Walkathon–To spread the message

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment//Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav//International Day of Older Persons Posted On: 05 OCT 2025 at 5:53 PM by PIB Delhi

Message of inter-generational bonding

New Delhi: 05th October 2025: (PIB Delhi//Seven Seas News Desk)::

The Department of Social Justice & Empowerment (DoSJE), Government of India, will continue to celebrate the International Day of Older Persons, 2025 in collaboration with the Cantonment Board, Ministry of Defence and State Government of Madhya Pradesh at Manas Bhavan, Jabalpur on 6th October, 2025.

The event will witness the presence of distinguished dignitaries including Hon’ble Union Minister Dr. Virender Kumar, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Sh. Rakesh Singh, Hon’ble PWD Minister, State Government of Madhya Pradesh, Sh. Narayan Singh Kushwah, Hon’ble Minister, Social Justice and Disabled Welfare Department, State Government of Madhya Pradesh, Sh. Ashish Dubey, Hon’ble MP, Lok Sabha, Ms. Sumitra Balmik, Hon’ble MP, Rajya Sabha and Sh. Abhilash Pandey, Hon’ble MLA.

Key Events:

Cultural Performances by students of Swami Vivekanand Model High School, Katanga, Jabalpur showcasing respect for elders and India’s cultural heritage.

Nukkad Natak by Ashmita Group (NSD), spreading awareness on dignity and rights of senior citizens.

Felicitation Ceremony of the senior citizens to honor them for their contributions.

Experience sharing by the senior citizens.

Prize Distribution to the Students who are the winner of the Competitions held to celebrate the International Day of older persons on 1st October 2025

Sankalp-Pledge administered by the Hon’ble Union Minister, reaffirming collective responsibility towards elder care

Walkathon–To spread the message of inter-generational bonding, care and respect for our senior citizens.

The events being held with the partnership between the Central Government and the State Government of Madhya Pradesh will showcase the committed efforts toward building an inclusive society for the senior citizens.

 *****//KV//(Release ID: 2175080)

INS Tamal Concludes Port Call at Souda Bay Greece

Ministry of Defense//Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav//Posted on Saturday 23rd August 2025 at 1:24 PM by PIB Delhi

On her passage to home base in India

New Delhi: 23rd August 2025: (PIB Delhi//The Seven Seas News Desk)::

INS Tamal, the latest stealth frigate of the Indian Navy, on her passage to home base in India, called at Souda Bay, Greece, 19-22 Aug 2025. The ship’s crew engaged with the Hellenic Navy and NATO functionaries during the port call. This included the Commanding Officer's call on Commodore Dionysios Mantadakis, Base Commander of Souda Bay Naval Base, Captain Kouplakis Iiias, Head of the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Centre (NMIOTC), and Captain Stephen Steacy, Commanding Officer of Naval Support Activity of US Navy on 19 Aug 2025. The discussions during the meetings focussed on operational matters and maritime cooperation. A cross deck visit for crew of INS Tamal was conducted onboard the multi-role amphibious assault unit ITS Trieste, a Landing Helicopter Dock,of the Italian Navy, at Souda Bay.

India’s Ambassador to Greece, Mr Rudrendra Tandon visited the ship on 20 Aug 2025 and interacted with the crew. During the ship's port call, the crew visited the Souda Naval Base and Armament facility, the NMIOTC and the local maritime museum. The ship’s crew also paid homage at the World War II cemetery in Crete.

INS Tamal sailed out of Souda Bay on 22 Aug 2025, and participated in a Passage Exercise with HS Ritsos, a Roussen class patrol boat of the Hellenic Navy, aimed at validation of interoperability between the Navies.

The port call by INS Tamal reflects the importance India attaches to its relations with Greece and the endeavour to strengthen the growing defence cooperation between the two nations. It has also provided an opportunity for both navies to share best practices and pursue further opportunities for joint engagement.

The ship, enroute to her home base in India, will be visiting ports in friendly foreign countries in Asia furthering maritime diplomacy and strengthening bilateral ties across the spectrum.

****VM/SKY//(Release ID: 2160064)

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh

 Ministry of Science & Technology//Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav//प्रविष्टि तिथि: 28 MAR 2025 at 4:05 PM by PIB Delhi

At a high-level meeting of the Department of Biotechnology

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh announces the creation of Regional BIRAC Centers across India, in collaboration with States, to accelerate StartUps and biomanufacturing, and thus harness the biotech potential in different parts of the country

Chairs a high-level review meeting of the Department of Biotechnology

Mapping of States based on their biotech potential and collaborating to set up Bio E3 Cells

"Encourage startups in biomanufacturing and bio foundries, attract FDI, and provide hand holding and incubator support," says Dr. Singh

A tripartite arrangement between research infrastructure, startups, and industrial R&D is the way forward: S&T Minister Dr. Singh

India ranks 3rd globally in biotech publications, with nearly two-thirds of research papers originating from the Department of Biotechnology

New Delhi: 28 March 2025:(PIB Delhi//Seven Seas News Desk)::

At a high-level meeting of the Department of Biotechnology, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh announced the creation of Regional BIRAC (Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council) Centers across India, in collaboration with States, to accelerate StartUps and biomanufacturing, and thus harness the biotech potential in different parts of the country.

Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space emphasized the need for comprehensive mapping of states based on their biotech potential and directed the department to collaborate with them in establishing Bio E3 (Economy, Environment and Employment) Cells highlighting that Assam is the first state to establish a dedicated BIO E3 cell. These specialized cells will provide necessary support for fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and scaling up biotech ventures.

Recognizing the critical role of StartUps in advancing biomanufacturing, Dr. Jitendra Singh called for enhanced handholding and incubator support to encourage new-age biotech entrepreneurs. He highlighted the importance of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in biomanufacturing and bio foundries, ensuring global investment to drive India's biotech revolution.

Dr. Jitendra Singh stressed that the Tripartite arrangement—a synergy between Research Infrastructure, Startups, and Industrial R&D—is the way forward for India’s biotech sector. He directed the department to prioritize setting up Core R&D Facilities equipped with state-of-the-art biomanufacturing capabilities to facilitate pilot validation, upscaling, and commercialization of promising biotech innovations.

Recalling the Centre-State Partnership Summit held in Delhi, Dr. Jitendra Singh reiterated the Government's commitment to fostering a biotech revolution across states through collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and technical assistance. He noted that several states have expressed interest in setting up Biotechnology Parks, further strengthening India's bio-economy.

The Science & Technology Minister underscored the significance of regenerative technologies, directing the department to prioritize their promotion within India’s biomanufacturing landscape. He urged officials to partner with industry leaders to replicate the success of India's Space Sector in biotech.

Dr. Jitendra Singh instructed the Department of Biotechnology to establish early industry linkages and work towards a 4P Model (Public-Private-People Partnership) for accelerating biotech growth. He also welcomed proposals to create BIRAC Centers at a global level to attract cutting-edge biomanufacturing technologies and investments.

Dr. Jitendra Singh expressed pride in India’s global standing in biotech research, noting that India ranks 3rd in biotech publications worldwide, with nearly two-thirds of research papers emanating from the Department of Biotechnology. He said “This reflects India’s growing influence and leadership in the international biotech arena.”

With these strategic directives, Dr. Jitendra Singh reinforced the Government’s vision to position India as a global leader in biotechnology, ensuring that biomanufacturing, research, and innovation drive the country’s economic and scientific growth to achieve Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary, DBT, DG-BRIC & Chairman, BIRAC, along with Managing Director, BIRAC, Shri Jitendra Kumar, and other senior officials and scientists of the department, were present at the review meeting.

******//NKR/PSM//(रिलीज़ आईडी: 2116170)

National Tourism Awards on World Tourism Day

Entry Date: 27th September 2022 at 6:55 PM by PIB Delhi

81 awards given by Vice President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar 

*Awards given this year highlighting the achievements of the industry in 2018-19

*Explore domestic tourist destinations first before looking at international travel:Dhankhar

*India’s Tourism sector is moving towards creative, responsible and inclusive growth: Reddy

New Delhi: 27th September 2022: (PIB//Seven Seas News)::

Vice President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar presented the National Tourism Awards to awardees today at the programme organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, to mark the World Tourism Day, 2022. Union Minister of Tourism Shri G. Kishan Reddy and MoS Tourism Shri Ajay Bhatt also graced the ceremony. Secretary Tourism Shri Arvind Singh and other senior officers of the Ministry were also present on this occasion. A total of 81 awards were given away this year highlighting the achievements of the industry in 2018-19. Vice President also released India Tourism Statistics 2022, New Incredible India Global Promotional Films, and “GoBeyond:75 Experiences of North India” e-book on this occasion.

During his keynote address Vice President Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar described India as “heaven for tourism” and asked the Indians to explore domestic tourist destinations first before looking at international travel. Referring to Bharat’s long civilizational history and rich cultural heritage, he underlined that most of the tourist places in the country have a deep connect with our history, folk arts and ancient texts.

Vice President termed tourism a key driver of economic growth and employment generation in the country. Referring to multiple dimensions to the tourism, the Vice President stressed the need for fully leveraging the India’s immense potential in the field of medical tourism as well as the growing global interest in our ancient practices of healing such as Ayurveda and Yoga.

Appreciating the Government’s efforts for the development of the tourism sector in the country, Shri Dhankhar said that the development of tourism infrastructure has been accompanied with innovative initiatives such as Dekho Apna Desh and Utsav Portal.

Speaking on the occasion Shri G. Kishan Reddy said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India’s Tourism sector is moving towards creative, responsible and inclusive growth. Ministry of Tourism is working with 360-degree perspective and whole of government approach for the development of tourism sector. Along with Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Commerce are also working for the development of this sector, which will help in establishing better synergy and convergence leading to sustainable and world class infrastructure development.

Shri Reddy further highlighted that India plans to position itself as a major tourism destination during its presidency of G20 for 2023. During the presidency we aim to showcase India as a ‘must visit’ destination at a global level. 3600 railway coaches have been allocated for tourism purpose for Circuit specific trains. Such trains have already started for Ramayana and Buddhist Circuits while the one for Krishna Circuit will start soon. Our aim is to make India one of the most prominent destinations of the world. Union Minister added that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is working as brand ambassador of Indian tourism.

MoS Tourism Shri Ajay Bhatt congratulated all the award winners and said that Ministry of Tourism has prepared a draft National Tourism Policy 2022 as part of the vision of New India on high trajectory of growth and prosperity. The Policy aims at Improving framework conditions for tourism development in the country, supporting tourism industries, strengthening tourism support functions and developing tourism sub sectors.

During his welcome speech Secretary Tourism Shri Arvind Singh said that this kind of award motivates the travel and tourism sector. Travel & Tourism is one of the world’s largest economic sector, creating export and prosperity around the world. Indian Tourism sector has emerged as one of the key drivers of growth for Indian economy post covid, he said.

As India celebrates 75 years of independence, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, commences its Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) iconic week on 27th September 2022 by recognizing the efforts of industry stakeholders and conferring the National Tourism Awards. Due to Covid, the Awards could not be organised during the last 2 years.

The National Tourism Awards are presented to various segments of the travel, tourism and hospitality industry, including State Governments in recognition of their performance in their respective fields and also to encourage healthy competition with an aim to promote tourism. These Awards have over the years emerged as a prestigious recognition of achievements in the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors.

Kindly click for the details of awardees

Kindly click for the India Tourism Statistics 2022

*******   NB/OA    (रिलीज़ आईडी: 1862636)

DRDO at Republic Day Parade 2021

 Sunday: 24-January-2021 at 17:35 IST

 DRDO has been a design and development agency for Armed Forces 

New Delhi: 24th January 2021: (PIB//Seven Seas News)::

DRDO has been showcasing advanced defense technology products for tri services at Rajpath on Republic Day every year. Delivering on its mandate of development of state of the art defence systems, DRDO once again has brought two important tableaux to the prestigious Republic Day parade 2021. Showcasing the major achievements of the year, are LCA Navy take off and landing onboard the aircraft carrier and the complete family of Anti Tank Guided Missiles.

Light Combat Aircraft Tejas has achieved a major technology capability milestone by landing and taking off from the Aircraft Carrier of IN. The LCA Navy tableau celebrates the successful demonstration of carrier operations of LCA Navy from INS Vikramaditya on sea. The tableau of LCA Navy shows landing, takeoff and lift operation, three most important operations required to be met by an aircraft onboard a carrier ship. LCA Navy successfully demonstrated landing on a 90 meters runway and take-off from short run of 145 meters in 2020. LCA Navy is India’s first 4+ Generation STOBAR (Ski-Jump Take Off But Arrested Recovery) fighter aircraft capable of operating from an aircraft carrier. Cdr Abhishek C Gawande of Indian Navy is the commander of the tableau.

Symbolizing India’s strides in anti-tank missile technologies will be the tableau showcasing the full complement of DRDOs Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) Systems. This tableau showcases NAG, HELINA, MPATGM, SANT and Laser Guided ATGM for MBT Arjun. The ATGM tableau will be represented by Shri ShiladityaBhowmick Scientist ’D’, a young scientist of DRDL, Hyderabad.

NAG is a 3rd generation fire and forget missile developed for mechanized formations to engage heavily fortified enemy tanks. HELINA, the Helicopter launched anti tank missile is a 3rd generation fire and forget missile with a range of 7 km designed and developed for integration on weaponised version of Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH). MPATGM is a Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile with a range of 2.5 km with Fire and Forget and Top Attack capabilities for infantry use. SANT is a smart Stand-off Anti-Tank Missile being developed for launch from Mi-35 Helicopter for Air Force anti tank operations. ATGM for MBT Arjun is a laser guided PGM (Precision Guided Munition) which is launched from the 120 mm rifled gun of Arjun tank to engage and defeat Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) protected armoured targets.

LCA Tejas model is also part of IAF Tableau and adorning the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Tableau representing the theme of Vocal for Local. Other DRDO products on Rajpath this year are Akash Surface to Air Missile and Astra Air to Air Missile on IAF Tableau.

DRDO has been a design and development agency for Armed Forces and to reinforce the spirit of AtmaNirbhar Bharat, DRDO is partnering with all stakeholders of defence ecosystem, including academia, industry and services in developing state of the art defence systems

India is not complete without Kashmiriyat:PM Modi

07-November-2015 14:23 IST

PM announces eighty thousand crore rupee package for J and K

PM addresses public meeting at Srinagar

Srinagar: 7th November 2015: (PIB):

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today announced a development package of eighty thousand crore rupees for the State of Jammu and Kashmir. In his address at the Sher-e-Kashmir stadium in Srinagar, Shri Narendra Modi recalled former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee's message of Kashmiriyat, Jamhooriyat, Insaniyat.

"India is not complete without Kashmiriyat," the Prime Minister said, mentioning the Sufi tradition of India. 

He praised the people of the state for reposing their faith in Jamhooriyat (democracy) and said that the progress of Jammu and Kashmir had to be based on Insaniyat. 

The Prime Minister said his Government worked for "Sabka saath, sabka vikas," and therefore, it was essential for development to reach all parts of the country. He said the State of Jammu and Kashmir should return once again to the days when people from all parts of India saved money to visit the State. He said that besides tourism, attention was being given to sectors such as Pashmina, and Saffron. 

The Prime Minister narrated his experience of reconstruction following the Gujarat earthquake of 2001. He said that though the State of Jammu and Kashmir had suffered a lot due to floods last year, he saw the spirit (jazba) among the people, and was convinced that the State would soon overcome the difficulties. He recalled how he had rushed to the State soon after the floods and had spent Diwali last year in the State. He also recalled how his mother had given him Rs. 5000 last year for flood relief in Jammu and Kashmir. 

The Prime Minister said the atmosphere of gloom that pervaded India till recently has lifted over the last 17 months. He said India is now considered the fastest growing major economy in the world. 

The Prime Minister mentioned that the State from where young cricketer Pervez Rasool hails, should witness international cricket matches again. He said top Indian cricketers use bats made in the State. 

The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Shri Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari, and Union MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh were present on the occasion. (PIB)

***

Shri Mohd. Hamid Ansari

Interacting with the students

The Vice President, Shri Mohd. Hamid Ansari interacting with the students from the University of Houston, USA, in New Delhi on May 31, 2013. (PIB)            31-May-2013

Sahir lives- through his poetry

08-March-2013 14:34 IST
President releases a Commemorative Postage Stamp

The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee releasing the Commemorative Postage Stamp on Shri Sahir Ludhianvi, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on March 08, 2013. The Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Shri Kapil Sibal is also seen.

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee released a Commemorative Postage Stamp on late Shri Sahir Ludhianvi on the occasion of his birth anniversary today (March 8, 2013) at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Speaking on the occasion, the President said late Shri Sahir Ludhianvi was widely acclaimed as a people’s poet who wrote on the trials and tribulations of the everyday life of the common man with great intensity and deep empathy. He was recognised as the poet of the young because of his writings on love and beauty. He wrote with great sensitivity on the values and social concerns of the contemporary period.
The President said one of Sahir’s greatest contributions was to converge Urdu poetry into film songs. He also fought for recognition for lyric writers through the Film Writers Association. The fact that his birth day is being commemorated 33 years after his death with the release of the stamp is proof that he lives - through his poetry and his songs – in people’s hearts. 

Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Shri Kapil Sibal and Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Shri Manish Tewari. (PIB)
*****

Speech by the President of India

05-March-2013 17:35 IST
Shri Pranab Mukherjee at the Kumudini welfare trust of Bangladesh 
I am delighted to be here with you at Kumudini and the Bharateshwari Home for Girls. You have put up an extraordinary performance which combines beauty with elegance, discipline and physical fitness. I am truly impressed and overwhelmed by your talent and hard work.

Looking at all of you I can see that Bangladesh has a very bright future. Each of you will one day go forth into the outside world. The training and education that you are receiving here will equip you to become proud and productive citizens of your motherland. You will be the makers of a new Bangladesh. To everybody you are the representatives of the youth who aspire to see a beautiful future. Our greetings to you, the youth of Bangladesh. In the last speech of my visit to this wonderful country, I am quoting a few verses from a poem by Gurudeb Rabindranath: 

Where the world is without fear and the head is held high

Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up
By narrow domestic walls.... 

Bangladesh has taken rapid strides in the field of education and women’s empowerment. A growing number of girls are now attending school. I congratulate the Government of Bangladesh for taking far reaching initiatives in the field of education such as compulsory primary education, free education for girls up to class ten, stipends for female students and distribution of free text books. 

Women’s education is an essential pre-requisite for building a healthy and safe society. This however cannot be done by governments alone, and I am therefore glad that the Kumudini Trust has joined the national effort to impart quality education to girls in Bangladesh. 

I take this opportunity to remember, with profound respect, Shri Ranada Prasad Shaha , one of the greatest philanthropists of this country. He and his family had dedicated themselves to the service of the suffering and the needy. One of Shri Ranada Prasad’s priorities was to establish a hospital for the poor so that they, especially women, could receive free treatment. To spread female education, he established schools that were dedicated to girls, giving them a well - rounded education and moulding them into socially responsible women. It is sad that not only Shri Ranada Prasad Shaha but also his family suffered considerably in the days before the creation of Bangladesh. We respect them for their bravery and pay homage to their memory. It is a tribute to him that the Kumudini Trust and its affiliated bodies have grown from strength to strength, and have served the nation so well. The Kumudini hospital and medical college have been carrying out charitable work for the most needy and destitute. You are fortunate to be studying in an institution which symbolizes the highest values of selfless service. 

As a small token of support of the Government of India for your efforts, I am happy to announce that we will fund the upgradation of the sewerage system of your Complex which, I understand, has been a long pending need. In addition, we will also fund the construction of an advanced waste water treatment plant system. I am happy to be informed that the project will significantly change the landscape of the Complex and that the land saved from the installation of the waste water treatment system will be gainfully used for agriculture and other productive purposes. 

I recall that some of you had met me as part of a Youth Delegation that visited Delhi last year. Today, I am happy to be here to meet you and to see, for myself, this remarkable institution. 

I am deeply impressed by what I have seen and have no doubt that you will be outstanding citizens of Bangladesh. 

I wish each one of you the best of success and a bright future. 
***
KR/SK

Globemaster III aircraft lands

Runway during exercise Red Flag

A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft lands at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., as three F-15C Eagle aircraft assigned to the 48th Fighter Wing at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, hold short of the runway during exercise Red Flag 13-3 Feb. 25, 2013. Red Flag is an advanced aerial combat training exercise held four to six times a year to train pilots from the U.S., NATO and other allied countries for real combat situations. (DoD photo by Lawrence Crespo, U.S. Army/Released)  02/25/2013 - 
VIRIN: 130225-F-NK166-828

Vice President Releases Book ‘Walking with Lions:

01-March-2013 18:20 IST
Tales from a Diplomatic Past’ by Shri K. Natwar Singh

The Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari released a book entitled “Walking with Lions : Tales from a Diplomatic Past” written by Shri K. Natwar Singh, former Union Minister for External Affairs at a function here today. Addressing on the occasion Shri Ansari opined that all the experiences of Shri Natwar Singh are written in a very interesting way and hoped that many people will get enlightened in reading the book. 

In “Walking with Lions : Tales from a Diplomatic Past”, the author puts together fifty episodes that entertain, inform and illuminate. Recounted with empathy and humour, this collection of encounters is a warm, unaffected and reassuring reminder that the great too can be as fallible as the rest of us. (PIB)*****Sanjay Kumar/VPI/01.03.13

The Post-Budget Press Conference

Shri P. Chidambaram addressing

The Union Finance Minister, Shri P. Chidambaram addressing the Post-Budget Press Conference, in New Delhi on February 28, 2013. (PIB)

28-February-2013

A gift on women day

27-February-2013 18:49 IST
Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace 
(Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill, 2013 Sexual Harassment of Women

Courtesy Photo

The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill, 2012 was passed by the Rajya Sabha on 26th February 2013. Lok Sabha has passed it in September 2012.Sexual Harassment at workplace is a violation of women’s right to gender equality, life and liberty. It creates an insecure and hostile work environment, which discourages women’s participation in work, thereby adversely affecting their economic empowerment and the goal of inclusive growth. However, there is no domestic law to address this issue except a few provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Supreme Court Guidelines in the case of Vishaka vs. State of Rajasthan. The increasing work participation rate of women has made it imperative that a comprehensive legislation focusing on prevention of sexual harassment as well as providing a redressal mechanism be enacted.
The salient features of the Act are as follows:
(i)        It defines “sexual harassment at the workplace” in a comprehensive manner, in keeping with the definition laid down in the Vishaka judgment, and broadening it further to cover circumstances of implied or explicit promise or threat to a woman’s employment prospects or creation of hostile work environment or humiliating treatment, which can affect her health or safety.
(ii)       The definition of “aggrieved woman”, who will get protection under the Act is extremely wide to cover all women, irrespective of her age or employment status, whether in the organised or unorganised sectors, public or private and covers clients, customers and domestic workers as well.
(iii) While the “workplace” in the Vishaka guidelines is confined to the traditional office set-up where there is a clear employer-employee relationship, the Act goes much further to include organisations, department, office, branch unit etc in the public and private sector, organized and unorganized, hospitals, nursing homes, educational institutions, sports institutes, stadiums, sports complex and any place visited by the employee during the course of employment including the transportation.
(iv)      Definition of employee covers regular/temporary/ad hoc/daily wage employees, whether for remuneration or not and can also include volunteers. The definition of employer includes the head of the Government department/organisation/institution/office/branch/unit, the person responsible for management/supervisions/control of the workplace, the person discharging contractual obligations with respect to his/her employees and in relation to a domestic worker the person who benefits from that employment.
(v) The redressal mechanism provided in the Act is in the form of Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) and Local Complaints Committee (LCC). All workplaces employing 10 or more than 10 workers are mandated under the Act to constitute an ICC. The ICC will be a 4 member committee under the Chairpersonship of a senior woman employee and will include 2 members from amongst the employees preferably committed to the cause of women or has experience in social work/legal knowledge and includes a third party member (NGO etc) as well.
(vi)  Complaints from workplaces employing less than 10 workers or when the complaint is against the employer will be looked into by the LCC. A  District Officer notified under the Act will constitute the LCC at the district level. LCC will also look into complaints from domestic workers.
(vii) LCC will be a five member committee comprising of a chairperson to be nominated from amongst eminent women in the field of social work or committed to the cause of women, one member from amongst women working in block/taluka/tehsil/manicipality in the district, two members of whom at least one shall be a woman to be nominated from NGOs committed to the cause of women or a person familiar with the issues related to sexual harassment provided that at least one of the nominees should preferably have a background in law or legal knowledge. The concerned officer dealing with the social welfare or women and child development shall be an ex officio member.
(viii)  A complaint of sexual harassment can be filed within a time limit of 3 months. This may be extended to another 3 months if the woman can prove that grave circumstances prevented her from doing the same.
(ix) The Act has a provision for conciliation. The ICC/LCC can take steps to settle the matter between the aggrieved woman and the respondent, however this option will be used only at the request of the woman. The Act also provides that monetary settlement shall not be made a basis of conciliation. Further, if any of the conditions of the settlement is not complied with by the respondent, the complainant can go back to the Committee who will proceed to make an inquiry. 
(x)  The Committee is required to complete the inquiry within a time period of 90 days. On completion of the inquiry, the report will be sent to the employer or the District Officer, as the case may be, they are mandated to take action on the report within 60 days.
(xi) In case the complaint has been found proved, then the Committee can recommend action in accordance with the provision of service rules applicable to the respondent or as per the rules which will be prescribed, where such service rules do not exist. The committee can also recommend deduction of an appropriate sum from the salary of the respondent or ask respondent to pay the sum. In case the respondent fails to pay such sum, district officer may be asked to recover such sum as an arrear of land revenue.
(xii) In case the allegation against the respondent has not been proved then the Committee can write to the employer/district officer that no action needs to be taken in the matter.
(xiii) In case of malicious or false complaint then the Act provides for a penalty according to the Service Rules. However, this clause has a safeguard in the form of an enquiry prior to establishing the malicious intent. Also, mere inability to prove the case will not attract penalty under this provision.
(xiv) The Act has provisions for providing reliefs to the aggrieved woman in the interim period including leave and transfer during the pendency of the inquiry.
(xv) The Act prohibits disclosure of the identity and addresses of the aggrieved woman, respondent and witnesses. However, information regarding the justice secured to any victim of sexual harassment under this Act without disclosing the identity can be disseminated.
(xvi) The Act casts a responsibility on every employer to create an environment which is free from sexual harassment. Employers are required to organize workshops and awareness programmes at regular intervals for sensitizing the employees about the provision of this legislation and display notices regarding the constitution of Internal Committee, penal consequences of sexual harassment etc.
(xvii) An employer will be liable to a fine of Rs 50,000 in case of violation of his duties under the Act and in case of subsequent violations the amount of fine will be double together with penalty in the form of cancelation of his licence, withdrawal or non-withdrawal of the registration required for carrying out his activity.
(xviii) In case of domestic worker the procedure is different considering the nature of employment. A domestic worker can approach the LCC in case of any complaint. If the complainant wishes then conciliation may be carried out. However, in other cases if the complaint is proved prima facie then the LCC can forward the complaint to the police for registering the case and taking appropriate action under the relevant provision of IPC. 
(xix) Regarding monitoring, the Act provides that the State Governments will monitor implementation and maintain data for all State Government establishments as well as private establishments in their territory. For establishments of the Central Government this duty is cast on the Government of India.  All ICCs have to submit Annual reports to the employer who inturn will submit it to the district officer. All LCCs shall submit their annual report to the district officer. The district officers will submit the report annually to the State Governments.
(xx) The Central and State Governments are mandated to develop relevant IEC and training materials and organise awareness programmes to advance the understanding of the public on the provisions of this Bill.
(xxi) The Central Government will provide financial assistance to the States to meet the expenditure of fee and allowances payable to the members of the Local Complaints Committee. (PIB)  Sexual Harassment prevention Bill passed
***

Launch of Polar Satellite

     Launch Vehicle PSLV-C 20 SARAL Mission      

Launch of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C 20 SARAL Mission, at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on February 25, 2013. (PIB photo)25-February-2013

Smt. Jayashree Muralidharan

lighting the lamp to inaugurate the Campaign

The District Collector, Smt. Jayashree Muralidharan lighting the lamp to inaugurate the Bharat Nirman Public Information Campaign, at Tiruchirappilly, in Tamil Nadu on February 22, 2013.   (PIB)

Shaking Hand:Modi and Singh

The Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Narendra Modi meeting the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, in New Delhi on February 06, 2013.    (Photo:PIB)
06-February-2013  Shaking Hand:Modi and Singh

Vice President Addresses

27-January-2013 22:46 IST 
Partnership Summit-2013 on Global Partnership for Enduring growth in AgraPartnerships will Assume Great Significance & 
will be Instrumental in Accelerating Economic Recovery 
-Vice President M. Hamid Ansari 

The Vice President, Shri Mohd. Hamid Ansari delivering the inaugural address at the Partnership Summit 2013 on “Global Partnership for Enduring Growth”, in Agra, Uttar Pradesh on January 27, 2013. (PIB photo)

The Vice President of India, Shri M. Hamid Ansari has said that given the global economic landscape, it is imperative that the advanced and emerging economies work in tandem to prepare a roadmap for economic recovery, leveraging each other’s strengths and comparative advantages to create a new economic world order. Partnerships, therefore will assume great significance, and will be instrumental in accelerating economic recovery for many countries. Addressing at the “Partnership Summit-2013 on Global Partnership for Enduring Growth” in Agra (Uttar Pradesh) today, he has said that the Partnerships, such as the G-20, whose member countries account for two-thirds of the world’s population, 90% of world GDP and 80% of world trade, and the recently launched Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, a group of 16 countries comprising ASEAN member states and 6 countries with which they have Free Trade Agreements, will redefine the contours of the global economy.

He said that the global market-place will change with the formation of new trading blocks and enlarged markets and companies must gear themselves up to meet the new requirements. While doing so, they must be mindful of the need to balance growth with sustainability as also of corporate social responsibility. Likewise, innovation and creativity will play important roles in reviving growth, especially in emerging economies that often struggle with limited resources and dated technology.

The Vice President opined that in terms of economic growth, India weathered the global economic crises relatively well. Timely stimulus packages and other measures coupled with strong domestic demand helped to a great extent. The Government has addressed the issues of fiscal deficit, high inflation, negative trade balance with the world, flagging exports with a slew of measures. Notable amongst these are seminal indirect and direct tax reforms, FDI liberalization in retail and aviation, disinvestment in PSUs, and the establishment of a Cabinet Committee on Investments headed by the Prime Minister for faster clearance of infrastructure projects, all of which are aimed at reviving economic growth. Even though we could not maintain the robust pace of 7.8 per cent average annual GDP growth of the decade from 2002-3 to 2011-12, we did recorded GDP growth of 5.3 per cent in the July-September quarter of 2012-13, and are expecting to end the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2013 at 5.5-6 per cent.

He emphasized that the challenge before us is to restore as soon as possible the high growth trajectory, along with adequate employment generation, in a sustainable and inclusive manner. This would be the necessary condition for addressing the primary challenges of poverty alleviation and socio-economic development confronting us.

Following is the text of Vice President’s address :
“I am happy to be here today for the inauguration of the Partnership Summit 2013 on the theme ‘Global Partnerships for Enduring Growth’ organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in association with our Ministry of Commerce and Industry. I commend the Organisers for this initiative at a time when the world is grappling with vexing economic issues and seeking solutions for them. I felicitate Uttar Pradesh for being the partner state at the Summit.

This Summit will bring together stakeholders from government, industry and academia on an interactive platform to exchange ideas and develop solutions for some pressing economic challenges.

Over the last few years, we have seen a slowdown in the global economy. The world’s largest economy, the United States, is in the process of consolidating its tentative growth, but is still facing a ‘fiscal cliff’ besides high unemployment rates. Governments in the European Union continue to be weighed down with daunting economic challenges.

According to the International Monetary Fund, global growth slowed down from 5.1 per cent in 2010 to 3.8 per cent in 2011 with a forecast for continued deceleration. The impact of this is felt in the emerging economies also with their exports to the developed markets hardest hit. So is the case with the much needed foreign direct and portfolio investments. Consequently, growth in most emerging economies has faltered, though strong monetary and fiscal measures adopted by many governments have mitigated to some extent the negative impact.

Given the global economic landscape, it is imperative that the advanced and emerging economies work in tandem to prepare a roadmap for economic recovery, leveraging each other’s strengths and comparative advantages to create a new economic world order. Partnerships, therefore will assume great significance, and will be instrumental in accelerating economic recovery for many countries.

Partnerships, such as the G-20, whose member countries account for two-thirds of the world’s population, 90% of world GDP and 80% of world trade, and the recently launched Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, a group of 16 countries comprising ASEAN member states and 6 countries with which they have Free Trade Agreements, will redefine the contours of the global economy.

The global market-place will change with the formation of new trading blocks and enlarged markets and companies must gear themselves up to meet the new requirements. While doing so, they must be mindful of the need to balance growth with sustainability as also of corporate social responsibility.

Likewise, innovation and creativity will play important roles in reviving growth, especially in emerging economies that often struggle with limited resources and dated technology.

In terms of economic growth, India weathered the global economic crises relatively well. Timely stimulus packages and other measures coupled with strong domestic demand helped to a great extent. The Government has addressed the issues of fiscal deficit, high inflation, negative trade balance with the world, flagging exports with a slew of measures. Notable amongst these are seminal indirect and direct tax reforms, FDI liberalization in retail and aviation, disinvestment in PSUs, and the establishment of a Cabinet Committee on Investments headed by the Prime Minister for faster clearance of infrastructure projects, all of which are aimed at reviving economic growth.

Even though we could not maintain the robust pace of 7.8 per cent average annual GDP growth of the decade from 2002-3 to 2011-12, we did recorded GDP growth of 5.3 per cent in the July-September quarter of 2012-13, and are expecting to end the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2013 at 5.5-6 per cent.

The challenge before us is to restore as soon as possible the high growth trajectory, along with adequate employment generation, in a sustainable and inclusive manner. This would be the necessary condition for addressing the primary challenges of poverty alleviation and socio-economic development confronting us.

It is to be hoped that the ideas and proposals emanating from your discussions here would facilitating the attainment of this objective.

As the new economic order emerges and the weight of the global economy moves towards Asia, I invite countries from across the globe to partner with India so that we move together towards a better economic future for all our people.

In conclusion, I thank the organizers for having invited me and wish the Partnership Summit 2013 all success.”   (PIB)

                                      *****
Sanjay Kumar/VPI/27.01.2013

150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda

18-January-2013 13:22 IST
The President of India inaugurated Ramakrishna Math
They are relevant now-Shri Pranab Mukherjee 

The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee addressing at the inauguration of 150th Birth Anniversary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda, organised by Ramakrishna Mission, in Kolkata on January 18, 2013. (PIB photo)

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission’s celebration of the at Swamiji’s own birthplace at Kolkata today (January 18, 2013). 

Speaking on the occasion, the President said Swami Vivekananda’s messages and teachings were relevant then, they are relevant now and they will continue to be relevant as long as human civilization exits. He described Swamiji a great son of Bengal and a great visionary. He said famous historian AL Basham described Vivekananda as someone who appears only once in centuries. 

The President said it was amazing within a short span of life he could transform society which has lost self confidence. His philosophy shook up every one vigorously and brought back confidence in a shaken nation. He said at a time when the self-esteem of our people was low and many Indians looked to the West for ideals and role models, Swami Vivekananda infused self confidence and pride in them. 

The President quoted the first Prime Minister of India, Late Shri Jawaharlal Nehru and said “Rooted in the past and full of pride in India’s prestige, Vivekananda was yet modern in his approach to life’s problems, and was a kind of bridge between the past of India and her present.” (PIB)***  SC/SM                         150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda

CM Dikshit inspecting the flag area

NCC Republic Day Parade Camp-2013,New Delhi

The Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Sheila Dikshit inspecting the flag area, during her visit to DG, NCC Republic Day Parade Camp-2013, in New Delhi on January 08, 2013. The DG, NCC, Lt. Gen. P.S. Bhalla is also seen. (PIB) 08-January-2013                             CM Dikshit inspecting the flag area