Pib

Pib

1. Students should continue to learn, earn and yearn to serve with clear vision, pure heart and strong shoulders: Vice President

He was addressing the Eighth Convocation of Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (GITAM), in Hyderabad.

The Vice President has expressed his happiness that the University has established Centralized Research Laboratories in key thrust areas, such as Water Quality, Nano-Technology, Medical Bio-Technology and Advanced Materials & Processing. He also commended for setting up of research centers in the areas of Cancer, Urban & Sustainable Development, Integrated Rural Development, Climate Change & Disaster Management.

2. Department of Food and Public Distribution clarifies on media reports on death due to starvation.

Government of India is fully aware of challenges in the transition to the PoS based Aadhaar authentication system in the PDS. It has, therefore, issued clear-cut instructions to ensure that while Aadhaar-based authentication needs to be promoted, no eligible beneficiary under NFSA should be deprived of the entitled quantity of foodgrains for want of Aadhaar number or failure of biometric authentication. Department of Food & Public Distribution had issued notification vide SO No. 371(E) dated 08/02/17 for seeding of Aadhaar number of atleast one family member in ration card database by 30th June 2017.

Date for the compliance was further extended till 30th Sept. 2017 and the same was again been extended till 31st December 2017.It has been made clear in para 5 of the said notification dated 8th Feb, 2017 that any member of the eligible household will be entitled to receive entire quantity of subsidized foodgrain or cash transfer of Food Subsidy under NFSA on behalf of the household if he/she fulfils identification requirements, irrespective of whether all members of the household have had Aadhaar number assigned to them. Government of India further issued detailed instruction in October 2017 reiterating the safeguards provided in the notification issued in the month of Feb. 2017. It has also been clarified that in case of failure of biometric authentication due to network/connectivity/ linking issue or due to poor biometric of the beneficiary or any other technical reason, the beneficiary is to be provided subsidized foodgrain or cash transfer of Food Subsidy on the basis of physical production of Aadhaar card along with the ration card by him/her in place of biometric authentication, as provided by Section 7 of Aadhaar Act.

3. Swachh Bharat Central Team assist in building twin pits in Champaran to mark World Toilet Day (18th Nov)

The team chose Champaran as the district to visit for this exercise as part of the Champaran centenary year, “Satyagrah se Swachhagrah tak” celebrations. The team encouraged villagers to build and use twin pit toilets in their homes. A screening of the movie, Toilet Ek Prem Katha, was also organized for the villagers at a ratri chaupal after the first day of shramdaan.

. The joint team of the Ministry and the State of Bihar, joined the villagers to dig twin pits for the toilets in the village including brick laying inside the pits and building of toilet. The village will be declared ODF tomorrow on World Toilet Day.The team also paid homage at various memorials to Gandhiji at Champaran. The team also participated in a Master Sanitation Trainers' Workshop organised by the State Government.

4. NCPCR celebrates ‘BAAL UTSAV’ as part of Hausla-2017, a festival for children living in CCIs across the country

Minister of State for Womena and Child Development, Dr. Virendra Kumar expressed happiness at the celebration and felt delighted to see the presence of a large number of children. Dr. Virendra Kumar said that children are the key to success and development of the country. He also shared his childhood memories and experiences and advised all children to put in hard work for their studies and he also urged the CCIs to provide a family atmosphere to all children residing in the institutions for their growth and development.

Justice M.B. Lokur, Hon’ble Judge, Supreme Court of India, expressed concern over the rise in crimes against children. He appreciated the efforts taken by Central Government for promoting various initiatives related to child development and protection. He also insisted that such MELAS should be organised in other States regularly.