New Delhi, Jan 31 () More than 5.54 crore new entrepreneurs have availed loans under the Mudra scheme so far whereas credit in excess of Rs 10 lakh crore has been sanctioned under the scheme, President Ram Nath Kovind said on Friday.
 In his address to the joint sitting of both houses of Parliament, the President said start-ups in India's small cities have grown at a rate of 45 to 50 per cent since 2014 whereas recognition has been accorded to 27,000 new start-ups under the StartUp India campaign across the country. He also added that India is home to the world's third-largest start-up ecosystem.
 "The number of patents granted in the country has increased four times in the last five years, whereas trademark registrations have increased five-fold," said the President.
 Describing the 21st century as the "Century of Knowledge", the President said the government's priority is to prepare the youth to provide leadership in this field and stressed that the youth will be at the forefront in this decade especially in research, innovation, incubation and start-ups.
 "The youth are benefitting continuously from the policy decisions taken by my government in this regard," the President said.
 The President in his address noted that tier-II and tier-III cities are emerging in a new role towards achieving the goal of a USD 5-trillion economy.
 He lauded the progress achieved by small cities in areas related to sanitation, amenities, start-ups and other commercial activities.
 "Through the Skill India Mission and National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme, along with skill development, the youth are also being provided with necessary funds for self-employment. More than 5 crore 54 lakh new entrepreneurs in the country have availed loans under the Mudra scheme. So far, credit in excess of Rs 10 lakh crore has been sanctioned under this scheme," Kovind said.
 Asserting that coordination among departments and dismantling of silos are absolutely essential for successful implementation of schemes, he said new ministries have also been created to facilitate better target orientation of schemes.
 "Creation of the Ministry of Skill Development and the Ministry of Jal Shakti by the government is an example of this thought process," said the President. RSN RSN HRS

Over 5.54 cr entrepreneurs availed loans under Mudra; Rs 10L cr sanctioned under this scheme: Prez

New Delhi, Dec 9 () The state governments are in agreement for making the BIS standards 'mandatory' for piped drinking water to ensure safe and quality water to people, Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said on Monday.
 At present, BIS standards on piped drinking water are voluntary in nature. The Centre is considering making it mandatory and the nodal consumer affairs ministry has written to the Jal Shakti ministry in this regard.
 The proposal comes amid tests conducted by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on drinking water, which found water quality in Mumbai as per standard but poor in many state capitals, including Delhi.
 "We discussed in detail with state governments. They said they follow the BIS standards and even Delhi Jal Board (DJB) said it follows BIS standards. .... After the discussion, there was a view to make the BIS standards mandatory. DJB said they don't have any issue on this," Paswan told reporters.
 He was addressing the media after a day-long workshop organised to sensitise state government officials about the requirement of BIS standards for drinking water.
 Barring three-four states including Uttar Pradesh, Paswan said there was representation from most state governments and union territories in the workshop.
 "Everyone's view was that BIS standards on piped drinking water was good and everyone should follow it," he said, adding that authorities in every state should take samples and test them if they adhere to BIS standards or not.
 BIS is the national standard body established under the BIS Act 2016 for harmonious development of the activities of standardisation, marking and quality certification of goods.
 About the quality of drinking water in Delhi, the minister said it was told that the source of water needs to be checked before it is released to the treatment plant for further supply to households.
 He also mentioned that Maharashtra follows the BIS standards and others too should be able to do so.
 "We don't have personal interest. Our intention is to ensure quality piped drinking water to the poor," Paswan said.
 Another round of discussion with states governments in this regard will be held two-three months later, he added.
 Under the BIS Act, there is a provision that standards formulated for any products can be made mandatory. BIS has sent a draft quality control order to the consumer affairs ministry, proposing that standard on drinking water as a product and standard on entire supply chain or control points should be made mandatory.
 To check the quality of water, BIS has conducted two phases of testing and plans two more rounds of sample collection and testing.
 In the first phase, samples of drinking water were drawn from 11 different locations across Delhi and in the second phase, 10 samples were drawn from 10 locations in 20 state capitals.
 On November 16, Paswan released the second phase of the BIS study which stated that Delhi along with Kolkata and Chennai failed in about 10 out of 11 quality parameters for drinking water.
 Samples of tap water collected from Mumbai were found to be compliant with the Indian standards for drinking water.
 However, other metro cities of Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai failed in almost 10 out of 11 quality parameters tested by BIS, which is under the aegis of the consumer affairs ministry.
 Similarly, samples drawn from 17 other state capitals were not as per the specification 'Indian Standard (IS)-10500:2012' for drinking water.
 In the third phase, samples from the capital cities of northeastern states and from 100 smart cities will be tested and their results are expected by January 15, 2020.
 While in the fourth phase, it is proposed to test samples from all the district headquarters of the country and the results are expected by August 15, 2020. LUX ABM

States ready to make BIS standard mandatory for piped drinking water: Paswan

New Delhi, Jan 9 () The farm policies need to be reoriented to first ensure income security to farmers and later make them businessmen, a senior agriculture ministry official said on Thursday.
"Now, we are thinking to secure the community which has made our country food secure. We must emphasise on income security of farmer friends. Unless they are secured our aim of food and nutrition security, feed and fodder security and ecology security will not be fulfilled," said Ashok Dalwai, chairman of hight-level panel on doubling farmers income.
Dalwai, who is also CEO of the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA), has recommended several policy measures to improve the income of farmers.
Speaking at an event organised by agro-chemicals firm Dhanuka Agritech Ltd, Dalwai said India has the capacity to improve the income of farmers.
"All our knowledge, science, policies need to be reoriented to benefit them. ...After income security, our next step would be to make farmers businessmen who works for profit which will be done though policy and other changes," he said.
Dalwai also mentioned that the green revolution must not be perceived negatively and at the same time there is a need to learn lessons from the milk revolution.
On the occasion, Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhary gave away the first edition of Dhanuka Innovative Agriculture Award (DIAA) with cash amount totalling Rs 22 lakh to 32 farmers in various categories for adopting and practising innovative farming techniques.
Dhanuka Agritech Chairman R G Agarwal said the awards have been instituted to felicitate the innovative farming community and encourage farmers to share their practices to enhance crop productivity and their income. LUX BAL

After income security, focus should be on making farmers entrepreneurs: Agri Min official

New Delhi, Jul 4 () The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed more than 90 teams for flood rescue works across the country with a "strong focus" on sanitisation of men and material in view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a senior official said on Saturday. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had reviewed the preparedness for monsoon rains and floods in the country on Friday at his office in North Block and directed officials to develop a well-planned scheme to reduce damage and casualties. "We have earmarked over 90 teams across the country for flood rescue related works," NDRF Director General (DG) S N Pradhan told . An NDRF team for flood rescue has about 45 personnel and it is equipped with gadgets and inflatable boats. The DG said some new strategies have been put in place for rescue drills and rescuers in view of the coronavirus pandemic. The deployment of NDRF teams will take place with full preventive and protective precautions with a strong focus on sanitisation and hygiene of men and material, Pradhan said. He said the force has written to the chief secretaries and special relief commissioners of states seeking ample space for its rescue teams and personnel in view of the Centre issued COVID-19 guidelines related to physical distancing, sanitisation and hygiene. Another official said the states where NDRF teams are deployed for flood rescue works will also carry their own temperature check gadgets, masks, sanitisers and basic medicine kit. About 60 NDRF personnel who worked during cyclone 'Amphan' in West Bengal last month were infected with the coronavirus during the course of their work. However, almost all of them have now been cured, the official said. "A unified disaster control room will be run by us and round-the-clock monitoring of all teams and their work will be done as usual from the NDRF headquarters in Delhi," the DG said. The home minister, as per an statement issued on Friday, had sought priority action on finding permanent solutions to the perennial flood problem in states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and the northeastern states. He emphasised on better coordination between different agencies to have a permanent system for forecasting floods and rise in water levels in major catchment zones and areas of the country, it said. Shah also directed the Ministry of Jal Shakti and Central Water Commission (CWC) to review and assess data on real storage capacity of major dams with a view to ensure timely release of water and prevention of floods. A total of 40 million hectares of area in India is prone to flood in which Ganga and Brahmaputra are main flood basins and Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal are most flood-prone states, the statement said. NES AAR AAR

Floods: NDRF positions 90 teams, new drills to tackle COVID-19

New Delhi, May 21 (IANS) As cyclone 'Amphan' is currently whirling at a speed of 70 kmph over Bangladesh a day after leaving a trail of devastation across a wide swath of West Bengal and Odisha, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is setting up special teams to visit these states and assess the damages. These teams - separate for West Bengal and Odisha, reportedly headed by Deputy Secretary or above rank official and comprising a total of almost a dozen people from various ministries, and are expected to arrive in these states by Thursday evening or Friday, informed sources said. These teams, learnt to comprise officials from the Disaster Management, Finance, Jal Shakti Ministries, the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) among others, will assess the damage and "submit an early report" to the MHA. Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, in a review meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) here on Thursday, also said that the Home Ministry teams will be sent to these states to carry out early assessment of damages and submit a report. The visiting teams will meet those evacuated timely from the two states before the cyclone ravaged the regions, killing over a dozen people and destroying houses, roads and public utilities. Chief Secretaries of Odisha and West Bengal informed the Cabinet Secretary on Thursday that timely and accurate forecast by the IMD and advance deployment of NDRF facilitated the evacuation of about five lakh people in West Bengal and about two lakh in Odisha. The Home Ministry teams will submit the report based on which Central assistance will be declared. However, the states informed in the NCMC meet that there was minimal loss of human lives, considering the fact that the intensity of 'Amphan' was next only to that of the super cyclone that struck Odisha in 1999 causing large scale devastation. The teams will also meet the residents in the presence of the state administrations, which along with the NDRF and other rescue teams, have done commendable relief work as the cyclone pummelled its way over large parts of West Bengal and Odisha through the night, leaving behind a trail of deaths and damages. West Bengal has informed the Centre that there were major damages to agriculture, power and telecommunication facilities in cyclone-affected areas. Odisha informed that damages have been mainly limited to agriculture. Reviewing the rescue and restoration efforts, the Cabinet Secretary directed that officers of Central ministries and agencies should remain in close touch with Odisha and West Bengal state governments and provide all required assistance expeditiously. Meanwhile, the NDRF has moved additional teams in West Bengal to speed up restoration work, especially in Kolkata. A total of 36 NDRF teams were earlier deployed in both the states, while rescue and relief teams of the Army and Navy along with ships and aircrafts of the Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard have been involved in relief operations. While Odisha was spared the worst of 'Amphan', the Sunderbans region and six south Bengal districts felt the full impact of winds gusting at 155-165 kmph along with torrential rain after the cyclone made landfall near Sagar Island around 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday and entered Kolkata, about 100 km north, around 5 p.m. In the first few hours 'Amphan', a Thai name means sky, already destroyed over 5,000 houses in Minakhan, Haroa, Basirhat Hingalganj and Hasnabad areas of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal. Most of the areas in Howrah and North 24 Parganas faced massive power cuts due to heavy rainfall. Roofs of several houses also collapsed as a result of the strong winds during the cyclonic spell. There have been damages inside the state secretariat building Nabanna as well. Heavy rains and huge gush of wind storms damaged the roofs of several buildings and uprooted a massive number of trees across Kolkata and its adjoining Howrah district in West Bengal. The Food Corporation of India, meanwhile, is on the job to ensure adequate availability of food grains, especially rice, to West Bengal so that marooned people are provided immediate sustenance, a Home Ministry official told IANS. The Power Ministry and Department of Telecommunications have been assisting in early restoration of services in both the states. However, the Railways, which suffered major damages to its infrastructure, is in the process of restarting its operations at the earliest, said the official. Barrelling in from the Bay of Bengal with wind speed of up to 185 kmph, Amphan on Wednesday cut a swathe through northern Odisha bearing down on West Bengal and moved north-northeastwards on Thursday, before weakening into a cyclonic storm and lying centered at 5.30 a.m. over Bangladesh. (Rajnish Singh can be contacted at rajnish.s@ians.in) --IANS rak/vd

Cyclone 'Amphan': MHA teams to assess damages in WB, Odisha

New Delhi, Apr 24 () The National Green Tribunal on Friday directed a team, comprising the Centre and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), to supervise handling and scientific disposal of COVID-19 waste in accordance with the guidelines.The tribunal said that while the Bio Medical Waste Rules deal with waste generated in dealing with infectious diseases, the coronavirus pandemic has presented further challenge in terms of capacity to scientifically dispose of generated waste.A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel directed the Chief Secretary of States and Union Territories to closely monitor the scientific storage, transport, handling, management and disposal of COVID-19 waste as its improper handling poses a grave threat rob environment and health of people."At the national level, let a high level task team of Ministry of Environment, Health, Urban Development, Jal Shakti, Defence and CPCB supervise the handling and scientific disposal of COVID-19 waste in accordance with the guidelines," the bench said.It also directed the state Departments of Environment and pollution control boards to ensure compliance of Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016 and furnish action take report to CPCB. "Let CPCB take further steps and furnish a consolidated report to the NGT of the steps taken andthe ground status as on May 3, 2020. The report may be furnished by June 15," it said.The NGT further said that COVID 19 pandemic has affected number of people across the world and more than one and a half lakh people have died world over. Disposal of COVID-19 waste in general bins so as to be part of municipal waste or unscientific handling sewage and other liquid waste without safeguards can also be hazardous, the tribunal said."There is a need to incorporate best practices in the light of further experience and new thoughts emerging from time to time, apart from continued supervision and monitoring, compiling data in an online format, use of electronic/digital manifest system to track and log COVID-19 waste, " it said.There is also need for creating awareness about the precautions and steps to be taken by all handlers and workers as well as citizens, the tribunal added. The green panel had on Tuesday urged the State Pollution Control Board and Pollution Control Committee to put in serious efforts to mitigate the possible risk of unscientific disposal of the bio-medical waste arising out of the handling of the COVID-19 disease. It had raked up the issue of gaps in compliance of the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 which are applicable to the disposal of the bio-medical waste generated out handling the pandemic.The CPCB on April 19 has issued revised guidelines for management of waste generated during the diagnostics and treatment of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients. PKS SA

NGT directs team of Centre, CPCB to supervise scientific disposal of COVID -19 waste

(Eds: Adds Chief Minister's quotes, central team visitto city)Hyderabad, Apr 26 (): With 11 new coronaviruspositive cases being added, Telangana on Sunday breached the1,000 mark, despite the fall in the number of cases during thepast few days.According to a bulletin issued by the state HealthDepartment, the number of COVID-19 positive cases rose to1,001 while the active patients stood at 660 after ninepatients including a 75-year old man, contact of a person withtravel history to Delhi,were discharged after recovery.All the 11 new cases were reported from the GreaterHyderabad Municipal Corporation area, the bulletin added.No death was reported and the number of people whosuccumbed to the virus continues to be 25, the bulletin saidadding as many as 316 people have been discharged so far.The number of cases are on the declining side for thepast four days.The state witnessed 13 and seven cases on Friday andSaturday respectively.Expressing satisfaction over the decreasing trend inthe number of cases, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao saidit was due to strict implementation of the ongoing lockdown.In a press release, he said if people extend theirsupport to the lockdown for some more days and follow theguidelines provided by the government on containment of thevirus spread, the situation would further improve for thebetter.He said the situation in the country will be knownafter the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video conference withall the CMs on Monday.Rao held a high-level review meeting here at PragathiBhavan on Sunday on the implementation of lockdown, measurestaken to contain spread of coronavirus and other issues.He felt that the death rate due to the virus in thestate is far less than the national average, which is somesolace to the State."If the present lockdown continues for some time,people maintain their personal hygiene and take precautions;the virus spread will totally come down during the days tocome," the release quoted Rao as saying.Meanwhile, the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT),which is on a visit to the state to assess the COVID-19situation, on Sunday extensively toured different parts of thecity by visiting the Raithu Bazar, Nature Cure hospitalbesides a containment zone, an official release said.The Central team, led by Arun Baroka, AdditionalSecretary, Ministry of Jal Shakti, also held a meeting withTelangana Director General of Police (DGP) M Mahendar Reddyand other senior police officials.The team was briefed on the measures taken by thestate police to enforce lockdown in the state besides on thesecurity and bandobast arrangements near containment zones andat hospitals where COVID-19 patients are undergoing treatment.The team appreciated the role of police in supply ofessentials to citizens and also to migrant workers, it said.The Central team also expressed its satisfaction onthe various initiatives taken by the Telangana government tocontain COVID-19 in the state, the release said.The Inter Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) visitedseveral places in the city to have a glance at the effortstaken by the state government to contain COVID-19.GHMC Commissioner D S Lokesh Kumar, HyderabadCollector Swetha Mohanthy and other officials, explained tothe team members about the steps taken up by the government aspart of the Containment Plan.The Central team during it's visit to MehdipatnamRythu Bazar and enquired about sales of essential commoditieswith the shopkeepers and also observed the circles drawn as ameasure for social distancing in front of vegetable shops.The team members were informed that 120 mobile vansare supplying vegetables and fruits in different parts of thecity manned by SHG women.The Central team members interacted with vendors andinquired from where the vegetables are brought to sell in themarket.Later the central team members visited the quarantinecenter at Nature Cure Hospital and interacted with doctors andmedical staff there.They enquired about facilities such as testing kitsand arrangementsfor the people who are quarantined.Telangana Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar participated inthe Video Conference held by Rajeev Gauba, Cabinet Secretaryon "Public health response to COVID-19" from B R K R Bhavanhere, a separate press release said.The Cabinet Secretary informed that the videoconference is to have an assessment on the present situationon fighting against coronavirus.Rachakonda Commissioner of Police Mahesh M Bhagwatsaid the Police and TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences)are conducting socio economic and need assessment survey ofmigrant labourers.So far nearly 5,500 migrant labourers living indifferent areas in the city were surveyed, the Commissionersaid. GDK VVK SS

COVID-19: Cases beach 1,000 mark in Telangana, central team visits Hyderabad

<ul><li>
As many as 100 million people in the country are suffering from the nation-wide water crisis. </li><li>Moreover, 21 major cities are expected to be devoid of groundwater by 2020, says government think tank NITI Aayog. </li></ul> No drops, No rain, nothing. India is suffering from its worst-ever water crisis in history. It has already started affecting hundreds and millions of lives and livelihoods across the country. And, people are craving for water to drink as well. “How will three pots of water be sufficient for an entire family of five,” asks a resident of Chennai — India’s sixth largest city — which ran out of water after all four reservoirs dried up this summer. 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="Chennai: People rush to fill their vessels from a water tanker following acute w..." msid="69988629" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;People rush to fill their vessels from a water tanker following acute water shortage, in Chennai.Photo)(&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>








 A large number of people are now washing utensils in dirty water, to save the clean water for cooking and drinking. There won’t be any relief anytime soon as the southwest monsoon — accounting 80% of India’s rainfall — is late and is expected to be <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/monsoon-to-be-below-normal-over-north-south-india-imd/articleshow/69602283.cms">lower than usual</a> in both north and south India. As many as 100 million people in the country are suffering from the nation-wide water crisis. Moreover, 21 major cities are expected to be devoid of groundwater by 2020, says government think tank NITI Aayog Only some parts of the country have received rainfall — that too almost a week late. Apart from the water crisis, the harsh heatwaves in the country took more than <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/22/india/chennai-india-water-crisis-intl/index.html">137 lives </a>. India’s dwindling water sources worsened the situation. <a href="http://202.159.215.252:83/DocumentUploadRoot/DocumentId_32837/20.06.2019_CWC_Bull.pdf">According to the Central Water Commission</a>, two-thirds water reservoirs in the country are below normal levels. Little Water, No Water — Current status of crisis across the country 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="Women fetch water from an opening made by residents at a dried-up lake in Chennai" msid="69988642" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Women fetch water from an opening made by residents at a dried-up lake in Chennai, India, June 11, 2019. REUTERS/P. Ravikumar TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>









 On 2 June 2019, a video of women filling bucket from the water leaked by a water tanker over the road went viral on social media, reported India spend. More than 100 districts across the country are officially affected by drought. Most of the districts (80%) in Karnataka and Maharashtra (72%) are hit by drought and crop failure. As many as 8.2 million farmers are struggling for livelihood. With scarcity comes strife. The state governments of Karnataka and Maharashtra — are now fighting over sharing water resources. Every day, Maharashtra government is sending 6,000 water tankers to 4,920 villages and 10,506 hamlets or settlements (bastis) in drought-hit areas. In the South, the Tamil Nadu government had to sanction Rs 233 crore to initiate emergency water projects. The state capital — Chennai— had to shut down the air conditioning to save as much as 9,000 litres a day. People have to stand in line for hours and they get foul-smelling water that might have been mixed with sewage. Karnataka too was forced to shut schools for a week due to water scarcity. Separately, residents of Bhilwara in Rajasthan have to keep water ‘locked’ in tankers since they depend on drinking water that is supplied once in 10 days. They are worried that it might be stolen! No groundwater by 2020 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="India Water Shortage" msid="69988668" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Indiand stand in queues to fill vessels filled with drinking water from a water tanker in Chennai, capital of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Wednesday, June 19, 2019. Millions of people are turning to water tank trucks in the state as house and hotel taps run dry in an acute water shortage caused by drying lakes and depleted groundwater. Some private companies have asked employees to work from home and several restaurants are closing early and even considering stopping lunch meals if the water scarcity aggravates.Photo/R. Parthibhan)&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>









AP New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad are amongst the 21 cities that will run out of groundwater by 2020. This will affect as many as 100 million people, claims a report by NITI Ayog. Furthermore, 40% of India’s population will struggle for drinking water by 2030. With India’s water crisis deepening by the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently created Ministry of Jal Shakti that is going to look after the water resource management. Modi also reiterated his promise to provide piped water to every rural house in India by 2024. However, analysts have claimed that won’t be enough. A UN Human rights report claimed that soon only wealthy people in the world would be able to afford basic necessities in case of a drought, heatwave or famine. Falling rainfall levels in India 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="Chennai: School students offer prayers to rain god seeking rainfall following th..." msid="69988705" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;School students offer prayers to rain god seeking rainfall following the severe water crisis, in Chennai.Photo) (&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>










 The Drought Early Warning System (DEWS) reported that 43.4% areas in the country are under drought as of 30 May 2019. A delayed monsoon is among the primary reasons for the current crisis. In the last five years, 2017 was the only year when India did not experience drought, reported India spend. Both South west monsoon and North-east monsoon were lower than usual. Last year, India Meteorological Department said that the ‘post-monsoon’ rainfall — responsible for 10-20% of the India’s monsoon — was lower by 44%. And the pre-monsoon rainfall was the lowest it saw in the last 65 years. Experts fear that India is soon going to witness Day Zero if no action is taken on time.

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