Tag: Centre

Centre directs states to set up 100 food streets; To grant Rs 1 cr as aid per street

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New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry, in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, has written to the states and Union Territories to develop 100 food streets in 100 districts across the country.
The initiative is being taken up as a pilot project to create an example for other such streets to come up across the country to ensure safe and hygienic food practices.
The project aims to encourage safe and healthy practices among food businesses and community members, thus reducing foodborne illnesses and improving overall health outcomes, the Union Health Ministry said in a statement.

In a letter to the states, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Manoj Joshi highlighted that “easy access to safe and hygienic food is vital for the good health of citizens”.
“Safe food practices not only promote the ‘eat right campaign’ and food safety but will improve hygiene credibility of local food businesses, boost local employment, tourism and, in turn, the economy. It also leads to a cleaner and greener environment,” the letters stated.
Street foods have traditionally been an integral part of Indian society and are present all across the country. They represent the rich local tradition of cuisine, the statement said.
These not only provide a daily diet at affordable prices to millions but also direct employment to a large number of people while supporting the tourism industry, it added.
However, it noted that safety and hygiene remain a matter of concern at street food outlets and hubs.

With rapid urbanisation, while these hubs have led to easy access to food, it has aggravated food contamination and associated health issues due to unhygienic and unsafe practices.
This initiative will be implemented through the National Health Mission in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will lend technical support, the statement said.
Financial assistance to the states and Union Territories in the form of Rs 1 crore per food street or district will be provided to fill the critical gaps, it added.
The assistance will be provided under the National Health Mission in the 60:40 or 90:10 ratio on the condition that standard branding of these food streets will be done following FSSAI guidelines.
Municipal corporations, development authorities and district collectors at the state level will take major initiatives to ensure convergence in terms of financial resources and physical infrastructure.
Various other initiatives such as training of food handlers and independent third-party audits have been taken to enhance safety standards.
Schemes such as Support to Urban Street Vendors, a component of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs’ Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission, have also been taken up.
In addition, the states and Union Territories can also conduct training programmes for street vendors to orient them on food safety, hygiene maintenance and waste disposal.
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#Centre #directs #states #set #food #streets #grant #aid #street
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 20, 2023
Centre plans to enable Aadhaar authentication by entities other than govt depts

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New Delhi: The Centre plans to allow entities other than a central or state government ministry or department that plan to use Aadhaar for providing various public services to authenticate it.
The Ministry for Electronics and IT proposes to amend the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance Rules, 2020 for this purpose and has posted the amendments on its website, seeking comments on them from stakeholders and the general public by May 5, 2023.
“It is proposed that any entity other than a government ministry or department that desires to use Aadhaar authentication for the purpose of enabling better access to services, usage of digital platforms to ensure good governance, preventing dissipation of social welfare benefits, enabling innovation and spread of knowledge, shall prepare a proposal giving justification as to how the authentication sought is for one of the above purposes and in the interest of state and submit the same to the concerned ministry or department of the central or state government,” a statement issued by the IT ministry said.

“If the concerned ministry or department is of the opinion that the proposal submitted fulfils such a purpose and is in the interest of the state, it will forward the proposal along with its recommendation to the IT ministry,” it added further.
At present, the ministries and departments are allowed to undertake Aadhaar authentication under the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2020 in the interest of good governance and to prevent leakage of public funds and enable innovation and the spread of knowledge.
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#Centre #plans #enable #Aadhaar #authentication #entities #govt #depts

( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 20, 2023
L-G exposed how Centre stalled recruitments for 9 years in Delhi: Saurabh

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New Delhi: Delhi minister and the chief spokesperson of AAP, Saurabh Bhardwaj, on Wednesday alleged that the BJP-led central government stalled government recruitments in the national capital for the last nine years.
Saurabh Bhardwaj’s reaction came after Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Wednesday handed over appointment letters to approximately 1,500 Delhi government employees.
In a press statement, Bhardwaj said, “The Central government has been exercising unethical and unwarranted control over the Delhi Services Department, resulting in the stalling of all kinds of government recruitment in Delhi. The officers of the Services Department have on several occasions straight up refused to place on record the number of vacant posts despite multiple requests by Delhi Vidhan Sabha citing the control of Central Govt on the department.”

He further questioned the Centre’s motives, saying, “Why did the Central Government deliberately keep state government posts vacant for so many years?”
The minister also alleged that the BJP had falsely accused the Arvind Kejriwal-led government of delaying the recruitment of principals and teachers when the responsibility lay with the Central Government.
“I learnt through news reports that the LG had distributed appointment letters to some people at a function today. While giving the appointment letter, the LG said that it was only possible to give these jobs in the last couple of months. He also claimed that in the last few years, these vacancies had been piling up. It was strange to see the LG pointing fingers towards the Central Government regarding the delay in these appointments,” the Bhardwaj said further in his statement.
He added that everyone in the country is aware of job appointments in Delhi, transfer of government officers or taking actions against errant officers, all of this comes under the central government. “Since the LG is appointed by the Central Government, by default, this task comes under his own office,” he said.
“When today the LG pointed out that 35,000 posts had been lying vacant, he was essentially blaming the Central Government for the delay in filling up these posts. He should answer why there was a delay in filling up these vacancies. It was the citizens of Delhi who suffered because of the delay in filling up these posts,” the minister added.

Pointing out the vacancy in filling up the posts in the Fire department, he noted, “If there is a fire somewhere in Delhi and if the response of the Fire Department is delayed because of lack of staff, isn’t this a fault of the Central Government? If 325 Principals of Government schools have been appointed today in Delhi, then the question arises as to why these posts were left vacant for so long.”
He hit out at the BJP further, saying, “Before every election in Delhi, and even before the Punjab state polls last year, the leaders and spokespersons of the BJP went around blaming Arvind Kejriwal for the number of vacancies when it came to the posts of principal in the government schools of Delhi.”
He added, “The LG today has gone on to expose the Central Government and the BJP on this issue, and also made it clear that what the AAP had been claiming until now was absolutely correct. We had said earlier also that it was a part of the conspiracy of the BJP to not fill up these posts.”
“If the posts of teachers in government schools or doctors in the government hospitals are lying vacant, then it was a ploy of the BJP to keep it like that. If it is the people of Delhi who are suffering due to thousands of vacancies for the posts of nursing staff and compounders in the government hospitals of Delhi, then it is the Central Government that is to be blamed for it,” he said.
“The LG has to take the blame for this and inform the citizens of Delhi why they were made to suffer for so long. Over the years, I have personally asked several questions regarding the number of vacancies in the various departments of the state government in the Vidhan Sabha, but no reply was provided by the LG Office. Questions asked related to this matter by other MLAs in the Vidhan Sabha were also ignored.” Bhardwaj concluded.
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#exposed #Centre #stalled #recruitments #years #Delhi #Saurabh
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 20, 2023
Veterinary Centre Shuts Over ‘Non-Payment Of Rent’

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Mawar Qalamabad Inhabitants Aghast
Murtaza Mushtaq
Handwara, Apr 19 (GNS): The inhabitants of Mawar Qalamabad and its adjacent areas are up in arms as the only veterinary centre catering several areas has gone shut since last two weeks.
A local delegation to GNS, led by District President Kupwara, JKAADP, Mohammad Ashraf Dar, said that a veterinary centre was functioning in the area for the last many years and would cater to the needs of several areas in Mawar belt. The centre, they said, was shut nearly a fortnight ago after the owner of the property, where the centre was setup, claimed to have not received any rent for almost six years now.
Aghast over the non-availability of any alternative, the locals have urged the authorities concerned to make some alternate arrangement till the issue is resolved.
“We also urge district administration Kupwara to look into the matter for an early redressal of the issue”, they further said. (GNS)
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#Veterinary #Centre #Shuts #NonPayment #Rent

( With inputs from : thegnskashmir.com )

April 19, 2023
Jamia aspirants from J-K concerned over removal of Srinagar as test centre

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New Delhi: Several students from Jammu and Kashmir aspiring to get admission to Jamia Millia Islamia are in a fix after the university allegedly removed Srinagar as an entrance exam centre.
They say they will now have to spend thousands of rupees on travelling and accommodation in Delhi to sit in the entrance test. Several students alleged that they were getting Delhi as the only option when filling out the application forms online for admission to most undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD programmes.
However, Jamia administration said the Srinagar Centre was not removed for all courses but had to be cancelled for some programmes as the number of applicants in that particular course was fewer than 50.

The admission prospectus had listed seven test centres Thiruvananthapuram, Lucknow, Delhi, Patna, Kolkata, Srinagar and Guwahati. Students were allowed to opt for any of the centres. The prospectus had mentioned that if the number of applicants is either 49 or less, the test for that course will be held in Delhi.
Students say this is unfair and puts avoidable economic burden on them to book air tickets and hotels. They have urged Vice Chancellor Najma Akhtar to allow them to sit in entrance test at a centre in Srinagar.
“I have filled an application form for admission to an LLM programme and three applications for my sister in UG courses. There was no option for Srinagar. I cannot come to Delhi just for an entrance test. It will cost me over Rs 25,000 for travelling and accommodation,” Sameer Ahmed Sofia, 27, told PTI over phone from Srinagar.
“There are scores of students who share my concern. We have not received any communication why Srinagar was removed as the centre. I have asked many students whether their application forms showed Srinagar. All of them have said ‘no’,” he added.
Muneeb Ayub Bhatt, 25, has applied for a PhD course. His father is a carpenter and earns around Rs 400 per day.

“I have done my graduation and post-graduation from Srinagar. Now for a better opportunity and exposure, I want to come to Delhi. Why they are hindering our entry into Delhi? My father earns Rs 400 per day. He is the sole earning member and you are expecting me to come to Delhi to give an entrance test. Where would I stay and how will I manage the travel,” Bhatt said.
Hundreds of students from the Kashmir Valley appear for entrance tests across courses every year.
Jamia Millia Islamia provides reservation and relaxation under special provisions to candidates from Jammu and Kashmir. Their admission is considered over and above not exceeding two seats in the programmes offered by faculties.
The J&K Students Association said despite seats being reserved for students from the Union territory, the university has failed to provide exam centres in Srinagar, making it difficult for students to pursue their dreams.
With the entrance exams scheduled for the first week of June, the association has expressed concern that many students may miss the tests if a centre is not set up locally.
“It would not be possible for candidates staying in far-flung areas to take exams in Delhi due to the scorching heat and financial constraints. It is not possible for a majority of students to afford air tickets and book hotels. It will take them days to reach Delhi and students who have opted for more than one subject will have to stay longer,” the association’s national convenor Nasir Khuehami said.
The JMI has already notified exam schedules for different courses, but has not announced exam centres in Srinagar yet, despite repeated requests by students and parents, he said.
“The remoteness of exam centres should not be a barrier for Kashmiri students, particularly those from marginalised communities. For many, travelling to other states is an expensive and time-consuming process that they cannot afford,” Khuehami added.
Jamia Millia Islamia Registrar Nazim Husain Al-Jafri has termed the students’ allegations “baseless”, saying it takes lakhs of rupees to conduct entrance tests.
“We need to send examination papers, book a centre, hire examiners and supervisor, and send two individuals from the university. It costs us lakhs of rupees to conduct entrance tests. We have a rule that if the number of applicants is either 49 or less, the test of that programme will be conducted in Delhi,” Jafri said.
“It is not like only Srinagar centre has been cancelled. The cancellation has been done at other centres also. This has been notified also,” he added.
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#Jamia #aspirants #concerned #removal #Srinagar #test #centre
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 18, 2023
Apheresis centre at military hospital in Secunderabad inaugurated

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Hyderabad: Major General Rakesh Manocha, SM, VSM, General Officer Commanding, Telangana and Andhra Sub Area inaugurated the newly established Apheresis Centre at Military Hospital Secunderabad.
The Apheresis machine helps in the collection of only the desired blood component and the remainder of the blood is returned to the body. It will be instrumental in treating Dengue cases in this endemic zone by providing single donor platelet from a single donor at a faster rate.
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#Apheresis #centre #military #hospital #Secunderabad #inaugurated
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 18, 2023
Elections, Statehood Likely After New Government Formation At Centre: Muzaffar Baig

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SRINAGAR: Former Deputy Chief Minister JK, Muzaffar Hussain Baig on Tuesday said that assembly elections and restoration of statehood will likely be in place after new government formation will take place in Centre. He said abrogation of Article 370 and 35(A) was an extraordinary decision of Government of India to deal with extraordinary situation.
KNS reported that the former Deputy CM Muzaffar Hussain Baig said, “I think neither assembly elections will be held nor statehood to JK will be returned back until there is new government formation in the Centre.
“GoI want huge participation of people in forthcoming elections here so they will take some steps including restoration of statehood after 2024 elections across the country. The huge participation of people in polls is possible only once they will restore statehood to JK, so GoI will give it back after 2024 elections at the centre,” Muzaffar Baig said.
He said since article 370 and 35(A) were revoked, Kashmir witnessed no rebellion against India.
“The people did not indulge in stone pelting and other things after reading down of article 370. Hundred welfare schemes have been implemented in JK which were not executed earlier. I feel there will be a huge participation of people in upcoming elections whenever it will be held,” he said.
To a query, the former Deputy CM said some people termed the present situation in J&K as “peace of graveyard” which is not reality. “With near elimination of militancy people of J&K and particularly people of Kashmir are in a positive frame of mind. People have adopted realistic approach. For peace in J&K, I give credit to people as they chose the path of realistic politics to let peace prevail here,’ he said.
He said the local political leaders should keep their tune low against New Delhi. “Our politicians at this juncture should think about the interest of people instead of gaining personal points. Elections cannot be held in an overnight. It needs some steps to be taken on ground, and GoI is working on that,” he said.
When asked about former CM J&K Ghulam Nabi Azad’s quit from Congress, Baig said he may have not received such importance from present leadership in the Congress which he was receiving since the times of Indira Gandhi. “He was dear of Indira Gandhi. His quit from the Congress was not only an emotional step but he was willing to work for his own people at local level. He is a true nationalist,” Baig said.

About abrogation of Article 370 and 35(A), the former Deputy CM said extraordinary situation demands extraordinary decisions. “People were getting killed due to militancy and government took an extraordinary decision and at the same time it introduced positive and welfare schemes for people”.
About Gupkar Alliance which was formed to fight for restoration of Statehood to J&K, the former Deputy CM said “The draft of Gupkar declaration was given by me and former-politician-turned-IAS officer Shah Faisal wrote the draft. This was an act of hope but practically that could not be implemented”.

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#Elections #Statehood #Government #Formation #Centre #Muzaffar #Baig
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

April 18, 2023
Bilkis Bano case: Centre, Gujarat may seek review of SC’s ‘remission files’ order

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New Delhi: The Centre and the Gujarat government on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that they may file a plea seeking a review of its March 27 order asking them to be ready with original files on the grant of remission to the convicts in the Bilkis Bano case.
A bench of Justices K M Joseph and B V Nagarathna questioned the paroles granted to 11 convicts during their incarceration period and said the gravity of the offence could have been considered by the state.
It said, “A pregnant woman was gang-raped and several people were killed. You cannot compare victim’s case with standard section 302 (murder) cases. Like you cannot compare apples with oranges, similarly massacre cannot be compared with single murder. Crimes are generally committed against society and the community. Unequals cannot be treated equally.”

“The question is whether government applied its mind and what material formed the basis of its decision to grant remission,” the bench said, adding, “Today it is Bilkis but tomorrow it can be anyone. It may be you or me. If you do not show your reasons for grant of remission, then we will draw our own conclusions.”
The bench posted the batch of pleas challenging the remission to the convicts in Bilkis Bano case for final disposal on May 2 and asked all the convicts who have not been served notices to file their replies.
It asked the Centre and the state to make its stand clear about filing of a review plea.
On March 27, terming Bilkis Bano’s gang-rape and the murder of her family members during the 2002 Godhra riots as a “horrendous” act, the Supreme Court had asked the Gujarat government whether uniform standards, as followed in other cases of murder, were applied while granting remission to the 11 convicts in the case.
It had sought a response from the Centre, Gujarat government and others on a plea filed by Bilkis Bano, who was gang-raped and seven members of her family were killed during the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

Bano has challenged the remission of sentence of 11 convicts in the case.
All 11 convicts were granted remission by the Gujarat government and released on August 15 last year.
The top court seized of PILs filed by CPI(M) leader Subhashini Ali, Revati Laul, an independent journalist, Roop Rekha Verma, who is a former vice chancellor of the Lucknow University, and TMC MP Mahua Moitra against the release of the convicts.
Bano was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was gang-raped while fleeing the riots that broke out after the Godhra train burning incident. Her three-year-old daughter was among the seven family members killed.
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#Bilkis #Bano #case #Centre #Gujarat #seek #review #SCs #remission #files #order
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 18, 2023
Telangana: Siddipet to get chemotherapy day care centre soon

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Hyderabad: Cancer patients in Siddipet will soon have access to a chemotherapy facility at the local Government Hospital with the health department’s installation of equipment for a four-bed chemotherapy day care center.
Health minister T Harish Rao directed the health department to set up a facility in Siddipet. In the past, majority of patients had to travel to either the MNJ Cancer Hospital or the NIMS in Hyderabad for treatment, which required a lot of effort and money.
The health minister has taken this decision to ensure that the Cancer patients receive proper healthcare without having to put up with frequent long distance travel.

However, patients would have to go to NIMS or MNJ for first and second chemotherapy sessions. After the third session, they can avail the chemotherapy facilities at the Government Hospital.
According to Harish Rao, the treatment would be provided at no cost. In private hospitals, patients will need to spend between Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000 for each session.
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#Telangana #Siddipet #chemotherapy #day #care #centre

( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 17, 2023
DRDO’s Centre of Excellence inaugurated at IIT Hyderabad
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Hyderabad: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Industry Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE), the biggest yet in the country, was inaugurated at the Indian Institutes of Technology Hyderabad (IIT-H) on Sunday.
“DIA CoE IITH is the largest centre among all 15 DIA-CoEs in the country. DRDO team will work with IIT-H to identify the target projects in each of these domains and execute to complete in a period of 3-5 years,” said the chairman of DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat at the inauguration.
The centre will take up futuristic projects towards long-term directed research needed for DRDO.

The research cell, which marked the beginning of the collaboration between DRDO and IITH in 2020 has now been transformed into a Centre of Excellence.
The are seven verticals of technology projects that will be undertaken at DIA-CoE at IITH:
Ultra-High Temperature materials
Additive manufacturing,
Space Technologies,
AI for defence,
Image processing,
Seekers and Homing Technologies,
Nano-ornithopter Technologies
IITH director, Professor B S Murty said, “This centre is a major step towards Atmabibhar Bharat in the Defence sector. I am looking forward to the faculty of IITH working together with industry on DRDO problems to make India a global leader in each of the verticals assigned to the CoE.”
Further, he said that IITH has a young faculty base with an average age of 38 years, and hence the DRDO projects are a good challenge for them.
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#DRDOs #Centre #Excellence #inaugurated #IIT #Hyderabad
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )
April 16, 2023