National
Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan
⇒ Hon’ble President Smt Droupadi Murmu virtually launched the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan on 09 September 2022 to reinvigorate the mission of TB elimination from the country by 2025.
» According to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, all nations have set the goal of eradicating TB by the year 2030.
- But the Government of India has set the target of eradicating TB by the year 2025 and efforts are being made at every level to fulfill this resolution.
Participation:
The virtual event was attended by representatives from State & district health administration, corporates, industries, civil society and NGOs as the country reiterates the commitment towards TB elimination by 2025.
» The Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan has been envisioned to bring together all community stakeholders to support those on TB treatment and accelerate the country’s progress towards TB elimination.
Ni-kshay Mitra initiative:
» Hon’ble President also launched the Ni-kshay Mitra initiative which forms a vital component of the Abhiyaan.
- The Ni-kshay Mitra portal provides a platform for donors to provide various forms of support to those undergoing TB treatment.
- The three-pronged support includes nutritional, additional diagnostic, and vocational support.
- The donors, called Ni-kshay Mitras, could be a wide range of stakeholders from elected representatives, political parties, to corporates, NGOs, and individuals.
Arabic Version of “Majma Ul-Bahrain” of Mughal Prince Dara Shikoh
⇒ The Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar released the Arabic Version of “Majma Ul-Bahrain” of Mughal Prince Dara Shikoh, in New Delhi on September 09, 2022.
Addressing the gathering, the Vice President said that Majma-ul-Bahrain (which means ‘Confluence of Two Oceans’) throws invaluable light on the similarities between religions and helped bring stronger unity among the people of India.
- Calling Dara Shikoh a genius, a skilled poet, and a Sanskrit scholar, the Vice President said that he was a torchbearer of social harmony and religious unity.
» In this book ‘Majma-ul-Bahrain’, Dara Shikoh listed one by one, all the commonalities between Hinduism (Vedanta) and Islam (Sufism) and came to the conclusion that the difference between Islam and Hinduism is only verbal.
Times Now Amazing Indians 2022 Awards
⇒ The Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar felicitated the winners of the Times Now Amazing Indians 2022 Awards, in New Delhi on 09 September 2022.
Leading English news channel Times Now has announced Amazing Indians, a national platform that celebrates and honours India’s common people who have performed uncommon deeds for the improvement of society.
The Amazing Indians 2022 Awards were felicitated in 12 categories:
These include animal welfare, Covid-19 heroes, education, environment, food management and nutrition, healthcare and medical assistance, pollution, rural development, shelter management, slum care, girl child, and women’s rights empowerment.
Winners:
- Pramod Kulkarni, founder of SATHI, awarded for his work towards destitute children.
- Dr Sheilu Sreenivasan and Vijay Barse have been awarded in the Slum Care category.
- Fedrick Pariath, Sr DE and HM Ahmedabad Division, Indian Railway, awarded in Pollution category.
- Omkar Nath, who is also fondly referred to as Medicine Baba, has been awarded in the Healthcare and Medical Assistance category.
- Ajit Singh honoured with Amazing Indian award for his work at Guria India.
- Mohammed Shahnawaz was awarded for rural development.
- Jyotiben Jitendrabhai Tank gets the award for Food Management & Nutrition.
- Soumya Ranjan Biswal from Astarangpur in Odisha honoured for his work towards conservation of Olice Ridley turtles under the category of ‘Enviornment’.
- Soumitra Mandal conferred with the Amazing Indians award in the category of ‘Covid-19 Heroes’.
- Bollywood Composer and Founder of Sitabani Wildlife Reserve Abhishek Ray gets the Amazing Indian award in the Animal Welfare category.
- Revathi Radhakrishnan, Director and Managing Trustee at Vanavil Trust honoured with Amazing Indians award. Revathi Radhakrishnan’s Vanavil Trust has completely transformed the lives of nomadic tribes in Nagapattinam and nearby region by imparting education to the vulnerable.
‘Swachh Amrit Mahotsav: Ek Aur Kadam Swachhata Ki Ore’
⇒ To celebrate eight years of Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban, the Union Minister Shri Hardeep Singh Puri has officially announced the commencement of the ‘Swachh Amrit Mahotsav’, a fortnight of activities to galvanize action around swachhata.
- It was organized form 17th September 2022, Seva Diwas to 2nd October 2022, Swachhata Diwas.
Focus:
The fortnight was focused on mobilizing citizen action and commitment towards the vision of building ‘Garbage Free Cities’.
» Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Shri Hardeep Singh Puri released the official logo for the fortnight, ‘Swachh Amrit Mahotsav: Ek Aur Kadam Swachhata Ki Ore’ signifying the resolve to intensify and reinvigorate the Jan Andolan in the world’s largest sanitation programme.
» Union Minister also announced the opening of the first ever ‘Indian Swachhata League’, an inter-city competition.
- On 17 September 2022, the ISL took place between the youth of the cities.
- For the maiden edition of ISL, more than 1,850 city teams from across the country officially registered to compete.
- Each team competed in the League by creating their own unique sanitation initiatives to focus on creating garbage free beaches, hills, and tourist places.
International
Chief of Army Staff, General Manoj Pande visits Nepal
⇒ The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Manoj Pande, visited Nepal from 05 to 08 September 2022. This was his first visit to Nepal as COAS.
During his visit, the Army Chief met the President of Nepal, Prime Minister of Nepal and the Chief of the Army Staff of Nepali Army, apart from meeting with the Country’s senior military and civilian leadership where he discussed avenues for enhancing India-Nepal defence relations.
» Continuing a tradition of friendship between both armies, the Indian Army Chief was conferred with the honorary rank of General of Nepal Army on 05 September 2022 in a ceremony at Sital Nivas, the official residence of the Right Honorable President of Nepal.
» India – Nepal relations are historic, multifaceted and marked by common cultural and civilisational ties, apart from mutual respect and trust. India attaches highest priority to its relationship with Nepal in accordance with its ‘Neighborhood First’ and ‘Act East’ policies.
» This visit provided an opportunity to take stock of the existing bilateral defence ties and strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest.