President confers ‘Vayoshreshtha Samman’ to eminent senior citizens and institutions in recognition of their services towards the cause of elderly persons.
In 2013, it has been upgraded as a “National Award”.
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment serves as the nodal ministry for the cause of senior citizens.
The Awards are given to institutions/organisations/individuals from any part of the country.
Nominations are invited from Governmental and Non-Governmental Agencies.
International Day of Older Persons is observed on 1st of October every year pursuant to the adoption of a resolution by the UN General Assembly.
The Ministry has been celebrating the International day of Older Persons since 2005.
BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise
Home Ministry will inaugurate the First ‘BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise- 2017’.
The Exercise will be conducted by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) as the lead agency.
It was decided in the 17th BIMSTEC meeting held in Kathmandu in February this year that India would organize the first annual Disaster Management Exercise for the region.
The exercise is seen as a platform for sharing best practices of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Disaster management among all 7 nations of BIMSTEC.
BIMSTEC grouping - Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand
New Proposal of Election Commission
EC has urged the law ministry to amend election laws to include failure to clear dues of public utilities as a disqualification from contesting Lok Sabha and assembly polls.
The dues include government house rent, electricity and power bills etc.
Barring candidates will require amendment to the chapter-III of the Representation of the People Act (RPA) which deals with electoral offences.
However, the Government has rejected the proposal.
The rationale behind the rejection was the authority issuing the no-dues certificate to a candidate could be biased and may not give the required papers.
In cases of dispute on the dues, the matter could be referred to a court and may take time to settle.
In such cases, it would not be desirable to deny the candidate with the no dues certificate.
Achievements of CSIR
Platinum Jubilee celebration of CSIR was recently celebrated.
It is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Science and Technology and the largest R&D organization in India.
It has developed the system called “Drishti” - a visibility measuring system provides information to pilots on visibility for soft landing and take-off operation.
It has established the India’s first Lithium Ion Battery fabrication facility based on indigenous novel materials.
It developed Ksheer-Scanner, a new technical invention to detect the level of milk adulteration and adulterants.
It has designed the first ever standalone reading machine for visually impaired system called as “Divya Nayan”.
It pioneered DNA finger printing technique for medico-legal applications. India became the 3rd country to develop its own DNA finger printing.
It developed the world’s first non-steroidal oral contraceptive for women under the brand name of Chhaya and Saheli in National Family Planning Programme.
It pioneered India’s first five- seater aircraft.
It created a system called “Dhvani” which is used as modern indigenous marksmanship training system.
Conference of Partner NGOs
The first ever conference of Partner NGOs of Women and Child Development Ministry was recently held in New Delhi.
It aimed at sensitizing NGOs about the various schemes of the ministry and to give them an opportunity to share their experiences and insights.
An online facility will be created by WCD Ministry for receiving complaints/suggestions from NGOs in the field of women and children.
The broad themes of the conference include violence against women, national policy for women, trafficking of women and children, cyber crime and children and implementation of juvenile justice act.
Swachh Iconic Place
Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai has been adjudged the best ‘Swachh Iconic Place’ (clean place) in India.
It is a special clean-up initiative focused on select iconic heritage, spiritual and cultural places in the country.
The initiative is being coordinated by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in association with the Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Tourism and the concerned State governments.
