Thursday, July 3, 2025
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Sensex and Nifty erase gains, turns red

BSE

Mumbai (NVI): Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty erased early gains and turned flat during the early morning trade.

The 30-share BSE Sensex was 7.07 points down at 41,002.64. It opened at 41,168.85.

Similarly, The 50-scrip NSE Nifty fell nearly 12 points to 12,074.95

Meanwhile, Indian rupee appreciated by 8 paise to 70.75 against the US dollar in early trade.

On Friday, the 30-share gauge ended 428 points that is 1.05 per cent higher at 41,009.71. While, the Nifty settled 114.90 points or 0.96 per cent higher at 12,086.70.

Delhi air quality remained ‘moderate’

New Delhi(NVI): The overall air quality in national capital today remained in the “moderate” category.

According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR),the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital stood at 156 which falls in the “moderate” category.

The AQI in the Delhi University was in the “moderate” with the PM2.5 of 160, followed by PUSA, Lodhi Road and Mathura Road with the recorded PM 2.5 count of 142, 135 and 170 respectively which also falls in the “moderate” category.

While, the AQI in Chandini Chowk was recorded in the ” very poor” category with PM2.5 of 308.

The neighbouring Noida recorded a PM2.5 of 246 which falls in the “poor” category, SAFAR added.

An AQI between 0-50 is considered “good”, 51-100 “satisfactory”, 101-200 “moderate”, 201-300 “poor”, 301-400 “very poor” and 401-500 “severe”. An AQI above 500 falls in the “severe plus” category.

World community lost opportunity at COP25: Guterres

Madrid (NVI): The UN Climate Summit COP25 ended here today without an agreement on the issue of global carbon markets.

Delegates from almost 200 nations had gathered for the meet where the delegates engaged in the longest ever climate talks. However, the Summit ended with modest agreements.

There was no agreement on the key issue of global carbon markets and the matter was deferred until next meet.

Expressing disappointment over the development, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the international community lost an important opportunity to show increased ambition on mitigation, adaptation and finance to tackle the climate crisis.

“I am disappointed with the results of #COP25,” Guterres tweeted adding “…but we must not give up, and I will not give up.”

In a series of tweets, Guterres reiterated his commitment to achieve carbon neutrality.

“I am more determined than ever to work for 2020 to be the year in which all countries commit to do what science tells us is necessary to reach carbon neutrality in 2050 and a no more than 1.5 degree temperature rise. #ClimateAction,” he tweeted.

J&K targeting to double quantum of milk processing in 2 years 

Jammu (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir is targeting to double the quantity of milk processing in the next years from the current level of 2.5 lakh litres each day.

J&K produces 25.41 lakh MT milk annually.

Lt. Governor G C Murmu, while reviewing the working of Animal and Sheep Husbandry department, called for increase in milk production and development of poultry estates for filling the gap between demand and supply of milk and poultry in the Union Territory.

He stressed the need for involving cooperative societies and encourage the farmers for dairy farming while noting that Animal and Sheep Husbandry is a major sector that caters to the needs of a large chunk of population in Jammu and Kashmir.

During the meeting, the Lt. Governor was informed that there are 2200 veterinary centres across Jammu and Kashmir.

He directed the animal husbandry department to cover the entire J&K under the service of mobile veterinary dispensaries which would be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.

While reviewing the working of Fisheries Department, the Lt. Governor was informed that the department has imported genetically modified Rainbow Trout Seed from Denmark to boost the production of trout fish, which will also attract the farmers towards the fish farming due to its high returns.

Jammu and Kashmir produces about 600 MT or 71 percent of trout fish in India, the meeting was told.

The Lt. Governor asked the officers to further enhance the fish production to make it a lucrative self-employment option.

The Lt. Governor observed that the poultry industry has remained the most dynamic and fastest growing segment in the animal husbandry subsector. He pitched for involving unemployed local youth in poultry sector and develop poultry estates on scientific lines.

He directed the concerned authorities to ensure better health facilities and vaccination for the livestock so that farmers related to this sector don’t face any kind of problem.

He also emphasised on establishing the wool processing units in Jammu and Kashmir, as despite being the second largest producer of wool, the Union Territory does not have wool processing plants.

The Lt. Governor said that the people be made aware about departmental and welfare schemes launched by the government so that they could avail maximum benefits.

Plans afoot for big campaign to boost J&K tourism

Jammu (NVI): The Jammu and Kashmir government is planning a major campaign within the country and abroad to project the newly-created Union Territory as a top tourist destination.

The campaign will involve conduct of road shows and affiliated activities in a number of cities across the country and some key places in certain foreign countries.

The circuits where the road shows are being planned in the coming months include Ahmedabad-Surat-Baroda, Lucknow-Varanasi-Patna-Ranchi, Bangalore-Mysore, Chennai-Kochi, Mumbai-Pune-Nasik, Nagpur-Indore-Bhopal, Kolkata-Bhubeneshwar-Puri at the domestic level.

At international level, the road shows will be conducted on Thailand-Bangladesh-Indonesia circuit, Dubai-Sharjah-Abu Dabi circuit and Jeddah-Riyadh circuit.

The road shows will also include business-to-business interactions, business-to-consumer interfaces, press conferences and invitions to leading travel and trade fraternity of the visiting cities.

The government of the Union Territory, headed by Lt Governor G C Murmu, is also planning to hold the first Investors’ Summit with an aim of boosting the prospects of employment generation and development.

The summit was first proposed to be held on October 12 but was postponed amid continued restrictions in the UT.  It is now expected to be held in the coming months.

Jammu and Kashmir continues to be under restrictions since its special status, granted under Article 370, was abolished in August and the state was converted into a UT.

Murmu recently said the investor summit would be held soon so that investments pour into the Union Territory for its development and creation of employment opportunities for the youth.

He said about 30,000 to 40,000 employment opportunities would be created for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.

“We want investments to pour in here so that people get jobs and there is overall development. That is why we are preparing for an investor summit which will take place soon,” the LG said while addressing an event in Ganderbal in Kashmir weeks back.

Ganga rejuvenation: PM pitches for public coop, awareness

Kanpur (NVI): Describing rejuvenation of Ganga as a long-pending challenge for the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the task would require fullest cooperation from the public at large and greater awareness of best practices from cities situated along the banks of national rivers.

He made the remarks while chairing the first meeting of the National Ganga Council, which was attended by Union Ministers concerned besides Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand and Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar.

There was no representative from West Bengal and Jharkhand did not participate because of the ongoing elections and the Model Code of Conduct being in force, according to an official statement.

The Prime Minister, while reviewing the progress of work done and deliberating on various aspects of cleaning Ganga with a focus on ‘swachhta’, ‘aviralta’ and ‘nirmalta’, observed that ‘Maa Ganga is the holiest river on the sub-continent and its rejuvenation should embody a shining example of cooperative federalism.

He said “a lot had been accomplished” since his government took up the ‘Namami Gange’ programme in 2014 as a comprehensive initiative integrating various government efforts and activities with the aim of pollution-abatement, conservation and rejuvenation of Ganga.

“But much more needs to be done,” Modi noted.

“Efficiency of District Ganga Committees should be improved in all districts, in order to provide a effective framework for expeditious implementation of plans,” he told the meeting, according to the statement.

The Prime Minister urged for a holistic thinking process where ‘Namami Gange’ evolves to ‘Arth Ganga’ or a sustainable development model with a focus on economic activities related to Ganga.

As part of this process, farmers should be encouraged to engage in sustainable agriculture practices, including zero budget farming, planting of fruit trees and building plant nurseries on the banks of Ganga.

Priority could be given to women Self Help Groups and ex-servicemen organizations for these programs.

Such practices, along with creation of infrastructure for water sports and development of camp sites, cycling and walking tracks etc, would help to tap the ‘hybrid’ tourism potential of the river basin area- for purposes of religious as well as adventure tourism.

The income generated from encouraging eco-tourism and Ganga wildlife conservation and cruise tourism etc. would help to generate sustainable income streams for cleaning of Ganga.

For monitoring the work progress and activities from various schemes and initiatives under Namami Gange and Arth Ganga, the PM also gave directions for the setting up of a Digital Dashboard where data from villages and urban bodies should be monitored on a daily basis by Niti Ayog and Ministry of Jal Shakti.

He also said that like aspirational districts, all districts bordering Ganga should be made a focus area for monitoring efforts under Namami Gange.

Air services resume at Srinagar Airport

Srinagar (NVI): Flight operations at Srinagar Airport resumed today after remaining suspended for seven days because of fog and heavy snowfall, officials said.

The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which links the Kashmir valley with rest of the country, however, remained closed for the vehicular movement due to snowfall in Jawahar Tunnel area, official said.

The snowfall has led to sharp drop in the temperature across Kashmir.

The higher reaches of Jammu & Kashmir, including the famous ski resort of Gulmarg, received heavy snowfall.

The weather department has issued an ‘orange’ warning for the Union Territory, forecasting moderate to heavy snowfall and rain in the UT.

Healthcare services should be available to adolescents out of clinics: Harsh Vardhan

cooling proize
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.

New Delhi (NVI):  Healthcare providers should take their services out of clinics to adolescents to deal with the increasing problem of teenage pregnancy and other adolescent health issues, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said here today.

He said India has over 253 million adolescents who require nutrition, education, counseling and guidance to ensure their development into healthy adults.

“This group is susceptible to several avoidable health problems such as early and unintended pregnancy, unsafe sex leading to STI/HIV/AIDS, nutritional disorders like malnutrition, anaemia and overweight, alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse, mental health concerns, injuries and violence,” he said.

Vardhan, who was speaking at a workshop ‘Investing in Adolescent Health: Harnessing the Demographic Dividend’, organised jointly by the Health Ministry and Observer Research Foundation (ORF), stressed the need for investment on adolescents in order to leverage India’s demographic dividend.

“The ongoing levels of teenage pregnancies and child marriages in certain pockets across the country is a cause for great concern and taking sexual and reproductive health services out of the clinics to India’s adolescent population will be the way forward,” he added.

The workshop brought together more than 120 delegates, including 30 speakers, from multiple stakeholders like State Governments, not-for-profit organizations, think tanks, UN agencies and international and multilateral agencies.

Disabled people in Kashmir face unfriendly infrastructure in govt offices

By Sameer Ahmad

Srinagar (NVI): Social Welfare Department is supposed to work for the benefit of disabled people but in Kashmir, most of the buildings housing their offices are unfriendly for the physically-handicapped people.

The disabled people find it an uphill task to reach officers and other staffers in the Social Welfare Department as these lack the ramps and handrails, besides being situated upstairs.

According to the 2011 census, the total population of disabled persons in Jammu and Kashmir was 361702.

According to Javaid Ahmad Tak, a representative of National Disability Network (NDN) in Kashmir, Parliament in 2016 passed the ‘Rights of Personal Disabilities bill and it was enacted in Jammu and Kashmir last year through an Ordinance issued by the Governor.

“But we still don’t know whether it was implemented on the ground. The government has left us to the God’s mercy as it does not pay any attention to us,” wheelchair-bound Tak told News Vibes of India (NVI).

The 47-year-old was injured in 1997 during a firing incident in his native village in Anantnag district’s Bijbehara area. His spinal cord was severely damaged in the incident, causing permanent disability to him.

Tak said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on December 3,2015, launched the Accessible India Campaign (AIC) with the objective that old buildings/infrastructure would be renovated to create accessibility for the disabled persons.

In the campaign, the government had identified 25 buildings in each state capital for renovation and constructing of ramps in buildings, instead of stairs.

In 2018, the access audit in Kashmir was completed and the government released Rs 1.44 crore to the social welfare department to create accessibility for the disabled persons in Kashmir, said Tak, who runs an NGO for disabled children.

“Unfortunately, the department has not utilized funds on the ground,” he added.

Talking to NVI, Nisar Ahmad Bhat, Chairman of South Kashmir Handicapped Association said, “We are facing a lot of hardships during our visits to any government office in Kashmir particularly the Social Welfare Department.”

According to the Jammu and Kashmir Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1998, “the government and the local authorities shall, within the limits of their economic capacity and development provide for – a) ramps in public building; b) adaptation of toilets for wheel-chair users; c) Braille symbols and auditory signals in elevators or lifts; d) ramps in hospitals, primary health centers and other medical care and rehabilitation institutions.”

Tak had filed a PIL last year in the High Court, pleading for implementation of the Disability Act in Jammu and Kashmir, utilisation of funds released under the AIC and increase in the disabilities pension from Rs 1000 to Rs 3000.

Taking to NVI, Dr Farhat, Anantnag District Social Welfare Officer, said these ramps should be made compulsory for the disabled persons in every sector.

“Yes, it is right that the disabled persons are facing hardships in Kashmir, not only in government offices but also in private sector too. I heard that the Accessible India Campaign (AIC) funds will be utilized very soon on the ground to create the accessibility infrastructure for personal disabled persons in Kashmir,” Farhat said.

One billion raw sewage flow polluting Ganges: WEF

New Delhi (NVI): More than one billion litres of raw sewage flows every day into India’s most sacred river Ganga, according to a latest study.

The river, which is known as the lifeline for nation, spiritually and economically, is facing several challenges, says the report of the World Economic Forum on Ganga.

The pollution of the river is greatly aggravated with plastic and industrial residue, such as waste water from the leather tanneries that sit on the banks of the Ganges, the report says.

At some places, the river water’s bacteria count reaches 3,000 times the limit declared safe for bathing by the World Health Organization, it says.

The river and its tributaries touch the lives of roughly 500 million people. But having flowed for millennia, today it is reaching its capacity for human and industrial waste, while simultaneously being drained for agriculture and municipal use, the report says.

Unpredictable rains, caused by Climate Change, are increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events like droughts, and leaving the fishermen of the Ganges with dwindling catches.

The most worrying problem facing the river is its increasing depletion of water.

Water for irrigation is being removed faster than the rainy season can replenish it.

The Ganges is being throttled by more than 300 dams and diversions, with many more blocking its tributaries, stopping the natural ebb and flow of the river.

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