National
SMILE-75 Initiative
The Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar launched the “SMILE-75 Initiative” on 12 August 2022 at a Shelter Home (Rain Basera) near Nizammudin Metro Station in New Delhi.
The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, has identified 75 Municipal Corporations to implement comprehensive rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of begging under “SMILE: Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise” named as “SMILE-75 Initiative”.
- The identified 75 Municipal Corporations, experts from the field of beggary and eminent NGOs participated in this nationwide launch through online and offline mode.
Under the SMILE-75 initiative:
» 75 Municipal Corporations in collaboration with NGOs and other stakeholders will cover several comprehensive welfare measures for persons who are engaged in the act of begging.
- Which focuses extensively on rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities, counselling, awareness, education, skill development, economic linkages and convergence with other Government welfare programmes etc.
» The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has allocated a total budget of Rs 100 crore for the SMILE project for coming years till 2025-26.
» The objective of SMILE- 75 is to make our cities/town and municipal areas begging-free and make a strategy for comprehensive rehabilitation of the persons engaged in the act of begging through the coordinated action of various stakeholders.
About SMILE:
- The Government of India has recognised the persisting problem of destitution and beggary and formulated a comprehensive scheme of SMILE (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) which includes a sub-scheme of comprehensive rehabilitation for persons engaged in begging.
- This sub-scheme covers identification, rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities, counselling, and education, skill development for decent job and self-employment / entrepreneurship.
Yuva Samvad “India@2047”
⇒ Union Minister of Education and Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Shri Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Anurag Thakur addressed the Yuva Samvad “India@2047” on 12th August 2022, organised in Akashwani Rang Bhawan, New Delhi.
Around 400 youth including National Youth Awardees and Youth delegates, who have been sent by Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports to various countries to represent India as a part of International Youth delegations, participated in the event.
This event provided an opportunity to the participating youth to express their views on various issues of National and International importance. Moreover, the event provided them a platform to connect with each other and share their thoughts.
Exhibition - ‘Saga of Freedom: Known & Lesser-known Struggle’
⇒ Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State for Culture and Parliamentary Affairs inaugurated an exhibition – ‘Saga of Freedom: Known & Lesser-known Struggle’ in New Delhi on 12 August 2022.
Organized by:
The exhibition was organized by the National Archives of India.
- This exhibition was based on original government documents, cartographic records, newspapers, private papers, contemporary photographs and proscribed literature housed in the National Archives of India.
- This exhibition was remained open for public viewing till 30 September 2022.
This exhibition provided a glimpse into a number of revolutionary movements and struggles in various parts of the country, including:
Revolt of Jungle Mahal, or Chuar Uprising (1771- 1809) (West Bengal), Sambalpur Revolt, Odisha (1827-62), Great uprising (1857), Kuka Namdhari Movement, Punjab (1871), Assassination of Plague Commissioner, Pune (Chapekar Brothers 1897), Munda Revolt, Ranchi (1894), Anushilan Samiti (1902), Alipore Bomb Conspiracy Case (1908), Howrah Gang Case (1910), Delhi-Lahore Conspiracy Case (1912), Ghadar Party 1913, Rampa Rebellion, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (1922-24), The Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) 1923, Navjavan Sabha (1926-31), Kirti Kisan Movement, 1927, Chittagong Armoury Raid (1930), Hareka movement (Rani Gaidinliu 1930), The Indian Independence League (1920s to the 1940s) and Royal Indian Navy Revolt 1946, etc.
About NAI:
- The National Archives of India is an Attached Office under the Ministry of Culture. It is the nodal agency for the implementation of the Public Records Act, 1993 and Public Record Rules, 1997.
- National Archives of India has at present in its repositories a collection of over 18.00 cr pages of Public Records, which include files, volumes, maps, bills assented to by the President of India, treaties, rare manuscripts oriental records, private papers, etc.
International
Bilateral Exercise, Ex UDARASHAKTI
⇒ The bilateral exercise, Ex UDARASHAKTI between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) culminated at the RMAF Air Base Kuantan on 16 August 2022.
» A contingent of IAF left for Malaysia on August 12 to participate in the first bilateral air exercise.
» The Indian Air Force participated in bilateral exercise, Ex UDARASHAKTI, hosted by Malaysia.
» Indian Air Force participated in the air exercise with Su-30 MKI and C-17 aircraft while the RMAF participated with Su 30 MKM aircraft.
Key Points:
- Spanning four days, the exercise saw the two Air Forces work in cohesion through a series of complex aerial combat drills in multiple domains and exercise settings.
- The exercise was characterised by the display of a high degree of professionalism by all participants.
- Ex UDARASHAKTI provided both the Air Forces, an opportunity to share each other’s best practices.
- Ex Udarashakti fortified the long-standing bond of friendship and enhanced the avenues of defence cooperation between the two Air Forces, thereby augmenting security in the region.
International Telecommunication Union’s Regional Standardization Forum (RSF) for Asia and Oceania region
⇒ As a part of the celebrations during Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, Ministry of Communication hosted the International Telecommunication Union’s Regional Standardization Forum (RSF) for Asia and Oceania region on 8 August 2022 in New Delhi.
Theme:
The theme of the Forum was “Regulatory and Policy aspects of Telecommunications/ICTs”.
The United Nations (UN) agency event with participants from around 20 countries of Asia Oceania region was inaugurated on 08 August 2022 by Shri Devusinh Chauhan.
Key Points:
- The Regional Standardization Forum is a platform for constructive exchange of ideas, discussing standardization topics including inter alia India’s experience in various sectors of technology like Sustainable Digital Transformation and the Role of ITU Standards, Harnessing Technologies for Digital and Financial Inclusion in Emerging Markets, evolving Data Value Chain and Digital Health.
- The panel discussion was aimed to provide an insight to for Asia and Oceania Region’s experience from policy and regulatory perspective under various sub-themes.
- Regional Standardization Forum was addressed by 15 eminent speakers which includes representation from Academia, International Organizations, ICT Sector and Government of India.
- Participation in the Forum was open to ITU Member States, Sector Members, Associates, and Academic Institutions and to any individual from a country which is a member of ITU who wishes to contribute to the ITU work. This includes individuals who are also members of international, regional, and national organizations.
- Over 250 delegates from 20 countries participated in Regional Standardization Forum.
ITU-T SG3RG-AO:
The Forum meeting was followed by four-day meeting of International Telecommunication Union-T Study Group 3 Regional Group Asia and Oceania (ITU-T SG3RG-AO) from 09th August 2022 to 12th August 2022.
- The meeting was open for Member States and Sector Members of ITU-T and over 130 participants contributed in the meeting.
- The objective of this meeting was to contribute towards Standardization work of ITU-T Study Group 3 and also to secure the interest of Asia and Oceania region.