THREE NEW VACCINES INCLUDING INDIGENOUSLY DEVELOPED ROTAVIRUS VACCINE TO BE PROVIDED TO ALL INDIAN CHILDREN

Fourth vaccine for adults to protect against Japanese Encephalitis to be introduced in high-priority districts PM: Government will now ensure that the benefits of vaccination reach all sections of the society, regardless of social and economic status

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today announced the decision of the Government of India to introduce four new vaccines as part of India’s Universal Immunization Programme (UIP). Vaccines against rotavirus, rubella and polio (injectable) will collectively expedite India’s progress on meeting the Millennium Development Goal 4 targets to reduce child mortality by two-thirds by the year 2015 and meet global polio eradication targets. In addition, an adult vaccine against Japanese encephalitis will be introduced in districts with high levels of the disease.  Along with the recent introduction of the pentavalent vaccine, this decision represents one of the most significant policy leaps in 30 years in public health, preventing at least 1 lakh infant deaths, deaths of adults in working age group and up to 10 lakhs hospitalizations each year. With these new vaccines, India’s UIP will now provide free vaccines against 13 life threatening diseases, to 27 million children annually, the largest birth cohort in the world. The Prime Minister said “The introduction of four new lifesaving vaccines, will play a key role in reducing the childhood and infant mortality and morbidity in the country. Many of these vaccines are already available through private practitioners to those who can afford them. The government will now ensure that the benefits of vaccination reach all sections of the society, regardless of social and economic status.” Diarrhea caused by rotavirus kills nearly 80 thousand children each year, results in up to 10 lakh hospitalizations, pushing many Indian families below the poverty line. It also imposes an economic burden of over 300 crore rupees each year to the country. India has developed and licensed its first indigenous rotavirus vaccine, developed under a public-private partnership by the Ministry of Science and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. India will introduce this vaccine in a phased manner. Tackling another major public health concern, the Government of India’s Universal Immunization Programme is set to introduce a vaccine against rubella which causes severe congenital defects in newborns, like blindness, deafness and heart defects. It is estimated that nearly 2 lakh babies are born with congenital defects each year in the country. The Universal Immunization Programme is also introducing an adult vaccine against Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in 179 endemic districts in 9 states. Reaffirming its commitment to the global goal of a polio free world, India is set to introduce Injectable Polio Vaccine (IPV), together with 125 countries in a globally synchronized manner. India has been certified polio free in March 2014, and the introduction of IPV in addition to the oral polio vaccine (OPV) will provide long lasting protection to the population against the virus. Shri Narendra Modi, who has consistently placed an emphasis on health as part of the nation’s development, said “India is committed to tackle child mortality and provide health for all through multiple initiatives taken up by the government. Strengthening routine immunization is an essential investment in India’s children and will ensure a healthy future of the country.” The recommendations to introduce new vaccines have been made after numerous scientific studies and comprehensive deliberations by the National Technical Advisory Group of India (NTAGI), the country’s apex scientific advisory body on immunization.

Union, State and Union Territory governments adopt ‘National Declaration on Urban Governance and Housing for All’

Resolve to provide Housing for All by 2022 and to promote urban reforms

The Union, State and Union Territory governments today unanimously agreed to work together to provide housing for all by the year 2022. They have also resolved to actively implement the 25-point Urban Reforms Agenda proposed by the Union Minister of Urban Development, Housing & Poverty Alleviation Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu. To this effect, Ministers of Urban Development and Housing of the Union, States and Union Territories have unanimously adopted a three page ‘National Declaration on Urban Governance and Housing For All’ after a daylong deliberations on related issues. The Declaration recognizes ‘housing as a part of the dignity and indicator of quality of life of the individual’ and housing and construction industry supports more than 250 ancillary industries and contributes 9% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country. Acknowledging the Union Government’s aspiration to provide housing for all by the 75the Year of Independence of the country in 2022, the Declaration lays special emphasis on housing for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Low Income Groups (LIG) and other vulnerable sections such as slum dwellers, SCs/STs, BCs, senior citizens, differently abled persons, widows etc. Under the Declaration, the Union Government has committed itself to rationalize approval processes and fund flows to States and Union Territories. The governments of India, States and Union Territories will empower the third tier of Urban Local Bodies as envisaged in the 74th Amendment to the Constitution. The States and Union Territories will make all efforts to encourage and involve all stakeholders for affordable housing and will complete ongoing works in this regard. They will also make efforts to encourage EWS/LIG housing by examining the possibility of liberal FAR/FSI, Ground Coverage along with Transferable Development Rights and examine the concept of deemed building permissions. States and UTs will also take up amendment of Rental Laws to balance the interests of owner and tenant with the goal of encouraging rental housing in urban areas. They will also make efforts to implement single window scheme for approval of lay-out and building permissions. Special focus will be laid on skill development to eliminate urban poverty. States and UTs will ensure peoples’ participation in governance, maintenance of public amenities, transparency in the system and accountability for proper growth of cities and towns. They also pledged to provide basic amenities like better roads, transport, sanitation, drinking water etc. Union, State and UT governments resolved to actively consider implementing the reforms suggested by Shri Venkaiah Naidu earlier in the day. These include-planning for slum free cities/towns, exploiting economic potential of cities with respect to tourism, health, education, business, heritage etc., inclusive zoning providing old age homes, night shelters, orphanages etc., provision of efficient infrastructure, solid waste management, promoting cycling, energy conservation, capacity building of urban local bodies, enacting for guaranteed services etc. Shri Naidu thanked the States/UTs for sharing the concerns of the central government in respect of urban management and its vision for future. He affirmed that ‘only performance will be the criteria for allocation of funds under urban projects and schemes’. He asserted that urban governance should be made corruption free saying that ‘if the water tank is polluted only dirty water will flow down’. The Minister also assured the States/UTs that their suggestions and concerns will be taken into consideration while recasting the various ongoing urban related projects and schemes.

India a global military power by 2045, says UK study

A global scenario projected by Britain’s ministry of defence says that by 2045 India is likely to have the ability to project conventional military power globally with the third largest defence expenditure pegged at 654 billion US dollars.

Titled ‘Global Strategic Trends – Out to 2045’, the publication by the ministry’s Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre sets out what the world might look like 30 years from now. It looks at a range variables, including energy, mineral resources, conflict and migration.

“Although China’s military-industrial complex is unlikely to surpass the technological sophistication of the US by 2045, it may rival it in terms of size, as could India’s. Both India and China will probably seek to develop sizeable and technically advanced armed forces, including ocean-going navies, capable of delivering an enduring and capable maritime
presence both regionally and further afield”, the paper says.

The analysis on South & East Asia and Oceania says: “The military capabilities of other countries in the region are also likely to increase but only China, India, Australia, Japan (which is actively increasing its military capability) and South Korea are likely to have the ability to project conventional military power globally”.

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However, the analysis notes that although India is likely to spend more on defence than the UK, it will “almost certainly have to overcome domestic political issues and improve the way it invests to attain the capabilities needed to project conventional military power globally”.

According to the projection, the US and China are likely to have similarly sized defence budgets, potentially out-spending the rest of the world by 2045. India could have a defence budget equivalent to the EU’s total spending on defence, it says.

“Additionally, China, India and the US are likely to lead in defence-related research and development – further enhancing their military capabilities”, the paper says.

In terms of Technology, the paper says that China and India are likely to attain global leadership in select technical disciplines, achieving parity with the West in a number of
niche areas as soon as 2015 and more widely by 2045.

Stating that China and India will “almost certainly continue to be the dominant powers” in the region, the paper says that the ways the two countries manage their societies’ demands and their internal methods of governance will be important to the region’s development.

In terms of conflict, it is projected that Kashmir would continue to one of the areas of tension, including the border between China and India. “The risk of a major state-on-state conflict in the region cannot be ruled out”, it says.

The paper is based on inputs from a range of individuals and global institutions, including India’s Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis, United Services Institute and the Vivekananda International Foundation.

Indian-American Antarctic explorer has mountain named after him

In a rare honour, the U.S. has named a mountain in Antarctica after eminent Indian-American scientist Akhouri A. Sinha, whose pioneering biological research expedition provided vital data about animal populations.

The honour was accorded to Mr. Sinha, adjunct professor in the Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development at the University of Minnesota, by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Mr. Sinha was a member of a team that catalogued population of seals, whales and birds in the pack ice of the Bellingshausen and Amundsen Seas using U.S. Coast Guard Cutters Southwind and Glaciers in 1972 and 1974.

Cybercrimes shoot up by over 50% across India

Cybercrimes registered under the IT Act shot up by over 50% across the country between 2012 and 2013, shows the latest data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). The maximum offenders came from the 18-30 age group. Among states, the highest incidents of cybercrime took place in Maharashtra (907) followed by Uttar Pradesh (682) and Andhra Pradesh (651).

The maximum arrests for cybercrimes under the IT Act took place in Maharashtra: 426. Andhra Pradesh was a distant second with 296 arrests. Uttar Pradesh was third at 283 arrests.

In percentage terms, the state that saw the most dramatic increase in cases registered under the IT Act was Uttarakhand at 475% (from 4 cases to 23); Assam a close second with 450% (from 28 cases to 154). Interestingly, the picture postcard union territory, Andaman and Nicobar islands, registered an eye-popping increase of 800% (two cases in 2012 to 18 in 2013) in the same category.

Trends in the report show that the maximum cases of cybercrimes in 2013 were for "hacking with computer systems". Transmission of obscene messages, or "obscene publication/transmission in electronic form" came a distant second in the category. A total 2,516 cases were registered in 2013 for hacking with computer systems with 1,011 arrests. The numbers for "obscene publications/transmission in electronic form", stood at 1,203 cases registered, with 737 arrests. Offences under "hacking of computer systems" are calculated under the two subheads of "loss/damage to computer resources/ utility" and "hacking".

Cyberlawyer Pavan Duggal says that the trends reveal a "maturing of the country's cybercrime economy." "Hacking is no longer done to assert technological superiority, but for monetary gains," says Duggal, pointing to the case of hacker Amit Tiwari from Pune, who was arrested earlier this year for compromising over a 1,000 email accounts both in India and abroad. He was a part of a global network of hackers.

The NCRB data shows that cybercrimes registered under the IT Act rose sharply by 51.5% from 2012 to 2013 and those registered under the Indian Penal Code, by 122.5% for the same time period. If taken together, they would constitute an increase of 63.73 % overall. Delhi Police PRO Rajan Bhagat said that cases where the IT Act and the IPC are used together, are counted within ambit of the IT Act, along with cases exclusively under the IT Act.

Only 23.5%of the cybercrime cases were registered under the IPC last year, while the majority - 76.5% were under the IT Act. Section 81 of the IT Act enshrines what is called the "overriding effect", that is, the IT Act would prevail in case of a conflict between the general law and the IT Act. It reads: "The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for the time being in force."

According to the NCRB report, of the total 2,098 arrests made under the IT Act in 2013, 1,190 were between the ages of 18 and 30. 45 were below the age of 18. Rakshit Tandon, advisor at the cybercrime cell, Gurgaon Police, says that this is largely a result of the younger generation lacking "cyberhygiene and cyberetiquette."

"I have seen in my interactions and workshops with young people that internet and mobile are the first tools they use for harassment through social media or through pornographic websites. Even for crimes like hacking, there is very little guidance for young people who enroll in 'ethical hacking' courses, and then later get involved in crimes instead," says Tandon.

India Becomes the First Country to Ratify the Marrakesh Treaty

 India becomes the first country to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty to facilitate access to published works for persons who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print disabled on 30th June, 2014. So far, 79 WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organisation) member states have signed this Treaty. The Marrakesh treaty will come into force once twenty countries ratify this treaty.

Shri Dilip Sinha, the Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, handed over the the Instrument of Ratification to Mr Francis Gurry, Director General, WIPO at a ceremony organized held during the 28th Session of SCCR (Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights) in WIPO Headquarters.

The main goal of Marrakesh Treaty is to create a set of mandatory limitations and exceptions for the benefit of the blind, visually impaired and otherwise print disabled (VIPs). It addresses the “book famine” by requiring its contracting parties to adopt national law provisions that permit the reproduction, distribution and making available of published works in accessible formats - such as Braille - to VIPs and to permit exchange of these works across borders by organizations that serve those beneficiaries.

Once the Marrakesh Treaty comes into force, it will facilitate access to published works for the millions of blind, visually impaired and otherwise print disabled persons in India. It would go a long way in establishing equal rights and opportunities for education and employment for them.

The Treaty will facilitate import of accessible format copies from the member states by the Indian authorized entities such as educational institutions, libraries and other such institutions working for the benefit of visually impaired persons. This will also facilitate translation of imported accessible format copies and export of accessible format copies in Indian languages. The Indian Copyright (Amendment) Act, 2012 is in harmony with the Marrakesh Treaty.

India to play proactive role to deal with climate change

India today said it will play a proactive role to deal with climate change and strengthen the national action plan to tackle global warming.

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, who discussed a gamut of climate change issues with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius also said that he “welcomed” the French announcement of one billion Euros credit line over next three years to India to take initiates in climate control.

France will host the World Climate Conference next year.

“We emphasised that India will play a proactive role because climate change is real and we have decided on our national action plan. We will strengthen it further. But we expect the developed world to walk the talk,” Javadekar told PTI.

The Minister, who had earlier said that the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC was “very important”, said the outcome of the previous conferences should be “discussed and negotiated” much earlier and it should not be a last minute affair.

“We said the draft of outcomes always needs to be discussed and negotiated much earlier than the actual conference. It should not be a last minute affair,” he said.

Welcoming the French government’s announcement to extend credit line over the next three years to India to take initiates in climate control, he said, “After the actual funds arrive…for what they are giving. We will use funds…we can discuss that..whatever riders or conditions…what is the concept of the fund but we welcome”.

Fabius had yesterday said that he wants to prepare for Conferences of the Parties in close cooperation with India.

France will be proposing a credit line of up to 1 billion euros (Rs 8200 crore) over the next 3 years for sustainable infrastructure and urban development in India through Agence Francaise de Development AFD (French development agency), he had said.

Javadekar told the French foreign minister that the 100 billion dollars Green Fund should be utilised to purchasecritical technologies so that they are available free of cost to developing nations.

Javadekar said the developed world must give finances and ensure technology transfer.

“I had already suggested at the Nairobi platform and that was well received that technology transfer can happen if the Green Fund, which is supposed to be given by the developed world, can be used for IPR purchases of critical technologies.

“If those critical technologies are purchased by that fund, the technology will be available free of cost and then every country will have its own plan. That idea is well received by the world and I also emphasised that (during the meeting with France Foreign Minister),” Javadekar said.

In his speech at the Ministerial Plenary of the First UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi recently, Javadekar had said since it has been agreed to establish the Green Climate Fund of USD 100 billion per year by 2020, this amount should be utilised to purchase IPRs of most crucial technologies for public good.

After purchasing IPRs, these technologies should then be freely available to the developing countries to facilitate sustainable development, he said.

Elaborating on today’s meeting with the French foreign minister, Javadekar said he told Fabius about the Indian “ethos” in which “man, community and nature are all part of one shrishti”.

“He also discussed French government’s ideas for success of the Conferences of the Parties. It was a mutually veryimportant dialogue. We had a good meeting,” the Environment minister said.

Javadekar said both the countries also discussed on “mutually cooperating on various ideas and share best practises”.

As the meeting took place in the new Indira Paryavaran Bhavan, a green building, Javadekar told Fabius that they were meeting in a Zero energy building”.