The Gist of Press Information Bureau: December 2016
- Birth certificates and AADHAR Cards to street children ()
- BARC develops portable kit for detection of Chromium contamination of water ()
- India set to seize big opportunity in logistic costs saving through Sagarmala ()
- BRICS Disaster Risk Reduction meet adopts Udaipur Declaration ()
- BRICS convention on Tourism to be held in Khajuraho ()
- 14th ASEAN-India Summit and 11th East Asia Summit in Vientiane (Only For The Subscribed Members)
- Saurashtra Narmada Irrigation Project (Only For The Subscribed Members)
- Grant of Permanent Residency Status to Foreign Investors (Only For The Subscribed Members)
- Annual Report of ‘Crime in India - 2015’ (Only For The Subscribed Members)
- Mandi and Sindhudurg found to be the Cleanest Districts in India (Only For The Subscribed Members)
- First Ever ‘Incredible India Tourism Investment Summit’ (Only For The Subscribed Members)
- GRSE hands over fast attack craft “TIHAYU” to Indian Navy (Only For The Subscribed Members)
- GSLV Successfully Launches India’s Weather Satellite INSAT-3DR (Only For The Subscribed Members)
Birth certificates and AADHAR Cards to street children
The Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi held Regional consultations with Civil Society Organizations on the draft ‘Trafficking of Persons Bill, 2016’ in Chennai. The NGOs came forward with important suggestions for the Bill. They suggested that the timelines for repatriation of trafficked victims should be included in the Act itself. Similarly, begging is an important area where trafficking is rampant and should be taken up seriously under the Act. Abhayam is an initiative of the NGO Dayaa Foundation established by Smt Latha Rajinikanth for safety, rescue and rehabilitation of children in the city of Chennai. Addressing on the occasion, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi said that the WCD Ministry will be starting a new initiative for providing birth certificates and AADHAR Cards to street children. This landmark initiative will help street children obtain an identity for their future use to move ahead in life.
The Minister appreciated the recently launched initiative of Dayaa Foundation to establish a Citizen Council for child safety, which will be the first of its kind initiative of bringing citizens together for protecting children. It is a very good initiative and I would like to see it extended to other states also, the Minister said. Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi also spoke about the measures being taken by Government for safety, protection and care of children including the children’s helpline i.e. Childline, initiative with railways on missing children, the new Juvenile Justice Act, New Foster Care programme and complete reform of Adoption System.
BARC develops portable kit for detection of Chromium contamination of water
Chromium is widely used in various industries like leather, steel, chrome plating, paint manufacturing, wood preservation etc. Untreated effluents from these industries cause widespread contamination of water as been reported in several parts of the country. Chromium in the environment primarily exists as Trivalent Chromium Cr(III) and Hexavalent Chromium Cr(VI). The later is toxic and the World Health Organization has classified it as carcinogenic and can cause stomach ulcers and cancers and severe damage to kidneys and liver. As per Indian standard IS10500 for drinking water, the maximum permissible concentration of Cr(VI) in drinking water is 50 microgram per litre. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends a still lower permissible concentration of 10 microgram per liter.