Indian Navy’s stealth Frigate, INS Talwar is presently deployed for Op Sankalp commemorating the 3rd continuous year of Indian Navy’s presence in the Gulf for protection of India’s Maritime Interests.
In the milieu of the deteriorating security situation in the Gulf region, post attacks on merchant ships in the Gulf of Oman in June 2019, Indian Navy had commenced Maritime Security Operations, code named ‘Op SANKALP’, in the Gulf Region on 19 June 2019 to ensure safe passage of Indian Flag Vessels transiting through the Strait of Hormuz.
This operation is being progressed in close coordination with all stakeholders including Ministry of Defence, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and DG, Shipping.
Indian Navy continues to monitor the situation in the Gulf region and is maintaining presence in the region to ensure security of our sea borne trade and the safety of Indian Flag Merchant Vessels transiting through the region. The Indian Navy stands committed to protection of the nation’s Maritime Interests.
The Ministry of Culture, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and India@75 Foundation jointly organized Conference on Sankalp Se Siddhi with the theme New India. New Resolve at the Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, in New Delhi, today.
Held under the aegis of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav the conference had three sessions. The inaugural session with the theme ‘Celebrating India@75 and making way for India@100’ saw active participation from Smt. Meenakashi Lekhi, Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture; Shri Govind Mohan, Secretary, Ministry of Culture and ShriSanjiv Bajaj, President Designate, CII.
On the occasion Smt. Meenakashi Lekhi said that no business can do well in vacuum; the right atmosphere and the confidence needs to be created for it. She also added “We need to collaborate and work together and it’s time to celebrate the contribution of freedom fighters, leaders as well as we can’t ignore the contribution made by the industrial leaders. We take pride in all our industrial leaders as they played an important role in building India,” she added.
She also said “When everyone sings together, the symphony is created and our song is #AzadiKaAmritMahotsav. All our achievements – scientific, mathematical or cultural must be spoken about everywhere we go.”
Smt Meenakashi Lekhi also added “Ancient India was high on skillsets, as was the richness of our culture. We lost our institutions owing to slavery.”
In the second session Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics and Information Technology delivered a Keynote address on the session, ‘Leveraging Digital Platforms to Build a Future-Ready India’. The session recognized digitalization as an indispensable tool in shaping an inclusive and fair nation and deliberated on measures that could speed up its adoption.
Addressing the session , Shri Ashiwni Vaishnaw highlighted the 5 themes/points that can add value to development efforts of the government and industry pertaining to digitisation. These included- Electronics and other kind of manufacturing, Lead in Semiconductor sector, Use of public digital platforms and convergence between telecom and Information Technology to reap benefits of digitisation.
People at the bottom of pyramid should be at the core of our digitisation programme, the Minister urged. Reiterating the Antyodaya philosophy of the government, he said that everything that we do shall aim to provide benefits, a transformative force and a better environment for the marginal sections of the society.
The last session ‘Volunteer Engagement Strategy for India@100’ was chaired by Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Information & Broadcasting and Mr Abheek Singhi, Managing Director & Senior Partner BCG-India along with members of the Industry and India@75 Foundation. The discussions touched on the need to institutionalise volunteering so that it could be elevated from a social practice to a nation building activity.
During his address, Shri Anurag Thakur said that the pandemic made us rethink and reimagine how we have to live in a post pandemic era. When the whole country was under lockdown, it was this spirit of volunteerism that kept the poor fed – by delivering ration under PMGKY to the local areas and homes of the poor which was done by our youth volunteers across the nation by setting up temporary kitchens and delivering hot meals to the needy.
Talking about New India-New resolve Shri Thakur said that the nation can only be healthy if its young people participate and engage in development initiatives. “Youth must always remember the contribution and sacrifice made by the freedom fighters. You don’t need to sacrifice but you have to contribute”, Shri Thakur added.He said that millions are due to join India’s workforce by 2030, hence there is a need to provide avenues for young people to take part in the process of nation-building while giving them opportunities as well as a platform to develop their skills. And if we go about it systematically, India can create the largest workforce in the world, the Minister explained. The Minister concluded by urging the private sector to promote volunteerism by creating new avenues and coming up with unique ideas to engage the youth meaningfully.
Sankalp Se Siddhi brought together eminent names from the government and industry to both celebrate India’s sectoral achievements and draw a roadmap for India@100.
The conference witnessed the participation of the Key Industry leaders, Domain Experts, Academicians, Government dignitaries and NGOs.
In order to preserve this important event in history, a Sankalp Smarak was dedicated to the nation by Lt Gen Ajai Singh, Commander-in-Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN), exactly 78 years after Netaji’s arrival on 29 Dec 2021 at 11:30 am. The Smarak is a tribute not only to the resolve of the soldiers of the Indian National Army and their innumerable sacrifices but also reminds us of the values enshrined by Netaji himself, “Nishtha, Kartavya aur Balidan” or “Commitment, Duty and Sacrifice” that continue to underscore the ethos of the Indian Armed Forces and the resolve of the Indian Soldier.
In the saga of India’s freedom struggle, 30 December 1943 holds a special place etched in time. It was on this day that a national flag was hoisted for the first time on Indian soil, at Port Blair. It is also significant is that Netaji escaped British surveillance from Kolkata on 16 Jan 1941 and stepped back on Indian soil after nearly three years, at Port Blair Aerodrome on 29 Dec 1943 at 11:30 am and unfurled a National flag the next day. Netaji’s visit to the islands as the Head of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind and Supreme Commander of Indian National Army marked a symbolic fulfilment of his promise that the Indian National Army would stand on Indian soil by the end of 1943. This historic visit also marked a declaration of Andaman and Nicobar Islands as the “first liberated territory of India”.
The location of Netaji’s historic arrival on 29 Dec 1943 (accompanied by Sarvashri Anand Mohan Sahay (Secretary with Ministerial Rank), Captain Rawat – ADC and Col DS Raju (personal physician of Netaji), lies within the premises of what is now Andaman and Nicobar Command’s Air Station INS Utkrosh, in close proximity to the present-day runway. Upon his arrival as the Supreme Commander of the Indian National Army by a Japanese Air Force Aircraft, Netaji was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour by soldiers of Indian National Army at the Air Field.
During the dedicated ceremony held on the occasion, Soldiers of the only Quad Services Command of India led by the Commander-in-Chief himself along with other senior officers, soldiers and families paid homage, honouring the sacrifices of the soldiers of the Indian National Army. The event was conducted in a simple and solemn ceremony befitting the occasion.
