Kerala Floods: PM Modi conducts aerial survey, announces financial aid

Agencies
August 18, 2018

Kochi, Aug 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday conducted an aerial survey of flood-affected Kerala. He announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh per person to the next kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 to those seriously injured, from PM's National Relief Funds (PMNRF).

Earlier in the day, in a review meeting with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Union Minister KJ Alphons and other officials, the Prime Minister also announced Rs 500 crore as an immediate aid for Kerala, in addition to the 100 crore announced on August 12.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister expressed grief over the unfortunate deaths and damages caused in the floods and assured the State Government of sufficient relief material.

Prime Minister Modi directed Insurance Companies to hold special camps for assessment and timely release of compensation to the affected families and beneficiaries, under Social Security Schemes. Directions have also been issued for early clearance of claims under Fasal Bima Yojna to agriculturists.

He further directed National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to repair main national highways, damaged due to floods, on priority. Central Public Sector like NTPC and Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) have also been directed to be available to render all possible assistance to the State Government in restoring power lines.

Further giving details on the schemes and their benefits, the meeting has decided on- villagers, whose houses have been destroyed in the floods, would be provided houses on priority under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin. Under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, farmers would be provided assistance for replantation of damaged horticulture crops.

On the direction of the Prime Minister Modi, Kiren Rijiju, MoS (Home), accompanied by K.J. Alphons, MoS (I/C), and a high-level Central Team visited the flood affected districts of Alappuzha and Kottayam on July 21 and reviewed the flood situation there and provided relief measures.

On August 12, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh along with other leaders carried out an aerial survey of the affected areas and reviewed the search, rescue and relief measures taken by the State and Central Government agencies. The Home Minister then announced release of Rs. 100 crore in advance, from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

An Inter-Ministerial Centre Team (IMCT) has already visited the affected areas in Kerala for assessment of losses from August 7-12 as per the Memorandum submitted by the state government.

Currently, 57 teams of NDRF involving about 1,300 personnel and 435 boats are deployed for search and rescue operations. Five companies of Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed in the state to carry out rescue and relief measures.

The Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard are also deployed for assisting the state in search and rescue operations. A total of 38 helicopters have been deployed for rescue and relief measures. In addition, 20 aircraft are also being used for ferrying resources. Army has deployed 10 columns and 10 Teams of Engineering Task Force (ETFs) involving around 790 trained personnel's. While, Navy is providing 82 teams; the Coast Guard has provided 42 teams with two helicopters and two ships.

Since August 9, the NDRF, Army and Navy together have rescued /evacuated 6714 persons and provided medical assistance to 891 persons.

The Prime Minister complimented the state government for the efforts made in meeting the challenges of the unprecedented situation. He observed that rescue of people, who are still marooned, remains the topmost priority. Government of India will continue to support the state government in all its endeavours.

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Agencies
June 19,2020

New Delhi, Jun 19: Delhi minister Satyendar Jain's health has deteriorated further. He is infected with the coronavirus. Jain has also been diagnosed with pneumonia. He is being shifted to an ICU.  According to doctors, Jain is now kept full-time on oxygen support as his oxygen saturation level has dipped.  

Jain was admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital early Tuesday after running high fever and suffering a sudden drop in oxygen level. The 55-year-old leader's test result came positive on Wednesday evening after a second test. Jain was brought to the hospital and was administered a test for the novel coronavirus infection on Tuesday morning, for which he tested negative. But he still ran fever and showed symptoms, so another test was done after 24 hours of the first.

He will now be shifted Max Hospital in Saket and administered plasma therapy. 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also wished for Jain's speedy recovery.

On Thursday, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia took over the charge of health, PWD, power and other departments held by Jain. Jain will remain the cabinet minister without any portfolio in the Arvind Kejriwal government until he recovers. 

On Sunday, Jain attended a high-level meeting on the coronavirus situation in the national capital, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, which was also attended by Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal, Kejriwal, Sisodia and Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.

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News Network
February 9,2020

Panaji, Feb 9: RSS general secretary Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi on Saturday said that anybody who wants to work (in India) will have to do so with the Hindu community and for their empowerment.

Addressing a lecture on the topic "Vishwaguru Bharat, an RSS perspective" at Dona Paula in Panaji, Mr Joshi referred to his communication with an intellectual who had said that India should become a "supre-rashtra" in the year 2020.

"Anybody who wants to work (in India) will have to work with the Hindu commumnity by taking them along and for their empowerment. Hindus have witnessed the rise and fall of India since the time immemorial. India cannot be separated from (the) Hindu (community). Hindus have always been at the centre of this nation," Mr Joshi said in Marathi.

He also added that since Hindus are not communal or antagonist, "nobody should be reluctant to work for the Hindu community".

The RSS leader further said, "The world says India will become a superpower in 2020, but I remember my conversation with an intellectual who had said that India should become a super-rashtra (super nation) in 2020".

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was among those who attended the lecture.

"To create awareness and unity amongst Hindus does not amount to (taking) an action against others (community). No one should feel it that way. We can say with utter self confidence before the entire world that Hindus becoming strong won't result in destructive activities, but (such proposition) will work for the society and humanity," he added.

Invoking history, Mr Joshi said Hindus never invaded other countries. "Whatever wars (they had fought) were for self defence. Everyone has the right to self defence," he said.

"It is India's duty to teach the world to walk on the path of ''samanvay'' (coordination). Nobody else other than India and Hindus can do this," Mr Joshi said.

He said some communities in the world keep preaching that only their path is "great".

"But we are from the (Hindu) community which says that we have our own path so as you. When the world will accept this ideology, then all the issues would get solved. It is the duty of India to take the world on that path," he added.

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News Network
March 20,2020

New Delhi, Mar 20: The government on Thursday said one Indian who tested positive for coronavirus has died in Iran while the other citizens infected with the disease are being provided treatment and taken care of by the Iranian government.

Noting that the virus tends to be more fatal for those whose immunity levels are low, a senior MEA official said the deceased, an elderly person, belonged to the vulnerable age group and had health-related complications.

The death was not because of lack of medical attention or care, he said.

"We have evacuated 590 people from Iran where the situation is very severe. The Indians infected with coronavirus in Iran have been segregated and taken care of very well by the government there. We believe they will recover and we will bring them back," the MEA official said, adding that 201 Indians were evacuated from Iran on Wednesday.

The official said closely knit families required some persuasion and counselling during the process of segregation to prevent the spread of the contagion.

The Indian ambassador and other officials explained the consequences of infected people not being separated from their families and were successful to a large extent in segregating the positive cases from the negative ones, he said.

"Some pilgrims and students are still there and our embassy and mission are in control (of the situation)," the official said.

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