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DA hike for central govt employees, pensioners suspended till Jul 2021

SDRF
Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): The Union Finance Ministry today announced freezing of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to Central Government pensioners at current rates till July 2021, in the wake of the economic crisis arising in the country due to Covid-19 pandemic.

This means that the hiked DA and DR announced by the Central government for its employees and pensioners last month, will remain suspended till July 2021 in the wake of the current pandemic situation. Central government employees will continue to get the DA at current rates till July 2021.

“In view of the crisis arising out of COVID-19, it has been decided that the additional installment of dearness Allowance payable to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief to Central Government pensioners, due from 1st January 2020 shall not be paid,” the Ministry said in a statement today.

“As and when the decision to release the future installment of DA and DR due from 1st July 2021 is taken by the government, the rates of DA and DR as effective from 1st January 2020, 1st July 2020 and 1st January 2021 will be restored prospectively and will be subsumed in the cumulative revised rate effective from 1st July 2021,” the statement read.

However, both the DA and DR at current rates will continue to be paid, the Ministry said.

It also said that no arrears for the period from January 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, will be paid.

Fact check: DoT not giving free internet during lockdown

Pakistan
(Representational Image)

New Delhi (NVI): Be warned, if you have received any message on your mobile that Department of Telecom (DoT) is providing free internet during the lockdown or till May 3. The Fact Check Unit of Press Information Bureau (PIB) today clarified that there is no such provision of free internet by DoT.

“The fake information in circulation has claimed that free internet is being provided to all by the Department to enable them to work from home, and can be availed by clicking on a given link,” the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said in an official statement.

PIB Fact Check has clarified that the claim is false and the link is fraudulent. Mobile phone users are advised to not click on such links or forward such messages.

In order to check the spread of fake news on social media and following observations of the Supreme Court, PIB has set up a dedicated unit to bust rumours getting viral on social media.

‘PIBFactCheck’ is a verified handle on Twitter that continuously monitors trending messages on social media platforms and conducts comprehensive review of its contents to bust fake news.

In another fact check, the Ministry of Home Affairs has clarified that media reports claiming penal action against company Directors and management if their employees test positive for COVID19 are false.

“The guidelines instead prescribe penalties if the offence occurs with consent, cognisance or negligence of employer,” I&B ministry said in a statement.

Covid-19: State-wise count of cases and deaths in India

New Delhi (NVI): As the country enters the ninth day of the extended lockdown, coronavirus cases keep on increasing, with total confirmed cases at 21,700 with 686 fatalities so far, according to the Union Health Ministry.

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

Total positive cases in different states/UTs:

Andhra Pradesh- 895
Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 18
Arunachal Pradesh- 1
Assam- 35
Bihar- 148
Chandigarh- 27
Chhattisgarh- 36
Delhi- 2,248
Gujarat- 2,407
Goa- 7
Haryana- 262
Himachal Pradesh- 40
Jammu and Kashmir- 407
Jharkhand- 49
Karnataka- 443
Kerala- 438
Ladakh- 18
Madhya Pradesh- 1,695
Maharashtra- 5,652
Manipur- 2
Meghalaya- 12
Mizoram- 1
Odisha- 83
Puducherry- 7
Punjab- 277
Rajasthan- 1,890
Tamil Nadu- 1,629
Telangana- 960
Tripura- 2
Uttarakhand- 46
Uttar Pradesh- 1,509
West Bengal- 456

State/UT wise total death toll in the country:

Andhra Pradesh- 27
Assam- 1
Bihar- 2
Delhi- 48
Gujarat- 103
Haryana- 3
Himachal Pradesh- 1
Jammu and Kashmir- 5
Jharkhand- 3
Karnataka- 17
Kerala- 3
Madhya Pradesh- 81
Maharashtra- 269
Meghalaya- 1
Odisha- 1
Punjab- 16
Rajasthan- 27
Tamil Nadu- 18
Telangana- 24
Uttar Pradesh- 21
West Bengal- 15

A total of 4,325 people have been cured or discharged from hospitals in India. There are around 16,689 active cases currently.

We have a long way to go, says WHO on COVID-19

COVAX
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

New Delhi (NVI): As countries across the globe struggle to combat coronavirus, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the problem is going to persist for a “long time”.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said there are “worrying upward trends” in early epidemics in parts of Africa and central and South America.

“Make no mistake, we have a long way to go. This virus will be with us for a long time,” he said at a virtual media briefing.

“Most countries are still in the early stages of their epidemic and some that were affected early in the pandemic are starting to see a resurgence in cases,” he said.

On the issue of US President Donald Trump announcing halt to funding of the WHO, Tedros expressed hope that the decision would be reconsidered.

“I hope the freezing of the funding will be reconsidered and the US will once again support WHO’s work and continue to save lives,” he said.

Trump last week alleged that the WHO had “covered up” on the coronavirus crisis and said the US would halt its funding to the tune of 400-500 dollars to the UN body.

The US President has said that the WHO had grossly mismanaged the crisis after first cases were detected in China in late December last year and that because of this, the entire world is suffering.

Tedros defended WHO’s handling of COVID-19, saying it declared a global emergency “early enough” on January 30 – its highest level of alert.

“I hope the US believes that this is an important investment, not just to help others but for the U.S. to stay safe also,” the WHO chief said.

World Book Day 2020 highlights utilising time in reading amid COVID-19

New Delhi (NVI): World Book Day is celebrated every year on April 23. This year, when the whole world is struggling to fight COVID-19 pandemic, everyone can utilise this lockdown period in reading books while staying put at home, UNESCO today said.

The day is marked to promote the enjoyment and importance of books and reading, celebrations take place all over the world to recognize the scope.

In 1995, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) first decided that World Book and Copyright Day would be celebrated on April 23, to pay a world-wide tribute to books and authors on this date, encouraging everyone to access books.

Since the entire world is going through a state of pandemic due to COVID-19 virus, most educational institutions have gone into a shutdown. Yet the power of e-books, digitalisation, reading positive things, and gaining knowledge is the need of the hour.

Today, UNESCO and the international organizations stand up for creativity, diversity and equal access to knowledge, with the work across the board and maintenance through its own initiatives.

“As books are our major source of information, entertainment and comfort during the coronavirus pandemic-led lockdown, the power of books should be leveraged to combat isolation. Parents should read good books along with their children, this period should be used to produce reading habits in children,” UNESCO added.

This day also marks the anniversaries of prominent literary figures like William Shakespeare’s whose birth and death anniversary falls on this day, along with Miguel de Cervantes and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega’s death anniversary.

Coronavirus cases surge past 2.6 million worldwide

Coronavirus cases

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases have crossed 2.6 million worldwide as the cases increase rapidly, with the total number of fatalities crossing 1,83,400, according to John Hopkins University tally.

In the US, the number of infected cases has gone up to 8,42,600 with more than 46,000 deaths due to the contagion, as the country accounts for about a quarter of the total deaths.

Meanwhile, two pet cats in New York state have tested positive for the coronavirus, marking the first confirmed cases in companion animals in the US, federal officials said Wednesday.

In another development, certain states of the US like Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina and other states could reopen soon for businesses, according to media reports.

In addition to this, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) says there are “worrying upward trends” in early epidemics in parts of Africa and central and South America, warning that the “virus will be with us for a long time”.

(Read more for additional information on coronavirus and related topics)

South Korea’s economy has recorded its most severe contraction since the 2008 financial crisis as the coronavirus pandemic weighed on consumer demand and exports. Its economy shrank 1.4 per cent in the January-to-March period compared to the fourth quarter of 2019, according to an estimate released by the Bank of Korea.

China’s Health authorities have reported 10 new COVID-19 cases in mainland China, down from 30 a day earlier as the number of so-called imported cases involving travellers from overseas declined.

The total number of confirmed cases for mainland China now stands at 82,798. No new COVID-19 deaths were reported, leaving the toll unchanged at 4,632.

Total COVID-19 cases in India rise to 21,393; death toll 681

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India rose to 21,393 and 681 people died from the pandemic, according to Union Health Ministry.

In last 24 hours, 1,409 new coronavirus cases with 41 new deaths have been reported.

Maharashtra continues to remain the worst affected state with 5,652 cases, which includes 269 deaths.

The other states that have seen the most number of cases include Gujarat with 2,407 cases followed by Delhi with 2,248 cases and Tamil Nadu with 1,629 positive cases, as per Health Ministry data.

Meanwhile, Delhi alone has over 80 areas which have been declared as containment zones.

At present, the number of active COVID-19 cases stands at 16,454 while 4,258 people have been cured or discharged.

Up to 7 yrs in jail for attack on doctors, health workers: Govt

New Delhi (NVI): The central government has brought in an ordinance to end violence against health workers by amending the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, which will allow imprisonment from 6 months to 7 years for those found guilty.

While addressing a press conference after the Cabinet meeting today, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said, said the government would act “tough” against those who would attack doctors and frontline health workers.

The government is adopting zero tolerance towards instances of attacks on doctors and health workers on the frontline.

After the amendment, under the Epidemic Diseases Act, attacks on doctors, paramedic staff and ASHA workers has become a non-bailable and cognisable offence punishable for up to 7 years in prison and fine of up to Rs 5 lakhs.

Under the new law, investigation in such cases will be completed in a time-bound manner, Javadekar said.

In addition to this, those found to be vandalising the private clinic or a car/vehicle belonging to a doctor will be asked to pay twice the market value of these assets.

The decision comes after Home Minister Amit Shah and Health Minister Harsh Vardhan held a meeting with the IMA representatives today and assured them that attacks on doctors and paramedic staff will not be tolerated.

PM to interact with Gram Panchayats

PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will address various Gram Panchayats across the country on Friday (April 24) on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day.

As the country is observing social distancing through lockdown, the Prime Minister shall be interacting with various participants through video-conferencing, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj said in a statement, adding that PM Modi shall be launching the unified e-GramSwaraj Portal and Mobile App on the occasion.

The Unified Portal is a new initiative of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj which will provide the Gram Panchayats with a single interface to prepare and implement their Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP).

The Prime Minister shall also be launching the Swamitva Scheme on the occasion, the ministry said. The scheme provides for an integrated property validation solution for rural India; the demarcation of inhabited land in rural areas would be done by the use of latest surveying methods – Drone’s technology with the collaborated efforts of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, State Panchayati Raj Department, State Revenue Department and Survey of India, it added.

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