INDIA THIS WEEK FRIDAY DECEMBER 2, 2022 1 A W e e k l y N e w s p a p e r Fe a t u r i n g N e w s & Tr e n d s f r o m t h e I n d i a n S u b - C o n t i n e n t P u b l i s h e d f r o m t h e U S C a p i t a l Website: www.indiathisweek.online Vol. 30 No: 48 • WASHINGTON D.C • Phone: 301-445-0200; 301-917-4800 • e-mail: indiathisweekads@gmail.com • Friday • December 2, 2022 India-made iNCOVACC, world’s first intra-nasal vaccine to receive approval for both primary series, Heterologous booster Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], November 28 (ANI): iNCOVACC, on Tuesday, became the world’s first intra-nasal vaccine to receive both Primary series and Heterologous booster approval, Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) announced in a press release. “Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL), a global leader in vaccine innovation and developer of vaccines for infectious diseases, today announced that iNCOVACC (BBV154), has received approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under Restricted Use in Emergency Situation for ages 18 and above, in India, for heterologous booster doses,” the release stated. As per the release, iNCOVACCisarecombinant replication-deficient adenovirus vectored vaccine with a pre-fusion stabilized SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. This vaccine candidate was evaluated in phases I, II and III clinical trials with successful results. iNCOVACC has been specifically formulated to allow intranasal delivery through nasal drops. The nasal delivery system has been designed and developed to be costeffective in low- and middleincome countries, the release stated. iNCOVACC was developed in partnership with Washington University, St. Louis, which had designed and developed the recombinant adenoviral vectored construct and evaluated it in preclinical studies for efficacy. P r o d u c t development related to preclinical safety evaluation, large-scale manufacturing scale-up, formulation and deliverydevicedevelopment, including human clinical trials, were conducted by Bharat Biotech. Product development and clinical trials were funded in part by the Government of India, through the Department of Biotechnology’s, COVID Suraksha Program, the release stated. Chairman & Managing Director, Bharat Biotech, Dr Krishna Ella, said “iNCOVACC is an intranasal vaccine for the primary 2-dose schedule, and the heterologous booster dose.” “This is a great achievement for us and the global scientific community to enable nasal administration of COVID vaccines. Despite the lack of demand for COVID vaccines, we continued product development in as a heterologous booster dose for subjects who have previously received two doses of the two commonly administered COVID vaccines in India. “Immunogenicity was evaluated through serum neutralizing antibodies by PRNT assays and serum IgG’s through ELISA’s. To evaluate the vaccine, taken through the intranasal route, IgA’s were evaluated by ELISA in serum and saliva. The evaluation was also carried out for the ability of iNCOVACC to elicit long-term memory T and B cell responses against the ancestral and omicron variants,” Dr Krishna Ella further said. i N C O VA C C recently received approval under Restricted Use in intranasal vaccines to ensure that we are well-prepared with platform technologies for future infectious diseases,” he said. He also thanked the Government of India and Washington University for their support and guidance. “We thank the Ministry of Health, CDSCO, Dept of Biotechnology, Govt of India, Technology Development Board, and Washington University, St. Louis, for their support and guidance. iNCOVACC has been designed for efficient distribution and easy and pain-free administration. We have also initiated the development of variantspecific vaccines for COVID for future preparedness,” he said. He added that the clinical trials were conducted to evaluate iNCOVACC as a primary dose schedule, and iNCOVACC SEE PAGE 6 ENDS JANUARY 3 NX F SPORT ALL-NEW RX ES F SPORT KHUSHI JO SIRF SEASON NAHIN, SAALON CHALE Sometimes the best gifts are the experiences that keep on giving, season after season. ©2022 Lexus, a Division of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
December 2, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK For more family celebrations, get your updated COVID vaccine. Updated vaccines now protect against both the original COVID virus and Omicron, just in time for the holidays to protect yourself and those you love. Schedule your free updated vaccine today. Find updated COVID vaccines for everyone 5+ at vaccines.gov Paid for by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
FRIDAY DECEMBER 2, 2022 3
December 2, 2022 INDIA THIS WEEK Friday 5 FAMILY HAIRCUT $ MEN • WOMEN • CHILDREN ROOT TOUCH-UP FOR MEN Jaishankar vows all possible help to Indians stranded in Nigeria 20 & up $ SERVICES • BEARD TRIM $500 $ • SHAMPOO 1000 • BLOW DRY $1000 $ 00 • PERM FROM 20 $ 00 • COLOR FROM 20 • HIGHLIGHTS FROM $3500 • SPA PEDICURE FROM $1700 C&S Beauty & Barber Shop 7311 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003 info@csbarbernschool.com D e h r a d u n (Uttarakhand) [India], November 28 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday vowed to give all possible help to stranded Indians in Nigeria. Jaishankar has written a letter to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami saying that all possible help will be given to all Indians including two people from Uttarakhand who are stranded in Nigeria, read Chief Minister’s Office statement. “For this, the Abuja-based High Commission is in constant contact with the authorities concerned of the Government of Nigeria. The safety and welfare of Indian citizens will be ensured,” said Jaishankar. It is noteworthy that Chief Minister Dhami had written a letter to Jaishankar requesting for assistance in the safe return of the people stranded in Nigeria. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) earlier said that is aware of the problem of 16 Indian sailors who were stuck in Equatorial Guinea, adding that the government is making all efforts for the early resolution of this issue. “We are aware of the consular issue in Equatorial Guinea, our understanding is that 16 Indian sailors are stuck there,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said during a press briefing. “We are in touch with detained sailors and we are making all efforts for the early resolution of this issue. Right now, they appear to be in Equatorial Guinea,” he added. The Indian mission in Equatorial Guinea said on Monday that the Indian authorities are closely working with Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria authorities for the early release of crew members held in the country. “This Embassy and our High Commission in Abuja are closely working with authorities of Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria for the early release of crew members of MV Heroic Idun. All crew members are safe and those in the Detention Centre have been shifted to the ship,” the Indian mission in Equatorial Guinea tweeted. “Since their detention in mid-August, this Mission has been in regular contact with the crew members over the phone. We have also had several consular access/ visits to them. We are closely monitoring developments and are actively engaged for an early resolution of the issue,” it added. Sanu Jose is the Chief Officer from MT Heroic Idun and is among the Indian sailors who were detained in Equatorial Guinea. They have been detained since midAugust. The ship which was scheduled to pick up a shipment of oil from Nigeria was approached by an unknown and unidentified vessel claiming to be from the Nigerian navy while waiting to pick up their shipment. Suspecting piracy, the ship moved away into international waters. It is alleged that they were detained by the Navy of Equatorial Guinea from international waters. After being detained, the authorities in Equatorial Guinea allegedly conducted an investigation and demanded the ship pay a hefty fine to be released on September 28. The owners of the ship paid the fine hoping to ensure the safety of the crew. Yet the crew are yet to be released. Although they have not been mistreated by the authorities in Equatorial Guinea, their continued detention has caused severe mental distress and deterioration of the physical health of the crew. (ANI) Remember: “The LORD is known by his justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.” Psalm 9:16
INTRODUCING Woodleigh Chase NEW SENIOR LIVING COMING TO FAIRFAX FRIDAY DECEMBER 2, 2022 5 Experience vibrant living at the new Erickson Senior Living®-managed community coming to Fairfax. Our Sales Center is now open! • Preview our stylish apartment homes • Explore services to enhance your well-being • Discover resort-style amenities • Learn about our ideal location Call 1-888-750-8984 for your free brochure or to schedule your visit to our Sales Center. 5 * 440463 4595 Burke Station Road Fairfax, VA 22032 WoodleighChase.com Conceptual rendering Four people injured after slabs of foot-over bridge collapse at Balharshah station in Maharashtra Chandrapur (Maharashtra) [India], November 27 (ANI): Four people were injured after a portion of the footover bridge collapsed at Balharshah Junction railway station at Chandrapur. All have been shifted to Civil Hospital after giving first aid. However, no causality has been reported so far. According to the railway officials, a part of the pre-cast slab of the foot overbridge (FOB) at Balharshah, Nagpur division fell down today at around 5.10 pm. Chief Public Relations Officer of Central (Karnataka) [India], November 30 (ANI): Doctors recovered 187 coins when they performed surgery on a patient suffering from vomiting and abdominal discomfort. Doctors at Hanagal Shree Kumareshwar Hospital and Research Centre in Bagalkot say that they recovered 187 coins from the stomach of a patient who was admitted here following complaints of vomiting and abdominal discomfort. “He was suffering from a psychiatric disorder and had been swallowing coins for the last 2-3 months. He came to the hospital complaining of vomiting and abdominal discomfort,” said Dr Eshwar Kalaburgi, one of the surgery. After he complained of stomach ache, his relatives rushed him to Hangal Sri Kumareshwar Hospital. The medicos carried out his X-ray and performed an endoscopy, said the doctor, adding, the patient had swallowed a total of 187 coins. 56 coins of Rs 5, 51 of Rs 2, and 80 of Rs 1. Harijan had swallowed coins of various denominations weighing a total of 1.5 kilogram over a period of two to three months, said the doctor. The man identified as Dyamappa Harijan is a resident of Lingsugur town in Raichur district. The patient was suffering from illness said one of the doctors attending on him, requesting anonymity. “The stomach was dilated enormously and lots of coins were stuck in different places of the stomach. After two hours of surgery, we retrieved all the coins. Following the operation, he was treated for water deficiency and other minor issues. The patient is stable and is talking as of now,” Dr Kalaburgi said. As he was suffering from schizophrenia, in this condition, the patients are unaware of what they are doing. These are rare cases. It’s a first-of-a-kind case for me in my 40 years of service,” Dr Kalaburgi added.(ANI) Doctors remove 187 coins from man’s stomacho inthe doctors who performed schizophrenia, a psychiatric Karnataka’s Bagalkot B a g a l k t Railways, Shivaji Sutar, said, “A part of the Pre-case slab of FOB at Balharshah railway station connecting platforms 1 and 2 has fallen down at around 5.10 pm on Saturday. It is mentioned here that not the FOB has fallen down, it’s a part of the pre-cast slab (a small part of the walkway ).” Further reports are awaited. Railway announces ex gratia to injured after slabs of foot- Railway Shivaji Sutar said, According to the railway over bridge collapse at “Railway announces Ex officials, a part of the preBalharshah station gratia Rs 1 lakh to grievously cast slab of the foot overIndian Railways on Sunday announced exgratia of Rs 1 lakh to those who were grievously injured after a portion of the footover bridge collapsed at Balharshah Junction railway station in Chandrapur. According to the Railway officials, exgratia of Rs 50,000 is also announced to those who sustained simple injuries. Chief Public Relations Officer of Central injured and Rs 50,000 to those who sustained simple injuries. Injured persons being given best medical treatment by shifting them to other hospitals for early recovery.” Earlier, at least four people were injured after a portion of the footover bridge collapsed. All were shifted to Civil Hospital after giving first aid. However, no causality has been reported so far. bridge (FOB) at Balharshah, Nagpur division fell down today at around 5.10 pm. “A part of the Pre-case slab of FOB at Balharshah railway station connecting platforms 1 and 2 have fallen down at around 5.10 pm on Saturday. It is mentioned here that not the FOB has fallen down, it’s a part of the pre-cast slab (a small part of the walkway),” Shivaji Sutar earlier had said. (ANI)
December 2, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK India-made iNCOVACC, world’s first intra-nasal vaccine to receive approval for both primary series, Heterologous booster iNCOVACC FROM PAGE 1 Emergency Situation for ages 18 and above for heterologous booster doses In heterologous boosting, a person administered a different vaccine from the one that was used for the primary dose series. Secretary, DBT, and Chairperson, BIRAC, Dr Rajesh S. Gokhale also lauded the efforts of the scientific community saying “DBT is fostering biotech enterprises & innovation ecosystem and strategically strengthening Indian bioeconomy. He said that DBT, along with BIRAC, is dedicated to the development of effective and safe COVID-19 vaccines under Mission COVID Suraksha. “The DCGI’s approval of Bharat Biotech’s intranasal vaccine iNCOVACC (BBV154) to be used as a heterologous booster dose against currently available COVID19 vaccines is a moment of great pride for our country. This move will further strengthen our collective fight against the pandemic and broaden vaccine coverage,” he further said. Michael S. Diamond, MD, PhD, of Washington University in St. Louis, who co-developed the nasal vaccine technology with Washington University colleague David Curiel, MD, From The Poet’s Pen INDIA THIS WEEK- November 25, 2022 Thanksgiving By Ella Wheeler Cox ( 1850-1919) We walk on starry fields of white And do not see the daisies; For blessings common in our sight We rarely offer praises. We sigh for some supreme delight To crown our lives with splendor, And quite ignore our daily store Of pleasures sweet and tender. Our cares are bold and push their way Upon our thought and feeling. They hand about us all the day, Our time from pleasure stealing. So unobtrusive many a joy We pass by and forget it, But worry strives to own our lives, And conquers if we let it. There’s not a day in all the year But holds some hidden pleasure, And looking back, joys oft appear To brim the past’s wide measure. But blessings are like friends, I hold, Who love and labor near us. We ought to raise our notes of praise While living hearts can hear us. Full many a blessing wears the guise Of worry or of trouble; Far-seeing is the soul, and wise, Who knows the mask is double. But he who has the faith and strength To thank his God for sorrow Has found a joy without alloy To gladden every morrow. We ought to make the moments notes Of happy, glad Thanksgiving; The hours and days a silent phrase Of music we are living. And so the theme should swell and grow As weeks and months pass o’er us, And rise sublime at this good time, A grand Thanksgiving chorus. PhD said “We are excited by the expansion of the EUA for iNCOVACC as a booster, which enables this intranasal vaccine to be used by many more people, and hopefully curtail transmission,” “This approval will increase the options for people to get vaccinated and protected against the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the ongoing pandemic,” he added. Wa s h i n g t o n University licensed the vaccine technology to Bharat Biotech in 2020 for further development. iNCOVACC had earlier received approval under Restricted Use in Emergency Situation for ages 18 and above for the primary 2dose schedule. Phase III trials were conducted for safety, and immunogenicity in 3100 subjects, at 14 trial sites across India., the release said. Heterologous booster dose studies were conducted for safety and immunogenicity in 875 subjects, with BBV154 intranasal vaccine administered post 2 doses of the two commonly administered COVID-19 vaccines. The trials were conducted at 9 trial sites across India. As per the release, iNCOVACC® was evaluated to determine its impact on safety. The reactogenic events and adverse events that were documented during the trial were highly comparable to published data from other Covid-19 vaccines. Product development data will be submitted to peer-reviewed journals and will be made available in the public domain. i N C O VA C C has the double benefit of enabling faster development of variant-specific vaccines and easy nasal delivery that enables mass immunization to protect from emerging variants of concern, the release stated. It promises to become an important tool in mass vaccinations during pandemics and endemics. With the receipt of this approval, launch dates, pricing and availability will be announced in due course of time. iNCOVACC is stable at 2-8°C for easy storage and distribution. Bharat Biotech has established large manufacturing capabilities at multiple sites across India, including Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Telangana, with operations pan India, the release further stated. (ANI) H a r i d w a r (Uttarakhand) [India], November 27 (ANI): Members of a fringe outfit — Bhagwa Hindu Sena — on Sunday took out a march in Haridwar demanding that Aaftab Amin Poonawala, the accused in the Shraddha Walker murder case, be hanged. The protest kicked off at Chandracharya Chowk and culminated at Shankar Ashram Chowk. Vishal Garg, one of the protesters, told ANI that the protest was organized for the ‘protection’ of the ‘Sanatan Dharma’. “This march has been taken out to protect our Sanatana dharma. Aaftab killed our daughter Shraddha and cut her into pieces. We demand that he be hanged.” The outfit also put forward the demand of a ‘strict law’ to put an end to ‘love jihad‘. “Such killers should be hanged at the earliest. We also demand that the government formulate a strict law against love jihad so that such incidents don’t happen in future,” Garg said. Shraddha’s father had been earlier quoted as saying that he fears that his daughter’s murder could be a case of ‘love jihad‘. “I suspect love jihad. We demand death penalty for Aftab. I trust Delhi Police and the probe is moving in the right direction. Shraddha was close to her uncle and didn’t talk to me much. I was never in touch with Aftab,” her father Vikas Walker told ANI earlier. Aaftab is accused of strangling to death his alleged live-in partner Shraddha and chopping her body into pieces. He is also alleged to have preserved the chopped body parts in a refrigerator before dumping them in the forests of south Delhi’s Chhatarpur. Aaftab and Shraddha met on a dating site and moved in together to a rented accommodation in Chhatarpur as the relationship grew. On receipt of the complaint from Shraddha’s father, Delhi Police registered an FIR on November 10. (ANI) Shraddha murder: Fringe outfit in Haridwar demands death for Aaftab INDIA THIS WEEK Address: P.O. Box 352, Bryans Road, MD 20616 Phone: 301-445-0200; 301-917-4800 www.indiathisweek.online India This Week is published every Friday by ADV Solutions Inc, Views expressed in this paper are those of the individual writers and not necessarily of India This Week. India This Week accepts no liability for the errors in advertisements or in any of its reports. For remedial actions any errors should be brought to the attention of the editor by the information provided below. Publisher: Chief Editor: Contributing Editors: Dr. Babu Stephen Rajan George Saju Mathew Isaac George Asst. Editors: Manu Jacob Sherena Panjikkaran Special Business Correspondent Elisha B. Pulivarti Business Coordinators Rajan C. George Jithu Johny Panjikkaran Dr. Renuka Misra, Special Correspondent: Geeta Goindi Community Coordinator: Prof. Vinod Goel India Office Manesh Krishna Columnists: Anadi Naik World Religions Dr. Sam Prasad Jillella Photo Journalist: Mathew Karmel, System Admn. & Maintenance: Rajan C. George Layout & Graphics: Prinston Samuel, Business Affairs: Mrs. Molly George CALL US • 301-445-0200 • 301-917-4800 e-Mails: Advertisements: indiathisweekads@gmail.com Press Releases: indiathisweekpress@yahoo.com Web: www.indiathisweek.online
FRIDAY DECEMBER 2, 2022 7
December 2, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK US: Two Indian students drown in Missouri lake Washington [US], November 29 (ANI): Two Indian nationals, who were pursuing higher studies in the US state of Missouri, died over the weekend, as one tried to save another from drowning. The incident took place during the festive weekend at Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, The Kansas City Star reported citing authorities. The two deceased were identified Sunday Uthej Kunta, 24, and Shiva Kelligari, 25, according to the Missouri State Highway RBI to launch retail digital rupee on Thursday on pilot basis The highway patrol said one of the men was swimming in the lake when he went beneath the water and did not resurface. According to local media reports, the other man then dived into the water to try and help the man who was struggling. Both students reportedly hailed from the state of Telangana and were enrolled in master’s programs at one of the state universities. Taking to Twitter, Telangana minister K T Rama Rao said, “I have already asked my team @KTRoffice to assist the family in getting the mortal remains back asap.” In a separate incident in neighboring Canada, a 20-year-old Indian-origin student was killed last week after he was struck by a truck driver in midtown Toronto. Toronto Star reported that the family of Kartik Saini said they have “lost everything” after the 20-year-old, an international student from India, was killed on Wednesday. (ANI) M u m b a i (Maharashtra) [India], November 29 (ANI): The Reserve Bank of India on Tuesday announced that it will launch retail digital rupee (eRs-R) on December 1, 2022, on a pilot basis. RBI had on October 31, 2022, indicated that the pilot in retail digital rupee eRs-R would commence in a month’s time. According to a statement from RBI, the pilot would cover select locations in closed user group (CUG) comprising participating customers and merchants. The eRs-R would be in the form of a digital token that represents legal tender. The RBI said it would be issued in the same denominations that paper currency and coins are currently issued. It would be distributed through Goa, Union Ministers Smriti Irani, Mansukh Mandaviya, Parshottam Rupala, Ravishankar Prasad, Piyush Goyal, Nitin Gadkari also campaigned during the first phase of elections. BJP Yuva Morcha president Tejasvi Surya and leaders Manoj Tiwari and Ravi Kishan also held rallies to garner support for the party candidates. CongressPresident Mallikarjun Kharge, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot were among the prominent campaigners of the party. Party leader Rahul Gandhi addressed two rallies in the state. Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann campaigned extensively in the state while making various promises. A total of 788 candidates are in the fray on 89 first-phase seats which includes 718 male candidates and 70 female candidates. Candidates from both BJP and Congress will be contesting on all 89 seats in the first phase, while AAP will contest on 88 seats. A total of 39 political parties have fielded their candidates. Among prominent candidates, Gujarat Chief Minster Bhupendra Patel is contesting from Ghatlodia, AAP Chief Ministerial candidate Isudan Gadhvi from Khambhaliya, former Congress leader and BJP candidate Hardik Patel from Viramgam, former Congress leader and now BJP candidate Alpesh Thakor from Gandhinagar South. AAPstatepresident Gopal Italia is contesting from Katargam constituency, Gujarat Home Minister (State) Harsh Sanghavi from Majura, Rivaba Jadeja from Jamnagar North, former Gujarat minister Parshottam Solanki from Bhavnagar Rural, Kunwarji Bavaliya from Jasdan, Kantilal Amrutiya from Morbi and Jayesh Radadiya from Jetpur. Former BJP MLA Madhu Shrivastav is Patrol. intermediaries — banks. Users will be able to transact with eRs-R through a digital wallet offered by the participating banks and stored on mobile phones/ devices. Transactions can be both person-to-person (P2P) and person-tomerchant (P2M). Payments to merchants can be made using quick response (QR) contesting as an Independent from Vaghodia. A total of 2,39,76,670 voters, including 1,24,33,362 males, 1,1,5,42,811 females and 497 from the third gender are eligible to vote in the first phase of Gujarat polls. The second phase of voting will be held on December 5. Counting of votes will be done on December 8. Results of Himachal Pradesh assembly elections will also be declared on the same day. Campaigning ends for first phase of Gujarat polls, 788 candidates in fray By Ankur Gupta Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], November 29 (ANI): The campaign for the first phase of Gujarat elections concluded on Tuesday with the ruling BJP and other political parties making hectic efforts to woo voters on 89 seats spread over 19 districts of Kutch, Saurashtra and South Gujarat. The campaigning ended at 5 pm on Tuesday ahead of the first phase polling on December 1. “Campaigning for first phase Gujarat assembly elections has ended. All arrangements have been made for election and training has been provided to polling staff,” Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) P Bharathi told ANI. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah held rallies and roadshows in the state as the BJP seeks a record seventh term in office. BJP chief JP Nadda, Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, codes displayed at merchant locations, according to the statement. The eRs-R would offer features of physical cash like trust, safety and settlement finality. RBI said as in the case of cash, it will not earn any interest and can be converted to other forms of money, like deposits with banks. The RBI statement said the pilot will test the robustness of the entire process of digital rupee creation, distribution and retail usage in real-time. Different features and applications of the eRsR token and architecture will be tested in future pilots, based on the learnings from this pilot. Eight banks have been identified for phasewise participation in this pilot, according to the central bank. The first phase will begin with four banks, namely State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Yes Bank and IDFC First Bank in four cities across the country. Four more banks, namely Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India, HDFC Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank will join this pilot subsequently, it added. RBI said the pilot would initially cover four cities, namely, Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Bhubaneswar and later extend to Ahmedabad, Gangtok, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Kochi, Lucknow, Patna and Shimla. The scope of pilot may be expanded gradually to include more banks, users and locations as needed, according to the statement. (ANI)
FRIDAY DECEMBER 2, 2022 9 Sale Ends 12/15/2022 Odisha primary school teachers stage protest in Bhubaneswar Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], November 27 (ANI): Primary school teachers from different parts of Odisha staged a protest in Bhubaneswar on Sunday with their three-point charter of demands for the state government. The protesting teachers claimed that they have been deprived of their dues. The first demand of the protesting teachers is to consider their six-year period of service as a regular appointment and giving appraisal for the same. The second demand of the primary teachers association is the salary equivalent to the central scales. Further, the third demand is to implement the old pension policy in place of the new pension policy. The protesting teachers said that in the case of the high school teachers, the state government regularised their appointment from the original appointment date whereas the same was not considered for the primary teachers despite having the same educational qualification. Population Control: Minister Giriraj Singh stresses on need to implement Population Control Bill New Delhi [India], November 27 (ANI): Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Sunday stressed the need to implement the Population Control Bill irrespective of their religion or the section of society they belong to. He termed the implementation of this bill ‘crucial’ citing the availability of limited resources. “The Population Control Bill is crucial as we have limited resources. China implemented ‘one child policy’ to control the population and thus achieved development,” Giriraj Singh The recruitment of teaching assistants started in 2001 in Odisha. Their appointment was made with a salary of Rs 1,500 per month. However, after six years of service, these teaching assistants were given the status of regular teachers. (ANI) said. He further remarked on the country’s competence with China with a pattern where China has 10 children born per minute and India 30 thirty per minute. “China has 10 children born per minute while India has 30 children born a minute, how will we compete with China?” Singh said. He added, “Population Control Bill is necessary. Reports say that the country- China- whose GDP was lesser than India in 1978, adopted the ‘one child policy’ and attained development by controlling almost 60 crore population.” He further added that the bill should be implemented for everyone regardless of their belief and religion. “Those who do not follow this law should not be given any government benefits. Their voting rights should also be taken back,” he added. A report from the United Nations (UN) said that India is projected to surpass China as the world’s most populous country next year. But the World Population Prospects 2022 also highlighted that India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) had come down from 5.9 children per woman in 1950 to 2.2 children per woman in 2020, just shy of 2.1 replacement level fertility. Minister of State for Health, Bharati Pravin Pawar, informed the Upper House on July 19 that the government seeks to stabilise the population by 2045 and its efforts have been successful in reining in the growth of the population. Bharati Pawar further informed the House that modern contraceptive usage has increased to 56.5 per cent and the unmet need for family planning is only 9.4 per cent, according to National Family Health Survey (NFHS 5). She said that according to the Sample Registration System of the Census, the Crude Birth Rate (CBR) had declined to 19.7 per 1,000 people in 2019. The Monsoon Session of Parliament commenced on July 18 and will continue till August 12. There will be 18 sittings during the Session. (ANI)
Fleepit Digital © 2021