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Opportunity for High School students to learn at prestigious Yale campus

Yale University
Yale begins application process for Young Global Scholars 2020

New Delhi: If you are a high school student and looking for academic uplift at Yale’s historic campus, here is a chance. The Yale University has recently started the application process for Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS) 2020, an academic summer enrichment program for outstanding high school students from around the world.

The young scholars session is offering various sessions in different streams such as humanities, social sciences, STEM, and a new cross-disciplinary track that incorporates all the above. The program is divided into three sessions starting from June 21 to July 31.

 

Every year in summer, students from over 125 countries participate in one of five interdisciplinary, two-week sessions at Yale’s historic campus.

Yale also provides over $3.4 Million USD in need based financial aid equally to both domestic and international students, offered as discounts covering up to 100% of tuition costs. With no grades or course credit, YYGS encourages students to approach all aspects of the program creatively with the understanding that they set their own limits. Students receive an electronic certificate of completion at the end of the session.

The diverse and inclusive community at YYGS enhances learning by inviting students to analyze issues from multiple perspectives. Living and learning alongside peers from around the world allows students to broaden their own worldviews by learning about countries and cultures they have never encountered before.

For early applications, students can apply by November 12th 2019 and the regular date for applications is January 15th 2020. Students can apply by visiting the following link: https://globalscholars.yale.edu/how-to-apply

500 rural craftswomen showcase skills and products at Saras Aajeevika Mela

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MoRD organise 'Saras Aajeevika Mela' at India Gate in New Delhi

New Delhi: Nearly 500 rural craftswomen from 29 States and UTs are show-casing varied range of products as part of Saras Aajeevika Mela, being organised by Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) at India Gate here. The Mela that opened on October 10 will continue till October 23.

Although the event has begun officially, it will be formally inaugurated by Union Minister for Rural Development Narendra Singh Tomar on October 12. 

The Aajeevika Mela brings rural women Self Help Groups (SHGs) formed with support of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) on a common platform to show-case their skills, sell their products and help them build linkages with bulk buyers. 

In this Mela, over 200 stalls have been set-up at the venue which offer products like handicrafts, handlooms, natural food products and a food court with regional cuisines. 

Each stall, each product and each of the rural SHG women has a story to share, a story of victory over heavy odds. Workshops for the rural SHG women will also be conducted during the Mela, which will help them to enhance their knowledge and sharpen their skills in book-keeping and GST, product design, packaging, marketing/e-marketing and communication skills.

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Through participation in SARAS Aajeevika Mela, these rural SHG women get national level exposure to understand the demand and taste of urban customers. 

The Mela is organised by the marketing arm of the Ministry, Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technology (CAPART). 

The SARAS Aajeevika Mela at India Gate Lawn features curated collection of handlooms, handicrafts, natural food products and food court with traditional cuisines, for the esteemed residents of Delhi NCR.

Showstopper at the Mela would be the mouth-watering authentic delicacies from nearly 20 States, with a first of its kind food fest show-casing the diversity of India’s ethnic cuisine, at the India Food Court, prepared and served by SHG members.

 

PoJK displaced persons’ delegation thanks govt for rehabilitation package 

Jitendra Singh met PoJK delegation
Union Minister Jitendra Singh met the delegation of PoJK displaced persons

New Delhi: A delegation of PoJK displaced persons on October 10 called on Union Minister Jitendra Singh and thanked the government for decision of including 5300 families of Displaced Persons in the Rehabilitation Package.

The meeting was held just a day after Centre’s landmark decision of approving Rs 5.5 lakh as compensation for each of around 5300 families of Pak occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK) Displaced Persons and to include them in the rehabilitation package.

“The delegation wanted to seek certain clarifications about the implementation part of the Cabinet decision and requested the benefits of the rehabilitation package should be uniformly available to 5300 Displaced families which had been left out of the package earlier. The procedure for this should be simple,” an official statement said.

It further added, “The delegation inputs and suggestions were received with patience which, the Home Ministry would examine in course of time and try to make the procedure as simple and convenient as possible.”

Singh described Cabinet’s decision as a major breakthrough for Jammu and Kashmir under the leadership of PM Modi, stating, “The government has the capacity and courage to take decisions and therefore, it is this government which can take the decisions to resolve these issues.”

Singh appealed, “To guard against false rumours or misinformation sought to be spread by certain vested interests, who are uncomfortable with the government’s decisive approach to resolve all the J&K related matters, whether that be Article 370, 35-A or West Pak Refugees or PoJK Displaced Persons or Kashmiri Pandits.”

On the request of delegation, Singh arranged a meeting of the delegations with senior officials of the Ministry. The delegation included Mahendra Mehta, Shyam Gupta, Madan Mohan, Bodh Raj and Manoj Khandelwal.

International Girl Child Day: Irani calls for gender parity

Girl Child Day

New Delhi: On the occasion of International Girl Child Day on October 11, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani appealed for ensuring gender parity in the society.

The minister took to twitter,  “On International Girl Child Day, let us reaffirm our commitment towards ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ and work towards ensuring gender parity in our society”.

Chairperson of National Commission for Women Rekha Sharma said, “Empower the girl, change the world. International Day of Girl Child”.

Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres in his message said, “We need to uphold the equal rights, voices and influence of girls in our families, communities and nations. Girls can be powerful agents of change, and nothing should keep them from participating fully in all areas of life”.

Since 2012, the International Girl Child Day is being observed on October 11 every year with an aim to empower women and spreading awareness about eliminating gender abnormalities against girls around the world.

This year the theme is “Girl Force: Unscripted and Unstoppable” and celebrates achievements by, with and for girls since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

The day focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote their empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.

Menace of Malnutrition needs humane solution:  Irani

Smriti Irani on Poshan Abhiyaan
WCD Minister Smriti Irani chairs 5th National Council on India’s Nutrition Challenges

New Delhi: Citing the World Bank Global Nutrition Report – 2018 which says that malnutrition costs India at least USD 10 billion annually in terms of lost productivity, illness and death and is seriously retarding human development, the Women and Child Development (WCD) minister, Zubin Irani said, “Humane solution has to be developed to tackle the menace of malnutrition in India.”

While chairing 5th National Council on India’s Nutrition Challenges here, Smriti Irani discussed several challenges faced and the measures taken to develop POSHAN Abhiyaan, India’s flagship programme to improve nutritional outcomes for children, adolescents, pregnant women and lactating mothers by leveraging technology, targeted approach and convergence.

At the council, Irani said, “Humane solution has to be developed to tackle the menace of malnutrition in India and for this, the economic benefits of investing in nutrition have to be highlighted and propagated.”

“POSHAN is an exercise for life for all citizens and should not be limited to women and children,” she added.

She further added, “Ministry along with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Deendayal Research Institute is developing a POSHAN atlas to map the crops and food grains grown in different regions of the country because the solution to tackling malnutrition lies in promoting regional cropping patterns and embracing local foods that are rich in protein.”

During the meeting, presentations were also made by the Ministry of WCD, NITI Aayog and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare regarding the implementation of the POSHAN Abhiyaan by the states.

In the meeting, “Ministry placed before the Council the report of the POSHAN Maah observed in September 2019. During the month-long POSHAN Abhiyaan, 22 lakh programmes were held and 3.66 crore activities were organised in different parts of the country. Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Day (VHSND) programmes were also organised in 7.86 lakh places,” said in a statement.

“Irani thanked Prime Minister for taking up the subject of POSHAN during Maan ki Baat on 25th August 2019 which had a countrywide impact. She also thanked all State Governments and District Administration for making the POSHAN Maah a success,” the statement added.

The fifth National Council on India’s Nutrition Challenges was attended by Secretary WCD, Rabindra Panwar, Dr Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, Swati Singh, WCD Minister, Uttar Pradesh, Mamta Bhupesh, Minister of WCD, Rajasthan and other senior officials of various ministries and the organisations.

The National Council on India’s Nutrition Challenges is mandated to provide policy directions to address India’s nutritional challenges through coordinated intersectoral action and to review convergence between Ministries and programmes for nutrition on a quarterly basis.

GeM signs MoU with Union Bank of India for digital services

gem ubi
GeM signs MoU with Union Bank of India

New Delhi: Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Union Bank of India (UBI) for an array of services on October 11. 

The services include transfer of funds through GeM Pool Accounts (GPA), advising of Performance Bank Guarantees (e-PBG) and Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) to the registered users on the GeM portal.

The MoU will facilitate a cashless, paperless and transparent payment system on the portal and will create an efficient procurement system for government entities. It was signed by S. Suresh Kumar, Additional CEO, GeM and S. K. Mohapatra, Field General Manager, Delhi, UBI in the presence of Talleen Kumar, CEO, GeM and Ram Kumar Jaglan, Head, Government Business Department, UBI.

Online integration for payments and various banking services is one of the priorities for GeM. GeM has already signed MoUs with 14 Public Sector and private banks to enable this.

GeM is also working with others banks, TReDs, and SIDBI to provide invoice financing and Bill Discounting to the MSMEs registered on GeM. This will help MSMEs access easy credit and do better business with Government Departments.

GeM is an initiative of the Government of India offering one stop platform facilitating online procurement of common-use goods and services required by various government departments, organisations, Public Sector Units. GeM provides tools for Direct Purchase, bidding and reverse auction in a transparent manner for government departments.

Census 2021 to adopt digital methodology

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All India conference of State coordinators & Directors of Census Operations & updation of National Population Register (NPR)

New Delhi: The mammoth Census 2021 exercise in India will also employ digital methodology involving mobile app and dedicated portal, highlighted an all-India meeting of census officials called for discussing the related preparations here on October 10.

To elaborate on the digital methodology to be used in the upcoming Census, presentations were made on Mobile App for Census (HLO, NPR & PE), Census management and monitoring portal. The meeting also discussed updation of National Population Register (NPR) in the country.

All India conference of State coordinators & Directors of Census Operations & updation of National Population Register (NPR) in the country was held  in the chairmanship of Dr. Vivek Joshi, Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. The event was attended by senior State Government officers & DCO officers.

During the event top officials discussed the role of different States for Census 2021, support being provided to the States by the central government and the support expected by the States to run the Census process seamlessly. Senior officials were also explained about logistics involved for carrying out the Census and how dissemination of information will be done to raise awareness on Census.

The major aim of the event was to interact with the attending officers to help them understand the preparation for Census 2021 (for both the phases- house listing and population enumeration), eliminate any doubts regarding the same and have an interactive session on suggestions for improvement. To disseminate information on different aspects of Census, presentations were given to the State coordinators & Directors of Census Operations.

Training of National trainers is to start from 14th October, 2019 and the senior State officials were informed about the schedule of the training. Also, it was informed that as the training is to be scaled up from the national level till the enumerators level, the State officials should ensure everyone’s participation. This will help in avoiding gaps in the Census operation.

Govt takes stock of short supply and rise in prices of tomatoes 

Tomatoes Price hike
Govt held an inter-ministerial meeting to normalise the supply and rising prices of tomatoes

New Delhi: Government took stock of the situation arising out of rising tomato price in some parts of the country in the wake of short supply at an inter-ministerial meeting on October 10.

The supply of tomatoes has been hit due to incessant rains in Maharashtra and Karnataka and, normalize in the next 10 days as monsoon rains are already receding” the meeting was informed.

The meeting was chaired by the Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs to take stock of the rise in prices of Tomatoes in some parts of the country, including Delhi-NCR and to discuss key measures to ensure that price rise is contained.

“To mitigate the shortfall in the availability of Tomatoes in Delhi, Safal has agreed to provide Tomato puree from all of its outlets in Delhi at Rs. 25 per 200-gram pack, which is equivalent to about 800 grams of Tomatoes. Another larger pack of 825 grams worth Rs. 85 will also be available, which is equivalent to about 2.5 Kgs of Tomatoes. The stocks have already been moved to all the outlets and the sales will begin from October 11 at all booths,” an official statement said.

“Tomato producing States have been requested to augmenting the supply from their respective States to regions which are in short supply including Delhi to improve availability and moderate prices,” the statement added.

It further added, “the states have been advised to interact with APMCs, Traders and Transporters to ensure regular supply. The same is being reiterated to four major Tomato producing states namely, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh so that prices normalize and supply is augmented immediately.”

VP begins visit to Comoros, Sierra Leone; asserts Africa is priority

Africa visit
Indian Vice President begins visit to Africa

New Delhi: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on October 11embarked on a visit to Comoros and Sierra Leone by declaring that India accorded highest priority to deepening its engagements with African nations.

Africa VisitOn his visit, the VP said that India considers Africa as a ‘focus continent’, and is evident by 32 visits at various high levels in the last five years to the continent. Adding that India has also decided to open 18 new embassies in Africa.

Upon landing in Comoros, Naidu was received by the country’s President Azali Assoumani and accorded military honours.

During his first leg of his visit to Comoros, the Vice President addressed the Indian diaspora and urged them to join in scripting new India’s growth story, along with three other D`s–Democracy, Demand and Demographic Dividend.

While lauding the Indians for sharing their prosperity with Comorian brothers and sisters, he asked them to make Comoros more prosperous and also contribute to India’s growth.

“Help create a more prosperous, harmonious, sustainable planet”, he added.

Naidu said he was happy that despite being only about 250 in number, the Indian diaspora has made significant contribution in various fields, including social and economic.

He also lauded the Indians for keeping alive India’s cultural heritage and for enjoying a reputation of being a peace-loving community

Outlining the economic development and social transformation taking place in the new India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Naidu told the diaspora that despite the global slow-down, India continues to be one of the fastest growing major economies and is poised to be a 5 trillion Dollar economy by 2024-25.

Referring to measures taken by the government to boost economy, he said that the recent steep slashing of corporate tax was expected to spur investments.

Calling upon the investor to invest in India, Naidu said, “Doing business in India is not only lucrative to investors but is also becoming simpler. Our policy is now that of ‘Red Carpet’ and not ‘Red Tape’. Many archaic regulations are being dismantled and seamless processes are being introduced”.

The Vice President said that a host of path breaking reforms were initiated, including the transformational GST, that complies with ‘One Nation-One Tax, One Nation-One Market’ approach.

He also said that India has become one of the most open economies of the world for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the wake of the reforms initiated by the government.

He also mentioned that the Start-up India flagship initiative was nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship in the country and the youth were driving the digital revolution and powering the start-up ecosystem.

The Vice President also highlighted that India’s trade with African nations registered a 12% increase from the previous year.

“India is now the 5th largest investor in Africa with a cumulative investment of 54 Billion Dollar”, he added.

Naidu also said that he was looking forward to a fruitful meeting with Comorian President, Assoumani.

India and Comoros are expected to sign several agreements in the presence of both the dignitaries tomorrow.

Naidu also paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th anniversary, and recalled that Mahatma Gandhi drew sustenance for his fight against discrimination and colonial domination, in Africa.

“It was this soil of Africa which gave the nourishment and inspiration and made Mahatma Gandhi what he was. It was Africa that transformed his vision and gave greater clarity to his life’s mission”, he added.

he invited the Indian diaspora of Comoros to attend the next Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas of 2021.

The high-level delegation included Minister of State for Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, Rajya Sabha MP Ramvichar Netam and senior officials.

New ‘Fire & Fury Corps’ commander asks troops to keep ‘Nation First’

Lt Gen Harinder Singh
Lt Gen Harinder Singh takes over command of Fire & Fury Corps

​Srinagar: Lt Gen Harinder Singh assumed command of ‘Fire & Fury Corps’ from Lt Gen YK Joshi on October 10 and asked the troops to be always prepared to deal with any threat to national security.

​Lt Gen Harinder Singh has had a distinguished career in the Indian Army, including a number of important command and staff appointments. Commissioned into the Maratha Light Infantry, Lt Gen Harinder Singh has served extensively along the Western and Northern borders.

His command tenures include command of a Rashtriya Rifles Battalion in North Kashmir, an Infantry Brigade Group in United Nations Peace Keeping Mission in Congo and an Infantry Division in North Kashmir. Lt Gen Harinder Singh has also served in several important staff and instructional appointments including tenures in the Directorate General of Military Operations (DGMO) and the Directorate General of Operational Logistics & Strategic Movement (DGOL&SM) at the Integrated HQ of MoD (Army). Prior to assuming command of ‘Fire & Fury Corps’, he was tenating the appointment of Director General Military Intelligence at the Integrated HQ of MoD (Army).

​In his farewell message, Lt Gen YK Joshi conveyed his gratitude and deep appreciation to all ranks of the ‘Fire & Fury Corps’, for their professionalism and steadfast dedication in the service of the nation, even in the most hostile terrain, weather and altitude challenges faced by any Army in the world.

​On taking over, Lt Gen Harinder Singh exhorted all ranks of ‘Fire & Fury Corps’ to continue to discharge their duties with the same commitment and zeal, and always be prepared to deal with any threat to national security. He urged them to continue to keep ‘Nation First’ in all their endeavours.

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