Month: February 2022

Special Commemorative Stamp In Memory Of Lata Didi

By LokMarg

The Union Government has decided to issue a commemorative stamp in the memory of Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar, who passed away at the age of 92 on Sunday. The Centre is currently looking at a few design options of the proposed commemorative stamp.

Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology and Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw told ANI that the initial work on the design of the commemorative stamp has begun.
In an exclusive interview with ANI, Vaishnaw said, “This will be a small tribute on behalf of all of us to the legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, who touched the hearts and lives of millions of people not just in India, but across the world. The work on the design for the stamp is currently on, and it will be launched on an appropriate occasion.”

Sources aware of the developments told ANI that, currently, a team is looking at the details of the design of the proposed commemorative stamp. “The search has narrowed down on possibly three forms of the stamp. It could either be a pencil sketch stamp or a portrait of one of her most popular pictures or even a picture showing the mike in front of the face which has been hugely popular,” sources said.

The government is contemplating releasing the stamp on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Lata Mangeshkar on September 28.

Lata Mangeshkar, who was in the hospital for over a fortnight, passed away on February 6 after multi-organ failure, caused by the post-COVID19 complications. She was admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to the late singer and also attended her final rites in the Shivaji Park in Mumbai.

Lata Mangeshkar, popularly known as Lata Didi, was cremated with full state honours and the Union Government had announced two-day national mourning in her memory. (ANI)

5G In Its Final Stages Of Development: Telecom Min

By LokMarg

The fifth generation or 5G network is in its final stages of development in India, Union Minister of Communications, Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Tuesday.

Addressing ‘India Telecom 2022’ business expo Vaishnaw said India has emerged as a major electronics manufacturing hub.
“The country has also developed its own indigenously developed 4G core & radio network. The 5G network is also in its final stages of development. The country is participating today in development of 6G standards, in the thought process of 6G.”

In his inaugural address at the event the minister said, “Today, electronics manufacturing in India is close to $75 billion. It’s growing at more than 20 per cent CAGR. Now, we have launched a major semiconductor programme, a very comprehensive programme in which right from silicon chip to compound semiconductors, design-led manufacturing, creating a series of entrepreneurs in design and also finally to develop 85,000 semiconductor engineers.”

India Telecom 2022 is organized by Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council (TEPC) 8-10 February 2022 under the Market Access Initiative Scheme (MAI) of the Department of Commerce, Government of India and with the support of the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of External Affairs and Indian missions in different countries.

Qualified buyers from more than 45 countries are attending the event. Apart from the conference, 40+ Indian telecom companies are showcasing their products and capabilities at the exhibition.

Delivering the special address at the event, Devusinh Chauhan, Minister of State for Communications said, “Communications is not merely a facility. It empowers citizens of the country by helping them to get information, education and opportunity to ask questions and make the Government of the day accountable.”

“Transparency and Accountability make our democracy vibrant and strong. It is a prime mover for socio-economic changes. That is why, the Government has made an ambitious plan taking optical fibre to all 6 lacs villages. We have reached to 2.6 lacs villages and the Department of Telecom plans to achieve the target by 2025,” Chauhan said. (ANI)

Punjab Polls: BJP Promises To Waive Debt Of Farmers

By LokMarg

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its manifesto for the Punjab Assembly polls on Tuesday, promising to entirely waive off the debt of all farmers with less than five acres of land-holdings in the state.

Besides, the party also promised ‘Mehnat Da Pakka Mull’ under which the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers growing fruits, vegetables, pulses, and oilseeds will be guaranteed as part of the Central Governments MSP extension programme.
For sustaining crop diversification and making it more rewarding, the alliance promised a dedicated annual budget of Rs 5,000 crore for agriculture.

As per an official statement from the BJP, Union Minister and BJP in-charge for Punjab Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, along with Shiromani Akali Dal-Sanyukt leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and BJP state general secretary Subash Sharma, said that this was a futuristic manifesto that is set to revolutionise the rural and agricultural economy in Punjab.

The BJP is fighting the Assembly polls in alliance with former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh-led Punjab Lok Congress (PLC) and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa-led Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt).

The alliance promised that one lakh acres of ‘Shamlat Land’ in the state will be allocated to rural landless farmers for cultivation. Besides, every landless farmer in the state would be given an annual financial assistance of Rs 6,000 under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sanman Yojana.

For ‘Sustainable Green Revolution’, the manifesto promised an annual budget of Rs 5,000 crore to support Sustainable Agriculture and Organic Farming in the state.

For special emphasis to protect Punjab’s depleting water table, free of cost rainwater harvesting units will be installed. Subsidy will be given for alternative automated and smart irrigation systems, which will help in water conservation. The irrigation department will be investigated for corruption and the corrupt officials will be brought to justice.

To promote dairy farming, an organised milk marketing system shall be developed by establishing milk chilling centres in every village and milk processing units in a cluster of every 30 villages. Veterinary aid centres, artificial insemination and breeding centres will be established in every tehsil.

It promised that subsidies and loans will be provided to women and those belonging to Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Economically Weaker Sections to start businesses in Dairy Farming, Poultry Farming and Beekeeping.

The manifesto promised subsidies to agro-based industries under the Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme. Tax Exempted agro-based Industrial Clusters comprising small and medium enterprises shall be formed to attract investment in rural areas. Mega Food Processing Parks will be established also.

To promote rural entrepreneurship, the ‘Samriddh-Pind’ scheme will be launched and funds will be allocated annually to promote rural startups. To promote MSMEs, interest and collateral-free loans will be given to the rural youth with an easy payback mechanism.

To improve the healthcare system in villages, under the ‘Healthy Villages’ scheme, each village will have Aarogya Kendras (clinics) with 24×7 doctor facility and laboratory, in which all kinds of tests can be done.

Availability of ‘108 ambulance’ service will be ensured in all rural areas within 15 minutes. Permanent drivers will be recruited to achieve this endeavour.

Under the ‘Pakki Chhatt – Har Ik Da Haqq’ (Housing for All) scheme permanent houses will be provided to all economically weaker sections of the society.

Under ‘Har Ghar Jal’, clean and safe piped drinking water facilities will be provided to every household.

All villages will have a 24×7 power supply. The government will provide free electricity up to 300 units to each household and above it, the electricity tariff will be Rs 3 per unit for domestic purposes.

High-quality smart schools will be set up in the villages with modern classrooms, computer labs and playgrounds. Annual stipend will be given to EWS and handicapped students and all girls belonging to Scheduled Caste till 10th class.

To promote sports in rural areas, playgrounds will be developed at the village level to encourage youngsters to participate in sports. To promote sportsmanship from the school level, sports kits will be given free of cost to all the registered sports clubs and government schools.

The BJP said that world-class facilities will be provided for grooming international level hockey players. Kabaddi will be encouraged through rural tournaments.

The amount of cash rewards given to medal winners in the important International and National Games will be revised on the lines of Haryana.

Gold Medal winners in Olympics/Paralympics will get Rs 6 crores each, silver medalists Rs 4 crores each, bronze medalists Rs 2.5 crores each and those participating in these events will get Rs 15 lakhs each. Anyone qualifying for these games will get at least Rs 15 lakhs.

For the Asian/ Para Asian Games, it will be Rs 3 crores, Rs 1.5 crores, Rs 75 lakhs and 7.5 lakhs for gold, silver, bronze medal and participation respectively.

For Commonwealth Games/ Para Commonwealth, it will be Rs 1.5 crores, Rs 75 Lakhs, Rs 50 Lakhs and Rs 7.5 Lakhs for gold, silver, bronze medals and participation respectively.

For World Cup/Para World Cup events held once in 4 years, the prize money will be Rs 1.5 Crores, Rs 75 Lakhs, Rs 50 Lakhs and Rs 7.5 Lakhs for gold, silver, bronze medals and participation respectively.

For National Games/ Para National Games the prize money for gold, silver and bronze medals will be 5 Lakhs 3 Lakhs 2 Lakhs respectively, while for the State Level Games it will be Rs 21,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively for the gold, silver and bronze medals.

Punjab will go to the polls on February 14 and the counting of votes will take place on March 10.

In the 2017 Assembly polls in the state, Congress won an absolute majority by winning 77 seats and ousted the SAD-BJP government which had been in power for 10 years. (ANI)

The Cuppa From Darjeeling Hills

By Kunal Bose

Teas grown at some misty high altitude areas in Sri Lanka or Nepal may come somewhat close to the universally celebrated beverage produced in the hills of Darjeeling and these may be selling in the world market as the ‘real’ hoodwinking the unsuspecting drinkers. Connoisseurs will, however, spit all that is fake. For a variety of reasons from climate change resulting in less rains and spells of drought to serious political turmoil in 2017 leading to suspension of plantation work in crucial months to steady migration of potential young plantation workers to the plains to escape from lowly paid garden jobs to city lights, production of fabled Darjeeling tea was down to about 6.20 million kg in 2021, the lowest in a long time from over 10 million kg annually through the 1990s.

Even while the eponymously named tea has always constituted a very small portion of India’s total yearly tea production of over 1.3 billion kg, there were times when over 40 million kg of tea a year was globally sold as Darjeeling brew. As members of Darjeeling Tea Association (DTA) and Indian Tea Exporters Association (ITEA) will bitterly complain unprincipled blenders and packers from both within and outside the country would mix large portions of teas of other origins with some Darjeeling tea and then pass it off as Darjeeling to unsuspicious buyers.

Fearing the erosion of brand equity of Darjeeling tea, which for its special attributes of muscatel flavour and light translucent colour of liquor has earned the moniker champagne of all teas, the Tea Board and industry long worked together to get for the tea grown in Darjeeling hills the Geographical Indication (GI) tag under World Trade Organisation to weed out counterfeit product sold as original, particularly in European markets.

This proved to be a long arduous campaign, for the mighty blenders and packers with links to MNCs took the stand that Darjeeling was only a “type of tea” and therefore, they were free to blend tea from Darjeeling hills with what was plucked in Sri Lankan hills or any other places. Darjeeling tea winning the GI tag in 2005, however, turned the hare-brained argument of packers and blenders got turned on its head. The mischief of misspelling blended tea as Darjeeling tea in European markets continued till September 2012 when the EU took the decision that only the packets containing 100 per cent tea sourced to Darjeeling hills having got the protected GI status could be sold as Darjeeling tea.

But what it is that lends Darjeeling tea the uniqueness putting it on a pedestal much higher than teas of any other origin? According to experts, drinking Darjeeling tea of light golden liquor is pure bliss because the crop grown in a high elevation of 150 metres to 2,100 metres on a unique kind of soil has the benefit of cool damp climate, Himalayan breeze touching hill slopes and constant mist that cannot be replicated elsewhere. Some will say some Taiwanese Oolongs come close to Darjeeling brew. But only ‘close.’ Moreover, under insistence of importers in Europe and Japan, the majority of Darjeeling gardens are totally transformed into making only organic tea with no traces of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. The changeover no doubt has left an impact on production volume. But the demanding agro practice has improved soil fertility as planting of shade trees is helping in preservation of top soil.

ALSO READ: Political Debates And Coffee Beans

Along with production fall in Darjeeling hills, exports of premium tea from the region have shrunk alarmingly by nearly 25 per cent in the past two years. DTA chairman BK Saria regrets the “huge lack of global awareness” of GI of tea grown in Darjeeling hills even after all these years. To correct the situation, he is recommending an appropriately large promotional campaign, coordinated by the government represented by the Tea Board and industry in the EU, Japan and Russia in particular. Such promotion work should also be carried out in the US where more and more people are taking to drinking tea and are appreciative of a good cuppa.  There is no reason why larger quantities of orthodox Darjeeling tea will not find bigger custom in these countries, if supported by marketing and promotional push.

What is also of major concern is large quantities of low cost tea originating in neighbouring Nepal finding their way into India duty free facilitated by trade agreement. Large quantities of Nepalese orthodox tea brought into India and sold in the market here as Darjeeling tea are having a deleterious effect on what is harvested in the hills of northern most district of West Bengal. Low priced Nepalese tea has depressed the prices of Darjeeling tea as it has hijacked a share of the latter’s domestic market. No wonder, imports have strained the finances of the high cost Darjeeling tea growers. Imports playing havoc have happened to the distress of Darjeeling growers at a time when because of Covid-19, domestic demand for the relatively expensive beverage in cities such as Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore sank. People there in upper echelons have for the time being dispensed with afternoon tea drinking get-together.

India is also the destination for growing imports of large volumes of CTC (crush, tear, curl) tea. In the three years to March 2020, Indian tea imports were 60.35 million kg of which 36.92 million kg was retained within the country and the balance re-exported.  Further, in the first eight months up to August 2021, tea imports into the country were up a hefty 34 per cent on a year-on-year basis, causing prices to fall. It is not, therefore, a day too soon that the Tea Board, which oversees the industry’s working woke up to the damage that cheap tea imports were doing to the local industry and trade.

What also is compromising Indian reputation of a quality tea producer and exporter is low quality teas from Nepal and Kenya on their arrival here are being marketed abroad as Indian beverage. The Board has threatened to cancel licences of importers if they are found to be bringing in cheap teas into the country. The move is triggered by compulsion to ensure that no other teas, imported or otherwise must be blended with the three lines of Indian teas – Darjeeling, Assam orthodox and Kangra and Nilgiris orthodox – for which geographical indication has been secured.

For the middling Darjeeling tea one may be paying around ₹1,000 a kg. But from time to time, some exclusive Darjeeling lines will find foreign buyers for over $1,500 a kg. Such teas come from either late first flush or the second flush. Growers of high quality tea in Darjeeling hills are quite picky about plucking only the best of two leaves and a bud from each plant. This helps in generating good flavour. The follow up withering, rolling and fermentation of leaves are also done with great care to create the unique beverage. Darjeeling tea is harvested and produced in four flashes: First flush is from March first week to May first week when the tea is greenish and the liquor is mild with floral aroma. The second flush running from third week of May to third week of June yields a more mature crop by way of flavour and liquor with a pronounced muscatel flavour. The rain crop coming between July and September is in bulk with hardly any distinguishing character. The fourth flush lasting from September end to mid-November yields strong liquor and also a distinct aroma.

Tripura: Former BJP Leaders Sudip Roy Barman, Ashish Saha Join Congress

By LokMarg

Ahead of the 2023 Tripura assembly polls, former minister Sudip Roy Barman and Ashish Kumar Saha joined Congress on Tuesday after meeting Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Delhi.

Barman and Saha resigned from BJP and their MLA posts in Tripura Assembly on Monday. Burman was removed from the post of minister due to anti-party activities.

BJP MLAs Burba Mohan Tripura and Diba Chandra Hrangkhawl were also present in the meeting. However, they have not joined Congress yet.

“Many MLAs are ready but perhaps they want to wait for a few more months due to technicality. Everyone is disillusioned with the party. I feel Tripura can go to polls along with Gujarat and Himachal,” Barman told ANI after joining Congress.

According to sources, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress Tripura In-charge Ajay Kumar and state Congress president Birajit Sinha played a key in these resignations. (ANI)

67,597 New COVID-19 Cases, 1,188 Deaths In Last 24 Hrs

By LokMarg

India reported 67,597 new COVID-19 cases and 1,188 deaths in the last 24 hours, informed the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday.

With this, the country’s cumulative case tally reached 4,23,39,611, while the death toll has mounted to 5,02,874.
The active cases further declined to 9,94,891, comprising 2.35 per cent of the total infections.

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 5.02 per cent, while the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 8.30 per cent, the ministry said.

A total of 1,80,456 patients were recovered in the last 24 hours and the cumulative tally of recovered patients since the beginning of the pandemic is now at 4,08,40,658. The COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 96.46 per cent.

The testing capacity across the country continues to be expanded as the country conducted 13,46,534 tests in the last 24 hours. India has so far conducted 74,29,08,121 cumulative tests.

With the administration of 55,78,297 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 170.21 crore (1,70,21,72,615) as per provisional reports till 7 am today. (ANI)

Coimbatore Blast

Gujarat Court Convicts 49 In 2008 Ahmedabad Blast Case

By LokMarg

A Gujarat court on Tuesday convicted 49 accused and acquitted 28 others in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blast case.

Justice AR Patel will pronounce the quantum of punishment tomorrow. All the convicts will be brought in the court when the quantum of punishment is pronounced by the Judge.

Within a span of 70 minutes as many as 21 bomb blasts had taken place in Ahmedabad on July 26, 2008. The terror attack had led to the death of 56 people who were killed at various places in the city due to the bomb blasts and over 200 people were also injured. The Islamic militant group, Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami, had claimed responsibility for the attacks. (ANI)

Sanjana To Feature In Romance Drama ‘Uljhe Hue’

By LokMarg

Actor Sanjana Sanghi, best known for her roles in ‘Rockstar’ and ‘Dil Bechara’, is all set to come up with a short film titled ‘Uljhe Hue’.

Directed by Satish Raj Kasireddi, written by Ida Ali and produced by Ahab Jafri, ‘Uljhe Hue’ is a romance drama and also features Abhay Verma in the lead role.

Talking more about the project, Satish said, “Uljhe Hue is a love story that audiences will be able to relate to and cherish. The short film has been created by highly credible artists and captures the pulse of modern-day romance.”

‘Uljhe Hue’ will be out on Amazon miniTV on February 11. (ANI)

Actor Praveen Sobti, Popular Bheem Fame In ‘Mahabharata’ Passes Away

By LokMarg

Veteran actor and athlete Praveen Kumar Sobti who essayed the role of ‘Bheem’ in BR Chopra’s ‘Mahabharata’ has passed away at the age of 74.

As per reports, Kumar Sobti had left for his heavenly abode on Monday night.
Born in Punjab, the actor who had just turned 74, in December last year was also an athlete. He had participated in hammer throw and won several medals for India in the Asian and Commonwealth Games and even participated in the Olympics.

The actor had worked in about 30 movies in his showbiz career and played many memorable roles including Mukhtaar Singh in Amitabh Bachchan’s cult classic film ‘Shahenshah’; before he moved to politics.

Kumar Sobti contested in the 2013 Delhi Legislative elections on an Aam Aadmi Party ticket, but lost. Subsequently, in 2014, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. (ANI)

Delhi Air Quality Index

Delhi’s AQI At 280, Air Quality In ‘Poor’ Category

By LokMarg

The air quality of the national capital on Tuesday continues to remain in the ‘poor’ category with an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 280 as per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

The level of PM 2.5 and PM 10 was recorded at 114 in the ‘poor’ category and 206 in the ‘moderate’ category respectively.

The AQI in Noida (UP) is in the ‘poor’ category with AQI at 297 and in Gurugram (Haryana) in the ‘moderate’ category with AQI at 200.

The SAFAR bulletin stated that the AQI is likely to improve to ‘moderate’ or ‘satisfactory category by the 9th evening due to expected rain and associated wet deposition on the 9th. And from 10th onwards relatively high wind speed is likely enhancing dispersion and keeping with ‘moderate’ or ‘lower end of poor’.

As per the government agencies, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’. (ANI)