assistive appliances valuing over Rs.1 Crore 50 Lakh. Distribution is being done in 6 Blocks of Firozpur starting from 15th to 20th June, 2020, the Ministry said.

COVID-19 tally exceeds 90,000 mark in Bangladesh; nearly 1,200 dead

Bangladesh lockdown

New Delhi (NVI): Bangladesh today saw another surge in coronavirus cases and deaths. A whopping 3,099 new cases were reported, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 90,619.

The country also recorded a total of 38 deaths due to the novel coronavirus during this period, raising the death tally to 1,209, according to United News of Bangladesh.

So far, a total of 34,027 people have recovered from the deadly contagion, after 15,297 more patients made recovery.

The detection rate of new patients in the country has been recorded at 20.61 per cent.

Meanwhile, former Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) Mayor Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran died from coronavirus infection at a hospital today early morning.

Coronavirus cases surge past 1.46 lakh in Pakistan

New Delhi (NVI): Pakistan has been witnessing a daily surge in the number of coronavirus cases as the tally crossed 1,46,713 today with 2,783 deaths.

Looking at the breakdown of cases, Sindh province has reported 55,581 coronavirus cases, highest among all the provinces, while Punjab has 54,138 positive cases.

On the other hand, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has recorded 18,013 cases, Balochistan is at 8,177, Gilgit-Baltistan at 1,129, Islamabad at 8,569 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is at 647 cases so far, according to Geo News.

So far, nearly 52,000 people have recovered from the deadly contagion in the country.

Meanwhile, the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) today identified 20 cities across Pakistan with potential Covid-19 hotspots using a strategy termed as ‘testing, tracing and quarantining (TTQ), according to media reports.

The TTQ strategy involves ramping up Covid-19 testing followed by rapidly tracing the contacts of confirmed positive cases, and effective quarantining of positive and suspected cases.

Nepal Covid-19 tally crosses 6,000; death toll 19

New Delhi (NVI): 451 new positive coronavirus cases have been reported from Nepal, taking the toll in the Himalayan nation to 6,211, according to local media reports.

The country’s Ministry of Health and Population said, Of the newly infected, 416 are males and 35 females. In total, 5,740 males and 416 females have been recorded to have contracted the disease, so far.

At present, 73 of the 77 districts have witnessed the transmission of COVID-19 virus in the country, as per media
reports.

The ministry also said, 358,019 samples have been tested for coronavirus in Nepal so far. Of these, 138,683 samples were tested through the PCR and 219,336 through the RDT.

A total of 1,041 people have been discharged after recovery in Nepal and 19 have died so far.

Meanwhile, the Nepal also extended the suspension of all domestic and international passenger flights to and from the country till July 5.

Here is how global travel will change till we find a Covid-19 vaccine

New Delhi (NVI): As we enter the first summer in Covid-19 era, a tenuous easing of travel restrictions has begun, giving hope to travelers across the globe to pack their bags and leave for their favorite destinations. International travel has been allowed in some parts of the world but with restrictions and Covid protocols.

This month, the countries of the European Union will reopen its internal borders, and they plan to allow travel from outside the block some time in July. Iceland will allow tourists, but it plans to test them for the virus at the airport.

Grounded for many months, airlines are beefing up their summer schedules, though the number of flights will be a fraction of their pre-pandemic frequency.

Around the globe, the collapse of the tourist economy has bankrupted hotels, restaurants, bus operators, and car rental agencies.

Current scenarios suggest international tourism arrivals will drop by as much as 78 per cent this year, United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) says, while stressing the “highly uncertain” nature of its predictions.

Following are five ways holidays have probably changed for the foreseeable future:

  1. Sanitizing at the airport

Airports are practising social distancing and encouraging cleanliness. London’s Heathrow has signage across all its terminals reminding passengers to distance themselves at least two metres from others and to wash their hands regularly. The use of electronic check-in and passport control may also be accelerated, as airports look for ways to avoid unnecessary interactions between people.

  1. PPE on the plane

Some firms are already taking steps to shore up confidence in their cleanliness. For example, Korean Air is providing cabin crew with protective gowns and goggles, which are either discarded after each flight or sanitised before reuse.

With many countries now recommending the use of face masks, these may become required for airplane passengers.

  1. Uncrowded destinations

Hotels and restaurants will probably drastically change the way they manage guests with usual practices at buffet meals, pools, bars and beaches under scrutiny. This could also mean not filling hotels up to full capacity and limiting the number of guests on beaches at any one time.

  1. Redesigned hotels

Many hotel managements have been asked to redesign, to include “greater spatial layouts” in public areas and the restaurant and lounge, as well as the incorporation of materials that can easily be sanitised.

  1. Hospital-grade cleaning

Hotel giants like Marriott International are focusing on surface areas, guest contact and food safety.

This will include the use of electrostatic sprayers with hospital-grade disinfectant to sanitize surfaces throughout the hotels.

Other elements may also change, as the travel industry adapts to new health and safety concerns and tries to recover from the devastating impact of the pandemic.

Fact Check: AICTE not conducting any survey of students on conduct of exams

New Delhi (NVI): A viral message is doing rounds on social media regarding an online survey being conducted by All India Council For Technical Education (AICTE) with link to a google form, seeking inputs from students of universities on conduct of exams.

Taking note of the viral message, the Fact Check Unit of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) has clarified that AICTE is not conducting any survey and the form is fake.

“Claim: there is a message being passed around with link to a google form allegedly by @AICTE_INDIA, seeking inputs from students of Universities on conduct of exams

“#PIBFactCheck: AICTE is not conducting any survey. This form is #Fake,” PIB Fact Check tweeted.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in India followed by a nationwide lockdown, social media platforms are flooded with fake news and misinformation. The government has urged people not to fall prey to such rumors.

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