National
National awards for The Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for the year 2021 and 2022
⇒ The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, presented the National Awards for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for the year 2021 and 2022 in New Delhi on December 3, 2022 on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
» The President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu was the Chief Guest at a function to celebrate “International Day of Persons with Disabilities” organized by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment on 3 December.
» While addressing the event, Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar said that the Government has set up Indian Sign Language Research and TrainingCentre to promote the empowerment of hearing-impaired persons and to create sign language in India. The Institute, among other functions, is continuously preparing sign language dictionaries that have so far included more than 10,000 words.
- The Government is implementing a unique Disability Identity Card project with the objective of creating a National Database for Persons with Disabilities. So far, over 84 lakh UDID cards have been prepared in 713 districts of all states/UTs.
- The Government is also establishing a Centre for Disability Sports Centre at Gwalior and National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation at Sehore, Madhya Pradesh.
- The ‘Divya Kala Shakti’ which is being organised by the Ministry to showcase the talent and skills of Divyang youngster and children.
National Awards for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for the year 2021 and 2022, were given under following categories:
- Sarvshresth Divyangjan;
- Shresth Divyangjan;
- Shresth Divyang Bal/Balika;
- Sarvshrestha Vyakti – Divyangjano Ke Sashaktikaran Ke Liye Karyarath;
- Sarvshrestha Punarvas Peshevar (Rehabilitation Professional/worker) – Divyangatha Ke Kheshtra Mein Karyarath;
- Sarvshrestha Anusandhan/Navpravartan /UtpadVikas –Divyangatha Ke Sashaktikaran Ke Kheshtra Mein;
- Divyang Sashaktikaran Hetu Sarveshrestha Sansthan (Private organization, NGO);
- Divyango Ke Liye Sarvshrestha Niyoktha (Govt. organisation/ PSEs/ Autonomous bodies/ Pvt.Sector);
- Divyango Ke Liye Sarvshresth Placement Agency – excluding Govt./State Govt./Local Bodies;
- Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan Ke Karyanvayan/Badhamukta varan Ke Srijan Mein Sarvshrestha Rajya/UT/Zila;
- Sarvshrestha Sugamya Yatayat ke Sadahan/Soochana Evem Sanchar Prodyogiki (Govt./Private organization);
- Divyangjano Ke Adhikar Adhiniyam/UDID Evem Divyang Sashaktikaranki Anya Yojanaon ke Karyanvayan Mein Sarvshrestha Rajya/UT/Zila;
- Divyangjano Ke Adhikar Adhiniyam, 2016 Ke Apne Rajya Mein Karyanvayan Mein Sarvshrestha Rajya Aayukta Divayngjan.
- Punarvasan Peshewaron Ke Vikas Mein Sanlangn Sarvshrestha Sangathan
Winners of National awards for The Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for the year 2021 and 2022
» As we celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the state of Maharashtra has been recognized for the way it has been implementing Sugamay Bharat Abhiyan.
- The state has received the National Award for Institutional Empowerment 2022 under the category ‘Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan Ke Karyanvayan / Badhamukta Vatavaran Ke Srijan Mein Sarvshrestha Rajya’.
- Under the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, the state has done access audit of a total of 180 Government buildings in four major cities of Maharashtra.
About National Awards for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities:
- The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment gives away the National Awards for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
- The Department presents the awards every year to Individuals, Institutions, Organizations, State/District etc for their outstanding achievements and work done towards empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
- Till 2017, the Award Scheme was governed under the National Awards Rules, 2013 which provided 7 categories of disabilities as per the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995. However, with the coming into force of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 w.e.f. 19th April 2017, the number of specified disabilities increased from 7 to 21 under the new Law. Accordingly, all the 21 disabilities have been included under the National Award Guidelines which have been notified in the Extraordinary Gazette of India dated 2nd August, 2018.
DRDO hands over Authority Holding Sealed Particulars of Akash Weapon System to MSQAA
⇒ Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) handed over Authority Holding Sealed Particulars (AHSP) of Akash Weapon System (Indian Army Version) to Missile Systems Quality Assurance Agency (MSQAA) in Hyderabad on December 03, 2022.
Designed and developed by:
The handing over was held at Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) which, as a nodal agency, has designed and developed the Akash weapon system.
Key Points:
- Akash is the first state-of-the-art indigenous surface-to-air missile system which has been with Armed Forces for nearly a decade defending the Indian skies and providing national security.
- It is inducted by Indian Army and Indian Air Force with order value worth Rs 30,000 crore, which is one of the largest single system orders for indigenous missile system.
Apart from DRDL, a number of other DRDO labs are involved in the development of the system:
These include Research Centre Imarat; Electronics & Radar Development Establishment; Research & Development Establishment (Engineers); Integrated Test Range; Armament Research & Development Establishment; High Energy Materials Research Laboratory and Vehicles Research Development Establishment.
Produced by:
The systems are produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, Larsen & Toubro, Tata Advanced Systems Limited, Electronics Corporation of India Limited, BEML Limited along with Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and other industries partners.
International
India - Malaysia Joint Military Exercise HARIMAU SHAKTI - 2022
⇒ India – Malaysia joint military Exercise “Harimau Shakti -2022” commenced at Pulai, Kluang, Malaysia on 28 November and culminated on 12 December 2022.
- Exercise HARIMAU SHAKTI is an annual training event between the Indian and Malaysian Army which is being conducted since 2012.
Participation:
Combat-experienced troops of the GARHWAL RIFLES Regiment of Indian Army and the Royal Malay Regiment of the Malaysian Army participated in the exercise this year to share experiences gained during operations in order to enhance inter-operability in planning & execution of various operations in jungle terrain.
Scope:
The scope of this exercise involved a Command Planning Exercise (CPX) at the Battalion level and Company level Field Training Exercise (FTX) on sub-conventional operations in jungle terrain.
Key Points:
- The joint exercise included the establishment of a joint command post, joint surveillance centre, sharing expertise in employment of aerial assets, technical demonstrations, casualty management & casualty evacuation apart from planning logistics at the Battalion level.
- The Joint field training exercises, joint combat discussions and joint demonstrations culminated with a two-day validation exercise, where special emphasis on enhancing tactical skills and enhancing inter-operability between the forces and to promote Army to Army relations.
- “Exercise HARIMAU SHAKTI” enhanced the level of defence co-operation between Indian Army and the Malaysian Army, which in turn will further foster the bilateral relations between the two nations.
Important Day
International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) 2022
⇒ International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is observed every year on December 3.
- The day is observed to promote the rights and well-being of people with disabilities at every level of society and development.
Theme:
The theme of the IDPD 2022 was ‘Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fueling an accessible and equitable world’.
About IDPD:
- The annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons was proclaimed in 1992, by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3.
- The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.
- It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.