Pib

Pib

1. President of India Presents National Awards for The Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities

The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, presented the National Awards for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in New Delhi today (December 3, 2017) on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

The President congratulated the award winners and said he was optimistic they would inspire other differently-abled persons to strive to reach new heights. He also expressed confidence that citizens of our country will build an inclusive New India, with an appropriate and sensitive approach to our Divyang fellow Indians.

2. Shri Radha Mohan Singh addresses on the occasion of National Agricultural Education Day

The Agriculture Minister said that two years back Government of India decided to celebrate National Agricultural Education Day on December 3 because it is the birthday of our first Union Agriculture Minister and Former President of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad Ji. Shri Singh further added that all State Agricultural Universities and ICAR Institutes are celebrating National Agricultural Education Day in a big way since then.

Shri Singh mentioned that the Government of India has started implementing many programmes towards strengthening Agricultural Education, Research and Extension for a long term and sustainable development in agriculture. With the development of new technologies, agricultural trends are changing daily. To maximize the use of advanced technologies, it is important to provide adequate strengthening of agricultural education. He expressed happiness that ICAR has initiated many new programmes to enhance the quality of higher agricultural education in the country. The government of India has increased the budget of Agricultural Education by 47.4% this year as compared to the financial year 2013-14.

3. “Innovation Is a Way of Life in The Navy” –The Navy’s Saga for self-Reliance through Indigenisation and Innovation

Navy presents ‘CNS Rolling Trophy for Innovation’ to the selected innovations. The innovative methods adopted by units to overcome constraints and to improve efficiency at their work areas, are evaluated centrally at the Naval Headquarters in two categories namely “Operational Units” and “Shore Establishments”. As a mark of recognition, the shortlisted initiatives will be showcased to the invited dignitaries, on the Navy Day.

As a run up to the Navy Day 2017, twenty innovations have been shortlisted from those submitted by units and establishments across the Navy for central evaluation. The innovations range from innovative repairs to complex system modules to development of new techniques that would save money, time and manpower. The innovations by Indian Naval Ships Kuthar and Vikramaditya have been selected as Winner and Runner-up respectively in Operational Units category and Weapons Electronic Systems Engineering Establishment (WESEE) and Naval Aircraft Yard, Kochi as Winner and Runner-up respectively in Shore Establishments category.

4. Indian Navy's Search and Rescue Operations

Indian Navy's search and rescue operations continued for the third day over Southeast Arabian Sea and Lakshadweep and Minicoy islands in the aftermath of Very Severe Cyclonic Storm 'OCKHI'. The ships deployed by the Southern Naval Command include IN Ships Sagardhwani, Jamuna, Nireekshak, Kabra and Kalpeni off the Kerala coast and Sharda , Shardul towards Lakshadweep islands. Besides this three air craft viz, Dornier (Do) fixed wing aircraft, Seaking Helicopter (SK) and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) were also deployed throughout the day.

A total of 84 personnel have been rescued over the last two days which includes 62 by aircrafts and 22 by ships. Additionally, transfer of two dead bodies was also effected through ALH to Thiruvananthapuram after being picked up by INS Sagardhwani.

INS Shardul from Kochi is heading towards Minicoy islands with Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) “bricks”, which includes water, dry provisions, medical equipment, blankets, diving team, generators, salvage equipment, desalination and decontamination kits, diving team and has a Chetak helicopter embarked. The relief material would sustain 2000 persons for over a period of seven days. INS Sharda is heading towards Kavaratti islands with HADR material sufficient to last for more than seven days for 500 people. The ship while proceeding to the islands, saved nine lives from a capsized boat in distress enroute.