Raksha Mantri virtually inaugurates 5th World Congress on Disaster Management

Nov 24, 2021 | Business

Key Highlights of RM’s speech:

·         Effective response mechanism to address humanitarian crises & natural disasters one of the most important pillars of SAGAR

·         Our Armed Forces have always stood for the country’s partners in times of need

·         Need for collective solution to deal with global challenges in post-COVID world

·         Benefits of emerging cutting-edge technologies must be shared with all

·         Need for new ideas in global & national strategies for implementation of 2030 Sustainable Development Goals post COVID

“Our Armed Forces have time and again demonstrated that they care for and stand by the country’s partners in times of need without distinguishing between natural or man-made disasters,” said Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh while virtually inaugurating the 5th World Congress on Disaster Management on November 24, 2021. He reiterated India’s vision for the Indian Ocean encapsulated by the concept of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) as articulated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The Raksha Mantri underlined that SAGAR has both distinct and inter-related elements such as deepening economic and security cooperation among the littoral states; enhancing capacities to safeguard land and maritime territories; working towards sustainable regional development; Blue Economy and promoting collective action to deal with non-traditional threats like natural disasters, piracy and terrorism.

Shri Rajnath Singh maintained that while each of these elements requires equal attention, developing an effective response mechanism to address humanitarian crises and natural disasters is one of the most important pillars of SAGAR. India’s engagement with the world and especially the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) has been robustly strong, he said, lauding the Armed Forces for being the first responders in the region for Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. He said, India’s unique position in the IOR, complemented by a capability of the Armed Forces, enables it to contribute significantly in HADR situations.

The Raksha Mantri made special mention of some notable HADR missions in the IOR undertaken by India in recent years, including Operation Rahat in Yemen in 2015 when India rescued and evacuated over 6,700 persons, including over 1,940 citizens of more than 40 other countries; cyclone in Sri Lanka in 2016; earthquake in Indonesia in 2019; Cyclone Idai in Mozambique and flooding and landslides in Madagascar in January 2020 where Indian assistance was promptly provided. He added that the COVID-19 pandemic has not dented India’s commitment, which was demonstrated by India’s response during the Oil Spill in Mauritius in August 2020 and Oil tanker fire in Sri Lanka in September 2020. 

India taking lead and offering expertise of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (DRI) to its friendly countries was also highlighted by Shri Rajnath Singh. “Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) was first proposed by India during the 2016 Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in New Delhi. It is today an international coalition of countries, United Nations (UN) agencies, multilateral development banks, the private sector and academic institutions, that aim to promote disaster-resilient infrastructure,” he said. The Raksha Mantri added that India has been regularly conducting exercises to deepen the HADR co-operation and co-ordination with its neighbours and friendly countries with a focus on sharing expertise and building capabilities.

The Raksha Mantri shared his views on the challenging geo-political landscape and the traditional and non-traditional threats including natural calamities like COVID-19 faced by the world. He said, to deal with the pandemic, India has developed a large capacity for production of COVID-19 vaccines and is extending help to many countries. He emphasised on the need for a collective solution to deal with global challenges in the post-pandemic world. He said, the pandemic has reaffirmed the centrality of multilateralism in the interconnected world for matters not only related to international security but also disaster management.

Shri Rajnath Singh also spoke about the emerging cutting-edge technologies in the fields of space, communication, bio-engineering, bio-medics and artificial intelligence. He said, these include precision tools and sensors which can revolutionise the way the risks of disasters are assessed and communicated through early warning. He also shed light on the smart technologies for post disaster recovery and reconstructions. The Raksha Mantri stressed on sharing the benefits of these technologies with all along with funding initiatives for capacity development for better application and use of these technologies.

The Raksha Mantri called for cooperating more closely to strengthen international architecture for building structures to prevent and manage future disasters. He also suggested a comprehensive assessment of the impact of the pandemic on the implementation of 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, emphasising on the need to incorporate new ideas in global and national strategies for the implementation of the goals.

The 5th World Congress on Disaster Management (WCDM) is being organised in New Delhi between November 24-27, 2021 at the campus of IIT Delhi on the overarching theme of ‘Technology, Finance and Capacity for Building Resilience to Disasters in the context of COVID-19’. It is an initiative of Disaster Management Initiatives and Convergence Society (DMICS) having its headquarter in Hyderabad to bring researchers, policy makers and practitioners from around the world on the same platform to discuss various challenging issues of disaster risk management. The aim is to promote interaction of science, policy and practices to enhance understanding of risks and advance actions for reducing risks and building resilience to disasters.

Director General, India Council of Medical Research & Secretary, Department of Health Research Dr Balram Bhargava delivered the keynote address, while Convener 5th WCDM Dr S Anandababu gave the welcome address. Special Representative of UN Secretary General on Disaster Reduction Ms Mami Mizutori also spoke during the inaugural session.

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Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh to address SCO webinar on Role of Women in Armed Forces

Oct 14, 2021 | Business

Key highlights:

  • CDS General Bipin Rawat will deliver welcome address
  • Session on ‘Historical Perspective of Women’s Roles in Combat Operations’ will be chaired by Dy Chief of IDS (Medical) Lt General Madhuri Kanitkar
  • Former Foreign Secretary Mrs Nirupama Rao Menon will chair session on ‘Emerging Trends in Wars and Likely Roles of Women Warriors’         

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh will deliver the inaugural address at a webinar on ‘Role of Women in Armed Forces’, being organised by Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on October 14, 2021. The international webinar in video conference mode is hosted by the Ministry of Defence.

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat will deliver the welcome address. The representatives of the SCO member countries will share their experiences which will enrich and inform policy makers and practitioners alike.

The webinar will be conducted in two sessions. The first session on ‘Historical Perspective of Women’s Roles in Combat Operations’ will be chaired by Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Medical) Lt General Madhuri Kanitkar. Apart from India, speakers from China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan will share their perspectives in the session. 

The Second session will be chaired by Former Foreign Secretary Smt Nirupama Rao Menon. Theme of the session is: ‘Emerging Trends in Wars and Likely Roles of Women Warriors’. Representatives from Pakistan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will share their views on the subject.

The conference was originally planned with the physical presence of the representatives of the member states in the year 2020, however, owing to COVID-19 pandemic, is now being conducted via video conferencing, as despite the pandemic the interaction between the SCO member states remain important.

Closing address will be delivered by the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) Air Marshal BR Krishna. Senior civil and military officials of MoD will also be present in the webinar.

The Government of India has recognized women as proud and essential members of the Indian Defence forces and the potential they bring to the Armed Forces. Accordingly, in the last seven years, the Government has taken several steps to bring in more opportunities for women in the Indian Defence forces as well as create equality in service conditions for women and men. Today, women are greatly empowered within the Indian Defence Forces, whether it is the Indian Army, Indian Navy or the Indian Air Force.

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Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh appeals for generous contribution to Armed Forces Flag Day Fund

Sep 22, 2021 | Business

Key Highlights:

  • Over 38,000 beneficiaries in FY 20-21
  • Rs 133.21 crore spent under AFFDF in FY 2020-21
  • Rs 33.35 crore collected during FY 2020-21

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has appealed to the general public to generously contribute to the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF), which is used in rehabilitation and welfare of dependents of our brave soldiers who were killed in action or disabled. The Flag Day gives the countrymen an opportunity to fulfil this obligation.

Out of the income earned on the AFFDF corpus, 7.5 per cent is ploughed back into the corpus and balance is used to fund the welfare and rehabilitation schemes for Ex-Servicemen (ESM)/dependents.Rupees 133.21 crore were spent on 38,049 beneficiariesunder the AFFDF in FY 2020-21.

A sum of Rs33.35 crore was collected during Financial Year (FY) 2020-21.The Fund is administeredby Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB)Secretariatunder the aegis of its Management Committee, headed by the Raksha Mantriand Executive Committee headed by Secretary, Ex-Servicemen Welfare (ESW).Generous contributions for AFFDF are solicited from the countrymen.Bank details of the AFFD Fund as follows:

  1. PNB A/C No. 3083000100179875         IFSC: PUNB0308300
  2. SBI A/C No. 34420400623                     IFSC: SBIN0001076
  3. ICICI A/C No. 182401001380                IFSC: ICIC0001824

The KSB Secretariat,an attached office under the administrative control of Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence (MoD), is the apex body responsible for implementing Central Government policies for rehabilitation and welfare of the war widows/disabled,retired service personnel and their dependents.  The welfare schemes are implemented through Rajya Sainik Boards (RSBs) located in State capitals and Zila Sainik Boards (ZSBs) located at district level.The major source of funding for these welfare schemes is Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF).

Financial assistance is provided to ESM/widows/dependents for their personal identified needs including penury grant, children’s education grant, daughter’s marriage grants and funeral grant.Some of the important welfare schemes funded out of AFFDF are as under:

Raksha Mantri’s Ex-servicemen Welfare Fund (RMEWF)

Financial assistance is provided to ESM/dependents for their identified personal needs, including Penury Grant and Children Education Grantunder RMEWF. Financial assistance amounting to Rs 132.96 crore has been disbursed under RMEWF during FY 2020-21.

Financial Assistance for Serious Diseases

Financial assistance upto90and 75 per cent expenditure subject to maximum Rs 1.25 lakhs (for heart ailments, etc) and Rs 0.75 lakhs per year (for dialysis and cancer) is being providedto non-pensioners Personnel Below Officer Rank (PBOR) and officersrespectively.Total amount of   Rs22.69 lakhs was paid during FY 2020-21.

Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centres (PRCs)

In addition to Rs30,000/- per annum per inmate, annual grant of Rs120lakhs and Rs 10.00 lakhs is being provided for upkeep/establishment to Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre (PRC),Khadkiand Mohalirespectively, the autonomous organisations run for rehabilitation of paraplegic and tetraplegic ESM. Total amount of Rs 168.72 lakhs has been disbursed to both PRCs during FY 2020-21.

War Memorial Hostels (WMHs)

War Memorial Hostels (WMHs) grant of Rs 1,350/- per month per child is provided to wards of war widow/war disabled.An amount of Rs23.24 lakhs have been disbursed under this scheme duringFY 2020-21.

Armed Forces Flag Day is observed on December 07 every year throughout the country to honour the fallen heroes and men in uniform who bravely fought for our motherland.On this day, Army, Navy and Air Force personnel who sacrificed their lives for the cause of the nation are remembered by observing two-minute silence at 1100 hours as a mark of respect.

***

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Raksha Mantri launches Artificial Intelligence powered grievance management application;

Jul 15, 2021 | Business

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered grievance management application in New Delhi on July 15, 2021, developed by Ministry of Defence with the help of IIT-Kanpur. Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions Dr Jitendra Singh graced the occasion. 

This is the first AI based system developed to improve grievance redressal in the Government. The AI tool developed as part of the initiative has capability to understand the content of the complaint based on the contents therein. As a result, it can identify repeat complaints or spam automatically. Based on the meaning of the complaint, it can categorise complaints of different categories even when key words normally used for such search are not present in the complaint. It enables geographical analysis of complaints in a category including analysis of whether the complaint was adequately addressed or not by the concerned office. Easy user-friendly search enables user to formulate his own queries/categories depending on management requirements and seek performance results based on the query. Given that lakhs of complaints are received on CPGRAMS portal of DARPG, this application will have great use in understanding the nature of complaints, geographies from where they emanate and policy changes which can be introduced to create systemic improvements to address these grievances. 

 Speaking on the occasion, the Raksha Mantri described the application as a product of good governance, which reflects the growing synergy between the Government and academia. He said this initiative is another citizen centric reform of the Government that aims to empower the people at large. 

Shri Rajnath Singh lauded Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) for playing an important role in the reform of the Public Grievances Redressal System, saying that resolving the grievances of people is a great service in itself. He added that the active involvement of reputed institutions like IIT Kanpur will further bolster the system and resolve the grievances of people in a transparent and effective manner. 

The Raksha Mantri was briefed that this AI-powered application will automatically handle and analyse the complaints of the people and would reduce human intervention, save time and bring more transparency in their disposal. 

A tripartite MoU for the project was signed among Department of Defence, MoD, DARPG and IIT, Kanpur on August 04, 2020.   

The release of this application marks the introduction of AI-based innovations into governance and administration. This project is first of its kind initiative of the Government for using AI, data science and Machine Learning techniques in grievance redressal. The success of this project in MoD will pave the way for extension of this application across other Ministries. The MoD and IIT, Kanpur intend to drive their collaboration forward in the coming years, seeking to better leverage the use of AI for the disposal of citizens’ complaints. The web-based application has been jointly developed by Department of Defence, MoD; DARPG and a team of IIT Kanpur comprising of Professors Shalabh, Nisheeth Srivastava and Piyush Rai. 

Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar; Additional Secretary, DARPG Shri V Srinivas, Additional Secretary MoD Smt Nivedita Shukla Verma, Director, IIT Kanpur Prof Abhay Karandikar and other senior officials of MoD were present on the launch of the application. 

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Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh reviews progress of construction of first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier at Kochi;

Jun 25, 2021 | Business

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh reviewed the progress of construction of first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) built by M/s Cochin Shipyard Ltd., at Kochi on June 25, 2021. Shri Rajnath Singh was accompanied by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command Vice Admiral AK Chawla. The Raksha Mantri visited the construction site and was briefed about the successful Basin Trials completed during November 2020. He was also appraised of the progress achieved on integration of a number of other navigational, communication and operational systems since then, as it prepares for its maiden Contractor Sea Trials (CST) which is expected in the forthcoming months. 

The IAC would be commissioned as INS Vikrant in the first half of 2022, which would be the most potent sea-based asset. The ship shall operate MiG-29K fighter aircraft, Kamov-31 Air Early Warning Helicopters, the soon to be inducted MH-60R multi-role helicopter and the indigenously manufactured Advanced Light Helicopters. It would offer an incomparable military instrument with its ability to project Air Power over long distances, including Air Interdiction, Anti-Surface Warfare, offensive and defensive Counter-Air, Airborne Anti-Submarine Warfare and Airborne Early Warning. 

During the visit, an exhibition showcasing Indian Navy’s various ongoing innovations, indigenisation and operations aligning with the nation’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic was also organised for the Raksha Mantri. The major exhibits included the Oxygen Recycling System (ORS), which is currently under clinical trials at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Science and Technology; Navrakshak PPE and masks currently being used in PM CARES Hospitals; Remote Patient Monitoring System and several such other innovations which had provided affordable, effective and user-friendly medical solutions. The Raksha Mantri was also apprised about the assistance rendered to civil agencies such as the Fire Safety Audit of hospitals and specialised training on PSA Oxygen Plants in addition to an overview of the Samudra Setu II and Oxygen Express Operations. The Raksha Mantri also interacted with 10-year-old Veer Kashyap, a student of Navy Children School Kochi, who had won the Pradhan Mantri Bal Puraskar 2021 for developing an innovative board game ‘Corona Yuga’ for educating and creating awareness about the pandemic among the public at large. 

The Raksha Mantri was also informed about the activities being conducted and planned by Indian Navy towards ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’ being celebrated by the Armed Forces to commemorate the victory of 1971 war and ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to commemorate the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence. 

Shri Rajnath Singh also visited some of the training establishments under Southern Naval Command and appreciated the efforts of the Indian Navy for continuously providing professional training not only to the Officers and Sailors of Indian Navy but also to friendly foreign Navies even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. He interacted with the officers and sailors of the Kochi area over lunch traditionally called ‘Barakhana’. 

The Raksha Mantri expressed satisfaction at the progress of construction of Indigenous Aircraft Carrier, describing it as a shining example of ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’ envisioned by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He stated that IAC has nearly 75 per cent indigenous content – from design to steel used in construction to key weapons and sensors. He recalled a recent approval accorded by the Defence Acquisition Council for RFP of Project 75-I under the Strategic Partnership model, which will give further fillip to indigenous development of niche manufacturing technologies. 

Shri Rajnath Singh highlighted the combat capability, reach and versatility of the aircraft carrier, saying that it will add formidable capabilities in the defence of the country and help secure India’s interests in maritime domain. Appreciating the fact that significant progress was made on the construction of IAC despite COVID-19, he said the commissioning of IAC will be a befitting tribute to 75 years of India’s independence. 

The Raksha Mantri reaffirmed the Government’s commitment towards a strong Indian Navy, saying that “IAC and Project Seabird at Karwar, which will be the Asia’s largest Naval Base, as the examples of our unwavering focus”. He listed out the measures being taken by the Government to modernise the Indian Navy, with emphasis on indigenisation, which will enhance the Navy’s operational reach and prowess. He assured all possible support to the Navy for bolstering their operational preparedness, saying that a strong Naval force is crucial for peace, security and prosperity. 

On the Galwan incident, Shri Rajnath Singh said Indian Navy’s proactive forward deployment signalled that the country wants peace but is ready for any eventuality. “Indian Navy remains poised and combat ready to tackle any challenge,” he said. The Raksha Mantri reiterated the Prime Minister’s vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the wider goal of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific to ensure peace and stability in the region. 

The Raksha Mantri lauded Indian Navy for its contribution in the fight against COVID-19 – from bringing back Indian citizens from overseas during Operation Samudra Setu I and ferrying in Liquid Medical Oxygen from abroad during Operation Samudra Setu lI – despite the danger of spread of the virus onboard warships. He also commended the Search and Rescue (SAR) efforts by Navy during Cyclone Tauktae and Cyclone Yaas. 

On June 24, 2021, Shri Rajnath Singh had visited the Karwar Naval Base and reviewed the progress of ongoing infrastructure development under ‘Project Seabird’, as part of his two-day visit to the Southern Naval Command.

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