- Exercise Mitra Shakti -VII: 2019
The seventh edition of Exercise MITRA SHAKTI- 2019 aimed at enhancing interoperability and operational efficiency amongst the armies of both India and Sri Lanka when deployed as part of United Nations peace keeping forces.
The objective of the exercise is to build and promote positive relations between armies of India and Sri Lanka through focus on sub unit level training on counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations in urban and rural environment under United Nations mandate. The joint training exercise also signifies the strength of India-Sri Lanka relations in the field of military cooperation and engagement, which is vital for refining the interoperability and operational preparedness.
The joint exercise is designed for incorporating the current dynamics of United Nations peace keeping operations through practical and comprehensive discussions and tactical exercises. The primary focus of the joint training exercise will remain on field craft, battle drills and procedures as also the ability to operate jointly with seamless interoperability.
As member nations of the United Nations, the participating contingents will gain immensely through joint operability and enhanced military and diplomatic association.
- Sahyog Sankalp’ resolution adopted during regional conference on ‘Ek Bharat Shreshta Bharat’ with focus on Jal Shakti and Disaster Management
Various sessions on Disaster Management and Jal Shakti held during 2-day conference held in Jammu
The ‘Sahyog Sankalp’ resolution was adopted in the Valedictory Session of the two-day Regional Conference on ‘Ek Bharat Shreshta Bharat’ with focus on ‘Jal Shakti and Disaster Management’, organized by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) in collaboration with Governments of Tamil Nadu and Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, concluded at Jammu today.
- Curtain Raiser Exercise Hand-in-Hand-2019
The 8th India-China joint training exercise ‘HAND-IN-HAND 2019’ with the theme counter terrorism under United Nations mandate is scheduled to be conduct at Umroi, Meghalaya.
The Chinese contingent from the Tibet Military command comprising of 130 personal and the Indian Contingent of similar strength will participate in the 14 day long training exercise. The exercise is planned at the company level with respective Battalion Headquarters controlling the training.
The aim of the exercise is to practice joint planning and conduct of counter terrorist operations in semi urban terrain. The exercise schedule is focused upon training on various lectures & drills associated with counter terrorist handling & firing with each others weapons, special heliborne operations and case studies of various operations carried out in counter terrorist environment. Two tactical exercises are scheduled during the training; one on counter terrorism scenario and the other on Humanitarian and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
- Blue Flag Certification for beaches
The Ministry has embarked upon a programme for ‘Blue Flag’ Certification for select beaches in the country. This Certification is accorded by an international agency “Foundation for Environment Education, Denmark” based on 33 stringent criteria in four major heads i.e.
- Environmental Education and Information,
- Bathing Water Quality,
- Environment Management and Conservation and (iv) Safety and Services in the beaches. The ‘Blue Flag’ beach is an Eco-tourism model endeavouring to provide to the tourists/beach goers clean and hygienic bathing water, facilities/amenities, safe and healthy environment and sustainable development of the area.
13 pilot beaches that have been identified for the certification, in consultation with concerned coastal States/UTs, are Ghoghala Beach (Diu), Shivrajpur beach (Gujarat), Bhogave (Maharashtra), Padubidri and Kasarkod (Karnagaka), Kappad beach (Kerala), Kovalam beach (Tamil Nadu), Eden beach (Puducherry), Rushikonda beach (Andhra Pradesh), Miramar beach (Goa), Golden beach (Odisha), Radhanagar beach (Andaman & Nicobar Islands) and Bangaram beach (Lakshadweep).
Rushikonda beach in Andhra Pradesh also features in the list of 13 pilot beaches, for development of facilities and infrastructure accordingly.
- Schemes for Women and Youth
To create an enabling ecosystem for Entrepreneurship Development through entrepreneurship education and training across the Country, Pilot project on Pradhan Mantri Yuva Udyamita Vikas Abhiyaan (PM YUVA) Yojana 2.0 is under implementation through the Institutes in the Skill Ecosystem of the Ministry i.e. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKKs), Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), Polytechnics, Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Training Centres.
Further, to promote a culture of entrepreneurship among India’s youth and inspire them to set-up their own enterprise and create employment opportunities for others, Government has instituted National Entrepreneurship Awards Scheme (NEAS) in 2016. Under the Scheme, awards are conferred to the aspiring first generation entrepreneurs to recognize and honour their efforts and achievements and those individuals/organizations who are working as eco-system builder in the field of entrepreneurship development. Under the Scheme, there is a provision of 3 awards in sub-category under Enterprises Track exclusively for Women Entrepreneurs.
Besides, Government is providing financial support to the aspiring entrepreneurs through Stand-up India Scheme in the form of Bank Loan of between Rs. 10 lakh and 1 crore to at least one Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) borrower and at least one woman borrower per bank branch for setting up a greenfield enterprise in trading, services or manufacturing sector.
Furthermore, with the objective to enable aspiring entrepreneur/existing entrepreneurs to setup or expand their business activities, under the Scheme Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMYY), aspiring entrepreneur/existing entrepreneurs can avail a collateral free loan upto Rs. 10 lakh in the non agricultural sector for activities allied to agriculture. Under the Scheme, a total of Rs. 4,62,115.61 crore of loan amount has been provided to women entrepreneurs as on 15.11.2019.
In addition to the above, a loan facilitator and skill training programme is going on through Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs) under which assistance is given to aspiring entrepreneurs in the form of bank credit and skill training through RSETI to become self-employed and start their own micro enterprises with focus on rural poor. Presently, 583 RSETIs are functioning in 27 States (expect Goa) and 6 UTs (except Delhi, Chandigarh and Daman & Diu).