02 November 2019: PIB Summary & Analysis

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November 2nd, 2019 PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. PM addresses ‘Sawasdee PM Modi’ community event in Bangkok
2. SCOJTEX-2019
3. 8th Indo German Energy Forum (IGEF) 2019
4. AHTUs & WHDs in States Across the Country

PM addresses ‘Sawasdee PM Modi’ community event in Bangkok

Context

Prime Minister is on an official visit to Bangkok, Thailand and addressed the ‘Sawasdee PM Modi’ community event in Bangkok, Thailand.

About the visit

• Prime Minister unveiled the Thai translation of Thiruvalluvar’s Tamil classic ‘Tirukkural’. He said that the book is a guiding light for living one’s life.
• PM released commemorative coins minted to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, adding that the teachings of Guru Nanak are heritage for entire humanity. He also welcomed everyone to visit Kartarpur Sahib via the Kartarpur Corridor.
• Outlining the contours of India’s Act-East Policy, he said that India is focussed on deepening North-East’s connect with Thailand.
• Prime Minister added that the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway will establish seamless connectivity between the countries, which will boost the development of the entire region.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed ‘Sawasdee PM Modi’ community programme in Bangkok.

‘Tirukkural’

• The Tirukkural or shortly the Kural, is a classic Tamil language text consisting of 1,330 couplets or Kurals.
• The text is divided into three books, each with aphoristic teachings on virtue (aram, dharma), wealth (porul, artha) and love (inbam, kama).
• Considered one of the great works on ethics and morality, it is known for its universality and secular nature.
• Its authorship is traditionally attributed to Valluvar, also known in full as Thiruvalluvar. The text has been dated variously from 300 BCE to 5th century CE.
• The book is also called as the fifth Veda or ‘Bible of the Tamil Land’.
• The Tamil poet Mamulanar of Sangam period has mentioned that Thiruvalluvar was the greatest Tamil scholar.

Kartarpur Sahib Corridor

Read about the topic: Discussions on Kartarpur Sahib Corridor: Click here

Act East Policy

To read about the topic: Click Here

Sawasdee PM Modi

• ‘Sawasdee PM Modi’ is a reception organized by the Indian community in Thailand in close coordination with the Indian Embassy in Bangkok.
• In the Thai language, the word ‘Sawasdee’ is used for greetings and goodbye. ‘Sawasdee’ has its origination from Sanskrit word ‘Svasti’ which means welfare.

SCOJTEX-2019

Context

Union Minister of Home Affairs will inaugurate the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Joint Exercise on Urban Earthquake Search & Rescue (SCOJtEx-2019).

SCO Urban Earthquake Search & Rescue Exercise (SCOJtEx.)-2019

• The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is hosting the exercise.
• The main aim to rehearse the disaster response mechanism, share knowledge, experience, technology & also for mutual coordination, etc.
• This exercise shall also provide an opportunity to enhance the coordination & co-operation involving multi-agency operations in an earthquake scenario.
• The participants of all 08 member countries namely China, India, Kazakhastan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan shall be participating in this exercise.
• The four day long simulation exercise shall be conducted as per the International Search & Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) methodology & guidelines.
• There will be a Joint Urban Earthquake Search & Rescue Exercise for Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states followed by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization experts meeting of Ministries responsible for Prevention and Elimination of Emergency Situation.
• The main focus of Shanghai Cooperation Organization Joint Exercise on Urban Earthquake Search & Rescue (SCOJtEx-2019) shall be to test the region’s preparedness and resilience towards effective activation of Inter- governmental interaction for immediate response.

INSARAG

• The International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) was established in 1991.
• This establishment followed the initiatives of the specialised international Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams who operated together in the Mexican earthquake of 1985 and the Armenian earthquake of 1988.
• The INSARAG’s primary purpose is to facilitate coordination between the various international USAR teams who make themselves available for deployment to countries experiencing devastating events of structural collapse due primarily to earthquakes.
• The group achieves such coordination through facilitating opportunities for communication between these groups ahead of such events.
• These meetings of teams have resulted in many practical agreements between them that have streamlined working together during actual disasters.

8th Indo German Energy Forum (IGEF) 2019

Context

• The 8th meeting of the Indo – German Energy Forum concluded in New Delhi.

About the Forum

• The Indo-German Energy Forum (IGEF) provides a dialogue platform for high-level policy makers, financial institutions, industry and research organizations to deepen and enhance the bilateral cooperation for the energy transition in Germany and India.
• Since its establishment in 2006, the Indo-German Energy Forum has successfully intensified Indo-German Cooperation in the areas of energy security, energy efficiency and renewable energies, investment in energy projects as well as collaborative research and development.
• The high-level steering committee, also called “Forum”, provides a platform for high-level policy makers and representatives from industry, associations, financial institutions and research organizations from both countries.
• The IGEF agenda is essentially defined by four Subgroups which convene on a regular basis and bring together experts from industry, research institutions and state authorities on a working level in India and Germany:
  • Subgroup I on Enhancement of Power Plants
  • Subgroup II on Renewable Energies
  • Subgroup III on Energy Efficiency
  • Subgroup IV on Green Energy Corridors
• In the 8th Indo German Energy Forum (IGEF) 2019, both the sides finalized the roadmap for future collaboration between the two countries which, inter-alia, include
  • Flexibilisation of existing coal fired power plants
  • Promoting niche markets for Solar Energy,
  • Promotion of energy efficiency in buildings through ECBC, building materials and credit lines for financing corresponding measures and RE evacuation through state-of-the-art intra-state.
  • Inter-state transmission grid infrastructure.

AHTUs & WHDs in States Across the Country

Context

• The Empowered Committee (EC) under Nirbhaya Framework, appraised two proposals to develop systems for operationalization of Women Help Desks (WHDs) in police stations, for expansion of Anti-Human-Trafficking-Units (AHTUs) to all districts.

Setting up and strengthening Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs)

• The EC considered and recommended the proposal for setting up AHTUs at cost of Rs. 100 crores for safety and security of women and girl victims of trafficking, with the condition that a proper monitoring and reporting mechanism should also be put in place.
• 100% cost of setting up of these AHTUs has been recommended to be borne by the Central Government under Nirbhaya Fund as per the MHA proposal.
• The EC has also suggested that psycho-social counselling and legal counselling and aid should also be made available through these AHTUs to the beneficiaries.
• The MHA has also been requested to ensure nomination of State level nodal officers for coordinating and monitoring the functioning of AHTUs and sharing their data with the EC and the Ministry of WCD.

Women Help Desks (WHDs) in Police Stations

• The EC considered favourably and recommended the proposal for setting up Women Help Desks in Police Stations in all States and UTs.
• This be funded 100% by the Central Government under Nirbhaya Fund.
• WHDs would be gender sensitive desks for grievance redressal of women through the policing system, as well as catalysts for improved community interaction of the police with focus on crime against women and children.
• They would also help create a conducive atmosphere for distressed women and girls to approach the police stations without any hesitation and fear.
• The EC has suggested that these Women Help Desks should preferably be headed by women police officer not below the rank of Head Constables, and preferably by women officers not below the ranks of JSI or ASI.
• Further, training, orientation and sensitization of both men and women police officials working at or in relation to WHDs at police stations, should also be taken up.

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