Archive For The “General” Category
Mumbai, Oct 1 : Five days before he is scheduled to appear before the government-appointed Justice (retired) K.U.
Chandiwal Commission of enquiry, state political circles are rife with speculation that former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh, now Commandant-General of Home Guards, may have fled the country.
Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil has said that neither the state nor the Central government's investigating agencies have any inkling of Singh's whereabouts and are searching for him.
"A lookout circular (LOC) has been issued against him Along with the Ministry of Home Affairs (New Delhi), we are also looking out for him," Walse-Patil said.
Admitting that though he has also heard the IPS officer could have left the country, pointed out that as a government officer, he cannot travel abroad without official sanction.
After Singh failed to repeatedly honour its summonses, the Justice Chandiwal Commission slapped him with fines thrice, and issued a bailable warrant against him twice after the State CID failed to locate him at his known addresses in Mumbai, Chandigarh and Rohtak.
If Singh fails to appear before the Commission's next hearing on October 6, the untraceable police officer faces the prospects of a non-bailable warrant.
--IANS
qn/ksk/.
Source: IANS
Chandiwal Commission of enquiry, state political circles are rife with speculation that former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh, now Commandant-General of Home Guards, may have fled the country.
Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil has said that neither the state nor the Central government's investigating agencies have any inkling of Singh's whereabouts and are searching for him.
"A lookout circular (LOC) has been issued against him Along with the Ministry of Home Affairs (New Delhi), we are also looking out for him," Walse-Patil said.
Admitting that though he has also heard the IPS officer could have left the country, pointed out that as a government officer, he cannot travel abroad without official sanction.
After Singh failed to repeatedly honour its summonses, the Justice Chandiwal Commission slapped him with fines thrice, and issued a bailable warrant against him twice after the State CID failed to locate him at his known addresses in Mumbai, Chandigarh and Rohtak.
If Singh fails to appear before the Commission's next hearing on October 6, the untraceable police officer faces the prospects of a non-bailable warrant.
--IANS
qn/ksk/.
Source: IANS
Mumbai, Oct 1 : Five days before he is summoned to appear before the government-appointed Justice (retired) K.U.
Chandiwal Commission of enquiry, the political circles in Maharashtra are agog with speculation that the former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh, now Commandant-General of Home Guards, may have fled the country.
Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil has said that neither the state nor the Central government's investigating agencies have any inkling of Singh's whereabouts and are searching for him.
"A lookout circular (LOC) has been issued against him along with the Ministry of Home Affairs (New Delhi), we are also looking out for him," Walse-Patil said.
Admitting that while he has also heard the IPS officer could have left the country, pointed out that as a government officer, Singh cannot travel abroad without official sanction.
After Singh failed to repeatedly honour its summonses, the Justice Chandiwal Commission slapped him with fines thrice, and issued a bailable warrant against him twice with the State CID failing to locate him at his known addresses in Mumbai, Chandigarh and Rohtak.
If the untraceable Singh fails to appear before the Commission's next hearing on October 6, he faces the prospects of a non-bailable warrant.
The ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government ally Congress on Friday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of "a definite role in giving a safe passage" to Singh.
"If Singh has fled India, then there has to be a definite role of BJP in giving a safe passage to him.
Quite clear that saving Singh supports the agenda of BJP," state Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said here.
He pointed out how the National Investigating Agency (NIA) had probed the Antilia terror threat case first and its chargesheet clearly mentions that dismissed cop Sachin Vaze was reporting to Singh, who paid Rs 5 lakhs to a cyber expert to create an alibi.
"Still if Singh flees, then its a failure of the NIA.
What was the chowkidar government doing? How often do we find chowkidar government napping when people like Nirav Modi, (Mehul) Choksi, (Vijay) Mallya and Singh elope?" Sawant pointedly asked.
In April, Singh created a sensation by firing a 'letter-missile' to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray alleging corruption by the then Nationalist Congress Party's Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.
Soon afterwards, the Bombay High Court ordered a preliminary enquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation leading to Deshmukh's resignation, while Singh proceeded on leave in May.
In June, the MVA hit back by registering cases of alleged extortion, cheating, forgery, and set up a one-man enquiry commission to probe the charges against Singh.
--IANS
qn/ksk/.
Source: IANS
Chandiwal Commission of enquiry, the political circles in Maharashtra are agog with speculation that the former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh, now Commandant-General of Home Guards, may have fled the country.
Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil has said that neither the state nor the Central government's investigating agencies have any inkling of Singh's whereabouts and are searching for him.
"A lookout circular (LOC) has been issued against him along with the Ministry of Home Affairs (New Delhi), we are also looking out for him," Walse-Patil said.
Admitting that while he has also heard the IPS officer could have left the country, pointed out that as a government officer, Singh cannot travel abroad without official sanction.
After Singh failed to repeatedly honour its summonses, the Justice Chandiwal Commission slapped him with fines thrice, and issued a bailable warrant against him twice with the State CID failing to locate him at his known addresses in Mumbai, Chandigarh and Rohtak.
If the untraceable Singh fails to appear before the Commission's next hearing on October 6, he faces the prospects of a non-bailable warrant.
The ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government ally Congress on Friday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of "a definite role in giving a safe passage" to Singh.
"If Singh has fled India, then there has to be a definite role of BJP in giving a safe passage to him.
Quite clear that saving Singh supports the agenda of BJP," state Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said here.
He pointed out how the National Investigating Agency (NIA) had probed the Antilia terror threat case first and its chargesheet clearly mentions that dismissed cop Sachin Vaze was reporting to Singh, who paid Rs 5 lakhs to a cyber expert to create an alibi.
"Still if Singh flees, then its a failure of the NIA.
What was the chowkidar government doing? How often do we find chowkidar government napping when people like Nirav Modi, (Mehul) Choksi, (Vijay) Mallya and Singh elope?" Sawant pointedly asked.
In April, Singh created a sensation by firing a 'letter-missile' to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray alleging corruption by the then Nationalist Congress Party's Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.
Soon afterwards, the Bombay High Court ordered a preliminary enquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation leading to Deshmukh's resignation, while Singh proceeded on leave in May.
In June, the MVA hit back by registering cases of alleged extortion, cheating, forgery, and set up a one-man enquiry commission to probe the charges against Singh.
--IANS
qn/ksk/.
Source: IANS
Chennai, Oct 1 : Retrenched permanent and contract workers of Hindustan Motors Ltd/Hindustan Motor Finance Corporation Ltd.
and their family members on Friday began their sit-in protest at the Tiruvallur District collectorate demanding back their land or a job in PCA Automobiles India Private Ltd.
Car maker PCA Automobiles located in Tiruvallur is a joint venture between global automotive manufacturer Stellantis Group and India's C.K.
Birla group.
Hindustan Motors Ltd/Hindustan Motor Finance belonged to the C.K.Birla group.
"We have begun our protest as announced earlier.
The protestors include men, women and children. We are demanding our land back or a job in PCA Automobiles," H. Ismail, one of the retrenched workers whose grandfather's land was acquired by Hindustan Motors in 1968.
The protest was flagged off by CPI MP K.
Subbarayan.
"We will continue our protest till a solution is arrived at. We are planning to put up a tent and stay here day and night. Food is being cooked for the protestors," Ismail added.
The workers were earlier employed by Hindustan Motors Ltd/Hindustan Motor Finance Corporation Ltd.
at its Tiruvallur car plant rolling out Japanese Mitsubishi Motors Corporation's models like Lancer, Pajero and also under contract manufacturing deal for Isuzu Motors MU 7 model.
Later about 175 permanent workers and over 150 contract workers were retrenched by Hindustan Motor Finance Corporation and the plant was transferred to PCA Automobiles.
"We were retrenched despite an agreement signed between the two joint venture partners that the workers will be absorbed by PCA Automobiles," Ismail, who was retrenched and whose grandfather's land was acquired by Hindustan Motors in 1968.
"Based on this Employee Transfer Agreement, Hindustan Motor Finance Corporation got permission from the Tamil Nadu government to transfer the plant and other assets to PCA Automobiles.
Post transfer of assets, the workers -- permanent and on contract -- were sent out," E. Srinivasan, Secretary of the Hindustan Motors Land Giving Farmers Progressive Association had told IANS.
According to Srinivasan, Hindustan Motors acquired about 356 acres of agricultural land from 1968 at Tiruvallur.
Initially Hindustan Motors bought the land directly from the owners.
But it was not able to get the extent it wanted and sought the District Collector's help. Later the company deposited the land cost with the government treasury and the government transferred the land to the company, Srinivasan said.
At that point of time, the District Collector had assured that the land owners will be employed by the company in the Hindustan Motor's earthmoving equipment plant at Tiruvallur.
"The land cost was so low that many landowners did not make efforts to get their money from the government treasury as the expenses incurred would be higher," Srinivasan added.
However, the landowners were not given employment as promised earlier and after protesting Hindustan Motors employed 82 persons -- mostly the grandsons of the landowners -- in 1980s.
"After a decade of protests another batch of 82 workers were hired as trainees in 1997," Srinivasan said.
Srinivasan and Ismail said Hindustan Motors confirmed the trainee workers only after 10 years.
Hindustan Motors hived off a sizable portion of the land for its car plant to roll out Mitsubishi Motors Corporation's models like Lancer, Pajero.
And some workers of the Hindustan Motors' earthmoving equipment division were transferred to the car plant.
Some years later, the Indian company transferred the plant to Hindustan Finance Corporation and then to PCA Automobiles while sending out permanent and contract workers.
Hindustan Motors sold its earthmoving equipment division (that made dumpers, loaders and others) to Caterpillar, US.
Barring the 22 workers whose grandfathers had given their land to the factory and some others, the majority of the permanent workers had agreed to take lump sum compensation from Hindustan Motor Finance Corporation.
"The company had deposited the lump sum in our bank accounts without our consent.
We wrote to the company, Tamil Nadu government and also to PCA Automobiles stressing our demand for jobs and the amount deposited would be treated as our monthly wages," Srinivasan had said.
After the job loss, life for all the workers turned upside down.
"We were not able to get proper employment in other companies as age was against us.
Many workers joined car service stations and others at a wage of Rs 8,000 per month, after drawing about Rs 50,000 per month.
Our families are still in dire straits," S. Gandhi, Former Secretary of the worker's union at Hindustan Motor Finance, told IANS.
According to Srinivasan, the PCA Automobiles plant has about 190 acres of land of which about 150 acres are vacant.
"We want our land back so that we can do farming and manage our families," Srinivasan said.
"Our land is there.
The old owner -- C.K. Birla group and new owner Stellantis Group -- are also there. The car plant is also rolling out Citroen brand cars. Only we are not there. This is not just," Ismail and Srinivasan said.
Despite several rounds of talks between the former workers, PCA Automobiles in the presence of the District Collector and other officials, there has been no progress on the issue, the former workers said.
"We have seen four District Collectors.
Everyone knows about the Employee Transfer Agreement signed between Hindustan Finance Corporation and PCA Automobiles and its subsequent breach.
But still no progress," Ismail said.--IANS
vj/dpb.
Source: IANS
and their family members on Friday began their sit-in protest at the Tiruvallur District collectorate demanding back their land or a job in PCA Automobiles India Private Ltd.
Car maker PCA Automobiles located in Tiruvallur is a joint venture between global automotive manufacturer Stellantis Group and India's C.K.
Birla group.
Hindustan Motors Ltd/Hindustan Motor Finance belonged to the C.K.Birla group.
"We have begun our protest as announced earlier.
The protestors include men, women and children. We are demanding our land back or a job in PCA Automobiles," H. Ismail, one of the retrenched workers whose grandfather's land was acquired by Hindustan Motors in 1968.
The protest was flagged off by CPI MP K.
Subbarayan.
"We will continue our protest till a solution is arrived at. We are planning to put up a tent and stay here day and night. Food is being cooked for the protestors," Ismail added.
The workers were earlier employed by Hindustan Motors Ltd/Hindustan Motor Finance Corporation Ltd.
at its Tiruvallur car plant rolling out Japanese Mitsubishi Motors Corporation's models like Lancer, Pajero and also under contract manufacturing deal for Isuzu Motors MU 7 model.
Later about 175 permanent workers and over 150 contract workers were retrenched by Hindustan Motor Finance Corporation and the plant was transferred to PCA Automobiles.
"We were retrenched despite an agreement signed between the two joint venture partners that the workers will be absorbed by PCA Automobiles," Ismail, who was retrenched and whose grandfather's land was acquired by Hindustan Motors in 1968.
"Based on this Employee Transfer Agreement, Hindustan Motor Finance Corporation got permission from the Tamil Nadu government to transfer the plant and other assets to PCA Automobiles.
Post transfer of assets, the workers -- permanent and on contract -- were sent out," E. Srinivasan, Secretary of the Hindustan Motors Land Giving Farmers Progressive Association had told IANS.
According to Srinivasan, Hindustan Motors acquired about 356 acres of agricultural land from 1968 at Tiruvallur.
Initially Hindustan Motors bought the land directly from the owners.
But it was not able to get the extent it wanted and sought the District Collector's help. Later the company deposited the land cost with the government treasury and the government transferred the land to the company, Srinivasan said.
At that point of time, the District Collector had assured that the land owners will be employed by the company in the Hindustan Motor's earthmoving equipment plant at Tiruvallur.
"The land cost was so low that many landowners did not make efforts to get their money from the government treasury as the expenses incurred would be higher," Srinivasan added.
However, the landowners were not given employment as promised earlier and after protesting Hindustan Motors employed 82 persons -- mostly the grandsons of the landowners -- in 1980s.
"After a decade of protests another batch of 82 workers were hired as trainees in 1997," Srinivasan said.
Srinivasan and Ismail said Hindustan Motors confirmed the trainee workers only after 10 years.
Hindustan Motors hived off a sizable portion of the land for its car plant to roll out Mitsubishi Motors Corporation's models like Lancer, Pajero.
And some workers of the Hindustan Motors' earthmoving equipment division were transferred to the car plant.
Some years later, the Indian company transferred the plant to Hindustan Finance Corporation and then to PCA Automobiles while sending out permanent and contract workers.
Hindustan Motors sold its earthmoving equipment division (that made dumpers, loaders and others) to Caterpillar, US.
Barring the 22 workers whose grandfathers had given their land to the factory and some others, the majority of the permanent workers had agreed to take lump sum compensation from Hindustan Motor Finance Corporation.
"The company had deposited the lump sum in our bank accounts without our consent.
We wrote to the company, Tamil Nadu government and also to PCA Automobiles stressing our demand for jobs and the amount deposited would be treated as our monthly wages," Srinivasan had said.
After the job loss, life for all the workers turned upside down.
"We were not able to get proper employment in other companies as age was against us.
Many workers joined car service stations and others at a wage of Rs 8,000 per month, after drawing about Rs 50,000 per month.
Our families are still in dire straits," S. Gandhi, Former Secretary of the worker's union at Hindustan Motor Finance, told IANS.
According to Srinivasan, the PCA Automobiles plant has about 190 acres of land of which about 150 acres are vacant.
"We want our land back so that we can do farming and manage our families," Srinivasan said.
"Our land is there.
The old owner -- C.K. Birla group and new owner Stellantis Group -- are also there. The car plant is also rolling out Citroen brand cars. Only we are not there. This is not just," Ismail and Srinivasan said.
Despite several rounds of talks between the former workers, PCA Automobiles in the presence of the District Collector and other officials, there has been no progress on the issue, the former workers said.
"We have seen four District Collectors.
Everyone knows about the Employee Transfer Agreement signed between Hindustan Finance Corporation and PCA Automobiles and its subsequent breach.
But still no progress," Ismail said.--IANS
vj/dpb.
Source: IANS
Lucknow, Oct 1 : In a major attempt to save crops from going to waste and increase the income of farmers, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to establish a network of godown and cold storages in every district across the state.
According to the plan, the Primary Co-operative Societies (PACS) will build as many as 2,000 godowns with support from the Centre's Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF).
Besides, construction of godowns and cold storages will be encouraged in every district.
According to a state government spokesman, it will help preserve farmers' produce for longer periods and allow them to sell it as per their convenience with more profit.
In Uttar Pradesh, 15 to 20 per cent of the crops are wasted every year due to the lack of proper storage facilities.
Apart from this, loans will be provided to interested farmers and agricultural institutions for setting up e-marketing platforms, warehouses, silos, pack houses, sorting and grading units in all the districts of the state.
Uttar Pradesh is one of the leading states in agricultural production in the country plagued by poor infrastructure.
When he took office, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, had directed the officials of the Agriculture Department to prepare a foolproof plan to preserve the agricultural produce in the state.
Thus, it was decided that the PACS will be largely funded by the AIF to build 2,000 godowns in the state.
Subsequently, a total of 1500 PACS out of 7,470, agreed to build godowns with the capacity of 100 metric tonnes each at the cost of Rs 20 lakh and sought Rs 60 crore from the Agriculture Department for the purpose.
According to officials, the Agriculture Department has provided Rs 4 lakh to the PACS building warehouses while the remaining 80 per cent of the amount will be taken as loan by the the PACS from the AIF.
Meanwhile, the construction of 400 godowns has already started and is expected to be complete soon.
It will be followed by building of 1,600 godowns.
Under this ambitious scheme, the officers of the Cooperative Department along with farmers and entrepreneurs will also build community agriculture centres to store farmers' produce so that they can sell it at the right time.
A loan of up to Rs 2 crore will be given to the applicants for building big godowns, pack houses and cold storages etc.
There will be a credit guarantee for seven years on the loan.
There will also be a rebate of three per cent on interest per annum.
Apart from the godowns being built by PACS, applications for 197 projects worth Rs 218 crore have been received so far, of which 20 will be approved soon.
--IANS
amita/ksk/.
Source: IANS
According to the plan, the Primary Co-operative Societies (PACS) will build as many as 2,000 godowns with support from the Centre's Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF).
Besides, construction of godowns and cold storages will be encouraged in every district.
According to a state government spokesman, it will help preserve farmers' produce for longer periods and allow them to sell it as per their convenience with more profit.
In Uttar Pradesh, 15 to 20 per cent of the crops are wasted every year due to the lack of proper storage facilities.
Apart from this, loans will be provided to interested farmers and agricultural institutions for setting up e-marketing platforms, warehouses, silos, pack houses, sorting and grading units in all the districts of the state.
Uttar Pradesh is one of the leading states in agricultural production in the country plagued by poor infrastructure.
When he took office, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, had directed the officials of the Agriculture Department to prepare a foolproof plan to preserve the agricultural produce in the state.
Thus, it was decided that the PACS will be largely funded by the AIF to build 2,000 godowns in the state.
Subsequently, a total of 1500 PACS out of 7,470, agreed to build godowns with the capacity of 100 metric tonnes each at the cost of Rs 20 lakh and sought Rs 60 crore from the Agriculture Department for the purpose.
According to officials, the Agriculture Department has provided Rs 4 lakh to the PACS building warehouses while the remaining 80 per cent of the amount will be taken as loan by the the PACS from the AIF.
Meanwhile, the construction of 400 godowns has already started and is expected to be complete soon.
It will be followed by building of 1,600 godowns.
Under this ambitious scheme, the officers of the Cooperative Department along with farmers and entrepreneurs will also build community agriculture centres to store farmers' produce so that they can sell it at the right time.
A loan of up to Rs 2 crore will be given to the applicants for building big godowns, pack houses and cold storages etc.
There will be a credit guarantee for seven years on the loan.
There will also be a rebate of three per cent on interest per annum.
Apart from the godowns being built by PACS, applications for 197 projects worth Rs 218 crore have been received so far, of which 20 will be approved soon.
--IANS
amita/ksk/.
Source: IANS
New Delhi, Oct 1 : Just a week ahead of the Navratri festival, the Delhi government has allowed the reopening of religious places from Friday until October 15 with strict compliance to Covid-19 guidelines.
As per the fresh Covid-19 guidelines issued by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Thursday, large gatherings, along with melas, fairs, rallies, and processions will not be allowed.
All the religious places in the national capital had been closed since April in the wake of the devastating second wave of the pandemic.
Chhath Puja celebrations have also been prohibited in public places and people have been advised to mark the featival at their homes.
The DDMA has also allowed Ramleelas, Dusseheras and Durga Puja Pandals this year, but with strict adherence to the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
According to the order, all event organisers will have to obtain requisite permission from the concerned District Magistrates for organising the festival in advance and capacity of each event site will depend on the area and social distancing norms.
These orders will continue up to October 15 midnight.
Both Durga Puja and Dusshera festivities will take place on the same day.
Last year, while Durga Puja committees were prohibited from erecting pandals, Ramleela committees were asked to go for live streaming.
Restrictions were imposed on burning of effigies during Dussehra.
Meanwhile, the DDMA has also said that it will decide on reopening of schools for nursery to Class 8 post the festival season.
According to an official, the schools might be reopened in a phased manner from November 1 onwards.
The national capital on Thursday reported 47 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours, taking its total tally to 14,38,858 with no new fatalities, as per the Delhi Health Department bulletin.
--IANS
rdk/ksk/.
Source: IANS
As per the fresh Covid-19 guidelines issued by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Thursday, large gatherings, along with melas, fairs, rallies, and processions will not be allowed.
All the religious places in the national capital had been closed since April in the wake of the devastating second wave of the pandemic.
Chhath Puja celebrations have also been prohibited in public places and people have been advised to mark the featival at their homes.
The DDMA has also allowed Ramleelas, Dusseheras and Durga Puja Pandals this year, but with strict adherence to the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
According to the order, all event organisers will have to obtain requisite permission from the concerned District Magistrates for organising the festival in advance and capacity of each event site will depend on the area and social distancing norms.
These orders will continue up to October 15 midnight.
Both Durga Puja and Dusshera festivities will take place on the same day.
Last year, while Durga Puja committees were prohibited from erecting pandals, Ramleela committees were asked to go for live streaming.
Restrictions were imposed on burning of effigies during Dussehra.
Meanwhile, the DDMA has also said that it will decide on reopening of schools for nursery to Class 8 post the festival season.
According to an official, the schools might be reopened in a phased manner from November 1 onwards.
The national capital on Thursday reported 47 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours, taking its total tally to 14,38,858 with no new fatalities, as per the Delhi Health Department bulletin.
--IANS
rdk/ksk/.
Source: IANS
New Delhi, Oct 1 : India's victory in the elections to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2017 "remains sui generis (of its own kind) and a hard feat for anyone else to match".
It was a momentous diplomatic victory that not only "exorcised the ghosts of the past", was the first time an incumbent judge had lost to another incumbent, and the first time that a P5 member of the UNSC -- the UK -- would not be represented in the Court after an epic battle that saw Britain back down in the face of India's relentless challenge.
"While we were privileged to be in the trenches on the frontline, many of our colleagues toiled in back rooms in different parts of the globe to ensure a successful outcome," Syed Akbaruddin, India's Permanent Representative at the UN at the time, writes in "India VS UK - The Story of an Unprecedented Diplomatic Win" (HarperCollins).
"There are many unsung heroes. Collectively, we exorcised the ghosts of the past. In many small ways the efforts reflected subterranean changes in style and substance that were the building blocks of a much more confident approach to thinking about and implementing foreign policy goals.
"In India, the resonance of a successful outcome went far beyond the diplomatic establishment.
It fed into a growing belief that with the right focus and direction, and with necessary adjustments, seemingly difficult changes for the better could be made to happen," Akbaruddin, who served at the UN for four years and is currently Dean at the Kautilya School of Public Policy, writes.
India had been unwilling at first but was prompted to enter the ring in the wake of the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, which proved the importance of having an Indian judge in the court (Judge Dalveer Bhandari's term was due to end in 2018).
The contest that followed was like a "Second War of Independence" in the words of then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who led her troops from the front in the David-and-Goliath fight against the permanent members of the Security Council, who put all their might behind the UK -- in spite of which India prevailed.
The odds were formidable as the election cycle of November 2016-November 2017 was a rare period for India as polls were to be held for three key UN legal bodies -- the International Law Commission (ILC), the International Tribunal for the Law of the Seas (ITLOS) and the ICJ.
Given that elections to each of them are usually held at different intervals over a nine-year period, Indians were represented in each of them.
"We now need to decide if we are willing to contest all the three in the space of a year. If so, we will be the only country to do so. We should choose with care and caution, decide early and begin the pursuit of our chosen objectives forthwith," Akbaruddin writes in the book that makes for riveting reading quite akin to a thriller.
Tasked by Sushma Swaraj to focus on the first two elections, these were quickly wrapped up quite comfortably.
The ICJ go-ahead came only in May 2017, long after five candidates (four of them incumbents) had already been declared in the fray for the five seats that were falling vacant but when the decision was taken, the entire Indian establishment -- from the ministry to Indian missions around the world to that at the UN -- went flat out to secure Judge Dalveer Bhandari a full nine-year term (he was then filling a mid-term vacancy.
The ICJ elections require a candidate to secure an absolute majority in the General Assembly and the Security Council.
After five rounds of voting in mid-November, 2017, four candidates (three of them incumbents) were declared elected, leaving Judge Bhandari and Judge Christopher Greenwood of the UK, the other incumbent, in the fray for the fifth seat.
That was when the UK attempted to flex its muscles, making known its intention to stop further voting by invoking Article 12 of the ICJ statute to call a "conference" for a "compromise".
This had never before happened in the history of the UN.
Thereafter, the UNGA President called a meeting in his chambers to explore a way forward. The others present were the UNSC President, Akbaruddin, the UK's Permanent Representative, the legal advisor to the UNGA President and some UN Secretariat officials.
The arguments flowed back-and-forth till Akbaruddin forcefully declared that a "conference" would raise an uproar as it would view it as a "purposeful bid to undermine the General Assembly without any consultations.
I conclude that in this case, what may be legally permissible is not politically wise and diplomatically sagacious".
Saying so, he left the chamber due to "other commitments".
What Akbaruddin was banking on was that a permanent UNSC member could not risk a loss to a non-permanent member.
That was the end of the matter, as Boris Johnson, then the UK Foreign Secretary, informed Sushma Swaraj that Judge Greenwood's candidature was being withdrawn.
The Foreign Office concluded later that "the inability of the government to secure the re-election of Sir Christopher Greenwood to the court was a failure of UK diplomacy".
"At one level, legal analysts projected the result as 'an important departure from ICJ election practice'.
They said, 'First, it did away with the tradition that reserved a seat on the court for the five permanent members of the Security Council.
Second, it was noteworthy because it resulted in a reallocation of seats amongst the regional groups'.
"Whether this was on account of Indian exceptionalism, and if it set a trend for the future, can only be understood following the subsequent ICJ election results," Akbaruddin writes.
The election, "also symbolised the coming of age of Indian multilateral diplomacy. The lessons we learnt are many. Our decision-making process may, at times, be time-consuming and can put a heavy load on ensuring the implementation of a decision that has taken a long time to arrive at in the first place.
However, once a decision is taken, with all on board, the trajectory is never half-hearted. It usually proceeds at full throttle to achieve success. Focus provided by the political leadership sets the tone for the rest," Akbaruddin maintains.
(Vishnu Makhijani can be reached at vishnu.makhijani@ians.in)
--IANS
vm/dpb.
Source: IANS
It was a momentous diplomatic victory that not only "exorcised the ghosts of the past", was the first time an incumbent judge had lost to another incumbent, and the first time that a P5 member of the UNSC -- the UK -- would not be represented in the Court after an epic battle that saw Britain back down in the face of India's relentless challenge.
"While we were privileged to be in the trenches on the frontline, many of our colleagues toiled in back rooms in different parts of the globe to ensure a successful outcome," Syed Akbaruddin, India's Permanent Representative at the UN at the time, writes in "India VS UK - The Story of an Unprecedented Diplomatic Win" (HarperCollins).
"There are many unsung heroes. Collectively, we exorcised the ghosts of the past. In many small ways the efforts reflected subterranean changes in style and substance that were the building blocks of a much more confident approach to thinking about and implementing foreign policy goals.
"In India, the resonance of a successful outcome went far beyond the diplomatic establishment.
It fed into a growing belief that with the right focus and direction, and with necessary adjustments, seemingly difficult changes for the better could be made to happen," Akbaruddin, who served at the UN for four years and is currently Dean at the Kautilya School of Public Policy, writes.
India had been unwilling at first but was prompted to enter the ring in the wake of the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, which proved the importance of having an Indian judge in the court (Judge Dalveer Bhandari's term was due to end in 2018).
The contest that followed was like a "Second War of Independence" in the words of then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who led her troops from the front in the David-and-Goliath fight against the permanent members of the Security Council, who put all their might behind the UK -- in spite of which India prevailed.
The odds were formidable as the election cycle of November 2016-November 2017 was a rare period for India as polls were to be held for three key UN legal bodies -- the International Law Commission (ILC), the International Tribunal for the Law of the Seas (ITLOS) and the ICJ.
Given that elections to each of them are usually held at different intervals over a nine-year period, Indians were represented in each of them.
"We now need to decide if we are willing to contest all the three in the space of a year. If so, we will be the only country to do so. We should choose with care and caution, decide early and begin the pursuit of our chosen objectives forthwith," Akbaruddin writes in the book that makes for riveting reading quite akin to a thriller.
Tasked by Sushma Swaraj to focus on the first two elections, these were quickly wrapped up quite comfortably.
The ICJ go-ahead came only in May 2017, long after five candidates (four of them incumbents) had already been declared in the fray for the five seats that were falling vacant but when the decision was taken, the entire Indian establishment -- from the ministry to Indian missions around the world to that at the UN -- went flat out to secure Judge Dalveer Bhandari a full nine-year term (he was then filling a mid-term vacancy.
The ICJ elections require a candidate to secure an absolute majority in the General Assembly and the Security Council.
After five rounds of voting in mid-November, 2017, four candidates (three of them incumbents) were declared elected, leaving Judge Bhandari and Judge Christopher Greenwood of the UK, the other incumbent, in the fray for the fifth seat.
That was when the UK attempted to flex its muscles, making known its intention to stop further voting by invoking Article 12 of the ICJ statute to call a "conference" for a "compromise".
This had never before happened in the history of the UN.
Thereafter, the UNGA President called a meeting in his chambers to explore a way forward. The others present were the UNSC President, Akbaruddin, the UK's Permanent Representative, the legal advisor to the UNGA President and some UN Secretariat officials.
The arguments flowed back-and-forth till Akbaruddin forcefully declared that a "conference" would raise an uproar as it would view it as a "purposeful bid to undermine the General Assembly without any consultations.
I conclude that in this case, what may be legally permissible is not politically wise and diplomatically sagacious".
Saying so, he left the chamber due to "other commitments".
What Akbaruddin was banking on was that a permanent UNSC member could not risk a loss to a non-permanent member.
That was the end of the matter, as Boris Johnson, then the UK Foreign Secretary, informed Sushma Swaraj that Judge Greenwood's candidature was being withdrawn.
The Foreign Office concluded later that "the inability of the government to secure the re-election of Sir Christopher Greenwood to the court was a failure of UK diplomacy".
"At one level, legal analysts projected the result as 'an important departure from ICJ election practice'.
They said, 'First, it did away with the tradition that reserved a seat on the court for the five permanent members of the Security Council.
Second, it was noteworthy because it resulted in a reallocation of seats amongst the regional groups'.
"Whether this was on account of Indian exceptionalism, and if it set a trend for the future, can only be understood following the subsequent ICJ election results," Akbaruddin writes.
The election, "also symbolised the coming of age of Indian multilateral diplomacy. The lessons we learnt are many. Our decision-making process may, at times, be time-consuming and can put a heavy load on ensuring the implementation of a decision that has taken a long time to arrive at in the first place.
However, once a decision is taken, with all on board, the trajectory is never half-hearted. It usually proceeds at full throttle to achieve success. Focus provided by the political leadership sets the tone for the rest," Akbaruddin maintains.
(Vishnu Makhijani can be reached at vishnu.makhijani@ians.in)
--IANS
vm/dpb.
Source: IANS
New Delhi, Oct 1 : India on Friday reported 26,727 fresh Covid-19 cases and 277 deaths in the last 24 hr, according to the lated health bulletin issued by the Union Health Ministry.
With the latest fatalities, the country's overall death toll now stands at 4,48,339.
Meanwhile, the active cases saw a decline in the last 24 hours with of total 1,796 infections, taking the total active caseload to 2,75,224 which accounts for less than of 1 per cent of total Covid cases of India, as per the Union Health Ministry updates.
The total active cases in India is 0.82 per cent of the total cases which is the lowest in the last 196 days.
India's recovery rate from the ongoing pandemic currently stands at 97.86 per cent which is highest since March 2020.
According to the health bulletin, the number of daily recoveries have also increased. The recovery of 28,246 patients in the last 24 hours has increased the cumulative tally to 3,30,43,144.
The testing capacity across the country continues to be expanded.
The last 24 hours saw a total of 15,20,899 tests being conducted. India has so far conducted 57,04,77,338 cumulative tests.
While testing capacity has been enhanced across the country, the weekly positivity rate at 1.70 per cent remained less than 3 per cent for the last 98 days now, while the daily positivity rate was reported to be 1.76 per cent.
The daily positivity rate has remained below 3 per cent for last 32 days and below 5 per cent for 115 consecutive days.
With the administration of 64,40,451 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India's overall Covid inoculation coverage has reached 89,02,08,007, as per provisional reports as of 7 a.m.
on Friday.
This feat was achieved through 86,46,674 sessions.
--IANS
avr/ksk/.
Source: IANS
With the latest fatalities, the country's overall death toll now stands at 4,48,339.
Meanwhile, the active cases saw a decline in the last 24 hours with of total 1,796 infections, taking the total active caseload to 2,75,224 which accounts for less than of 1 per cent of total Covid cases of India, as per the Union Health Ministry updates.
The total active cases in India is 0.82 per cent of the total cases which is the lowest in the last 196 days.
India's recovery rate from the ongoing pandemic currently stands at 97.86 per cent which is highest since March 2020.
According to the health bulletin, the number of daily recoveries have also increased. The recovery of 28,246 patients in the last 24 hours has increased the cumulative tally to 3,30,43,144.
The testing capacity across the country continues to be expanded.
The last 24 hours saw a total of 15,20,899 tests being conducted. India has so far conducted 57,04,77,338 cumulative tests.
While testing capacity has been enhanced across the country, the weekly positivity rate at 1.70 per cent remained less than 3 per cent for the last 98 days now, while the daily positivity rate was reported to be 1.76 per cent.
The daily positivity rate has remained below 3 per cent for last 32 days and below 5 per cent for 115 consecutive days.
With the administration of 64,40,451 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India's overall Covid inoculation coverage has reached 89,02,08,007, as per provisional reports as of 7 a.m.
on Friday.
This feat was achieved through 86,46,674 sessions.
--IANS
avr/ksk/.
Source: IANS
Chandigarh, Oct 1 : In just six months of its launch amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, the PGI's Amputee Care Clinic here has registered more than 200 amputees in the management and their rehabilitation and fitted more than 20 prostheses, a senior doctor said on Friday.
"Since inception, we have registered more than 200 amputees and for all these patients our endeavor has been to create a paradigm shift from providing survival of amputee to giving life to amputees," M.S.
Dhillon, Head, Department of Orthopedics with the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) told IANS.
He said it was hugely satisfying that they could make a visible difference to their lives through a focused approach and holistic care under the initiative of Amputee Care Clinic.
Deliberating about the intent behind the initiative, Dhillon said: "With our belief that the management of these cases does not end with the amputation surgery but requires the involvement of various specialists to cater to the social, emotional, and psychological problems, a comprehensive Amputee care Clinic came into being in February 2021 by roping in specialists from the various facet of medicine."
In the past six months, the PGI Amputee Clinic has evolved into a one-of-a-kind specialised clinic involving faculty members from various departments, including orthopaedics, PMR (physical and medical rehabilitation), psychiatry, occupational therapy and physiotherapy, all working to help the patients return as a healthy individual.
Dhillon said the clinic has registered more than 200 amputees.
"Most of them had to undergo amputations due to roadside accidents or railway track injuries; however, a few had undergone amputation due to cancer or congenital deformities.
As more than 85 per cent of our patients are male and the majority of them are in the peak productive years of their life (25-50 years), the loss of limb becomes not only a personal loss but also a financial loss to the family, especially when it loses the services of its sole bread-earner.
"More than 90 per cent of the patients belong to low to middle socioeconomic strata and the majority of them have no social security or insurance."
Endorsing the need for community engagement to take forward the initiative, Dhillon elaborated: "With the support of the PGI and some philanthropies, we have started to fabricate in-house prosthesis (artificial limbs), a big move forward as patients do not spend huge amounts for procurement of prosthesis from outside agencies."
With focused attention, complications related to surgery have drastically reduced (less than 10 per cent), and the majority of the patients are free of stump complications.
"This is due to a special orthopaedic team that caters to these individuals and prioritises emergency care," he said.
So far, none of the patients in the centre has rejected his or her prosthesis, which is commendable as compared to Western and European countries where the rejection rate ranges from 50-80 per cent.
Philanthropy MICRON Industries has supported this initiative by donating Rs 4.50 lakh for the care of amputees.
--IANS
vg/ksk/.
Source: IANS
"Since inception, we have registered more than 200 amputees and for all these patients our endeavor has been to create a paradigm shift from providing survival of amputee to giving life to amputees," M.S.
Dhillon, Head, Department of Orthopedics with the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) told IANS.
He said it was hugely satisfying that they could make a visible difference to their lives through a focused approach and holistic care under the initiative of Amputee Care Clinic.
Deliberating about the intent behind the initiative, Dhillon said: "With our belief that the management of these cases does not end with the amputation surgery but requires the involvement of various specialists to cater to the social, emotional, and psychological problems, a comprehensive Amputee care Clinic came into being in February 2021 by roping in specialists from the various facet of medicine."
In the past six months, the PGI Amputee Clinic has evolved into a one-of-a-kind specialised clinic involving faculty members from various departments, including orthopaedics, PMR (physical and medical rehabilitation), psychiatry, occupational therapy and physiotherapy, all working to help the patients return as a healthy individual.
Dhillon said the clinic has registered more than 200 amputees.
"Most of them had to undergo amputations due to roadside accidents or railway track injuries; however, a few had undergone amputation due to cancer or congenital deformities.
As more than 85 per cent of our patients are male and the majority of them are in the peak productive years of their life (25-50 years), the loss of limb becomes not only a personal loss but also a financial loss to the family, especially when it loses the services of its sole bread-earner.
"More than 90 per cent of the patients belong to low to middle socioeconomic strata and the majority of them have no social security or insurance."
Endorsing the need for community engagement to take forward the initiative, Dhillon elaborated: "With the support of the PGI and some philanthropies, we have started to fabricate in-house prosthesis (artificial limbs), a big move forward as patients do not spend huge amounts for procurement of prosthesis from outside agencies."
With focused attention, complications related to surgery have drastically reduced (less than 10 per cent), and the majority of the patients are free of stump complications.
"This is due to a special orthopaedic team that caters to these individuals and prioritises emergency care," he said.
So far, none of the patients in the centre has rejected his or her prosthesis, which is commendable as compared to Western and European countries where the rejection rate ranges from 50-80 per cent.
Philanthropy MICRON Industries has supported this initiative by donating Rs 4.50 lakh for the care of amputees.
--IANS
vg/ksk/.
Source: IANS
Mumbai, Sep 30 : One of the countrys leading radio networks, BIG FM, has joined hands with the premier talent and independent content platform, Hungama Artist Aloud, for their latest offering, The Blue Mic, which seeks to recognise and celebrate the talent and music of independent artists across India.
Starting on October 11, the show will air from Monday to Friday between 4 and 5 p.m.
Euphoria, the pop rock band that was among the pioneers of independent, non-film music in the late 1980s, will kickstart the show.
A media release announcing the show said it would be "a platform for artists, budding as well as established, to showcase their talent and reach out to a wide base of listeners spread across the nation."
With its network of 58 stations, BIG FM reaches out to 1,900 cities and towns, 1.2 lakh villages, and a population of 34 crore across India.
The Blue Mic, according to the media release, will present an 'Artist of the Week', bringing out the persona and talent of each selected performer.
Each week will feature one exceptionally talented artist or band and delve into his or her "journey, music, inspirations, passions and future plans" through "interactions, on-air jam sessions and requests from listeners".
The release added: "Building on to the excitement, each week will end on a high note, as every Saturday the 'Artist of the Week' will perform exclusively on BIG FM's Facebook handle through their property BIG Cafe Online to entertain and engage with fans."
Adding to the listener engagement, the show will also be available on-demand in the podcast format across leading audio streaming platforms, with each episode bringing out the highlights and key conversation pieces of an artist's weekly spotlight on radio.
The show will also be promoted extensively across social media handles of BIG FM and its partner platforms.
Explaining the context of the initiative, Sunil Kumaran, Country Head, Product, Marketing and THWINK BIG, BIG FM, said: "Over the last couple of years, Indian audiences have turned to independent music like never before and its loyal following is snowballing by the day.
We are glad to provide a platform to renowned as well as budding talents so that they can showcase their passion and give our audience fresh content that they can enjoy."
Reacting to the announcement, Euphoria's founder and frontman Palash Sen said: "With new artists being discovered, it's great to see these talented voices get the opportunities that they deserve.
I am sure listeners will instantly connect to the show as they explore fresh music."
As reported by IANS, the indie pop rock band released its latest (and eighth) album, 'Sale', in the form of a Non-Fungible Token (NFT) using block-chain technology earlier this month.
Speaking about the engagement of Hungama Artist Aloud, the platform's Senior Vice President, Soumini Sridhara Paul, said: "Music is a language that connects all.
Today, almost everyone we know takes solace in music to relieve their stress and anxiety. At a time like this where we are fighting a global pandemic, we feel it is the need of the hour to provide our young listeners with content that they like and enjoy."
Launched in 2010, Hungama Artist Aloud has emerged as a one-stop destination for commercial Independent content across languages, genres and talent.
It provides independent content creators digital and on-ground avenues and manages an ecosystem of services, including acquisition, distribution, venue programming, talent management, and digital and event IPs, all dedicated to the non-film space.
The initiative marks the coming together of two organisations, which, in the words of BIG FM's Kumaran, "share the same vision and create opportunities for independent artists to display their talent to those who will appreciate it the most." For the country's indie music ecosystem, it is truly a euphoric moment.
--IANS
srb/.
Source: IANS
Starting on October 11, the show will air from Monday to Friday between 4 and 5 p.m.
Euphoria, the pop rock band that was among the pioneers of independent, non-film music in the late 1980s, will kickstart the show.
A media release announcing the show said it would be "a platform for artists, budding as well as established, to showcase their talent and reach out to a wide base of listeners spread across the nation."
With its network of 58 stations, BIG FM reaches out to 1,900 cities and towns, 1.2 lakh villages, and a population of 34 crore across India.
The Blue Mic, according to the media release, will present an 'Artist of the Week', bringing out the persona and talent of each selected performer.
Each week will feature one exceptionally talented artist or band and delve into his or her "journey, music, inspirations, passions and future plans" through "interactions, on-air jam sessions and requests from listeners".
The release added: "Building on to the excitement, each week will end on a high note, as every Saturday the 'Artist of the Week' will perform exclusively on BIG FM's Facebook handle through their property BIG Cafe Online to entertain and engage with fans."
Adding to the listener engagement, the show will also be available on-demand in the podcast format across leading audio streaming platforms, with each episode bringing out the highlights and key conversation pieces of an artist's weekly spotlight on radio.
The show will also be promoted extensively across social media handles of BIG FM and its partner platforms.
Explaining the context of the initiative, Sunil Kumaran, Country Head, Product, Marketing and THWINK BIG, BIG FM, said: "Over the last couple of years, Indian audiences have turned to independent music like never before and its loyal following is snowballing by the day.
We are glad to provide a platform to renowned as well as budding talents so that they can showcase their passion and give our audience fresh content that they can enjoy."
Reacting to the announcement, Euphoria's founder and frontman Palash Sen said: "With new artists being discovered, it's great to see these talented voices get the opportunities that they deserve.
I am sure listeners will instantly connect to the show as they explore fresh music."
As reported by IANS, the indie pop rock band released its latest (and eighth) album, 'Sale', in the form of a Non-Fungible Token (NFT) using block-chain technology earlier this month.
Speaking about the engagement of Hungama Artist Aloud, the platform's Senior Vice President, Soumini Sridhara Paul, said: "Music is a language that connects all.
Today, almost everyone we know takes solace in music to relieve their stress and anxiety. At a time like this where we are fighting a global pandemic, we feel it is the need of the hour to provide our young listeners with content that they like and enjoy."
Launched in 2010, Hungama Artist Aloud has emerged as a one-stop destination for commercial Independent content across languages, genres and talent.
It provides independent content creators digital and on-ground avenues and manages an ecosystem of services, including acquisition, distribution, venue programming, talent management, and digital and event IPs, all dedicated to the non-film space.
The initiative marks the coming together of two organisations, which, in the words of BIG FM's Kumaran, "share the same vision and create opportunities for independent artists to display their talent to those who will appreciate it the most." For the country's indie music ecosystem, it is truly a euphoric moment.
--IANS
srb/.
Source: IANS
New Delhi, Sep 30 : Emerging Indian innovator Kaif Ali, 20, is one of the 15 winners this year of the prestigious Secretary-General's Commonwealth Innovation for Sustainable Development Awards.
He has invented low-cost portable housing for Covid-19 quarantine and shelter from extreme weather such as earthquakes and flooding.
Kaif's design has been recognised by the UN under the top 11 emerging innovation start-ups solving climate challenges.
Each winner of the award received a trophy, 3,000 pounds in prize money and the opportunity to scale up their innovations in collaboration with partners and mentors across the Commonwealth.
During the pandemic, Kaif, an architecture student, researched how architecture could prevent the spread of disease.
He designed a prefabricated sustainable shelter, SpaceEra, that would not only help reduce transmission of the virus but could also house refugees worldwide in the future.
He is now known for motivating his fellow youth trying to imitate his approach to start their own sustainability projects and initiatives.
"Winning the Commonwealth Innovation Award lifts my confidence to a greater level and motivates to me work even harder than yesterday and innovate unprecedented solutions to achieve a sustainable future.
I pledge to become the voice of the youth transforming the Commonwealth and to Be the Change!" a statement quoting Kaif said.
He has plans to conduct mentorship programs for grass-route innovators to enrich their knowledge and motivate them to work towards social and environmental issues.
"In the upcoming year, I wish to pursue a Masters in Architecture and harness my future career towards STEM innovations and youth leadership in the multilateral domain.
I aim to devote my career towards the well-being of the mass," he added.
The other winners are Marie-Claire N.
Kuja, who founded KujaEcoPads to fight period poverty and help improve the lives of women and girls in Cameroon.
She said: "This award will boost the morale of my employees and improve motivation.
It will increase our visibility and help to boost the company profile. It will open pathways for partnerships at a global level and bring new connections and networking opportunities."
Askwar Hilonga invented a low-cost and sustainable water purification system particularly suited to the needs of local people in Tanzania.
Growing up in rural Tanzania, Hilonga suffered from waterborne diseases throughout his childhood.
He used his scientific expertise in nanotechnology and his local knowledge to develop a filter based on nanomaterials.
Richard Ochieng Arwa's background in biochemistry propelled his interest into bio-ethanol fuel manufacturing in Kenya.
It began as a classroom experiment and transformed into a business centred on providing low-income households with affordable clean cooking energy by converting invasive water hyacinth into ethanol fuel.
Joshua Forte of Barbados is a sustainable environmental management practitioner and the founder and CEO of Red Diamond Compost Inc, a biotech social enterprise that focuses on research, development, and commercialization of clean and green agrochemical solutions.
Made primarily from organic waste materials and invasive plant species, the solutions support fragile organisms responsible for building soil structure, storing organic soil carbon, cycling nutrients to plants, and protecting pollinating insects.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland applauded the diverse line-up of change-makers during a virtual meeting in the run up to the UN Climate Change Conference COP26.
She said: "Over many decades, the people of the Commonwealth member nations, through the Commonwealth networks which connect us and encourage us to work together, have found pioneering ways of overcoming daunting challenges and of solving seemingly intractable problems."
--IANS
vg/pgh.
Source: IANS
He has invented low-cost portable housing for Covid-19 quarantine and shelter from extreme weather such as earthquakes and flooding.
Kaif's design has been recognised by the UN under the top 11 emerging innovation start-ups solving climate challenges.
Each winner of the award received a trophy, 3,000 pounds in prize money and the opportunity to scale up their innovations in collaboration with partners and mentors across the Commonwealth.
During the pandemic, Kaif, an architecture student, researched how architecture could prevent the spread of disease.
He designed a prefabricated sustainable shelter, SpaceEra, that would not only help reduce transmission of the virus but could also house refugees worldwide in the future.
He is now known for motivating his fellow youth trying to imitate his approach to start their own sustainability projects and initiatives.
"Winning the Commonwealth Innovation Award lifts my confidence to a greater level and motivates to me work even harder than yesterday and innovate unprecedented solutions to achieve a sustainable future.
I pledge to become the voice of the youth transforming the Commonwealth and to Be the Change!" a statement quoting Kaif said.
He has plans to conduct mentorship programs for grass-route innovators to enrich their knowledge and motivate them to work towards social and environmental issues.
"In the upcoming year, I wish to pursue a Masters in Architecture and harness my future career towards STEM innovations and youth leadership in the multilateral domain.
I aim to devote my career towards the well-being of the mass," he added.
The other winners are Marie-Claire N.
Kuja, who founded KujaEcoPads to fight period poverty and help improve the lives of women and girls in Cameroon.
She said: "This award will boost the morale of my employees and improve motivation.
It will increase our visibility and help to boost the company profile. It will open pathways for partnerships at a global level and bring new connections and networking opportunities."
Askwar Hilonga invented a low-cost and sustainable water purification system particularly suited to the needs of local people in Tanzania.
Growing up in rural Tanzania, Hilonga suffered from waterborne diseases throughout his childhood.
He used his scientific expertise in nanotechnology and his local knowledge to develop a filter based on nanomaterials.
Richard Ochieng Arwa's background in biochemistry propelled his interest into bio-ethanol fuel manufacturing in Kenya.
It began as a classroom experiment and transformed into a business centred on providing low-income households with affordable clean cooking energy by converting invasive water hyacinth into ethanol fuel.
Joshua Forte of Barbados is a sustainable environmental management practitioner and the founder and CEO of Red Diamond Compost Inc, a biotech social enterprise that focuses on research, development, and commercialization of clean and green agrochemical solutions.
Made primarily from organic waste materials and invasive plant species, the solutions support fragile organisms responsible for building soil structure, storing organic soil carbon, cycling nutrients to plants, and protecting pollinating insects.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland applauded the diverse line-up of change-makers during a virtual meeting in the run up to the UN Climate Change Conference COP26.
She said: "Over many decades, the people of the Commonwealth member nations, through the Commonwealth networks which connect us and encourage us to work together, have found pioneering ways of overcoming daunting challenges and of solving seemingly intractable problems."
--IANS
vg/pgh.
Source: IANS