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Disaster preparedness during “Fani” offers lessons to the world: WEF

New Delhi (NVI): The Odisha government has come in for praise from the World Economic Forum (WEF) for its efficient handling of the extremely severe cyclone ‘Fani’ which struck the state in May this year.

The WEF said that Odisha has not only set an example in disaster preparedness but also has set a record in biggest human evacuations in history with 1.5 million people being shifted in just 24 hours.

“The more recent severe cyclone Fani was a rare summer cyclone and the first one to hit in 43 years. It made its landfall on the religious town of Puri and Khurda district and travelled through Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, wreaking havoc with extensive damage to the life and property of more than 1.65 crore people in 12 districts” the report said.

“As Odisha had already set a global benchmark in handling disasters by leveraging technology, strengthening institutional capacities and building resilience measures, it was fully prepared to face this calamity of national magnitude. The state undertook one of the biggest human evacuations in history with a record 1.5 million people shifted in just 24 hours,” the report said.

The report said that Cyclone Bulbul in 2019 highlighted how Odisha has mastered disaster management – with lessons for other disaster-prone cities and states.

Giving an example on ho the state has managed after the super cyclone that ravaged the state the report said, “In 1999 there were only 75 cyclone shelters along the entire coastline. Some 800 multipurpose cyclone and flood shelters have since been built in the coastal districts following the super cyclone”.

The report said that around 800 new multipurpose cyclone and flood shelters have been built since 1999 in the coastal districts following the super cyclone.

“The major cyclones that have hit the state in the last two decades are the 1999 super cyclone, Phailin in 2013 and Titli in 2018,” report said in a statement.

The report also praised Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik fopr handling the disaster and focus on saving lives to creating cyclone-resilient infrastructure.

Modi congratulates European Council President Charles Michel

Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting Prime Minister of Belgium Charles Michel, in New York, USA on September 25. File photo.

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated President of European Council, Charles Michel on assuming office and expressed confidence that India-EU partnership will strengthen further.

According to an official statement, the Prime Minister received a call from Charles Michel today and during the conversation, Modi also conveyed best wishes for a successful tenure of the President of European Council.

Recalling his meeting with Michel in New York on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) earlier this year, Modi mentioned that India was committed to making progress on issues of mutual interest, including BTIA, connectivity partnership, Europol, Euroatom, counter terrorism, climate change and other issues.

Both the leaders agreed to hold the next India-EU Summit at an early opportunity next year in Brussels.

Dates in this regard will be decided through diplomatic channels, the statement added.

PwC to undertake campus recruitment drive in J&K

MoS in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh during a meeting with a delegation of PricewaterhouseCoopers in Delhi.

New Delhi (NVI): PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a leading multinational consultancy firm will undertake a campus recruitment campaign in Universities and higher educational institutions of Jammu and Kashmir.

PwC will soon undertake undertake campus recruitment in J&K, besides a similar campus placement exercises in University of Kashmir and NIT, Srinagar, IIM, IIT and Government College of Engineering & Technology in Jammu and Institute of Technology, Zakura besides the Union Territory of Ladakh.

Chairman of PwC Shyamal Mukherjee said this while giving a presentation to Minister of State in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh here yesterday.

Mukherjee said the PwC will not only tap the local talent in J&K but also provide mentorship for students and career counselling besides enhancing employment skills, an official statement said.

“Initially, the campaign will run for graduate and post-graduate students, but slowly programmes will be launched at 10+2 level,” he said. Adding that imparting soft skills and behavioural workshops are also in the pipeline.

Dr Singh during the meeting said that the private sector is making a beeline for investment in the Jammu and Kashmir.

“Within two months of the changed administrative landscape in the newly carved out Union Territory, the private sector is coming in a big way to tap the potential of the youth and economy,” he said.

Lauding PWC for taking the lead, the Minister said that this campaign will not result in any additional burden to the exchequer as there is no financial liability for the UT Administration.

“The psychological hurdle of Article 370 was so huge that the private industry was reluctant to invest in the erstwhile state of J&K. Now that this barrier has been breached under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the opportunities for development and prosperity are opening up,” he said.

He also directed the officials to firm up the proposal and roll out the campaign in consultation with the Secretary of Higher Education.

Delhi air “severe”; cold wave conditions in north India

Delhi air quality
File Photo

New Delhi (NVI): For the second day today, the air quality of the National Capital remained in the “severe” category with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 420.

According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), there is a possibility of scattered rain over Delhi region today night, adding that the improvement in AQI will depend on the strength of rainfall.

It further said that slight drizzle can deteriorate air quality.

SAFAR has predicted that by tomorrow, the AQI is likely to improve December as wind speeds are likely to pick up.

The worst affected areas are Dhirpur, Delhi University, Chandni Chowk, Pusa, Lodhi Road, Mathura Road, IGI Terminal 3 and the neighbouring Noida.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that the minimum temperature in Delhi will settle around 6.4 degree Celsius today which is two degree below normal. The maximum temperature recorded yesterday was 17.5 degree Celsius which was five degree below normal.

The IMD said that cold wave conditions are likely to prevail at isolated pockets over Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand and Gangetic West Bengal during the next 24 hours.

Dense fog is very likely during morning hours in isolated pockets over plains of northwest India and parts of central, east and northeast India during the next 2-3 days and likely to increase in intensity and spatial distribution thereafter over these regions.

J&K placed third in full immunization coverage

Jammu (NVI): The Health Department of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has been placed in the third position in the country in full immunization coverage with 96 percent after Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

During 2019–2020, the Directorate of Family Welfare, MCH & Immunization Department has vaccinated 2,17,984 children (0-1 year age) out of the total target of 2,27,474, an official statement said.

The left out children would now be covered under the Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0 (IMI), for which Baramulla and Kupwara districts have been chosen by the department.

Through this programme, the Centre aims to reach each and every child up to two years of age and all pregnant women who have been left uncovered (left outs and drop outs) under the routine immunization programme.

In 2018-19, the Directorate had launched and successfully completed the vaccination campaign against measles and Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS), responsible for irreversible birth defects.

During the Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign, around 38 lakh children from the age group of 9 months to 15 years were vaccinated in record two and half month with 100 per cent achievement.

Mission Indradhanush, Gram Swaraj Mission Indradhanush, Mission Indradhanush for aspiration districts Baramulla and Kupwara were also held with 100 per cent achievement.

TD (Tetanus-Diphtheria) was introduced throughout the J&K in 2018-19 and is now part of UT’s UIP schedule.

Besides, Rota Virus Vaccine was also introduced by Directorate of Family Welfare, MCH & Immunization Department this year which will help to avert 40 per cent deaths due to diarrheal diseases. The Rota Virus Vaccination programme will cover over two lakh and twenty thousand children annually.

Under a new initiative by the Directorate of Family Welfare, MCH & Immunization Department, around 40,000 Government employees of health department will be vaccinated with Hepatitis B Vaccine which will be given free of cost.

The Health department has signed an MOU with United Nations Development Programme-India (UNDP) to introduce very unique software called e-VIN in the Union Territory of J&K. The Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network- eVIN is an innovative technological solution aimed at strengthening immunization supply chain systems.

J&K to ascertain number of West Pakistan refugees

Jammu (NVI): The Jammu and Kashmir government has begun an exercise to ascertain the exact number of refugees from West Pakistan living here.
Special camps will be held for identification of such families and screening of their documents.
Jammu Divisional Commissioner Sanjeev Verma today held a meeting to discuss issues related to West Pakistan refugees and displaced persons’ cases of 1947, 1965 and 1971, an official spokesman said.
The Deputy Commissioners apprised the meeting about the number of families of West Pakistan refugees in their respective districts.
It was informed that the DCs have instructed the Tehsildars to conduct verification of the families, the spokesman said.
The Divisional Commissioner asked the authorities concerned to organise special camps and expedite the process of identification of families and properly check the documents and send the cases in his office as early as possible.
He said the DCs should monitor the process of verification and check the genuineness of families, the spokesman said.
Verma asked the DCs to submit details of exact number of West Pakistan refugee families in their respective districts.

China, Pak, Bangladesh, Afghan climbers need permission to climb Indian peaks: MHA

File photo.

New Delhi (NVI): Mountaineers from China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will now have to take prior permission for climbing peaks which are opened in India, according to a government order.

According to a Home Ministry gazette notification dated December 19, these mountaineers will have to follow the routes prescribed by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation.

Amending the Foreigners Order, 1948, the Home Ministry said, “Prior permission of the Central Government shall be required by nationals of China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan or persons having their origin in the said countries even for climbing peaks which are so opened under specific orders issued by the Central Government”.

The Home Ministry order further said, “The Indian Mountaineering Foundation shall specify routes, attach liaison officer and impose such restrictions as it may deem necessary in respect of peaks which are so opened under specific orders issued by the Central Government”.

The order also said that no foreigner or group of foreigners shall climb or attempt to climb any mountain peak in India, except those peaks which are opened for mountaineering or trekking expeditions under specific orders issued by the Central Government from time to time with routes.

India, China military drill concludes

India-China Joint Training Exercise “Hand-in- Hand” concluded on December 20.

Shillong (NVI): The joint military exercise, aimed at building and promoting positive relations between the armies of India and China culminated today at the Joint Training Node, Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya.

The eight edition of India-China Joint Training Exercise “Hand-in- Hand” commenced on December 7.

The drill was aimed at practicing the participating infantry companies of India and Chinese armies in joint drills of counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban terrain under the United Nation mandate, an official statement said.

The exercise entailed firing from each others weapons, conduct of tactical lectures and demonstration by both the countries on various aspects of counter-terrorism operations. It included physical training activities ranging from endurance runs, battle obstacle courses and games.

The high joint training standards achieved by both contingents were on display during a 72 hours field training exercise which encompassed various drills requiring seamless integration of action of the part of troops involved in the facets of counter-terrorism operations in conjunction with gruelling methods to execute the assigned tasks.

The exercise culminated with a glittery closing ceremony where the participating troops displayed high standards of military drill.

The closing ceremony was reviewed by Major General JS Sandhu in the presence of other senior officers of both the participating countries. The Chinese side was represented by Major General Li Shizong.

The bonhomie achieved between the troops was at display during the campfire. The two armies have gained from each others expertise and experience in conduct of counter-terrorism and company level operations.

Tremors in north India as 6.3 magnitude quake rocks Afghanistan

New Delhi(NVI): Strong tremors were felt in several parts of north India including Delhi-NCR at around 1715 hours.

According to National Center for Seismology, an earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter Scale jolted Afghanistan at around 1709 hours today.

The epicentre of the quake was 244 km north northeast of Kabul in Afghanistan.

Tremors were also felt in Pakistan.

CAA stir: DMRC shuts several metro gates

New Delhi(NVI): The Delhi metro shut the entry and exits gates of several metro stations of various lines due to Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protest in the some parts of the National capital.

According to DMRC, Metro Stations–Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat, Mandi House, Janpath, Pragati Maidan, Khan Market, Johri Enclave, Shiv Vihar, Dilshad Garden, Chawri Bazar, Lal Quila, Jama Masjid, Delhi Gate, Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur and Jamia Millia Islamia  have been closed but interchange facility is available.

Hundreds of protesters gathered at Delhi’s Jama Masjid located in the old city, to join a protest against the CAA.

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