21-22 march 2015
21-MARCH-2015
World Sparrow Day observed with the theme I Love Sparrows
20 March: World Sparrow Day
The World Sparrow Day was observed globally on 20 March 2015 with the theme I Love Sparrows. The theme has been inspired by the hope that more and more of us will celebrate the relationship between People and Sparrows.
The day is designated to raise awareness of the house sparrow and other common birds to urban environments, and of threats to their populations
The day is observed in almost 50 nations and involves leading ornithology institutions and bird organisations.
The Sparrow Day is an international initiative by the Nature Forever Society of India in collaboration with the Eco-Sys Action Foundation (France) and numerous other national and international organisations across the world. The first World Sparrow Day was celebrated in 2010 in different parts of the world.
World Sparrow Day aims to provide a meeting ground for people from different parts of the world to come together to play an important role in advocacy and in spreading the awareness on the need of conserving common biodiversity or species of lower conservation status.
Nature Forever Society
The Nature Forever Society was started by Mohammed Dilawar, an Indian conservationist who started his work helping the house sparrow in Nashik, and who was named one of the Heroes of the Environment for 2008 by Time magazine for his efforts.
Nature Forever Society has been working for the conservation of house sparrows and other common flora and fauna in urban habitats since 2005. The mission of the Nature Forever Society is to involve the citizens into the conservation movement of India especially in urban landscapes.
On 20 March 2010, the Indian Postal Department released a stamp of the house sparrow on 20 March 2010.
In 2012, Sparrow was declared as the state bird of Delhi by the then Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.
Amitabh Bachchan roped in as Brand Ambassador for Campaign against Hepatitis B
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan on 13 March 2015 was roped in as the brand ambassador for Union Government’s campaign against Hepatitis B, a critical public problem in India.
Bachchan was roped in as the brand ambassador for India’s fight against Hepatitis B after his successful stint as UNICEF’s goodwill brand ambassador of pulse polio campaign in India. The campaign against Hepatitis B will be launched in April 2015. The campaign is a part of the Union Government’s ambitious child immunization programme named Mission Indradhanush, against seven vaccine-preventable diseases.
Besides Hepatitis B, Mission Indradhanush will include diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis and measles. The government aims to achieve the target by 2020.
Earlier, Bachchan was made a UNICEF goodwill brand ambassador for the Polio Eradication Campaign in 2005. He was roped in as the brand ambassador for pulse polio campaign after the number of polio cases peaked across India in the year 2002.
The pulse polio campaign helped in eradicating the disease from India and on 27 March 2014, World Health Organization (WHO) declared India a polio free country with no case of disease being reported in the previous three years.
Status of Hepatitis B in India
According to latest World Health Organisation (WHO) data, Hepatitis B is responsible for 1.4 million deaths every year globally. India has over 40 million hepatitis B infected patients (second only to China) and constitutes about 15 percent of the entire pool of hepatitis B in the world. Every year, nearly 600000 patients die from HBV (hepatitis B virus) infection in the Indian subcontinent.
Union Cabinet approved 33% women reservation in police forces of all Union Territories
The Union Cabinet on 20 March 2015 approved 33 percent reservation for women in police forces of all Union territories (UTs) including Delhi police, through direct recruitment in non-gazetted posts like constables to sub-inspectors.
The aim of the decision is to make police more gender-sensitive and increase representation of women in Police.
The reservation will also cover reserved categories like SCs, STs and OBCs. The reservation would apply to all existing vacancies in police forces of the UTs and any vacancy arising later. The decision was taken in the Union Cabinet meet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the backdrop of the rising demands for concrete actions to curb crimes against women, more so after the 16 December 2012 Delhi Gangrape case.
Earlier on 24 June 2014, Gujarat Government had announced 33 percent reservation for women in the police force of the state.
Background
The decision is in line with the recommendations of the Justice Verma Committee that was set up after the 16 December 2012 incident in Delhi.
Verma Committee had recommended amendments to criminal laws which were accepted by the Union government. It enacted the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 which made significant changes in the provisions relating to women in the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), 1973 and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
For instance, Sections 154 and 161 of the CrPC inserted a provision making it mandatory that reports of crimes against women as well as statements are recorded by women police officers only.
Union Cabinet approved Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) to impart skill training to youth
The Union Cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) on 19 March 2015 with an outlay of 1500 crore rupees. The programme aims to impart skill training to youth with focus on first time entrants to the labour market and class 10 and class 12 drop outs.
Key characteristics of the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKY)
• The programme aims to impart skill training to youth with focus on first time entrants to the labour market and class 10 and class 12 drop outs.
• The scheme will cover 24 lakh persons and skill training would be based on the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) and industry led standards.
• The programme will be implemented by the Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship through the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) training partners.
• In addition, Central and State Government affiliated training providers would also be used for training purposes.
• Skill training would be on the basis of skill gap studies conducted by the NSDC for the period 2013-17.
• Focus of the training would be on improved curricula, better pedagogy and better trained instructors.
• Training would include soft skills, personal grooming, behavioral change for cleanliness, good work ethics.
• A monetary reward will be given to trainees on assessment and certification by third party assessment bodies. The average monetary reward would be around 8000 rupees per trainee.
Funds Allocation
• Out of the total outlay of 1120 crore rupees to be spent on skill training of 14 lakh youths, 220 crore rupees has been allocated for recognition of prior learning.
• 67 crore rupees has been allocated for awareness building and mobilization efforts. Mobilization would be done through skill melas organized at the local level with participation of the State Governments, Municipal Bodies, Pachayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and community based organizations.
• 67 crore rupees has been allocated for mentorship support and placement facilitation for trainees.
• 150 crore rupees has been allocated for training of youth from the North-East region.
Monitoring of the programme
• Sector Skill Councils and the State Governments would closely monitor skill training that will happen under the PMKVY.
• Skill Development Management System (SDMS) would be put in place to verify and record details of all training centres a certain quality of training locations and courses.
• Biometric system and video recording of the training process would be put in place where feasible.
• All persons undergoing training would be required to give feed back at the time of assessment and this would become the key element of the evaluation framework to assess the effectiveness of the PMKVY scheme.
• A robust grievance redressal system would be put in place to address grievances relating to implementation of the scheme.
Marathi Folk legend Shahir Krishnarao Sable died
Shahir Sable was an accomplished singer, writer, playwright, performer, Loknatya (Folk Theater) producer-director.
He was the person who brought Maharashtra’s folk singing and theatre traditions to the centre stage and his songs enriched Maharashtra’s culture. He also made ballads such as Garja Maharashtra Majha and Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha popular.
Trained under the guidance of Shahir Shankarrao, he had changed the traditional form of Lok Natya (folk theatre) and created a new form called Mukta Natya (free drama).
Apart from folk singing he had actively participated in various freedom movements such as the Quit India movement, Goa liberation struggle and Hyderabad liberation and the Samyukta Maharashtra movement.
He also had fought for social causes such as anti-liquor campaigns, financial welfare of folk artists and rejuvenation of folk music.
Popularly known as Shahir Sable, he was born in 1923 in Satara district of Maharashtra and in 1990 became the President of Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Sammelan held in Mumbai and President of Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Shahir Parisha.
For his achievements, he was conferred with Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1984 and Gaurav Puraskar given by Maharashtra government in 1990. He also was conferred with Padma Shri given by the Union government in 1998.
Martin Guptill scored the highest-ever score of 237 in Cricket World Cup history
Martin Guptill, the batsman of New Zealand cricket team, on 21 March 2015 scored the highest-ever score of 237 not out in Cricket World Cup history.
He achieved the feat in 2015 World Cup quarter-final match against West Indies played at WestpacTrust Stadium, Wellington.
He scored 237 off 163 balls. His 200 came off just 152 deliveries that included 21 fours and eight sixes.
Guptill’s double century helped New Zealand to set a target of 393 for 6 wickets for West Indies. In reply the West Indies could only manage 250 in 30.3 over.
He also became the second cricketer after Chris Gayle of West Indies to score a double century in Cricket World Cup history. Chris Gayle had scored 215 off 147-balls against Zimbabwe on 24 February 2015.
Besides, he also became the first New Zealand batsman to reach the milestone of scoring double hundred in One Day Internationals (ODIs).
Overall, Guptill is the fifth batsmen in the world to score a double century in One Day Internationals (ODIs) history and this was the sixth double hundred scored in ODI history. The other four batsmen include three Indians namely Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma (two double centuries) and Chris Gayle.
The first-ever ODI double ton was scored by Sachin Tendulkar against South Africa in Gwalior and the highest-ever score of 264 runs in ODI history remains in the name of Rohit Sharma who achieved this feat against Sri Lanka in November 2014.
Delhi High Court restrained Glenmark from manufacturing its anti-dThe Delhi High Court on 20 March 2015 restrained Indian firm Glenmark Pharmaceuticals from manufacturing, marketing or selling its anti-diabetes drugs Zita and Zita-Met.
A bench of justices S Ravindra Bhat and Najmi Waziri said company has prima facie infringed the patent of the US drug major Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD).
Further, the High Court directed the Indian firm to give an undertaking that it will comply with the order.
The bench, however, on Glenmark’s oral plea to allow it to sell its goods already in the market, clarified that it may sell such of the products which are already in the market, that is, in possession of its distributors and retailers.
It also allowed representatives of MSD to inspect the gate passes of the manufacturing facility of Glenmark to ascertain for them as to how much stock has already been distributed prior to the order and what remains in factory.
It directed MSD to give an undertaking that in the event it loses in patent infringement suit, it will compensate the Indian firm for the losses suffered by it.
The court also set aside its single judge’s order of April 2013, refusing to restrain Indian company from manufacturing and selling its medicines meant for treatment of Type-2 diabetes.
About the Case
MSD in its plea challenging the April 2013 order as well as seeking an interim injunction against Glenmark, had alleged that the Indian pharma company had violated its IPR over its anti-diabetes medicines, Januvia and Janumet, by coming out with their own drugs containing the same salts.
The US firm had said it had invented Sitagliptin salt used in its anti-diabetes drugs and has patent over the molecule.
Glenmark, on the other hand, had contended that it has used Sitagliptin Phosphate in its anti-diabetes drugs, Zita and Zita-Met, and the U.S. firm has no patent right over this salt.
Lata Mangeshkar won the Laadli Voice of the Century award
Legendary Singer Lata Mangeshkar on 20 March 2015 was presented with the Laadli Voice of the Century award. She was awarded at the sixth edition of the National Media and Advertising Awards for Gender Sensitivity held at Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was the chief guest at the awards ceremony.
Winners of the National Media and Advertising Awards in different category
• Laadli Voice of the Century award – Lata Mangeshkar
• Best movie award – Queen
• Laadli Grand Prix award – advertising agency Ogilvy and Mather for its advertisement, Titan Raga — tum nahi badle
• Laadli extraordinaire award – Charu Khurana, she won a landmark judgment in the Supreme Court regarding Bollywood’s bias against women make-up artistes
Beside National Media and Advertising Awards for Gender Sensitivity, 13 national media awards and eight awards to advertising agencies were also announced by Population First and UNFPA (United Nations Population First).
The National Media and Advertising Awards for Gender Sensitivity was instituted by the Population First (PF) - an initiative for gender equality and community empowerment.
1st Counter-Terrorism Conference 2015 held in Jaipur
The 1st Counter-Terrorism Conference 2015 was held in Jaipur for three days from 19 March 2015 to 21 March 2015. It was organised by India Foundation in association with the Sardar Patel University of Police Security and Criminal Justice, Jodhpur at Jaipur in Rajasthan.
The central theme of the Conference is Integrated Approach to Counter-Terrorism
The focus of the deliberations was on exploring the contours of 21st century terrorism and sharing the Counter-Terrorism expertise. Some of the sub-themes on which the conference focused include 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack, Talibanisation of Af-Pak region, New Caliphate in West Asia, Maritime Terrorism and Piracy, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Terrorism and Cyber and Space terrorism.
The Conference acted as a global platform for eminent scholars, strategic thinkers, field experts and policy makers engaged in counter-terrorism activity from various governments, agencies, think tanks and academic and research institutions from all over the world.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje, Former Union Home secretary GK Pillai, Former chief of Defence Staff of Sri Lanka Sarath Fonseka and Former chief of Army Staff of Nepal Rookmangud Katawal were among the speakers at the conference.