The Gist of Press Information Bureau: February 2016

• WCD Ministry Issues Model Guidelines for Foster Care (Free Available)
• India China Joint Exercise (Free Available)
• HRIDAY plans (Free Available)
• Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav (Free Available)
• Imprint India (Free Available)
• Prime Minister launches three gold related schemes (Free Available)
• India-Russia Joint Army Exercise (Free Available)
• UDAY for financial turnaround of Power Distribution Companies (Only For The Subscribed Members)
• Reforms in FDI (Only For The Subscribed Members)
• First National Tribal Carnival (Only For The Subscribed Members)

WCD Ministry Issues Model Guidelines for Foster Care

The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development has issued Model Guidelines for Foster care. These guidelines have been developed through a consultative process involving representatives from States/UTs, Non-governmental organizations, civil society, academicians, experts and organizations working on alternative care. The Model Guidelines on Foster Care detail the procedures, roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, along with various aspects related to the implementation of the foster care program in the districts.

These Guidelines have been strengthened by providing additional formats for preparing case study of the child, application form for the foster carer/parents to apply, tools for counselling before and during the process to the child, the foster carer/parents and the biological parents of that child, if available. The IEC material for supporting the foster carer/parents on helpful tips, the rewards and challenges of a foster parent, and a summary card on steps on becoming a foster carer are also covered in the model foster care guidelines.

These Guidelines however do not cover Pre-adoption Foster Care as in such cases Guidelines Governing Adoption of Children, 2015 will apply. These Guidelines may be adopted or adapted as per the requirement of the State/UT.

India China Joint Exercise

The India China Combined Military Training Exercise Hand in Hand 2015 commenced on 12 Oct at Kunming Military Academy, Yunnan, China. The exercise concluded with a Joint Field Exercise followed by an impressive closing ceremony. Participating troops from both sides had trained together and learned from each other in mixed groups on Basic Individual Skills (combat boxing, basic mountaineering and shooting), Comprehensive Combat Skills (obstacle crossing, combat shooting, demolition, high intensity physical training) and unit/ sub unit tactics, especially in a counter terrorism scenario.

A joint field exercise depicting counter terrorist operations on India China border areas was held from 21 to 22 Oct to validate the exercise objectives. A series of challenging tactical situations were presented to validate the reactions of the sub-units and a very high level of professionalism and coordination was seen among troops of both the armies. The exercise was overlooked by the observer delegation of both countries who expressed satisfaction at level of assimilation achieved by the troops of both sides.

This was followed by the Closing Ceremony which commenced with an impressive parade by both contingents wherein national flags of both countries were brought on parade, followed by playing national anthems. The heads of observer delegation of both countries reviewed the parade and thereafter awarded certificates and medals to outstanding members of each others contingents.

This was the fifth joint counter terrorist exercise which shows the power of both countries to fight terrorism together and highlights the determination and vision of both countries to maintain regional security, stability and develop a conducive environment for development. The joint exercise has met its stated objectives; to exchange experience on counter-terrorist training and conducting counter-terrorist operations, enhance mutual trust and understanding and promote healthy military relations between the two armies.

HRIDAY plans

Action Plans under Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) for eight missions cities have been approved at a total cost of Rs.431 cr. HRIDAY National Empowered Committee chaired by Shri Madhusudhana Prasad, Secretary(Urban Development) today approved the action plans for Varanasi, Mathura, Ajmer, Dwaraka(Gujarat), Badami (karnataka), Warangal(Telangana), Amaravati(Andhra Pradesh) and Vellankini(Tamil Nadu) after detailed presentations by officials of respective cities and state governments.

The action plans approved broadly seek to conserve and develop core heritage assets of respective cities besides improving sanitation through solid waste management, easy access through signages and better mobility, interpretation centres, landscaping, provision of green spaces etc. While some projects for some of these cities were approved and funds released earlier, comprehensive action plans were cleared today. Various cities have been divided into different zones for taking up different infrastructure development projects for enhancing the appeal of mission cities which are centres of rich cultural heritage.

Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav

A seven day cultural festival of India – Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav, drawing performing artists, artisans, handicrafts and cuisine from all across the country will be held from 1st to 7th November, 2015 at the IGNCA, New Delhi. The festival be the first of its kind to be organized by the Ministry of Culture in terms of its diversity and size. 700 artists shall perform at the inaugural ceremony of Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav on 1st November at IGNCA. It’s an opportunity to encourage our artists, to help them showcase their work on a national stage, the Secretary added. He informed that all are welcome for this grand festival which is open to everyone andthere is no entry fee for the festival which will remain open from 10 am to 10 pm. Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav will present a food and shopping extravaganza featuring the very best of indigenous handicrafts and flavours. Shri Sinha disclosed that the Ministry of Culture is planning to organize Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav every year in the National Capital and major cities of the country.

Imprint India

The IMPacting Research INnovation and Technology (IMPRINT) India brochure was released today at the Visitor’s Conference at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. ‘IMPRINT India’ is a Pan-IIT and IISc joint initiative to develop a roadmap for research to solve major engineering and technology challenges in ten technology domains relevant to India. The brochure was released by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in the presence of the President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Union HRD Minister Smt Smriti Irani, MoS for HRD Shri Ram Shanker Katheria and MoS for Chemicals and Fertilisers Shri Hansraj Ahir. The first copy of the brochure was presented to the President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee. The President later launched the ‘IMPRINT’ India.

The President of India said that, if the institutes of higher learning come together, they can make a difference in a short span of time to higher education sector in our country. IMPRINT India is synergizing platform for institutions, academia, industry that encourages research & innovation, making it socially more relevant. The President appreciated efforts of Ministry of Human Resources Development with special mention of Global Initiative for Academic Networks (GIAN) and recently launched National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). He also added that the New Education Policy (NEP) must alter the dynamics of the education sector and help us achieve the GER target of 30 percent by 2020, a goal we cannot afford to miss.

Prime Minister launches three gold related schemes

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, launched three gold related schemes at a function. The schemes are – Gold Monetization Scheme, Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme, and India Gold Coins. On the occasion, the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi described the schemes as an example of “sone pe suhaaga” (icing on the cake). The Prime Minister said India has no reason to be described as a poor country, as it has 20,000 tonnes of gold. He said the gold available with the country should be put to productive use, and these schemes show us the way to achieve this goal. At the launch, the Prime Minister said that gold can be a great tool for women empowerment and that they would be the biggest beneficiaries of the new schemes. He further added that the reason behind the success of these schemes will be the women of India. He also said that the gold bonds will be more beneficial than physical gold.

Earlier, addressing the gathering, the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley said that gold lying with an individual can be a personal savings but it does not contribute in the development of the country. He said that from now on, gold will not only be an instrument of security but will also give earnings and will become part of nation building. Finance Minister Shri Jaitley further said the import of gold will come down with the launch of these gold related three schemes today.

India-Russia Joint Army Exercise

Indian and Russian Armies would be conducting a joint military exercise as a part of a continuing series of annual joint exercises under the banner ‘Exercise INDRA-2015’. A 250 member strong Russian Army contingent would arrive in Bikaner for INDRA-2015 for the joint exercise to be held with the Indian Army from 07 November to 20 November 2015. Exercise INDRA-2015 is the seventh edition in a series of bilateral exercises under this banner. The joint exercise this year would focus on ‘Counter Terrorism Operations in Desert Terrain under a United Nations Mandate’.

To achieve inter operability in joint operations in the future, troops from an Independent Russian Motorised Brigade and Indian Army’s Infantry Battalion would initially acquaint themselves with the approach to such operations, Command and Control systems as well as arms and equipment of each other. The joint training would also focus on ensuring a high degree of physical fitness, tactical drills, techniques and procedures. A comprehensive training program for a period of four weeks has been worked out for the same. During the exercise, participants will engage in variety of missions including joint planning, Cordon and Search operations, Search and Rescue, joint tactical drills and special arms skills.

The exercise would be conducted in two phases, namely ‘Combat Conditioning & Tactical Training’ and ‘Validation’ phases. The exercise would be witnessed by senior Indian as well as Russian Generals. The broadened and unprecedented scope of the exercise stands as a testimony to the deep and mature, ‘people to people’ as well as ‘military to military’ ties between Russia and India.

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