Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT)

Health Minister opens AMRIT outlet at AIIMS for selling affordable drugs for cancer & heart diseases

AMRIT will go a long way in reducing financial burden on patients: Shri Nadda

With the aim to reduce the expenditure incurred by patients on treatment of cancer and heart diseases, the Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Shri J P Nadda inaugurated the Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) outlet at AIIMs, here today. The retail outlet will sell drugs for the two ailments at highly discounted rates at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to begin with.

AMRIT will be launched in all Central Govt hospitals soon, Shri Nadda stated. He further added “What we launched today in the form of AMRIT pharmacy reflects our strong commitment to reduce the cost of treatment for the patients. Lakhs of patients will benefit from this initiative. The AMRIT pharmacy would be selling 202 cancer and 186 cardio-vascular drugs, and 148 types of cardiac implants at very affordable prices. Patients can buy medicines and implants at 50 to 60 percent cheaper prices than the open market from AMRIT outlet in AIIMS.”

The project has been floated in a tie-up with government-owned HLL Lifecare Ltd (HLL) which is deputed to establish and run the AMRIT chain of pharmacies across the country.

“This is certainly an innovative initiative. The government is pinning a lot of hope on it, given that it is an IT-enabled system,” Shri Nadda said. “We are exploring the possibility of scaling up the facility and also making it accessible to larger number of people in various parts of the country.”

Initially, AMRIT pharmacy will retail cancer drugs, based on authentic prescriptions from doctors. By this month-end, cardiovascular drugs will be dispensed in line with medicines sold for cancer. Based on the outcome of the AIIMS outlet, this initiative will be taken to other central government hospitals and Regional Cancer Centres.

The government’s move comes amid statistics that peg Indians diagnosed with cancer at 700,000 every year. About 2.8 million people have cancer at any point of time and half a million die of the disease each year. The annual figure of women being diagnosed with breast cancer in India is 145,000, according to the World Health Organisation. A significant number of patients (nearly over 50 per cent) stop visiting hospitals after two or three cycles of chemotherapy due to unaffordable costs.

global conference on traffic safety

global conference on traffic safety

Minister for Road Transport &Highways and Shipping, Shri Nitin Gadkari leaves for Brazil today to attend the two day “2nd High Level Global Conference on Traffic Safety – Time of Results” in Brasilia on the 18th and 19th of November, 2015. The conference is slated to be one of the most important discussions in the world on traffic safety, and aims to reaffirm the international community’s commitment towards reduction of traffic accidents that are responsible for 1.2 million fatalities every year.

One of the major objectives of the event is to review the progress made by countries in implementing the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020, which aims to save five million lives on the planet through the adoption of policies, programs, actions and legislations to increase safety on the roads especially for pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists .

The First Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety was held in Russia in 2009.. Thereafter, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a resolution for "Improving Global Road Safety", in 2014. The resolution expresses a concern about the fact that only 7% of the global population is protected by appropriate traffic laws, which provide mandatory use of helmets, seat belts and protective devices for children in vehicles, prohibition of driving under the influence of alcohol, speed control and prohibition of the use of mobile phones while driving, including sending text messages, which are the five key-factors of risk on transit

According to WHO’s Global Status Report on Road Safety 2013, 35 countries, accounting for nearly 10% of the world population, have passed laws tackling one or more of the five key-factors of risk between 2008 and 2011. However the number of countries with comprehensive legislation about all five key-factors of risk remained constant at 28 (representing 7% of the world population, or 449 million people) since the last WHO report in 2009. The goal of the Global Plan is that, at the end of the Decade of Action, the number of countries with comprehensive legislation on the subject increase by 50%.

The 2nd High Level Global Conference on Traffic Safety – Time of Results emerges from the UN resolution on “Improving Global Road Safety”. Led by the World Health Organization (WHO) , the conference aims to strengthen the commitment of the international community around policies, legislations, measures and actions that can halt the factors that cause 1.2 million deaths worldwide and physical trauma to another 30 to 50 million people due to traffic accidents every year,. The fatalities primarily affect children and young people from 5 to 29 years, and young men are the main victims.

India, along with host country Brazil is one of the Friends of the Decade of Action for Road Safety - an informal group committed to the success of the global plan. Others in the group are the Russian Federation, the United States, Spain, France, Australia , Argentina, Costa Rica, , Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Philippines, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay, World Health Organization, the World Bank, the Economic Commission for Europe, the Global Commission for Traffic Safety (linked to the International Automobile Federation) and the Global Security Partnership in Traffic (linked to the International Federation of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent).

India and Bangladesh sign Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to operationalize agreement on coastal shipping.

India and Bangladesh sign Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to operationalize agreement on coastal shipping.

India and Bangladesh signed the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in New Delhi today, to operationalize the “Agreement on Coastal Shipping” signed between the two countries in June, 2015. The SOP was signed by the Joint DG (Shipping) Ministry of Shipping, Government of India and Chief Engineer and Ship Surveyer, Department of Shipping, Government of Bangladesh in the presence of Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Shipping and Road Transport and Highways. Speaking on the occasion Shri Gadkari said that once it is operational, the Coastal Shipping Agreement will enable a huge saving in logistic costs of EXIM transport between the two countries.   The SOP has been framed as per the terms and conditions of the Agreement on Coastal Shipping and both India and Bangladesh have agreed to its provisions. Shri Rajive Kumar, Secretary Shipping Government of India and Shri Shafique Alam Mehdi, Secretary Shipping Government of Bangladesh were also present on the occasion. 

The Standard Operating Procedure will pave the way to promote coastal shipping between India and Bangladesh and would enhance bilateral trade between the two countries by bringing down the cost of transportation of EXIM cargo. The SOP contains provisions which stipulate that India and Bangladesh shall render same treatment to the other country's vessels as it would have done to its national vessels used in international sea transportation. The two sides have also agreed upon the use of vessels of  River Sea Vessel (RSV) category for Indo-Bangladesh coastal shipping.

The two countries will also hold Shipping Secretary level talks on 16^th Nov, 2015 which will cover the issues relating to MoU on passenger and cruise vessel movement, discussion on the protocol to operationalize the MoU on use of Mongla and Chittagong ports, payment of transit fees and bank guarantee, dredging of rivers in the protocol route using Regional IDA Assistance of World Bank Assistance, discussion on various upcoming port projects in Bangladesh.

India and Bangladesh have a Bilateral Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT) for operation of inland vessels on the river protocol routes between river ports of Haldia, Kolkata, Pandu, Karimganj and Silghat in India and Narayanganj, Khulna, Mongla, Sirajganj and Ashuganj in Bangladesh.  This protocol between the two countries has facilitated the movement of EXIM trade as well as cargo bound for the North Eastern states of India. Out of a total of 1.8 million tonnes of cargo moved on Indo-Bangladesh protocol route during 2013-14, about 98% is fly ash which is transported from Kolkata to various river ports in Bangladesh.  During the current financial year, India for the first time is using the Indo-Bangladesh river protocol to transport food grains via Ashuganj to Tripura.  However, the quantum of cargo has not picked up because of low draft in the upper reaches of Bangladesh rivers and also because of certain non-trade barriers. 

            Rapid growth in bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh has led to congestion on the road at Indo-Bangladesh border and at the Land Custom Stations/integrated Check Posts.  The traffic congestion at “Petrapole” and “Benapole” on the Bangladesh side has emerged as one of the biggest impediments to the movement of EXIM cargo. Due to such congestion, the exporters/importers on both sides have been facing undue increase in the transportation cost. 

The present connectivity through sea route with Bangladesh is through ports of Colombo and Singapore. The long sea route adds significantly to the transportation costs of EXIM trade. There is no significant cargo movement between sea ports of Bangladesh and India as it is not profitable for the big vessels to operate between these sea ports.  Under such circumstances there is a need for smaller ships to provide direct connectivity of eastern sea ports of India with Chittagong and other ports in Bangladesh. This, besides improving the connectivity will also provide competitive freight rates. 

            The biggest impediment in commencing coastal shipping between India and Bangladesh was the non-availability of River Sea Vessel class of vessels in Bangladesh. Bangladesh has foreign going vessels of higher technical and manning standards which are not cost effective for coastal voyage between the two countries.  The matter was discussed with Bangladesh side during the Secretary (Shipping) level discussion in Dhaka in July, 2012 and again in Delhi in February, 2013. 

            Several Joint Technical Committee (JTCs) meetings have also taken place between India and Bangladesh on the issue of coastal shipping.  The previous engagements finally culminated in a broad understanding on coastal shipping on 24^th June, 2014 in Dhaka. Thereafter, an Agreement on Coastal Shipping between Bangladesh and India was finalized and signed on 6^th June, 2015 during the visit of Hon'ble Prime Minster of India to Bangladesh. The cooperation in coastal shipping between the two countries would be based on the principles of national sovereignty, mutual benefits as per national laws and international conventions.

Advantages of  the Agreement:

1) The opening of coastal shipping between India and Bangladesh would enable the movement of cargo to the North East through coastal shipping upto Chittagong and thereafter by road/inland waterways.

2) The deep draft ports on the eastern coast of India can be ‘hub ports’ for the onward transportation of cargo to Bangladesh via the coastal mode through RSV category of vessels.

3) The Indian ports will attract enhanced cargo and also the overall transportation cost to Bangladesh will get reduced.

4) The Indian ports serving as trans- shipment ports for Bangladesh cargo will derive benefits by way of enhanced throughput as a result of Indo-Bangladesh coastal trade

Main statement by PM in the BRICS Leaders' Meeting

Main statement by PM in the BRICS Leaders' Meeting

Excellencies,

We can take pride in the economic initiatives of the BRICS. These will not onlystrengthen BRICS economies, but will also benefit the developing world.

As BRICS, we must place our priorities on the agenda and activities of G20.

One, in the area of development, G20 must place priority on

• effective implementation of Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 and ensure adequate funding for it.

Two, in the area of global finance, G20 should focus on

• Implementation of the decisions to restructure global economic institutions.

• Greater collaboration between multilateral and regional financial institutions.

• Enhanced long term finance for infrastructure in developing countries.

• Developing next generation, climate resilient infrastructure. This would also include converting waste into inputs for infrastructure.

• lower the cost of global remittances well before 2030

• close coordination on preventing corruption and cooperation on freezing of unaccounted money hoarded abroad and its repatriation.

Three, in the area of trade, we should focus on

• Strengthening the rule-based global trading system and ensuring that new trading blocs do not lead to division of the global trade regime.

• speeding up the completion of the Doha Development Agenda.

• promotinggreater mobility of skilled professionals and creating a global skill force market.

Four, in the area of climate change,G20's priorities should include

• a successful outcome at the COP21 based on the principles of UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, including the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.

• Facilitate climate finance and technology transfer to developing countries.

• enhance research and development on clean and renewable energy to increase access, efficiency and affordability of clean energy.

• support development of next generation and climate resistant infrastructure.

• Support the India-proposed international solar alliance.

Five, G20 should promote stronger global action to address security challenges, including through

• comprehensive global strategy to put an end to finance, supplies and communication channels of the terrorists.

• stopping the flow of arms and explosives to terrorist groups.

• Creating special international legal regime to disrupt terrorist activities.

• cooperation in preventing the use of cyber networks by terrorist groups.

• early adoption of Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.

I am confident that BRICS economies will continue to be strong and stable and will remain a source of strength for the global economy.

Excellencies,

The Strategy for BRICS Economic Cooperation, which we endorsed in Ufa, is an important framework document.

The Contact Group on Trade and Economic Issues and Business Council should prepare a Work Plan for implementation of the Strategy in a time-bound manner.

Each BRICS member country should take the lead in at least two priority areas listed in the Strategy.

It would be appropriate if the first joint meeting is held during the Russian Chairmanship.

The joint sitting may also work on a Roadmap for Trade, Economic and Investment Cooperation till 2020.

Excellencies,

We hope that the New Development Bank will start its operations quickly. As I said in Ufa, its first project should be on clean energy, preferably across all BRICS countries.

We need to create a supporting mechanism, such as a New Development Bank Institute or NDBI, which should function as bank of ideas, a storehouse of experience and a knowledge powerhouse. It can also provide inputs for the Contingency Reserve Arrangements.

Excellencies,

India will continue to work closely with our BRICS partners in the spirit of mutual trust, respect and transparency.

I had shared some ideas at Ufa. These included trade fairs; agriculture research; railway research; digital initiative; energy efficient technologies; cooperation between states, cities and local bodies; promoting films and sports exchange.

We will be building upon them and putting more new ideas on the BRICS agenda.

We will work with you to further strengthen the institutional mechanisms of BRICS.

I look forward to seeing you in India for the 8th Summit next year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposes 7-point agenda on ‪#‎ClimateChange‬; calls for target date before 2030 to reduce high costs of transferring remittances.

Speech by the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee at the inauguration ceremony of the 35th India International Trade Fair 2015

Speech by the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee at the inauguration ceremony of the 35th India International Trade Fair 2015
1. It is indeed a pleasure for me to be here today for the inauguration ceremony of the 35th India International Trade Fair (IITF), which is the flagship event of India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO).
2. I am particularly glad to find considerable participation of companies from the SAARC region. Our South Asian neighbours are our highest priority in keeping with our ‘neighbourhood first’ policy. Our approach to South Asia has always been one of seeking shared prosperity and security. The fact, however, is that our region remains amongst the least integrated and developed, underlining the need for greater co-operation and intensification of our trade effort.
3. In this context, it is good to see Afghanistan as the ‘Partner Country’ and Bangladesh as the ‘Focus Country’ in IITF 2015. Through closer economic co-operation with Afghanistan, India can provide not only a vast and growing market for its goods and services, but can also be a source of capital, technology, best-practices and institutions appropriate for Afghanistan’s needs.
4. Bangladesh is one of the faster growing economies in the region. It is emerging as a sound manufacturing base for multinational companies in sectors like textiles. The potential for both our economies to grow together is high, given our resources. Like India, Bangladesh is a nation with a significant population in the productive age group, with 65 percent of her 159 million people falling in the 15 to 64 years age category. Our countries already cooperate in a wide spectrum of economic activities like trade and commerce, and power sector. Our respective economic progress must provide greater opportunities to both our peoples.
Friends:
5. I take a moment here to mention about Madhya Pradesh, which is the Focus State for IITF 2015. Innovative measures have seen this State making progress on all fronts, particularly agriculture, where the growth rate has been close to 20 percent during the last two years.
6. I also compliment Goa and Jharkhand, the Partner States, for their participation in this prestigious event. Goa is one of the fastest growing states in the country and amongst the leading states in per capita income. Goa’s well-developed social, physical and industrial infrastructure and IT connectivity has led to a strong economic performance, particularly in industrial sectors like mining, tourism and pharmaceuticals.
7. Jharkhand is located in one of the richest mineral zones in the world. It accounts for 40 percent of India’s total mineral reserves. Jharkhand ranks first in coal reserves and second in iron ore reserves. Given its distinct location advantage, the potential for industrial development is high. This State produces 17 percent of the total iron ore produced in the country.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
8. The IITF is a brand name in itself and enjoys recognition worldwide. This annual celebration of trade and industry aims to deepen our bilateral relations with the rest of the world. In the realm of external relations, the Government of India has intensified our engagement with neighbours and friendly countries across the globe. Recently in the last week of October, we successfully conducted the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit. The participation of all 54 African nations in the Summit has, in foreign policy terms, moved us into a select group of nations having the capacity and ability to engage all of Africa simultaneously. India is also working with like-minded countries in multilateral organisations, including the United Nations, to play an enhanced role in diverse fora, from the Arctic Council and the Pacific Alliance to the UN Security Council, where India has made a legitimate claim for permanent membership. The potential of India now has a stronger resonance.
9. IITF 2015 presents an ideal platform for the global fraternity which has a shared interest in trade relations to enhance peace and prosperity. India’s efforts for inclusive economic growth and social advancement have shown the way forward to many developing countries. This is a time of great opportunities in India. Several recent initiatives of the Government of India have already started showing results and have created a positive impact in key sectors. The ‘Make-in-India' initiative to make India an investment and manufacturing destination; the ‘Digital India’ programme to transform India into a digitally-empowered society; ‘Start-up India, Stand-up India’ to promote entrepreneurship and job creation; ‘Smart Cities’; ‘Model Villages’; ‘Swachh Bharat’, and the ‘Clean Ganga Mission’ are some of the flagship schemes of the Government. In the last year alone, almost 140 million bank accounts have been opened under ‘Jan Dhan Yojna’ in a massive effort at financial inclusion.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
10. Our economy has admirably withstood the challenging global economic scenario of the past few years. Despite the economic slowdown afflicting major economies of the world, India has remained largely insulated. Barring a below-five percent growth in one year – that is in 2012-13 – our economy has shown resilience. The economic scenario is again looking up with 7.2 percent economic growth in 2014-15. It is expected to improve further as other macro-economic indicators show substantial improvement. Inflation is within control and industrial performance is also showing signs of revival. Fiscal consolidation measures are in place and we should be able to meet the target of 3.0 percent fiscal deficit by 2017-18.
11. The external sector should not be a cause of concern despite a not-so-encouraging export performance last year. Slowdown in global economic activity also finds reflection in decreasing imports, with a substantial reduction in our import dependence on oil, from US Dollar 165 billion in 2013-14 to US Dollar 138 billion. As such, our current account balance has improved with the deficit on this account having reduced from 1.7 percent of GDP in 2013-14 to 1.4 percent in 2014-15. Foreign exchange reserve at 350 billion US Dollars as of end September is at a comfortable level. With a favourable global economic outlook, our diversification strategy focusing on export markets in Asia, Africa and Latin America, and our push for the Make-in-India campaign, I expect to see a turnaround in our export performance soon. The opportunities that are emerging in our economy are there for the taking. Investors, both domestic and foreign, should have the confidence to gain handsome returns from their investments in India.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
12. IITF is closely linked to sustained economic growth and trade. We are a 2.1 trillion dollar economy and have the potential to be a 10 trillion dollar economy over the next two decades, provided we are able to provide a fillip to manufacturing and innovation. The centrality of the ‘Make-in-India’ campaign towards the achievement of this goal cannot be over emphasized. I am therefore pleased to note that the theme for this edition of IITF is ‘Make-in-India’. Both ITPO and the Ministry of Commerce have a vital role in making the ‘Make-in-India’ programme a success. It is a matter of satisfaction that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has taken major reform initiatives on improving the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ in India with added emphasis on simplification and rationalization of the existing rules and enhanced use of IT to make governance more efficient and effective.
13. The IITF endeavours to preserve, protect and promote India’s cultural heritage through collaboration amongst Government, industry, and artisans, craft persons and weavers. This is with a view to establish marketing linkages and promote their products in the business world. I am sure that IITF will take the lead in reinforcing Indian brands. Promising Indian brands can compete and win against dominant international brands in the Indian market before successfully venturing overseas. Successive editions of the trade fair have also proved to be an excellent platform for small and micro enterprises which display their products at different pavilions.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
14. The ITPO has taken several initiatives this year to improve facilities offered to visitors. Some of them, including the facility for online registration for business days; introducing a separate award category for the best State pavilion dedicated to ‘Swachh Bharat’ initiatives; and providing details of the fair through mobile applications, are praiseworthy. I compliment ITPO and its supporting agencies for organizing the Fair with improved logistics and facilities.
15. I am confident that this Fair will provide a renewed impetus to trade and commerce and deepen our economic relationship with our trading partners across the globe. I extend my good wishes to all the participants from India and abroad. Best of luck for a successful conduct of the Fair. With these words, I declare the 35th edition of the India International Trade Fair open

Defence Minister Hands Over ‘Maareech –Advanced Torpedo Defence System’ to Indian Navy: Dedicates ‘Hydrodynamic Test Facility’ to the Nation

Defence Minister Hands Over ‘Maareech –Advanced Torpedo Defence System’ to Indian Navy: Dedicates ‘Hydrodynamic Test Facility’ to the Nation

The Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar today dedicated to the nation the Seakeeping and Manoeuvring Basin (SMB) during a function held at Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam, in the august presence of Chief  of  Naval Staff Admiral RK Dhowan and  Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Director General, DRDO,  Dr S Christopher. The Minister also handed over the Maareech - Advanced Torpedo Defence System developed by DRDO to the Navy Chief.

SMB facility is one of its kind in the country, set up as a joint effort of   DRDO and Indian Navy. The facility puts India among the few nations in the world having the capability to undertake comprehensive hydrodynamic model testing of naval platforms and weapon systems. SMB would help to design and build state-of-the-art naval combatants such as submarines, ships, torpedoes, etc.

Maareech, a joint project of Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), Kochi and NSTL, Visakhapatnam is a state-of-the-art indigenous system for torpedo detection and countermeasures. This system offers a complete solution to detect and locate the incoming torpedo and to apply countermeasures to protect naval platform against torpedo attack. Two production grade Maareech systems have been developed and user evaluation trials completed onboard two Indian Navy ships.

Complementing the vital role of DRDO towards self-reliance and promoting the Make in India efforts, the Defence Minister said the development of complex system - Maareech is an excellent model of synergy between DRDO, Indian Navy, public and private industries, demonstrating yet another milestone in Make in India program.

Later the Defence Minister gave away the prestigious DRDO National awards to DRDO Scientists across the country for their significant contributions and achievements made towards development of various weapon systems and technologies.

The landmark function was attended by Member of Parliament Dr K Hari Babu and MLA Shri P Vishnu Kumar Raju along with a large number of officers of the DRDO and Armed Forces, members of the academia, civil administration and other invitees.